Bay Biz Vol 9/Issue 4 (Oct-Dec)

OCT - DEC 2019 | VOL. 9 / ISSUE 4 PANAMACITY.ORG

TYNDALL'S JOINT LAND USE STUDY BAY COUNTY CHAMBER ROLLS OUT 2020 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

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

october - december 2019

departments 4

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

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POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE Bay County Chamber Rolls Out 2020 Legislative Agenda

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DEFENSE INTEL Tyndall’s Joint Land Use Study

12 HEALTH Bay Medical Center Gets a New Name and Many Upgrades Since 2018 16 EDUCATION Alignment Bay County Provides New Resources to Help Support Students in the Community 24 TECHNOLOGY Tech Ecosystem Growing in Bay County 26

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

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MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

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8 24 20

features 20

COVER STORY Rebuilding a Better Bay County

28 2019 INDUSTRY APPRECIATION CELEBRATION

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 Investors, contractors, engineers and more working to rebuild a better Bay County.

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS FOLLOW US ON: Kim Bodine, Mike Burke, Brandi DeRuiter, Tom Neubauer, Stephanie Nusbaum, Carol Roberts, Elizabeth Smith, and Garrett Wright CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Ascension Sacred Heart, Bay County Chamber, Bay EDA, CareerSource Gulf Coast, Desiree Gardner, Dragonair Aviation, Steven Gray, TechFarms, The St. Joe Company, and United States Air Force

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

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

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As we recognize the anniversary of Hurricane Michael we ask you to pause and think of the positives that have come from the devastation of our beautiful region.

We are coming back stronger with more residential and commercial construction than ever before. Out of the dust will rise a beautiful new community we’ll all be proud to call home. Millions of new dollars are coming to the area through investors, state and federal assistance. Many of the articles inside will highlight current and future changes on the horizon.

As you will see, the Bay EDA is working with more prospective national and international companies than ever before who are looking to invest in Bay County.

years to come. Those projects will not only be promoted to our local government, but also on a state and federal level.

To drill down into the projects, incoming 2020 Chairman of the Board, Andrew Rowell, plans to address each, at the Chamber’s planning session and determine a plan of attack to realistically make them become a reality. Those projects are listed in the “Political Perspective” in this issue.

It goes without saying, this has been a year like no other on every front. Your Bay County Chamber is no exception. As most know, our organization has been displaced since the storm and is currently in its third temporary location. Thanks to Gulf Coast State College, we have two employees with office space located on campus. The balance of the employees are working remotely. It makes me proud to say we have an amazing team that has not skipped a beat in providing services to our members and community.

Reconstruction of the chamber building in downtown Panama City began last month with plans to be complete in late January 2020.

We think you’ll be proud of the end result and even prouder to call it your organization.

Never did I imagine, in this environment, in our community, we would have a record breaking year with all of our events. Some of those accomplishments include, 780 in attendance at the 2019 Annual Dinner, membership recruitment goals are being met, publication advertising sales are up, all sponsorships have sold out and the list goes on. Most importantly, we were named the 2019 Chamber of the Year at the Florida Association of Chamber Professionals fall conference. Along with that award, we won awards for both our Bay Biz magazine and Guide to Discovering Bay County. Thanks to you, our members/investors, we have a financially sound and award winning organization.

Long range recovery plans are being implemented by not only our Bay County Commission, but individual cities as well. The Bay

I thank each of you for helping us re-build a Better Bay County.

County Chamber has maintained a leadership role with our own Chairman of the Board, Will Cramer, dedicating hundreds of hours serving as lead for the Economic Development Branch. This was all in addition to meeting the demands of his Chairmanship of the Chamber.

The Chamber’s 2020 legislative agenda addresses 14 projects identified in the plan that will drive this organization’s priorities for many 4

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

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political perspective Bay County Chamber Rolls Out 2020 Legislative Agenda by: Brandi DeRuiter, VP of Governmental Affairs, Bay County Chamber of Commerce

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he Bay County Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce the rollout of the 2020 Legislative Agenda. In addition to positions carried over, many new items have

been added in support of Bay County and Panama City Long Term Recovery Plans. At the heart of this robust agenda are communi-

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Adequate and attractive parking areas

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Civic activity space

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Connections to, and elements of, public art (to include memorials and history markers)

ty development, education, infrastructure and policy initiatives to create a conducive environment for vibrant communities and economic prosperity.

Each position navigates through a three-step process, beginning with and requiring approval from the Chamber’s Governmental Affairs Committee, the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors. Once a position is approved and in place, the Chamber may take action.

This article will list local, state and federal chamber held positions

A hotel

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A “tourist draw” project (or an overall mix of ventures) that provides substantial economic benefit to Downtown Panama City. It is our desire that a project showcase and stimulate the Marina site, which will then benefit the entire area.

Panama City Convention Center: Supports a new convention center in downtown Panama City.

and provide a brief description of each.

Blight Acquisition and Redevelopment Program: Supports

Panama City Marina Revitalization: Supports development

County and its municipalities.

plans that include the following components essential for the welfare and continued growth of downtown Panama City:

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Public access to the water to include boating and fishing

expediting blight reduction strategies and redevelopment in Bay

Tyndall Parkway Master Plan: Supports efforts to create a master plan to link Parker and Callaway to Tyndall AFB and communities to the east.

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Public and private entertainment venues

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Business Recovery Center/Central Reporting Center for Contractors: Supports the creation of a business recovery cen-

A mix of retail, restaurant, residential and office space

ter and central center for contractors to report following a disaster.

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

The Business Recovery Center will be a one-stop shop to provide

Triumph Gulf Coast Inc.: Supports the purpose of Triumph Gulf

local, state and federal resources and services tailored for business-

Coast and strongly opposes any move to divert funds elsewhere in

es. The Central Center for Contractors will provide a place for all contractors to report, register, learn laws and permitting processes,

the state (outside of the 8 affected counties).

on both the state and local levels.

Home Rule/Local Control: Recognizes the importance of home

Workforce Development High School Trades: Supports

rule authority by local government and opposes efforts that seek to

opportunities for high school students to explore technical trade electives and provide exposure to careers and earnings available in professional technical fields.

Workforce Development CTE and STEM: Encourages growing CTE and STEM programs in the school district, creating co-ops and fostering pathways to local employment.

Gulf Coast State College New Science (STEM) Building: Requests legislative funding to replace the 60-year old Science Building at GCSC.

reduce or remove authority, preempted to state.

RESTORE Act/Gulf of Mexico Restoration: Supports Bay County Board of Commissioners and State in obtaining and distributing settlement funds and Chamber comment/support for specific projects.

Estuary Program: Supports legislative funding for Northwest Florida Estuary Programs for St. Andrew Bay/St. Joe Bay.

State Fisheries: Requests FWC’s support for HR 3697: Strength-

FSU-PC Engineering and area needs: Supports legislative

ening Fishing Communities and Increasing Flexibility on Fisheries

funding for the College of Engineering and expanding programs to

Management Act; artificial reef system and creation of focus group

meet area needs.

to address dolphin/shark interaction with angling public.

Transportation Priorities: Projects listed below will provide

Federal Fisheries: Request U.S. Senate to file companion bill to

transportation infrastructure required for Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, West Bay Sector Plan, Port of Panama City and its inland intermodal park, improve safety for hurricane evacuation, and facilitate successful economic growth in Bay County.

match components of HR 3697.

