Bay Biz Vol 9/Issue 3 (Jul-Sept)

JUL - SEPT 2019 | VOL. 9 / ISSUE 3 PANAMACITY.ORG

T H E VO I C E O F B U S I N E S S F R O M T H E B AY C O U N T Y C H A M B E R O F C O M M E R C E

BAY COUNTY: A 5G COMMUNITY HOW COLLEGE COURSES HELP PREPARE STUDENTS FOR DISASTERS

july -september 2019

departments 4

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

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POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE New Housing Developments Being Explored in Bay County

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DEFENSE INTEL Tyndall’s Industry Days

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14 HEALTH Importance of Mental Health Services Following Hurricane Michael 18 EDUCATION How College Courses Help Prepare Students for Disasters 24 TECHNOLOGY Bay County: A 5G Community 32

ECONOMIC PROFILE

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WORKFORCE CONNECTION

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BAY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MEMBER TO KNOW

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BIZ LIST

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NEW MEMBERS

46

MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

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features 22

COVER STORY Panama City Beach Sports Complex Anticipated to Attract Thousands of New Visitors

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TOURISM APPRECIATION MONTH RECAP 2019 Tourism in Bay County

The Bay Biz is published quarterly by the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. POSTMASTER send address changes to: Bay County Chamber, PO Box 1850, Panama City, FL 32402 or email ashton@baychamberfl.com. The Bay Biz welcomes story ideas from its readers. To have your story added, please email ashton@baychamberfl.com. To request additional copies, call 850-785-5206.

PUBLISHER Carol Roberts

ART DIRECTION, LAYOUT, AND DESIGN GORGEOUS (getgorgeo.us | 850-888-8GRG)

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Ashton Williams

COVER Bay County kids ready for the new Panama City Beach Sports Complex to open Summer 2019.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS FOLLOW US ON: Kim Bodine, Brandi DeRuiter, Samantha Harlander, Kate Jay, Lisa Kitto, Jonathan O’Neil, Carol Roberts, Dan Rowe, Lacee Rudd, Elizabeth Smith, and Garrett Wright CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Bay County Chamber, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, Troy University, Verizon Wireless, United States Air Force, CareerSource Gulf Coast, and Visit Panama City Beach

BAY BIZ MAGAZINE c/o Bay County Chamber of Commerce P.O. Box 1850 Panama City, FL 32402 850-785-5206 panamacity.org | information@baychamberfl.com

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Summer is off to a great start with beautiful weather and thousands of visitors coming to our area. As many of you participated in our Tourism Appreciation Month activities to recognize our number one industry and its economic impact, we’d like to thank our partners Destination Panama City and the Bay County Tourist Development Council.

Speaking of the TDC, my long-time friend and counterpart Marcia Bush is retiring after 42 years of service to our community, and 30 years at the Bay County TDC. Both mine and Marcia’s careers began together in July of 1977. She started at the Bay County Chamber of Commerce in May and I followed in July. For a period of time we worked together at the downtown office, and then the Chamber opened a beach location, which was then called the Resort Council.

Long story short, after a number of years, a campaign was conducted to pass a bed tax to promote tourism on Panama City Beach.

It passed and the Bay County TDC was born. The Chamber opted to close its beach location and Marcia transitioned to the TDC. The rest is history and now my friend is retiring. Marcia, I wish you the best life has to offer!

thanks goes to the City of Panama City for housing the Chamber for many months. We will use all social media to communicate to our members and public so we are easily located. We continue to explore other opportunities and the option to rebuild our facility on 5th Street. Please know this move does not affect our programs and services offered to our members and community at large.

We continue our involvement on a local, state and federal level to rebuild Bay County. Our own Chairman of the Board, Will Cramer, is leading the Bay County Long Term Recovery Task Force Economic Development branch. After hundreds of public input meetings, a draft plan has been developed and is being reviewed. In addition, the Chamber leadership and staff are now involved with the City of Panama City on their recovery plan. We’ve also created a group in conjunction with the Cities of Callaway and Parker to develop a master plan for the Tyndall Parkway corridor to determine its potential to include Tyndall Air Force Base.

Our leadership and staff have worked tirelessly to do our part to obtain recovery funding on a state and federal level. A letter writing campaign targeted those in decision making positions to push bills through and expedite relief funding. We'd like to thank the many of you who assisted in telling your story.

Our Bay County staff and the County Commission have certainly gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep our county top of

Although summer is a time for us to enjoy our great community, I ask that you pause and remember that June 1 marks the first day of hurricane season. I don’t have to remind you of what we continue to experience from Hurricane Michael, and encourage you to start

mind with numerous state and D.C. visits. Hats off to our commissioners and thank you for your leadership!

Together we can re-build a better Bay County!

now on your business continuity of operations plan. A template can be found on the Emergency Operations Center website. In addition, don’t forget to plan personally, should we be threatened again. Remember, it’s not if, it’s when.

To keep you informed, your Bay County Chamber has made its third move. We are temporarily located at Gulf Coast State College, co-located with Bay EDA and CareerSource Gulf Coast. A special 4

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

Carol Roberts President/CEO

Call us for a free consultation or visit us online at www.HurricaneDamage.com Our Panama City office is located at: 3210 Highway 77, Suite B, Panama City, FL 32405. Office hours available by appointment only.

Attorneys at Law Main Office: Boca Raton

¡Hablamos Español!

political perspective New Housing Developments Being Explored in Bay County by: Brandi DeRuiter, VP of Governmental Affairs, Bay County Chamber of Commerce

Bay County Housing Many vibrantly growing communities often find it difficult to sustain sufficient housing stock to meet demands. Bay County, in spite of redevelopment initiatives and surges in new construction,

ing that would be affordable to low- and moderate-income households. Over time, new construction and substantial rehabilitation projects was found to be more expensive than incentives for existing housing.

also faced similar challenges, pre-storm, in fulfilling the demand for

As a result, federal housing assistance shifted away from con-

housing.

struction-based subsidies to rental assistance, block grants and

Post-storm, one can quickly summon up numerous descriptive words when thinking of the current market shortage: a crisis, a mess, lack of affordable housing; the list goes on.

low income housing tax credits. This shift provided state and local governments with greater access to federal resources to fund local housing and community development priorities.

Typically, local communities have better knowledge about how

This article will explore housing programs, current discussions

to provide housing, and can do so more efficiently. From the late

shaping the future of housing in Bay County and highlight a few

1980s through the 1990s, Congress acknowledged the value of lo-

housing developments planned for our area.

cal control and gave more decision making authority over housing

Affordable Housing Most federal housing assistance programs are aimed at making housing affordable for low-income families. Affordability, defined

policy to state and local governments through the creation of block grants and tax credits.

Community Development Block Grants

as housing that costs no more than 30% of a family’s income, is

The purpose of Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) is

considered to be the largest housing problem today.

to develop viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment and expanding economic opportuni-

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Trends in federal housing policy have shifted in recent decades. The

ties; primarily for low- and moderate-income persons. The CDBG

Housing Act of 1959 was the first significant instance government

program distributes 70% of funds through formula grants to enti-

incentives were used to persuade private developers to build hous-

tlement communities; these are considered central cities of met-

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ropolitan areas, cities with populations of 50,000 or more and ur-

Tiny house developments have also been explored. This concept

ban counties. The remaining 30% goes to states for use in small,

included a community environment with walking trails, community

non-entitlement communities.

centers with food and laundry service. The tiny homes would be

Communities may use CDBG funds for a variety of activities. Eligi-

handicap accessible to target all residents.

ble activities include the acquisition and rehabilitation of property

Models such as purpose use housing and work-live developments

for purposes such as public works, urban beautification and historic

are included and could connect schools, green spaces and ameni-

preservation. Funds may also be used for neighborhood econom-

ties with walkability and livability.

ic development projects, housing rehabilitation, blighted property demolition, crime prevention or recreation.

Additionally, Congress has used CDBG’s framework to provide additional, supplemental, and special appropriations to assist communities declared by the President of the United States as disaster areas.

CDBG-Disaster Recovery funding is designed to address housing, infrastructure, economic development and mitigation needs that remain after other assistance has been exhausted, including federal assistance, private insurance and work designed to prevent future

Current and Upcoming Developments This section will highlight a few new and upcoming housing developments and is not an all-inclusive list.

Unincorporated Bay County includes all areas in Bay County not included in a municipality. Recent large scale development orders have been issued for four projects: Brighton Oaks 35-acre subdivision is a 144 lot residential subdivision on Cato Road.

damage to the affected areas.

Laguna Haven subdivision has 40 lots on 12 acres at the north end

State Programs

of San Souci Blvd and Wells Street.

