Northwest Florida Business Climate September/October 2013

September/October 2013

Startup Weekend A startup and market validation event unlike any other.

YEA! Young Entrepreneurs Academy

www.nwflbusinessclimate.com

from the

publisher’ s pen Malcolm Ballinger Publisher

A crucial part of any economic development campaign is a strong, educated workforce. Ensuring that Pensacola businesses have viable, local options for employment is important to a continued, sustained economy. When children and young people are well educated in relevant subjects that are necessary for profitable enterprises, it not only ensures that they will have well-paying jobs, it also helps guarantee the longevity of the business they are entering and the city they live in.

Local universities, colleges, schools and businesses have heard the call for a more educated workforce and are responding with a variety of programs aimed at training children in these in-demand skills. The Youth Entrepreneurship Academy (YEA), which you can read about on page 53, is just such a program. A partnership between the Chamber, GBSI, and UWF, this national program, started in New York, allows youngsters in grades 6-12 to collaborate on ideas that they think would be profitable in today's economy and eventually start their own business. Receiving mentorships from business professionals, these youth will spend a school year honing their skills, developing marketing plans, having their businesses registered with the county, and eventually pitching their ideas to investors. The program has received national recognition as a way to get kids excited about business, finances, marketing and other crucial skills in today's workforce, and many past winners of the program have gone on to continue their businesses, some internationally.

Another partnership that is having a real impact on fresh ideas and education is Startup Weekend, on page 49. With input from local startups, the Chamber, and notable business men and women in the community, this frenetic three-day weekend that is expected to attract between 75 and 150 of the region's best and brightest will end in a competition to win tools necessary to continuing their startup ideas. The weekend begins with 60-second pitches, evolves into groups of any age working together to develop the next great technological or innovative breakthrough, and eventually culminates in many lessons learned, skills acquired, and even some great prizes.

Education and fostering new, fresh ideas is essential to any community, and with these programs attracting ambitious young people, it appears that Pensacola has no shortage of either. We want a workforce that existing and outside businesses are dying to recruit, and these programs are well on the way to making sure that happens.

Reader’s Services Subscriptions If you have questions about your subscriptions, call Kassie McLean at (850) 433-1166 ext. 30 or email info@ballingerpublishing.com.

Gift Certificates NW FL’s Business Climate Magazine makes a great gift! Contact Malcolm Ballinger at (850)433-1166 ext. 27 or info@ballingerpublishing.com to arrange a gift certificate for your friend, business associate or loved one.

Back Issues Is there an issue of one of our magazines that you just have to have?

Were you featured in a recent isssue?

Give us a call at 850-433-1166 ext. 30.

Back Issues are $5.00/issue.

Letters We welcome your letters and comments. Send letters to Ballinger Publishing P.O. Box 12665 Pensacola, FL 32591, or contact specific staff members under the “Contact us: Staff info” link on www.ballingerpublishing.com.

Change of Address When calling or emailing us your change of address, please provide us with both the old and new addresses to expedite the change.

Writing Opportunities We are always willing to consider freelance writers and article ideas.

Please send queries and/or suggestions to Kelly Oden, executive editor, at kelly@ballingerpublishing.com, or care of Kelly to the above postal address.

44

> nwflbusinessclimate.com

September/October 2013

Subscription Expiration Date is printed on the address label. Renew your subscription now online at www.ballingerpublishing.com: One year $14.95 and two years $22.75.

AP Place lla acce for for You You in Pensacola Pensaco e la Business

Vacation

Extended Stay

Pensacola Do Downtown ownto w own w

et reesid dencei

0 432-020 2

700 East Chase Street 850-439-3330

court urttyar ardpensacoladowntown.com d

Airport/Cordova Airport/Cordo ova Mall

2187 Airport Boulevard 850-478-1123

hamptoninnpensacolaairport.com

1144 Airport Boulevard 850-479-8900 hiltongarrdeninnpensacola.com d

5049 Corporate Woods o Drive 850-474-3777 homewoodsuitespensacola.com

Pensacola Beach

24 Via DeLuna 800-406-7 7885 • 850-932-6000 sprriinghillsuitespensacolabeacch.com h

16 Viia DeLuna 01 85

850-932-9314 • Highpointe.com ighpoin i 311 Gu ulf Brreeze e Pkw wy • Gulf Brreeze, e Florida

Contents September/October 2013

FEATURES 53. YEA! Tasked with fostering enterprise and innovation at a young age, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA) is a groundbreaking and exciting national yearlong class that transforms students in 6th through 12th grades into confident business leaders who know how to make a job窶馬ot just take a job.

