Bay Biz Vol. 11/ Issue 2 (Summer)

SUMMER 2021 | VOL. 11 / ISSUE 2 PANAMACITY.ORG

U.S. NAVY OPENS GULF COAST TECH BRIDGE NETWORK

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

CHAOTIC TECH STARTUP STIRS UP PEDAL INDUSTRY

Inpatient 24-7 Emergency Services Outpatient Half Day- Intensive Outpatient Program for Adolescents and Adults Full day- Partial Hospitalization Program for Adults 850-763-0017 1940 Harrison Ave, Panama City, 32405 Emeraldcoastbehavioral.com

summer 2021

departments 4

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

6

POLITICAL PERSPECTIVE Legislative Update

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DEFENSE INTEL U.S. Navy Opens Gulf Coast Tech Bridge Network

12 HEALTH Construction on Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center Expansion 16 EDUCATION Operation Kaleidoscope Looks to Change the Status of Child Care 22 TECHNOLOGY Chaotic Tech Startup Stirs Up Pedal Industry 26

ECONOMIC PROFILE

28

WORKFORCE CONNECTION

29

BAY YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MEMBER TO KNOW

34

BIZ LIST

36

NEW MEMBERS

37

MEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

42

OUT & ABOUT

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22 8

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features 20

COVER STORY The Next Generation of Investors Carry on the Revitalization of Downtown Panama City

31

TOURISM APPRECIATION MONTH RECAP

32 2021 ANNUAL DINNER & AWARDS CEREMONY

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 ashlee@baychamberfl.com. The Bay Biz welcomes story ideas from its readers. To have your story added, please email ashlee@baychamberfl.com. To request additional copies, call 850-785-5206.

PUBLISHER Carol Roberts

ART DIRECTION, LAYOUT, AND DESIGN

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Ashlee Davis CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Carol Roberts, Kim Bodine (CareerSource Gulf Coast), NSWC Public Affairs, Garrett Wright (EDA), Julie Weber (Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida), Rep. Jay Trumbull, Michael Sparks (Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center), and Landon McCoy (Chaos Audio) CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Bay County Chamber, NSWC Public Affairs, Chaos Audio, Rep. Jay Trumbull, Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida

COVER The Sapp House, Local Business Owners 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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What a great first quarter! Our community has come to life and business is booming!

We’re certainly glad to get back to a level of normalcy (if I never hear that word again, it will be too soon). The Chamber, like most offices, was closed to the public for months. We’re back open, hosting meetings and greeting visitors. Although we do have some requirements, for the most part we’re business as usual.

Our community is full of excitement at all levels. Businesses are re-opening and new businesses are coming in droves. At every turn, you see commercial and residential construction in process.

Much has happened in the first quarter with the completion of the Hathaway Bridge/23rd Street Overpass; groundbreaking of the St. Joe Company, Hotel Indigo on the Panama City Marina; $4B announced for the rebuild of Tyndall Air Force Base; Panama City Beach is positioned for a record-breaking year; infrastructure surtax collections is up and the list goes on.

Specifically, on the Chamber front, it has been busy as ever. We’ve presented our Legislative Agenda to Senator George Gainer, Representative Jay Trumbull and Representative Brad Drake. In addition, our Chairman, Chris Moore, did welcome remarks at their annual Delegation meeting in February. Chairman Moore also represented the Chamber by welcoming the Florida Defense Support Task Force who held their meeting in Bay County. The Chamber hosted the President of the Florida League of Cities who presented their Building Stronger Communities strategy and was attended by community leaders.

On the Federal level, this Chamber’s leadership and subject matter experts met with staff of Senator Marco Rubio to present its Federal Legislative Agenda. In addition, we were honored to host Congressman Neal Dunn for a face-to-face meeting at the Chamber offices to present those same federal items, but especially placed emphasis on the Panama City Federal Court House and the need for his involvement.

Excitement doesn’t even begin to describe the feeling of the formal announcement of the $4B commitment to re-build the base of the future, Tyndall Air Force Base. Many community leaders were involved in bringing that home, but our Bay Defense Alliance led the charge. President Tom Neubauer and Vice President Glen McDonald are to be commended for their tireless efforts to bring that funding home. Hat’s off to you guys for the thousands of hours committed. This announcement signifies, its now “Game On” for Bay County. No matter what type of business you are in, you are certain to be positively impacted by this announcement.

And lastly, on March 31st, the Chamber was honored to be a part of the groundbreaking for Hotel Indigo. This development and the concept of a hotel on the Panama City Marina has been pushed for nearly 10 years by the Bay County Chamber. We’re excited to see the impact this hotel will bring to the downtown area as we know it is certain to spark change and create endless opportunities.

Downtown Panama City is coming back, and we must give credit to the entrepreneurial spirit that is also in place and has already made a huge impact on bringing people back to this “city center”.

Be sure to read the cover story in this issue and see what those entrepreneurs have done and continue to do to breathe life back into Panama City.

Carol A. Roberts President/CEO

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HURRICANE MICHAEL

ROOF REPLACEMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

ROOF REPLACEMENT Are you a homeowner with roof damage caused by Hurricane Michael? ReHouse Bay may be able to help!

Using State funding, Rehouse Bay can provide funding to eligible homeowners whose homes have suffered roof damage caused by Hurricane Michael.

DO YOU QUALIFY? Owned and occupied your home at the time of Hurricane Michael.

WHAT DO I NEED? Valid Photo I.D. Social Security Card Income Documentation Proof of Insurance Proof of Ownership Proof of Current Property Taxes Proof of Disability (if applicable) Bank Statements (last six months) Tax Returns (last two years) Documentation of Damage

HOW DO I APPLY?

Currently own your home.

Your roof was damaged by Hurricane Michael and remains unrepaired.

Your household income can be verified.

Apply Online! www.rehousebay.org I need help repairing roof damages caused by Hurricane Michael.

QUESTIONS? Call us: 850.872.7230 Visit our Office: 501 Harrison Avenue, Room 206

political perspective Legislative Update by: Rep. Jay Trumbull, House Chairman of Appropriations

W

hen I was elected to represent Bay County in the Florida House of Representatives in 2016, I had three goals in mind: implement policies to create

jobs, stop or block policies that kill jobs and advocate for policies

Appropriations Committee on the budget, the executive office writes checks accordingly.

that will help continue to create jobs far into the future.

Overall, the House’s proposed budget for the 2021-2022 Fiscal Year

Those policy goals were based primarily on my own experiences

all of this increase is related to $4.4 Billion of additional federal

as a small businessman, working in our family business growing

funds the state has received for the federal share of spending

up, and then having the opportunity to own other businesses

for the Medicaid program, and to help public schools continue to

along the way. I know firsthand the best thing we can do to ensure

remain open to serve all of Florida’s children.The state portion of

Bay County’s prosperity is to give every family’s breadwinner the

the increase is only $387.5 Million, less than 1% over the current

opportunity to be employed to their highest and best ability.

year budget.

Unfortunately, I also know that too often, the single biggest

We also took the strong step to keep more than $5 Billion in

obstacle to the job creators of Florida is government at all levels.

reserves for the state’s rainy day fund. Our reserve is one reason

Too much red tape, too many taxes and too many bureaucracies

why Florida’s state government continues to receive an out-

are job killers. That is why I have advocated strongly for reducing

standing credit rating and keep interest rates on public debt to an

regulation, cutting taxes, and streamlining state agencies. When

absolute minimum.

government does spend money, it needs to be spent on items that will facilitate a strong economy. I have also been an advocate for investing state dollars in public safety, workforce education, and

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After my House Committee confers and agrees with the Senate

totals $97 Billion, an increase of 5.2% over the current year. Nearly

The following includes other aspects of our agenda in several key areas:

real infrastructure like roads, ports, and bridges.

Red Tape/Regulation

Last year, I had the honor of being asked by Speaker Chris Sprowls

This year, Speaker Chris Sprowls established the House Regulatory

to chair the House Appropriations Committee. In layman’s terms,

Reform Subcommittee. It has been my pleasure to work with the

that simply means he put me in charge of the state’s checkbook.

chairman and several other members of the committee on initia-

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tives to reduce red tape and regulation wherever possible. One of the ideas we worked on this year, but will likely have to continue to work on even into the next legislative session, was making it easier for businesses to electronically file required documentation with state agencies. Paperwork, especially redundant paperwork, can cost small businesses valuable resources every year, resources that could be used to hire additional workers or make needed investments in equipment.

Workforce Education We invested $7.9 billion in our higher education facilities, and we kept tuition and fees at the current levels to make sure we continue to make Florida’s secondary education one of the most affordable in the country. In addition, we took steps to reconstruct our workforce system with the REACH Act, driving people to jobs in demand.

Real Infrastructure (Roads, Bridges, and Ports) When we talk about infrastructure, people usually think of roads, bridges, and ports, but this broad topic can also include utilities, housing, water and broadband.

To catch up on the backlog of transportation work, we proposed investing $9.2 billion in the Transportation Work Program, plus an additional $2 billion of federal stimulus funds. This will be a badly needed shot in the arm as we continue to struggle to keep up with our expanding population’s needs.