Drilling East of MML: Strongly opposes offshore drilling east of the Military Mission Line, seeks to extend or make permanent the

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US 231, widen to 6 lanes from US 98 to Penny Road

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SR 390, widen to 6 lanes from SR 77 to US 231

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US 98/Panama City Beach Parkway (Back Beach Road), widen

is critical to national defense and Florida’s economy. Defense indus-

to 6 lanes between Mandy Lane and Hathaway Bridge

try is about one-third of Bay County’s economy.

East Avenue and SR 389 (East Avenue) from Port (East Termi-

NSA-PC Enhanced Turning Basin: Supports efforts for federal

nal) Entrance to Sherman Avenue

funding to deepen turning basin.

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S.R. 390: Requests full legislative funding for 6 laning.

moratorium. The Department of Interior and Department of Defense mutually agreed upon the line in the Gulf extending from Pensacola to the Florida Keys. Larger than all other ranges combined, it

Disaster Opportunity Zones: Encourages passage of S. 1000:

Bay Parkway: Supports new construction of segment 2 (Pier Park

The Disaster Opportunity Zones Act for a new allocation of oppor-

Dr. to Nautilus Rd.) and expansion of segments 1 and 2.

tunity zones, stimulating investment in low-income census tracts

Airport Economic Development: Supports creating an aerospace and aviation hub at NWFL Beaches International Airport and legislative support for incentives, grant funding and financing tools to secure projects.

Enterprise FL, Inc./Visit FL: Supports continued legislative funding for the state’s tourism and economic development arms to attract out of state and out of country visitors (Visit FL) and incentives for high-wage job creation and economic diversification (Enterprise FL).

Business Rent Tax: Requests gradual elimination of this Florida

affected by 2018 natural disasters.

Overtime Rule: Requests U.S. Department of Labor to account for regional economic differences and gradual implementation when amending and proposing a new overtime rule.

FEMA Flood Maps: Advocates that proposed changes in new flood maps are based on scientific/technical issues reflective of community characteristics and engineering improvements.

Panama City Crayfish: Favors 4(d) rule for habitat solutions as opposed to federal listing.

only tax businesses pay on commercial leases.

Workers Compensation: Supports reforms for reasonable rates, while ensuring injured workers receive quality medical care and transparent rate making with excess profits being returned to businesses. Watch how PEO develops.

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

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defense intel Tyndall’s Joint Land Use Study by: Tom Neubauer, President, Bay Defense Alliance

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n August 13, 2019, an important project was launched to further strengthen community relationships with Tyndall AFB. The project, called a joint land use study

(JLUS), helps provide assurance that Tyndall’s missions will continue to contribute to national defense while ensuring compatibility of Bay County’s future growth. The first meeting was launched in the presence of more than 35 community stakeholders, Air Force and Department of Defense representatives.

ognized by the Department of Defense as one of the best examples of a successful JLUS process.

Economically speaking, the Defense industry contributes about $88 billion dollars annually, about 10% of the state gross domestic product. Bay County contributes about $2.6 billion of that amount.

With this in mind, for more than a decade, the Florida Defense

The Bay Defense Alliance has advocated JLUS for more than 15

Support Task force has encouraged our defense communities sup-

years. The study is a cooperative planning effort conducted as a

porting the state’s 20 major installations and ranges to embark of

joint venture between Tyndall AFB, Bay County and the surround-

this process. To date, 14 of Florida’s Installations and ranges have

ing municipalities of Mexico Beach, Parker, Callaway, Springfield and

moved forward on either a JLUS or an AICUZ (Air Installation Com-

Panama City.

patibility Use Zone) study.

The final product will consider all affected stakeholders in order to

The JLUS project will be facilitated by Stantec, a national expert in

address compatible growth around the base as defense missions

developing these plans and the community engagement compo-

and the surrounding community continue to grow. Historically, the

nent will be managed by Bay County principal community planner,

Department of Defense has considered encroachment or base buff-

Ian Crelling.

ering as a core criteria in the base realignment and closure process (BRAC). This remains a key factor in the strategic basing process, which considers alternative installations for new or expanding mis-

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community partners, Panama City, Panama City Beach and was rec-

Originally, the study was scheduled to begin in October 2018.

However, Hurricane Michael changed everything. The most ob-

sions.

vious change is the mix of Tyndall’s aircraft. Pre-storm, the base

Bay County leadership understands this process, having completed

16s. The F-22 raptors will be replaced with an increased number of

a successful JLUS in 2009 for our Navy Base. That effort included

F-35 lightning jets and 24 MQ-9 reapers will be added to the ramp.

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

was home to 92 airframes, including F-22s, T-38s, E-9As and QF-

Of course, Tyndall 2016 AICUZ, which is a study of sound contours

Destin, DeFuniak Springs, Fort Walton Beach, Freeport, Laurel

produced by Tyndall’s aircraft, must also be updated to reflect these

Hill, Mary Esther, Niceville, Shalimar and Valparaiso.

changes.

4. Homestead Air Reserve Base: Associated with Miami-Dade

The goal of each JLUS is to ensure the success of base missions and reduce potential conflicts between Tyndall, NSA-PC and surrounding communities to accommodate new growth and economic de-

County and Homestead.

5. Jacksonville Training Range Complex: Associated with Lake, Marion, Putnam and Volusia Counties.

velopment while ensuring public health and safety. The JLUS has three core objectives:

6. City of Tampa - Joint Land Use Study: MacDill Air Force Base,

UNDERSTANDING. Increase communication between the military, municipalities and stakeholders to encourage an understanding of the strong economic and socio-economic relationship be-

associated with Tampa.

7. Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Marine Corps Support Facility-Blount Island, and outlying landing field Whitehouse, asso-

tween the bases and our community.

COLLABORATION. In recent years, Florida’s legislature has passed laws that require transmission of proposed comprehensive

ciated with Jacksonville.

8. Naval Air Station Key West: Associated with Monroe County and Key West.

plan amendments, land development regulations and applications for development orders to base leadership.

9. Panama City - Planning and Land Use Department: Naval Sup-

This ensures open communication between installation command-

port Activity Panama City, associated with Bay County, Pana-

ers and local jurisdictions with regard to changes in land use plans

ma City and Panama City Beach.

and the planning process. The JLUS will compliment this by assuring a consistent approach in addressing compatibility issues.

ACTION. Develop and implement strategies for reducing the impacts of existing and future incompatible activities on the commu-

10. Naval Air Station Pensacola - Escambia County, Florida: Naval Air Station Pensacola, associated with Escambia County.

11. Santa Rosa County - Joint Land Use Study: Naval Air Station Whiting Field and its outlying landing fields, associated with

nity and military operations.

Public participation is an important component. The year 2020 will be an extremely busy time for Tyndall Air Force Base as the recov-

Santa Rosa and Escambia Counties.

12. Naval Station Mayport: Associated with Atlantic Beach and Jacksonville.

ery and rebuild continues to move forward. In addition to the JLUS process, the Air Force is embarking on two major Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) required by the National Environmental

13. Patrick Air Force Base and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station: Associated with Brevard County and Satellite Beach.

Policy Act (NEPA).