Florida’s Department of Economic Opportunity manages three

Hodges Bayou Phase 2 has increased to 121 lots. A 32-acre devel-

CDBG Programs: the Florida Small Cities Community Development

opment on the southeast corner of Highway 2321 and Deer Haven

Block Grant Program, Office of Disaster Recovery and the Neigh-

Road.

borhood Stabilization Program.

Florida also supports affordable housing trust funds. Dedicated funding sources such as document stamp tax on real estate transactions create a pool of funds for affordable housing such as the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) and State Apartment Incentive Loan program (SAIL) programs.

SHIP provides funds to local governments as an incentive to create partnerships that produce and preserve affordable homeownership and multifamily housing. SAIL provides low-interest loans on a competitive basis to affordable housing developers to bridge the gap between primary financing and the total development cost.

SAIL funds can be utilized for construction or substantial rehabilitation of multifamily units that are affordable to very low income individuals and families.

Discussions Shaping the Future of Bay County Housing The Housing Branch is one of six branches included in Bay County’s Long Term Recovery Task Force. The two main goals of this branch are to find solutions for the short-term housing crisis created by the storm and to develop a long term plan to assist in providing an adequate supply of affordable market rate housing.

Many types of housing concepts were explored such as 3D printing, micro-housing, modular construction and container housing.

New technologies have incorporated the use of a 3D robotic printer and CAD software to create 3D printed concrete homes in 30

Magnolia Ridge will be a 134 lot residential subdivision on 44 acres of the north side of Thomas Alva Road.

Panama City: Phase 2 Conceptual Plan for Sweet Bay. This includes 227 lots on 68 acres north of University Academy.

D.R. Horton has plans for 1,900 units on 943 acres. The total development is planned for a 10 plus year build out.

Lynn Haven: Parkview Townhomes, 50 townhomes off of 17th Street; Andrews Plantation, 86 new homes off of Highway 389; Camryn’s Crossing Phase II, 38 new homes off of Dragonfly; and The Village at Mills Bayou, featuring 40 homes.

Panama City Beach: Pier Park Crossings, located at North Pier Park Drive, will feature 10 buildings with 24 units each; Parkside Apartments, located on Parkside Circle, is recently completed and features 12 buildings with 24 units each; permitted subdivision projects include 21 additional homes in Moonraker subdivision and 27 additional homes in Breakfast Point. Additionally, Seagrass Village, Independent Living and Memory Care Building, recently completed 11 duplexes, with 10 more anticipated to be complete by July 2019.

One major development, East Bay Flats, will be located in the City of Parker. Featuring nearly 160 high end townhomes and will be built near the Dupont Bridge (to Tyndall AFB). Units will range from 1,500 to 1,900 square feet. This project is expected to break ground summer 2019.

days. These homes would be targeted towards incomes of $30,000 to $50,000. Shipping container housing has many design options and can be made to fit all types of income. Although both types of homes have rapid build capabilities, zoning and permitting would still have to be considered.

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defense intel Tyndall’s Industry Days: Constructing the Base of the Future by: Brandi DeRuiter, VP of Governmental Affairs, Bay County Chamber of Commerce

Rebuilding Hurricane Michael damaged nearly 100 percent of Tyndall’s 1,200 facilities. Approximately 100 facilities were totally destroyed and 195 facilities received moderate to severe damage.

In response to the widespread and catastrophic damages sustained to the base, the Air Force hosted Tyndall Industry Days on January 31 and May 2, 2019, at the FSU-PC Holley Academic Center.

More than 500 industry professionals and community leaders from around the globe attended each event. The current state of the installation, a preview of future plans, and timelines for rebuilding Tyndall AFB were presented.

“In the Department of Defense we typically do one or two construction projects per year on a single installation, “said Amy Vandeveer, Air Force Civil Engineering Center (AFCEC) installation planning SME. “We’re now looking at how to do construction on a massive

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“The Air Force will rely on industry for the long-term repair and rebuild of close to 500 facilities damaged or destroyed in the hurricane,” said Brigadier General Patrice Melançon, Tyndall Program Management Office executive director.

According to officials, Tyndall is not just rebuilding, they plan to build the base of the future. One that is resilient, focused on emerging technologies, and uses cutting-edge standards to withstand the strongest of storms. Smart building reconstruction designs will interconnect base facilities with utility infrastructure, incorporating sensors to monitor and view maintenance. Smart city concepts will be used to create walkable campus areas with consolidated onestop-shop facilities for Airmen and their families.

Rebuild plans will be designed to support incoming F-35 and MQ-9 squadrons, and also future weapons platforms in the decades to come. New construction is expected to last for 70 to 80 years.

scale in a very short period of time and want industry to help us do

In all, 98 whitepapers were submitted covering 132 concepts. These

so in the best way available. We hope that our partners in industry

were grouped into six categories: smart basing, resiliency, master

will help us discover what’s possible for Tyndall.”

planning, design and construction, contract acquisition, and pro-

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gram management. Many papers focused on smart basing and resiliency. Going forward, the Air Force will select the best concepts for planning base reconstruction.

“For several years, the Air Force has talked about what an installation of the future looks like from several perspectives: sustainable, smart, healthy and resilient,” said Vandeveer. “Tyndall provides a unique opportunity to make some bold moves and implement multiple strategies aligned with what we envision such an installation will look like.”

Current Scope The scope of current projects underway at Tyndall is broad. Buildings are being repaired, mold remediation is being conducted, roofs are being repaired and replaced, and structures that cannot be repaired are being demolished in preparation to rebuild the installation.

Several large heavily damaged facilities on the flight line will be

to transit FAA-controlled airspace to reach the Gulf Training Range makes this installation a significant strategic asset to the DoD. Additionally, the lack of encroachment issues and populations creates an ideal environment to support existing drone missions.

Also located at Tyndall is Silver Flag. This complex sits on a remote section of Tyndall and hosts an inactive runway where munitions are detonated to create large holes in the runway to train Airmen on rapid runway repair. This mission could not happen closer to more populated areas.

demolished due to safety concerns. The high potential of debris

Timeline and Funding

blowing off the buildings creates major safety concerns for Tyndall

The Air Force estimates that a full Tyndall rebuild, once funding is

aircraft and personnel.

secured, should take six or seven years to the tune of $4.25 billion.

Pre-storm, there were 11 dormitories on base, of these, only four have been deemed repairable. Tyndall is also home to 129 miles of coastline with numerous docks and several marinas. Although some of these repairs will have a public-safety impact, others are strictly mission docks used by drone recovery vessels and Security Forces watercraft.

This includes the assessment costs for 693 facilities, initial mitigation actions, clearance of debris and repairs to facilities. If approved and supplemental funds appropriated, F-35's could be based beginning in 2023.

For more information, visit Tyndall Program Management Office at: https://www.afimsc.af.mil/TyndallPMO/

Projects are not just limited to facilities and infrastructure. Forestry cleanup will also be required. Prior to the storm, about 70 percent of the base’s 29,000 acres were heavily wooded and uninhabited.

These downed trees present a significant fire hazard as they continue to dry out.

Tyndall’s Strategic Value Why rebuild? Tyndall has many missions that require airspace in the Gulf Training Range Complex in the Gulf of Mexico and is strategically located on the north central edge of the range. This training and testing range is unique because it is larger than all other military training and testing ranges combined. The Department of Defense relies on this range as it is the only range large enough to accommodate the speed and distance demands of new technologies.

This range supports joint live fire weapons and operational testing,

in • dust • ry day • s noun Industry Day is an event held by the Department of Defense (DoD) Program Management Office (PMO) to present plans for current or future procurements to representatives from industry. Usually held prior to a Request for Proposal (RFP), this is an opportunity for the government to express goals, a time line and solicit feedback about a procurement.

Industry Days can range from a few hours to three days in length and provide opportunities for those in business to sit down with program office personnel in a private one-on-one session to ask questions and give feedback. These events are announced on FBO.gov, and are designed to help industry gain a better understanding of governmental/ military construction needs and provide input into RFP’s.

as well as emerging technologies such as hypersonics (5x speed of sound), autonomous systems and advanced surface and subsurface warfare systems requiring enlarged testing and training zones.

There are very few places the Air Force can fly 5th generation test and training missions within immediate proximity to an airbase.

Protecting the Gulf Range from encroachment issues remains a top priority for the Chamber and is listed as a core objective in the Bay Defense Alliance (BDA) and the Florida Defense Support Task Force (FDSTF) strategic plans.

