Pensacola Magazine March 2015

March 2015

P e n s a c o l a • Yo u r C i t y • Yo u r M a g a z i n e

garden

Home and

Wharf Classic meets contemporary in the beautiful bayfront home of Teri Levin.

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editor’s note > my two cents on the subject Kelly Oden

Like many Pensacolians, I remember when the big house on Muscogee Wharf was going up years ago. I was amazed that someone could build something on that slim spit of land. And build something they did--a few things, actually. But the gorgeous Mediterranean home resting on the edge of the bay is particularly majestic. In the years since, like many of you, I’ve wondered about the interior of the home-the décor, the views. My curiosity was recently satisfied when owner Teri Levin graciously allowed

Executive Editor

Pensacola Magazine to tour and beauty and unique characteristics photograph her beautiful home. of orchids and Dawn Gresko’s Teri’s warmth and artistic spirit is look at the home surplus and evident throughout the spacious liquidation stores in the Pensacola and well-appointed home—and area. Also, be sure to read about the views are inspiring! I very a unique team of realtors, Good much enjoyed getting to know Clean Living, who are doing their Teri and her home and I hope you part to keep Pensacola beautiful. enjoy the photos and articles just And finally, read about Pensacola Little Theatre’s dramatic annual as much.

Although we could have easily fundraiser, Cabaret--arguably one filled the whole magazine with of the best parties of the year! photos of Teri’s stunning home, we See you there! chose to include some other great content for you as well. We have Emily Echevarria’s article on the

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

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ontents C

Cover: Living Room 19 Wharf Photographed by Guy Stevens

19 Wharf p30

PLT’s Cabaret—Timewarp p11

A Musical Journey Through Time

p11

Art in the Home p15 Beguiling Blooms p18 A Floral Love Affair

Throw a Shamrockin’ St. Patrick’s Day Party p20

p18

Fight the Blight p24 Pensacola’s Liquidators p27 Play, Live, Give p42 Pensacola Scene p48

Northwest Florida’s Business Climate Magazine p24 Special Section p49 8

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March 2015

March

2015

Publisher Malcolm Ballinger • malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com Pm Editor Kelly Oden • kelly@ballingerpublishing.com Art Director Rita Laymon • rita@ballingerpublishing.com Graphic Designer & Advertising Coordinator Guy Stevens • guy@ballingerpublishing.com Editor Emily Echevarria • emily@ballingerpublishing.com Business Editor Josh Newby • josh@ballingerpublishing.com Editorial Interns Dawn Gresko Sales & Marketing Becky Hildebrand, Account Executive ext. 31 becky@ballingerpublishing.com Amanda Tomlinson, Account Executive ext. 28 amanda@ballingerpublishing.com

Owners Malcolm & Glenys Ballinger Publisher Malcolm Ballinger • malcolm@ballingerpublishing.com Executive Editor Kelly Oden •kelly@ballingerpublishing.com Art Director Rita Laymon • rita@ballingerpublishing.com Graphic Designer & Advertising Coordinator Guy Stevens • guy@ballingerpublishing.com Editor Emily Echevarria •emily@ballingerpublishing.com Business Editor Josh Newby •josh@ballingerpublishing.com Sales & Marketing Simone Sands, Account Executive ext. 21 simone@ballingerpublishing.com Becky Hildebrand, Account Executive ext. 31 becky@ballingerpublishing.com Amanda Tomlinson, Account Executive ext. 28 amanda@ballingerpublishing.com Website: www.ballingerpublishing.com Editorial Offices 41 North Jefferson Street, Suite 402 Pensacola, Florida 32502 850-433-1166 • Fax 850-435-9174 Published by Ballinger Publishing:

Member of:

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

All advertising information is the responsibility of the individual advertiser.

Appearance in this magazine does not necessarily reflect endorsement of any products or services by Ballinger Publishing. © 2015

March 2015

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F

PLT’s Cabaret—Timewarp: A Musical Journey Through Time

By Emily Echevarria

Pensacola Little Theatre (PLT) is one of the city’s premier arts organizations, producing everything from large scale musical theatre to intimate contemporary plays and children’s theatre. PLT also has extensive educational outreach including classes and workshops for students of all ages. Once a year, the company pools its considerable creative forces and throws the biggest fundraiser and party of the year—Cabaret.

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Home & Garden Cabaret will be held Saturday, April 11 from 7 pm until midnight, and the event encompasses several areas of the Pensacola Cultural Center including the outdoor mezzanine area along Zarragossa. Each edition of Cabaret has an overarching theme and the different rooms and areas each represent a different take on the year’s theme with lavish decorations, entertainment and delicious fare. This year will be Timewarp: A Musical Journey Through Time.

In years’ past, themes have ranged from Circus Noveau, where each area represented a cirque style like vaudeville and big top, to Cabaret Gets Lit, where each room was styled after a literary giant like Breakfast at Tiffany’s and The Great Gatsby.

To pick the year’s theme and each room’s style, PLT marketing and PR director Mike Dinwiddie works with the PLT Board, staff and active members of the theatre community to create the “This year I came up with three themes, created a presentation for each one, and then presented those to the Cabaret committee that is a portion of our board,” he says. “From there they voted on the ones they liked the best and decided what they wanted each of their rooms to be.”

This year Cabaret guests will enter the atrium, which will be transformed into a time machine through which attendees will travel to the other decades throughout the Cultural Center.

Outside will be a groovy sixties scene, complete with live entertainment from Not Quite Fab, a Beatles tribute group, as well as poker tables, dancing and food. The Gallery will have all the big hair, neon colors, and over the top style and sounds of the eighties, while the adjoining Courtroom will represent the music and glamour of the 1920s.

“It’s going to be flappers and the whole room’s going be turned into a speakeasy,” Dinwiddie says. “They’re going to have the band the Swingin’ Dick Tracys and some dancers and hammock aerialists as well.”

Upstairs, the Board Room will be a more relaxing space, where VIPs can sit down and enjoy champagne and desserts in a 1940s-era USO show room. The upstairs rehearsal hall has come to be known for its very popular drag shows and dancing, and

Photo by Bud Lovoy Photo by Bud Lovoy

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this year that room will bring all who enter into the future. Expect the unexpected in this futuristic dance hall.

Each room will have a signature cocktail and food will be available for free from a variety of caterers in the different areas. Drinks can be purchased for cash or guests can purchase a wristband for $25 that gives unlimited bar access throughout the evening. Besides the dancing, games and ongoing spectacles throughout the night, some of the best eye candy at Cabaret can be seen in the elaborate costumes on both the volunteers at the event as well as the guests. The dress code is wide open at this extravaganza, and going overboard is encouraged.

“You can come dressed up in a tux, you can come casual or you can come in a variety of costumes from any decade whatsoever so this theme offers a lot of costume opportunity,” Dinwiddie says.

While Cabaret offers a great night on the town, it’s also a way to give back to the arts and theatre community in Pensacola. The event is the PLT’s biggest fundraiser of the year and proceeds benefit the ongoing theatre seasons as well as education efforts including Acting Up, the theatre’s program that includes acting classes and workshops for youth and adults. Each room courts sponsors that either help pay for decorations and entertainment, or donate directly to the theatre. There’s also a silent auction in the atrium that includes gift certificates to spas and restaurants and unique items and experiences like a turkey hunting trip, a Wind Creek Casino package, lunch with the mayor, or a murder mystery dinner theatre for 20 people.

Cabaret has earned its tagline as “Pensacola’s most popular party” in its years of bringing a raucous good time to downtown Pensacola in support of the arts. Those that have experienced it keep coming back, and those that haven’t can only discover the uniquely fun thrills of the event by trying it out for themselves. Tickets are $50 and are available through the PLT Box Office or at pensacolalittletheatre.com.

“It’s a way to experience Pensacola Little Theatre that is very different than our usual experience,” Dinwiddie says.

“It’s very high energy—it’s like five parties in one. You get so many different opportunities to move about the party and experience different atmospheres.”

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March 2015

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ART in the HOME

>> In today’s world, there is a move toward more casual living spaces with the living room serving as the entertainment space for both guests and the family.

These spaces are designed to be used regularly and are inviting and relaxing. Many feature plush sofas, sectionals and comfortable armchairs. Nevertheless, the move toward casual has not diminished the need for aesthetic appeal. Aesthetic appeal can be achieved through your art collection and how it is displayed.

By Mara Viksnins

March 2015

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Home & Garden Neutral walls, floor and trim serve as perfect backdrops for your art. If you are displaying your art works in lofty spaces, be sure to use large pieces as small ones would be overwhelmed in a large space. Your art work collection does not need to be colorful.

Sometimes similar modern textural works in white or neutrals can add drama to modern decor. Incorporate collections of smaller pieces into unexpected places such as hallways, office nooks and small entries. Ultra deep built-ins give a large space intimacy, but do not crowd the shelves. Space out larger three dimensional pieces to draw attention to each one. If there are smaller pieces, group them together using odd number groupings. They can also be grouped by size, color or theme.

For hanging art, once you’ve selected a wall space for your display, it may be a good idea to lay out the art works and get a visual feel for how they relate to each other in size, form, subject, theme and color. You may want to keep similar colors grouped together.

Large artworks should be balanced with smaller, minor works. Hang your art so that the center of the piece or grouping is at about eye level. The rule of thumb is to space art pieces three to four inches apart. Art over a sofa or table should be four to six inches above the piece. To accentuate your art wall, use soft lighting, such as specialty designed wall art lighting fixtures or diffuse spot lighting to reduce glare.

Freestanding art such as sculptures and statues should be placed centrally in a room. This will enhance their presence by making the art work the focal point. These works should be visible from the room’s entry points. You can display freestanding art on pedestals, tabletops, shelves, fireplace mantels, floors, display boxes, easels or cabinets. Overhead spot lighting, directional track lighting and

ambient light work well for highlighting three dimensional art.

For your black and white photography collections, try to keep frames in coordinating sizes and finishes. However, sometimes it is nice to liven up the space with an occasional splash of color in the framing.

Frame selection is very important in highlighting your art. Select frames that match the decor in your room. Dark frames work well for smaller works or using eye catching gold frames can draw attention to petite pieces.

It is important to protect and care for your art works. Where there is high humidity, seal the paintings with glass. It is important to keep paintings away from severe temperature changes. Try to place art on the inner walls of your home as the perimeter walls can be subject to temperature changes and humidity. Lack of protection from the elements could lead to fading of pigment, cracks in canvas and yellowing of the varnish. Be careful to also keep watercolors out of sunlight. Many artists use UV protective measures in their acrylic and oil paintings so they are less susceptible to light. Do not display paintings over the fireplace, near air-conditioning, in bathrooms or kitchens. If you are using halogen lamps, you can install a UV filter or use tungsten lamps instead. Halogen lamps emit a high level of ultraviolet light which can be damaging to art works.

Your art collection reflects you and your taste and it is important to display it for your pleasure and the enjoyment of those close to you. Displaying art is an art unto itself.

To help you with your choices and to see some of the options described in this article, visit Quayside Art Gallery at 17 E. Zarragossa St. in downtown Pensacola. Quayside is featuring the exhibit Showcasing Art in Your Home through March 23.