These efforts are required to complete approval for the bed down

14. Tyndall Air Force Base: Associated with Bay County, Mexico Beach and Parker.

of F-35 and the MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) operational missions. All three of these programs will have associated public community scoping sessions over the next 18 months where citizens will have many opportunities to participate and ask questions.

A key to a successful Joint Land Use Study is keeping the public informed, engaged and involved throughout the process.

The study’s recommendations are not binding on communities but serve as a guide in the development process.

Below are recent Joint Land Use Study or Air Installation Compatible Use Zone for some of Florida’s military installations: 1. Avon Park Air Force Range: Associated with Highlands, Okeechobee, Osceola, and Polk Counties and Avon Park, Sebring, and Frostproof.

2. Camp Blanding: Associated with Clay, Bradford and Putnam Counties.

3. Northwest Florida - Military Sustainable Partnership: Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field, associated with Gulf, Okaloosa,

Communities can receive a Community Planning Assistance Grant to support the cost of a Joint Land Use Study. The sponsor must match:

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height restrictions

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density and land use restrictions

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amending local building codes to require increased sound attenuation in existing and new buildings

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land exchanges

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transfer of development rights

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real estate disclosure

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conservation partnering

To find out more about the Office of Economic Adjustment’s Compatible Use Program please go to http://www.oea.gov/how-wedo-it/compatible-use

Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties and Cinco Bayou, Crestview,

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

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BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

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health Bay Medical Center Gets a New Name and Many Upgrades Since 2018 by: Mike Burke, Marketing & Communications Manager, Sacred Heart Health System

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fter six months in his role as president of Ascension Sacred Heart Bay in Panama City, Heath Evans is impressed with the rebuilding taking place at the hospi-

tal, but he is even more excited about where it will be in five years.

“We’re not going anywhere,” Evans said. “As a matter of fact, we’re investing in the future.”

In March, the hospital was fully acquired by Ascension, one of the leading nonprofit and Catholic healthcare systems in the U.S. Soon thereafter, Ascension announced it would invest $47 million to rebuild the hospital and reopen 144 private rooms by the end of the year.

Over the past few months, the roofs of four buildings on the hospital campus have been replaced, as well as all the windows. Two

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After damage from Hurricane Michael shut down hospital services,

floors with an additional 60 beds were opened in late September

except for the Emergency Department, Ascension Sacred Heart Bay

and more inpatient rooms will open over the next three months.

reopened 75 beds in January and continued to repair and rebuild.

When the work is done, the hospital will offer 187 private rooms.

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

For the community, the newly-added beds mean fewer patients will have to leave town for care. “It feels really good to have beds open and knowing we’re opening more so we don’t continue to send patients outside this community,” said Liz Burdick, Vice President of Nursing for the hospital. “It’s very difficult for people who live in Panama City to have their care provided in Pensacola, two hours away.”

Burdick said, in 2018, when moving to Panama City from Pennsylvania, “I was completely ignorant of what a hurricane could do.” When the hurricane struck, it was harrowing but “everyone committed to being here,” said Burdick. “The staff was very strong, until they started seeing pictures of their homes, and then came the tears and the ‘Oh my God, I don’t know if my house is going to survive.’ But still they didn’t leave. These folks were very dedicated to making sure their patients were cared for. It was very impressive.”

While some old buildings will be demolished during the campus makeover, the new Ascension Sacred Heart Bay will maintain its current services and expand other services, such as oncology.

“We are rebuilding our Cancer Center and creating the foundation for a comprehensive cancer program for Bay County,” Evans added.

“That building should be ready to open in January 2020.”

Even while operating at a reduced capacity, the hospital and its staff performed at a fast pace under challenging conditions.

“Since January, when we reopened, we have performed more than 200 open heart surgeries and a significant amount of surgeries for traumatic injuries,” Evans said. “I can tell you that if this hospital, our trauma center and the fantastic providers and nurses weren’t here, there are people who would not be alive in this community today.”

Evans, who was raised in Lynn Haven and once worked as a firefighter and paramedic in Bay County, is optimistic about the future of the community. “Ascension Sacred Heart Bay and Panama City have a new future coming,” Evans said. “The money being invested will redefine what Panama City is, and the vision that the city leaders have for Panama City is ambitious. It will be great to be a part of it.”

Evans said beyond the rebuilding of the hospital campus, Ascension Sacred Heart Bay plans to grow over the next three years to meet community needs, so consumers can receive care when they need it, where they need it and in the most appropriate setting.

In October, there will be a ceremony where all associates who were with the hospital on October 10, 2018 will receive a commemorative pin as part of an ongoing healing process.

“The emotional trauma that people encountered is visible in every staff member, not just nurses,” Burdick said. “It’s the physicians, radiology technicians, people who work in the lab. Everyone has been impacted by this. I don’t think people will ever look at strong winds in the same way.”

Evans is grateful for the staff’s dedication and the hospital’s ability to make a difference in the future of healthcare for Bay County. “By being part of the Ascension national system, we are able to gain access to resources that will provide great benefits here,” said Evans. “Ascension’s leaders at the local, national and state levels are looking five years down the road, with a vision for a coordinated network of care for Northwest Florida.”

The rebuilding also means more healthcare jobs in the area. The hospital recruitment teams are working to hire about 300 new employees, with the greatest need for nurses in the Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit.

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

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BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

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education Alignment Bay County Provides New Resources to Help Support Students in the Community by: Kim Bodine, Executive Director, CareerSource Gulf Coast

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lignment Bay County (ABC), like most of Bay County, has been recovering since Hurricane Michael hit last year.

One of the main priorities established for ABC after the devastation of Hurricane Michael was wellness and mental health services, especially for the youth of our county. Many of our children and families continue to struggle with PTSD, the stress of long-term

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The partner organizations that make up ABC have been brainstorming ways to support this effort. Funding was generated to provide more programming for children over the summer break. The collaboration of ABC’s partners— Bay District Schools, Girls Inc., 4-H, Boys and Girls Club and the ASAP program—helped enroll and give scholarships to many students for their summer activities. This gave students a safe, fun learning environment and families a much-needed financial break. Additionally, Bay District Schools held driver’s

displacement and uncertainty of their future, as well as the overall

education classes this summer with 220 students completing the

“tired” feeling that comes with months of chronic stress.

course.

While our community continues to make big strides to return to

Currently, ABC is in the process of standing up a new website:

normal, we know it may take a little longer to reach pre-hurricane

howyadoing.org. Following Hurricane Michael, we heard this phrase

levels when it comes to the mental health and wellness of our res-

often from many community members. We are part of a caring

idents.

community and we want to know how our friends, neighbors and

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

Little Listeners - A program that provides information to expectant families about the importance of reading to children. Books are provided, free of charge, to expectant families along with information to encourage reading, even before the baby is delivered.

Increased Access to Technology - Working with municipalities and businesses to expand free WiFi opportunities so youth have access to the internet in order to complete school assignments, and worked with internet provider companies for low cost internet service to eligible families.

ABC is a non-profit, all volunteer collective impact organization focused on the success of Bay County’s youth. If you are interested in being a part of Alignment Bay County, please message us on our Facebook page: Alignment Bay County.

even our doctors, servers and store clerks are doing after this disaster. The howyadoing.org site provides a platform that will host information and resources for those looking for mental health and wellness tips and services in Bay County. Be on the lookout for the live site, as it is set to launch soon. We encourage the community to utilize this information to help them or someone they may know.