53.

DEPARTMENTS 49. Innovation Startup Weekend A startup and market validation event unlike any other.

49. in every issue 60. AROUND THE REGION 61. PEOPLE ON THE MOVE

46

nwflbusinessclimate.com

September/October 2013

September/October 2013 PUBLISHER MALCOLM BALLINGER malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com BC EDITOR KELLY ODEN kelly@ballingerpublishing.com ART DIRECTOR RITA LAYMON rita@ballingerpublishing.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER & ADVERTISING COORDINATOR KASSIE MCLEAN kassie@ballingerpublishing.com EDITOR EMILY LULLO emily@ballingerpublishing.com BUSINESS EDITOR JOSH NEWBY josh@ballingerpublishing.com EDITORIAL INTERN ELLIE GRABSKI ellie@ballingerpublishing.com SALES & MARKETING SHARYON MILLER, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE EXT. 28 sharyon@ballingerpublishing.com RHEANA RICE, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, EXT. 31 rheana@ballingerpublishing.com VINCE NUTT, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE vince@ballingerpublishing.com

OWNERS

MALCOLM & GLENYS BALLINGER PUBLISHER

MALCOLM BALLINGER malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com EXECUTIVE EDITOR

KELLY ODEN kelly@ballingerpublishing.com ART DIRECTOR

RITA LAYMON rita@ballingerpublishing.com GRAPHIC DESIGNER & ADVERTISING COORDINATOR

KASSIE MCLEAN kassie@ballingerpublishing.com EDITOR

EMILY LULLO emily@ballingerpublishing.com BUSINESS EDITOR

JOSH NEWBY josh@ballingerpublishing.com SALES & MARKETING SHARYON MILLER, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE EXT. 28 sharyon@ballingerpublishing.com

RHEANA RICE, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE, EXT. 31 rheana@ballingerpublishing.com SIMONE SANDS, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE EXT. 21 simone@ballingerpublishing.com VINCE NUTT, ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE vince@ballingerpublishing.com WEBSITE:

WWW.BALLINGERPUBLISHING.COM

EDITORIAL OFFICES 41 NORTH JEFFERSON STREET, SUITE 402 PENSACOLA, FLORIDA 32502 850-433-1166 • FAX 850-435-9174

PUBLISHED BY BALLINGER PUBLISHING:

Member of:

NW Florida’s Business Climate Magazine and Pensacola Magazine is locally owned and operated. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or use of the contents herein is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Comments and opinions expressed in this magazine represent the personal views of the individuals to whom they are attributed and/or the person identified as the author of the article, and they are not necessarily those of the publisher. This magazine accepts no responsibility for these opinions. The publisher reserves the right to edit all manuscripts. All advertising information is the responsibility of the individual advertiser. Appearance in this magazine does not necessarily reflect endorsement of any products or services by Ballinger Publishing. © 2013

September/October 2013

nwflbusinessclimate.com

47

Innovation<

Startup Weekend

By Josh Newby

For three days in October, between 75 and 150 innovators of all ages will come together for 54 frenzied, exciting hours of business development and entrepreneurship. It is not a conference or a work retreat; it is a startup and market validation event unlike any other.

September/October 2013

nwflbusinessclimate.com

49

Startup events from around the world.

50

nwflbusinessclimate.com

September/October 2013

The first annual Startup Weekend Pensacola will connect aspiring local entrepreneurs with mentors, support and resources on Oct. 11–13 at the Institute for Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC). The hands-on, 54-hour event is a part of a global grassroots movement of new and active business leaders and teammates who are learning the basics of founding startups and launching successful ventures. At an event where the winner can be a 14-year-old with a brilliant app idea or a military veteran with a passion for software, anything can happen.