About the author: Mara Viksnins earned her bachelor of arts degree in Art from the University of West Florida. She is a member of Quayside Art Gallery, Blue Morning Gallery and Artel Gallery. She is also president of the Pensacola Chapter of the National League of American Pen Women.

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Home & Garden

Beguiling Blooms a floral love affair by emily echevarria

>> A guest once arrived at my home for a holiday party bearing a square shaped decorative box filled with a spongy greenish moss from which a woody, green stalk grew. From atop the stalk a delicate white bloom splashed with fuchsia at its center was seemingly staring at me with its fragile petals, the daunting task of its care looming. I thoroughly read the small instruction tag, placed it by a window and gave it minimal water for several weeks as it slowly wilted away and died. Like so many before me, I had failed the task of keeping the beautiful and exotic plant from withering away.

As a gardener I felt undeserving of even the few blissful days of the orchid’s bloom.

Orchids have enjoyed a revered status in various cultures

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for centuries and their reputation for being fragile and easily killed is somewhat misleading. In the right conditions, an orchid can stay in bloom for long periods at a time, but it took a good deal of study to learn cultivation techniques. During the 1800s orchid obsession reached a frenzied peak when a phenomenon known as “orchidelirium� took hold. During this Victorian period orchids were rare and coveted, and rich collectors would send hunters around the world in search of new varieties to be brought back and displayed in grand greenhouses. Often the flowers would meet the same fate as that hostess gift orchid because so little was known about the native conditions from which the flowers came.

Photo: Yun Huang Yong

Photo: Peter Kudlacz

Now, however, anyone can buy and collect orchids and much more is known about the thousands of types and their care, though many still seek advice and camaraderie from fellow orchidophiles. Here on the Gulf Coast, the Greater Pensacola Orchid Society encourages the cultivation and appreciation of orchids and shares knowledge and expertise to the group with anyone interested in the hobby.

“We’re a very friendly society.

We welcome anybody to come out and sit through a few meetings and listen; they don’t have to join,” says the society’s president Jim Saxton. “We usually have a little business meeting to begin with, then a program or speaker, then we always have people bringing in orchids to share and talk about the culture of the orchids and how they grew them.”

The group meets the first Tuesday of each month at 7 pm in the conference room of the West Florida Hospital Rehabilitation Institute and all are welcome to join. The membership ranges from complete novices, to garden club members with an interest in orchids to even one member that is a certified judge for the American Orchid Society.

“We have people that have just started and they know absolutely nothing except that they’ve killed ten orchids and they want to know what they’re doing wrong, to people that can look at a plant and say, ‘Well, try this because that’s not working,’” says Pam Saxton.

Jim and Pam became interested in orchid cultivation while living in Hawaii. When the Navy transferred Jim to Pensacola, they brought about 30 plants with them in the move. They got involved with the

Greater Pensacola Orchid Society in 2000 and have been enthusiasts ever since. They’re far from alone.

Orchids are beloved because of the great variety of species. They can be huge or miniscule and every color under the sun from black to white and the entire rainbow in between.

There are hundreds of thousands of varieties that grow naturally on six continents and the exact number is in constant flux because of newly discovered species, some of which are endangered. In Peru, the city of Moyobamba is known as “The City of Orchids” because it is home to about 3,500 native species of the flowers.

While orchids may have a reputation for being fragile and fussy plants, Jim says that’s not entirely warranted. Often, he says, orchids will die from over-watering or not being properly re-potted after they’re purchased at a store.

“If you buy one at the big box store it needs to be repotted immediately because it’s not potted to grow, it’s potted to bloom, look nice and that’s the reason you buy them,” Jim says. “But if you would take them, re-pot them immediately and then use the correct potting mix then they would last.”

While orchid cultivation may seem daunting at first, once its ideal conditions for light, water and fertilization are met, the Saxtons say the flowers can thrive. Orchid growers must also know whether their plant prefers to be potted at all, or if it is epiphytic it would thrive if mounted on a branch or other support. There are six genera of orchids that can be grown in the Gulf Coast area with a great many species in those categories.

Like many orchid lovers, Jim says his favorite part of growing

orchids is getting them to bloom.

While some orchids can continually bloom and rebloom for several years, other species, like the vanilla plant, which is an orchid, only blooms for hours at a time and only at night. Pam says her favorite part is the great array of colors and sizes of the blooms.

“I like the variety because every time you think you’ve seen them all, there’s one you’ve never seen before,” she says.

Speaking of variety, the couple says their all time favorite is the Pamela Saxton—a Brassolaeliocattleya that has a seven inch pink bloom with a corsage style flower. They cultivated it and had it registered with the Royal Horticultural Society and received an official certificate which Jim gave to Pam as a Christmas present.

The Saxtons say interested growers can purchase good starter plants at local home and garden stores, or they can purchase online, as long as they know what they’re getting and make sure to get a type that can live in the local climate.

“It’s very hard to learn how to grow orchids by yourself,” Jim says. “If you have other people that you can talk to about how they’re doing it, you’ll learn a lot faster.”

Those hoping to find out more are welcome to attend a meeting of the Greater Pensacola Orchid Society to ask questions, learn and see some beautiful blooms, or visit pensacolaorchidsociety.org for more information.

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Courtesy of Family Features

Home & Garden

It doesn’t take the Luck o’ the Irish to throw a great St. Patrick’s Day party. These tips and recipes will help you throw a festive celebration you’ll enjoy as much as your guests — including make-ahead corned beef and a minty-green cookie recipe both adults and little leprechauns will love.

“We’ve developed recipes that make the tastes of Ireland easy to create — from a simple Irish Soda Bread to a classic corned beef and cabbage recipe that can be made in a slow cooker,” said Mary Beth Harrington of the McCormick Kitchens. “And don’t forget the treats! Our Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies are the perfect ending to a perfectly green party.”

For more St. Patrick’s Day recipes, check out www.McCormick.com and visit McCormick Spice on Facebook and Pinterest.

Slow Cooker Corned Beef and Cabbage Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 8 hours Servings: 12 8 small red potatoes 2 cups baby carrots 1 small onion, quartered 1 corned beef brisket (4 pounds), rinsed and trimmed 2 tablespoons McCormick Mixed Pickling Spice 1 teaspoon McCormick Minced Garlic 1/2 head cabbage, cored and cut into wedges Place potatoes, carrots and onion in slow cooker. Place corned beef brisket over vegetables. Sprinkle with pickling spice and minced garlic.

Add enough water (about 8 cups) to just cover meat. Cover.

Cook 7 hours on high. Add cabbage. Cover. Cook 1–2 hours on high or until cabbage is tender-crisp.

Remove corned beef brisket to serving platter. Slice thinly across grain. Serve with vegetables.

Tip: For best results, do not remove cover while cooking in slow cooker.

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Savory Irish Cheese Soda Bread Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 40 minutes Servings: 12 2 1/2 cups flour 1/2 cup sugar 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/ 2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons McCormick Caraway Seed 1 teaspoon McCormick Garlic Powder 1/ 4 teaspoon McCormick Red Pepper, Ground 1/ 2 cup shredded Irish Cheddar cheese 2 eggs 1 1/4 cups buttermilk Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and seasonings in large bowl. Stir in cheese.

Set aside. Mix eggs and buttermilk in medium bowl. Add to dry ingredients; stir until well blended. Spread in lightly greased 9-inch round cake pan.

Bake 30–40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Tip: Make muffins instead of bread. Prepare dough as directed and divide among 12 greased muffin cups. Bake 20–25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies Prep time: 15 minutes Cook time: 10 minutes Servings: 3 dozen, or 36 (1 cookie) servings 2 1/2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 1 1/4 cups sugar 2 eggs 1–1 1/2 teaspoons McCormick Green Food Color 1 te aspoon McCormick Pure Peppermint Extract 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix flour, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Set aside.

Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add eggs, food color and peppermint extract; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture on low speed until well mixed. Stir in chocolate chips.

Drop by heaping tablespoons about 2 inches apart onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake 10–12 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool on baking sheets 1 minute. Remove to wire racks; cool completely.

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The Bodacious Family of Shops Tucked away at downtown Pensacola’s iconic corner of Palafox and Main, is a little something for everyone. With an olive oil store, a coffee shop, a kitchenry store, and a chopped salad bar, what more could the downtown shopper and diner want? The Bodacious Olive, The Bodacious Brew, SoGourmet, The Wine Shop at SoGourmet, and SoChopped all make up the Bodacious Family of Shops.

Rishy Studer, owner of the shops, said that her vision was to build a place where people could shop, learn, and experience great coffee, food, wine, and kitchenware.

“We want the Bodacious Family of Shops to feel like family for our customers,” says Studer. “Just like visiting an old friend or a family reunion, we love to cook together, share recipes, share a glass of wine or a cup of coffee, and we want our customers to feel that way too.”

The Bodacious Olive will entertain your senses and captivate your palate with an array of the finest artisan olive oils and balsamic vinegars on the market.

Along with olive oils and balsamics, The Bodacious Olive offers gourmet salts and handmade pastas and sauces.

Offering a variety of some of the best coffees, teas, and freshly made baked goods next door is The Bodacious Brew, a great choice for your morning or afternoon pickme-up. Start your mornings with a freshly made breakfast and a latte or stop by to get your mid-day gelato and espresso snack.

Right upstairs is SoGourmet, a place

committed to the joys of cooking and entertaining. From cooktop to table top, shop for unique culinary tools, bakeware and table settings and stay for a cooking class in the demonstration and teaching kitchen.

Book your own private event or sign up for SoGourmet’s weekly cooking classes and demonstrations. For wine lovers and wine-learners, The Wine Shop at SoGourmet is the place to be. From wine classes and daily tastings, to unique and boutique wine selections from around the world, The Wine Shop at SoGourmet is a wine lover’s oasis in downtown Pensacola.

The newest addition to the Bodacious Family of Shops is SoChopped, a chopped salad bar right on Palafox. SoChopped has four different greens and over 40 different toppings to choose from, made fresh and chopped to make every bite count. If making your own salad combination is too much, SoChopped has six signature salads, all made with inhouse dressings. For those colder days or if you’re not in a salad mood, SoChopped also has daily soup and sandwich specials.

“Bring a friend to shop, share a meal or enjoy a cooking class.

Explore new wines at one of our tastings, or pick the perfect bottle of wine to enjoy on our balcony

overlooking Palafox Street,” says Studer.

“We work hard to make sure we have something for everyone, and we’d love to help you find your next new favorite wine, coffee, or cooking gadget.”

Springtime Shop, listen, dine, and enjoy. That’s what the SOGO District of downtown Pensacola is all about. Found at the corner of Palafox and Main, the SOGO District is the area South of Government Street. Fast becoming downtown’s retail and cultural center, more than 20 stores, specialty shops and restaurants make up the SOGO District.

Every second Saturday of the month, these retailers hosts SOGO Saturday. This event is a time for downtown shoppers and 22

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diners to experience the SOGO way of life. From live music and entertainment, to guilt-free shopping and dining, the perfect day awaits you.