Manned and unmanned jets are able to take off from Tyndall’s runways and immediately be over open water without flying over nonDOD land. The ability to fly over unpopulated areas, without having

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health Importance of Mental Health Services Following Hurricane Michael by: Lisa Kitto, Area Coordinator, Troy University

N

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ow, more than ever, the residents of Bay County and surrounding communities are in need of mental health services. Every day it seems we see or hear

life of those impacted by the life-changing disaster named Michael.

another story regarding the issues children, elderly, homeless, and

the facility officially reopened on November 1st, allowing faculty

even those with stable home situations face as a result of Hurri-

and staff to return to work, as well as the resumption of classes

cane Michael. Whether you stayed or evacuated, the after-effects

for students. Dr. Trey Fitch, a full professor with the Department

of the Category 5 hurricane are real, and have proven to show the

of Counseling and Psychology, and local TROY instructor, stressed

same side effects as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Bay County

how important it was for day to day operations to return to “normal”

was already suffering from a mental health crisis due to the opioid

as quickly as possible to minimally affect the students so they could

epidemic and the large portion of the K-12 student population being

continue their studies in the classroom and at the counseling agen-

tagged as “homeless,” before the hurricane.

cies where they were so greatly needed.

Troy University in Panama City has played a role in educating and

Through partnerships established with local area mental health

training mental health counselors in this area since 1991 through

agencies, Troy University students have the opportunity on a lev-

the Master of Science in Counseling and Mental Health program.

el like none before to apply their education and principles in real

The students who have completed and graduated, or who are cur-

life scenarios as interns working under the supervision of licensed

rently pursuing their degree, are among those in the counseling ser-

mental health counselors in the field or as mental health profes-

vices community who are providing help to improve the quality of

sionals.

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The TROY administrative building might have been one of few that sustained very little interior damage from the storm. As a result,

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health issues, reaching out to one of the following local counseling agencies can make a difference...

The desire to help others in finding a healthy balance within themselves is one of the reasons current TROY student, Lois Collier, is

›

Life Management Center: 850-522-4485

›

Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital: 850-763-0017

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Community Recovery Center: 800-621-3362

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Troy University: 850-747-0634

working through Life Management Center for FEMA funded Project H.O.P.E. As a part of a team, Collier performs community outreach for those in need of crisis counseling services. While working with children and adults, she relays their mission to “provide a more immediate need to those that have suffered losses and are struggling with coping. We work with children in discussing their emotions and any traumas they have faced with the storm.” Collier will graduate soon, and said she is excited to continue a fulfilling career where she can carry on with helping improve the quality of life for people in her hometown.

Starting over, as so many are doing now, is not a new concept for Kim Fitzpatrick. In addition to the Counseling degree she was awarded from Troy University in 2017, Fitzpatrick practiced law for 22 years before pursuing a career in counseling. Unsatisfied as an attorney, she changed professional paths after realizing she preferred helping others navigate their way through challenging events and emotions. While navigating through the many details involved with returning her home and personal life to pre-storm status, Fitzpatrick has found multiple ways to put her counseling skills to good use. As an employee of Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital where she works a weekend shift, she also serves as a counselor 4 days a week with the Bay County Community Recovery Center that was established to provide locally-based support for ongoing disaster survivor needs. “There is an overwhelming need to help the hurricane victims work through the stages of grief,” said Fitzpatrick.

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“Many of those affected had pre-existing problems that have only been exacerbated by the storm.” She tries to find a private study

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room at the Bay County Library, where the Recovery Center is located, to meet with those in need of someone to talk with. Her goal is to provide free help to the individuals working through the trauma they have experienced, post-storm. Fitzpatrick said the need for mental health counseling is so vital, she is proud to have the education and training to contribute when the need is so critical.

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As the recovery process continues, if you or anyone you know is struggling with mental health issues, reaching out to any of the local counseling agencies can make a difference. Many agencies are at no cost and are totally confidential. If you are seeking individual fulfillment, and you have the gift of listening and a passion for helping others, the counseling field might be the career for you.

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education How College Courses Help Prepare Students for Disasters by: Jonathan O’Neil, Marketing Copywriter, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

A

s Bay County residents have learned in the wake of the destruction left by Hurricane Michael, rebuilding can be an arduous process that takes plenty of skilled and

dedicated professionals to lead the way.

They have also learned that looking ahead is the only way to shake off the significant effects of such a devastating event.

In both cases, many of the degree programs offered by Embry-Rid-

Management. Admittedly stunned at the level of destruction after him and his family returned from a mandatory evacuation, Mathis was grateful the university offered flexibility so he could take a break from class.

“It was an immediate shock,” Mathis said about returning home. “It took my breath away.”

dle Aeronautical University – either online, at Tyndall Air Force Base

For other students who lived through the horrific storm and its

or at other Northwest Florida campuses – are already making a dif-

ongoing aftermath, being able to get back to their online studies

ference.

brought a little bit of normalcy into an extremely abnormal situa-

“The skill sets I have been learning, built the framework for being

tion.

able to deal with a lot of this,” said Embry-Riddle Worldwide Cam-

“Some of the students just pushed through, even though they had

pus student Brandon Mathis, 39, whose home north of Tyndall was

really been impacted by the storm,” said Ashley Smith, Campus Di-

severely damaged by Michael. “In fact, one course I had to delay for

rector of Operations at the Fort Walton Beach, Hurlburt Field, Crest-

a while, because of the storm, was Business Law, which really came

view and Tyndall Campuses. “They kept going to class while they

in handy as we started getting our house fixed up and we were deal-

were living in trailers and going to Starbucks for internet.”

ing with contractors and insurance.”

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neering and graduated in June 2019 with his bachelor’s in Technical

That’s exactly what 31-year-old Naval Reservist Bo Yohn did, driving

Mathis, who is active duty Air Force, took Embry-Riddle classes on-

close to three-and-a-half hours roundtrip from his home near Pana-

line and at Tyndall Air Force Base. He has a background in civil engi-

ma City Beach to Destin so he could use coffee shop WiFi.

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“It was a pretty stressful time,” Yohn said, referring to the weeks right after the storm. “The drive is normally about 45 minutes, but with all the damage and people on the roads, it took a lot longer.”

Yohn, who is working on his bachelor’s degree in engineering, said he was determined to keep pushing ahead with his schoolwork.

“The online option really helped,” Yohn said. “In fact, we were in a hotel when we first got back and I was taking classes online.”

For those in some degree programs – particularly Engineering, Logistics and Supply Chain Management and Unmanned Systems – Hurricane Michael exposed the need for people who are trained in disaster response, recovery and reconstruction.

“They are the ones who will help us rebuild the economy,” Smith said. “It’s the expertise offered in many of our degree programs that will help us toward a better future.”

No doubt there is plenty of opportunity to pitch in. Michael laid waste to so much of the county that just about everything is being rebuilt from scratch, and that will ultimately include much of Tyndall Air Force Base, which suffered extensive damage from the eyewall.

“This is a resilient place with resilient people,” Smith said. “There are now a lot of opportunities to grow our economy even as we’re

“Those are the ones who help keep supplies flowing,” Smith said.

“And that means everything from food and water to nails and wood.”

Smith also feels, the option to learn online and the flexibility of students to learn from anywhere has come in handy post Hurricane Michael, especially with so many buildings damaged and people displaced. Smith and Associate Campus Director Heather Weekley have only just recently been able to move back into their office at Tyndall.

Even without the disruption caused by the storm, taking classes online has been a huge benefit for busy students, like Yohn and Mathis.

“If Embry-Riddle didn’t have this four-year program online, there’s a good chance I would not be getting my bachelor’s degree,” said Yohn, who is now considering getting a master’s in Aeronautical Science. “When I heard it was all online, I said, ‘sign me up.’ ” Although the last seven months have been tough, students such as Mathis and Yohn are seeing slow improvement and are now looking ahead with some hope. “People have really pulled together and been very resilient,” Mathis said. He hopes to build on that resilience, too. “If we were ever faced with another disaster, I know my degree will help me make a difference in my community. I could help people,” said Mathis.

starting to put everything back together again.”

After Hurricane Michael, any progress towards normal has been slow. That’s where trained experts and motivated learners can make such a difference, and why Smith said Embry-Riddle’s degree programs can have such a positive impact.

“Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), in particular, can be a game-changer when it comes to disaster response and recovery,” said Dr. Ken Witcher, the College of Aeronautics dean at Embry-Riddle Worldwide. “For our students, it’s not just learning to fly; it’s understanding the technology and finding out what you can do with it.”

In the aftermath of a disaster, small UAS can make a big difference.

With high-resolution cameras and thermal imaging, among other attributes, the remotely piloted aircraft can do everything from search and rescue to damage surveys.

“Maximizing the capability of UAS is what our students learn,” Dr. Witcher said. “We want them to be able to deal with every situation you could possibly think of.”

When it comes to the range of engineering degrees available through Embry-Riddle Worldwide, Dr. Witcher said all the programs teach skills that are critical for anyone facing the kind of difficult reconstruction challenge that now confronts Bay County.