Tax Cuts

On the housing front, one of the main steps we took this year was

This year, we took a bold step to pass a bill that would implement

tax dollars currently allocated for the Sadowski Trust Fund.

tax fairness across the board requiring all businesses engaged in

to propose restructuring the distribution of documentary stamp

online sales in Florida to collect the sales taxes that Florida brick

Under the three-part infrastructure plan, one-third of the existing

and mortar businesses are required to collect. With that fairness

distribution to the Sadowski Trust Fund would be directed to the

measure in place, we proposed a significant reduction in the

Always Ready: Flooding and Sea Level Rise Agenda, to protect our

unemployment compensation tax on businesses. This will keep

beaches and coastal areas from erosion. One-third ($630 million

that measure revenue neutral, and will provide our small business

proposed) would be directed to the Wastewater Grant Program

leaders with a much-needed break on unemployment taxes.

within the Department of Environmental Protection, a priority to get our septic to sewer programs ignited with all due speed. One-

Directly for consumers, we proposed our annual hurricane tax

third would continue to be distributed to state and local affordable

holiday and a back-to-school tax holiday so our citizens could

housing programs, with language that prevents these distributions

purchase goods on a day where businesses would not be required

from being swept to general revenue. This plan will allow funds for

to collect sales taxes. We also proposed a Freedom Week sales tax

all three of these infrastructure priorities to grow at a consistent

holiday where we would designate the first week of July as a time

and predictable rate.

to be able to buy tickets to concerts, athletic and outdoor events without having to pay sales taxes on those items.

In conclusion, this has been a very active legislative session. I want

Public Safety

who has been a valuable ally and friend as we seek to serve you in

One of the bills with which I was pleased to assist our leadership team in passing was the “Anti-Riot Legislation.” Across the nation in the last year, public displays of political activism have turned violent, causing the loss of property, lives, and people’s trust. While I strongly believe in our constitutional right to assembly, I also strongly believe we must respect private property and our public safety personnel.

We also proposed an $18 million investment to move our state correctional officers from 12 hour shifts to 8.5 hour shifts and to provide more training for new recruits. We have also placed language in the budget to authorize our Department of Corrections to develop innovative plans to address correctional officer salaries and retention for the long-term.

Another key component of our budget proposal this year was a

to give a big legislative note of appreciation to Sen. George Gainer Bay County. I also want to thank our many local elected officials at the county and municipal levels who work tirelessly to keep us abreast of your needs and stand on the front line of public service.

Last, and most important, I want to thank our Chambers of Commerce, their leadership, and all of their members for stepping up to make our county better. Your ongoing commitment to our neighborhoods, businesses and communities is vital, and with your engagement, all we do in state government on behalf of our homefront is magnified ten-fold.

If you have any questions or concerns or need assistance with state government, please do not hesitate to call our office at (850) 914-6300. Our excellent staff is always standing by. I look forward to seeing you in person this summer. Thank you, and may God bless Florida and Bay County.

$21.4 Million allocation for the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System, designed to keep Floridians safe even in the most rural areas and open water of our Florida Panhandle.

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defense intel U.S. Navy Opens Gulf Coast Tech Bridge Network by: NSWC PCD Public Affairs

T

he U.S. Navy’s acquisition chief announced the establishment of the Gulf Coast Tech Bridge Dec. 9 - the latest effort by the Navy to enable greater collabora-

tion with non-traditional partners and develop partnerships that will make the sea service stronger.

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Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition. “There is nothing more exciting than seeing the speed and transition of technology that dramatically accelerates capability, and improved development processes – this allows our Navy and Marine Corps to provide the U.S. with the ability to adopt and scale

“Today’s Tech Bridge additions are a symbol of the Department of

its asymmetric advantage. I look forward to seeing these Tech

Navy’s momentum to rapidly deliver capabilities into the hands

Bridges serve as a ‘front door’ for emerging tech to work more

of our Sailors and Marines,” said Jim "Hondo" Geurts, Assistant

seamlessly with the Navy.“

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The Bridge leverages innovative prototyping and contracting mechanisms, including NSWC PCD’s expeditionary warfare Other Transactional Authority as well as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer programs.

Additionally, the group benefits from a premier testing environment on the Gulf of Mexico, as well as direct fleet support.

“The Navy has a vibrant and successful science and technology ecosystem and a world-class exercise continuum,” Rear Adm. John Okon, commander, NMOC. “Embracing the Navy’s innovation The Gulf Coast Tech Bridge spans an area from Tallahassee and Panama City to Stennis Space Center and New Orleans. It is a collaboration of three Navy commands serving as the region’s super connector, tying together regional government, industry and

culture is critical and this Tech Bridge will act as an opportunity for our Sailors to assess military utility of emerging technologies in relevant environments and within the context of priority operational scenarios.”

academia to solve the Navy’s challenges in coastal regions.

Each Tech Bridge is supported by the Naval Agility Office (NavalX)

The Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (NSWC

partners. The Bridges partner with start-ups, academia, corpora-

PCD), the Naval Research Laboratory South and the Naval Meteo-

tions, small businesses, non-profits and private capital. Addition-

rology and Oceanography Command (NMOC) are leading the Tech

ally, they serve within the growing ecosystem of Department of

Bridge, which spans a unique, vibrant region across four states.

Defense innovation groups, providing NavalX greater collaboration

“The Tech Bridge is focused on the future, growing coastal science

tion Network, U.S. Army Futures Command and others.

and unmanned vehicle development, hosting industry events and expanding strategic partnerships,” said Holly Gardner, director of Strategy & Engagement at NSWC PCD and Gulf Coast Tech Bridge Director. “The Gulf Coast Tech Bridge’s focus areas are: coastal sciences and technology, assured maritime access and operational meteorology and oceanography.”

to seed early efforts until they are able to stand alone with local

capability with Defense Innovation Unit, National Security Innova-

Since the establishment of Tech Bridges last year, the initiative has harnessed collaboration and creativity to address naval concerns and capabilities. Over the past year, NavalX has expanded the number of locations across the United States, including the Gulf Coast and the United Kingdom, to 15.

Notable successes in the past year include funding $45 million in projects to solve naval problems; awarding more than $2 million in prize challenges to non-traditional industry partners; sponsoring $37.5 million in targeting maintenance and sustainment; and helping to distribute over $800,000 to COVID-19 response efforts

To learn more about the Gulf Coast Tech Bridge, please visit: https://www.secnav.navy.mil/agility/Pages/tb_gulfcoast.aspx To contact the Gulf Coast Tech Bridge team, please email: agility@navy.mil For more information on NavalX Tech Bridge efforts across the globe, please visit: https://www.secnav.navy.mil/agility

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

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health Construction on Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center Expansion by: Michael Sparks, Director Of Communications And Community Engagement, Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center

A

fter the November 2019 unveiling of plans to expand Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center, the hospital then announced in October of 2020 that construction had

demic, the need for healthcare access and increased bed capacity in our community is more apparent than ever. Our focus on stra-

already began on the sixty-two million dollar expansion, which

tegic development projects is one way we are re-investing in our

would stand to create more than one hundred local jobs, as well as

community and supporting the growing needs of our residents.”

increase access to acute patient care not only in Bay County, but in

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saying, “From the impacts of natural disasters to the current pan-

the surrounding area as well.

During the construction phase, both the hospital and emergency

“Ensuring our community has adequate access to high-quality care

were properly marked. Any changes to traffic patterns at that time

closer to home is a priority for us. Starting construction on this ex-

on the hospital campus were communicated through directional

pansion puts us another step closer to that goal” said Brad Griffin,

signage to assist hospital colleagues, patients and visitors to easi-

CEO for Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center. He continues on by

ly navigate on to their final destination.

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department remained in full operation while the construction sites

With the approximately eighteen month long expansion project,

Along with emphasizing on the community being able to depend

the result included nearly sixty-seven thousand square feet as well

on Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center, Brad Griffin also made sure

as sixty new beds, bringing the Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center

to note that this is another opportunity to recruit physicians and

total bed count to 283. Two additional floors to the North Tower were also added along with a connector from the 3rd floor of the north tower to the main facility. The fourth floor now houses a medical and surgical floor featuring 24 private patient rooms and a fifth floor right below that houses a state-of-the-art twenty bed acute inpatient rehabilitation facility.

new talent to the area saying, “It will give us the ability to recruit new physicians and new talent to the area so in a lot of ways this is not just a win for Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center but also for the community and the surrounding area as a whole. “

History: In the early 1970’s, there were three hospitals in Panama City that were a 100-bed Bay Memorial; 40-bed Lisenby Hospital and 30-bed Adams Hospital. All three facilities were aging and there was a lack of specialized care and no hospital had emergency departments.

Concerned about the quality of care their patients were receiving, the two young Physicians took a bold risk and decided to buy Lisenby hospital and turn it into a high-quality medical center.

Undeterred, Smith and Polyner convinced 19 other area physicians and local attorney Rowlett Bryant to join them in their venture. The group bought Lisenby Hospital in 1969, and immediately began making improvements, expanding the hospital to 50 rooms. It soon became apparent more extensive expansion was necessary to accommodate the rapidly growing community.

In addition to this latest expansion, Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center also invested in several other projects designed to improve access to healthcare in Bay County. For instance in June 2020, Panama City ER opened to the public. This twelve thousand square foot, $11.5 million free-standing ER is a fully functioning emergency room that has a full staff that includes nursing, respiratory

The group applied for a certificate of need for 100 beds. Rowlett Bryant assisted in the legal aspects of this endeavor. In the end the closing of Lisenby Hospital not only marked the end of an era, but also marked the dawn of a new era in healthcare in Bay County.

Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center was then born. After much deliberation on whether to rebuild on the present site or build on

therapists and emergency room physicians on a 24/7 hour basis. In

a new location, the group decided there was a bigger need for a

fact in early 2020, the hospital also added an additional operating

hospital on the north side of town. They purchased 150 acres on

room that completed renovations of its post-partum unit, as well

23rd Street near Jenks Avenue. Architectural plans were drawn

as expanded the emergency room’s ambulance canopy.

up with each physician specialist having a say in the design of his

“Our goal has always been to try to take care of people locally and this is a step in the right direction to try and keep people local."

Said Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center Chief Operating Officer, Holly Dean.

department, and the group began looking for financing to build the new facility. There, a new problem arose financially. The best option, they decided, was to have a hospital management company purchase the project. Bryant contacted Healthcare Corporation of America president Dr. Tommy Frist, Jr. and invited him to Panama

The year after Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center also had plans to begin renovation and expansion of its outpatient diagnostic facility. On November 7, the hospital also broke ground on its freestanding emergency department. Panama City ER which was scheduled to open in May of 2020, is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and had an estimation to serve 10,000 patients in its first year. As a fully functional emergency department, the ER had plans to include 11 private patient care rooms, a dedicated cardiac/ respiratory resuscitation room, a full hospital lab and diagnostic imaging services that include X-ray, CT scan and ultrasound.

City. Dr. Frist said he was impressed by the group’s determination to continue their plan despite the obstacles they faced. A deal was negotiated and construction began in 1976 and Gulf Coast Community Hospital opened its doors on January 3, 1977 as a state of the art facility offering the most modern services and technology available. After nine long years of work and care, Smith, Poyner and the founding members saw their dream become a reality.

Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center's mission above all else is their commitment to the care and improvement of human life. The

“The resiliency of the Bay County community is inspiring.” Griffin

idea for Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center came from this same

said before continuing. “We are proud to be able to invest in our

desire – to improve the quality of healthcare for the families in and

region’s recovery in this significant way and we continue to be extremely optimistic about the future. As our community’s rebuild-

surrounding Bay County, Florida.

ing continues, we want our patients to know they can continue to depend on Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center to ensure they have convenient access to comprehensive healthcare services.”

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

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education Operation Kaleidoscope Looks to Change the Status of Child Care by: Julie Weber, Communications and Outreach Specialist, Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida

A

lthough Florida has long been called the Sunshine State, the outlook for children in the panhandle region is getting a whole lot brighter these days; particularly

the area sustained considerable damage or total destruction. After surveying the damage, the Coalition worked to identify the needs

those affected by the child care crisis after Hurricane Michael. Like

of Bay County’s struggling child care providers and address the

so many others who began the journey towards rebuilding, the

issue of families needing to find child care, as a number of facilities

Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida (ELCNWF) is focused

had to close their doors for good. The goal was to focus recov-

on the recovery of the community by concentrating on the child

ery efforts on those needs that would have the greatest impact

care industry, which has only continued to struggle with the added

on the industry and children in the community. Our Coalition, in

stress of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ELCNWF serves children

partnership with the Florida Department of Education Office of

and families in Bay County, and six other surrounding Counties, by

Early Learning, submitted a Hurricane Michael disaster recovery

providing access to resources and referrals for all early education

application through the U.S. Health and Human Services’ Child

and care needs including the School Readiness Program and Voluntary Pre-kindergarten (VPK) program. The Coalition administers

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In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, many child care providers in

Care Disaster Fund and awaited a response.

grant funding and works with small businesses such as child care

On October 9, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis visited our office

centers, family child care homes, faith-based child care facilities,

in Panama City to announce a $5.2 Million Disaster Recovery

and preschools to cultivate and invest in early childhood educators

Grant awarded to ELCNWF with the purpose to rebuild childcare

and their programs. In addition to our regular services, the organi-

facilities, offer support and resources for developmental screen-

zation also launched Operation Kaleidoscope, a Hurricane Michael

ings and expand mental health services in the area to promote

disaster recovery program, in the fall of 2020.

the recovery from Hurricane Michael. Operation Kaleidoscope in

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

its totality is set to tackle just that. Since receiving the grant, the

ery classroom so teachers do not have to share resources, as well

Coalition has expanded operations and is committed to seeing ev-

as repair provider play structures, as outdoor play is also important

ery dollar of the recovery grant utilized for the programs designed

for a child’s physical health and development.

specifically for Operation Kaleidoscope. “We launched Operation Kaleidoscope in response to the hurricane because our region would not recover if the needs and considerations of families with young children were not taken into account”, says Suzan Gage, Executive Director of ELCNWF. “It was our responsibility to say this was a top priority, and to ensure our children have quality early learning experiences that are meaningful, especially after a disaster like Michael.”

And last but certainly not least, are the Mental Health Services being brought to our region by Operation Kaleidoscope. Young children and their families were struggling to recover from the mental stress of Hurricane Michael. Add to that, additional stresses caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic, and young children and families have been hit hard. Navigating the social and emotional impacts these two events have had on our children is challenging, but with Mental Health Services, efforts are being made to address these needs. Operation Kaleidoscope has introduced mental health screenings, evaluations, and therapy services for children, families, and child care providers. Training and support are being made available to providers, parents and community members.

And mental health services via telehealth are set to launch to assist young children, their parents, and teachers as needed.

Help Me Grow (HMG) Northwest Florida launched this past November to address the growing needs of parents regarding their children's social, emotional and physical development. By providing an early detection and intervention system to families across Northwest Florida, HMG is ensuring any developmental or behavioral delays are addressed and supported. Families can call 2-1-1 to access HMG to receive free developmental screenings, follow up care coordination, and other community resources that promote health and wellness.

Recruiting new business owners and pursuing corporate child care programs will provide the much-needed openings for families needing child care services in our region. A full-time Provider Recruitment Specialist has started the critical task of reaching out to existing providers to offer support to enhance business knowledge and mitigation strategies in preparation for future disasters, as well as identify potential opportunities for expansion.

Local businesses are also encouraged to consider addressing their family-friendly practices to become champions for investing in early childhood development or possibly creating on-site child care programs to support workforce productivity and talent retention.

The status of child care programs in our area should be taken into consideration as we talk about the economic recovery and growth of the community as a whole. The ELCNWF knows and will continue to spread the message that economic development really starts by ensuring our youngest have the foundation for future success. Evidence has shown increased access to quality early learning programs and experiences results in short-term and long-term benefits to individuals and society. For the next two years, the ELCNWF looks forward to investing Operation Kaleidoscope dollars into Bay County and our other service areas, to rebuild high-quality early education programs for children. This investment could potentially generate a significant return to our community based on social and economic outcomes for both chil-

Applications for reimbursement of renovations completed due to

dren and their parents, and we are here to support our providers,

damage incurred by Hurricane Michael have been distributed to

families and the community in this journey.

child care providers and are currently being reviewed and processed. Items like insurance deductibles, furniture, supplies, materials, curricula for the children and other items not being covered by any other funding source are being reimbursed or replaced.

Additionally, Operation Kaleidoscope will provide supplemental

For more information about Operation Kaleidoscope, or if you would like us to talk to your organization about our programs, contact the Early Learning Coalition of Northwest Florida at (850) 747-5400 or visit our website at elcnwf.org.

materials to assist with repairing classrooms for child care centers and family child care homes, as well as their outdoor play structures. For example, the program plans to provide curriculum for ev-

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

17

For 30 years, Panama City Toyota has helped you go wherever life takes you with the area’s largest selection of stylish, dependable Toyota cars and trucks. Come see us soon!

959 W. 15th Street • panamacitytoyota.com

LOCAL ROOTS, GLOBAL REACH For More than 60 years, Kraton has supported the Panama City community. Whether donating, volunteering, or providing jobs, Kraton actively strives to make a positive difference in our community and the world.

To learn more about Kraton or our products visit us at Kraton.com.

©2021 Kraton Corporation

18

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

A Premier Retirement Community in Panama City

No Move-In Fees All-Inclusive Rates All One Level Warm, inviting and thriving, Mathison is all you would expect (and more!) from Panama City’s only faith-based nonprofit retirement community. You’ll quickly see why Mathison residents love their home.

Get your free information kit.

(850) 215-4663

ChamberAdMRCFall2020.indd 1

ASSISTING OUR COMMUNITY EVERY DAY DISASTER RELIEF EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FAMILY SERVICES AID FOR AT-RISK CHILDREN HELP FOR THE HOMELESS YOUTH MENTORING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS & CAMPS FOOD BANKS COUNSELING MEDICAL EDUCATION ELDERLY ASSISTANCE MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING SHELTERS ASSISTANCE FOR THE DISABLED HOUSING CRISIS SUPPORT SUBSTANCE ABUSE SUPPORT SCHOOL READINESS PROGRAMS MENTAL DISABILITY PROGRAMS COLLEGE & CAREER ASSISTANCE LITERACY INIATIVES VETERANS SERVICE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIM SUPPORT

www.methodisthomes.org

10/28/20 11:10 AM

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

19

by: Carol Roberts, President, Bay County Chamber of Commerce Clockwise from back: Allan and Anna Branch, Pam and Chris Cramer, Kevin and Maggie Wattenbarger, Heather and Aaron Rich

20

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

W

hen I was a child, I recall the hustle and bustle of downtown Panama City. Growing up, that was our only shopping destination. Clustered together was JCPenny, Sears, Belk Hudson, Woolworth’s and numerous other locally

owned shops such as Field’s, Dad’n Lad, Christo’s five and dime, Hy’s Toggery, Cogburn’s, Schneider’s Shoes, Buddy Harris Shoes, Elegant Heirs and so many more.