The non-profit, international organization in charge of coordinating more than 1,000 events in over 500 cities is based in Seattle, Wash., but events come from places as different as Mongolia and London. The concept behind the event, that anyone with a good idea can be successful with the right team, is a notion as old as business itself: take a handful of varied, talented people, one great idea, and a couple of experienced coaches, and watch the creativity and innovation flow.

The event begins Friday night, Oct. 11, when participants, onlookers and coaches gather together to hear 60-second pitches. Usually, about half of the people who participate will actually pitch an idea. The audience and potential teammates can listen, ask questions, and decide which idea sounds most promising and which they can benefit the most with their particular skill set.

The ideas are all placed on a whiteboard, and everyone volunteers to contribute their time and expertise to a particular idea, including their own. After some ideas gain in popularity and others fall by the wayside, about eight to 10 ideas will emerge with about four to eight people backing them. An idea can even go through the weekend with a single supporter and emerge victorious. As in business, anything can happen and sometimes the least likely schemes are the biggest winners.

Then, on Saturday, the real work begins. Teams discuss the strengths and weaknesses of their ideas, receive criticism and praise from people like Jeff Phillips, CEO at CollegeFrog, and Quint Studer, commercial real estate developer and national speaker. Tensions may arise and egos may be injured, but it is as just as likely that event-goers will experience the thrill of a successful pitch or the validation of a plan well executed.

After a mid-weekend status report on Saturday afternoon, these future business leaders are expected to work late into the night, studying the nuances of their idea’s industry, developing marketing plans, discussing opportunities for revenue, and even role-playing customer interactions.

On Sunday, the rubber hits the road as teams iron out the final details of their startup concept and begin preparing their presentations, which they will give to a panel of judges for eight to 10 minutes. Based on these presentations, these titans of local enterprise will decide the three winning teams of the event, who will each receive price packets that include gifts and services designed to help them proceed with their startup and possibly be successful. Gifts include three months of office space in the Pensacola Chamber’s CIE office building, accounting consults, information technology help, and more.

To date, there are more than 45,000 Startup Weekend alumni worldwide, and more than 36 percent of Startup Weekend startups are still going strong after three months.

Roughly 80 percent of participants say they plan to continue working with their team or startup after the event.

“Startup Weekend has such a great local business impact,

I knew we had to bring it here to Pensacola,” said organizer Frank White about the area’s first event. “It brings together a large group of motivated, innovating developers, designers and entrepreneurs and guides them through the creative startup process. Without events like Startup Weekend, many great business ideas might never be realized. This is the rare chance to test an idea, build long-lasting relationships and possibly walk away with a job or even an investor.”

For teams that succeed in the grueling but exciting weekend, they have the opportunity to pitch their concepts to investors who may or may not decide to contribute real money to the startup. Even for ideas that are not so successful, the event provides a valuable opportunity for networking, learning new skills, sharpening talents, and discovering more about business.

Whether entrepreneurs find companies, find a cofounder, meet someone new, or learn a skill far outside their usual 9-to-5, everyone is guaranteed to leave the event better prepared to navigate the chaotic but fun world of startups.

“Participants form real connections, and have a great time doing it,” said White. “They also get great exposure to some of the area’s best and brightest business and community leaders. Coaches are there to guide the processes, ensure team members aren’t wasting time, and provide real positive outcomes.”

Startup Weekend first-timers should bring a laptop computer, business cards, camera, and most importantly, lots of creative energy for the late nights and tense brainstorming sessions. Those interested in pitching an idea should research that particular industry and be able to provide all vital information in less than 60 seconds, confidently and coherently. While all ideas are welcome, the event is slanted toward technology and design.

“We are definitely foreseeing a successful event,” said White. “We unite the doers and the makers of our area and prove that great ideas can come from anywhere and be successful with the right tools and guidance.”

Those interested can register at pensacola.startupweekend.org.

September/October 2013

nwflbusinessclimate.com

51

52

nwflbusinessclimate.com

September/October 2013

YEA!