“Any of the skill sets taught in our engineering programs would be applicable to long-term rebuilding,” Dr. Witcher said. “It’s the right foundation; it’s Engineering 101.”

Smith added that people trained in Logistics and Supply Chain Man-

About Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is the world’s leading aviation and aerospace university. It has residential campuses in Daytona Beach, Florida and Prescott, Arizona, along with a Worldwide Campus that delivers education online and via 135-plus locations around the globe.

In 2019, U.S. News & World Report ranked Embry-Riddle Worldwide as the #1 Online Bachelor’s Degree program and the #1 Online Bachelor’s Degree for veterans.

In Northwest Florida, Embry-Riddle has four campuses, in Fort Walton Beach, Hurlburt Field, Crestview and at Tyndall Air Force Base. All have classrooms used by military and civilian students and all are also centers for online education. The Tyndall location has just reopened after being shut down for several months because of hurricane damage.

Embry-Riddle offers more than 100 associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in subjects that include Applied Science, Aviation, Business, Computers & Technology, Engineering, Security, Intelligence and Safety, and Space.

For more information, call 850-283-4557, email Tyndall@erau.edu or visit worldwide.erau.edu.

agement can also play a vital role in recovering from such a devastating and disruptive event.

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

17

This courthouse

CHANGED

A NATION. Make history meaningful with a visit to the Bay County Courthouse, site of a 1963 landmark case that changed our nation’s court system.

In Gideon v. Wainwright, the Supreme Court ruled that states are required under the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to provide an attorney to defendants in criminal cases who are unable to afford their own lawyers.

After stopping at the courthouse, explore the history of the St. Andrews neighborhood and downtown Panama City with self-guided walking tours. Find out more at destinationpanamacity.com/walkingtour

PA N A M A C I T Y FLORIDA

Where Life Sets Sail

WE’RE BAY COUNTY PROUD!

Together we can continue to drive forward.

The most amazing thing about Bay County is not

to be a part of a community filled with caring

its great history or its beautiful beaches, it’s the

and committed people. Great job Bay County.

people. All of us at Panama City Toyota are proud

You inspire us to continue to drive forward.

850-204-5277 // PanamaCityToyota.com // 959 W 15th Street Prices and payments do not include the $689.50 dealership/doc fee, taxes, title, tags, registration, finance charges, documentation charges, emissions testing charges, or other fees required by law, vehicle sellers or lending organizations. Restrictions may apply. See dealer for details.

Panama City Beach is looking ahead to summer with great anticipation, as they plan to open its world-class Panama City Beach Sports Complex in July 2019. Known for its beautiful, sugar white sand beaches and crystal clear, emerald green waters, Panama City Beach will soon transform into the ultimate destination for sports in the Southeast. Located just north of Highway 98, this state-ofthe-art $37 million complex will offer visitors on ‘play-cation’ a premier place to enjoy a variety of sports, from soccer to softball, on its 13-field complex.

Dozens of events have already been scheduled at the Panama City Beach Sports Complex. The complex has nine AstroTurf with Z-Cap cooling technology fields and four natural grass multipurpose fields providing enough space to hold multiple events at the same time.

Destined to be the mecca for soccer in the Southeast, Panama City Beach will host over 700 soccer teams for more than 15 tournaments beginning in August. In addition to soccer, the complex’s flexible design will also allow for lacrosse, football, baseball, softball, ultimate frisbee and even quidditch.

Made possible through a public-private partnership with the Panama City Beach Convention & Visitors Bureau, St. Joe Company and Bay District Schools, 210 acres of land were donated for the complex, making it one of the largest in the Southeast. The cere20

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

monial groundbreaking for this venue took place on June 13, 2018.

Boasting 160 acres of premium, flexible space, the facility will provide visiting teams, players and coaches with a unique experience for events or training for the upcoming season. In addition to 13 tournament quality fields, the Panama City Beach Sports Complex will also feature five collegiate-size baseball fields, ten 220-ft. softball and youth baseball fields, seven batting cages, two Championship fields with seating for up to 1,500 spectators, LED lights for all fields, an umpire/referee locker room and lounge, warm-up area, dedicated tournament facilities, scenic boardwalk, lounging pavilions, on-site WiFi, three concession stands and over 1,000 parking spots.

The Panama City Beach Sports Complex is managed by Sports Facilities Management (SFM) under the direction of their General Manager, J.D. Wood. Wood, an experienced sports tourism industry leader, has had the privilege of working with prestigious sports organizations including the City of College Station Texas, Dallas Sports Commission, National Senior Games and Texas A&M Athletics.

“I am thrilled and so appreciative of the opportunity to serve as General Manager of our brand-new Panama City Beach Sports Complex,” shares Wood. “The opportunity to join the SFM family

and be a part of such a talented team in an amazing destination is something that I could not pass up! I look forward to adding to the tourism landscape in Panama City Beach and helping to establish it as the ultimate year-round destination for sports in the Southeast.”

Other members of the Panama City Beach Sport Complex team include Director of Events and Business Development, Gregg Wolfe.

Wolfe grew up in Bay County and served as the Athletic Director for Gulf Coast State College for twenty years. He has comprehensive experience in all aspects of sports and recreation.

Finance Manager Kiki Roman, comes to the complex with over 40 years of private, government and not- for-profit accounting and management experience. After retiring from a private Junior College in California where she served as its Chief Operating Officer, she moved to Panama City Beach in 2014. She was drawn out of retirement by her excitement for this flagship addition to our community.

Facility Manager Rick Whorton is from Marietta, Georgia and served as District Operations Manager for Cobb County Parks and Recreation Department. He has extensive experience in all aspects of parks and facility operations needs and services.

Marketing and Sponsorship Manager Samantha Harlander, a military spouse, has returned to Bay County after being stationed in the Pacific Northwest for the past 9 years where she served as the Regional Marketing Director for Fleet and Family Readiness for Navy Region Northwest. She has over 10 years experience in marketing and commercial sponsorship.

Concessions, Food and Beverage Manager Joyce Morris, has been in the concession, catering and events business for 20 plus years here in Bay County.

If you are interested in joining the team, the complex is still looking to fill positions with concessions, facility maintenance and guest services. Internships are also available for students seeking experience in the field of sports tourism.

Tourist Development Council officials are expecting the Panama City Beach Sports Complex to draw in thousands of new visitors per year. A 2017 financial forecast report by the firm Sports Facility Management (SFM) projected that in its first year of operation, the complex will earn over $870,000. In addition, visitors are projected to generate 37,000 “room nights” in area lodgings, and pump $13.9 million into the Bay County economy.

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

21

About Panama City Beach Panama City Beach is situated on 27 miles of sugar-white sand beaches bordering clear, emerald-green waters where the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrew Bay converge. With 320 days of sunshine annually and attractions such as St. Andrews State Park and Pier Park, the region has long been favored by travelers seeking an affordable beach vacation with year-round offerings for families, couples, groups and adventure-seekers. These include championship golf courses, spas, sporting events, award-winning dining and diverse recreational activities. In addition, Panama City Beach’s Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport offers non-stop flights on Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. For more information, call 850-233-5070 or visit the official website of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau at http:// www.visitpanamacitybeach.com. Live HD video of the world-famous beach is now available at http://www.visitpanamacitybeach. com/webcam/. Stay connected with Panama City Beach on Twitter (@Visit_PCB), Instagram (@Visit_PCB) and Facebook (@Visit_PCB).

About Sports Facilities Management, LLC (SFM) and Sports Facilities Advisory, LLC (SFA) The Panama City Beach Sports Complex Open House is scheduled for Saturday, August 10th from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. The community is encouraged to come out and experience the new complex for the first time, with concessions open, a variety of fun games for all ages, live demonstrations and booths available for attendees seeking more information. The Panama City Beach Sports Complex will be a “game changer” for Panama City Beach! For more information, visit www.playpanamacitybeach.com or follow us on Facebook (@PCBSportsComplex) and Instagram (@pcbsportscomplex).

Sports Facilities Management, LLC (SFM) and Sports Facilities Advisory, LLC (SFA) are headquartered in Clearwater, Florida. SFA has produced more than $10 billion in institutional-grade financial forecasts for youth and amateur sports complexes. SFM provides industry-leading, results-driven management solutions for sports, fitness, recreation and event venues nationwide. For more information, visit www.sportadvisory.com

Proudly Serving Panama city, Panama city Beach and the Surrounding Bay county areaS. 12310 Panama City Beach Pkwy Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 872-1800

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B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

OCTANE CAN FUEL

YOUR START-UP. SMALL BUSINESS START-UP LOANS

THINK BIG. FUEL CHANGE.

CONTACT US TODAY TO GET STARTED.

Your gift empowers our community.