“We want to show people that they can come to the SOGO District for their one stop shopping while enjoying our beautiful Historic Downtown,” says Rishy Studer, owner of the Bodacious Family of Shops. “From men and women’s clothing, to artwork and jewelry, to fitness apparel and fine dining, there’s a diverse selection

in

of places that can accommodate everyone’s needs.”

The next SOGO Saturday is coming up March 14, 2015. This Springtime in SOGO will give shoppers an exclusive opportunity to view new spring lines that are coming to the SOGO stores. Head down to the corner of Palafox and Main to enjoy live music, entertainment, shopping and sidewalk or in-street dining.

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Home & Garden

In Pensacola, where a single block

can

difference

Fight the Blight

By Josh Newby

often

mean

between

the

quality,

desirable property and a less than desirable area. Realtor John Rickmon has set out to recapture concept

the known

development as

“highest

and best use.� By creating an attractive, sustainable home, or renovating an old one, Rickmon has found this single act will often rally the area surrounding the

project

by

creating

an

atmosphere of success and excellence.

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Rickmon and his partner, John Ellis, are agents with locally owned Main Street Properties, Inc. on Creighton Road. The team is known as Good Clean Living, a reflection of their efforts of neighborhood activism and improvement. Rickmon and Ellis work as advocates for home owners who are in need of assistance in selling older homes by connecting with investors who have both the capital and the means to create viable properties.

Since 2012, the two have developed multiple properties, one of which sold at the highest price in its area’s history. They come across properties in different ways. Sometimes a client will approach them with a vacant house or property they hope to improve or sell, and sometimes the team will come across land themselves, contact the owner, and seek out investors to help improve the property.

From a dirt lot to a finished product, Rickmon and Ellis supervise the entire process. Where possible, local materials are used and building codes are often exceeded to give their customers and the market the definition of highest and best use. On their most recent project, Rickmon was happy to report 80 percent of the materials are American-made.

“If you go into one of our properties, you’ll see where we install more insulation than necessary and surpass energy codes,” said Rickmon. “We want to do more than just turn these homes over and make a profit. We want to create a legacy that that block or neighborhood will be proud of and hopefully mirror. A really great property in an otherwise blighted area of town will create synergy, interest other investors, and encourage those who live there to better their surroundings.”

Some of the properties that Good Clean Living has had a hand in have turned out truly remarkable, and Rickmon reports that the investors are always happy with the turnout, and clients are thrilled with the finished product. As one of the poorest areas of the state, Pensacola is dependent on those who will take the initiative to give an area of town the economic boost it needs. Good Clean Living provides that boost, not just during the build, but into the future as the home serves as a new standard for the neighborhood.

“We utilize dozens of crafts and will employ several people during the renovation or building process,” said Rickmon.

“The homes themselves are in demand, too,” said Ellis. “An average home in Pensacola spends about 90 to 100 days on the market. Good Clean Living homes generally spend a little longer on the market, about 120 to 140 days, but these houses are being taken from eyesores to something amazing.”

As if creating synergy and stimulating growth in oft-ignored neighborhoods was not enough, the two also created the muchlauded “I Heart Living In East Hill” sign campaign as a way to improve representation and awareness of the north area of the East Hill community.

“It was not a marketing campaign for us,” said Rickmon.

“When I moved to north East Hill a few years ago, I was

disheartened to discover that I was not within the limits of the neighborhood association and therefore had no representation.

There were others like me, so I created these signs to say, ‘Hey, we’re here too and we should be accepted and represented.’”

Rickmon said that he thought he would print up and distribute maybe 50 signs, and it might cause someone on the neighborhood association board to take notice. But what happened far exceeded his expectations.

“People began seeing the signs and it became this identity that people wanted to own,” said Rickmon. “The neighborhood association did take notice, and I’m now on their board and we’re making progress toward gaining representation and being counted as part of East Hill. Two hundred and fifty signs have been distributed, and I could print another 250 and they’d be requested right away.”

All of these initiatives are not entirely for Rickmon or Ellis’ own good or profit. They do it for love of Pensacola and their neighborhood and in pursuit of the foundational real estate principle of highest and best use.

“It’s not always about the money,” said Rickmon. “It’s about the clients’ needs and what’s best for the community as a whole.

We don’t want to be known as home-builders; we want to be known as legacy-builders.”

"These houses are being taken from eyesores to something amazing."

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Pensacola’s Liquidators by

Spring is here and you know what that means: Out with the old and in with the new. If you’re in the spring-cleaning spirit and planning to renovate your home, or looking for affordable ways to spruce up the place with new stuff, then you’ll want to keep the following names in mind: Lumber Liquidators, Building Materials Outlet, Dirt Cheap Building Supplies and Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore. These local liquidators are skilled at finding ways to turn your something old into something new. They are doing their part to conserve the environment and help you save money by collecting unwanted or surplus home and building supplies, then selling the materials at discount prices.

The new location for Pensacola’s Building Materials Outlet is on the intersection of Brent

dawn

gresko

Lane and Davis Highway.

Originally established as the Cannon Recovery Company in 1963, BMO is a family-owned business that has been operating in the U.S. for over 40 years, specializing in liquidating and selling building materials. Now known as “The Handy Man’s Candy Store,” BMO offers all new building supplies at low prices to customers.

The bulk of BMO’s stock comes from vendors including manufacturers, building material suppliers, line yards, local lumber yards, mill workhouses and plumbing distributors.

Although BMO receives loads of surplus inventory from retail stores, they offer the materials to customers at a fraction of retail pricing.

BMO’s inventory is changing constantly but offers a variety of flooring, cabinets, doors, windows, moulding, granite, plumbing, lighting

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Home & Garden and shelving. BMO conducts two online auctions each month so be sure to place your bids early. If you’re interested in learning more about the auctions, or what BMO has in stock, visit bmofl.com.

The concept for Dirt Cheap Building Supplies started with Treasure Hunt in Hattiesburg, Miss. Treasure Hunt held an excess inventory sale in which all merchandise was sold for “dirt cheap” until the shelves were cleaned out. Today, Dirt Cheap Building Supplies operates independently from Treasure Hunt and purchases its own overstocks, liquidations, customer returns and out-of-season goods.

Pensacola’s Dirt Cheap Building Supplies opened in July of 2013 and is located in the shopping plaza at the intersection of Davis Highway and Olive Road. Living up to its name, Dirt Cheap Building Supplies sells materials at dirt-cheap rates, which means 40 to 90 percent off retail prices. Additionally, senior citizens age 60 and over receive 10 percent off already discounted items every Tuesday. Bring your military ID on Mondays and receive an extra 10 percent off, too.

Materials you can find in Dirt Cheap Building Supplies include light fixtures, paint, doors and moulding, as well as ceramic tile, linoleum, carpet, hardwood and stone flooring. The store offers a selection of tools, as well as furniture and bathroom utilities. If you bring your room measurements, the team will be more than willing to assist you with purchasing the right amount of flooring. For more details on inventory go to ilovedirtcheapbuildingsupplies.com.

Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore in Pensacola is located on Palafox Street in the old Williams Hardware building.

Pensacola’s ReStore has been operating since 2006, offering monthly do-it-yourself presentations and weekly Farmer’s Markets in addition to selling home improvement wares. ReStore has a selection of electrical and plumbing supplies, as well as furniture and home décor. Visit the store in person to browse any time Tuesday through Saturday between 10 am to 6 pm. Or, you can check out more about ReStore’s inventory and upcoming events at pensacola.habitatrestores.com.

ReStore will host a weekly farmer’s market on Wednesdays and monthly DIY demos at the store starting mid-March and stretching through November of this year. In addition to an array of fresh produce and homemade jarred goods, the Farmer’s Market will offer hand-crafted items, as well. On the third Saturday of every month, ReStore will have a class for do-it-yourselfers using materials in stock, which are made available to participants after the demonstration. From making wine shelves to creating dragonfly décor out of scrap wood and metal, the DIY sessions focus on repurposing old items to look like new, unique additions to any home.

“Ninety-five percent of our inventory is donated by individuals and businesses,” said Connie Bryars, director of Pensacola’s ReStore. “Our goal is to have the donated items clean and on the shelves in at least 24 hours.”

If you’re thinking of getting a head start on your spring

cleaning, ReStore is willing to accept used items with gentle wear and tear. All donations to ReStore may be claimed as tax deductions, and the proceeds from donated items go back to the Pensacola community to fund affordable homes.

“The biggest thing for ReStore, aside from giving back to the community, is creating a friendly and positive environment for customers,” said Connie Bryars, regarding ReStore’s commitment to the community and customer satisfaction. “We strive for better quality customer service.”

As a sign of customer appreciation, frequent shoppers are given a 10 percent discount on their ReStore purchases.

Spring is the busiest season for Lumber Liquidators, which has been operating in Pensacola for nine years. Contrary to what its name suggests, Lumber Liquidators has specialized in hardwood flooring for over 20 years.

“Our goal is to offer the best price, best selection, best quality, and best availability,” said James Sloman, store manager of Pensacola’s Lumber Liquidators. “We take pride in taking care of our customer needs from point A to point B, and 80 percent of our business comes from positive customer referrals. We want our customers to be customers for life.”

Lumber Liquidators is partnered with organizations such as the Forestry Legality Alliance, which means all lumber comes from sustainable sources.

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“We’re committed to sustainable harvesting from places where we can 100 percent verify where the lumber came from,” said James Sloman, explaining the mission of Lumber Liquidators to reduce its carbon footprint. “Lumber Liquidators is setting the standard in the industry. We trace our lumber using new research labs and science that allow us to determine whether or not the lumber came from South America.”

The Designer Toolbox is a collection of online resources that Lumber Liquidators offers on its official website, including links to the store’s Instagram and Pinterest pages for creative project ideas. Resources from the toolbox include the corporate blog, which has video walkthroughs, as well as details on contests and promotions, and other tools include apps to help with your remodeling projects.

In the past, Lumber Liquidators has organized photo contests asking for pictures displaying the best renovations with flooring from the store. Contest winners selected by Lumber Liquidators are awarded another floor remodeling for free. Lumber Liquidators has also partnered with HGTV, better known as the home-improvement channel, for the HGTV Dream Home giveaway, which you can enter to win on the Lumber Liquidators corporate blog. Also found on the corporate blog are several how-to and do-it-yourself videos to help you with your next home improvement project.

The Room Designer and Floor Finder apps make it possible for you to take your smartphone and capture areas in your home for an interactive canvas at your fingertips. Room Designer allows you to change wall and cabinet colors, while Floor Finder lets you choose your own style and color of flooring.

To explore the Designer Toolbox and inventory at Pensacola’s store, or enter upcoming contests, be sure to check out lumberliquidators.com.

For your next renovation project, spring into any one of Pensacola’s local liquidators to find bargain deals that match your individual home improvement needs.

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Photo by Steven Gray

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Wharf Written by Kelly Oden

Photography by Guy Stevens

Anyone who has driven across the Pensacola Bay Bridge or down Bayfront Parkway has likely wondered about the magnificent, Mediterranean style home at the end of Muscogee Wharf. Wonder no more. Pensacola Magazine toured the home with owner Teri Levin and we have the gorgeous photographs to prove it! Enjoy!