By Josh Newby

Tasked with fostering enterprise and innovation at a young age, the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA) is a groundbreaking and exciting national yearlong class that transforms students in 6th through 12th grades into confident business leaders who know how to make a jobâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; not just take a job. Founded in 2004 in Rochester, N.Y., the program has gained widespread exposure through partnerships with localized business and the US Chamber of Commerce. This fall, thanks to the efforts of the Greater Pensacola Chamber, Global Business Solutions, Inc. (GBSI), and the University of West Florida College of Business, the program will launch in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

September/October 2013

nwflbusinessclimate.com

53

Participants in the national program work closely with localized business leaders to cultivate and research business ideas and to write business plans. Throughout the class, the young students also learn to conduct market research and understand the correlation between a successful business and a strong, grounded education. Adhering to governmental regulations and the importance of advertising are other realworld skills they learn. At the end of the class, these young entrepreneurs have the opportunity to pitch their plans to a panel of investors, and then actually launch and run their own real, legal, fully formed companies and/or social movements.

Gayle Jagel, the CEO of the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, founded the program in 2004 while serving as the director of special programs at the University of Rochester. When Gayle’s daughter, Meredith, was 8, she came to her mom saying she wanted to start her own business.

“I was more than thrilled to help her out and immediately went out in search of materials to help us,” said Jagel.

After hitting the library and several bookstores, she came up empty handed.

“There was no ‘how-to guide’ out there aimed at helping young adults to get a small business off the ground,” said Jagel, so she started from scratch and crafted a tutorial for Meredith’s business, Barks and Bubbles, a small pet grooming enterprise. “I was amazed how (at such a young age) she could understand concepts like return on investment, marketing, target audience

54

nwflbusinessclimate.com

September/October 2013

and cost of goods sold. And not only could she understand the concepts— she could also implement them.”

Since its launch, the academy has been a resounding success with students, businesses and communities all over the country. With an impact in 17 states and more than 90 communities, YEA has been responsible for the successful launch of more than 500 businesses, all started by the students. The statistics for the program are impressive, with 100 percent of Academy graduates earning their high school diplomas on time and 99 percent of graduates enrolling in college.

Subsequently, 19 percent of YEA students have gone on to start second businesses, and 50 percent of graduates continue their respective business for at least one year.

YEA benefits communities and businesses in other ways, too, by giving opportunities to underrepresented minorities, who make up 56 percent of program students. Many students are also awarded scholarships based on their participation in YEA. Over half a million dollars in scholarships have been given to eligible YEA students.

Offered as both an after-school program and a creditbearing elective as part of a high school curriculum, the YEA promises to do much good for Pensacola youngsters and businesses alike.

The idea for a local YEA chapter began evolving nearly a year ago, when Kelly Reeser, director of entrepreneurial

development at the Chamber, began seeking out local businesses to partner together and make it a reality.

“When I first started at the Chamber, I was in workforce development, and I noticed a disconnect between what I learned in college, and the necessary on-the-job skills,” said Reeser. “Since then, I’ve understood the need for students to learn real-world, applicable skills early on, and YEA is a great opportunity to accomplish that. The idea that they can own their own business, and learn all the characteristics and

initiative necessary to making that happen, was very appealing to me.”

After all applications for participants are in by Sept. 20, a maximum number of 24 students will be selected based on their recommendations and essays. Then, starting this October, the 30-week program will launch and students will meet together at UWF on Tuesdays from 5 to 8 pm.

During the course of the program, students interact with local business professionals by hearing guest speakers and taking field trips to local establishments to see day-to-day operations. Students work with seasoned mentors to brainstorm business ideas and write their business plans. Then the students present their plan to a panel of investors at UWF in front of a live audience. Students will register their business at the county clerk’s office, and even participate in a trade show, currently being tentatively coordinated with Gallery Night. Although all students have the opportunity to start their business, there is a competition. The winner of the local program will go on to a regional competition, then to the national competition, where the victor receives a $30,000 scholarship.