Remember, it is normal to not “be okay” after what we experienced with Hurricane Michael. There are a multitude of resources for us to help recover emotionally and mentally, but sometimes finding those resources can be a challenge. We hope by putting the resources together in one place, our residents can easily find the in-

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formation they need to stay mentally strong and healthy.

Alignment Bay County (ABC) was founded in 2015 by a group of

CALL TODAY

community and business leaders who wanted to focus on the success of our county’s youth. Since, the organization has established an Operating Board and three volunteer teams dedicated to selecting and working on strategic initiatives to support area youth and their families.

Better Business Bureau® 800-729-9226 bbb.org/nwfl

Below are some initiatives developed by ABC: School Attendance Campaign - A marketing effort including posters, social media and television ads to encourage school attendance to ensure academic success.

Teacher Recruitment and Retention - Surveyed teachers to determine their values and ideas for retaining them; continues to work on advocacy for changes to the General Skills Exam, a test that is required for teacher certification and has created hurdles for recruitment and retention of teachers.

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by Garrett Wright, Vice President, EDA of Bay County

W

hen asked about his investment into Bay County, specifically

thousands of new homes have been an-

to address the housing demand, with more

nounced and several projects are ramping

than ten neighborhoods already underway.

up. Additionally, in manufacturing, compa-

St. Andrew Bay Land Company is also mak-

his focus on the Panama City downtown

nies such as ACMT and Air Temp are invest-

ing fantastic progress on the development

district, Chris Cramer said, "The time to take

ing millions into preparing their facilities for

of their planned neighborhood, SweetBay.

action is now." Cramer serves as Partner, VP

their incoming workforce. Investment in

These are just three of the largest develop-

and Chief Operations Officer at Bill Cramer

Bay County does not end with housing and

ers addressing the housing demand in Bay

Chevrolet Buick GMC. Cramer also serves

industrial facilities. Committed parties are

County.

as one member of a growing group of Bay

also investing their monies in new hotels,

County residents, including but not limit-

breweries, restaurants, office complexes,

The St. Joe Company sees residential hous-

ed to, his partners Kevin Wattenbarger and

and many other projects. These private in-

ing development as one of the keys to suc-

Allan Branch, personally investing to make

vestments are being made into projects

cess for both a company and community.

Downtown Panama City a premier destina-

that solidify Bay County as a premier loca-

“New residential communities in east Bay

tion. These downtown investors are not the

tion to live, work, and travel. The significant

County have been in our long-term devel-

only ones leading the charge into infusing

investments made can be broken down into

opment plans for some time,” said Jorge

private capital into Bay County. From Pan-

three separate categories: residential, com-

Gonzalez, The St. Joe Company CEO. “Be-

ama City Beach, east to Mexico Beach and

mercial/retail, and industrial.

cause of the housing shortage created by

north, the amount of private investment occurring within our communities is staggering. Private developers like The St. Joe Company, Leucadia (St. Andrew Bay Land

St. Joe Company, DR Horton, St. Andrew Bay Land Company, and others are working

Hurricane Michael, we decided to accelerate those plans to bring new workforce housing to the market as quickly as possible.”

to address housing needs in Bay County.

These projects are addressing needs for

Prior to Hurricane Michael, these residen-

families at all income levels. In the coming

tial investors were working on creating

months, the housing crunch experienced

for decades to come.

new developments, but attention spiked

in the aftermath of Hurricane Michael will

in the months that followed. The St. Joe

slowly start to correct itself through the pri-

Before Hurricane Michael, there was a con-

Company is already working on a couple

stant flow of new projects occurring within

of new projects. One of which is expect-

vate investment flowing into new residen-

our community. However, since October

ed to accumulate more than 5,000 homes

2018, the amount of private investment

and townhomes, while the other will bring

On the commercial and retail side of things,

into new projects is increasing. Evidence

multi-family housing developments, includ-

substantial investments are also being

is visible when driving around Bay County

ing Pier Park Crossings which will feature

made into new office complexes, breweries,

and when reading or watching local media

several hundred units for families. DR Hor-

hotels, restaurants and more. Many orga-

outlets. In the residential housing market,

ton is another company working diligently

nizations, including new businesses within

Company), DR Horton and many more, as well as new industrial companies, are changing the trajectory of our community

20

In the residential sector, companies like The

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

tial development.

St. Andrews, Bay City Point, Downtown

sector is necessary and is exactly what is

are looking for new space and it gives us an

Panama City investors, hotels and more,

currently taking place in Bay County. To

opportunity to attract industry from outside

are working within this sector. “The seeds

make these districts thrive, individuals are

of Bay County.” Gonzalez also explained that

planted a long time ago in the Downtown

putting their personal investments into new

the proximity of VentureCrossings to the air-

district are finally bearing fruit,” Cramer said

developments, which will help drive traffic

port makes it an attractive location for com-

about Downtown Panama City, one of the

to these areas, making them prime locations for attracting skilled employees.

panies doing both national and international

areas seeing a keen focus from investors.

“From the new History Class Brewing Company, St. Joe’s planned hotel and restaurant, new office buildings, and mixed-use developments, the downtown district is seeing substantial interest beyond anything we have previously seen from local and regional developers.” Cramer continued with, “our local and regional developers control our own destiny and we cannot wait on outside entities to develop the communities that we want to live in.”

business. “We are also in the construction

Lastly, the industrial sector is also currently experiencing significant private investor interest. Companies such as ACMT, Air Temp, and others made announcements of coming to Bay County prior to Hurricane Michael. While many of these facilities experienced substantial damage from the storm, they remained committed to Bay County and have invested millions in rebuilding their facilities. Additionally, existing companies like WestRock, Oceaneering, and several

This commitment to creating prominent

others have invested millions of dollars in

districts where people want to live and work

the aftermath of Hurricane Michael to repair

is exactly why local and regional developers are investing heavily into projects that will attract top talent and a skilled workforce.

To make these districts more enticing for investors, Bay County currently has three designated Opportunity Zones. With the downtown district being within one of these

and modernize their facilities. These investments into the modernization of facilities will solidify the company’s position in Bay County for decades to come. Investments into new industrial space is also on the rise.

Currently, The St. Joe Company is finishing construction on a 60,000 sq. ft. speculative

phase on two new buildings in Cedar Grove Commerce Park that are well-suited for light industrial and warehouse tenants,” Gonzalez added about another multi-million-dollar investment underway by The St. Joe Company. Lucky for Bay County, there are many other companies with industrial investments currently under construction.

The commitment to industrial growth is necessary as our regional economy works to diversify beyond the established economic pillars.

In the coming months, our community will continue to see new projects from private investors, including individuals and companies of all sizes. A constant theme we continue to hear as the local economic development organization is, the time is now to make investments into Bay County. Many

flex industrial space in VentureCrossings.

companies and individuals want to be a

“In addition to the impact that Hurricane Mi-

component of the resurgence and growth

vestors.

chael had on the housing supply, many busi-

that will come following Hurricane Michael.

nesses were also destroyed,” said Gonzalez.