Walking into Teri Levin’s Muscogee Wharf home, one gets the sense that they are entering a luxurious and serene spa sanctuary. Soft, muted tones mingle with a touch of modern glamor to create a lavish and inviting escape. The 7,500 square-foot home sits on the southernmost tip of the renovated wharf property and boasts sweeping views of the glistening Pensacola Bay on three sides and panoramic views of Downtown Pensacola on the fourth. Throughout the home, personal touches—from art to photographs— give the large space a warm and cozy feel.

The home was originally conceived as a dream home for Teri and her late husband Allen, a well-loved local developer. The house was not yet complete when Allen passed away in January 2007, but Teri credits the project with helping her make it through that emotionally draining time: “Finishing the house really helped me after Allen died. Allen’s brother Martin said, ‘You’ve got to finish the house.’ I really didn’t want to, but he said, ‘You have to; it’s going to make you get up every day.’ And it did.”

The home was designed with George Fletcher and Patrick Gross of Adache Group Architects. Built on 77 concrete pilings sunk 30 feet deep, this house is an all concrete and steel construction. Even the beams inside the walls are steel. The Mediterranean style home is also built up 15 ½ feet above sea level, so it’s never flooded.

Teri utilized her own well-honed design sensibilities for the project and enlisted the help of professional designer Melanie Martin to help her create a spectacularly modern classic.

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Home & Garden

Living Spaces Completed in 2008, the home literally opened with a bang when Teri hosted a fundraising event for Covenant Hospice on the day the home was complete. Teri’s generosity and warm spirit is well known in Pensacola and her home is the perfect spot for entertaining. “We had a big cage and butterflies that we released for Covenant 32

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Hospice. I’ve had a lot of fundraisers here. I think I’ve had just about every charity in town, which is great because it just brings goodness into the house,” says Teri.

The great room is the picture of sophistication. Flanked on one end by a signed Steinway grand piano and on the other by a gorgeous mahogany mantel mounted on antique tin March 2015

Parisian corbels, the room is nothing short of breathtaking.

A primary focal point of the room is the 17th–century tapestry of Alexander the Great. The colors of this grand tapestry inspired Teri’s choice of colors throughout the home. Cypress beams create a grand, coffered ceiling while antique French doors make a stunning backdrop for the

Steinway and soft silks and antique rugs create extremely cozy sitting areas.

“I worked with Melanie Martin, but I picked most of the elements out myself because I really knew what I wanted. I wanted to make it really peaceful and calm, so I chose colors that kind of reflected the water and it was all the tapestries—the color

from the tapestries—I sort of took those colors and just did the house. But I knew I wanted Venetian plaster walls, because I used to go to Alice Beach all the time. And Allen and I went down there a lot and we loved those walls.�

Bed & Bath The master bath is built for

knew I wanted it. I just fell

in the walls. If you’re not

even rain sprayers in the

relaxation. An egg shaped

in love with it. And when I

that into baths, don’t worry.

ceiling. And of course, each

Waterworks tub is extra

designed this round room

The master bathroom also

side opens onto either his

deep and boasts sweeping

and this half-moon wall, I

features a double sided walk

or her bathrooms, changing

views of the bay. “Everyone

thought they would be great

through shower built for two.

rooms and large walk in

comes in and says, ‘Oh my,

together.” The white tub room

The Kohler faucets spray

closets.

you could just get in that

is accented with intricate

your exact desired water

tub and soak forever,’” says

African necklaces and large

temperature from handheld

Teri. “It’s a very comfortable

antique perfume bottles

sprayers as well as multiple

tub. And when I saw it, I

tucked inside built in niches

built-in wall sprayers and

Details

“I love art, but I am not the type of person to collect something just because it costs a certain amount. If I see it and it speaks to me then I want it. And so, that’s why I have the eclectic works of art. I like it because it’s not all the same.”

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Media Room The third floor media room provides a bird’s eye view of the entire area. Complete with an induction stovetop, refrigerator, icemaker and dishwasher, it is the perfect room for informal gatherings and casual parties. The focal point of the room is a signature painting of Allen by their artist son, Evan. “Evan did that painting for Allen when he turned 60.

Isn’t it fun? Allen loved this and had it in his office. There’s his Crown Royal which he loved. Then he has the dice that are flying. After Allen died, I took it out of his office and I said, “You know what, I’m going to take every color in this picture, because this was going to be like Allen’s Gator room where the guys could watch football, and everything. So I just took these colors and did the room with them, which worked out great,” says Teri.

Home & Garden

Outdoor Spaces With multiple terraces

sort of this panoramic out on

lighting, and of course, those

in the sky and shining on the

and outdoor areas, there is

the end. And I love looking

spectacular views.

water in the middle of the

no shortage of views in this

at the city of Pensacola,”

Bayfront home. “The biggest

says Teri. The lower level

about the house was if you

third floor it is so incredible.

feature of this house is that

terrace integrates a serene

go on the third floor, you can

You feel like you could walk

no matter where you go,

water feature with carefully

see past Gulf Breeze and see

on the water to the moon. So

you’ve got a beautiful water

designed walking stones

the Portofino Beach Club--

that’s my absolute favorite

view. Every single window

to create a very meditative

everything we had built. I’m

feature here.”

is a water view, and I don’t

quality. Both the lower

also a big moon person, and

think you can find that in very

and upper terraces offer

when the moon comes out

many homes, because I have

fireplaces, unique seating and

and it’s a full moon way up

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“One of the things we liked

night, if you go out on the

“I do enjoy the sunrises and the mornings are very beautiful because it is so calm out there. The house is very quiet and you just see the birds flying by and it’s very peaceful.”

Kitchen & Dining Just off the great room are the gourmet kitchen and dining areas.

Framed by white curtains rather than doors and an incredible antique iron pretzel originally used in a French bakery, the kitchen is truly an entertainer’s dream come true complete with custom Wenge cabinetry, a Miele espresso bar and a Wolf range with dimension tile backsplash. “I couldn’t find a backsplash I liked and this actually came from Pensacola from a tile company and that’s actually one of the favorite features of everyone who walks in. They love it,” says Teri. All of the appliances with the exception of the Wolf range are expertly hidden behind the gorgeous wooden panels, creating a seamless and contemporary look.

In the kitchen and throughout the home, Teri chose stunning Calcutta gold marble for the countertops and Italian travertine tile for much of the flooring.

The sunken bar incorporates exposed mahogany boxes for wine storage and is great for entertaining. The design allows guests uninterrupted bay views and the exterior windows also

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March 2015

open onto the bar for al fresco seating. “We knew we wanted a bar on the water.

These windows actually open up, so we’ve got a curve out there in the fireplace.

And we did a step-down, so that whenever there is a bartender in here, he’s not

blocking the view. I’ve had a lot of great parties here.

And it really works very well. It has its own icemaker, dishwasher, wine cooler, two refrigerator doors, and a sink so it’s totally selfsufficient. At sunset, it’s just an amazing view.”

The formal dining area is a unique circular design with a wood floor elaborately inlaid with the Star of David to reflect Allen’s Jewish heritage. Another informal dining area outside the kitchen boasts an incredible hand-blown Italian glass

chandelier.

The delicate glass bulbs were “hand-blown by a little Italian man who did a lot of these lights. This was the last one he did before he died,” says Teri.

Love Teri’s House?

You’re in luck—it’s on the market.

For more photos and details, visit

www.19wharf.com or scan the QR Code.

PLAY•LIVE•give March 3, 5 City Trolley Tour All aboard the Snowbird Express for a narrated tour of historic Downtown Pensacola. Tours depart from the Visit Pensacola Visitors Information Center and run on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am and 2 pm only.

Reservations are required, as seating is limited. For more information call 941.2876.

March 5 RadioLive WUWF’s RadioLive is back for the first Thursday of each month at the Museum of Commerce at 201 E. Zaragoza St. Concerts start at 6 pm. This concert will featured Gerhard, Louise Mosrie and Cliff Eberhardt.

Admission is free, but please bring canned food or money to donate to Manna Food Bank. For more information visit wuwf.org.

March 5 ABC Beverage Tasting at Atlas Oyster House Atlas Oyster House presents the next installment of Atlas Beverage Classes (A.B.C.). This semester will feature handcrafted beers, featured spirit brands, and now cocktails with beverage director Josh Goldman, each paired with small plates.

Classes are held on the Deck Bar the first Thursday of the month and will feature a presenter for four tastings. Classes begin at 6 pm, and the cost is $20 per person (plus tax and gratuity). The March 5 class will feature Botanical Gins From Around the World.

Reservations are required. Call 516.2324 to reserve a seat.

March 6-7 Monster Jam at the Pensacola Bay Center Climb in your trucks and start your engines, Monster Jam is coming to Pensacola Bay Center March 6-7, 2015! As one of the country’s premier live motorsport events, Monster Jam features the biggest, baddest monster trucks in the business going at it in 42

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March 11 Art of Fashion – Spring Fashion & Derby Fun Fashionistas throughout Pensacola are invited to the 10th Annual Art of Fashion on Wednesday, March 11 from 11 am to 1 pm at New World Landing. Art of Fashion is a Kentucky Derby-themed luncheon, fashion show and auction of art, health, beauty and fashion products and services to benefit Covenant Hospice’s unfunded and nonreimbursed programs such as children’s support, bereavement services and indigent care. Don’t forget your hat—the best one wins a prize! Proceeds from the Art of Fashion support Covenant Hospice’s mission to increase quality time, because every moment is a memory in the making. Tickets are $35 prior to March 11 and $40 at the door. Tables of ten are available for $350. This event sells out each year so get your tickets soon! To purchase tickets call 438.9714 or visit eventsatcovenant.org/artoffashion. bone-crushing races and freestyles. Despite the menacing names of the trucks, the scene at Monster Jam is decidedly friendly — each event features a “Pit Party” where fans get the chance to score autographs and memorabilia from drivers known for their humble generosity. Performances are at 7:30 pm on Friday and 2 pm and 7:30 pm on Saturday.

Tickets are $25, $28 and $33 and are available at the Pensacola Bay Center Rodizio Grill Box Office or at pensacolabaycenter.com.

school, baseball and misunderstandings, before finally coming to realize what makes them truly happy. Thursday, Friday and Saturday performances are at 7:30 pm.

Sunday Matinee is at 2:30 pm. Ticket prices are $14 - $30. For tickets, call the PLT Box Office at 432.2042. Tickets are also available online at pensacolalittletheatre.com or at the PLT Box Office at 400 S. Jefferson St.

March 6-8, 12-15

Improvable Cause

PLT Presents You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown Though considered a “good man” by his friends, Charlie Brown can’t seem to win the heart of the Little Red-Haired Girl, nor can his friend, Lucy, catch a glance from the young piano-playing Schroeder, her crush.

Meanwhile, Snoopy and Linus daydream and the rest of the friends battle with kites,

March 7 Improvable Cause is Pensacola’s best (and only) improvisational comedy troupe performing at 10:30 pm in the M.C. Blanchard Courtroom Theatre at the Pensacola Little Theatre. Improv is unscripted theatre where dialogue is created instantaneously. Tickets are $7 available at the PLT box office prior to shows. For more information visit pensacolalittletheatre.com.