Potentially, each of the students could have and pursue their own idea. More often though, a handful of ideas emerge

September/October 2013

nwflbusinessclimate.com

55

as the most promising and other students collaborate and become co-owners in the enterprises or social movements of their choice. The students will be aware that the ideas have to be top-notch in order to win the approval of the investor panel.

The investors are practicing local business people who can determine the risks of investing in a company. The investors will make monetary or in-kind contributions and provide support and encouragement to the students.

“The investors actually make the decision concerning to what extent the businesses get funded,” said Reeser. “That takes place about halfway through the program, so students will have plenty of access to coaching and mentorship beforehand.”

Terri Ramos is vice president at GBSI, a local enterprise of 120 employees helping to spearhead the regional YEA effort and coordinate partnerships key to administering the curriculum and communicating project goals.

“We have always been committed to improving our local community and preparing our area’s youth to meet the challenges of today’s world,” said Terri, who with her husband Randy will be one of four instructors teaching the students and serving on the investor panel. “The YEA program is in perfect alignment with that mission. We can’t wait to see all of the enterprises that students in our area will be launching.”

In order to offset the cost associated with running the program, which is $395 per student for incidentals, field trips, etc., the Chamber, GBSI and the UWF College of Business are seeking sponsors to cover tuition scholarships for talented

56

nwflbusinessclimate.com

September/October 2013

students who otherwise may not be able to participate.

Benefits of sponsoring include the opportunity for company representatives to participate as a featured guest speaker and judge at the investor panel event, as well as recognition at, and invitations to, all YEA signature events throughout the year.

“We just held our first information breakfast at the chamber Aug. 20,” said Ramos. “The response was overwhelming. Major businesses and prominent local leaders stepped up to sponsor, speak and mentor. Our investment panel is looking very impressive. I was inspired to see our community leaders and businesses in full support of the program and our youth’s entrepreneurship.”

YEA appears to be right on track to impact the education and economy of the region in a positive way, by using the commerce leaders of today to impact the business leaders and innovators of tomorrow.

“This is first and foremost an economic development effort,” said Reeser. “We want to positively impact the job creators not just of tomorrow, but of today. In a way, it’s economic gardening. We focus on outside opportunities, but we also want to grow our own assets.”

The program is expected to continue for several years in the region, educating and enlightening a new batch of 24 highly motivated and ambitious students each year.

“One of the most valuable skills YEA teaches is the repeatable process,” said Jagel. “Over 20 percent of YEA graduates go on to create a second business. Knowing how to launch and run your own real business is empowering.”

AROUND THE REGION business news bits you should know Inc. Magazine recognizes IMS ExpertServices for the seventh straight year For the seventh year in a row, IMS ExpertServices was named to Inc. Magazine’s annual list of the 5,000 fastest growing private companies in America.

IMS ExpertServices has been steadily growing over the last decade and ranks number 2,790 on the 2013 Inc. 5,000 list.

In addition, IMS was recognized in Inc.’s Industry Rankings as number 216 in the Products and Services category and is one of only 286 companies on the Inc. 5,000 list that has been named for seven years.

UWF to participate in national learning initiative The University of West Florida has been selected to participate in the NASPA Lead Initiative, a national effort centered on civic learning and democratic engagement. UWF is one of 70 colleges and universities to receive this designation from the nation’s leading voice in student affairs. As a participating institution in the initiative, UWF will continue to encourage students’ civic development through thoughtful community partnerships, engaging leadership opportunities and democratic participation. University leaders will also participate in scholarly activities to share information and resources with representatives from other participating institutions.

Ready Deck Productions conducts training for Nashville-based firm Does your organization need an offsite that can impart to them a culture of excellence that also increases inter-office trust and accountability, all of which increases your bottom line? Ready Deck Productions educational services, an experiential-learning professional development program delivered by a team of former naval aviators, recently led a Nashville firm through an unforgettable adventure at the mock aircraft carrier National Flight Academy Ambition. This program reinforces the concepts of detailed preparation, comprehensive briefing and standardized training, and the critical after-action debrief to constructively criticize any evolution. This enhances individual trust and accountability, increasing organizational effectiveness and 60

nwflbusinessclimate.com

cohesion. For more information, visit readydeck.us or call 703-439-8442.