This process has already begun, and we

To create vibrant communities, private in-

“This new building at VentureCrossings

look forward to seeing where it takes our

vestment within the commercial and retail

creates an option for those businesses who

community.

zones, companies are seizing the occasion, as this incentive can provide tax relief for in-

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

21

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23

technology Tech Ecosystem Growing in Bay County by: Stephanie Nusbaum, Contributing Writer, TechFarms

S

teve Millaway remembers a time when Bay County had little to offer someone like him. Newly graduated from Bay High School in the 1970s, with dreams of becoming an

“The tech industry in the Panhandle is going at a really good clip

engineer, Millaway knew his hometown simply didn’t have the jobs

ed to that ecosystem with the founding of TechFarms in 2013. The

or resources to support his interests in technology, innovation and

Panama City Beach facility is a technology incubator providing the

entrepreneurship.

resources entrepreneurs across the region need.

Millaway earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from

Millaway explained that entrepreneurship starts with an idea. “Then

the University of Florida in Gainesville before taking a job at Burr-

they need access to resources; meaning office space, mentors, ac-

Brown in Tucson, Arizona. There, he made a name for himself

counting, legal, all the sorts of things that are common elements in

through his inventions and innovations in semiconductor chips. It

every startup,” said Millaway. “Some people don’t know how to even

would be nearly 30 years before he returned to Bay County.

register an LLC, for example, or set up a corporation, and then the

Today, the county’s tech landscape has changed.

preneurial needs. Since returning to Bay County, he has contribut-

work starts with the development of the product, and that’s really where the TechFarms incubator comes in.”

Just in the past six years, Gulf Coast State College opened its Ad-

TechFarms is a microcosm of the region at large, combining the

vanced Technology Center, offering degree programs in a wide va-

physical, intellectual and collaborative resources needed to grow

riety of areas including cyber security, digital media, engineering

tech companies. The warehouse-turned-innovation hub houses

technology, software and database development, and unmanned

3D printers, CNC machines and software like SolidWorks, a digital

vehicle systems operations. Florida State University launched the

modeling program that helps inventors visualize their products

Jim Moran School of Entrepreneurship, which offers undergraduate

and create new parts. Panels of in-house and remote advisors of-

and graduate programs in entrepreneurship, electrical and comput-

fer expertise in accounting, intellectual property law, branding, and

er engineering, mechanical engineering, civil and environmental en-

growth strategies. But, most critical is the resulting network of in-

gineering, and systems engineering. The school produced its first

ventors, advisors and outside experts.

graduates from both Tallahassee and Panama City in 2018.

24

now,” said Millaway, who is particularly attuned to tech and entre-

“Mentoring and collaboration are huge,” said Nick Casassa, Tech-

The Bay EDA has continued to bring in large manufacturers, includ-

Farms Chief Technical Officer whose startup Branch Networks

ing international aerospace and aviation giant, GKN Aerospace, in

flourished through his tenancy at the incubator. “Some successful

2017. Tie in the tech experts staffing Naval Support Activity Panama

startups rely on the ability to have a group of critical thinkers that

City and Tyndall Air Force Base, and the foundation of a thriving en-

help homogenize the company's process. Whether that comes in

trepreneurial tech ecosystem begins to emerge.

the form of on-the-job collaboration, or after-hours collaboration,

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

those individuals who are passionate about the company's success

“The little companies are very instrumental because they do some

will drive the improvements necessary to give the business an edge

of the hard work the big companies can’t do,” Millaway said. “They

over the competitor. If you’re alone, you won’t have the input you

might not have an expertise in a particular area, say circuit design,

need to move forward quickly.”

3D modeling, welding, hardware development, software develop-

Recently, an entrepreneur visiting the area from Germany took ad-

ment, but, they can go to local companies and find that, and then

vantage of this collaboration, working with local advisor, Dr. Len

everybody wins.”

Eichler, and other team members to come up with a name and branding for his autonomous drone company. During breaks, he

It’s a benefit for Bay County and the region as a whole. In an effort

compared notes with tenants Jeff Elkins and Mariah Cain, whose

to make sure the tech industry continues to grow in this area, Tech-

DragonAir Aviation is among five finalists in the international GoFly

Farms is collaborating with similar businesses across Northwest

competition, a $1 million contest seeking the world’s best personal

Florida.

flying machine.

“There’s not really another place here you can go to collaborate with other entrepreneurs who are doing similar things,” Millaway said about Bay County. “We can direct them to web and app developers, we can direct them to staff who write articles. Plus, we’re 24-7, so

“We’re trying to sort of take down the barriers because if we don’t all work together and combine our resources across our region, we cannot compete with Atlanta, for example.” Millaway said. “Atlanta is so big, so much bigger than all of Northwest Florida combined,

they can work and tinker whenever inspiration strikes. Colleges and

that an individual county has no chance to compete, as much as

universities lock things up at 6 or 7 p.m.”

we’d like to.”

That combination of 24-hour access and other bright minds has

Millaway is preparing to add one more resource for entrepreneurs

drawn plenty of college students to TechFarms. Team Seminole

this year. Plans are in place to launch a $75 million venture capi-

Coast, which is made up of both FSU-PC and Gulf Coast State Col-

tal fund targeting tech companies in the Southeast. Kelly Reeser of

lege students, is using the facility as workspace for next year’s international RoboBoat autonomous vehicle competition. A few students are helping DragonAir, both for fun and to gain experience.

Engineers from NSAPC and Tyndall Air Force Base can also be found

Pensacola will serve as co-managing director for the venture known as TechFarms Capital. For three years now, TechFarms Capital has already been doing due diligence on hundreds of companies and is

at TechFarms after hours, working on side projects or contributing

seeking accredited investors who are looking to invest in promising

to a product already in the works.

tech startups. The fund is targeting a return of 5x for its investors

Most companies graduating TechFarms won’t produce jobs on the

and sees enormous opportunities in the Southeast.

scale of GKN Aerospace or other major manufacturers. But that’s

This venture comes from the reality of entrepreneurs exhausting

not necessarily the point.

their own resources just to get their business started. “They need

“What we’re about is growing a tech ecosystem and a tech work-

an infusion of capital to get to the next level,” Millaway said. “Tech-

force, one startup at a time,” Millaway said. “You start spinning

Farms Capital is going to be there for companies that have really

them out, and then all of the sudden you have 15, 20 startups, and

good teams, good ideas, scalable business models, and defensible

you’ve got hundreds of people who could move into some of these

intellectual property.”

new companies that are coming in, and vice versa. That’s a thriving ecosystem.”

Casassa explained, through the uptick in tech-savvy graduates, smaller companies benefit from the draw of major manufacturers.

“Skilled, inexpensive, honest, and passionate labor is one of the hardest things to find,” Casassa said.

Today, high school graduates face a more welcoming tech landscape than Millaway did, some 40 years ago. This can be credited to the large variety of resources available, like, GKN Aerospace.

