Pensacola Magazine July 2016

sublime summer reading great literary adventures FOR THE dog days of summer

In this Issue: Keeping it cool The bulls are loose shake off the swimsuit blues

Amy Parsons

Pensacola Police Department

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Editor’s Note my two cents on the subject Kelly Oden Executive Editor “You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4th, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism.” — Erma Bombeck I love this quote from Erma Bombeck because, frankly, I’d never thought about the Fourth of July in those terms. She’s right, though. The very fact that we celebrate our country’s independence with family and community fun—barbeque and fireworks, apple pies and ice cream—is a testament to the values we hold dear. And, although we don’t celebrate with a show of strength, that strength is there in our military and our first responders, without whom these grand celebrations, and these freedoms, may not be possible. Even the opportunity to serve is a testament to our country’s ability to change with the times. For decades, women have served in all branches of military and in all first-responder departments. Recent and upcoming laws have made these positions more easily accessible to the LGBT community, as well. In my opinion, this ability to grow and broaden our collective minds is something our nation should be proud of. In the spirit of independence and service, we’ve profiled a few distinctive and exceptional women who

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serve in our community—be it the first responders who work hard to keep our community safe, and who show up first when tragedy strikes, or the members of our military who protect our freedoms and interests at home and around the world These women, and the men and women who share their work, should be applauded for their dedication and service. We hope you enjoy getting to know them. And speaking of exceptional women, in this issue you’ll find information on a Shannon Addison, a local woman who has created the Breadcrumbz characters to help empower young girls. You’ll also find a fun Q & A with one of the Pensacola Roller Gurlz, who are participating in Seville Quarter’s annual Running of the Bulls festival taking place July 21 through 23. All this plus summer reading suggestions, watermelon recipes, fitness tips, and the skinny on Bubba’s Sweet Spot—the perfect place to cool off during what is sure to be a hot July! Stay cool and enjoy the issue.

pensacola magazine | 7

contents JULY 2016 Page 10 with deedee davis 10 pensacola scene 12 a crumby world

The road to selfacceptance is marked with BreadCrumbz

14

34

keeping it cool:

Bubba’s Sweet Spot opens in Downtown Pensacola

17

the bulls are loose 21 shake off the Swimsuit blues 25

31

hydrate y0ur way to a healthy summer 28 sublime summer reading 31 women who serve 34

21

play • live • give 43

Special Section 49 On the Cover: Amy Parsons Photo by Guy Stevens 8 | pensacola magazine

17

25

MAGAZINE

JULY 2016 Owners

Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger

Publisher

Malcolm Ballinger malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com

Executive Editor

Kelly Oden kelly@ballingerpublishing.com

Art Director

Guy Stevens guy@ballingerpublishing.com

Graphic Designer/Ad Coordinator Anna Hitchcock anna@ballingerpublishing.com

Editor

Josh Newby josh@ballingerpublishing.com

Assistant Editor

Dawn Gresko dawn@ballingerpublishing.com

Editorial Intern

Melanie Painter melanie@ballingerpublishing.com

Sales & Marketing

Stephanie Boyce, Account Executive ext. 21 stephanie@ballingerpublishing.com Paula Rode, Account Executive ext. 28 paula@ballingerpublishing.com

314 N. Spring St. | Pensacola, FL 32501 850.433.1166 | fax: 850.435.9174 ballingerpublishing.com Published by Ballinger Publishing:

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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. Š 2016

pensacola magazine | 9

page10 with DeeDee Davis

You would never in a million years guess my mother to be over 80. Not that there is anything wrong with looking your age, though I wasn’t impressed when a store clerk recently, and proudly, told me I got an extra 10 percent off my bill due to the fact that I was a senior. I am sure she thought she was doing me a big favor, but HR for that national craft shop needs to do a better job at sensitivity training for their employees. During the months preceding my mom’s big day, my siblings and I gave her several options as to how to spend the monumental birthday. A cruise? New Orleans? Key West? No. She wanted a dance party. Rock on, Mom. It was wonderful to have so much family come into town for such a joyous occasion. The last time we had a big gathering in my mother’s honor, some of my relatives had a bit too much to drink and ended up causing quite a raucous in the parking lot of the party venue. We figured that since 20 years had passed, it was safe to invite everyone back. Being the oldest of five and living in the same town as my parents means

Doug Mott + Veronica Dias 10 | pensacola magazine

that I have certain inherent family responsibilities, such as coordinating special events. I really wanted this party to be special for her, so planning did involve multiple threats to certain members of our family to be on their best behavior. I went through hundreds of old photos to be used as a video for the party backdrop and admit that the stroll down memory lane did a number on my emotions. Every Christmas tree trimming, every Easter egg hunt, graduations of any kind, you name it; there it was in my dusty old albums. Most of the photos were of us kids with my mother, as my father was more than likely the one behind the camera. Gazing into those innocent little faces while we lined up next to mom, I couldn’t help but reflect on the many lessons we have learned from her. 1. It is never too early or too late to exercise and diet sensibly. My parents still walk three miles a day before they go to yoga and Pilates classes. If my unfortunate father gains any weight, my mother cracks the whip and all sinful foods disappear from their house. It is really a sad thing to hear a grown man whimper for peanut brittle. 2. Learn to keep the peace in your house by staying silent on highly

Kimberly Gosalvez, Steve Gracik + Nancy Whalls

controversial political subjects. Use your voice with your ballot, because you aren’t going to change a thing by engaging in a no-win debate with someone you love. My father has, how shall we say, rather strong views about most subjects, particularly those political in nature. As soon as he begins “expressing himself” in response to something on television or in the newspaper, my mother’s Academy Award-winning performance kicks in. I am struggling with her example as in my home it would mean eliminating any mention of not only politics, but also religion, and most important, football. 3. Make the most of what you have. This starts by strongly adhering to rule number one. It also means that your hairdresser is on your speed dial and that the sales persons in your favorite place to shop for clothes know you by name and give you honest feedback on your selections. 4. Cosmetic surgery is not desirable, but should never be ruled out as a last resort option. Most people have an anti-anything-that-isn’t-natural attitude until they are the one who needs it. My mother has recently begun research on Botox.

Blaise Adams + Rick Faciane

page10 with DeeDee Davis

5. Family matters. There has never been a doubt as to the love my mother feels for her family. She made every holiday special for us, establishing traditions that most of us still honor and have passed on to our own kids. Birthdays always included our favorite dinner followed by a homemade cake of our choice. Our pitiful handmade ornaments still hang on the tree though, mercifully, the silver tinsel disappeared years ago. 6. Women do it all. My mother cooked, cleaned, took care of five children, and performed landscape miracles in our yard with her mowing, trimming, planting, and pruning. All of this, and she still looked like June Cleaver by the time my father got home from work. So here’s to you, Mom. You have been an inspiration to us all, but keep your hands off the peanut brittle and don’t you dare stop dancing. Plenty of dancing went on after the Fiesta of Five Flags coronation at the Pensacola Bay Center, where Dr. Robert Patton was crowned DeLuna LXVII and Elizabeth Major was presented as Queen. Mort O’Sullivan, president of Fiesta of Five Flags Association, gave the opening address and then the festivities began. In lavish pageantry, the processional included a significant military presence and delegations representing the five flags that have flown over this city. It’s an annual

tradition that is filled with history and has become a founders’ day celebration like no other. Special thanks to Adelene Lovelace and her staff for coordinating such an impressive Fiesta. It’s always great to see local business grow and expand. Several in our business community have recently done just that. Congratulations to Ashley Homestore owner Steve Gracik for the open house celebration he recently held in his newly remodeled store on North 9th Avenue. Pianist Gino Rosaria entertained guests as they enjoyed hors d’oeuvres by Nancy’s Catering and Events and shopped the beautiful new selection of home furnishings. Congratulations also to CharterBank for their beautiful newly renovated building on Bayou Boulevard in the Cordova region. City President Doug Mott and Senior Commercial Loan Officer Veronica Dias were there greeting guests and offering tours.

delicious food by Classic City Catering. Johnny Stallworth, a favorite of the local bartenders, took good care of the 100plus guests who stopped by. The full house included Doug Bates; Barry and Laura Cole; Brian and Susan Finger; Don Neal; Edie Mason; Brian Morelock; Kathy Brazeale; and Mort O’Sullivan. The campaign season is hotter than the temperatures and there is no shortage of fundraising events to attend, even if just to learn more about the candidates. Doug Broxson, candidate for State Senator held court at the Fish House Captain’s Room as a bipartisan crowd stopped by to show support. All the dominos have been lining up since Congressman Jeff Miller announced he would not seek reelection, and who could possibly blame him? I hope everyone has a great season of red, white and blues! And remember, football season starts soon.

The latest addition to downtown business, Centennial Bank, rolled out the red carpet as they showed off their newly constructed building on Garden Street. What a beautiful addition to booming downtown. President Blaise Adams, no stranger to the world of banking, opened the doors after hours with a cocktail reception and plenty of

July Birthdays 6 Sarah Davis 13 Mark Proctor 16 Bobby Likis 26 Cameron Cauley 31 Ken Ellzey

Sean Twitty + Teri Levin

Allan Strum + Mort O’Sullivan

Eric Milstead, Stephen Jones + Lisa Bosarge

Bentina + Antonio Terry + Alyssa Townsend

Karen + Johnnie Wright

Kenny + Michelle Nelson

Lou + Frank Castagna

Tom + Beverly Vaughn pensacola magazine | 11

pensacolascene who/what/when/where

Women with Clear Vision WWCV Women’s Shelter, Pensacola

Members of Exodus Ministries

Maryann Andrews + Susan King

Mary Vaughn + Brittni Manners

Pastor Bell, Lt. A. Hemphill + Pastor Ingar Flagg

Brittany Watson

ever’man annual membership meeting Ever’man Grocery and Co-op, Downtown Pensacola

Karen Alexander + Lola

Clay, Una, & Grace Johnson 12 | pensacola magazine

Rhett + Rachel Brown

Kristina + Ron Jones

Meet & Greet with tony dovolani Beré Jewelers, Downtown Pensacola

Tony Dovolani + Barry Cole

Art • EntErtAinmEnt • LifEstyLE

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Art • EntErtAinmEnt • LifEstyLE

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Based on the DreamWorks Animation Motion Picture & the book by William Steig

Book & Lyrics by

Music by

David Lindsay-Abaire Jeanine Tesori Originally produced on Broadway by

DreamWorks Theatricals & Neal Street Productions

Director Stephen C. Lott Original Production Directed by Jason Moore & Rob Ashford Assistant Director Brandi Lane Music Director Tom Baroco

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- ON STAGE July 29 THROUGH Aug 21 Box Office 850.432.2042 • PensacolaLittleTHeatre.com pensacola magazine | 13

A Crumby World The road to self-acceptance is marked with BreadCrumbz by Josh Newby

E

lementary and middle school can be wonderful places of friendship, discovery and appreciation—but they can also be breeding grounds for selfdoubt, exclusionary cliques and psychological bullying and abuse. And while no single product or campaign will forever end this primal nature that rears its ugly head in our formative years, one local mom is taking a novel approach to teaching young girls the value of self-acceptance and inclusion. Shannon Addison, a Pensacola resident and mother of two girls, recently launched BreadCrumbz, a start-up featuring four lovable characters and their fun, everyday adventures with the mission of teaching girls ages 6 to 12 that there is more to their worth as a person than Instagram hearts and social circles. After witnessing for herself the ridicule and embarrassment than can be rampant at school, Addison pledged to apply her can-do spirit and entrepreneurship to a solution. At first, she wanted to develop a line of charms that her daughter could wear in lieu of earrings. After she realized that there was not much enthusiasm for the idea, she pursued the concept of BreadCrumbz. After focus grouping the idea with her own children, she met with the Small Business Administration and a 14 | pensacola magazine

trademark and patent attorney before throwing herself headlong into the idea. “I remember missing a lot of school because of problems I was having with my friends,” Addison said of her own experience. “Kids today face those same problems, and I wanted to impart a solution. These are lost girls, unaware of their own value and how their actions affect others, so I wanted to leave bread crumbs for them.” She pulled from her own girls’ experience and began sketching out some ideas and working on a website, mycrumbyworld.com. The very first tab of the website is an introduction to the characters, where girls can click on each of the four girls for an opportunity to learn more about them via games and personal diaries. The four Crumbz characters— Samantha Sourdough, Rachel Rye, Whitney Wheat, and Penelope Pumpernickel—each have a unique personality and different interests. Despite their differences, however, the Crumbz all encourage girls to find out what it is they like to do and where their interests lie, and to stay true to themselves in all situations. “We as parents, educators, and mentors aren’t doing enough to show young girls that it’s okay to have differences,” said Addison. “It’s okay to be who you are and to like different things or activities than your classmate does. The

BreadCrumbz brand was borne out of this observation, and I’m extremely excited about using the Crumbz to help shape the way girls view and interact with each other.” BreadCrumbz fans can follow each of the Crumbz characters through a series of Trail Tales posted to the company’s website. Each Trail Tail story focuses on one Crumbz character and her

“...taking your anger at yourself out on someone else is not productive.” world, incorporating valuable messages like “Confidence is the best accessory” or “Sometimes friends are the best medicine”. New Trail Tales are posted to the BreadCrumbz site regularly, providing Crumbz fans with plenty of engaging and thoughtful content. The BreadCrumbz website also includes a Parentz Corner, designed as a place for parents to share their own experiences and learn about raising children, and an online store which currently features a BreadCrumbz activity book, Pop Inz charm bracelet

sets, and BreadCrumbz t-shirts. Additional BreadCrumbz product lines are planned. And just in case you’re wondering, Addison has done her research on childhood development and psychology. She routinely interfaces with guidance counselors to understand the issues facing today’s kids, and what lessons will best help with those issues. “When boys bully, it’s generally physical and very easy to spot,” said Addison. “But girls are sneaky. They are psychological, so their issues often go undetected. We need them to know that taking your anger at yourself out on someone else is not productive.” She also wants to teach young girls, as early as kindergarten, important messages, like it is not okay to withhold friendship as a form of manipulation, and that they can do all the math- and science-related things boys can do. Fortunately, Addison reports that the response has been amazing, both in schools and in the community in general. She has been invited to speak at youth groups and other gatherings of young people. It has been five years since the initial idea, and Addison can attest that it has helped her kids gain a fuller appreciation of self.