UWF selected as a Best Southeastern College by Princeton Review The University of West Florida was named a Best Southeastern College by The Princeton Review for the 11th consecutive year, based on results from the company’s 2014 Best Colleges survey.

UWF was one of 138 institutions receiving the Best in Southeast designation. The company designated 643 colleges total across the Northeast, Southeast, Midwest and Western regions. The Princeton Review surveys students at selected institutions on several factors, ranging from the accessibility of professors, to the number of hours they spend studying outside of the classroom, to the quality of the food on campus.

Manna Food Pantries receives over $4,500 from Wahoos jersey auction and donations Donations to the Manna Food Pantries from the Blue Wahoos Duck Dynasty night game activities held on Aug. 13 totaled more than $4,560. Thirty-seven camouflage jerseys were auctioned off, and netting $3,560. A generous $1,000 donation from Whataburger and pregame food drive provided an additional boost to the local agency dedicated to alleviating hunger throughout Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.

NAVFAC Southeast awards $16 million contract for a new mission control complex at NAS Jacksonville Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Southeast awarded a $16 million contract Aug. 14 to WhitesellGreen, Inc., a small business out of Pensacola, Fla., for construction of a Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) Mission Control Complex (MCC) at Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jax). The work to be performed on this project includes construction of a new freestanding two-story structure with two electromagnetic interference shielded mission control systems, a tactical operations center with sensitive compartmented information facility spaces, and numerous roof-top mounted antennas. The project will renovate some interior spaces; the renovations include a reconfigured command suite, systems

September/October 2013

reconfiguration, and in some cases finish upgrades. Also, a new antenna infrastructure will be built at a remote site south of the new facility.

West Florida Historic Preservation, Inc. receives tourism grant from Visit Florida Visit Florida, the state’s official source for travel planning, has awarded a Cultural, Heritage, Nature and Rural Tourism Grant to West Florida Historic Preservation, Inc. for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, which began July 1, 2013. Visit Florida, a private/public partnership, is Enterprise Florida’s day-to-day operating corporation for tourism.

UWF BEI Board of Directors elects board officers The University of West Florida Business Enterprises, Inc. Board of Directors hosted its quarterly meeting on Friday, Aug. 23, at Scenic Hills Country Club.

During the meeting, the Board elected new officers, which include the following: Chair K.C. Clark, Certified Public Accountant, Raymond James Associates; Vice Chair Jay Patel, business owner and operator; Treasurer John Todorovich, Chair of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science, UWF; and Secretary Suzanne Lewis, retired superintendent, Yellowstone National Park.

New Northwest Florida manufacturers council formed Recognizing the high value-added manufacturing industry, The Northwest Florida Manufacturer’s Council has been formed to strengthen the economic competitiveness of the region’s manufacturers by acting as a single voice to address common interests.

Manufacturing currently generates 14,518 direct jobs and an additional 17,063 indirect jobs in the 12-county region, and is expected to grow at a higher rate in northwest Florida than in any other region in the state. The Council is an association for manufacturers of all sizes and subclusters who are located or have a presence in the northwest Florida region. Membership is also open to affiliate members and vendors who have an interest in the economic success of the manufacturing industry in northwest Florida.

PEOPLE OB/GYN physician, Leslie Sanders, M.D., joins Baptist Medical Group Highly skilled OB/GYN physician Leslie Sanders, M.D., has joined Baptist Medical Group’s growing network of physicians serving the Gulf Coast. Dr. Sanders will be working alongside Dr. Tracey Doyle and Dr. Erika Schneider within the Baptist Medical Group – Ladies First OB/GYN practice and will see patients at their office on 12th Avenue and in Westside Pensacola. Dr. Sanders brings an incredible drive for patient-centered care and offers attentive gynecologic and obstetric care to women of all ages and risk levels.