“One of the key reasons GKN came to Panama City is that Dr. (John) Holdnak (president of Gulf Coast State College) told their represen-

Like much of the workforce, attracting large companies to an area

tatives he would make them an offer few other colleges and univer-

is often an easier task than being able to provide a rotating skilled

sities could or would — to build an academic program around their

labor force large enough to keep their competitive edge.

specific employee needs,” Millaway said. The college immediately

“TechFarms and Branch Networks follow this vision in that we search for teachable, trainable, and passionate individuals with the critical thinking and on-their-feet learning capabilities to learn many

started with a non-credit, pre-employment course GKN uses in its hiring process. They then continued to add courses and options to the existing curriculum, wrapped around the company’s long-term

functions needed to support a technology-based small business in

workforce development needs. “Things are all up and running, and

Bay County,” Casassa said.

the college is cranking out course and program completers that are

Casassa continued with, “We need those college graduates and

headed right to work,” Millaway added.

trade school graduates to live, work, and play in Bay County, not move away.” Retaining that talent, in turn, perpetuates the cycle of attracting industry giants and keeping them happy.

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

25

economic profile current labor statistics for bay county LABOR FORCE

EMPLOYED

UNEMPLOYED

UNEMPLOYED RATE

May 19'

94,417

90,965

3,452

3.7

June 19'

95,783

92,079

3,704

3.9

July 19'

96,232

92,725

3,507

3.6

May 18'

96,710

93,582

3,128

3.2

June 18'

98,708

95,167

3,428

3.6

July 18'

99,102

95,674

3,428

3.5

real estate sales

EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES BAY COUNTY

FLORIDA

REALTOR SALES

MEDIAN PRICE

REALTOR SALES

MEDIAN PRICE

May 19'

417

$219,000

30,742

$266,000

June 19'

397

$229,684

27,283

$270,000

July 19'

449

$235,375

28,142

$268,000

May 18'

389

$222,500

28,071

$255,000

June 18'

399

$228,900

27,836

$260,000

July 18'

376

$225,000

25,488

$255,000

CONDO-TOWNHOMES SALES BAY COUNTY

FLORIDA

REALTOR SALES

MEDIAN PRICE

REALTOR SALES

MEDIAN PRICE

May 19'

201

$238,000

12,217

$195,000

June 19'

142

$226,500

10,094

$194,900

July 19'

139

$242,000

10,470

$188,000

May 18'

188

$237,081

12,012

$188,688

June 18'

182

$238,162

11,128

$190,000

July 18'

169

$245,000

10,032

$180,000

bay county sales tax collections

26

Bay County Demographic Snapshot Bay County Population: 175,075 Median Age: 40.7 Labor Force: 89,425 Average Wage: $37,485 Households: 70,487 Household Income: $53,244 Per Capita Income: $28,478

bay county building permits

GROSS SALES

TAXABLE SALES

TAX COLLECTIONS

March 19'

$546M

$340M

$21.6M

April 19'

April 19'

$800M

$452M

$27.8M

May 19'

85

6

May 19'

$794M

$403M

$24.5M

June 19'

42

4

March 18'

$522M

$288M

$18.0M

April 18'

112

0

April 18'

$684M

$380M

$23.2M

May 18'

49

5

May 18'

$590M

$345M

$21.3M

June 18'

62

3

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL

48

4

March - July 2019 from Garrett Wright, Vice President, EDA of Bay County In August, we hosted our quarterly Bay EDA Local Industry Luncheon with our partners, the Bay County Chamber and Panama City Beach Chamber. These luncheons are one component of our business retention and expansion program at Bay EDA. The topic of this quarter’s Local Industry Luncheon was, “Attracting and Hiring in a Competitive Labor Market.” Landrum HR’s, VP of Workforce Solutions, Jim Howe, spoke on National and Local Statistics and Trends regarding how companies attract top talent in today’s tight job market. While there were many take-aways our local companies received from the luncheon, three stood out to us significantly.

The first is regarding salary and wages. Across the nation there are major employers who are setting new benchmarks in minimum hourly wages. These benchmarks commonly far exceed the federal minimum wage. For example, Target has set a $13/ hr. minimum wage for all workers, this will increase to $15/ hr. by 2020. Wells Fargo and Amazon have set a $15/hr. minimum in all markets as well. Many companies with nationwide presence are setting these benchmarks. Companies in today’s labor market who are succeeding with talent recruitment are constantly studying their wages and salaries, versus what is occurring in the job market for similar positions. To be successful in providing competitive compensation, every six to eight months, wages need to be evaluated for frequently staffed positions.

Another valuable lesson learned is, looking at how our companies attract their skilled workforce. In talent recruitment, there are two different approaches companies can take when trying to fill open positions: passive or active recruitment. With our current unemployment rate at 3.8%, which is on par with the national rate, our labor force is at “Full Employment.” With a passive recruitment

strategy, companies post their jobs and broadcast they have opening for positions. Then they wait for job seekers to come to them regarding the openings. Through an active recruitment strategy, companies are taking a targeted approach and seeking out the most highly qualified candidates. Companies have come to realize top talent is not commonly looking at job postings and these candidates must be actively sought out. While both strategies are necessary for different types of jobs, a strong mix of both is necessary for many skilled positions.

The final takeaway from our Local Industry Luncheon was making sure our local industry properly communicates their ‘brand’ to potential job seekers. In today’s workforce, employees are becoming ever more interested in company cultures and how their work impacts the community at large. If this impact is properly conveyed, it can make workplaces become more desirable. While this brand and impact is commonly known in top management, constantly communicating and making this a part of the company culture will help spread this thought through existing employees. When this culture becomes engrained within all levels of the company, it will spill over into the community and help attract top talent to your company.

While our job market in Bay County is certainly tight, due to Hurricane Michael, this obstacle is one in which many thriving markets across the United States are currently experiencing. The companies that are succeeding in attracting top talent are taking a multipronged approach in finding the skilled workforce they need to be successful.

northwest florida beaches international

bay county bed tax collections

airport passenger traffic

PANAMA CITY

PANAMA CITY BEACH

MEXICO BEACH

April 18'

$148,756

$1,704,237

$52,262

2018

40,733

April 19'

$112,407

$1,857,763

$1,403

2019

39,826

% Change

-24.44%

9.01%

-97.31%

% Change

-2.23%

AIRCRAFT OPERATIONS (YEAR-TO-DATE)

TOTAL PASSENGER ENPLANEMENTS (YTD)

May 18'

$160,288

$2,230,898

$69,902

2018

318,838

May 19'

$139,914

$2,380,762

$1,209

2019

381,781

-12.71%

6.72%

-98.27%

% Change

19.74%

% Change

TOTAL PASSENGER DEPLANEMENTS (YTD)

June 18'

$240,405

$4,458,418

$151,415

2018

323,561

June 19'

$187,809

$4,126,038

$3,523

2019

386,279

-22%

-7.46%

-97.67%

% Change

19.38%

% Change

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

27

The Chamber believes in our industrial partners and truly appreciates their contributions to our economy and way of life. It is hard to imagine life in Bay County without the economic and civic contributions companies like our award recipients make on a daily basis.