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Right: Chuck Close, Alex, 1992, color woodcut on laid paper, image courtesy of the Syracuse University Art Collection Left: Stephen Knapp, Installation Image, Courtesy of artist

Keeping It Cool. Bubba’s Sweet Spot opens in Downtown Pensacola Living in Pensacola is already pretty sweet, with the gamut of options catering to the sports fans, history buffs and shopping aficionados in all of us, but it recently got a little sweeter, thanks to developers Quint and Rishy Studer and pro-golfer Bubba Watson. — by Josh Newby Bubba’s Sweet Spot is the new place to be in downtown Pensacola, after a sweaty game of baseball at Maritime Park or a lively jaunt through the area’s historic neighborhoods. The ice cream and candy shop is also a primo destination for tourists, who will want respites from the heat and a cool place to grab some treats before heading back out into the fun.

It is no secret that the Studers have transformed the downtown Pensacola area. From their purchase of Five Sisters Blues Café and development of the Bodacious Olive and Bodacious Brew, to their ownership of the Blue Wahoos baseball team and actualization of apartment living off of Jefferson on the old site, Quint and Rishy have a knack for making the area more entertaining and accessible for all ages and incomes. They are continuing that record with a partnership with locally bred and family friendly golfer Bubba Watson, who is also known for his community involvement. The idea of a colorful candy shop that attracts kids of all ages is nothing new. Many other cities in the country have popularized the idea of a location with inexpensive, tasty treats

pensacola magazine | 17

that everyone can agree on. Whether it is a casual date stop or one part of a much larger day, whimsical shops like this instantly improve the mood of all involved. The store is perfectly situated south of Government Street in an area known affectionately as SoGo. The square blocks have seen a renaissance in recent years much like their neighbors to the north, and the area has become a sole

“

Its classic candy store feel is a burst of nostalgia for the old and a source of wonder for the young.” 18 | pensacola magazine

destination unto itself, with shops and dining options that offer something for everyone. Bubba’s Sweet Spot has been in the works for a while, ever since Quint’s wife Rishy visited other cities and noticed that most downtown areas have a childcentric retail and food service space. She thought downtown Pensacola would really benefit from childlike vision, with bright decorations and bold, local flavors. Professional golfer Bubba Watson wanted in, and Bubba’s Sweet Spot was born. The cost, with its state-of-the-art infrastructure and artful aesthetic, has run over a million dollars. Just like with anything they do, Quint said, the goal is to raise the quality of the city and the diversity of options. Their investments are small prices to pay for transforming Pensacola into a vibrant community. It just recently opened on July 1, and already downtown denizens are enjoying fresh ice cream, gravity-fed candy, a centerpiece lollipop tree, fresh-dipped fruit like chocolate-covered strawberries,

hand-dipped apples and more to satisfy even the highest-standard sweet teeth. Nearby outdoor seating offers picturesque views of downtown while providing incentive to slurp up your delicious ice cream before it melts away. A little old-school 50s diner and little bit new-age Willy Wonka-like daydream come together to make downtown’s next hotspot. “It’s just a fun place where people can enjoy some of the best hand-picked candy the region has to offer before continuing on their way,” said Maryjane Gardner, media and public relations

“

It’s just a fun place where people can enjoy some of the best hand-picked candy the region has to offer before continuing on their way,” manager for the Blue Wahoos who has helped promote this latest venture. “Its classic candy store feel is a burst of nostalgia for the old and a source of wonder for the young.” The Studers and Watson did a great job engaging with the community before the shop even opened. One campaign in particular asked future customers to help pick the logo, engendering a sense of buyin from the area and reinforcing the idea that this isn’t just a store for the well-to-do, but a source of joy for all. The location was originally slated to be on the corner of Main and Baylen, but as that spot was recently approved for the other forthcoming shipping-container coffee project, called Bodacious On-theGo, Bubba’s Sweet Spot has moved to 412 S. Palafox, right in the heart of the SoGo district. “This new location is about 1,000 square feet, which is just perfect for us,” said Jonathan Griffith, president of the Blue Wahoos and of Studer Entertainment and Retail. “It made more sense to put it in this new location, and we’re excited.” As the heat of summer forces us all indoors for delicious and refreshing treats, you’ll find us at Bubba’s Sweet Spot, arguably the “coolest” place in Pensacola.

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s l l u B e h T e s o o L e r a

tick ulls? Then s B e th f o g sixth the Runnin er hosts the rt a a, Spain for u n Q lo p le il m 3. v a e P it to July 21 to 2 best thing. S m t o x fr e Can’t make n la o e c th a r s f the w n Pe n sacola fo al Running o in in Downto u around Pen n n rm e a F e n th a f S o ta De ied version The Sun Also if ’s d y o a annual Fies m w g ’s in la o m Pe n s a c the rnest He ls, including This event is na, made famous by E ir g y rb e d r ne e plo event truly o n. Local roll o is o Bulls in Pam th rn e g ft in A k e a rough ating, m eath in th e, too) get th l be particip Rises and D m il o w lc , e z rl w u re G a r olle ers t do so Pensacola R r area. As runners (walk ts, they mus e e tr s n w u ere are to o nated down n’t worr y. Th of a kind for o ig s d e t, d u n B o . s k at c te tra the whiffle-b on roller ska t ” s s the two-mile ll ju u — “b ts y e b e cal str chased aming our lo ie Painter while being ro s re tu a re c ir y, ls. – by Melan ir g no large, ha y rb e d , d ll-horne carr ying, bu

pensacola magazine | 21

The celebration begins on Thursday with a Spanish wine dinner. The cost of this dinner is $70. Then there is an opening celebration, or chupinazo, on Friday evening that features a procession honoring San Fermin. The main event is the encierro on Saturday and will begin at 10 am as the first cannon is fired, releasing the runners onto the course. The second cannon is then fired, releasing the “bulls” who will chase down the runners. After the run, the festival will continue in front of Seville Quarter with entertainment, food for purchase, and complimentary beverages for registered participants. The event is sure to be a blast and the local derby girls are anticipating a great turn out this year. We caught up with Audrey “Hip-Burn” Preston to ask about the Pensacola Roller Gurlz and their involvement in local fundraiser.

PM: How long have you been part of the Pensacola Roller Gurlz? AP: I’ve been skating with them for two and a half years. I trained as “fresh meat” for six months and I’ve been skating as a full-fledged skater for two years now. This is my first team and my first experience with roller derby. I watched a few games here locally and got so excited about it. One of the girls actually came into my place of employment and she was talking to me about it and said, “Why don’t you play?” I said, “Well, I don’t know how to roller skate and I’m pretty sure that’s kind of a requirement.” She said, “Nope, we’ll teach you everything you need to know. Come on out.” PM: So have you participated in the running of the bulls in previous years? AP: I did. Last year was my first year as a skater, as a bull, and I plan to do it again this year and I plan to go to the New Orleans one, as well. There is one in New Orleans that people from all over the country come to. I think that Pensacola has the potential to grow to that level in just a couple years also. PM: What’s your favorite aspect of the Running of the Bulls event? AP: I love that it’s a chance for us roller girls to interact with the general public in 22 | pensacola magazine

a really fun, light-hearted way. Of course, chasing people with bats and getting to spank them is super fun, too. PM: Is there a lot of preparation and practices for the running of the bulls, beyond your usual practices for competitions? AP: It really doesn’t take any practice as far as the skating aspect because skating is something that most of us do anyway to help with our endurance and skills. But, I think what we put a lot of preparation into as individuals is our costumes and our horns. When you see the girls out there wearing whatever they are wearing that day, they personally put that together. Most of it is handmade, homemade. They are not store bought, so that takes a lot of preparation. PM: I understand the Emerald Coast Derby is also participating, correct? AP: We have derby girls from all over the Gulf Coast. A lot of people don’t know, but there’s roller derby teams all the way from New Orleans over to Panama City and we play each other quite a bit. We have open scrimmages where we mix up and have girls from all different teams playing together. So, yeah. There are derby girls from all the local teams.

PM: One of the rules is that if you go down, stay down. How often do runners actually get knocked down by the hit? AP: I would say, probably not that often. I think more likely people will trip trying to evade a bull and then they try to get up and they are still trying to evade the bull. You’re definitely sore afterwards. I have a couple friends who did it last year that said they didn’t want to sit down the next day. But, you’re not on the ground that often, if at all. There is a safe zone, so if you don’t want to be hit at all, you just want to run and be a spectator, you stay on the sidewalk.

PM: Do you aim for the easy targets or go for the challenge and try to hit the ones that are trying to get away? AP: I want to get them all. Every single one. That’s my goal. If someone is particularly trying to run away from you, it is very satisfying to catch them. PM: How many annual fundraiser type events are the Pensacola Roller Gurlz involved in? AP: A lot. We do a lot of runs and they all benefit different charities. If it’s the weekend and we don’t have a bout and there is an opportunity for us to get the word out about roller derby and help for a good cause, we are all in.

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PM: The Running of the Bulls event benefits the Northwest Florida USO this year. Are you hoping the event will be bigger so it will raise some money for this organization? AP: No doubt. It will for sure. Seville Quarter has been putting on this event for the past few years and it’s been growing, but it hasn’t made a profit. This year we believe it’s going to. People are registering early and they have been signing people up at all the Gallery Nights. We, as Roller Gurlz, have volunteered to be down there signing people up on Gallery Night. You can look for us in front of Seville on any Gallery Night leading up to the run. I think they have almost as many people that participated last year already pre-registered this year, so it’s going to be much bigger. It is going to be great.

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Veranda

of Pensacola

Veranda of Pensacola is a retirement community which fosters long-lasting friendships and a strong sense of belonging. Visit with friends, enjoy the numerous activities, or relax in your own beautiful apartment. Come and see for yourself how our residents are enjoying, “Retirement Living at its Finest.”

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shake off the swimsuit blues By Laticia “Action” Jackson

I

t’s that time of the year again! You know what I am talking about, don’t you? It’s summertime and that means it is beach and swimsuit time! For some women, this is a great time of the year; however, for others it’s a time of dread. For those women who dread this time of the year, you may wonder, “Did I work out enough over the last few months to look and feel great in my swimsuit? Have I gained too much weight and need another swimsuit? Will others stare at my body?” Exhale, and let it go! Yes, exhale, and get rid of the summer swimsuit blues. Summertime isn’t the time to focus on having the perfect body. Besides, the perfect body doesn’t exist during any time of the year. This time of the year is about embracing your body and enjoying the time available to spend with your friends and loved ones at the beach. I am all about being healthy and feeling great, so here are a few tips to look and feel amazing this summer. 1). Color Please: Find a color that you feel absolutely amazing in. Make sure your swimsuit has this color in and throughout it. In order to jazz up your swimsuit, put your hair in a flirty style and add a colorful flower to your hair. 2). Just Move: The warm weather makes it easier to head outside for a nice walk or run. In order to feel great about your body, do something great for your body by committing to exercising for at

least 30 minutes, five days per week. You can also break these into two 15-minute sessions. 3). Hydrate Please: Hot weather means increased sweating. Ensure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day. This will help regulate your body temperature and help shed toxins from your body that can make you look and feel bloated. You can also stay hydrated by eating fruits and vegetables that are high in water content, such as celery and grapes. 4). Say Something Nice: You may not like everything about your body, but try to find at least two things you love about your body in your swimsuit. When you say nice things about yourself to yourself, others will notice. 5). Embrace Your Body: Your body is just as unique as your thumbprint; that makes you one of a kind. Stop comparing your body to other women. You’re amazing. Summertime has a way of bringing focus to bodily imperfections if and only if you allow yourself to focus on what you don’t like about your body. Make this summer different from all the rest. I encourage you to walk confidently on the beach, feeling great about yourself and realizing you’re worth the time, energy and resources to stay healthy and confident not just for the summer but every day. Here’s to loving yourself and your body. I’m cheering you on! pensacola magazine | 25

shake off the swimsuit blues 1

2

1

2

Standing Triceps Kickbacks

GLUTE BRIDGE

Set Up: Stand with feet together, slight bend in knees. Keep torso forward and elbows tucked into side of body while holding dumbbells in a supinated position (hands facing upwards towards your body).

Set Up: Lie on your back with both feet placed on the ground, knees bent, with arms extended by your side.