Andrews Institute Foot & Ankle Center selects Daniel E. Murawski, M.D., to join team of experts The Andrews Institute Foot & Ankle Center welcomes Daniel E. Murawski, M.D., to their team of experts. Dr. Murawski is a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in the treatment of musculoskeletal disorders of the foot and ankle including a broad range of injuries, conditions and disorders. With an appreciation of complex foot and ankle mechanics, he strives to optimize nonsurgical and surgical treatment strategies for patients.

New head of Creative Learning Academy Dana DeYoung began her new position as Head of School at Creative Learning Academy (CLA; www.creativelearningacademy.org) on Aug. 2 of this year. A native of Winter Park, Fla., DeYoung has accumulated over 20 years of experience as both a teacher and school administrator. Her most recent position was with Saddle River Day School in Saddle River, N.J., where she served as both a teacher and the assistant development director. DeYoung earned her bachelor degree from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Fla., and studied Studio Art and Art History in Florence, Italy.

New director of United Ministries named Longtime Christian educator and Pensacola native Jean Covell Silva was named the new executive director of United Ministries, the agency’s Board of Directors announced. A graduate of Washington High School, Jean received a B.A. in Religion from Davidson College and is a Certified Christian Educator in the Presbyterian Church (USA).

Jean has served three congregations as director of Christian education including Christ Episcopal Church, and Trinity Presbyterian Church in Pensacola, Fla., and Grace Presbyterian Church in Panama City, Fla. Most recently Jean served as the associate executive Presbyter/head of staff and hunger action enabler for the

Presbytery of Florida. As the new executive director of United Ministries, Jean views her position as a culmination of her experiences in working with churches and in hunger action.

Blue Marlin Realty Group expands team with new realtors Trish Sams and Erin Martin Blue Marlin Realty Group recently hired two new realtors, Trish Sams and Erin Martin to their continually growing team.

Well-known local realtor Trish Sams was born and raised in Columbia, S.C., and received her graduate legal secretarial degree from Midlands Tech. Sams received her graduate business degree from Limestone College where she graduated cum laude. After completing her schooling, Sams worked for five years at Lewis Law Firm in Columbia. She was a stay at home mom for 16 years and then worked at DEP Realty for six years and Keller Williams Emerald Coast realty for one year. Erin Martin, originally from Birmingham, Ala., graduated from the University of Alabama and has lived in the area for 11 years. She has worked in the real estate business for nine years. Her previous real estate work experience consists of working with Keller Williams and 100% Realty, Inc.

ON THE

MOVE

affiliations development and physician outreach. In her new role, Hodge Harris is responsible for the development and implementation of the Physician Relationship Management Program, which includes referral management, tracking and reporting, as well as clinical affiliations and collaborations that serve to benefit the medical staff and strategic operational objectives of Baptist Health Care.

Baptist Medical Group welcomes Deborah Robards, A.R.N.P. Baptist Medical Group proudly welcomes experienced nurse practitioner Deborah Robards, A.R.N.P., to their Baptist Urgent Care offices. In this new role, Robards will provide clinical evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of patients at Baptist Urgent Care on Nine Mile Road in Pensacola.

To be included in Around the Region or People on the Move, email your news releases and business announcements to josh@ballingerpublishing.com.

Scott Raynes selected as senior vice president Baptist Health Care (BHC) is pleased to announce that after a highly selective national search, BHC has named Scott Raynes as senior vice president of the Gulf Breeze market segment. Raynes succeeds Bob Harriman, who retired on June 30 after 22 years of service. Raynes will be responsible for strategic planning and leadership of Gulf Breeze Hospital, Baptist Medical Park-Navarre and the Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Rheumatology physician, Taylor Mader, M.D., joins Baptist Medical Group Baptist Medical Group is pleased to welcome fellowship-trained rheumatologist Taylor Mader, M.D., to its growing network of physicians serving the Gulf Coast. Dr. Mader will be working alongside Dr. Rachel Brown within the Baptist Medical Group – Rheumatology practice and will see patients at their office at 1717 North E Street, Suite 532, located within the Baptist Medical Towers.

Ashley Hodge Harris named director of affiliations development and physician outreach for BHC Baptist Health Care (BHC) has named Ashley Hodge Harris to serve as director of September/October 2013

nwflbusinessclimate.com

61