March 7 Pensacola Symphony Presents Don Quixote Join the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra for Don Quixote, a Masterworks Series concert at the Saenger Theatre at 8 pm, March 7. This concert will feature cellist Scott Kluksdahl.

Musical selections will include Strauss’ Don Quixote and Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 4, “Italian.” Tickets range from $22 to $84 and are available at pensacolasaenger.com.

March 7 PMA Presents Portrait Impression & Demonstration with Nina Fritz Join Nina Fritz at the Pensacola Museum of Art for the adult art workshop, “Portrait Impression & Demonstration,” from 9 am to 2 pm on Saturday, March 7. The cost is $75 for PMA members and $90 for nonmembers. There is an additional $40 materials fee, unless you bring your own supplies. If you have questions or would like to register for this class, please contact the director of education, Cortlandt Glover, at clover@pensacolamuseum.org or 432.6247.

March 13, 15 The Pirates of Penzance at Saenger Theatre Join Pensacola Opera on March 13 and 15 for one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s most famous operas, The Pirates of Penzance. Hum along with buoyant melodies as you enjoy the comedic misadventures of Frederic, a duty-bound pirate who meets a band of women and falls in love. Friday’s performance begins at 7:30 pm, and Sunday’s at 2 pm. All seats must be reserved. Ticket prices range from $53.55 to $128.90. You may purchase tickets online at pensacolaopera.com, or call 433.6737.

March 12 Kevin James at the Saenger Theatre

March 13

Kevin James is a producer, co-writer, and star of the hit comedies Paul Blart: Mall Cop, Zookeeper and the upcoming Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2. James began his career as a stand-up on the Long Island comedy scene before rising to fame as the star and executive producer of the CBS hit The King of Queens. See James live at the Saenger Theatre March 12 at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $39.50, $49.50 or $65 and are available at the Saenger Theatre box office or pensacolasaenger.com.

Friday the 13th Haunted Tours – Voices of Pensacola Join UWF Historic Trust as they haunt Downtown Pensacola Friday, March 13 on Friday the 13th Haunted Tours. Try your luck at 7, 7:45, 8, 8:45, 9 and 9:45. Tickets are $10/ adults and $5/children 12 and under. For more information contact Wendi at wdavis4@uwf.edu or 595.5985. No reservations required. Tickets available on nights of the tours at the Voices of Pensacola, 117 East Government Street.

Ice Flyers 2014-2015 Season

March 14

The back-to-back SPHL champions the Pensacola Ice Flyers are back at the Pensacola Bay Center for thrilling ice hockey. For more information call 432.0800.

March 13 vs. Columbus Cottonmouths March 14 vs. Columbus Cottonmouths March 20 vs. Louisiana IceGators March 21 vs. Louisiana IceGators March 22 vs. Huntsville Havoc

Women of Power Conference and Luncheon The Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce (GCAACC) will present its Inaugural Women of Power Conference on March 14 at the Crowne Plaza Pensacola Grand Hotel. The host of this great event will be “Sonshine” with Magic 106.1. The month of March marks the celebration of Women’s History Month and the conference aims to provide a unique opportunity for professional women of the Gulf

Coast region to reconnect, to rejuvenate, and to be inspired. This event will highlight two panels of women who are some our local community’s top pillars. Special guest and keynote speaker will be American film and television actress/ producer, business-woman Vivica A. Fox. Tickets can be purchased from the Gulf Coast African American Chamber of Commerce, online at gcacc.info or by calling 438.3993.

March 17, 18, 24, 25, 31 Blue Angels Practice The Blue Angels will perform practice air shows over Pensacola Naval Air Station most Tuesday and Wednesday mornings starting in March at 11:30 am, with autograph sessions with the pilots inside the National Naval Aviation Museum on most Wednesdays. Admission to the Blue Angel practices is free and open to the public. The viewing area for the Blue Angels practice is located behind the National Naval Aviation Museum. Bleachers are available for seating about 1,000 people. Viewers can also bring their own lawn chairs, hats, sunscreen and water. For more information visit blueangels. navy.mil March 2015

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March 20, 21 Mobile Aerofest Visit the Brookley Aeroplex in Mobile for the 2015 Mobile Aerofest, where there will be great music, art, food and sports festivities from March 20 to 21. Children are welcome to the Kids Zone, connoisseurs of cuisine should sample the L.A. Gumbo Festival, and those interested in art should check out Arts Alive! Sports people, we didn’t forget about you: there’s to be a Titan Fighting Championship at the Aerofest, too.

The music lineup will include performances

by Matisyahu, Big & Rich, Dawes, Robert Randolph & the Family Band, and many, many more. Proceeds are donated to local charities including funds for injured military.

General admission prices are $30 for oneday passes, and from $45 to $70 for twoday passes. For more ticket information visit mobileaerofest.com.

March 14 38th Annual McGuire’s 5K Prediction Run

March 21 WSRE PBS Kids & Family Day at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park Join WSRE at Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park for PBS Kids & Family Day on Saturday, March 21 from 10 am to 2 pm. Characters like Clifford the Big Red Dog, SuperWhy, Curious George, The Man with the Yellow Hat, and Cat in the Hat will be stationed around the park to meet and greet fans.

Aside from dolphin and sea lion shows, as well as aquarium and animal exhibits, there will be arts and crafts activities, a scavenger hunt and a bounce house. Touch screen computers from WSRE Imagination Station will also be available in the indoor aquarium area. A portion of proceeds will go to the WSRE-TV Foundation. Tickets are the same price as general admission, which is $21.95 for adults and $13.95 for children 12 and under. For more ticket and park information visit gulfarium.com.

Join thousands of runners, walkers and revelers at America’s largest prediction run at the 38th annual McGuire’s 5K Prediction Run. This raucous race begins and ends at McGuire’s Irish Pub and will be held at 9 am Saturday, March 14. Participants guess how long they will take to complete the 3.1 mile certified course and prizes are awarded for speed as well as closest times. The after party will include food, beverages, music and fun and will last until noon. Early registration is $30. For more information visit mcguiresirishpub.com.

March 28 Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Presents Russian Spectacular Join the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra for Russian Spectacular, a Masterworks Series concert at the Saenger Theatre at 8 pm, March 28. This concert will feature pianist Ilya Yakushev. Musical selections will include Rimsky-Korsakov, Prokofiev and Tchaikovsky. Tickets range from $22 to $84 and are available at pensacolasaenger.com.

March 25

March 29

Cooking with Chef Irv

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at the Saenger Theatre

Enjoy a Cooking Demonstration and Wine Pairing at Jackson’s Steakhouse with Chef Irv Miller. For the March 25 demonstration Chef Irv will present “Sustainable Seafood.”

Tickets are $45 and there will be two seatings at 5-6:30 pm and 7:30-9 pm. For reservations call 217.2347.

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“Goin’ courting” has never been as much fun as in this rip-roaring stage version of the popular MGM movie. Set in Oregon in 1850, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers tells the story of a young bride Milly’s plan to civilize and marry off her rowdy brothers-in-law to ensure the success of her own marriage, which backfires when the brothers kidnap six women from a neighboring town to be their brides. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is

all boisterous fun and romance that harkens back to the glory days of the movie musical, and it will be brought to life on the Saenger stage March 29. Tickets start at $48 and are available at the Saenger Theatre box office or pensacolasaenger.com.

Through April 4 PMA Presents Color in Freedom: Journey Along the Underground Railroad The Pensacola Museum of Art Presents Color in Freedom: Journey Along the Underground Railroad, a collection of 49 paintings, etchings and drawings by painter and printmaker, Joseph Holston. These works capture the remarkable courage and determination of individuals during this period of American history. The exhibition consists of four movements that track the moments lived along the journey of the Underground Railroad and the powerful instinct toward freedom; the unknown world, living in bondage, the journey of escape, and the color in freedom. Color in Freedom will be on display through April 4. For more information visit pensacolamuseum.org.

Through April 18 PMA Presents Sketches of Spain

by Nina Fritz The exhibition includes the oil-on-canvas paintings of local portrait artist Nina Fritz. The paintings of oil and watercolor are inspired

by Nina’s memories of travels to Spain, a region close to the artist’s heart because of her friend and Honorary Consult to Spain, Maria Davis. The exhibition takes viewers through a visual tour of beautiful Spanish landscapes, architecture and people. For more information visit pensacolamuseum. org.

Pensacola Cinema Art Brings Film Showings to Downtown Last month Pensacola Cinema Art began hosting film screenings in the Voices of Pensacola building at 117 E. Government St. For now the small theater will host one screening per night on Fridays and Saturdays, and admission is $10 and includes popcorn and a water. Doors open at 6:30 pm and showings begin at 7 pm. For more information visit pensacolacinemaart.com.

Through April 18 PMA Presents OBJECT: Sculptures, Prints & Drawings by Michael Boles The works in this exhibition include sculptures, ink-jet prints, and drawings by Michael Boles spanning the past ten years.

Boles has been a prolific and active member of Pensacola’s art community since 1980. He is a professor of art at Pensacola State College’s Switzer Center for Visual Arts and has won numerous local and regional awards. Additionally, his works are on display in many private collections throughout the United States and Europe.

For more information visit pensacolamuseum.org.

March 2015

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never be bored. www.downtowncrowd.com

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Pensacola Scene

... at Gallery Night, downtown Pensacola

Christy Nall & Stephanie Long

Darrin Land & Chris Horak

Raven Holloway & Stacy Kendell

Michael Boles

Heather Hart & Jason Holstein

Chelsea Carr, Lauren Lamb, Jenna Courey, Mary Hartshorn, Karrie Shay & Gabrielle Garrett

... at Pensacon

Michelle Hawkins & Clara Andrews

Alyssa King, Ciera Kass & Sydney Moore

Alyssa Shallue, Raymond Wagner & Casey Lindley

Paul Stadden

Madison Mitchell

Harper as Queen Amidala

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SPECIAL SECTION

50

55

58

61

50

A TALE OF TWO COUNTRIES

55

SETTING THE PACE

58

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN A TRANSACTIONAL WORLD

61

TRUTH IN AN AGE OF DECEPTION

64

AROUND THE REGION

A TALE OF TWO COUNTRIES

AS THE U.S. AND CUBA MOVE WITH CAUTIOUS OPTIMISM TOWARD A MORE FRIENDLY TRADE RELATIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OVER 50 YEARS, THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL IMPACT WILL BE THE GREATEST IN FLORIDA, A STATE THAT HAS LONG SERVED AS A HOME FOR THE SMALL NATION’S REFUGEES.

BY JOSH NEWBY

M

aybe you’ve heard that Cuba and the United States don’t share the most pleasant of relationships. The past 50 years have been marked by anger, misunderstandings, threats and trade embargos between the two countries, with only brief, tenuous respites punctuating the awkward affiliation.