Targeted Muscles: triceps, core

Action: In a slow and controlled manner, extend your arms by squeezing your triceps. Hold for a count and then bring arms back to starting position. Repeat movement until set is complete. Movement Tip: Fully extend arms without locking elbows.

Targeted Muscle: glutes, hamstrings

Action: In a slow and controlled manner, lift right leg off ground while bridging up on left leg by squeezing your glutes and hamstrings. Hold body in this position for a count and then slowly lower left hip and right leg. Switch legs and repeat movement pattern on the opposite side of your body until set is complete. *Modified Version: Keep both feet on ground, and then bridge up.

About the Author:

Health and fitness expert and 2008 Fitness Olympian, Laticia “Action” Jackson has been called one of the most dynamic and energetic personalities in the health promotion, body awareness, behavior change, community health and fitness fields. With an academic background that includes a Master’s Degree in Public Health, a B.S. degree in Exercise Physiology, and Master Level Personal Trainer, Weight Loss Counselor and Lifestyle and Weight Management Specialist Certifications, Laticia has the knowledge, skills and ability to motivate, inspire and cultivate change in the lives of many. She’s received both national and international recognition by being featured as a quest athlete and writer for over 13 national and international health and wellness publications (Oxygen, Muscle and Fitness Hers, Active USA and more). She’s been the go-to fitness expert for TV shows such as C.W. 31 Good Day Sacramento, Blab TV and WEAR 3. She is the author of four books, including I’m not a Size Zero—I’m a Size Healthy. For more information, visit her website at www.laticiaactionjackson.com or call (850)696-8069. 26 | pensacola magazine

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Hydrate Your Way to a Healthy Summer

Staying well-hydrated is especially important during the summer months.

In addition to normal body functions, higher temperatures draw more water through perspiration, so consciously replacing your fluid content becomes essential for overall health. “Every system in your body—from reproduction and digestion to circulation, mood and memory—depends on water,” said Elizabeth Somer, M.A., R.D., and author of several nutrition and wellness books. However, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 44 percent of adults drink fewer than four cups of water per day (less than half of the recommended eight glasses per day), and in some cases, no water at all. What many people don’t realize is that beverages aren’t the only way to hydrate your body. In fact, water-dense foods such as watermelon can also boost your hydration. Sweetly flavored, low-calorie watermelon is 92 percent water and offers several nutrients along with the cancer-fighting antioxidant lycopene. Whether eaten out of hand, tossed into a salad or blended in a healthy beverage, there are dozens of delicious ways a healthy serving of watermelon can help hydrate.

Watermelon Juice

Servings: Vary, depending on watermelon size 1 watermelon, washed and cut into chunks. Blend 2-3 cups watermelon at a time until smooth. Strain into serving pitcher, if desired.

Crave-worthy snacks.

Thoroughly chill the watermelon then slice, ball or cube it for a quick, refreshing and juicy boost. For kids, cut one-inch slices of the watermelon then use cookie cutters to make fun shapes for snacking.

Frozen treats.

Puree watermelon, add chunks of fruit and pour into freezer molds for a sweet way to beat the heat.

Healthy juices.

Make a simple Watermelon Juice for a great post-workout snack, or try this flavorful Watermelon Lemonade to put a fresh spin on a summertime favorite. Another option: add watermelon to your favorite fruit shakes or smoothies for a new flavor twist.

Salads and sandwiches.

Easily add extra hydration into your regular meals by tossing chunks of watermelon into a salad or layering strips of the fruit on a sandwich or wrap. 28 | pensacola magazine

Watermelon Lemonade Servings: 5 cups

1/2 cup lemon juice 2 1/2 cups water 2/3 cup agave syrup 2 cups watermelon chunks Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Serve over ice. Find more mouthwatering ideas and recipes at watermelon.org.

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summer reading

sublime summer reading

Prepare to fill up your schedule with plenty of reading material this summer. – by dawn gresko

Sometimes all we crave is an escape from our everyday lives. We want a break from our own thoughts and we tend to find refuge by ways of retreating into reading, diving into the oftentimes strange, yet oddly familiar, and alluring world of a well-written novel. So, if you haven’t had luck coming up with a list of good reads to tackle over the summer, or you’ve either read them all or you’ve been skipping out on the lit scene, don’t worry. We’ve done all the heavy lifting for you, putting together a summer reading list for bookworms who follow any genre, so you can spend your free time burning through pages of this season’s next best seller. What’s more, we’ve got the skinny on the new Appleyard Storytelling Cottage in Downtown Pensacola, as well as details on monthly meetings with a few local book clubs. For those who didn’t already know, the Main Library along with its Molino and Tryon branches host book clubs for adults every month, ranging from fiction and film to book to genre chats, so there’s plenty of ways to keep up on your reading and connect with like-minded literature geeks like yourself. Also, for those who enjoy history and non-fiction, there’s the Appleyard Storytelling Cottage, where recordings by Pensacola’s celebrated storyteller John Appleyard paint vivid word pictures of Pensacola throughout the years.

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sublime summer reading Before the Fall

Me Before You

On one ominously foggy, summer night, 11 people depart Martha’s Vineyard on a private jet headed for New York. Then the unthinkable happens: the plane plunges into the ocean. The only survivors are a down-on-his-luck painter named Scott Burroughs and a four-year-old boy, who is now the last remaining member of an immensely wealthy and powerful media mogul’s family. Before the Fall weaves its tale between the aftermath of the crash and the back stories of the passengers and crew members. As the mysteries of who the passengers were begin to unravel, odd coincidences point to a highly orchestrated conspiracy. Was it merely by chance that so many influential people perished, or was there something far more sinister at play? While Scott struggles to cope with fame that borders on notoriety, and to maintain the fragile relationship between himself and the young boy, the authorities scramble to salvage the truth from the wreckage. Dive into this pulse-quickening mystery meets thriller, which raises questions of fate, human nature, and the inextricable ties that bind us together. Although Hawley is perhaps better known as the creator of studio successes like the FX series, Fargo, his newest New York Times Bestseller is guaranteed to help you meet your quota for suspenseful summer reading.

Now a major motion picture, Me Before You puts a different take on the classic tale of opposites attract. Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an ordinary life who has barely been outside the boundaries of her hometown, while Will Traynor (ex-Master of the Universe) is anything but ordinary—having always lived a huge life with big deals, extreme sports and worldwide travel. The two meet when Louisa takes a desperately needed job working for Will, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Understandably so, the accident has left Will in a forever acerbic, bossy, and moody temperament because now he’s pretty sure he cannot continue to live as he is. Nevertheless, Louisa refuses to treat him with kid gloves, but soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she discovers Will has shocking plans for how to cope with his condition, Louisa sets out to show him that life is still worth living. If you’re fan of love stories akin to John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, you’ll find it hard to break away from this heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks a difficult question: what do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

by Jojo Moyes

by Noah Hawley

End of Watch by Stephen King

In Room 217 of the Lakes Region Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic, something evil has awakened. Answering the call to arms is unlikely hero, retired police detective Bill Hodges, who runs an investigation agency alongside his partner Holly Gibney. A thrilling ride that keeps you guessing, End of the Watch follows Hodges and Gibney on their most dangerous case yet, one that will put everyone’s lives at risk as they hunt for a diabolical killer who drives his enemies to suicide. The twist? According to doctors, the killer is in a permanent vegetative state. But, somehow, he has the power to wreak unimaginable havoc without ever leaving his hospital room. He’s back and he’s planning revenge: not just on Hodges and his friends, but on an entire city. Can Hodges and Gibney find a way to stop him, or will they become victims themselves? No one does heart-pounding, supernatural suspense quite like King. Detective fiction meets otherworldly suspend in this terrifying conclusion to the New York Times bestselling trilogy, which began with Mr. Mercedes and Finders Keepers. If you haven’t already picked up the series, perhaps you’ll have second thoughts after reading the teaser for this spectacular third and final installation.

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this is where it ends Marieke Nijkamp

In five minutes, everything can change. Or, everything can end. Nothing interesting ever happened in the small town of Opportunity, Ala. There was the occasional robbery, and a few years ago a car caught fire, but there were never any serious crimes. That is, until the morning Principal Trenton of Opportunity High School concludes her annual speech, welcoming the entire student body to another new semester by encouraging them to excel and achieve, only to discover that when it’s time to leave the auditorium the doors won’t open. Now everyone has a reason to fear the masked boy with the gun. The novel offers an intense and realistic portrayal of the serious and sensitive topic of school shootings, told from the perspective of four students over the course of 54 minutes. Uncover the connection between these students and the shooter as terror reigns and one student’s calculated revenge becomes the ultimate game of survival, begging the question that’s in the minds of everyone: is this where it ends? If you enjoyed the likes of Read Between the Lines by Jo Knowles and My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga, you’ll agree that Nijkamp’s debut (and a New York Times Bestseller) novel is an equally heart-wrenching read that’s impossible to put down until you’ve reached the end.

truly madly guilty by liane moriarty

Sometimes we don’t appreciate how extraordinary our ordinary lives are until it’s too late. Truly, Madly, Guilty shines the light on three seemingly happy families in order to explore the themes of marriage, sex, parenthood and friendship. Sam and Clementine have a wonderful but busy life, especially now that their schedule and hands are full with two little girls, Sam has just starting a new dream job, and Clementine is preparing for the cellist audition of a lifetime. Things get complicated when Clementine’s closest and oldest friend Erika invites the couple to a barbecue with Erika’s neighbors, Tiffany and Vid. Having Tiffany and Vid’s larger-than-life personalities around seem like a welcome respite for Clementine and Sam. Six responsible adults, three cute kids and one small dog sounds like a normal weekend, so what could possibly go wrong? But, two months later, Clementine and Sam can’t stop asking themselves the question: what if we hadn’t gone? Pick up this juicy summer read to see how guilt can expose the fault lines in the most seemingly strong relationships, how what we don’t say can be more powerful than our actions, and how sometimes the most innocent of moments can do the greatest harm. *Not available until July 26

A new way of storytelling

The UWF Historic Trust and John Appleyard Agency have proudly unveiled the Appleyard Storytelling Cottage, previously known as the McMillan House in the Pensacola Historic Village at 213 E. Zarragoza St. After Appleyard approached the Trust with over 50 of his own recordings, provided by Cox Communications, the Trust decided the perfect way to make use of the McMillan House was by incorporating Appleyard’s recordings, which resulted in the Storytelling Cottage—a new way for telling the story of Pensacola. Up to 25 people can fit comfortably inside the walls of the 300-square-foot cottage, which displays mid-century modern décor—a nod to the late 1950s and early 1960s, when the John Appleyard Agency was founded. Another unique aspect of the cottage are its graphic panels, showcasing historic Pensacola photos and illustrations, as well as some of Mr. Appleyard’s own hand- and type-written notes, sketches and book covers. Appleyard’s recordings offer accounts of Pensacola during various time periods, local antique buildings, Native American influences, and much more. While a few kinks are still being worked out, the Storytelling Cottage will be around for at least the next three years with recordings being released in increments of five or six each month. Starting this month, you can expect to hear Appleyard recollect on the different periods of Pensacola occupancy— from Spanish-French to British and Early American. Also, be on the lookout for a special story time session at the cottage, when Appleyard plans to visit local children inperson to read kid-friendly versions of Pensacola’s history. The Trust is working on technology for an interactive touch-screen to allow visitors to select a specific story narrated by Appleyard. However, anyone can peruse the Trust’s archives if they have a certain recording in mind. Admission to the Storytelling Cottage will be free, and all visitors are encourage to delve further into Pensacola’s history by following their trip to the cottage with a tour of Pensacola Historic Village. “The Storytelling Cottage was all made possible because of the Appleyard Family Foundation,” said Rob Overton, executive director of the UWF Historic Trust. “It shows the community is concerned with preserving and promoting our heritage. The community cared enough to invest.”

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Women Who Serve By Kelly Oden Photography by Guy Stevens

The men and women who serve as members of our military and first responders deserve our admiration, support and gratitude. They are often the first on the scene of a tragedy and provide security, comfort and medical attention to those affected. Their jobs are often dangerous, but ultimately rewarding. And, while we love and respect all people who choose to serve, this month we’d like to profile a few amazing women who have achieved distinction in their individual careers, all of which involve service to the community. Luckily for us, the traditional gender stereotypes and cultural norms of the past no longer apply and women who have the will and the desire to serve their communities now have ample opportunities to do so. Thank you for your service, ladies.

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Women Who Serve What do you see as the pros and cons of being a woman in the Navy? The Navy is a great opportunity no matter what your gender. You are recognized and provided the opportunity for increased responsibility based on the effort and performance you put forward in your daily roles, not because you are a male or female. As a nurse, we typically have the same opportunities in a variety of settings that any male nurse has in the Navy. That said, I see no cons to being a woman in the Navy. How did you prepare for the physical requirements of the job? It is important to keep the mind and body healthy so you can be prepared for the challenges of the day. Staying healthy and active keeps the mind sharp and enables you to address the challenges that may come your way no matter the job.