“I am so grateful for the support from the Foundation and the College. I cannot say thank you enough for the kindness they have shown to my family.”

– Jessica Owens, employee

Hurricane Michael created the largest financial obstacle in the history of our College.

Through the Hurricane Michael Student & Employee Disaster Relief Fund the Foundation has awarded $1.5 million in support to our students and staff. Help us keep this assistance alive by donating today. Together we are stronger!

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23

technology Bay County: A 5G Community by: Kate Jay, South Area Communications, Verizon Consumer Group

I

n the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael last October, knowing that our neighbors in the Panhandle have a long road ahead, Verizon committed to being there

every step of the way. Part of that commitment involves a $25 million investment into our network across the Panhandle, to help the

in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. It will eventually touch nearly every industry sector, impact our economy in a profound way, and dramatically improve our global society.

community rebuild with the most technologically advanced wire-

Throughput

less infrastructure – including 5G. As our network team works in

You can’t be the leader in 5G if you’re not the leader in 4G. Multiple

earnest to lay the groundwork for 5G, Bay County residents may

independent third-party network tests demonstrate Verizon’s 4G

wonder what the next generation of wireless technology will mean

network is the best. We have the largest 4G LTE network in the US

for local consumers and businesses as they continue to recover and

(2.6 million square miles), and continue to earn numerous third-par-

rebuild.

ty network wins through planning and continued investment in the

On January 8, 2019, at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Verizon CEO Hans Vestberg talked about the Eight Curren-

latest LTE Advanced technologies. We achieved peak data speeds of 953 Mbps in a real world environment on our 4G network. Our 5G network has the potential to deliver speed many times faster

cies of 5G – throughput, service deployment, mobility, connected

than the current 4G. 5G will ultimately enable peak data rates of 10

devices, energy efficiency, data volumes, latency and reliability. The

gigabits per second.

infrastructure for all eight currencies are in the process of being built now. We have been aggressively working on 5G technology for years. Four years ago, we convened a broad group of hardware and chip manufacturers to create standards for 5G. We made investments and put resources toward building a 5G network; this included investments in fiber, additional spectrum, especially in the

24

tra Wideband network is the only network with the power to usher

This throughput will enable things like autonomous vehicles, drive manufacturing efficiencies, and support AR/VR solutions and remote healthcare services. We’re already working with entrepreneurs and innovators as they build these and other 5G applications that will change the world in our 5G Labs around the country, espe-

millimeter wave spectrum band, high network density (small cell in-

cially in NYC, Cambridge, MA, LA, Washington DC and Silicon Valley.

frastructure), and the real estate required.

Service Deployment

The point is, a company can't just decide they want to offer 5G and

The real-time enterprise will be powered by 5G. 5G and network

be ready in a few months. It takes years of deliberate planning, test-

virtualization (using software to perform network functions) en-

ing, innovation, and building the ecosystem. We believe our 5G Ul-

ables service and application deployment without having to install

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

Data Volume The 5G standard was designed to support up to 10 terabytes of data per square kilometer. This means the 5G network will carry a massive amount of data for a large number of simultaneous users. Users in high density areas – like airports, stadiums and urban centers – will still experience the fast speeds and low latency of 5G service.

Latency 5G’s rapid end-to-end latency (the time it takes for data to travel from the user, over the network to the central processor and back again) will be one of the drivers of true technological change, bringing data transit speed to many times less than the blink of an eye additional hardware. This will reduce typical service times from six months to only 90 minutes. These faster deployment times will allow us to roll out new features and security improvements quickly, to address the dynamic needs of our customers.

Mobility

– eventually less than 10 milliseconds end-to-end response time.

By comparison, 4G LTE networks currently offer latency around 40 to 50 milliseconds.

All kinds of new – unthinkable, until now – applications become possible once you reach super low latency levels. We’ve already addressed AR/VR and autonomous vehicles, but 5G will allow doctors

5G technology is designed to enable devices traveling up to 310

and first responders to get data-intensive information – like full-

mph to stay connected to the network. We’ve tested 5G network

body scans or building plans – in seconds.

handoff techniques to enable passengers in fast-moving vehicles and trains to stay connected while they are moving. Imagine highways of self-driving cars or warehouses with automated robots moving at high speed transmitting data and reacting to changing information instantaneously. With 5G, it’s possible.

Connected Devices 5G will be able to support up to 1M connected devices per square kilometer. Verizon’s 5G Ultra Wideband network will eventually handle 10 to 100x more connected devices per square kilometer than 4G. Think that’s overkill? Consider that experts believe the number of connected devices will be more than three times the global population by 2022. This will allow cities to tap into the power of 5G for things like smart street lights, remote security monitoring, and intelligent rail and smart parking solutions.

Additionally, as chips get cheaper, applications increase and more things (stadium seats, retail items, manufacturing equipment, etc.) get connected to the network it will change how businesses op-

Reliability

erate, the data they collect and the services they provide. We can

Verizon has the most reliable 4G LTE network, and we’re architect-

imagine a time when 5G connected drones can be used for every-

ing our 5G network to be exceptionally reliable, with uptimes that

thing from home package delivery to supporting search and rescue

could potentially reach 99.999%. 5G should offer reliability busi-

operations. The next generation of IoT (Internet of Things) is com-

nesses can count on at critical moments.

ing, and it will be powered by 5G.

Energy Efficiency Sustainability is one of Verizon’s core values, and more companies are embracing a similar approach that puts social responsibility at the center of business operations. Increasingly, companies realize customers are more loyal when their values are supported. 5G promises to be more efficient than 4G. 5G will have lower energy requirements for our network operations (up to 90% less than 4G).

As we deploy this great new network, we’re encouraging local residents, community organizations, businesses and others to help us. Let’s 5G! is a simple, powerful platform we’ve created to provide easy to digest information about 5G, while also connecting local residents and businesses to their elected officials who are making decisions about local 5G deployments. It’s an opportunity for anyone who wants to be part of this revolution to join together in rolling out the next-generation of wireless technology.

For our customers using our 5G network, complex functions could happen closer to the end user. That means the end user’s device would require less processing capability and consume less energy and battery power.

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

25

26

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

economic profile current labor statistics for bay county LABOR FORCE

EMPLOYED

UNEMPLOYED

UNEMPLOYED RATE

February 19'

92,345

88,950

3,395

3.7

March 19'

92,890

88,833

4,057

4.4

April 19'

92,345

88,950

3,395

3.7

February 18'

92,844

89,065

3,779

4.1

March 18'

94,298

90,867

3,431

3.6

April 18'

94,985

91,928

3,157

3.3

real estate sales

EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES BAY COUNTY

FLORIDA

REALTOR SALES

MEDIAN PRICE

REALTOR SALES

MEDIAN PRICE

February 19'

315

$214,900

18,966

$250,000

March 19'

425

$223,850

23,013

$256,000

April 19'

389

$220,000

26,992

$259,470

February 18'

263

$205,900

18,620

$246,500

March 18'

342

$224,000

25,020

$250,800

April 18'

328

$215,000

24,804

$253,895

CONDO-TOWNHOMES SALES BAY COUNTY

FLORIDA

REALTOR SALES

MEDIAN PRICE

REALTOR SALES

MEDIAN PRICE

February 19'

105

$249,900

7,981

$187,500

March 19'

150

$257,250

10,340

$189,500

April 19'

154

$245,750

11,817

$194,050

February 18'

141

$220,000

8,457

$179,500

March 18'

203

$270,000

10,997

$183,000

April 18'

195

$245,000

11,236

$190,000

bay county sales tax collections

28

Bay County Demographic Snapshot Bay County Population: 183,563 Median Age: 39 Labor Force: 61,535 Average Wage: $38,510 Households: 67,939 Household Income: $48,577 Per Capita Income: $25,695

bay county building permits

GROSS SALES

TAXABLE SALES

TAX COLLECTIONS

RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL

February 19'

$569M

$374M

$23.6M

February 19'

39

2

March 19'

$755M

$379M

April 19'

$572M

$352M

$23.6M

March 19'

58

2

$22.4M

April 19'

48

4

February 18'

$489M

$278M

$17.3M

February 18'

34

6

March 18' April 18'

$688M

$300M

$18.1M

March 18'

51

0

$484M

$251M

$15.5M

April 18'

112

0

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

February 2019 - April 2019 from Garrett Wright, Vice President, EDA of Bay County At the June Bay EDA Investors Meeting, Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center announced they will expand access to emergency care in Bay County with the opening of a free-standing emergency department. The new emergency department will be located on Highway 231 near the intersection of Transmitter Road. Construction will start late 2019 and is anticipated to be complete within a year.

healthcare professionals with additional staff hired to support growing needs.