After Fidel Castro and his followers overthrew then-President Batista’s government in the late 1950s, relations between the US and Cuba disintegrated quickly. Gradual trade regulations were placed on the island, forcing Cuba’s leadership to partner with other Communist nations for necessities like oil. All the while, President Eisenhower authorized the CIA to train and equip Cuban refugees to overthrow Castro, an initiative that would later result in the Bay of Pigs incident. As attempts to neutralize or kill Castro increased over the next several years, relations not surprisingly worsened. In 1962, President Kennedy enforced a trade embargo that included all supplies except food and medicine. In 1981 under President Reagan, the embargo was tightened

50 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

even further and a travel ban re-established.

The Helms-Burton Act was signed into law in 1996, making official and extending the territorial application of the embargo.

After the Cold War and the collapse of the Soviet Union in the late 1980s, Cuba experienced a period of economic destitution even as trade regulations grew tighter. Thanks to the Trade Sanctions Reform and Enhancement Act of 2000, food and medicine exports from the United States to Cuba were allowed with proper licensing from the departments of Commerce and Treasury. Following his election in 2008, President Obama indicated that he would like looser restrictions and to even lift the embargo altogether, assuming Cuban cooperation and political change. In December of 2014, Castro

An American delegation in Cuba that included Amy Miller, Jerry Maygarden and others.

and Obama announced a plan to normalize relations and reopen embassies in Havana and Washington, DC. As of Jan. 16, the limited import (less than $400 worth) of items like Cuban cigars and rum to the United States is allowed, as is the export of technology-related items to Cuba.

All of this begs the question of why we remained a staunch opponent of Cuban trade for so long yet have strong alliances with Communist leaders in China and Vietnam. The answer, according to Jerry Maygarden, who traveled to Cuba in 2002 and has written extensively about the country, is two-fold.

“First, Fidel Castro lives,” Maygarden said in 2002. While most Americans couldn’t identify the Communist leaders of China or Vietnam, Castro is recognizable and has become symbolic of Communist dictatorships. Maygarden argued that a capitalist approach to the marketplace, one in which Cuba would be free to buy from and sell to whomever they please, is one of the surest ways to guarantee the political change the country so desperately needs.

“There are financial interests at work, too,” said Maygarden. Cuba’s 11-million person marketplace pales in comparison to the billions at work in Asian countries.

Whether or not the embargo has actually done

Port, La Habana

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 51

any good is a matter of opinion, of course. Almost 60 percent of Americans support an all-out end to the regulations while about 25 percent believe they should continue. The US Chamber of Commerce estimates that the embargo costs the US economy about $1.2 billion a year and 200,000 jobs, and the Cuban economy about $685 million a year, a gap that would ostensibly be discontinued once the embargo ends.

But don’t light your celebratory Cuban cigars just yet, as local trade experts and economists expect the immediate impact to be minimal, at least as long as Castro’s Communist regime remains in power. According to Rick Harper, economist at the University of West Florida, Cuba represents a buying power slightly larger than the city of Jacksonville.

“I expect the impact will be positive but small,” said Harper. “It is a small country with a low per-capita income.

They simply don’t have a lot of spending power.”

Plus, according to Port directory Amy Miller, who traveled with Maygarden to Cuba in 2002, the United States is one of the few countries on the planet not currently trading with Cuba.

“Over the years, they have learned to get their necessities from other countries,” said Miller. “Even products that we might consider very American, like Apple products, they have gotten from other sources.”

Assuming that Congress does relax restrictions against Cuba, the effect on Florida’s economy will likely be minimal at first.

“We certainly want to have a good relationship with them, but there’s really no benefit to us unless there is a customer down there,” said Miller. “No one is really sure what the loosened restrictions might mean. Can shippers operate on credit?

What will they be able to ship? I don’t see the urgency in rushing down there, but I can imagine that our local lumber industries, and even International Paper, may want to do business down there.”

52 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

Jerry Maygarden meets Fidel Castro.

“Until Cuban people are able to operate in a more free-market economy, their access to American goods and services will be limited.”

Cuba is expected to need building materials, paper supplies, agriculture and medical supplies as the United States works to ensure that the Communist regime is not continued after Castro’s passing.

“Once that happens, our proximity certainly gives us benefits,” said Miller.

“We specialize in large, non-containerized products. It’s no coincidence that GE produces their windmills here and ships them from here. We’re good at that kind of stuff.

As Cuba grows, they will need construction and agricultural equipment that we can ship. Plus, we have a strong history with Cuba. Prior to the embargo, we were one of the largest ports of export to Cuba.”

Making Cuba a truly impactful contributor to Florida’s economy definitely requires that political change, said Harper.

“Until Cuban people are able to operate in a more free-market economy, their access to American goods and services will be limited,” said Harper.

In fact, it is those with traditionally high buying power that are the most economically immobile in Cuba, a symptom of their inverted, Communist economy. Highly skilled workers in Cuba are employed by the state and compensated in pesos. As a result, their buying power, as well as access to goods and services, is limited by the state. However, it is those with traditionally low buying power—waiters, cabbies, and those servicing individuals with foreign money—who are actually more economically mobile. As they are paid often in Euros or American dollars by tourists, these low-wage, often illiterate individuals are the ones who can buy as much as they can afford of whatever they like.

Harper said that, assuming Cuban political change, the country might be facing a brain drain in several years.

“Highly skilled workers will seek to be paid more and may leave the country to go places where their talents are better compensated,” said Harper.

This development would also necessitate eased emigration and travel restrictions.

A loosened travel ban, however, could mean big competition for portions of South Florida, which shares a tourism season similar to what Cuba’s would be. Many northerners travel to South Florida—and

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presumably would travel to Cuba—from December to April. The novelty of traveling to Cuba, as well as the country’s existing European tourism infrastructure would likely appeal to many who would otherwise visit Miami or Ft. Lauderdale.

As a competitor to Northwest Florida, however, Cuba’s potential market share shrinks. Our tourist season is May through August, months that are too uncomfortably hot in Cuba for the country to enjoy any significant type of American tourism. Cubans may, however, want to travel and do business here, as our economy is buoyed by the military and healthcare, two industries not as readily available in South Florida.

So, when might we be able to enjoy a glass of Cuban rum with our Cuban cigars? Miller and Harper estimate that it will happen relatively soon.

“I would expect to see those goods in specialty stores at a relatively high price soon,” said Harper.

Miller said that concrete trade rules and regulations should follow relatively quickly if and when Congress repeals Helms-Burton. Once that happens, it is anyone’s guess how quickly our two countries will be able to enjoy the economic advantages of the other.

LOOSENED U.S. TRADE EMBARGO ON CUBA The Obama Administration recently announced loosened restrictions on trade and investment with Cuba as of Jan. 16, 2015. The rules will allow U.S. citizens to bring less than $400-worth of approved Cuban products back into America.

BIGGEST CUBAN EXPORTS RAW SUGAR $447 million

REFINED PETROLEUM $261 million

NICKEL $253 million

ROLLED TOBACCO $247 million

LIQUOR $118 million

BIGGEST CUBAN IMPORTS REFINED PETROLEUM $369 million

WHEAT $234 million

Cuba sold the most to: COUNTRY

CORN $228 million

POULTRY $200 million

MILK $146 million

Cuba bought the most from: AMOUNT

CHINA $534 million SPAIN $193 million BRAZIL $90 million BELGIUM-LUXEUM $88 million ITALY $56 million

COUNTRY CHINA SPAIN BRAZIL UNITED STATES MEXICO

AMOUNT $1 billion $944 million $568 million $458 million $334 million

Cuban resort Photo: Thomas Leuthard nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 53

Setting the PACE The 2015 PACE Awards featured more than 400 local professionals and government officials, all gathered to honor and respect the greatest among their ranks who set the pace for community involvement and professional excellence in our region. The 55th annual Pensacola Area Commitment to Excellence (PACE) Awards continues a long tradition maintained by the Greater Pensacola

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Chamber of Commerce. The awards have honored 210 outstanding individuals.

“Northwest Florida is home to some of the most dedicated, talented and selfless community leaders, and we want to ensure that we are recognizing the individuals who continue to make our region a better place,” said Greater Pensacola Chamber President & CEO Clay Ingram.

by Josh Newby The decade’s past PACE-setters A WHO’S WHO OF COMMUNITY MOVERS AND SHAKERS

Bryan Clark Carol Carlan Quint Studer Dr. Judy Bense Rebuild NW Florida Jack Fetterman

2005/2006

Tad Ihns Susan Story Debbie Ritchie Dr. Troy Tippett Gwen Appelquist MJ Menge

Michael Hicks Keith Gregory Dr. John Cavanaugh Dale Knee Impact 100 Group Dr. Tom Delaino

Julie Sheppard Donald McMahon Bill Greenhut Ron Jackson Carl Leahy

Emerging Business Community Professional Spirit of Pensacola Pioneer

2007

Emerging Business Community Professional Spirit of Pensacola Pioneer

Debbie Calder Dr. James Andrews Dr. Coy Irvin Dave & Mary Hoxeng James & Betty Salter

Jim Donatelli Stephen Sorrell Garrett Walton Caron Sjoberg Mike Wiggins Jim Reeves

Jay Bradshaw Larry Strain Kathy Anthony Julian MacQueen Dr. David Conkle

2008

Emerging Business Community Professional Spirit of Pensacola Pioneer

2009

Emerging Business Community Professional Spirit of Pensacola

Brian Hooper Brent Lane Bentina Terry Mark Faulkner Lewis Bear, Jr. Donna Fassett

Jessica Lee Cindi Bonner John Peacock Stan Connally Charles Carlan Dr. Reed Bell

2010

Emerging Professional Community Business Spirit of Pensacola

2011

Emerging Professional Community Business Spirit of Pensacola Pioneer

2012

Emerging Professional Community Business Spirit of Pensacola

2013

Emerging Professional Community Business Pioneer Spirit of Pensacola

2014

Emerging Professional Community Business Spirit of Pensacola Pioneer

The Emerging Leader of the Year award was created to honor an individual who has recently shown significant potential for leadership in business or community endeavors and who is expected to continue having a positive impact in the area. The award went to Jonathan Griffith, the executive vice president of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos.

Griffith’s achievements include helping manage one of the city’s most successful franchises, which is soon to welcome its millionth fan. Griffith also serves on boards such as Chain Reaction and stays active in the community, helping those outside his immediate industry.

“We don’t win a lot,” joked Griffith. “But the Pensacola Blue Wahoos are not just about baseball, but about improving the quality of life in Pensacola. I hope people see that when they enjoy our games. We want to engage the community and our fans.”

The Professional Leader of the Year award is designed for a person who has made a difference and contributed to the success of their profession by distinguished service to their trade. According to the award requirements, the individual must also be held in high regard for their stature, integrity and inspiration to others.

Former Oakcrest Elementary School principal Denny Wilson was honored as the Professional Leader of the Year for his efforts nwflbusinessclimate.com nwflbusinessclimate.com| |Business BusinessClimate Climate| |55 55

that eventually led to his school receiving an “A” rating for the first time in its history.

Wilson was also named the Escambia County School District’s Principal of the Year in 2013.

“I appreciate so much this honor,” said Wilson. “I need to give it to the amazing faculty fighting the good fight at Oakcrest. The purpose of what these teachers do is hope for so many in the community. We’re here for the people living in the streets and neighborhoods that we sometimes forget exist. We help people go from good to great. Everybody has purpose and everybody is special.”