Capt. Sarah L. Martin, NC, USN

Commanding Officer, Naval Hospital Pensacola Captain Sarah L. Martin currently serves as the Commanding Officer for Naval Hospital Pensacola. She was commissioned as an ensign in the Navy in 1987 after obtaining a bachelor of arts degree in nursing from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn. During her 29 years as a Navy nurse, she has served in such locations as Yokosuka, Japan; Camp Lejeune, N.C.; and Twentynine Palms, Calif. Martin was also assigned to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Md., where she held the positions of senior nurse executive in the Surgical Inpatient/Wounded Warrior Ward and chief of staff before being assigned to Naval Hospital Pensacola. Martin has a master’s in nursing from the University of Washington and is married to Marshall Martin, a retired Navy pilot. What motivated you to join the Navy? I was getting ready to graduate from nursing school and wanted an opportunity to experience something different. I wanted to move out of Minnesota for a period of time, but knew I didn’t have the money to make a move with school loans and other expenses I had like most college 36 | pensacola magazine

graduates. My brothers were at West Point at the time and suggested I look into the military. Based on their recommendation, I applied to join the Navy Nurse Corps and was accepted. I only intended to do a three-year tour to obtain nursing experience, but, instead it has been the journey of a lifetime over the past 29 years.

How do you handle the psychological and emotional taxation of the job? Everyone needs to have work-life balance. I have had jobs that have made having a life outside of work challenging. What I have realized is that I am not in this alone. I have a wonderful husband who is retired from the military and is very supportive. I also have many mentors and friends, whom either have been in the military or are still serving in the military, who are also great to rely on for sound advice and counsel. It’s important to ensure that there is time built into our daily routine to enjoy our family, friends and activities--that allows the mind to rejuvenate. What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? I have had so many opportunities that it is hard to pick out just one. But in all honesty, I think my greatest accomplishment was becoming a nurse and then deciding to start my career as a nurse in the Navy. Nursing, and especially nursing in the Navy, has provided me so many opportunities in the clinical areas as well as positions in leadership and management. I’ve also worked manpower jobs within the Nurse

Corps that have provided me a different perspective on how I want to organize health care delivery. Through my jobs in health care and in the Navy, I have met some of the best people in the world to work with – they’ve become my family. Who inspires you? It may sound cliché, but my father and mother inspired me. They provided such a great foundation for my brothers and me. They were educators and were not afraid to speak up on behalf of the importance of education and other beliefs that were important to them. Granted, I think they were bolder than me, but they inspired me to look at things from various angles. What do you love about living and working in the Pensacola Community? Pensacola is like no other duty station I have been before. I have enjoyed every duty station that I have been assigned, but the way the Pensacola community embraces our military is phenomenal. Plus, everyone here is so kind and approaches you with a smile. What advice do you have for young women considering a career in the Navy? For young women considering a career in the Navy, I say the opportunities are endless. I have found that hard work, dedication, sacrifice and humility, and maintaining your sense of humor are important to success in the military. It is also important to have mentors in your life. Seek their advice and wisdom. With hard work and wise counsel the sky is the limit. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would serve in the Navy for 30 years and have an opportunity to run a hospital. It has been truly an amazing ride and I wouldn’t change a thing! I say go for it!

CDR Amy Florentino

United States Coast Guard Commanding Officer, USCGC CYPRESS

CDR Amy Florentino is from Norwich, Conn., and graduated from the Coast Guard Academy in 1999. She has been stationed aboard five Coast Guard cutters: USCGC EAGLE, USCGC BUTTONWOOD, USCGC JUNIPER, USCGC KATHERINE WALKER and USCGC CYPRESS. Her staff tours included: Instructor - Coast Guard Officer Candidate School and the Office of Financial Transformation and Compliance at Coast Guard Headquarters. She has a Masters in Business Administration from Dartmouth College and a Bachelor of Science in Operations Research from the Coast Guard Academy. She is currently the Commanding Officer aboard USCGC CYPRESS (WLB 210) in Pensacola, Fla. CDR Florentino was selected as the Coast Guard Officer Candidate School Chief and will transfer in July 2016. What motivated you to join the Coast Guard? During high school, I knew I wanted to go to one of the service academies and join the military. When I joined in 1995, the Coast Guard was the only branch where all jobs and specialties were open to women. That point of differentiation coupled with the Coast Guard’s peacetime missions were really appealing to me. What do you see as the pros and cons of being a woman in the Coast Guard? Personally, I don’t see any cons of being a woman in the Coast Guard. The hardships I face in balancing my work and my family would be found in any career. I am definitely home a lot less than I would be in another career, but many years ago, I told myself that I would get out if I stopped having fun. The Coast Guard has taken me all over the world, given me a tremendous amount of responsibility at a young age and been a great atmosphere for my family. I won’t say that it isn’t sometimes difficult, but after over 17 years since commissioning, I am still having fun. How did you prepare for the physical requirements of the job? I was an athlete in high school and at the Coast Guard Academy. I have kept running throughout my career, and that helps keep me in good shape. I loved running the Double Bridge Run and Blue Angels Half Marathon while stationed here in Pensacola.

How do you handle the psychological and emotional taxation of the job? I take a lot of pride in knowing that the Coast Guard is completing an honorable mission each and every day. I think about that when I am having a tough day. I also lean on my family for support. My husband is really supportive of my career goals, so that is huge motivating factor for me. Lastly, I aim to stay positive and upbeat at work. A sense of humor and fun goes a long way in handling stress. Life is too short to dwell on the negative, especially working on a 225’ ship with 50 other Coasties living in tight quarters. What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? That is a tough question. I think the operation that I am most proud of is my involvement in port security operations aboard USCGC JUNIPER in the aftermath of 9-11. I was the Operations Officer aboard the cutter and we were immediately recalled following the terrorist attacks. We arrived in the harbor the night of the attacks with New York City still ablaze. We stayed for over a month conducting law enforcement and port security operations. It was a stressful and emotional time, but it was rewarding to be doing something positive for our country after such a negative event. My personal professional accomplishment that I am most proud of is serving in Command

at sea twice. First aboard the 175’ cutter KATHERINE WALKER in Bayonne, NJ and second aboard the 225’ cutter CYPRESS in Pensacola, Fla. The experience of Command is so rewarding because it is such as time honored position and one of ultimate responsibility. As the Commanding Officer, the entire mission performance of the cutter, whether a success or a failure, fell squarely on my shoulders. However, you can’t run a ship alone, so you have to pick a good course of action, make good decisions and then trust your crew to get the job done. Who inspires you? My father. He has always encouraged me and been a source of inspiration. He never put a limit on what he thought I could accomplish and pushed me to do my best. My mother passed away after a long battle with cancer when I was in high school. My dad took care of her while she was sick and then took care of my brothers and me, all holding down his job and providing for the family. I am always thankful for the sacrifices he made so that I would have opportunities.

What do you love about living and working in the Pensacola Community? I love the small town atmosphere, community activities and access to beautiful beaches. My family and I live in East Hill and love our neighborhood. There is always something to do, whether Gallery Night, Blues on the Bay or a baseball game. It has been a great three years for us. What advice do you have for young women considering a career in the Coast Guard? The Coast Guard is a great career option. It will push you to your limits, but will also reward you if you work hard. There are all kinds of career paths both officer or enlisted, that include conducting search and rescue, fixing navigational buoys and lights, inspecting commercial vessels, and responding to pollution cases. There is so much the Coast Guard is responsible for that doesn’t make the front page news.

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Women Who Serve Honestly, I have not experienced any cons of being a female officer. I work hard and give it my all. I don’t try any harder just because I am female and no one at my agency has treated me any different because I am a female. I think times have changed and we must support our fellow officers regardless of gender. How did you prepare for the physical requirements of the job? I competed in Marital Arts until I was about 19 years old. After the police academy, I got involved in long distance running. I participated in many local running events. Over the years, I’ve kept in shape by getting into the gym a couple times each week.

Amy Parsons

Detective, Pensacola Police Department Amy graduated from Tate High School and UWF with a bachelor in business management. At 23 years old, she became a police officer at the Pensacola Police Department. Her assignments at the police department have included Uniform Patrol Division, Neighborhood Services Division and being a school resource officer at Pensacola High School. She is currently a detective in the Criminal Investigations Division and assigned to the ATF Gun Crimes Task Force. She is married to a PPD K9 handler and they have two daughters. When not working, she enjoys spending time with the family outdoors, cooking out, boating, church, attending concerts, and watching NASCAR and FSU football. What motivated you to become a police officer? I had a desire to get involved with our community and to help people. I wanted a rewarding career in which I could make an impact in someone’s life. I believe in our justice system and wanted to help take the real bad guys off of the street.

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What do you see as the pros and cons of being a woman in law enforcement? I think women often appear less threatening and tend to be good at calming people with verbal techniques. There is something about female officers, a ‘mother-type’ officer, that makes it comfortable for people to talk to, which leads to better cooperation from suspects and people we interview.

How do you handle the psychological and emotional taxation of the job? You often see people at their worst. That must being difficult. We often see people in the worst moments of their lives. It’s different for all people. Sometimes being involved in a minor traffic crash could be the worst for one person, while losing a loved one may be the worst for another. An important aspect is being able to empathize with people in each individual situation. All the while, each situation resonates within you. We cannot allow ourselves to become desensitized to events. Once we display that we cannot sympathize or empathize with the citizens of our community, we have lost our ability to successfully provide them the best service possible. At the end of the work day, it can be difficult to go home and not think about the pain and suffering we witnessed. It’s not something you can turn off. I handle the emotion and psychological taxation by having a good support system at home. What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? I am proud of the major cases that I’ve solved over my past 2 ½ years as a detective. I’ve cleared several violent crimes and helped bring justice to our victims. Within the past year, I’ve received a few awards

for my work productivity. I received the Meritorious Service Award for apprehending four career criminals who burglarized several banks and businesses (targeting safes and ATMs) in Escambia County and Santa Rosa County. In March, Chief Alexander awarded me the 2016 Officer of the Year for Pensacola Police Department. Sons of American Revolution also awarded me a Commendation Medal of the year for 2016. Who inspires you? I am most inspired by my mother. She is an oncology nurse at Sacred Heart Cancer Center. She has inspired me in my professional life as well as my personal life. I would give her a hard time growing up. Now that I’m in my 30s, I’ve come to realize that moms do know it all. What do you love about living and working in the Pensacola Community? Pensacola has a lot of good stuff going on. From events downtown to sporting events and the Blue Angels, there is always something to do. I absolutely love our beautiful beaches. I have a lot of respect for the Pensacola community. I think the city police department stands out with its professionalism and integrity. We are held to a high standard and we have a lot of great officers and new administration. I enjoy working with everyone at the police department and interacting with our community. What advice do you have for young women considering a career in law enforcement? Be prepared and expect irregular shift work. It is not a Monday through Friday 8 am to 5 pm kind of job. It can be difficult for a “civilian” spouse to understand and is certainly difficult on family life. Be open-minded and expect to see things that you could never imagine. Get a mentor and make sure they have a good reputation and a good attitude. Surround yourself with positive people. Train hard and give everything your best. Get the job done and do not make excuses.

The cons are being in an environment where some men aren’t as accepting of women in the male dominated field. Another con for me was earlier in my career when my son was younger and I was working 24 hour shifts. That was hard on both of us with me not being there all day and even more difficult on the holidays. My mother was my rock. She helped watch him while I was working. How did you prepare for the physical requirements of the job? I was very athletic when I started with the department. I played sports in high school and college. I continued recreational sports after college and was in pretty good shape. I walk and play softball to try to remain physically fit, but I don’t work out regularly as I should.

Annie Bloxson

Captain, Pensacola Fire Department Annie Bloxson was born and raised in Pensacola by her late parents, James and Josephine Bloxson. She graduated from Woodham High School and Northwestern State University of Louisana with a BS degree in business administration. She has been a firefighter for 23 years and has achieved several certifications including Instructor III and Fire Inspector. She grew up in a large family with nine sisters and two brothers and she is the proud mother to one son, Gilbert Galloway, Jr. What motivated you to become a fire fighter? I actually applied for an administrative position in the office. During my drug screening for that position the recruiter at the time—Marsha Underwood— approached me about a position as a firefighter if I did not get the administrative position. I agreed so I could provide a better life for my son Gilbert. He was my motivation. Being a single parent, my focus was being the best mother to my son. Being a

firefighter, I am able to help save lives and protect the property of the citizens here in Pensacola. This is something I am proud and honored to do. What do you see as the pros and cons of being a woman in law enforcement? The pros are being a positive role model to my son and showing young girls that they can accomplish anything they put their minds to. Another pro is protecting lives and property.

What advice do you have for young women considering a career in law enforcement? To the young women considering a career in the fire service, don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do something because you are a woman. Carolyn Watkins and Robyn Sibley paved the way for me. Ginny Cranor, Angela Rockstad and I are paving the way for the women who follow. Get your education, stay drug and tobacco free. You can accomplish anything thing you put your mind to.

How do you handle the psychological and emotional taxation of the job? You often see people at their worst. That must being difficult. God is good all the time! I pray often and I have family and a few co-workers whom I can talk to through the challenging times. I also schedule time just for myself. I enjoy spending time with my family during Sunday dinner. This is something we continued doing after our parents passed. I enjoy being home watching a good movie or a good game. I enjoy playing sports and taking my nieces and grand godson to the movies. What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? Being the first African-American female promoted to captain in the history of the department. What do you love about living and working in the Pensacola Community? Who wouldn’t love working in a community with beautiful beaches and quick access to major cities in the South? The cost of living isn’t bad either.

pensacola magazine | 39

Women Who Serve How did you prepare for the physical requirements of the job? EMS can definitely be a physically demanding job. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, eating properly and routine exercise helps. At our office, we have a full gym. We also have an employee health clinic, staffed by physicians and nurses, and we can make either sick or wellness check appointments.