THANKS TO OUR Sponsors: PRESENTING // Gulf Power Company SPORTING CLAY // Tournament: Hancock Whitney; Marshall Brothers Construction; Shirt: System Service & Engineering; Lunch: Trustmark Bank; Refreshment Cart: Berg Pipe; Station Sponsors: Brock Lawn & Pest Control; Baskerville Donovan; Southern Earth Sciences; and Sugar Sands Insurance INDUSTRY AFTER HOURS // Port Panama City, USA HEAVY METAL TOURS // Berg Pipe and Trane INDUSTRY APPRECIATION CELEBRATION AWARDS BREAKFAST // Awards: Gulf Coast State College; Gold: Hancock Whitney; System Service and Engineering, Innovations Federal Credit Union; Summit Bank; and Quality Gates & Openers TABLE SPONSORS // ARC Contracting LLC; Bay County Board of Commissioners; Berg Pipe; Community Bank; GAC Contractors; GKN Aerospace; The News Herald; Panhandle Educators Federal Credit Union; Port Panama City, USA; Trane; Trustmark Bank; and Waste Pro

Business Expansion GKN Aerospace GKN Aerospace opened its doors in Bay County in 2017, and as business has increased, so has the size of the workforce. They chose Bay County for the expansion because Florida has a strong aerospace industry, which is critical.

Being in Bay County allows the ability to reach out to local and regional supplier partners. Currently employing over 68 full time positions. There is no substitute for a highly skilled workforce, and GKN Aerospace found this in Bay County with the strength of the local military bases and strong educational community.

28

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

Newcomer ARC Contracting Our newcomer award winner, ARC Contracting, opened its doors with 16 employees in Panama City in 2018 following Hurricane Michael. Headquartered in Wisconsin, ARC Contracting looked at locating at Cape Coral, but chose Bay County to help recover from the destruction of the storm.

Within the next five years, they are committed to grow and expect to hire 50-60 full time positions. ARC Contracting has also teamed up with renewflorida.org to assist with free rebuilds and roofs for those who need additional relief.

Innovation Bay County Tax Collector The Innovation Award recipient implemented a new process that dramatically reduce customer wait times and provide a seamless online customer experience. The processes the Bay County Tax Collector implemented include user-friendly online platforms allowing same day pickup and two-day shipping for tag renewals, as well as an easy property tax payments and email notices, “On My Way” online check – in, view current wait times and receive a text notice when ready and ChatBot, an online AI (artificial intelligence) to answer frequently asked questions, all in a human focused work environment. This new technology has enhanced the online experience reducing the cost per transaction, resulting in an increased use of this service channel. The quality and overall customer experience on the website and payment portals result in higher customer confidence. Because of the new process, wait times have been reduced from upwards of two to three hours down to an average of seven minutes or less!

Small Business of the Year Quality Gates and Openers Quality Gates and Openers was established with two employees in 2006 and has steadily grown to eleven. They fabricate, powder coat, install and service driveway gates, access control and beach access gates. Maintaining a quality workforce has been a challenge as this small business started growing. By investing in each and every employee and giving them a purpose, training and incentives, they are overcoming. The strategy to growing their business is simple: Improve everyday by growing deep, not wide, and to get better, not bigger. Giving back to their community is also important. They do this by playing Santa and handing out toys for underprivileged children at Christmas, as well as volunteering with local football and soccer programs.

Manufacturer of the Year Trane With over 750 employees, our Manufacturer of the Year produces commercial and residential HVAC units. Over 99% of their total sales are exported outside of Bay County with 15% outside of the United States. Trane attributes their success to their awesome employees, the culture of their workforce, dedication to their Core Values, exceptional customer services and the outstanding quality of the product made in their Bay County Facility. Products made in Bay County, have the reputation for not being the lowest cost at initial purchase time but over the life of the unit.

Trane also gives back to their community by participating in United Way, Kaps 4 Kids, Iron Man Competition, Pride – LGBTQ Community, NAACP, Wounded Warriors, Relay for Life, American Heart Association, St. Andrew Bay Center for Christmas, as well as school supplies drives.

System Service and Engineering

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

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workforce connection How to Recruit Veterans to Your Workforce by: Kim Bodine, Executive Director, CareerSource Gulf Coast

A

ccording to the Society of Human Resource Management Professionals (SHRM), American businesses rank veteran recruiting as a top-three priority. In North-

west Florida, there are over 130,000 former military personnel in

veterans. Don’t forget to include information about your company’s mission statement or values. Veterans are trained to be “mis-

the region, not to mention the estimated 3,000 service members

sion-focused” and generally respond well to a company that has a

that separate from the 6 military installations around the panhan-

clear goal and makes its values known upfront.

dle.

Just about any business can tell the benefits of hiring a veteran – leadership, teamwork, adaptability and the ability to work well under pressure. But how can business design a talent acquisition strategy to attract veterans? Below are our tips to assist with your veteran recruitment:

Educate Your Recruiters About Military Backgrounds We’ve seen it hundreds of times - a veteran has a resume five pages long and full of military terminology. By training your hiring manag-

Develop an Employee Referral System An employee referral program can be an effective way to identify potential candidates, especially those that may already be working and not actively looking for work. If you already have veterans working for you, chances are they have built a network of other veterans during their military service. By designing an employee referral program that rewards existing employees to refer candidates (includ-

ers or HR staff to understand military backgrounds, training, and

ing veterans), you can tap into their network. A simple way to do

skills sets, they can better correlate it with civilian skill sets. Then

this is to have your veteran employee’s alert contacts in their Linke-

they can do a better job at matching it against their company’s open positions. Furthermore, knowledge regarding their branch of service, status, and rank can assist your HR team in assessing their past work history and qualifications.

Ensure Your Company Website and Social Media Accounts Appeal to Veterans With low unemployment rates, veterans have several options employment opportunities. Many of them do online research before submitting their resume/application. If you want to recruit veterans, design your messaging to support your business as military or veteran-friendly. Look for ways to highlight how your company 30

supports the military or even showcase existing employees that are

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

dIn network to job opportunities within your company.

In addition to implementing the strategies listed above, we encourage your business to contact CareerSource Gulf Coast to assist in your efforts to recruit and hire veterans and military spouses.

Through CareerSource Gulf Coast Veteran Employment Program, we can help you access a pool of veteran jobseekers and even screen them for you. To learn more, contact 850-872-4340 ext. 8105.

Kristin Hamilton Centennial Bank Kristin Hamilton is a Commercial Loan Officer with Centennial Bank on Stanford Road in Panama City. Hamilton started her career in banking as a teller in 2006. Now, she works as a Loan Officer. After high school, Hamilton completed a three-year course through the Florida Bankers Association, Florida School of Banking. Hamilton has been employed with Centennial Bank since 2010 and feels her time with the company has been instrumental in her banking career.

Centennial Bank affords Hamilton the opportunity to participate and volunteer in various organizations around Bay County. A large part of her time is spent volunteering with the Junior League of Panama City, serving on the Board of Directors of One Positive Place, and actively participating in the Chamber’s Bay Young Professionals group since 2015. She was also a graduate of the 2001 inaugural class of Junior Leadership of Bay County.

Hamilton grew up in Washington County and moved to Panama City after turning 18. Hamilton, along with her husband, Blake, now reside in Sunny Hills, where they enjoy spending time outdoors and playing with their dog.