The new, 24/7, full-service, free-standing emergency department will feature approximately 10 emergency room beds and will be capable of caring for all ages, including pediatrics. The 12,000 square-foot, one-story facility will front Highway 231. The ER facility is expected to serve more than 10,000 patients a year.

The $11.5 million project will employ approximately 30 full-time

As a means to improve access to local high-quality care, this will be the first-free standing ER for Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center. Just like Gulf Coast’s main facility, this ER will also serve as a full service, fully staffed emergency room with ER physicians, RN’s and a medical team ready to service the needs of the community.

"We believe this free-standing emergency room will provide our community with a more convenient location for emergency room care,” said Brad Griffin, Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center CEO. “We will continue to expand healthcare services, where needed, for our growing community.”

northwest florida beaches international

bay county bed tax collections

airport passenger traffic

PANAMA CITY

PANAMA CITY BEACH

TOTAL PASSENGERS

COMMERCIAL OPERATIONS

February 19'

$59,891.56

$1,202,512.76

$1,576.72

February 18'

$82,266.95

$788,397.27

$30,599.06

February 19'

72,045

3,362

February 18'

55,122

3,940

-27.20%

52.53%

-94.85%

% Change

30.70%

-14.67%

March 19'

$80,393.83

March 18'

$147,842.53

$2,024,127.76

$2,463.93

March 19'

115,215

6,318

$1,785,501.27

$61,315.36

March 18'

90,896

6,453

% Change

-45.62%

13.36%

-95.98%

% Change

26.75%

-2.09%

April 19'

$112,356.97

$1,680,814.94

$920.30

April 19'

113,766

5,862

April 18'

$148,755.72

$1,704,237.83

$52,261.81

April 18'

91,866

5,415

-24.47%

-1.37%

-98.24%

% Change

23.84%

8.25%

% Change

% Change

MEXICO BEACH

national, state & local unemployment rate (Jul 2011 to Jul 2019) 10

8

6

4

2

0

2011

2012

2013

2014

Bay County

2015

Florida

2016

2017

2018

2019

United States

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

29

THE BEST PLACE TO vacation.

AN EVEN BETTER PLACE TO CALL home.

WE HAVE A LOT TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

RANKED NO. 3 ON TRIPADVISOR’S TRAVELER’S CHOICE AWARDs LIST of top 25 beaches in the United States

Voted No. 3 among the South’s

Best Beach Towns

by Southern Living readers

R a n k e d N o. 3 o n U S A T o d a y ’ s

50 Best Places to Buy A Property in 2019

VisitPanamaCityBeach.com 30

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

We offer nothing but

the best

From land clearing to paving, we manage every facet of your Development progress to ensure seamless integration

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

31

BY: DAN ROWE, VISIT PANAMA CITY BEACH Tourism serves as one of Bay County’s largest economic drivers, contributing over $2 billion a year in economic impact. Known for its sugar-white sand beaches, emerald green waters and endless days of sunshine, Panama City Beach serves as Bay County’s tourism corridor, boasting over 17 million visitors in 2018 alone.

Beach is ensuring both returning and new visitors know the beach is back open for business and ready to welcome them this summer. By choosing Panama City Beach as their vacation destination and visiting local resorts, restaurants and shops, visitors are safeguarding the economy for all of Bay County.

Miraculously, Panama City Beach remained virtually unscathed from Hurricane Michael’s devastation in October 2018, and businesses throughout the destination quickly returned to normal operations. Bay County’s other two destination marketing organizations, Panama City and Mexico Beach, were not as fortunate as the storm ravaged both areas, resulting in tremendous damage. Almost eight months post-hurricane, Mexico Beach and Panama City are still working to recover, but are making great strides to come back stronger than ever for their loyal visitors. Collaborating between private, public and community partners, Bay County’s tourism industry is making leaps forward to rebuild and revitalize its communities.

This year, Panama City Beach is looking forward to not only welcoming more visitors than ever to its sugar white sands, but also a number of new and exciting offerings including United Airlines’ brand-new nonstop service to Chicago, the grand opening of Paula Deen’s restaurant at Pier Park and the completion of its $37-million-dollar, world-class sports complex- scheduled to open in August. Three new hotel and resort properties by The St. Joe Company are also making headway in construction, as well as the first highrise condominium to be built in Panama City Beach in over a decade.

Following the storm, Panama City Beach served as the primary location for workers and contractors who were assisting the rest of the county, and for displaced families seeking shelter. As a result, Panama City Beach saw a 144 percent increase in bed tax dollars for November Year Over Year (YOY). With the increase in funds, the Bay County Tourism Development Council voted to use the additional tax dollars towards the design, permitting and sand research for a beach re-nourishment project for Mexico Beach, as well as for assisting Destination Panama City and the Mexico Beach Community Development Council in post-hurricane marketing and communication strategies.

“Panama City Beach, Panama City and Mexico Beach are three distinct destinations with their own unique characteristics, but the unfortunate reality of Hurricane Michael brought us together as one,” shared Visit Panama City Beach President and CEO Dan Rowe. “We were extremely fortunate here in Panama City Beach to escape the worst of the storm and now, it is our greatest duty and honor to help and support our neighbors who were devastated by ensuring tourism to our beaches continues.”

While Panama City Beach tourism has been successfully serving as a vital entity to the county’s rebuilding efforts, it is imperative that tourism continues as a vast majority of the county’s residents work in various Panama City Beach service industries. Through a combination of marketing and public relations efforts, Visit Panama City

As tourism numbers continue to rise and businesses continue to invest in the area, it’s no surprise Panama City Beach is receiving national attention for being a premier year-round vacation destination.

In just the last few months, Panama City Beach was named one of “The South’s Best Beach Towns” by Southern Living, one of the “Top 25 Beaches in the U.S.” by TripAdvisor, one of the “Best Beach Towns to Invest In A Vacation Rental” by Coastal Living and one of the “Best Places To Own A Vacation Rental Property In 2019” by Rented.com and USA Today. In addition, the destination was named one of the “12 Best Beaches in Florida’ by Travel Pulse and one of the “Top 10 Best Places to Buy a Beach House” by Real Estate Weekly.

Visit Panama City Beach’s talented team has worked tirelessly to ensure its tourism thrives, all in an effort to create economic stability in Bay County and offer job opportunities for years to come.

It’s imperative Panama City Beach continues to be an innovative, industry-leading destination, always looking for new ways to boost Bay County’s economy and enhance its visitors’ experiences.

About Panama City Beach Panama City Beach is situated on 27 miles of sugar-white, sand beaches bordering clear, emerald-green waters where the Gulf of Mexico and St. Andrew Bay converge. With 320 days of sunshine annually and attractions such as St. Andrews State Park and Pier Park, the region has long been favored by travelers seeking an affordable beach vacation with year-round offerings for families, couples, groups and adventure-seekers. These include championship

Thank you to all the participants and sponsors who helped us celebrate Bay’s number one industry!

Bill Cramer GM, TECO Peoples Gas, Trustmark, Barefoot Hide A Way Grill, Ameris Bank, and Lamar

32

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

Tourism Appreciation Month was a huge success! The Bay County Chamber of Commerce along with Destination Panama City and Visit Panama City Beach celebrated Bay County’s number one industry: tourism.

During the week of May 3rd – 9th, the state of Florida recognized the importance of tourism in the state. The Chamber took it a step further to recognize the number one industry in Bay County for the entire month.

Because of Bay County’s assets for tourism and the economic impact it plays on the local economy, the Bay County Chamber of Commerce partners with the business community to celebrate the industry through numerous events. It is the Chamber’s hope, visitors and residents alike learn more about the history of tourism in Bay County and take pride in its value to the area.

The month kicked off with First Friday with the Beach, sponsored

by Gulf Coast State College Foundation. Hundreds were in attendance as Dan Rowe, President/CEO of Visit Panama City Beach, gave an update on tourism and the importance of tourism in our community since Hurricane Michael.

golf courses, spas, sporting events, award-winning dining and diverse recreational activities. In addition, Panama City Beach’s Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport offers non-stop flights on Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines and United Airlines. For more information, call 850-233-5070 or visit the official website of the Panama City Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau at http://www. visitpanamacitybeach.com. Live HD video of the world-famous beach is now available at http://www.visitpanamacitybeach.com/webcam/. Stay connected with Panama City Beach on Twitter (@Visit_PCB), Instagram (@Visit_PCB) and Facebook (@Visit_PCB).

The 23rd Annual Spring Classic Golf Tournament was held at the Bay Point Golf Resort where over 30 teams competed for the top spot. First Place was taken home by Calypso Tower III; Second Place was awarded to St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club and Third Place went to Flux Labs. Congratulations to Patti Harbin for winning our Great Golf Ball Drop, presented by the Bay County Chamber Foundation.