Kate Kenney

Paramedic Shift Supervisor, Escambia County Emergency Medical Kate was born and raised in Western Massachusetts and she attended paramedic school in Springfield, Mass. Kate has worked in EMS for 13 years and for Escambia County EMS for six years. Kate moved to Florida in 2008. She lives in Navarre with her husband Steven. They have five children and two grandchildren. What motivated you to become an EMT? I applied to nursing school between 2000 and 2001 when we were experiencing the nursing shortages. Nursing programs were very competitive at the time and I was not accepted into the program. I saw an EMT course at the college and thought EMT would be a good opportunity to get some field experience to add to a future college application. Once I started working as an EMT, I was hooked and haven’t considered another career. 40 | pensacola magazine

What do you see as the pros and cons of being a woman in public safety/emergency medicine? I haven’t experienced any specific pros or cons of being a woman in public safety. I believe it’s more of a “mindset” thing rather than a gender thing. Whether you’re a man or a woman, having the right mindset and the ability to adapt to constant change will help you be successful in public safety.

How do you handle the psychological and emotional taxation of the job? ? You often see people in tragic situations. That must be difficult. There is definitely a psychological and emotional component to working in EMS. EMS is a family. Whether it’s the loss of a patient or one of our own, we tend to rely on each other during difficult situations. If you come into our office during shift change, you will often see the crews discussing various calls. This is how we decompress. I also have the luxury of having a husband who worked in law enforcement. I come home after difficult calls and talk about them with him. If I have a call involving a child, I will come home and have extra cuddle time with my kids. We also have critical incident stress management resources through the County, as well as the opportunity to seek professional counseling if needed. What professional accomplishment are you most proud of? I am proud of becoming a supervisor within a very diverse organization. We are a fast-paced service and come in contact with very sick people. My job is not only about being able to help the sick or injured, which is rewarding in itself. It is also about being able to help the crews who are out on the streets day in and day out serving the public. Who inspires you? I would say my biggest inspirations are my parents. They instilled positive values, a

strong work ethic and provided my brother and I everything that they could. We always did things together as a family—from soccer games to baseball games to family vacations. They gave my brother and I the guidance, encouragement and support to be successful in whatever we did. What do you love about living and working in the Pensacola Community? I love the Southern culture. I also love living in a beach community and in a tropical environment. We can pretty much wear flip flops and shorts wherever we go. I grew up in Western Massachusetts where we had plenty of snow and not much exposure to beaches. The cold days always outnumbered the warm days.

An unbiased look at Northwest Florida candidates: Primary Election Candidate Forums 7pm Tuesday–Thursday, Aug 2–4 General Election Candidate Forums 7pm Tuesday–Wednesday, Oct 25–26 An election cycle tradition going back to the 1970s, RALLY is produced by WSRE in cooperation with the Okaloosa County and Pensacola Bay Area Leagues of Women Voters. Races to be covered: U.S. House of Representatives District 1 Florida Senate Districts 1 and 2 Florida House Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4 Okaloosa County: Sheriff, County Commissioner, School Board, School Superintendent, Property Appraiser Santa Rosa County: Sheriff, County Commissioner, School Board, School Superintendent Escambia County: Sheriff, County Commissioner, School Board, School Superintendent, Tax Collector wsre.org/RALLY

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A community service of WSRE. Hosted by Mollye Barrows and Sandra Averhart.

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Troy Gagliardo Celebrity Chef

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3:40 PM| 41 pensacola6/20/16 magazine

Play / Live / Give JUNE APR 13–16 15

july Hill Kelly Drive-In 8 Movies Series

Get reeled into Maritime Park for the Hill-Kelly’s annual Drive-in Movie Series. This month, fall in love all over again with Despicable Me’s cute and quirky yellow sidekicks, whose popularity earned them their own spotlight in the titular film: Minions. The show begins at 8:15 pm, but you might want to get there early when parking begins at 6 pm. No pets or glass are allowed, but concessions will be available and picnic baskets are welcome. Get your blankets and chairs and prepare for plenty of laughs as you snuggle under the stars and try to decipher the minions’ gibberish. Muak muak muak?

july Robert Cray Band 9

Pensacola, it’s time to offer a warm welcome to Blues Hall-of-Famer, Robert Cray, and his band in concert at Saenger Theatre on Saturday, July 9, when the show starts at 7:30 pm. The fresh and familiar sound of Cray’s music carries American roots, celebrating the vibrancy of rocking “rootsy” blues, soul-filled ballads and timeless R&B. In just over 40 years, Cray and his band have recorded over 20 studio releases and have played concert halls and arenas

Red, White and Blues Week Suit up in your favorite red, white and blue gear to show some spirit while you witness the exhilarating and heart-stopping stunts and maneuvers at the annual, summertime hit: Red, White and Blues Week. Breakfast with the Blues should be overhead around 8 am on July 13, while rehearsals and practice flight demonstrations begin at 2 pm on July 14 and 15. On July 16, the Pensacola Beach Air Show is scheduled to kick off at noon, but the Blues won’t take flight until 2 pm. Get ready to spot the Blues completing complex aerial acrobatics over the Gulf of Mexico during this weekend of high-flying fun. While we celebrate, we also remember to honor those faithful Angels who’ve been lost, but not forgotten, along the way. For more, visit blueangels.navy.mil.

around the world—now to include a special performance in our own Downtown Pensacola. Reservations are required and tickets range $29.50 to $79.50. Find out more, or reserve your seats online, by visiting pensacolasaenger.com.

july Community Wellness 11 & 18 at the PMA

Pensacola Museum of Art (PMA) thinks art and wellness make the perfect couple, which is why PMA is offering Experience Pilates and Experience Yoga at the Museum once every month. Enhance your creative focus and flow by engaging in two mind-body exercises while surrounded by eye-catching exhibits at the Museum. Come together with yoga instructor Nancy LaNasa on July 11 for a yoga session suitable for all levels. Don’t forget to join Pure Pilates owner and master trainer Susan Clark at PMA on July 18 at for pilates training, also welcome to all levels. Remember: bring your own mat and a water bottle. Cost is free to PMA members, and free to non-members with admission to the Museum. All classes begin at 5:30 pm. For more, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

july Vive la France 14

Join Jackson’s Steakhouse for the evening of July 14 to honor Bastille Day, a national French holiday commemorating the storming of the Bastille prison in 1789, which led to the conclusion of the French Revolution and beginning of French Revolution. With Bastille Day serving as the inspiration for the tasting, Elodie Cardon (a native of Lyon, France) has hand-selected four stellar French wines to complement a selection of classic French dishes prepared by celebrity Chef Irv Miller. For reservations, call 850-469-9898 or visit jacksonsrestaurant.com.

july Experiment in

16 Survival with Author George Sigler

Join the National Naval Aviation Museum for its free Discovery Saturday event on July 16, featuring author George Sigler—who will discuss his book, Experiment in Survival. The former navy carrier pilot and his sailing partner Charlie Gore tested survival equipment, techniques and human endurance by willingly becoming castaways at sea for two months in a rubber boat with only six pounds of food and no water. Did we mention pensacola magazine | 43

Play / Live / Give july 23

Running of the Bulls The Bulls are taking over Downtown Pensacola, keeping the summer sizzling with Seville Quarter’s annual tribute to Pensacola’s Spanish heritage, which will be staged July 21 to 23. This year the event will benefit the USO of Northwest Florida. The weekend will officially begin with a Spanish wine dinner, pairing food with wines selected by connoisseur, Bill Carlton. The cost is $70 per person. The opening celebration will take place Friday night, featuring a procession to honor St. Fermin, the patron saint of Pamplona, Spain. The main event, of course, in the encierro, a safe re-enactment of Pamplona’s bull run. The Bulls are local Pensacola Roller Gurlz and other ladies from the roller-derby leagues. The only rules are: run at your own risk, do not touch the Bulls, stay down if you go down, do not stand still, and for those who don’t want to be hit—use the sidewalk! Spectators may watch for free, but runners (or walkers) may register before July 8 for $20, which includes St. Fermin t-shirt and wristband for complimentary beer and soft drinks. After July 8 the cost will be $25. For more, visit sevillequarter.com.

they traveled from San Francisco to Hawaii? Although the Navy declined to endorse the trip officially, when the pilots turned castaways were just over 125 miles from Hawaii the Navy then declared them “an official navy project.” The event will begin at 10 am in the Blue Angels Atrium. Visit navalaviationmuseum.org for more details.

july Snow White and the

16–24 Seven Dwarfs at PLT

The story begins with Snow White, a girl who takes refuge in the forest in the home of seven dwarfs as she hides from the wrath of her evil stepmother: the Wicked Queen. Envious of Snow’s title as “fairest in the land,” the Queen uses a poisoned apple to cast Snow into a deep sleep. But, is she lost forever? Find out if “love’s first kiss” will be enough to wake Snow from her slumber. Bring the whole family along to enjoy Pensacola Little Theatre’s take on this classic fairytale, showing the weekends of July 16 to 17 and July 23 to 24. For more details, or to get your tickets now, visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.

july Flavors of New Mexico 20 with Irv Miller

If you agree that everything tastes great in New Mexico, then don’t miss this month’s cooking demonstration by Chef Irv on July 20, when he shows how the pleasures of Southwest cooking are as big and bountiful as the state of New Mexico itself. Chef Irv will highlight different regions through preparation of a diverse selection of foods and recipes that bring a fusion of cultural influences to the table. Dishes will include those using famous Texan techniques for slow-cooking beef and making fiery red barbecue sauce, as well as Tex-Mex cuisine characterized by its heavy use of shredded cheese, meat, beans and spices in addition to Mexican-style tortillas. Seats fill fast and reservations are required, so make yours ahead of time by calling 850-217-2347.

44 | pensacola magazine

july Boo Fest 2016 22–23

It’s the return of Boo Fest: PGA golfer Boo Weekley’s annual charity golf tournament, making its way to the Pensacola Bay Center for the weekend of July 22 to 23. There will be a silent auction at 8 pm on Friday with live entertainment by Brigitte London, Kris Colwell, Jamey Johnson, Lance Miller and more. For Saturday, the entertainment starts at 7 pm and will feature guests like Tracy Lawrence, James Dupre, Ira Dean, Tracy Byrd and Dallas Davison. Doors open at 5:30 pm and the entertainment starts at 7 pm. Proceeds from the

event go to benefit Santa Rosa Kids House, My Father’s Arrows, Air Commandos Association, Fisher House Foundation, Christ’s Starfish Foundation and local schools. Tickets range $34.50 to $100, and each ticket is good for both nights. To get your tickets now, or for more information, visit pensacolabaycenter.com.

july The Life and Art of 22 Mary Petty

Who is Mary Petty? Find out at this month’s opening reception of The Life and Art of Mary Petty on Friday, July 22 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. This exhibition is organized by the Syracuse University Art Collection and features the works of Petty—the creator of the Peabody family, featured on over 40 covers for The New Yorker Magazine. Petty was an illustrator of books and magazines, and she was known for her satirical depiction of New York City’s Victorian era society. Working in watercolor, Petty meticulously drew her characters and scenes using a limited palette of roses, blues, greens, browns and gold. For more, check out pensacolamuseum.org.

Art • EntErtAinmEnt • LifEstyLE

july Heroes Among Us 28 With a strong military presence,

it’s only fitting that the City of Pensacola has a beautiful waterfront park dedicated to veterans. Veterans Memorial Park features The Florida Vietnam Veterans Memorial, the nation’s only permanent replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Every month, a veteran speaker visits the Veterans Memorial Park as part of the “Heroes Among Us” veteran speaker series, representing those who have distinguished themselves in combat from every generation and branch of the Armed Forces. This month’s speaker comes from the U.S. Coast Guard and the featured guest simply goes by “A Life Saver.” The event begins at 6 pm at Veterans Memorial Park (200 S. 10th Ave.) on July 28. For more details, you may call 850-434-6119, email contactvmpf@gmail.com, or visit veteransmemorialparkpensacola.com.