To take a step back on a more personal note, I feel as though I

Although this is by no means intended to be a complete list, these are just a few that are stepping up to the plate to breathe new life and excitement back to downtown. Brent and Arlene McLeod, Dr. Eric and Tricia Berry, Gilbert Hamati, Brian Humboldt, Brandon and Jennifer Burg, Daniel and Channon Johnston, Catherine and Jerry Shores, Allan and Anna Branch, Kevin and Maggie Wattenbarger, Chris and Pam Cramer, Nic and Amanda Byers, Aaron and Heather Rich, the Trumbull family and Bobby Beard.

have deep roots in downtown Panama City. My mom and dad met at Christo’s as my mother was a “window dresser” and my daddy worked in the warehouse. My sister in her high school years worked at Field’s Dad’n Lad, and I have memories of the story told by my parents of losing my big brother in downtown. They drove frantically throughout the streets looking for him. They passed in front of what was then the Panama City Coca-Cola Bottling Company, and there in the windows where you could watch the bottles go around being filled, workers had my brother sitting on a stool, drinking a Coke. It makes me smile to think back on those memories and stories told.

Then along came the construction of the Panama City Mall. We all know what happened at that point; that the big box stores pulled out to open in the new location, leaving downtown with many empty storefronts. It seems as though it's been a struggle ever since. Although there have been many efforts to revive both on an individual investment basis and government, nothing really seemed to work.

Now our environment has changed and our residents and visitors

These folks aren’t just investing financially, but are giving their time to support and volunteer at many levels, serving on local non-profit boards, volunteering to host events and more as they understand the need to give back and support the community who supports their businesses. Their individual efforts are evident.

Just for example, I can’t tell you how many times I have witnessed Allan Branch walking the streets of downtown with his bucket or trash bag in hand, picking up trash. Now, that is true love for your community.

The icing on the cake took place on April 1, 2021 with the groundbreaking of Hotel Indigo on the Panama City Marina. The St. Joe Company saw the excitement being generated by these entrepreneurs and wanted to be a part of the team. The hotel is scheduled to open in 2022 and will certainly be the attraction needed to ensure the future of everyone’s investment by drawing visitors to Panama City’s only waterfront hotel.

are looking for more quaint shopping and dining, walkable desti-

In the mix, and scheduled to open in June, is the new Destination

nation. Entrepreneurship is abound in downtown. Owners such as

Panama City visitor center also in the vicinity of the marina and will

the Bagel Maker, Inktrax, The Clemons Company, McNeil Carroll

serve to draw even more visitors to the area.

Engineering and Harrison Rivard & Duncan were some of the original investors who worked to bring the community back. Of course, there are those such as The Appliance Center and C&G Sporting Goods who never gave up on the area, and are still bringing an abundance of traffic to the downtown area.

The Arts have always played a huge role in generating interest and driving people to the area. Paul and Lana Jane Brent, Mary Ola Miller and many others were key in building the interest and attraction to the arts. Bay Arts Alliance, Martin Theatre and the Marina Civic Center were all and remain key elements.

Shown on our cover, arrives the Next Generation of investors opening restaurants, bars/pubs, retail stores, professional offices and more creating a renewed level of excitement.

When discussing with these young entrepreneurs on their investments, here’s what they had to say:

"You must have courage, cash, credit and patience.

There is no clear return on this investment and in fact may likely require additional capital and creativity."

Their state of mind is to invest in their hometown with an opportunity to change its trajectory forever and if they didn’t act, who would? They’ve put skin in the game and got to work for the sake of the community.

Local government continues to invest in downtown as it for the most part, serves as a government center with the State Attorney’s Office, Bay County Court House and Panama City-City Hall.

Along with the existence of the government offices comes a large population of professional offices such as attorneys, engineers and other supporting professions.

As I began this story on a personal note, I will close on one as well. Never did I imagine that I would spend my career in Downtown Panama City now for 44 years. Your Bay County Chamber of Commerce’s commitment has never waivered for the area as it has 109 years invested in downtown. The Chamber has had several opportunities offered by many to relocate, but those Board of Directors saw the importance of our continued support of the area.

Although the organization has temporarily relocated several times since 1913, it never left and remains committed to the growth and development of all of Bay County. The organization has fought for years to assist in the revitalization of downtown Panama City and we’re proud to play a part in paving the way for change.

Huge changes are on the horizon . . .

INVEST NOW! BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

21

technology Chaotic Tech Startup Stirs Up Pedal Industry by: Landon McCoy, Chaos Audio

A

nyone who has practiced pottery, painting, or even put together a LEGO set will tell you, “You don’t always get it quite right on the first try.” The same

or any of the other sounds found in your favorite songs, you need effect pedals, or stomp-boxes. These are either analog or digital.

goes for trying to develop a new piece of technology. As with all

The mechanics of each are a bit different, but the end result is a

creative processes, your initial idea is just a starting place. Where

sonic transformation of your instrument’s tone.

you eventually end up is a completely different story.

Using traditional analog pedals, one is needed for each unique

Chaos Audio is a startup comprised entirely of engineering

sound or effect and are about $100 each. Not exactly ideal if limit-

students at FSU-Panama City. No one would expect a bunch of col-

ed on space or budget, especially if you want to experiment with

lege students to start a digital audio company. But that is exactly

many different sounds. Digital effects are just ones and zeros, and

what happened, and thus began a long journey of constant revi-

therefore, a ton of them can be packed affordably into one pedal.

sion to create a viable product to compete in the current market.

This compromise comes at the cost of having less than stellar

Stratus is a smart guitar pedal and effects platform blending new and old technologies to create something unlike anything seen before. Stratus is technologically different by how it marries software

effects or overly complicated user interfaces. Stratus aims to fill the gap in the market between these two extremes. Technically, it is a digital effects pedal, but actually so much more.

and hardware to create a seamless user interface. It accomplishes

Chaos Audio and Stratus both started as a fleeting thought in the

this by using a smartphone application connecting directly to the

mind of CEO Landon McCoy, who came up with the idea to start an

actual guitar pedal over Bluetooth, allowing users to customize

audio company at nineteen years old. Soon after, McCoy registered

parameters and create preset effect chains right in the palm of

Chaos Audio, LLC.

their hand.

22

adds a bit of color to the sound, but to get distortion, echo, wah,

The initial idea was to forgo buying analog guitar pedals in favor of

For those unfamiliar with the wide world of guitar pedals and

just building them from scratch. It seemed more cost-effective in

accessories, here is the breakdown. Generally, electric guitars and

the long run and, as a broke college student, he could hardly afford

other electric instruments are plugged directly into an amplifier.

any otherwise. Out of pure creative passion and curiosity, the

The vibration from the guitar strings are picked up by magnets and

first prototypes were created. They were crude, ugly, and far from

turned into a signal projected by the amplifier. The amplifier itself

usable, but it was a start. Now the revisions could begin.

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

An original sketch of the first Stratus prototype

Early prototypes

Along the way, McCoy recruited his younger brother, fellow classmates, and friends to flesh out the company. Each new member took on a specialized role from marketing and finance, to production and coding. Soon after, the young startup, with their rudimentary prototype, captured the attention of technology incubator TechFarms. With the backing of TechFarms, and eventually software development company Teknika, Chaos Audio continued revising and updating their prototype.

With the assistance of Teknika, the team soon had a functional mobile app to pair with their pedal prototype. Much like the game of life, however, each step forward often leads to a step back.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and it definitely wasn’t built by five college kids on a shoestring budget. Undeterred by things like software glitches and mechanical issues, Chaos Audio pressed on.

Chaos Audio used the time from the Covid-19 shutdown to focus on refining their invention. Building out a platform intertwining software and hardware for Stratus is like putting together a 100,000-piece puzzle with half the pieces missing and the rest are the same color.

understanding of the process and some incredibly valuable feedback. They took the knowledge gained from the first Kickstarter and applied it to a re-launch of the same product. The team revised Stratus again to fix issues presented by the previous prototype.

Some potential users expressed concerns about the stomp switch design, so the switch was completely redesigned using premium parts. Head of mechanical design Robert Copsey slimmed down the pedal profile to make more similar to traditional analog pedals.

This allows Stratus to be more easily integrated on any guitarists traditional pedalboard.

Alpha testers encountered unwanted noise when using Stratus.

McCoy consulted with electronics experts to discover the source of this design flaw. He redesigned the PCB to cancel out some of the extra noise. He also redesigned the actuable knobs board to be incorporated in the main printed circuit board to save space inside the enclosure. The team implemented other features like the rechargeable battery and looper setting, which allows users to record up to 5 minutes of audio and unlimited layers to play with.

These revisions brought Stratus just inches from the finish line

On the software end, each glitch is like searching for a piece of hay in a needle stack, where finding it potentially means filling the stack with even more pieces of hay you need to find and certainly more needles. The actual hardware is even more daunting.

Each pedal enclosure is milled out of a solid block of space-grade aluminum. The printed circuit boards for each unit are designed by hand on special software, and must be ordered from a third party at great expense, leaving very little room for error. There are countless unique parts all needing to work correctly on their own and function as a cohesive unit, but even despite these steep odds, the team was able to cobble together a Minimum Viable Product or MVP. Essentially, they had a complete working prototype and they weren’t even halfway finished.

before the product had even launched.