The Community Leader of the Year award goes to a professional who has distinguished themselves through outstanding contributions in the form of a special project on behalf of the area. This person must also exemplify the true spirit of service. No one exemplified those ideals more in 2014 than Beverly Zimmern, a former mayor of Gulf Breeze and the first female mayor ever in the two-county area.

Zimmern oversaw a $17 million municipal budget, managed the City during several major disasters and developed a comprehensive master city plan that involves the replacement of the Pensacola Bay Bridge. Zimmern was described as community-minded and Gulf Breeze-centric. She dealt with the oil spill, the upcoming replacement of the Pensacola Bay Bridge and more, all while serving for just $1 a year.

“It’s so humbling to be standing on the shoulders of so many people who came before me,” said Zimmern. “I could not have done what I did without my city manager, the mentoring of so many, and the help of people at my table. We have great investors in our community. We are growing. We are the little engine that could, regardless of the bumps in the road.

I accept this award on behalf of all the citizens of Gulf Breeze.”

The Business Leader of the Year award goes to an individual as recognition for outstanding success in business or industry through the development of a new process, product or service. The award also recognizes those who have made meaningful contributions to the local business community. Dr. Sunil Gupta, who is regarded as a top retinal surgeon, was named Business Leader of the Year for his research and clinical trials that have paved the way for several advancements in retina treatments and therapies worldwide.

Dr. Gupta has been responsible for exploring new practices, creating new protocols, designing new surgical tools and more. Dr. Gupta is regularly praised for his patient focus, which includes changing the lives of more than 7,000 individuals. His Retina Specialty Institute has grown to 23 locations and is one of the largest organizations of its 56 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

“

It’s the people that make the real difference—the people you serve and the people you serve with. It’s been my great honor to experience that. This city has heart and I’m just glad to be a part of it.

”

kind in the country.

“Even though I’m a retina specialist, I was in the dark about this award,” said Gupta.

“I’m very humbled. Healthcare is changing, but the patient is always first and we design models around that patient. That’s the way it should always be and it’s that ideal, and my family, that have led me where I am today.

Healthcare’s success in Pensacola is proof that we can be great and world-class.”

The Spirit of Pensacola award, given to an individual who embodies the city’s giving and innovative nature, was awarded to Eric Nickelsen for his lifetime service to the local business and professional community. A key player in the merger between Whitney National Bank and Hancock Bank, Nickelsen is a founding partner of Sperry Van Ness - SouthLand Commercial Real Estate and continues to support several local nonprofits. Nickelsen has won multiple community awards and continues to be one of the most sought after regional advisers.

“You’re not supposed to get an award for something you’re supposed to do,” said Nickelsen. “You’re supposed to give back and that’s all I’ve done. All the winners have given back as well and I’m blessed to be part of this community. You have to surround yourself with people smarter and better than you and that’s all I’ve done. I’m really able to be active

in the community because of my family and friends. We need to keep making this community great.”

The Pioneer Award was established in 1978 and honors individuals who make significant contributions, provide leadership with lasting impact and demonstrate a lifetime of commitment to progress for the area. Jerry Maygarden is just such an individual, and serves as president of the Greater Pensacola Chamber Foundation.

Maygarden was honored for his distinguished, professional career and lasting impact to Northwest Florida. A former mayor of Pensacola, Maygarden served as a state legislator in the Florida House of Representatives, as well as the president and CEO of the Greater Pensacola Chamber. Maygarden’s motivation was cited as a driving force for the area’s continued success. He is a Vietnam vet, has served on City Council and various healthcare boards, and founded the local chapter of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. He previously won the 1988 Community Leader of the Year PACE Award.

“In public service, you push a rock up a hill everyday and every night it rolls back down,” said Maygarden. “You start all over the next day. The one thing that inspires you each day to get out of bed and push that rock again is the people, whether they live in Brownsville or East Hill. It’s the people that make the real difference—the people you serve and the people you serve with. It’s been my great honor to experience that. This city has heart and I’m just glad to be a part of it.”

Photos courtesy: Highways Agency

TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN A TRANSACTIONAL >>>>

BY JOSH NEWBY 58 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

W

WORLD

e’ve all been there: feeling obligated to do something professionally or personally only because of what we can get out of it. This type of titfor-tat transactional relationship is not only unsustainable, but it is not beneficial to the long-term loyalty of either party. You only put into it what you get out of it, because you are only doing the work to reap the reward.

It can be tempting in today’s world and today’s economy to set forth concrete expectations and reciprocal rewards and punishments. It’s easier and less time-consuming.

In the long run however, experts argue, followers will not only experience burnout and frustration but leaders will begin to see subordinates as functions of labor instead of fully formed individuals.

This type of transactional leadership, like its name suggests, is a leadership style that depends on rewards and punishments as methods of inspiring followership. Where transactional leadership is largely disadvantageous for both parties, there are some benefits to the idea, such as clearly defined goals, explicitly articulated agreements regarding what the leader expects from organizational

members and how they will be rewarded for their efforts and commitment. This leadership style only works on employees who are not self-motivated, though. When dealing with mature, attentive, and ambitious followers, this theory can be alienating.

Transactional leadership’s far more effective counterpart can just as productively facilitate these pros.

Transformational leadership, likes its name entails, transforms leaders and followers alike by increasing their performance, morale, and organizational buy-in with a number of methods. This theory is useful when an engrained culture may have fostered laziness or when individuals are lacking the motivation necessary to bring a vision to life.

Scholars today believe that transformational leadership has the power to enact real change not only in people, but in the culture.

Leaders can get more out of their followers in this way and benefit the organization as a whole. This leadership process happens when one or more persons engage with others in such a way that leaders and followers raise one another to higher levels of motivation and morality. It is for this reason that transformational leadership is seen as distinct from and superior to transactional leadership. Transformational leadership has a powerful influence on follower loyalty and admiration because the leader offers his or her subordinates a sense of purpose.

There are four basic elements that must be in place to be a truly transformative leader: • Idealized influence: Leaders build trust by adherence to a set of core

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•

values and ethical principles that inspire followers. Even when times get tough, norms are adhered to. Within this element, transformational leaders behave in admirable ways and transmit charisma. They increase employees’ feeling of competence by expressing high expectations and by voicing confidence that those expectations can be met. By listening to the follower’s concerns at each stage of the work process, employees begin to feel that their boss really cares, thus promoting greater organizational commitment.

Inspirational motivation: The transformational leader must set forth a clear vision, communicating expectations for his or her followers and inspiring them to achieve that vision.

In this step, leaders should emphasize the importance of building work capabilities and enhancing their knowledge, skills and abilities. By promoting senses of vision and stimulating learning activities, they foster performances that exceed ordinary expectations. But the leader must also create a shared sense of purpose between employees, too, so that they do not feel the need to compete with and undercut each

•

•

other. By working to increase social identification within the group, bosses boost a pride in belonging and place a value on membership within the team.

Some ways to do this is through the use of work rituals, slogans and teambuilding activities.

Individualized consideration: This occurs when the leader takes an interest in each of the followers’ individual needs as a person, not just their role in the organization. Ironically, this motivates employees to look beyond their immediate self-interest to contribute to the broader organizational vision, assuming relevant mentoring and coaching is in place to enable that contribution. When this happens, workers understand the importance of the greater good and will often put into the job more than they get out in order to help the organization and its members, with which they feel a strong sense of belonging.

Intellectual stimulation: This step prioritizes autonomy and creativity within followers, letting them know that the leader supports their decision-making and individual efforts.

This in turn leads to innovations that

benefit the company and problemsolving strategies that save time and money. Challenging (not seemingly impossible) work can motivate employees who have bought into the organization’s mission and creates a renewed sense of self-efficacy and accomplishment when the task is complete.

Paramount to transformational leadership is authenticity. These strategies may work in the short-term for bosses who only seek to glean their benefits, but it will backfire in the long run as employees sense that leadership is only out for their own good.

Authentic transformational leaders challenge assumptions, take risks, and actively solicit followers’ ideas. They stimulate and encourage creativity, nurturing and developing their subordinates and turning them into independent thinkers. For such leaders, hardships are challenges and setbacks are seen as opportunities to learn. Followers in turn are encouraged to ask questions, think deeply about facts and develop better ways to execute their tasks.

nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 59

Saturday, March 21 10am–2pm

wsre.org

Meet your favorite PBS KIDS characters!

Clifford the Big Red Dog • SuperWhy Cat in the Hat • The PBS KIDS Curious George & The Man with the Yellow Hat!

Create, explore and play!

Crafts • Scavenger Hunt • Bounce House

Discover Gulfarium fun!

Dolphin & Sea Lion Shows • Animal Exhibits • Aquariums

1010 Miracle Strip Parkway SE Fort Walton Beach Ticket Information: www.Gulfarium.com Sponsored by:

A portion of the proceeds from entrance fees will benefit WSRE, PBS for the Gulf Coast.

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2/18/15 1:54 PM

Truth in an age of deception

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In an age of misleading projections, deceptive politicians, and pundits whose only contribution is adding noise to the political echo chamber, factchecking services are perhaps more important than ever. The investigative journalists who work at these organizations cull through every press release, every stump speech, every campaign ad from numerous presidential and gubernatorial candidates to all 535 members of Congress. (Sorry, Ted Cruz, but the number of Americans not working is 6 million, not 92 million). And nobody does it better than the folks over at factcheck.org, a nonpartisan, non-profit consumer advocate for voters.

Northwest Florida’s Business Climate had a chance to speak with director Eugene Kiely about the nature of modern American politics and truth

by Josh Newby

telling at a recent Tiger Bay Club luncheon. nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 61

Have you found that your own political leanings have changed or evolved with this job?

No, only because my political leanings have always been all over the map. I come from a background of being a political reporter for many years and I know that there are good people in both parties. There are people who are out for their own agendas on both sides. I don’t see that through a partisan prism. I’m really kind of all over the map when it comes to that personally. What’s been an eye-opener and education for me being at FactCheck is that we strip away everything, so we look at just a statement being made. When you do that absent anything else, it’s really being partisan-blind. You get to the point where you don’t even know which party is saying it. You’re just looking at the statement.

Photo by Mark Taylor

Photo by Daniel Borman 62 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

“Be skeptical. Be openminded. Listen critically when you’re listening.

People have a tendency to be less critical of opinions that align with their own.”

Has your position ruined your view of government or made you skeptical of politics?

Not at all. We have a motto to be skeptical but not cynical. Actually my faith has been restored at FactCheck. Since I have been doing this a long time, I did get cynical working at The Philadelphia Inquirer covering the governor of New Jersey at the time, because a lot of people around him wound up going to prison. It was very discouraging to see that despite what we were doing in the media and writing about his administration and the people around him, nothing was being done. He actually ended up leaving office after I left. Being at FactCheck, your faith is restored. For me, the response we get from people is just tremendous. We have 80,000 subscribers. The emails we get that are like, “I’m a democrat, but I agree with what you wrote about President Obama” are encouraging. Usually I hear criticisms from liberals like, “You’re liberal, you’re this or that,” but that means that people have a yearning for nonbiased information as a foundation of knowledge. That’s what people really want and we’re in a position to give it to them.