Consider yourself a collector? Mark your calendars for the weekend of July 30 to 31, when the Hadji Temple will host the Pensacola Coin Club’s annual Coin & Currency Show from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday and 9 am to 4 pm on Sunday. Visitors are encouraged

july 28

aug Sandstock 6

Do peace signs and tie-dye shirts sound like your type of party? If the answer is yes, then you’ll be on board to experience Woodstock the Flora-Bama way at Sandstock coming to Flora-Bama on August 6. Gather for great times, food and music—all devoted to the theme of the summer of love. In fact, attendees are encouraged to dress up in hippiestyle threads, and you’ll receive free peace sign beads if you do. Don’t forget your souvenir Sandstock t-shirt, which, of course, comes in tie dye. Learn more at florabama.com.

aug Jacksonian Guard

july 2016 Coin &

30–31 Collectible Show

magazine

to buy and sell, as well as trade coins, currency, stamps, pocket watches, and other various collectables. Fresh home-cooked food and drinks will be available. Admission is only $1. A few dealer tables are still available for $150 each. For more information, call Steve Gerlach at 850-473-1515, or visit pensacolacoinclub.com.

every Colors Ceremony saturday Fancy yourself a history buff? Make

your next summer weekend outing to a Colors Ceremony by Pensacola’s Jacksonian Guard, a re-enactment group of Jacksonian era soldiers who perform in Plaza Ferdinand on Saturdays, starting at 6 pm. The ceremony commemorates Pensacola’s

Hops & Harvest Enjoy handcrafted beer and food at the Fish House for the Hops & Harvest on July 28 starting at 5:30 pm. Three beers from Fairhope Brewing Company will be featured at the event, and both Lindsey Engel (Lewis Bear Company) and Megan Edwards (Fairhope Brewing Company) will be on hand to discuss the beers and how they are made. Inspired by the handcrafted beers, Chef Jason Hughes has prepared a mouth-watering, five-course harvest menu in celebration of the event. Admission is $65 per person, which includes four handcrafted beer and five courses. Reservations are required, and you may make yours today by calling the Fish House at 850-433-9450.

pensacolamagazine.com pensacola magazine | 45

Play / Live / Give july 29 thru

AUG 21

Shrek: The Musical This musical adaption of the major motion picture follows the ogre named Shrek, an unlikely hero who finds himself on a life-changing journey alongside a wise-cracking donkey and a feisty princess who resists rescue. Throw in a short-tempered bad guy, a gingerbread cookie with an attitude, and over a dozen other fairytale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a special hero… Luckily, there’s one on hand: his name is Shrek. If you know what you’re taking the kiddos to see at the Pensacola Little Theatre this summer, then reserve your tickets to Shrek online at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

195th birthday and Florida as a U.S. Territory. For 25 minutes, soldiers, fifers and drummers perform in 1821 uniforms and offer military salutes along with displays of manual of arms, fife and drum music, and the lowering of a replica 23-star flag that first flew over the plaza. For more details, follow Jacksonian Guard on Facebook, or call 850-466-5220.

july Take Me Out to the 9-31 Ball Game

What do Shuckers and Braves have in common? Each will rival against the Pensacola Blue Wahoos this month during the team’s home games at the Blue Wahoos Stadium. So, be a good sport and come out to root for Pensacola’s home team. Call 850-9348444 to reserve your seats for any one (or all) of the upcoming home games. Visit bluewahoos.com for more details on upcoming games. July 9-13: v. Biloxi Shuckers July 20-24: v. Biloxi Shuckers July 31: v. Mississippi Braves

july Bands on the Beach 12, 19, 26 AUG 2

Tunes and toes in the sand, what could be better? Soak up the summer even after the sun sinks down over the water by checking out Bands on the Beach every Tuesday at 7 pm. For safety, keep pets and glass at home. But, aside from that, bring your own chairs, blankets

46 | pensacola magazine

and enough concessions to last until the show ends. For more details, call the SRIA at 850-932-2257, or tune in to Cat Country 98.7 to hear the latest updates. July 12: The Rowdies July 19: Swamp Dog Honey July 26: Kyle Parker Band August 2: Hot Sauce Band

july Vinyl Music Hall 7-30

Every month, Vinyl Music Hall hosts a wide variety of acts, events, performances and more that draw a diverse crowd to Downtown Pensacola’s go-to venue. This month is no exception, so don’t miss out on any one of the upcoming shows including the Comic Book Party on July 15, a precursor to Pensacola Para Con coming in August. Get your tickets now, or find out more on July’s calendar of events, by visiting vinylmusichall. com. July 7: Chris Thomas King (King of 21st Century Blues) July 15: Jukebox Superhero - Comic Book Party July 27: Leon Russell July 30: Bust Out Burlesque’s Bad Girl of Burlesque

july Sunset Paddle

every It’s summertime, Pensacola! There’s friday arguably no better way to cool off and

make the most of the season than by getting outdoors and exploring the coastal waterways on either a stand up paddleboard or kayak at Outdoor Gulf Coast every Friday evening from 7 to 9 pm. Unwind at the end of your day with a sunset paddle, which is totally free if you bring your own craft. Otherwise, the cost is $25 per kayak or paddleboard rental through Outdoor Gulf Coast. If you’re interested, call 850-466-8477 to RSVP and reserve your spot today to get front-rows seats to watching the sun set beautifully on Pensacola Bay.

Learn To Sail With Confidence

And Have Fun Doing It!

Creatisphere Summer Art Camp Creatisphere is the ultimate summer art experience for children age 8-14 who want to create! Each week will be a be a new and different adventure in art making featuring workshops in: Glassblowing • Pottery • Photography Painting • Sculpture • Mixed Media • Mural Art Fiber Arts • Collage • Comics and Illustration 3-D Design • Technology Lab And Much More!

For 2 weeks of camp Creatisphere will be joining with the Mess Hall! To see available dates and details for age groups 8-11 and 11-14 look under workshops at Firstcityart.org, or call (850) 429-1222

All Summer sessions offer Beginner to AdvancedAges 6-17 Children learn basic knots, boat handling, sailing fundamentals, and how to be a Pirate! They will experience sailing windsurfers, catamarans, Flying Scot, 420, Laser, and prams. Sessions are weekly from June 6- August 5th. Register on-line at: pensacolayachtclub.org

never be bored. downtowncrowd.com

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A place for you in Pensacola

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Extended Stay AIRPORT/CORDOVA MALL

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601 East Chase Street 850-432-0202 ResidenceInnPensacolaDowntown.com

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48 | pensacola magazine

2016 Rat Pack Reunion A fundraiser gala benefiting Council on Aging of West Florida

Friday, October 21 5:30–11:00 p.m. New World Landing Join us in honoring four fantastic leaders in our community: DeeDee Davis, Joe Durant, Sheriff David Morgan, and Ray Russenberger. For more information on sponsorships opportunities and tickets, visit ratpackreunion.com.

SPECIAL SECTION

SPECIAL SECTION 52

Making History WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A HISTORIC PROPERTY, HOW DOES IT GET DESIGNATED AS SUCH, AND WHAT’S THE END RESULT IN DOLLARS AND CENTS?

· OTHER STORIES ·

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61

Pragmatic Internationalism

Going Into Overtime

Around the Region

HIS PRESIDENCY IS SOON OVER, BUT THE RESEARCH ON THE IMPLICATIONS OF PRESIDENT OBAMA’S FOREIGN POLICY IS JUST BEGINNING.

THE NEW DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OVERTIME RULE MEANS EXPANDED PROTECTIONS FOR OVER 4 MILLION WORKERS...BUT AT WHAT COST?

FIND OUT WHAT IS HAPPENING IN BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT AND CULTURAL NEWS IN THE GREATER PENSACOLA AREA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 49

Politics

Pragmatic Internationalism by Josh Newby

As his presidency draws to a close and the nation collectively looks to his potential successors, much has been written about the last eight years in Obama’s America— his economic triumphs, his legislative failures, the critiques of drone usage and Guantanamo Bay, and the victories of equality and minority rights. At the sunset of his tenure, University of West Florida assistant professor of government Jacob Shively, Ph.D., has written a book on Obama’s foreign policy and how that has affected our standing in the world. With accessible language and an easily digestible page length, Dr. Shively presents to the world his synopsis of the simultaneously maligned and praised aspects of Obama’s international doctrine.

Shively teaches and researches international relations with a focus on foreign policy. His book, Hope, Change, Pragmatism: Analyzing Obama’s Grand Strategy, is available on Amazon. Northwest Florida’s Business Climate sat down with Shively to explore the depths of his knowledge on this issue and ascertain a well-informed, measured understanding of what the past eight years means for America’s international actions and ideology going forward.

What is your background and the study’s methodology?

I have been here at UWF for three years. My research starting in grad school was really focused on U.S. foreign policy and grand strategy. My dissertation compared Carter and George W. Bush’s foreign policy. I wanted to extend my research with this project. The larger goal is to think about the US’s role in the world and how that’s changing. In terms of methodology, I tried to keep it pretty simple. I wanted to create a framework that we could use to apply to any grand strategy in any administration. What I mean by grand strategy is how a state uses all the tools at its disposal to achieve goals in the international sphere. It’s an approach to the world. The problem is that most researchers and commentators use different criteria to define grand strategy, or they’ll conflate what they think the strategy should be with what it might be, objectively speaking. I wanted to look objectively at what Obama was doing, especially because he’s come under a lot of criticism over the last couple years for some of his decisions. His counter-argument is that he’s playing the long game and set the U.S.

50 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

up for success over the long run. I wanted to set up a basic framework to study and apply to the Obama administration. Rather than look at the whole administration as a historian might, I wanted to cut it up into more discrete cases. That expands your number of observations within a single case. I looked at the Obama administration’s first year in office when they’re trying to set early precedents and set up his philosophy. The next case is 2011, which is particularly the Arab Spring. In both cases so far, the administration is confronted with defining their relationship with the world. Should we be more engaged or less engaged? The third case is 2014 where you have ISIS bursting onto the scene early in the year, then later in the year, the Russians are getting deeply involved with Ukraine. So they have to think about how they use power.

You describe that overarching doctrine as pragmatic internationalism, right?

Well the administration has not really given us its own terms to describe what it’s doing in the world. I don’t think Obama and his team thought they were doing anything radically

new. When it comes to foreign policy, we see ambitions early on. In 2009, they look at banning nuclear weapons and building bridges with Iran. We see fundamentally an attempt to constrict America’s engagement with the world, but he is insistent that the U.S. remain the most important leader in the world. But particularly coming off of the financial crisis of 2008 or the wars in Iraq, he doesn’t think we can afford to do that in as expansive ways as it used to. So it’s still internationalism, which started with World War II, but it’s more restrained.

You say in the book that that doctrine was promising but ultimately poorly implemented.

Interestingly, a number of critics and supporters of his approach to foreign policy say that they recognize the need to revisit how we define American leadership in the world. It was promising in the sense that it was attempting to break the inertia of the Cold War that had been in place for 15-plus years. We wanted to adjust to the world as it was changing. A lot of people on both sides of the aisle would say that’s a healthy

thing. You need to stay current with the international environment without all of your policy being dictated by decisions that were made decades ago. Inertia is of course a powerful factor in bureaucracy. It’s really difficult to make those kinds of adjustments and changes. They happen at a grand strategy level, but making sure it filters down throughout the institution is another matter.

Do you think the nature of bureaucracy is one of the contributing factors that led to its poor implementation? To some extent, yes. It’s just a big shift to try and turn around. I will say that our military is constantly looking ahead and trying to be nimble. Another problem with the failure of this approach was that, coming out of the White House, it was not clear what kind of leadership Obama was looking for. They thought they were being very clear, so during the Arab Spring and they get involved in Libya but not in Syria, but it’s hard to walk away from those issues and draw any hard and fast lessons about what their priorities and values were. I think they had some internal

ideas about what they were doing, but it was never well communicated. For other governments, that makes it difficult to interpret where the administration is going. The other argument that I introduce at the end is the idea of strategic inaction. I think the administration probably saw themselves as being really savvy about not acting where everybody else was saying they should act. They were not going to be pressured into acting. They may have been right. In Syria, for example, there’s no good answer. You can’t get more involved, but you can’t really get less involved either. They more or less probably set the best possible tone, but it’s not a tone of American success. They’re slowly wearing them down, which is probably best, but the problem is that seems to broadcast weakness to critics. So the administration think it’s being savvy and strategic, but a lot of outsiders look at it and say that it looks like weakness.

How has that shaped our standing in the world? Do foreign governments perceive a bit of whiplash from the Bush years? The whiplash isn’t as strong as you might think. By the end of his second term, Bush was far more conciliatory than he gets credit for. They learned their lessons and realized they overreached with Iraq, but that was really the only aggressive invasion that they pursued. They did some special forces elsewhere in the world, but Obama actually dramatically expands that with the use of drones. Obama defined his foreign policy as a clear distinction from Bush. For most leaders around the world, they felt very worried about Bush early on after 9/11, so Obama looks like somebody they can understand or work with. At the end of the day, though, Obama is still pretty insistent about still representing U.S. economic and security interests first, and he has constraints at home with the Recession. So there’s a perception of whiplash or a decline in standing, but the best way to look at that is waves on the top of a larger ocean. Sometimes the challenge seems really dramatic, but most other governments recognize that it’s a big shift and it’s hard to turn. They get loud and protest if the U.S. does something that concerns them, but at the end of the day, they trust us to be stable more than any other government. Any given president can only do so much and we have a lot of other assets that preserve our standing.

Does a president’s foreign policy influence at all the subsequent president’s policy? Is there a reaction there?

We usually treat candidates as someone brand new, but it’s very stable over time. If you look at the transition from the 70s to 80s—Carter to Reagan—that’s one of the more dramatic shifts that you have, and even there it’s only at the margins. Even with Bush to Obama, it looks dramatic, but you really see a lot of continuity across the process. The best way to think about it is the grand strategy more or less remains stable, but different presidents influence different regions, so that’s where you may observe change. There’s not much difference unless there’s a fundamental interruption like World War II that causes a scramble.

still staying engaged but attempting to not be the single state that always comes in to address an issue or problem, or at least doing that in conjunction with others. So whether you like or hate the Iran deal, it was done with five or six other nations. One positive outcome will be the recognition of investing in long-term American interest around the world, but not doing it through military power.

Did 9/11 do that for Bush?