Designing software and hardware from scratch is expensive, especially when your main source of income is residual payments from your high school YouTube channel. The next step was to get more funding. Chaos Audio had survived from one small investment up to this point. The next logical step was crowdfunding. With a working prototype in hand, the team created a successful Kickstarter campaign to generate the funds necessary to take Stratus to production. Again, everything doesn’t always go quite as planned.

big picture, or missing the important small details. As an inventor

Chaos Audio knew the product needed to cater to the needs of their consumer base with clear marketing and branding. The best, most innovative products will fail if not pitched to the correct people and packaged appropriately. Chaos Audio revamped their targeted ads and redesigned their logo and other imagery. The effort has already paid off as their subscriber list has nearly doubled.

As they move towards relaunching their Kickstarter campaign, they are in a much more desirable spot.

It is easy to find yourself in an echo chamber where only receiving feedback from those around you. In the realm of creating technology, this mentality can be devastating. Don’t lose sight of the working to bring a new product to an unsuspecting public, it is imperative to listen to all feedback. Trust your gut, follow your passion, but don’t let pride blind you from what is truly important.

At the end of the day, your product needs to be something end consumers will actually need if it is to be successful. This fact is a large contributor to why many startups fail, and a key point in Chaos Audio’s plan to succeed.

The initial Kickstarter was a success. The team knew mistakes were made and they could do better. Before the campaign ended, Chaos Audio decided to pull the plug. They now had a much better

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

23

24

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

DOWNTOWN PANAMA CITY

Approved October 8, 2019

The strategic vision for downtown and its waterfront was created to direct future growth while also preserving the city’s history, providing a foundation for Panama City to become the premier city in the panhandle of Florida.

The below cornerstones, created for downtown, can guide rebuilding and recovery for all of Panama City.

10 CORNERSTONE IDEAS FOR DOWNTOWN PANAMA CITY 1. Waterfront access

6. Resilient infrastructure

2. Downtown activity

7. Connected

3. Downtown living

8. Placemaking

4. Safety & security

9. Gathering spaces

5. Sustainable building

10. Update community standards

MILLVILLE

Approved March 23, 2021

Millville was one of the original frontier settlements in Bay County. The community rests between Watson Bayou and St. Andrews Bay. Rich in history, the area was built around a lumber yard in the late 19th century. In 1913, Millville was incorporated and citizens elected W.I. Singletary as Millville’s first mayor. In 1926 Millville was annexed into Panama City. Millville is home to a true working waterfront, including an established shipbuilding and marine repair industry and paper mill.

Millville Big Ideas Create a complete neighborhood Open up waterfront, neighborhood centers, and compatible infill Create Great Streets 3rd street as main street, east ave design, business 98 revitalization Create resilient open spaces & infrastructure Infrastructure, existing open spaces and natural areas BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

25

St. Andrews Big Ideas Create a complete neighborhood increase water access, incentivize infill housing, invest in arts & culture, provide desired amenities, address parking, and update standards Create Great Streets Redesign Beck Avenue, connect pedestrian & bike networks Create resilient open spaces & infrastructure Upgrade infrastructure, improve existing open spaces, include new open spaces & green infrastructure

ST. ANDREWS

Approved March 23, 2021

Locally found artifacts attest to the fact that Native Americans have been in St. Andrews for at least 13,000 years.

The Panama City Commission recognized the need to revitalize St. Andrews in 1989 and in 1997, St. Andrews joined the inaugural Waterfronts Florida Program. The vision for St Andrews preserves the character of historic fishing while adding new mixed use buildings on vacant and underutilized lots. The Krewe of St. Andrews hosts a vibrant annual Mardi Gras celebration and parade.

Approved April 27, 2021

GLENWOOD

Glenwood was settled in 1896. As a part of “Downtown North”, Glenwood is bisected by Massalina Bayou, and has long been the cultural hub of Panama City’s African American community. It is home to the Martin Luther King Boulevard retail, dining and entertainment corridor, as well as the historic Rosenwald School, and the 23rd Street Panama City Shopping District. Glenwood hosts Ascension Medical Center- one of two regional hospitals serving a five county area Gulf Coast Regional Hospital is adjacent to Glenwood on 23rd.

Glenwood Big Ideas Create a complete neighborhood Placemaking, revitalize Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, provide opportunities for small businesses, incentivize infill housing, rebuild recreational facilities, provide desired amenities Create great streets Redesign Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd and safe streets Create resilient open spaces & infrastructure Improve access to open space, grow natural areas, upgrade infrastructure 26

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

Panama City is focused on being the Premier City in the (Florida) Panhandle.

The City of Panama City is located in the Florida “panhandle” on St. Andrews Bay approximately 170 miles east of Mobile, Alabama, 95 miles east of Pensacola, Florida and 100 miles southwest of Tallahassee, Florida.

St. Andrews Bay surrounds much of Panama City and provides a protected harbor for facilities at the growing Port of Panama City complex.

Four Lines of Effort for Panama City Florida

Safety & security

Key & vital Infrastructure

Economy

Quality of life

• • •

Fishing and watersports Arts and entertainment A pleasing small town environment for raising a family

Port Panama City

Climate The Panama City area has a climate that is nearly ideal. The average annual temperature is 68.8 degrees. Average summer temperature is 81 degrees and the average winter temperature is 53 degrees.

Annual precipitation averages 57.86 inches. Prevailing winds are southerly in the summer and northerly in the winter.

We welcome you to our business community!

For more information contact:

Patti Sunday, Manager of Economic Development psunday@pcgov.org

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

27

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

29

economic profile current labor statistics for bay county LABOR FORCE

EMPLOYED

UNEMPLOYED

UNEMPLOYED RATE

91,631

87,486

4,145

4.50%

April 21'

92,464

88,364

4,100

4.40%

May 21'

93,669

89,731

3,938

4.20%

March 20'

91,265

86,717

4,548

5.0%

April 20'

83,330

72,142

11,188

13.4%

May 20'

86,695

77,365

9,330

10.80%

March 21'

real estate sales

EXISTING SINGLE FAMILY HOMES PANAMA CITY MSA

FLORIDA

REALTOR SALES

MEDIAN PRICE

REALTOR SALES

MEDIAN PRICE

March 21'

568

$278,950

32,819

$327,000

April 21'

506

$276,500

33,264

$336,525

May 21'

521

$299,000

30,985

$344,900

March 20'

372

$244,950

26,611

$275,000

April 20'

267

$242,950

21,403

$275,000

May 20'

309

$235,000

19,622

$270,000

CONDO-TOWNHOMES SALES PANAMA CITY MSA

FLORIDA

REALTOR SALES

MEDIAN PRICE

REALTOR SALES

MEDIAN PRICE

March 21'

307

$292,500

16,518

$242,000

April 21'

348

$314,500

17,330

$250,000

May 21'

285

$345,000

15,491

$250,000

March 20'

147

$250,000

10,823

$210,000

April 20'

86

$250,000

7,506

$209,000

May 20'

102

$283,750

6,069

$201,472

bay county sales tax collections Jan 21'

30

Bay County Demographic Snapshot Bay County Population: 172,228 Median Age: 41.1 Labor Force: 93,669 Average Wage: $41,904 Households: 69,389 Household Income: $59,296 Per Capita Income: $31,274

bay county building permits

GROSS SALES

TAXABLE SALES

TAX COLLECTIONS

$729M

$373M

$23.1M

June 20'

RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL

103

6

Feb 21'

$565M

$327M

$20.3M

July 20'

34

0

Mar 21'

$558M

$345M

$20.7M

August 20'

147

8

Jan 20'

$741M

$376M

$21.7M

June 19'

42

4

Feb 20'

$535M

$323M

$20.1M

July 19'

77

0

Mar 20'

$534M

$318M

$19.6M

August 19'

77

5

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

How TechFarms Boosts Local Businesses Take a tour with Steve Millaway through TechFarms and you can expect it to come with a few interruptions. From growth projects at the facility, impromptu meetings, and various company representatives in and out of the facility, this high-tech incubator is buzzing with activity. Budding entrepreneurs are regularly seeking the guidance of Steve Millaway and the team of professionals he has assembled at TechFarms. This collaborative environment is what makes the businesses within TechFarms so primed for success. This successful ecosystem is prompting the organization to expand after just six years since its inception.

Steve Millaway is the CEO and Founder of TechFarms, and the Managing Director of TechFarms Capital.

TechFarms was established to support the growth of tech companies in Bay County and throughout Northwest Florida. Its facility is one in which tech entrepreneurs can bring an idea and mold it into reality.

Prior to founding TechFarms, Steve Millaway was a successful Tech entrepreneur himself. Throughout his career, Steve developed a passion for building the Tech ecosystem in Northwest Florida and decided to establish TechFarms in Bay County in 2015. While a key focus of TechFarms is the creation and matriculation of technology companies out of the incubator, another major driver for their passion is the creation of jobs, specifically tech related jobs in Northwest Florida. The overall improvement and growth of the technology workforce in Northwest Florida is one in which TechFarms is helping to nurture.

While TechFarms is specifically tailored to support tech related companies, its principles of entrepreneurship growth and encouragement are what help drive our local economy. That economy being built upon by entrepreneurs who had a vision for the community. Thousands of entrepreneurs run successful small businesses across Bay County every day. Frequently, these small businesses can transform into large businesses and become major employers in the community. Throughout Bay County examples include Eastern Shipbuilding, Linea Peninsular, Merrick Industries and countless others.