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31

Bay County Chamber of Commerce / 2018-2019 Leadership Bay Class

Ashlyn Alsobrooks

Christopher Clubbs

Stephanie Conn

Garrett Evans

Jennifer Guynn

Shelby Husbands

Taveka Jackson-Ross

Jennifer Jacobus

Adam Knight

Christina Lancaster

Christine Lance

Andrea Marsh

Jonathan Morris

Brian Pinelle

Will Platt

Lauren Presser

Chelsea Ray

Dr. Suzanne Remedies

Angie Schreiber

Joe Scott

Congressman Neal Dunn, M.D.; Jason

and are the finalists for the Grand Auro-

English, Brock Lawn and Pest Control;

ra Award presented at the SEBC Auro-

Amanda Jowers, Merrill Lynch; Rebec-

ra Awards Ceremony Gala. These elite

ca Kelly, FSU Panama City; Jacob Mann,

awards are coveted and given to only the

Community Bank; Holly Pituch, St. An-

“best of the best”.

drew Bay Land Co.; John Pollman, GAC Contractors, Inc.; Aaron Rich, Aaron Rich

Leadership Bay Graduates 36th Class

Marketing; Christy Rogers, United Way of

The Bay County Chamber is pleased to

Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center.

announce the 36th Class of Leadership Bay. This group creates a broadened network of well-informed leaders whose strengthened commitment to community involvement will affect positive change in Bay County. Leadership Bay was founded in 1983 and is a community leadership development program of the Bay County Chamber Foundation. Based on the premise that people are our most important resource, this program offers potential leaders a curriculum in community leadership training.

Thank you to those who served on this year’s Steering Committee:

Gulf Power Company; and Brian Upton, On August 2nd, Garrett Anderson, Presi-

Garrett Anderson Receives Golden Aurora Award at 2019 SEBC

dent of Anderson Construction of N Flor-

Established in 1979, the Aurora Awards

of Water Restaurant in WaterColor, FL.

are presented annually to outstanding builders, planners, architects, developers, designers, interior merchandisers and other housing-related professionals.

Residential and Commercial construction professionals actively involved in projects located in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi,

ida and past president of BBIA, was the Grand Aurora Award Recipient this year for Best Interior Renovation for Fish Out In his acceptance speech, Anderson thanked those who took a part in this project, including his superintendent, Eric Brown. Anderson said, “After the wrath of Hurricane Michael, this award is wonderful for the soul and will lift our spirits as we move forward.”

North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and the Eastern Caribbean are eligible to participate.

Have a submission for the Biz List?

dren's Home; Sara Backus, Kerigan Mar-

Silver Aurora Awards Honorees are the

keting Associates; Olivia Crosby Sanchez,

top vote recipients in each category

Please contact Ashton Williams at 850-215-3755 or via email ashton@baychamberfl.com.

Chairman Brook Bullard, Anchorage Chil-

32

Northwest Florida; Shelley Scarborough,

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

Join us for Pirate Fest

October 13th, 12-7:30 p.m.

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Senior Vice President 850.775.1000 NMLS #653120

JACOB MANN Vice President 850.250.3511 NMLS #1110935

TY JOHNSON 100 Richard Jackson Blvd. Suite 100 | Panama City Beach | 850.775.1000 1602 W 23rd Street | Panama City | 850.250.3511

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BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

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new members A+ Electrical Contractors (850) 556-0300

from June 1 - August 31, 2019

Dementia Family Pathways

Made in the Shade

Tonie's Dance Workshop

(850) 814-6374

2342 Stanford Rd.

1038 Jenks Ave.

Panama City, FL 32405

ABC Supply Co.

Panama City, FL 32401

Master's Supply Company

2227 Segrest Ct.

(575) 640-5232

121 Gwyn Dr., Ste. B

Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 913-9969

Energy Harness

Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Two Maids & A Mop

(850) 270-2125

10100 Hutchison Blvd.,

71 Mid Cape Terrace,

Ste. 102

Ace Restoration Services, LLC

Unit 8

McLeod's Glass & Supply

Panama City Beach, FL 32407

Cape Coral, FL 33991

2011 Lisenby Ave.

(850) 588-4417

104 Thomas Dr.

(850) 741-0950

Panama City, FL 32405

Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 771-8904

(850) 276-9663

Eva & Quinn Boutique

VectorCSP 405 E. Main St.

1000 Beck Ave.

Moore Kitchens & Floors

Elizabeth City, NC 27909

Adonia (850) 348-1465

Panama City, FL 32401

3000 S. Hwy. 77 , Ste. C

(252) 338-4255

(850) 215-0212

Lynn Have, FL 32444

Air Quality Assessors

Expert Network

104 Thomas Dr.

14411 Commerce Way #300

Redline Metal Fabrication

Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Miami Lakes, Fl 33016

2903 W. 15th St.

(850) 236-0776

(954) 907-6504

Panama City, FL 32401

Beach Care Services

Feeding The Gulf Coast

6816 Thomas Dr.

5709 Industrial Blvd.

Remediation 911

Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Milton, FL 32583

115 Seaclusion Circle

(616) 540-4101

(850) 626-1332

Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Bluewater Wealth Strategies, LLC

Gutter Solutions, LLC

(850) 248-1008

(850) 890-7526

(850) 775-3177 (850) 339-5555

430 W. 5th St., Ste. 210 Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 763-0308

Royal Escape Rooms 477 Richard Jackson Blvd.

Historic St. Andrews Waterfront

Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 249-2805

1134 Beck Ave.

Bristol Harbor Marina

Panama City, FL 32401

239 E. Beach Dr.

(850) 872-7208

Panama City, FL 32401

Springhill Suites by Marriott 12513 Front Beach Rd.

(706) 593-1677

Janssen, Siracusa & Keegan, PLLC.

California Cycles

2111 Thomas Dr., Ste. 2

13416 Front Beach Rd.

Panama City Beach, FL 32408

Panama City Beach, FL 32407

(850) 418-6112

(850) 866-8414

Panama City Beach, FL 32407 (850) 230-6004

Swampy Jack's Wongo Adventure 284 Powell Adams Rd.

JR & Co. Inc

Panama City Beach, FL 32413

Chow Time Buffet and Grill

259 W. Reid Ave.

(850) 338-0100

2343 MLK Blvd.

(850) 247-1675

Wewahitchka, FL 32465

Panama City, FL 32405 (850) 740-3888

Clean Environmental Solutions, LLC

The Bay Line Railroad 2037 Industrial Dr.

KB Engineering, LLC

Panama City, FL 32405

4116 N. Highway 231

(850) 785-4609

Panama City, FL 32404 (850) 785-4675

(850) 633-3394

36

(850) 769-5401

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

member anniversaries

from June 1 - September 31, 2019

5 years

15 years

25 years

AMIKids, PC Marine Institute Avicenna Free Clinic Beachy Beach Real Estate Deck Hull Good Cents Travel Agency SouthernCAT Inc.

Allstate-McKinney Insurance & Investments CWR Contracting, Inc. Coastal Community Insurance Eye Center South First Air Force Public Affairs First Choice Physical Therapy Fredd Shutt Legacy By The Sea Lynn Haven United Methodist Church

CPC Office Technologies WOW! Business

10 years Action Fire & Safety Equipment Emerald Coast Business Women Kaleidoscope Theatre SVN / Southland Commercial Vascular Associates Waste Pro

30 years American Business Center, Inc. Applied Research Associates, Inc.

40 years Smith Miles & Company

20 years Bay Credit Union Southerland Family Funeral Home

For more information call Tim Matthews at (850)769-7779

Staff local with your Panama City experts

850.747.1211 adeccousa.com

BAY B I Z / O C TO B E R - D EC E M B E R 2019

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424 HARRISON AVENUE, PANAMA CITY, FL 32401 www.j4development.com