About Panama City

About Mexico Beach Since 1946, the three miles that make up the city of Mexico Beach have been a tranquil and serene hideaway from the pressures of everyday life. With its close proximity to Panama City Beach and Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, Mexico Beach has big-city accessibility and a small-town feel, making it The Unforgettable Coast® for a reason. The Mexico Beach Community Development Council is grateful to each and everyone who continues to keep the area in their hearts and will continue to provide updates as available. For the latest updates and to stay connected, please visit www.MexicoBeach.com, on Instagram (@mexicobeachfla), Facebook (@MexicoBeachFL) and #lovemexicobeach.

BAY COUNTY TOURISM DEVELOPMENTS

Embraced by beautiful St. Andrews Bay, Northwest Florida’s Panama City offers ideal conditions for world-class sailing, year-round on-shore and off-shore fishing and a myriad of water sports. Nearby Shell Island, an uninhabited barrier island with beautiful white sand beaches, features dolphin excursions. Off the water, visitors delight in the sunny destination’s eclectic historic neighborhoods offering a thriving visual and performing arts scene, diverse shopping, a range of dining options and the Panama City Oyster Trail. To contact Destination Panama City directly call 850-215-1700. Please visit destinationpanamacity. com, and follow on Facebook and Instagram. Join the conversation at #PContheBay.

The month wrapped up with the Tourism After Hours celebration and our first ever Corn Hole Tournament at Barefoot Hideaway Grill sponsored by Ameris Bank and Barefoot Hideaway Grill.

Congratulations to our winners! First Place, The City Of Panama City Beach, Uncivil Servants; Second Place UPS; Third Place, The City Of Panama City Beach, Uncivil Servants.

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

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workforce connection Bay County Workforce Update by: Kim Bodine, Executive Director, CareerSource Gulf Coast

Summertime in Bay County is inclusive of an increase in seasonal

Although this is a good opportunity for the job-seeker, this is not a

job growth. As the weather warms and out-of-town visitors flock

trend that will be long-lived. As housing gets repaired and our popu-

to our beautiful beaches, we see a demand in industry-related posi-

lation recovers, the availability of in-demand jobs will decrease and

tions like hospitality and food-service.

competition among job-seekers will increase.

In addition to the reoccurring seasonal-employment trends, we still

An industry update:

see a need for employment across many industries throughout the county. This lingering need is a result of Hurricane Michael—resulting in a domino-effect that has forced area residents to relocate out of Bay County. Even still, the April 2019 unemployment data shows Bay County at 3.6%, only 0.2% higher than the state average.

A workforce update: What we have seen develop in the past seven months is a job-seek-

We have seen growth in the following industries over the last year: trade, transportation and utilities, professional and business services and mining, logging and construction. Complementary to hurricane disaster recovery, the services required to recover and rebuild are included in these in-demand industries.

Recommendation: Our recommendation for area workforce is this: do not become complacent with the current job-market conditions.

er’s market. Simply put, this means we have more jobs available than workforce. This allows job-seekers to be more critical about their employment opportunities, in turn, pressuring employers to reconsider their approach to employee recruitment and retention.

In this new “market”, job seekers are more decisive regarding where

34

Always consider the possibility of enhancing your education or training and/or experience and Explore those industries in which you are qualified to work or are interested in working.

they will work, the conditions they will work in and the salary-rates

We encourage job-seekers to visit www.employflorida.com to view

they will accept, within the boundaries of their qualifications. This

and apply for available job positions in Bay County. We also have

is why we see positions that typically pay minimum-wage offering

knowledgeable staff ready to help you with career counseling, re-

$15/hour or more.

sume building/interview assistance and job leads.

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

Lori Lansford Community Bank Lori Lansford is the Branch Operations Officer at Community Bank in Panama City, located on 23rd Street. She was born and raised in Panama City, where she received her Associates degree from Gulf Coast State College.

Lori is a proud military spouse and mother of two. Being in the military community, she has had the privilege of living and traveling across the United States and Europe.

Military life has recently brought her back to Panama City, returning to family and friends.

Upon returning to Bay County, she joined the Community Bank team and has enjoyed working for a company that values its staff and community above all else.

She identified with Community Bank’s core values and has loved working alongside a team that shares similar views. Lori is also a proud member and Children’s Church teacher at Fellowship Baptist Church of Panama City. As a native of this area, she enjoys serving and working with others and looks forward to assisting in the growth and rebuild of our coastal community as a member of the Bay County Chamber.

WORK-LIFE BALANCE BEGINS WITH

k or

w

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Bay County Chamber of Commerce has a new team member In April, Ashton Williams joined our team as the new Vice President of Communi-

Arts, directly across the street from the

Jennifer Davidson has been with the firm

theatre. Staff is currently looking for alter-

for 15 years. At TMGC, she performs var-

native venues for the ‘Martin Ensemble’

ious types of audits, offers QuickBooks

and the ‘Martin Presents’ series. In the

expertise and prepares financial state-

meantime, movie screenings are taking

ments for a diverse range of clients.

place in the upper gallery at the Art Center every Monday at 7 p.m. In June, Monster and Classic Science Fiction movies

Bay Medical Sacred Heart names new President

were featured. Throughout July and August the Martin will partner with the Arts Center, showing Classic Monster Movies every 2nd and 4th Monday. For more information, please call (850) 763-8080 or visit www.martintheatre.com.

Tipton, Marler, Garner & Chastain welcome new leadership team members cations. Williams was born and raised in Marianna, where she enjoys spending her free time hunting, fishing or doing anything outdoors. She obtained her Bache-

Heath Evans was recently named Presi-

lor’s degree in Broadcast Journalism from

dent of Bay Medical Sacred Heart. Heath

Troy University in 2015. After college, Wil-

Evans was raised in the Panama City area

liams worked as the Jackson County Bu-

and graduated from Mosley High School.

reau Reporter for WMBB News 13. Now, she continues to serve the panhandle

He attended Gulf Coast Community Col-

at the Bay County Chamber. Feel free to

lege for Firefighter Minimum Standards and EMT/Paramedic Training. Before at-

contact her at Ashton@BayChamberFL. com or (850) 215-3775, for all your adver-

Amy Pfau, Easton Ramer and Jennifer

tending graduate school, Evans served

tising/marketing needs.

Davidson have been associated with the

the Bay County community as a firefight-

firm for more than a decade. Now, they

er with both Lynn Haven Fire Department

join the leadership team as shareholders

and Bay County Fire Rescue.

The Martin Theater

as the company continues to grow and deepen its expertise in accounting and finance.

the Martin Theatre received significant

36

health services administration from the University of Central Florida. He then re-

Tipton, Marler, Garner & Chastain recruit-

ceived his master’s degree in business

ed Amy Pfau in 2015 as a senior manager

administration and healthcare adminis-

and seasoned professional. Today Pfau

tration from the University of Alabama at

provides expertise in condo and home-

Birmingham.

owner association audits, employee benMuch like the rest of the community,

Evans received his bachelor’s degree in

efit plan audits, as well as audits for other entities.

Evans’ promotion came shortly after Ascension acquired Bay Medical, which is now fully integrated into the statewide

damage from Hurricane Michael. Unfor-

Easton Ramer began working at TMGC

system of Ascension Florida. The hospi-

tunately, the building was deemed un-

in 2008 as a student intern. Now, Ramer

tal just launched a $47 million project to

inhabitable, however, the show must go

advises clients on various types of audits

rebuild facilities and services, including

on! Moving from the portable building on

including construction, governmental,

reopening 144 additional beds and hiring

Grace Ave, the staff of the Martin will in-

employee benefit plans, and non-profit

approximately 300 additional associates

habit the old lobby at the Center for the

entities.

over the next six months.

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

Destination Panama City settles in new temporary home

Panama City Downtown Improvement Board (DIB) continues to revamp the town

Protection Integration program dollars.

Her actions led to a temporary lodging facility contract, giving Airmen and their families a residence while making Bay County their new home. Chapman also worked with the Air Force Civil Engineer Center to establish the baseline for future partnerships. She initiated the Enhanced Use Lease process and designated six parcels of land for further development.

Destination Panama City, the official marketing organization for the City of Panama City, has opened a new temporary Visitor’s Center. Since Hurricane Michael damaged their former location, the team was displaced before opening the new location in downtown Panama City.

The new temporary location is now open, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at 228 Harrison Avenue.

“We’re happy to be back open and welcoming visitors to Panama City,” said Jennifer Vigil, Destination Panama City president and CEO. “Downtown is a great, walkable community, and we hope visitors will find it convenient to stop by and hear about the great things happening in our community.”