According to the Florida Chamber of Commerce, two out of every three jobs in Florida are created by small businesses.

Additionally, about 90% of Florida’s manufacturers are small to medium sized businesses. Behind most of these companies, were entrepreneurs who had a vision to develop a business to meet a need or to improve a service provided. Entrepreneurship is the cornerstone of the United States, and has led our country to be full of individuals who have built successful businesses of all sizes. While entrepreneurship is not synonymous with small business, the impact small businesses have on our economy is phenomenal. However, in their founding, most entrepreneurs do start as a small business.

According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, (SBA) there are nearly 32 million small businesses in the United States. Small businesses also account for 47.1% of private sector employees and 40.3% of private sector payroll. Additionally, small businesses have accounted for 65% of net new job creation since 2000.

While not all entrepreneurs operate small businesses, the impact of creating an ecosystem to support entrepreneurs and small business creation is one that is vitally important to our economic base.

In Bay County, at nearly every turn there is a small business operation. Many of these small businesses are operated by entrepreneurs who ventured out on their own and decided to start their own businesses. Specifically in Bay County, it is estimated small businesses employ over 30,000 employees. Creating and nurturing an ecosystem where these entrepreneurs can thrive is vitally important to ensuring our communities have a diverse and well-balanced economy. The needs of a small business can vary, however, a few key needs include professional guidance, access to space or a workshop, market information, and access to capital.

For the high-tech sector, TechFarms is helping meet these needs, not only in space, access to equipment, and access to industry experts but also in access to capital. TechFarms Capital, established by Millaway, was created to help meet one of the greatest needs of high-tech start-ups, access to capital. TechFarms Capital is a venture capital fund with the sole intent to invest in high-tech start-ups. For high-tech start-ups, traditional sources of funding are commonly not available due to the many unknown variables within the company. However, that is where venture capital funds fill the gap for high-tech start-ups.

A recent company TechFarms Capital invested in is a local Bay County success story. Chaos Audio was founded by Gulf Coast State College students who are now engineering students at Florida State University - Panama City (FSU-PC). Chaos Audio is helping change the music industry by creating an all-in-one electric guitar effects pedal that allows literally hundreds of sound effects to be produced from a single pedal. Previously, musicians had to purchase a new pedal for each sound effect they desired.

Chaos's new pedal, the Stratus, will allow musicians to download new sound effects from Apple or Google app stores to their cell phones or tablets, and then install them on the Stratus using Bluetooth wireless technology. While attending Gulf Coast State College, Landon McCoy founded Chaos Audio with the idea of reducing the number of foot pedals and cost required to play different sound effects on his guitar.

Since its founding, Chaos Audio has seen major accomplishments. The company has secured venture capital funding for their business and been emersed into a supportive environment setting the company up for success. According to Landon McCoy, CEO of Chaos Audio, “The assets and environment created at TechFarms have led us to prosper. I am 100% certain that if it were not for the environment created by TechFarms and the educational assets in the community, we would not be here today. TechFarms has created a network of resources to support innovative high-tech companies like Chaos Audio.”

Chaos Audio also recently won first-place in the “Florida State University 2021 InNOLEvation Challenge” in March. Chaos Audio was the only team from FSU-PC to compete in the final competition. With this win, Chaos Audio took home $10,000 and will move to a statewide competition.

Chaos Audio is just one success story of an entrepreneurial start-up coming out of TechFarms. Throughout our community, there are thousands of entrepreneurs who work every day to grow their business and who employ thousands in Bay County.

We are proud to have these businesses help drive our local economy. These entrepreneurs have a positive impact on our local economy, as well as the direction of our community.

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

31

workforce connection Update from CareerSource Gulf Coast by: Kim Bodine, Executive Director, CareerSource Gulf Coast

W

e recently held the 34th annual Bay County Job Fair in February. For the first time, we, in a partnership with seven other organizations, decided to make the event virtual. This decision was both exciting and nerve-wracking.

What if the virtual platform did not work? What if no one wanted to participate in the new web-based format? What could go wrong—and how could we prepare in advance against what could go wrong? These were the questions we contemplated and addressed as our team worked through the planning stages of the event.

The Bay County Job Fair is the largest recruitment and hiring event in Bay County, and has carried that reputation for some time. We wanted the 2021 event to keep everyone safeguarded against COVID-19 exposure while maintaining the same level of excellence for which the Bay County Job Fair has been known for the past 33 years.

It was a bold new path and it resulted in approximately 130 employers and 568 job seekers participating virtually to make connections for employment. Indeed, it was a first for us, as well as many of the participants, but I am more than pleased with the overall success of the event. Feedback from partner hosts, employers, and job seekers has been positive.

It is one of the few benefits of the virus that we have been forced out of our comfort zones to explore new and innovative ways of achieving our goals. Employers and talent are still facing heightened risks and concerns associated with the pandemic. Although

32

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

change can take more thought and feel unsettling, there are times when it is necessary. Now more than ever it is important to be open to such changes that will best support your organization and your personnel.

We, like all of you, are hopeful the vaccine will protect our most vulnerable and give individuals the confidence they need to safely return to the workforce. Already, we are seeing our unemployment rate decrease getting closer to those pre-COVID-19 rates.

We are hopeful for a strong tourism season, and in working with the Bay EDA we know new companies are often taking a look at Bay County for their next site. Pandemic or not, business is pushing forward, in many cases using modified ways of getting the job done.

CareerSource Gulf Coast will continue to work together with its partners to keep our support and services available and accessible. This community has a history of strong partnerships. Let us continue to work together, outside of our comfort zone, to do what we need to in order to overcome the lasting effects of the pandemic. Whether you are a job seeker, an employer or someone interested in skills training, let us know how we can support you.

CareerSource Gulf Coast operates offices in Bay, Gulf and Franklin Counties. To connect with the office nearest you, please visit our website at careersourcegc.com, or contact us at customerservice@careersourcegc.com.

Julia K. Maddalena Hand Arendall Harrison Sale Julia K. Maddalena is an Associate in the Panama City office. Her practice is focused on Civil Litigation, including real property, insurance defense, employment law and commercial business litigation.

Mrs. Maddalena earned her Juris Doctorate from the Florida State University College of Law in Tallahassee, Florida, where she graduated Cum Laude. She specialized in International Law, achieving the highest possible honors. She served as Article Selection Editor for the FSU Journal of Transnational Law and Policy, received the International Bar Association Certificate for International Human Rights and was a competitor in the Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot Court Competition in Vienna, Austria. After graduating, Mrs. Maddalena was hired as a Staff Attorney for the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit of Florida, where she assisted the circuit judges with legal research and writing. She left the court in 2017 to pursue a career in private practice with Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, LLC. Julia enjoys spending time with her husband and their 2 year old daughter. They like to shop, eat and play in downtown Panama City and St. Andrews, and love spending time out on the water.

RECRUIT YOUR NEXT HIRE Connect with qualified candidates.

Job postings Applicant screenings Skills assessments

careersourcegc.com

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

33

FACE MASKS

We’ve implemented additional measures to ensure that ECP is the

PLEXIGLASS PANELS SOCIAL DISTANCING

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Tourism Appreciation Month was a huge success!

The Bay County Chamber of Commerce collaborated with Destination Panama City and Visit Panama City Beach to celebrate Bay County’s number one industry: tourism.

The month kicked off with First Friday, sponsored by SweetBay. Attendees were given an update on tourism and the importance of tourism in our community since Hurricane Michael and the Covid 19 Pandemic from Dan Rowe, President/CEO of Visit Panama City Beach.

During the week of May 2nd – 8th , 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.

The 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 Peoples First Insurance; Second Place was awarded to B&C Technologies and Third Place went to CWR Contractors.

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 wrapped up with the Tourism After Hours celebration and Corn Hole Tournament at Destination Panama City. Congratulations to our winners! First Place: Lamar Sand Baggers, Second Place: GAC Contractors/Hand Arendall Harrison Sale, and Third Place: UPS.

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

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The Bay County Chamber of Commerce held its 2021 Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony June 18 at Edgewater Beach and Golf Resort. Bay County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO, Carol Roberts said this event is one of the most important events of the year for the Chamber.

“The Annual Dinner and Awards Ceremony is our chance to reflect on all of the accomplishments from the previous year,” said Roberts. “2020 and the beginning of 2021 was difficult on all businesses. Bay County had not only had to recover from surviving and rebuilding from Hurricane Michael, we are now recovering again from the COVID-19 Pandemic. While your Chamber has never skipped a beat, we are excited to finally be able to celebrate our successes with the Chamber membership. Many of the Chamber supported issues have become a reality in 2020, starting with the extension of the moratorium on offshore drilling with the military gulf training range to the groundbreaking and completion of the Destination Panama City Visitor’s Center of which would not have happened had this organization not led and conducted the campaign for a Panama City Bed Tax.” The event began at 5:30 p.m. with a social and silent auction benefiting Junior Leadership Bay (JLB), a program of the Bay County Chamber Foundation. JLB prepares Bay County’s youth and future business leaders to meet the challenges facing our area through hands-on activities and exciting discussions involving community leaders and motivational speakers.

The program began at 6:45 p.m. with the main event, where community leaders and numerous elected officials gathered to celebrate the Chamber’s successes of 2020 and to honor the outgoing Chair of the Board, Andrew Rowell of GAC Contractors. Sandy Sims of Gulf Power Company served as the Master of Ceremonies for the evening.