I don’t think so. He did not achieve what he was hoping in 2009. There are some legitimate successes, but they were trying to completely change the discourse. They thought that Obama by his very character would change the tenor of international politics and they

It almost elevates to the level of one of those dramatic breaks. Bush tries to use that moment to be more assertive in the changing or shaping the world. They go in Afghanistan and start talking about using U.S. power to go out and change the world. Iraq becomes the next target. The larger story there is the neoconservatives and they were frustrated when the first Bush in the early 90s did not take out Saddam Hussein, so they’ve been waiting in the wings and 9/11 gives them this opportunity to push this agenda. People thought we were at the beginning of a new US relationship with the world, but it didn’t last because it was just too expensive to maintain. Most Americans think Iraq was poorly handled if not a bad decision. That was the moment of potential dramatic and fundamental change, but what it did allow was a shift in tone and a shift at the margins in the regions we focus on. Even if Trump or Sanders got elected, they wouldn’t be able to transform foreign policy to the extent they claim.

quickly resorted back to more traditional tactics. They were savvy in that sense, so they didn’t have their heads in the clouds the way some charge.

At the start of his presidency, Obama wanted to repair relations with the Muslim world. Was he successful in that?

Dr. Jacob Shively

Is it true that Republicans are more hawkish and Democrats are doves?

That’s very misleading. We want to draw correlations, but you have to be less distinct with American policy. Republicans are more comfortable with being hawkish and they enjoy the rhetoric. Democrats want to focus more on domestic issues, but they can’t get around the budgetary and Congressional restraints. So it’s not so black and white.

Is there a particular positive facet of Obama’s foreign policy that will be long-lasting and will ripple throughout the following years? Most of the discourse is on this projection of weakness. I would say his attempt to downshift U.S. foreign policy will probably be a legacy that will help some of his successors. By that, I mean

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 51

History

making history How historic preservation and designation is handled on the local and state level, plus a look at the benefits of historic preservation on our economy BY DAWN GRESKO PHOTOS BY DEBORAH DUNLAP

ensacola has more than 400 years of history. Even before we unearthed that Pensacola is the earliest multi-year European settlement in the United States, thanks to the discovery of 16th-century Spanish pottery pieces earlier this spring, any local could have told you that our city houses a fair share of multicultural heritage. It goes without saying that our history is a vital part of what makes our city unique and it is precisely why we endearingly refer to our home as the “City of Five Flags.” But, what does it mean to call a site “historic”? And how does preserving an “old” building help bring in new money, jobs and profit for the city? The answer requires a rather in-depth explanation that we’ve tried our best to break down for easy reader digestion. To better help us understand just how history is made, we offer a glimpse into the procedures of the City’s Architectural Review Board and UWF Historic Trust, showing how both groups make a decision on what properties meet historic preservation and designation criteria. First and foremost, before calling or designating a property as historic, a case must be built and presented to the Architectural Review Board (ARB) to argue why a building should be considered historic property. “It’s been hard to put information about preservation together in a way people can understand in the short tidbits that people want,” said Ross Pristera, historic preservationist with the Historic Trust and ARB. “Preservation is not just about an individual building, but how that building and its history plays into the larger picture. That’s preservation: looking at the larger picture, long term effects, and protecting the uniqueness of a site because it is an asset that will better the community.” There are two main criteria the ARB looks for: the property must be 50 years or older, and it must have either history or an architectural style that is significant to a historic time period. By “having history,” we mean the site is attached to a person of historical interest or significance, or a noteworthy event must have taken place at the site. Following that line of thought, in some cases, the ARB will consider designating a building that is less than 50 years old for historic status. This is only if the property was either the site of a major event, or the building is part of a period style found throughout its surrounding neighborhood. For example, does the building share characteristics with others around

p

52 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

it? If so, then one can build the case that building has cultural merit as part of “a working class neighborhood of the 1880s.” In other words, the neighborhood and the time period it represents would be rendered imperfect with the sudden addition of a modern building. In terms of how much of a historic property can be changed in renovation, you may alter the site as you please so long as you are not located in a historic district. You also have restrictions to what you can alter if you are getting federal money to put into the property. If you are in a historic district, then you have to follow the rules already established by the district. If you are getting federal money for preservation efforts, then chances are the property is for public use and the funds must be used to renovate or repair aspects of the building the public can utilize. Here in Pensacola we have four historic districts and one aesthetic review district. The four historic districts are as follows: East Hill, Pensacola (better known as Seville), North Hill and Palafox Business districts. The districts of North Hill and Seville are most restrictive in terms of what can be changed on property—from limiting paint colors to what type of windows may be installed. Seville and North Hill historic districts are on the National Register of Historic Places, and part of Palafox Historic Business District was listed on the register this year. The National Register of Historic Places is administered through the National Park Service and contains the official list of historic places in the United States deemed worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, it is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate and protect America’s historic and archaeological resources. The Palafox Historic Business District, spanning from Chase to Zaragoza streets and Spring to Tarragona streets in Downtown Pensacola, made it on the National Register of Historic Places thanks to the efforts of

University of West Florida public history alumna, Cynthia Catellier. The Palafox Historic Business District includes 129 properties, and its addition brings the total of National Register properties in Downtown Pensacola to nearly 600. National Register inclusion offers a variety of benefits, including tax credits, real estate and tourism support, and grant opportunities. The UWF Historic Trust has a total of 1,800 historic properties in Downtown Pensacola, and they work to maintain those records so they are well-researched and documented for home- and business owners, as well as architects, who may want to restore the property to its former glory. This past year, the Historic Trust has had a successful period of grants, which totaled in at roughly $244,000. Traditionally, government agencies and nonprofits receive more tax incentives from state and federal grants. Almost all of these incentives require a dollar-for-dollar match. Florida has a generous preservation program on the state level, and there are two preservation grants: one is a small matching grant, offering anywhere from $1 to $50,000 for which smaller nonprofits, churches, and other organizations usually apply. It is a very competitive grant for which you have a year to complete the project under. The second is a special category grant ranging from $50,000 to $500,000, which can be matched for up to a million dollar project, and with this grant you have two years to complete the project. The small matching grant has always been offered on the state level. However, since the Recession more money has gone into matching grants since funding preservation projects gives a lot of people more work—from specialized engineering to design and construction jobs. To further establish incentives for communities to go forward with preservation efforts, rural communities can meet a 25 percent match of funds, which helps out the communities so they can restore a historic jewel to attract people and stir development.

‘That’s what it’s all about,” said Pristera. “We put money into a building and we hope the person next to us does the same and that’s how we build off each other.” For private companies, if you’re tax- or incomeproducing property, then you could go for tax credits from the federal government. But, what about tax incentives for homeowners whose properties do not generate income? You may go through a paperwork-heavy process to apply for a program called the Historic Property Ad Valorem Tax Exemption. Essentially, if renovating a historic house, any money you put toward restoring materials will lower the taxable amount of your property’s new appraised value, and your house’s appraised value remains consistent for 10 years. Preservation tends to be more cost efficient for property owners, since you do not have to factor in demolition and disposal costs, as well as the price of new materials. This is because most preservation efforts take an old building and give it a new use, preserving areas that are most intact and rehabbing the interior as needed so cost is minimal. Moreover, if you are restoring an older building, then you do not have to meet the same, strict requirements as new buildings must. Of course, the older building must be deemed safe and stable, but you have more flexibility in terms of water retention and hurricane codes. Before any type of project can begin on a property designated historic, nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 53

History

a proposal must be drawn up and submitted to the City of Pensacola’s ARB for approval. The ARB looks at a number of factors and potential impacts, such as: whether or not the development will benefit the community, and the board judges the appropriateness of the architectural plan for a new building in terms of how it relates and communicates with the neighborhood around it. They also consider whether or not the old building could and should be moved and saved before considering demolition. The ARB’s reviewing process can take anywhere from four to eight months, which not only allows time for their own investigation of a historic property, but allows the community time to submit their input regarding the proposal for the site. The Sunday House, for example, was an unusual case for the ARB. For starters, a proposal was not submitted to the ARB prior to working out a plan for the property. Although the ARB’s evaluation of a property typically begins with a proposal, followed by a board member’s visit to the property, the ARB conducted a site visit before reviewing the application for the Sunday House. The ARB visited the property in response to receiving a report that the site was structurally unsound, plus it contained mold and asbestos. However, the ARB determined the building was not as changed as the report had implied, and as far as the ARB was concerned the property was in better condition than many other properties that the board has helped restore. As it stands now, the ARB does not believe the plans proposed for the Sunday House will set the right architectural language for the rest of the neighborhood. The proposal contains plans for a parking lot that does not meet the City’s code and the property will not meet water retention codes. The ARB has to consider a range of questions about the property, such as how will it look in the surrounding neighborhood. The plans for the Sunday House property show over 20 townhomes in a single location, which gives the impression of an isolated island of dense houses in an area without similar development. Even though the ARB has tabled proposals in the past, it is very rare that they ever deny a proposal. Over the past 10 years, the ARB has tabled roughly 90 proposals to get more information about a property before it was lost. Ultimately, the ARB aims to speak for the community and they want successful projects that will move forward to completion. They want to confirm plans for the Sunday House property will benefit the community in the long term, and, for 54 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

this reason, the ARB is calling for a drastic revision of site proposal if the plans for Sunday House are to move forward. While there are arguments that preservation stifles development, the truth is exactly opposite: preservation creates jobs and encourages heritage tourism—meaning an increase in visitors coming to Pensacola (and spending money) because of our area’s unique history. From our Spanish forts like Pickens and Barrancas to the iconic Pensacola Lighthouse, the value of preservation is not only in retaining such landmarks and properties that make our area special, but in the positive impact of preserving these pieces of history for bettering our economy by increasing jobs and tourism. “If you look at Pensacola over the years,” said Pristera. “It’s clear that using the resources we have, including our history, has played into the success of where we are now. Part of the Palafox Business District has been added to the national register and Palafox Street is one of the Top 10 Great Streets in America.”

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Economy

GOING INTO OVERTIME A new overtime rule from the Department of Labor sounds pretty simple—if you work over 40 hours per week and are on a salary of less than $47,476, you are entitled to time-and-ahalf—but in this world of competing employer/employee interests and large profit disparities between small and large businesses, the regulation might have many unintended consequences. Some of those consequences will be great for workers and business alike—while other consequences may result in a quandary worse than the one the rule was supposed to remedy.

by Josh Newby

T

he expanded overtime coverage marks the most significant change to the way time-and-a-half is dispensed since 2004, when amendments were made to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) that addressed the determination of which employees are exempt from the requirement for minimum wage and overtime pay. Even then, the changes dealt with executive, administrative, professional, creative and sales positions and did not tweak the salary threshold, which had been set in the 70s. It should be noted that, since the 70s, it is estimated that nonfarm productivity has increased nearly 50 percent. Until the new rule takes place, those making under

$23,660 who work over 40 hours a week are entitled to overtime pay, unless you are in a supervisory position of some sort or are in a terminal position, like an attorney. When the new rule is implemented on Dec. 1, 2016, however, that figure increases to $47,476, or $913 a week, and there are no longer exemptions for managerial positions. There are, however, exemptions from registered nurses, hospital employees, some public school teachers and some seasonal hires. “This new change may seem scary, but the Department of Labor has put in a lot of safety nets,” said Amie Remington, an attorney at Landrum Staffing Services. “If you’re not open

12 months a year, for example, and your gross receipts do not exceed $500,000, there are certain workarounds to the regulation.” The average American workweek is 47 hours, so a lot of salaried workers stand to benefit from this change. In fact, the Labor Department estimates that as many as 4.2 million executive, administrative and professional employees who earn above the old threshold but below the new one will be able to receive time-and-a-half for the hours above 40 they work each week. A primary concern of the Labor Department was that many workers were being taken advantage of, sometimes clocking in at 60 hours a week with no additional nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 57

Economy compensation, all because they are salaried. Record-keeping will become a paramount concern as the new changes roll in toward the end of the year. Salaried employees will be expected to keep a timesheet of their professional activities so that their employer will know whether or not to dispense overtime pay. If the employee complains that they are not being properly compensated, the Department of Labor can perform an audit and require fines of the offending company. Moreso, the organization would be on the hook for attorney’s fees and possibly even liquidated damages up to double the missed pay, plus statutory interest. “It’s obviously in a company’s best interest to comply,” said Remington. There are a couple of different ways to comply, though, that may be more costeffective than beginning to pay large swaths of the population time-and-a-half. For example, while they can simply start paying overtime rates to applicable workers, they can also raise an employee’s salary to above the new threshold to avoid the “penalty.” Employers can also more strictly mandate that laborers do not work more than 40 hours a week, then bring on part-time workers to fill the gap. “The result is equity in the workplace,” said Remington. “These are some positive impacts.” This is also a great opportunity for organizations to look closely at working patterns and explore greater efficiency options. Company managers may discover

that there are some unnecessary tasks they are giving to employees, or that paperwork has unintentionally made the workday rife with bureaucratic time-wasting. By trimming the fat and making processes more effective and efficient, employers may find that they can avoid overtime pay while making their business run more smoothly, all because this regulation forced them to take a close look at their internal procedures. While this change is likely to catch many by surprise, the change was actually proposed in 2014. In 2015, the proposed regulations were released prior to a comment period, wherein the Department received about 270,000 recommendations from the public. It is only after a two-year vetting period that these regulations are being implemented. Nevertheless, there are various organizations that have come out against the change. The Florida Chamber Foundation released a statement saying that the federal overtime rules were a cause for concern in Florida’s small business community. The most recent Florida Chamber Foundation Small Business Index Survey showed 22 percent of Florida’s small businesses say government regulations are their top concern, up from 10 percent last quarter. Florida small businesses were particularly concerned with recent changes to Federal overtime regulations. Especially in Northwest Florida, where tourism is big business, hotel resort managers and others in the hospitality industry are beginning to sweat the upcoming date.