Tyndall AFB Traycee Verdun Chapman was recognized for her distinguished performance as Air Force Community Partnership Liaison Officer, 325th Fighter Wing, Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. Chapman competed and was selected by a base-wide selection committee at multiple levels and across tenant units at Tyndall AFB. She received recognitions for 325 Civil Engineer Squadron, 325 Mission Support Group, 325 Fighter Wing and Team Tyndall. She directed joint lines of effort by developing action plans to further the Bay County Joint Land Use Study and the execution of Readiness and Environmental

Kerigan Marketing Associates receives more than ten ADDY awards

Since Hurricane Michael, the Panama City DIB has been working from temporary offices. But, while they have been displaced, they’ve still been working to clean up and improve Downtown Panama City.

Kerigan Marketing Associates received 7 Gold and 4 Silver ADDY’s, leading the Panama City group in total awards and across categories.

Gold ADDY’s were presented for Pineapple Willy’s restaurant website and digital marketing campaign. The Wicked Wheel received gold for its “Refreshingly Different” campaign. Work for Enterprise State Community College was awarded gold including :30-second TV and student recruitment brochure. Historic Port Theatre logo and Shallow Reed sales brochures also received gold.

Silver ADDY’s were earned for “The Way I Remember It” book design and The Wicked Wheel website. Two different integrated advertising campaigns received silver including, The Eye Center of North Florida and Complete, Inc. of Pensacola.

After downtown was left in shambles, the board took on cleanup and repair of the McKenzie Gateway Park. Repairs were made to the fountain and lights, damaged trees were removed while others were trimmed, and new sod was placed.

It is now a beautiful area right in the 200 block of Harrison Ave. The DIB has also placed American Flags and banners on light poles lining the streets of downtown for the summer season. Future plans include adding more flowers and planters throughout all of downtown.

The DIB is focused on making downtown more attractive for businesses and customers, all while providing support to the growth of downtown and its establishments.

Have a submission for the Biz List?

Please contact Taylor Smith at 850-215-3755 or via email taylor@baycountyfl.com.

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

37

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new members Able Fisherman Charters 6901 N. Lagoon Dr. #16 Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 896-6887

Dave & Buster's 15701 LC Hilton Jr. Dr. Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 238-3501

Able Services of NWFL, LLC 6901 N. Lagoon Dr. #16 Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 896-6887

Discount Tire 528 East. 23rd St. Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 691-4490

Advanced Auto Parts 106 N. Tyndall Parkway Panama City, FL 32404 (850) 913-1932

En Motion Marketing 2779 Old Dixie Hwy., Ste. C Kissimmee, FL 34744 (850) 919-4322

Advanta Clean 2310 S. Hwy. 77, Ste. 110 Lynn Haven, FL 32444 (850) 348-1465

First 2 Aid EMS, Inc. 2303 W. Hwy. 98, Unit C Santa Rosa Beach, FL 32459 (850) 769-8099

Allstate- Jessica Lyng nsurance & Financial Group 1319 Illinois Ave. Lynn Haven, FL 32444 (850) 265-6088

Grow, Inc. 973 16th St. SE Naples, FL 34117 (239) 494-2570

Arc Contracting LLC 231 E. Beach Dr. Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 640-4701 Auto Odyssey, LLC 12434 Hwy. 231, #13 Youngstown, FL 32466 (850) 703-9240 Batteries Plus Bulbs 103 W. 23rd St., Ste. E5 Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 463-0099 Bella Cabinet Depot 19806 PCB Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 842-0011 Certified Roofing Solutions, LLC 3129 Thomas Dr. Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 588-6388 CFS Roofing Services 90 Industrial Ct. Freeport, FL 32439 (850) 369-3500 Code Red Roofers 942 Industrial Dr., Ste. E Chipley, FL 32408 (850) 225-5543 Cornerstone Title Agency Inc 2424 Jenks Ave. Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 215-4994

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from March 1 - May 31, 2019

Herc Rentals, Inc. 8308 PCB Parkway Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 316-9016 Hollomon Insurance Agency 2993 W. 10th St. Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 872-8000 I Love Sugar 601 Pier Park Dr., Ste. 101 Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (843) 232-7036 Info Station 2812 Appalachee Trail Marianna, FL 32446 (850) 526-4636 Johnnie Cope Construction 2508 E. 5th St. Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 499-7609 LGBTQ Center of Bay County Inc. 1608 Baker Ct, Room 6 Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 252-5145 Meticulous Construction 2252 Gilberts Mill Rd. Cottondale, FL 32431 (850) 866-7517 Moen Incorporated 25300 Al Moen Dr. North Olmstead, OH 44070 (850) 572-5955

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

Montego Bay Seafood House & Oyster Bar 473 Richard Jackson Blvd.

Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 233-6033

Titan Construction Group, Inc. 1570 Wynridge Pt. Alpharetta, GA 30005 (678) 575-3031

Mosquito Authority 2812 A St. Andrews Blvd.

Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 888-2483

Trojan Labor 309 W. 5th St., Ste. A Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 522-9222

Panama City Beach Golf Shop 13913 PCB Parkway, # C Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 588-7961

Truland Homes 2101 Northside Dr., Ste. 104 Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 866-0706

Paula Deen's Family Kitchen 601 Pier Park Dr., Ste. 103 Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 312-5354

University Academy 1980 Discovery Loop Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 481-4410

Perry's Reliable Cleaning PO Box 1608 DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435 (850) 250-8905

Veterans Business Outreach Center 5230 W. Highway 98 Panama City, FL 32401 (800) 542-7232

Red Carpet Restoration 17703 Ashley Dr., Ste A-4 Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 830-9124 Richard Sowell Photography 10602 Davenport Ave. Youngstown, FL 32466 (904) 472-8759 Shuckums Oyster Pub 15614 Front Beach Rd. Panama City Beach, FL 32413 (850) 235-3214 Soul Sisters Custom Creations, LLC 12998 Park Way Panama City, FL 32404 (850) 890-6464 Stylecrest 2901 E. 15th St Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 769-1453 Sunjammers Watersports/ Trendy Side 1129 Beck Ave. Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 257-5030 Techfarms, LLC 7506 Holley Circle Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 233-0058

Wal-Mart #3075 513 W. 23rd St. Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 691-0716 Wendy's 610 W. 23rd St. Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 763-7800 Wendy's 8720 Thomas Dr. Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 233-0100 Williamson Bros.

Construction 11203 Hutchinson Blvd.

Ste. D Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 279-8900 WrapRoof 10 NW 42nd Ct., Ste. 320 Miami, FL 33126 (855) 668-2777 Ext:3 Your CBD Store, PCB 8730 Thomas Dr., Unit 1104C Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 258-8574

member anniversaries

from March 1 - May 31, 2019

5 years

15 years

40 years

A-1 Anytime Bonding

Bay County Sheriff's Office

Bush Air Conditioning

Art Construction of NW FL. LLC

Emerald Coast Regional Council

Southern Transport Service

Bay Correctional Facility

G&W Inspections

Dermatology Surgery Center

Hiland Park Baptist

45 years

Florida Health Connector

NAI TALCOR

Goldring Gulf Distributing

Suncrest / Omni Home Health

Good Cents Travel Agency

Bay Radiology Associates P.A. Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Cemeteries

Lighthouse CPA's

20 years

Merchant Management Group

Dewberry

PCB Entertainment

NHC Homecare

Planet Fitness

Trustmark Bank

60 years

Sequence Fitness

25 years

GAC Contractors, Inc.

The Morris Law Firm

10 years

50 years Hy's Toggery, Inc.

Bay District School Board City of Lynn Haven

Covenant Christian School

Publix Supermarkets, Inc. #481

Kenny Strange Electric, Inc.

30 years

L&R Construction of FL Ladybug Embroidery Design & Gifts Newk's Eatery

Boys & Girls Clubs of Bay County Sand Dollar Inn

Staff local with your Panama City experts

850.747.1211 adeccousa.com

B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

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INDUSTRY APPRECIATION

CELEBRATION

Shining a spotlight on companies that help diversify Bay County’s economy, the Bay County Chamber of Commerce will host Industry Appreciation Celebration (IAC) during the month of September. The month long celebration is designed to acknowledge existing businesses in appreciation for their involvement in the community and their contributions to economic development. Events for the month include the following:

INDUSTRY APPRECIATION CELEBRATION EVENTS: • • • • •

First Friday at FSU Panama City kick off – September 6th Industry After Hours at Port Panama City – September 18th Sporting Clay Tournament (Sponsorships Available) – September 13th Awards Breakfast at FSU Panama City (Sponsorships available) – September 20TH Heavy Metal Tours – September 27th

For more information about the month long Industry Appreciation Celebration and for sponsorship information, visit PanamaCity.org/IAC.

SPONSORS: Gulf Power, Marshall Brothers Construction & Engineering, Inc., and Hancock Bank

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B AY B I Z / J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 19

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