Rowell passed the gavel to 2021 Chair, Chris Moore of General Dynamics. In his closing remarks, Rowell stated that his time serving on the Chamber board of directors has been the experience of a lifetime.

“Thank you for allowing me to serve,” said Rowell. “I’ve been fortunate to build relationships with all of you, our members. 2020 has certainly changed our lives both personally and professionally. It has also changed the way we have done business. Our board, has stood by the organization and the hard decisions had to be made

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BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

on events, meetings and office operations and more.” Rowell then went on to commend the board of directors, and investors and the many others who have continued to invest.

Also being honored at this event was the outgoing Military Affairs Committee (MAC) Chair, Will Cramer of Bill Cramer Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. Cramer was the 2019 Chair of the Board of Directors before becoming the 2020 MAC Chairman. Cramer officially passed the gavel to Andrew Rowell who took over as the 2021 MAC Chairman on Tuesday, June 8th at the MAC Passing of the Gavel. During the event, Cramer commended the work of the local military installations of Bay County stating, had it not been for them, there would be no reason for him to serve as MAC Chair.

“Our local military are the ones to be commended for their service for our country,” said Cramer. “Both of our military installations play a vital role not only economically, but also through their individual community involvement and the impact of spouses on our workforce. We appreciate you!”

Each year the Chamber recognizes an outstanding member with its Member of the Year award. Scott Jackson and Julie McConnell of the Bay County/UF IFAS Extension Office, were announced as the 2020 recipients. Andrew Rowell, 2020 Chair of the Bay County Board of Directors, introduced Jackson and McConnell as the recipients stating they were top of mind from the very beginning.

“From our first conversation, they stood out as a shining star,” said Rowell. “At the beginning of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the shutdown had loomed over the state, getting information out to the Chamber membership was key. Since 1954 the Chamber had only missed one First Friday and that was following Hurricane Michael.

Chamber staff had received a call that offered a way to broadcast First Friday virtually. Following that first month of Virtual First Friday, Jackson and McConnell volunteered countless hours and expertise to assist in hosting Virtual First Friday. I am so appreciative of their time and talents that they were able to lend us to make sure that we were able to keep our membership up to date.”

The last award of the night was the Lauren Merriam Memorial Award, the Chamber’s highest honor. Joey Ginn (who was the 2018 recipient of the award), presented the 2020 award to Jorge Gonzales, who was chosen for this award for his heart and love for all that is Northwest Florida. He has served on multiple boards, including FSU Panama City Campus Development Board and Dean’s

Council, the Bay Economic Development Alliance, the Northwest Florida Manufacturer’s Council, Gulf Coast Regional Medical Center Board of Directors, Florida Chamber Board of Directors, FSU Board of Trustees, The St. Joe Community Foundation Board of Trustees, and Enterprise Florida Board of Directors.

Wrapping up the evening, 2021 Chairman, Chris Moore gave his vision for the organization over the next year. Moore touched on the aggressive priorities for 2021, stating key objectives for the year include: pursuing a quality education system through business partnerships with our learning institutions in academics, mentoring, tutoring, facilities and extracurricular activities; pursue economic development incentives through the State of Florida in conjunction with Bay EDA; continue its relationship with NextSite to promote Bay County on a national level to investors, retailers and commercial development; and lastly the Chamber will continue to monitor the progress of the Panama City Federal Court House as Bay County officials continue to work with General Services Administration.

“As you can see, your Bay County Chamber has not skipped a beat in providing services to our community and our investors. We will continue to carry the torch and send the message that Bay County is open for business,” stated Moore. “Together we can continue to build this amazing community.”

Lauren Merriam Award explanation The Lauren Merriam Memorial Award is presented annually by the Bay County Chamber of Commerce to a member of the Bay County business community who best exemplifies the characteristics embodied

by Lauren Merriam, a Past President of the Chamber in 1959 and the original Chairman of the Chamber’s First Friday Club. Most importantly among those characteristics are commitment to the community’s well-being, as exemplified by involvement in civic, charitable and/or endeavors contributing to the betterment of Bay County and the benefit of its citizens -- and the ability not to take oneself, or one’s peers, too seriously. Merriam did a lot for our community and in the process, he enjoyed himself.

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

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Bay County Chamber of Commerce / 2020-2021 Leadership Bay Class

Shane Boyett

Aimee Bright

Cory Brown

Jerry Bushee

Christy Coulthard

Cherie Crim

Debbie Faircloth

Chuck Helmer

Liah Jones

Kaydee Albritton

Veronica Kemeny

Scott Kirkman

Erica Lester

Julie McConnell

Natalie McSwane

Jeremy Pridgeon

Jessica Renella

D'Tara Rollins

Jai Shiva

Mike Sparks

Interested in joining Leadership Bay?

Holly Strout

Patti Sunday

38th Class of Leadership Bay Graduates

affect positive change in Bay County.

Also thanks to the 2019-20 Leadership

Leadership Bay was founded in 1983 and

Bay Steering Committee for all of their

is a community leadership development

hard work and dedication: Chairman

program of the Bay County Chamber

Holly Pituch, St. Andrew Bay Land

Foundation. Based on the premise that

Company; Jeremy Bennett, SmartBank;

people are our most important resource,

Pamela Billing, Edgewater Beach & Golf

a broadened network of well-informed

the purpose of the program is to offer

Resort; Jason English, Brock Pest Control;

leaders whose strengthened commit-

potential leaders a curriculum in commu-

Megan Ford, State Attorney’s Office –

ment to community involvement will

nity leadership training.

14th Circuit; Jacob Mann, Community

The Bay County Chamber is pleased to announce the 38th graduating class of Leadership Bay. This group creates

38

Jeff Wayne

This is an exciting program designed to cultivate a broadened network of well-informed leaders whose strengthened commitment to community involvement will affect positive change in Bay County. Participants will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with other emerging leaders. Please contact Elizabeth Smith at 850-215-3755 or via email at elizabeth@baychamberfl.com

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

Bank; Brian Pinelle, Gulf Coast Regional

opment Certified Financial Counselor

Medical Center; John Pollman, GAC Con-

through the National Credit Union Foun-

tractors; Lauren Presser, Holy Nativity

dation as well as a Credit Union Devel-

Episcopal School; Dr. Suzanne Remedies,

opment Educator through the National

Gulf Coast State College; Aaron Rich,

Cooperative Business Association.

Aaron Rich Marketing; Christy Rogers, United Way of NWFL; Olivia Crosby, Think Real Estate; Craig Segrest, Emerald Coast Behavioral Hospital and Cecily Smith, Ascension Sacred Heart Bay.

One of Akers’ strengths is in finding ways to improve the bottom line through efficiency and revenue growth. In his first month, Akers has already made an impact at Bay CU, renegotiating contracts

nual Festival of Trees this past Decem-

and streamlining processes to save the

ber. The proceeds will benefit two local

Christina Burleson

credit union hundreds of thousands of

charities. Half was presented to the Gulf

dollars annually.

Bay Credit Union Announces New CEO

Coast Children’s Advocacy Center and

“I’m excited for this opportunity to serve

the other half was presented to the Life

CLASS MEMBERS NOT PICTURED:

Bay Credit Union recently announced its board of directors has selected Mike Akers as the credit union’s new Chief Executive Officer. Akers started in August 2020 and brings to the role 17 years in the credit union industry.

our Bay area community and continue

Management Center’s Integrated Primary

to strengthen the relationships we’ve

Care Program.

built with our members. Like many of our

On Tuesday, February 16, 2021, check

neighbors, we’re still in the process of

presentation ceremonies were held at

recovering from the devastating effects

each charity’s main office to celebrate

of Hurricane Michael. It’s a new day at

the accomplishment.

Bay, and I’m proud to be a part of the rebuilding process.”

Shay Catrett Appointed President of Bay Solutions BAYSOLUTIONS is pleased to announce the appointment of Shay Catrett as President of the company.

The Gulf Coast Children’s Advocacy Center provides a variety of support programs for young victims of child abuse and sexual violence. The Life Management Center’s Integrated Primary Care Program provides primary medical care for vulnerable adult individuals who suffer from severe and persistent mental illnesses.

Manuel & Thompson P.A.‘s Waylon Thompson To Serve As Member of Northern District Judicial Advisory Commission Chairman of the Board, Gary Bliss, commented "Mike Akers brings his passion for credit unions and a fresh vision to Bay CU, as well as a goal to become a lending leader in the Bay County area. We are very lucky to have such a dynamic and compassionate leader to build on our strong brand and navigate us through these uncertain times. “ In his previous role as CEO of FLAG Cred-

Catrett has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of Alabama in Huntsville.

Shay has worked with BAYSOLUTIONS

On April 20, 2021, Senator Marco Rubio

for 17 years, serving as Vice President of

announced the appointed members

team leader. He oversaw the credit

the company since 2015.

of the Judicial Advisory Commission.

union’s record-setting growth in loan

BAYSOLUTIONS is a full service firm

Manuel & Thompson’s very own has been

it Union, he was known as an excellent Financial Strategist as well as a strong

production and revenue. During his first year of leadership the credit union was named the “Credit Union of the Year” in their asset class from the League of Southeastern Credit Unions.

Akers earned both an Undergraduate and

specializing in governmental and public relations, general business consulting and professional development training.