You recently unveiled SciCheck, which is a science-checking service. What do you find to be the most contentious scientific issue of the day?

We only just started this at the end of January, but we’ve already written about climate change, about vaccinations. Time will tell, but obviously there has been a lot written already about climate change and a basic misunderstanding of science and that’s what we’re trying to do is convey the truth. We just did a tremendous piece on fruit flies, which I had no idea were so important to understanding human health because of the genetic makeup fruit flies have. They wind up being used in so many research projects that have been awarded four Nobel prizes. There was a joke by Sen. Rand Paul about fruit flies and it displayed a lack of understanding of what science does. I mean, that’s what we’re trying to do with SciCheck—explain what scientific research does and how it benefits human health.

How do you feel that scientific research itself is now viewed through a political lens?

I can understand it from the perspective that it’s very easy with scientific research and literature to pull out information that is very confusing. Pick a topic—cholesterol, whatever. I can understand that people would be frustrated and confused by it, and anytime there’s confusion, politicians frankly will take advantage of it for their own partisan agenda. That’s why we’re trying to increase the knowledge base so people have a better understanding of the issues and be more informed and make a better decision for themselves. Throughout my entire career, I’ve

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tried to give people the knowledge they need to make an informed decision.

from the Republicans during the Affordable Care Act debate.

How does your common layperson distinguish between the punditry and truth on these very complex issues?

Be skeptical. Be open-minded. Listen critically when you’re listening. People have a tendency to be less critical of opinions that align with their own; they’ll cut them slack. I would challenge those people to think more critically about the information they’re receiving from people they agree with. Also to be less kneejerk when listening to someone they don’t agree with.

You can see that in Washington now, where one side proposes something, the other side opposes it without compromise. Used to be, one side would criticize, the other side would criticize, and then they’d get together in committee and hash it out and find a middle ground. That hasn’t happened in years with the kind of regularity it used to. Don’t automatically reject or accept what the politician or organization is saying.

Has a politician whose verbiage you have addressed ever confronted you about that or fired back?

Definitely. We got publicly attacked by the Obama campaign because we wrote a piece that had to do with Bain Capital and a TV ad that was critical of Mitt Romney’s years at Bain Capital. They told us we were wrong and why we were wrong, but we had all that information when we wrote the article. We stood by it. On the Republican side, Stuart Stevens for the Mitt Romney campaign was making the claim that Obama was gutting the welfare work requirement, which he was not. Stuart Stevens infamously said, “Our campaign is not gonna be dictated by fact-checkers,” so he shut us down.

Come hell or high water, they were gonna continue that message regardless.

Since you’ve been at FactCheck, what has been the issue with the most misinformation?

Certainly the Affordable Care Act. It’s been remarkable on both sides. The President making the infamous “if you like your plan, you can keep your plan” statement was big for us because we actually wrote about that five years before he acknowledged he was wrong about it. We wrote about it in August 2009 and repeatedly said it was one of our whoppers—we put out an annual ‘whoppers list’—in 2011 and 2012 but yet he kept saying it, until it was proven wrong, which was inevitably gonna happen. With the Affordable Care Act, the democrats were overstating the benefits and minimizing the potential risks and the Republicans were exaggerating the impact of it. The law’s only effects at its core are 5 percent of the population, which is those who have health insurance on the individual market.

Most people get insurance from their jobs, or Medicaid or Medicare or CHIP. So when you break it down, it becomes a very small percentage of the population. So to make it seem like it’s hurting everybody is overstating. Both sides were just relentless.

Do you believe that the party that is not currently in power has a tendency to lie more?

Well we don’t use the word “lie,” because it implies motive. Who knows if they actually believed it to be truth? Did they purposely and deliberately do this? But you are onto something.

I think there is a tendency for politicians who are trailing in the polls to change the status quo.

They want to change the dynamic of the race or the trend line so they will go over the top with their falsehoods. Sometimes it works and sometimes it backfires. It happened with death panels

What do you believe about the state of American politics?

Well it doesn’t seem very good. It’s very polarized. All the polls show that. That is in part because people need to be challenged. People will go to their silos like MSNBC or Fox News and they’re just reinforcing themselves. If you challenge yourself to say that maybe there’s something about this that is good but can be made better, which is what politics used to be, then we can go back to being able to pass good legislation.

FactCheck.org TOP FACT CHECKS Can members of Congress retire and receive their full pay after serving one term?

No. Only senators are eligible for a pension after one term, but it won’t be their full salary.

Did President Obama call for a “new world order” in a speech in Europe?

No. Video of Obama’s speech was edited to change the meaning of what he said.

Is it true that, under the Affordable Care Act, “Medicare will not pay anything” for patients receiving only “observation” care in hospitals?

No. Medicare will pay a significant portion of observation care costs after copayments and deductibles are met. Nothing has changed as a result of the ACA. Does the Affordable Care Act require Medicare beneficiaries over age 75 to be admitted to the hospital by their primary care physician?

No. There is no such requirement in the law.

Is it true that Obamacare provides for opening “free gasoline” service stations for low-income people?

No. This rumor was started by a satirical news story.

Is it true that there are bills in Congress that would exempt members and their

The midterms were an upset for Democrats. Do you attribute that to the spread of misinformation on the Republicans’ part or do you believe it was going to happen anyway?

I don’t know to what extent misinformation impacts the outcomes of elections. There are people who study that. I do know that traditionally in the midterm of a president’s second term, your party is going to lose ground. It happened to Bush in 2006. The dynamic is against you from the start, particularly for Democrats who do a good job of getting voters out during the presidential elections and conservatives who turn out for midterms.

What’s next for FactCheck?

We’re gearing up for 2016. We’re a very small staff, with only five people. We get hundreds of emails and respond to as many as we can.

If we get a dozen or so inquiries about a single topic, we’ll certainly tackle that issue as part of Ask FactCheck. There are other sites, too, that do this, like Politifact and The Washington Post fact-checker. It’s being done on the local level too in places like Arizona.

staffs and families from buying into

Obamacare?

No. Congress members and staffers were required to buy insurance through the exchanges on Jan. 1, 2014.

Do 11 states now have more people on welfare than they have employed?

A viral email making this claim is off base. It distorts a Forbes article that compares privatesector workers with those “dependent on the government,” including government workers and pensioners, and Medicaid recipients — not just “people on welfare.”

Are Obama’s early records “sealed”?

No. Many records that presidential candidates don’t ordinarily release do remain confidential, but they are not “sealed” by a court. The 16 claims in a widely distributed graphic are mostly false or distorted.

Does the Obama administration intend to “force gun control and a complete ban on all weapons for U.S. citizens” through a United Nations treaty?

No. The administration plans to negotiate a treaty to regulate the international export and import of weapons. It says that it won’t support any treaty that regulates the domestic transfer or ownership of weapons, or that infringes on the Second Amendment. nwflbusinessclimate.com | Business Climate | 63

around the region

The Children’s Hospital plans expansion Sacred Heart Health System has announced plans for a major expansion of The Children’s Hospital at Sacred Heart.

Sacred Heart’s preliminary plan envisions a 4- or 5-story building that will connect to part of the front side of the current Children’s Hospital. Susan Davis, president and CEO of Sacred Heart, said the project is estimated to cost up to $125 million, and Sacred Heart will need to raise $55 million of that from community supporters and donors.

“The need and demand for children’s services is huge and it’s growing,” she said. “We will be building to meet the needs of the children and families of our region.”

The added building would enlarge the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and consolidate other pediatric services in one location. Those consolidated services will include: • A Pediatric Emergency Department, now located in the hospital’s Bayou Tower • Pediatric Outpatient Services • Operating rooms for inpatient and outpatient surgery Sacred Heart Health System is a member of Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and non-profit healthcare system. The expansion plan will require approval from Ascension, as well as state and local regulatory agencies. Sacred Heart hopes to begin construction in 2016.

Gulf Power petitions for alternative energy Earlier this year, Gulf Power submitted four petitions to the Florida Public Service Commission for solar and wind projects that could benefit more than 65,000 homes in Northwest Florida. Included in these projects is a proposal to build solar energy farms at three military bases. It is hoped that the solar projects, if approved, could be operational by December 2016 and the wind projects could be ready by December 2015.

All of this is part of Gulf Power’s recent effort to diversify their business and offerings to customers. Traditional fuel sources are becoming more scarce and dangerous to harvest, and Gulf Power sees these proposals as the first step to more affordable and reliable power.

Okaloosa EDC receives funding for UAV center The Okaloosa County Economic Development Council recently announced that it had been awarded a state grant to continue study of a proposed unmanned aerial vehicle test center.

The EDC has partnered with UWF for years to develop the facility, and this grant is another step forward on a project years in the making.

The EDC and the University of Florida signed the memorandum of understanding to continue development on the test center last summer. Funds from the Florida Defense Support Taskforce grant will be used to complete some soil studies and compaction testing at the proposed site of the center to make sure the land is suitable for development.

College administration and faculty association reach agreement Pensacola State College Administration is pleased to announce that the Pensacola State College Faculty Association has ratified the 2013-2014 Collective Bargaining Agreement by a vote of 85-16. Negotiations have been underway since February of 2013.

“We are pleased with the outcome of the ratification vote. We know that we would not be the institution that we are today without the dedication and commitment of our talented faculty and staff,” stated PSC President Edward Meadows. “All of us at Pensacola State College will continue to focus on our mission of providing access to high-quality education and ensuring the success of our students.”

Highlights of the agreement include: • 2 percent raise for faculty retroactive to August 2014 • $60,000 to address compression • an increase in most overload rates • an increased number of teaching hours for some faculty within the 35-hour work week • 4 percent increase to the base upon promotion with four years in rank required for promotion.

64 | Business Climate | nwflbusinessclimate.com

UWF Haas Center study: Northwest Florida workforces trail country in skills, education The University of West Florida Haas Center recently completed research that suggests metro areas in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Bay counties have workforces that trail their counterparts around the country in skills and education.

The Haas Center’s findings are presented in its new Job Skills Index, which ranks metro areas by how well they attract and retain educated and other highly skilled workers.

“This is one thing that can affect migration of skilled workers to a region,” said Soheil Nadimi, the Haas Center economist who conducted the analysis. “In areas that rank highly on the skills index, educated workers would be part of a cluster of skilled workers where it is more likely that they could develop professionally.”

Some key Haas Center findings: • The Pensacola area, which includes Santa Rosa County, placed 11th among of 22 Florida metropolitan statistical areas.

The Pensacola area barely beat the average index score for metro areas in the state, but fell short of the average index score for metro areas around the country.

• The Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin area ranked ninth on the list of Florida metro areas, beating both the average state and national index scores.

• The Panama City area came in 15th on the list, with an index score below both the state and national averages.

“Maintaining high average wages is an increasing challenge for Florida,” said UWF economist Rick Harper, who oversees the University’s Office of Economic Development and Engagement. “Some of our fastest business growth has been in meeting the needs of tourist and retiree customers, and these sectors tend to have lower-than-average wages. That doesn’t create the labor force that will draw high-tech, high-wage businesses to the state. We have a pressing need to build skill sets that will earn enough to support families.”

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