Overtime Rules Around the World

China

Employees who work over 40 hours are entitled to time-and-ahalf, and workers are not allowed to exceed 36 hours of overtime per month.

United Kingdom

There is no ovetime compensation in the UK, but employers are discouraged from allowing their workers to exceed 48 hours per week, unless the employee agrees to the overage.

France

Hours over 35 per week are paid on an increasing level of compensation: 1.25 times the normal wage for the first eight, and time-and-a-half after that. French laborers are not allowed to work more than 10 hours per day, but can stretch to 12 with employee and employer agreement. No matter what, however, they cannot exceed 48 hours per week.

Canada Photo: Saptarshi Biswas 58 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

Overtime regulations differ by jurisdiction, with some drawing the line at 40 hours and some at 44. Usually, though, the overtime rate is 1.5 times the normal wage.

“

This is a dramatic increase of more than double the previous threshold.”

“This is a dramatic increase of more than double the previous threshold,” said Todd Thomson, vice president of public affairs for the Greater Pensacola Chamber. “Because this is not legislation, we’re kind of hamstrung in our ability to fight against it, so we’re just informing people.” The Chamber and other pro-business groups believe that this rule will make it more difficult for businesses wanting to expand, and even for someone looking to create a brandnew business. “Maybe if this change had happened gradually, it could be something people could adjust to and plan for,” said Thomson. “As it is though, we are afraid that in this tourism-heavy region, managerial positions

may be made hourly—thus stripping them of benefits—and employers won’t be able to hire new people. There are all these additional barriers now to doing business.” And tourism is not the only industry that may be negatively affected. Remington laments the fact that there is no sort of non-profit exemption, especially in an area home to over a thousand such organizations. The rule is already facing some degree of legal scrutiny, as well. In late June, the Supreme Court asked a lower court to look at whether federal law allows the agency to require people working as service advisers at auto dealerships to receive overtime pay. A California auto dealer claimed that its service advisers were similar to salesmen and

mechanics, who are exempt from the FLSA requirements. These types of nuances always emerge in the wake of broad regulatory changes, according to Remington. As Dec. 1 gets closer and closer, many similar questions and concerns will undoubtedly be raised. Organizations on both sides of the issue are working to educate and inform the public about the standards and ramifications so that no one will be caught off guard, but it is anyone’s guess if this change will have the intended effect of protecting workers and helping to eliminate output/ wage disparity, or if unintended consequences will further cripple already struggling small businesses.

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 59

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Around the Region

Pensacola Museum of Art part of University of West Florida The University of West Florida has entered into a gift agreement with the Pensacola Museum of Art to transfer the museum to the University of West Florida – effective July 1, 2016. This agreement will complement art education at UWF as the University assumes responsibility for nurturing an endowment and maintaining the museum’s art collection – including several hundred pieces of 20th and 21st century art on paper, as well as threedimensional works. “The Pensacola Museum of Art is an excellent addition to the University and enhances the impact that we are able to make in downtown Pensacola,” said Dr. Brendan Kelly, vice president for university advancement president of the UWF Foundation, Inc. “UWF is the perfect home for the museum, which will play an even greater role as Pensacola continues to evolve as a dynamic cultural hub in Northwest Florida.” Kelly also serves as the CEO of the UWF Historic Trust. Community engagement and partnerships are essential to UWF’s efforts to advance the quality of life in Northwest Florida. “We’re excited to partner with the University of West Florida,” said PMA Board President Edward Tisdale. “The board feels that this partnership will place the museum on a trajectory for a sustainable and incredibly successful future.” The museum’s historic building at 407 S. Jefferson St. was built in Spanish Revival style and is a former jail, the first permanent structure to house prisoners in the community. When the jail outgrew the space in 1954, the city agreed to lease the facility to create exhibition space for an arts center, officially named the Pensacola Museum of Art in 1982. Over the past 62 years, the Pensacola Museum of Art has presented hundreds of exhibitions and thousands of educational opportunities, becoming the foundation for the visual arts in the Pensacola community. The PMA serves nearly 100,000 patrons annually. The PMA’s Permanent Collection includes 20th and 21st century works on paper. The museum also owns decorative arts collections of European and American glass and African art. The PMA offers a wide range of educational and cultural programs year-round, including artist talks and lectures, adult art workshops, summer art camps for kids, Art in the Park, Suite Soiree and more. The mission of the Pensacola Museum of Art is to be a bridge to the visual arts for the diverse populations of Pensacola and its surrounding communities. The mutual objectives of the PMA and UWF will continue to be served and advanced through this partnership. For more information about the Pensacola Museum of Art, visit pensacolamuseum.org.

Dates announced for “RALLY 2016” candidate forums on WSRE “RALLY” candidate forums on WSRE are an election cycle tradition in Northwest Florida, going back to the 1970s. The “RALLY 2016” broadcasts for the upcoming primary and general elections in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties have been scheduled for August 2–4 and October 25–26 respectively. “RALLY 2016” is produced by WSRE in cooperation with the Okaloosa County and Pensacola Bay Area Leagues of Women Voters to give viewers an unbiased look at the candidates running for public office and an opportunity to hear their responses to questions on current issues. Mollye Barrows is the producer and will co-host the programs with WUWF’s Sandra Averhart. Races include U.S. House of Representatives District 1; Florida Senate Districts 1 and 2; Florida House Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4; Escambia County Sheriff, County Commissioner, School Board, School Superintendent and Tax Collector; Santa Rosa County Sheriff, County Commissioner, School Board and School Superintendent; and Okaloosa County Sheriff, County Commissioner, School Board, School Superintendent and Property Appraiser.

Chamber plans to fight workers’ compensation coverage increase The Greater Pensacola Chamber announced in early June that it will fight the spike in workers’ compensation rates that will take place this summer. As a result of a recent Florida Supreme Court ruling, workers’ compensation rates in Florida are scheduled to rise by 17.1 percent on August 1. “We surveyed our Chamber membership and found that our local business community is adamantly opposed to this workers’ compensation rate hike,” stated Greater Pensacola Chamber Board Chairman Gary Bembry. “We also heard loud and clear that our membership wants the Chamber to join the fight in finding a solution to this onerous rate increase.” Eighty-seven percent of respondents to the Greater Pensacola Chamber’s membership survey said this rise in workers’ compensation rates will have a negative impact on their business, and 97 percent of survey respondents want the Chamber to engage in fighting this increase. The Greater Pensacola Chamber will partner with the Florida Chamber of Commerce and other pro-business groups to find a legislative solution to this increase. To learn how to engage in this effort, please contact Todd Thomson, the Chamber’s Vice President of Public Affairs, at tthomson@pensacolachamber.com.

Florida launches app to connect job seekers with employers In June, Governor Rick Scott announced the launch of the Employ Florida mobile app, which gives Florida job seekers instant access to thousands of job openings across the state. The Employ Florida mobile app is now available free on Google Play for Android and in the Apple App Store. The app connects job seekers to Employ Florida, one of the largest job banks in the nation, with postings from Florida businesses and nearly 20,000 websites, including Monster, Indeed and CareerBuilder. Governor Scott’s announcement comes as hundreds of business and education leaders met last week in Orlando for the Degrees to Jobs Summit, focused on connecting Florida’s world-class talent pipeline with companies across the state. The Employ Florida Mobile app allows access to more than 200,000 job advertisements from more than 130,000 Florida businesses. Customers registered on EmployFlorida.com can apply for positions and save searches. Guest users can view openings on their mobile device, view previous searches and apply later to those in which they are interested. The app allows job seekers to map, categorize and sort job listings by geographic location and quickly locate the latest jobs in their area with the “Jobs Nearby” function. Registered users can even upload their resumes and apply for a job while on the go.

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 61

An unbiased look at Northwest Florida candidates: Primary Election Candidate Forums 7pm Tuesday–Thursday, Aug 2–4 General Election Candidate Forums 7pm Tuesday–Wednesday, Oct 25–26 An election cycle tradition going back to the 1970s, RALLY is produced by WSRE in cooperation with the Okaloosa County and Pensacola Bay Area Leagues of Women Voters. Races to be covered: U.S. House of Representatives District 1 Florida Senate Districts 1 and 2 Florida House Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4 Okaloosa County: Sheriff, County Commissioner, School Board, School Superintendent, Property Appraiser Santa Rosa County: Sheriff, County Commissioner, School Board, School Superintendent Escambia County: Sheriff, County Commissioner, School Board, School Superintendent, Tax Collector wsre.org/RALLY

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6/20/16 3:40 PM

Around the Region

Combined Insurance Services announces achievement and new team members “Professional Achievement” Cherie Meguess, Practice Leader for Combined Insurance Services, has become a Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Professional by receiving her certification through the National Association of Health Underwriters. She has been in the insurance industry for 17 years, the last three with Combined Insurance Services. The coursework required for a PPACA Professional designation provides her with a better understanding of the key technical components of the law, allowing her to inform clients on healthcare plan changes and requirements for employers. “Two New Additions” Combined Insurance Services would like to announce the addition of 2 new benefits consultants to the firm. Rob Kirkman has been in the insurance industry for 17 years as a sales agent, working for AON/Combined Insurance Company of America, RBC Liberty Life, Humana, Wellcare, and United Health Care after serving in the United States Marine Corps. Rob’s brother Jim Kirkman has also been in the industry for 17 years as a sales agent, working for AON/Combined Insurance Company and RBC Liberty. Jim is a veteran, also serving in the United States Marine Corps. They are both able to now provide consultation for individual health insurance needs and ancillary products such as life, dental and vision.

Florida’s Great Northwest appoints new president Florida’s Great Northwest, the 12-county, regional economic development organization of Northwest Florida, is pleased to announce the appointment of a new president and chief executive officer, Kim Wilmes. In this role, Wilmes will provide a long-term strategic vision to promote the region for economic success. At the organization’s board meeting in June, the Board of Directors voted unanimously to hire Wilmes following a nationwide search. Wilmes was chosen for her experience in developing strategy, building consensus and fundraising. Wilmes took the helm on July 1 and operate out of the organization’s Niceville, Fla., corporate office.

Florida SBDC at UWF hosts Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program business plan competition The Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of West Florida recently hosted a business plan competition to conclude its inaugural Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program, an entrepreneurial training initiative for veterans in the state of Florida seeking to start their own businesses. The program – piloted by UWF, in conjunction with the FSBDC Network and Military Veterans Resource Center – opened in March to more than 80 veterans. The first phase included online training, and the second involved three weekends of direct business training, mentoring and an optional business plan competition on the final day. Bradley Cantrell of Fort Walton Beach, Robert Fuszner of Pensacola and Lee Hinman of Panama City had the top three business concepts. Cantrell won the competition with “Happy Hour Ice Cream,” an alcohol-infused ice cream parlor with non-alcoholic options also available. Fuszner came in second place with “StarChip Computers,” a solution for cybersecurity and computer aging issues. Hinman was the third place winner with “eMarket Places,” an improved search mechanism to find various, highly rated service contractors. Veterans Florida, the Florida SBDC Network, the UWF Military Veterans Resource Center and other partners in the program held a closing session in Tampa on June 27 and 28, where administrators discussed the program’s future and opportunities for expansion. Business mentoring from the Florida SBDC is available to all program participants. The Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program is available to veterans who are active duty or have been honorably discharged; reside in Florida or plan to locate to Florida; and demonstrate a strong interest in entrepreneurship. The program is provided at no cost. For more information about the Veterans Florida Entrepreneurship Program and business plan competition, contact sbdcmarketing@uwf.edu.

Florida resident launches startup aimed at teaching young girls about self-asceptance Florida resident and mother of two girls, Shannon Addison, has launched BreadCrumbz, a start-up with the mission of teaching girls between the ages of 6 and 12 years old about the value of self-acceptance. Shannon created the BreadCrumbz brand, which follows the lives and interests of four Crumbz characters, after observing the negative undertones present in the interactions her girls and their friends had with each other at school. The four Crumbz characters – Samantha Sourdough, Rachel Rye, Whitney Wheat, and Penelope Pumpernickel – each have a unique personality and different interests. Despite their differences, however, the Crumbz all encourage girls to find out what it is they like to do and where their interests lie, and to stay true to themselves in all situations. nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 63

In memory of John Ryan Peacock

Sept. 29 - Oct. 1, 2016 THURSDAY FORE! Charity Tee Off Par-Tee & Silent Auction Sanders Beach Corrine Jones Community Center

FRIDAY & SATURDAY 2-Day • 2-Person Best Ball Format Marcus Pointe Golf Club Stonebrook Golf Club

PROCEEDS BENEFIT LOCAL CHARITIES Including Child Guardians, Inc • Gulf Coast Kid’s House Council on Aging of West Florida Ashley Lauren Offerdahl Endowment for Children’s Home Society of Florida

Escambia County Sheriff’s Office

Sheriff David Morgan Your Life...Your Community • No Place for Drugs www.escambiaso.com

magazine

15th Annual

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