CPAR Presents $14,000 to Two Local Charities

a Master’s degree from Florida Atlantic

The Central Panhandle Association of

University in Boca Raton and subse-

Realtors® is proud to announce that they

quently became a Community Devel-

raised over $14,000 at their second An-

selected to serve as a member of the Northern District Judicial Advisory Commission for the 117th Congress.

Have a submission for the Biz List?

Please contact Ashlee Davis at 850-215-3755 or via email ashlee@baychamberfl.com.

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

39

new members A+ Restoration and Cleaning 5115 Gulf Dr., Unit 803 Panama City, FL 32408 850-842-0679 Allegiant Lending Firm, LLC 3535 E. 3rd St. Panama City, FL 32401 850-481-8085 Ashley Homestore 731 E. 23rd St. Panama City, FL 32405 850-650-1350 Badcock Furniture & More 544 N. Tyndall Pkwy.

Panama City, FL 32404 850-522-9666 Bayside Church, Inc. 1598 Balboa Ave. Panama City, FL 32405 850-481-1499 Burke Construction Group, Inc. 3001 W. 10th St., Unit 101A. Ste. 6 Panama City, FL 34201 850-542-0037 Chaos Audio, LLC 7506 Holley Cir. Panama City Beach, FL 32407 850-290-2033 Clinton Bruner State Farm 2211 S. Hwy. 77, Ste. 105 Lynn Haven, FL 32444 229-308-9704 Copper Safe Storage 5015 N. Star Ave. Panama City, FL 32404 850-407-7907 Costa Enterprises – McDonalds 4300 Legendary Dr., Ste. 220 Destin, FL 32541 850-897-3169 Dat Cajun Place 2705 Thomas Dr. Panama City Beach, FL 32408 850-588-5314 Double H Construction & Development PO Box 9480 Panama City Beach, FL 32417 850-588-6705 East Bay Partners, LLC. 106 E. 8th Ave. Rome, GA 30161 706-622-5016 Fat & Weird Cookie 2540 Jenks Ave. Panama City, FL 32405 Fedex Ground 7801 Commerce Blvd.

Panama City, FL 32404 850-913-3040

40

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

from February 25 - June 4

Florida Springs Wellness & Recovery Center 1212 W. 19th St. Panama City, Florida 32405 850-640-1642 Holiday Beach Mechanical 17614 Ashley Dr. Panama City Beach, FL 32413 850-271-5999 Madison Street Strategies 314 Magnolia Ave. Panama City, FL 32401 850-630-2464 My Space Downtown 97 W. Oak Ave. Panama City, FL 32401 850-270-9900 Neves Media 1609 Lisenby Ave. Panama City, FL 32405 850-215-4170 NW FL Wound Care & Hyperbaric 11501 Hutchison Blvd., Ste. 109 Panama City Beach, FL 32407 850-250-0112 Panama City Hot Glass, LLC. 100 Harrison Ave. Panama City, FL 32401 850-481-8924 Panama City Neurosurgery 100 Doctors Dr., Ste. B Panama City, FL 32401 850-392-0020 Panama City Trilingual School 200 E. Beach Dr. Panama City, FL 32401 850-257-5054 Panhandle Patio 3715 W. 23rd St. Panama City, FL 32405 850-481-1010 Performance Personnel Services 544 Magnolia Ave. Panama City, FL 32401 850-704-6053 Pro-Clean Detail 1509 Florida Ave. Lynn Haven, FL 32444 850-248-2270 R2C – Inc. 200 Clinton Ave., Ste. 400 Huntsville, AL 35801 850-832-6478 Renew Concierge Physical Therapy 856 N. Tyndall Pkwy.

Callaway, FL 32404 850-332-3834

Royale Residential, LLC 653 W. 23rd St., Ste 315 Panama City, FL 32405 573-529-6285 Scott Services Company 5636 Clifford Cir. Birmingham, AL 35210 205-596-6555 Seashore Realty, LLC. 97 Windridge Ln. Panama City Beach, FL 32413 850-832-7447 Solar Energy Solutions 2211 Hwy. 77, Ste. 203 Lynn Haven, FL 32444 334-200-1940 Sunbelt Rentals 2400 E. 15th St. Panama City, FL 32405 850-637-4042 Sundew Solar, LLC 3120 W. 23rd St. Panama City, FL 32405 850-640-4298 The Blind Co. Fla 203 N. Hwy. 79, Unit D Panama City Beach, FL 32413 850-252-3409 The Blissful Cottage 1310 Beck Ave. Panama City, FL 32401 850-819-8089 The Press 310 Harrison Ave. 850-691-2107 Treasure Island Marina 3605 Thomas Dr. Panama City Beach, FL 32408 850-234-6533 TWC 2313 Industrial Dr. Panama City, FL 32405 229-886-5300 Webb’s Land Management, LLC. 3214 E. Hwy. 98 Panama City, FL 32401 850-814-7716 Wynn Law Firm 801 Jenks Ave., Ste. A Panama City, FL 32401 850-526-3520

member anniversaries

from February 25 - June 4

5 years

10 years

35 years

AAA Refrigeration Anchor Consulting Engineering Arthur Rutenberg Homes Bay County League of Women Voters Coin & Bullion Reserves, Inc Coqui Disposal Services LLC Electric Cart Company Fairfield Inn & Suites Fortiline, Inc. Green Wave Family Wellness Center Hallmark Flower Shoppe MK Weber Structural Engineering NexAir LLC Panama Glass Co. Robotics Fabrication, Inc. Sisters Medical Clinic Smith Industrial Services System Service & Engineering Inc. The Grand Marlin Virga Law Firm

BayTown Agency - Allstate Insurance Pregnancy Resource Center of PC

Brock Lawn and Pest Control, Inc. Paul Brent Designer, Inc.

15 years

40 years

Balfour Beatty Communities Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. Mexico Beach Community Development

Moonspinner Condo Association

20 years

H.G. Harders & Son, Inc. Truist Bank

70 years

Burg Management Company, Inc. Landmark Holiday Beach Resort Steel City

25 years Coca-Cola Bottling Company United Early Education and Care, Inc. Rubber & Specialties, Inc.

30 years Lewis Metals, Inc. Segers, Sowell, Stewart, Johnson & Brill

850-588-2462

REBATH.COM

Complete Bathroom Remodeling Tub & Shower Updates • Aging & Accessibility Solutions

For All Your Electrical Needs

Residental • Commercial • Generators

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Trash Compactors

Street sweepers

Proudly serving parts of Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Jackson, Walton and Washington counties for 80 years

6243 East Highway 98 | Panama City, FL 32404 (850) 481-1188 | (850) 481-1184 Fax 9434 Highway 77 | Panama City, FL 32409 (850) 265-3631 | (800) 568-3667 (850) 265-3634 Fax 722 West Highway 22 | Wewahitchka, FL 32465 (850) 639-2216 | (800) 333-9392 (850) 639-5061 Fax

www.gcec.com

COMPUTER NETWORK SUPPORT

CCTV CAMERAS

AUDIO & VIDEO SYSTEMS

www.NevesMedia.com

850.215.4170

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43

PA I D A DVE R T I S E M E N T

Intellichoice Builders, LLC – Building Smarter starts here!

As one of the premier builders

in Bay, Walton and Gulf Counties, Intellichoice Builders brings a fresh level of professionalism and quality to all the projects that they work on.

The staff at Intellichoice brings a wealth of knowledge and level of service that is above and beyond the norm. They are state licensed (CGC 1526169) and perform all types of construction: design/build, new construction, remodel, or additions, on both commercial and residential projects.

With over 20 years of experience, Robert Yanchis, one of the owners, says, “I’ve worked all over the State of Florida, in numerous states throughout the Southeast and even in the Caribbean, but this area of Florida is unique when it comes to contracting.” Intellichoice Builders prides itself on partnering with experienced subcontractors/ tradesman and working with them to develop relationships for long term success. “By working with the same tradesmen repeatedly, you get to understand how they work, and they understand our expectations and procedures which ultimately makes the projects flow more smoothly,” said Juan Gonzalez, Owner.

The last few years have been difficult for the local community. Bay and Gulf counties were starting to recover from the devastation of hurricane Michael and here came 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic which has brought further devastating our community. Intellichoice Builders and their staff have instituted numerous additional safety procedures. Intellichoice will continue working within the community as long as safely possible. Intellichoice knows how important it is for people that have been displaced from their community and homes for the last few years to get back to normality.

Intellichoice Builders are respecting orders from authorities and practicing safety as much as physically possible.

Intellichoice Builders strives to provide a safe work environment for both their clients, construction partners and their workers. The project management software that Intellichoice uses is internet based and links the client to the project without needing to have in person interactions.

They can record finish selections, change orders, RFI’s, etc.

Intellichoice was already utilizing this software to work with clients from other states, now they use it to assist in limiting interactions due to the current health situation. Other strategies employed during these times include practicing social distancing by reducing the number of workers to jobsites or at least specific areas; avoiding box stores like Home Depot or Lowes and coordinating phone sales and deliveries instead; education of their staff as information is made available and encouraging good hygiene practices as always.

Intellichoice’s goal is to keep their clients, construction partners and staff safe and healthy.

Intellichoice Builders are constantly taking on new clients – Please contact them for your next project:

Intellichoice Builders, LLC 1818 Michigan Ave. Panama City, FL 32405

(850) 427-2727

Intellichoicebuilders.com

The Leading Provider of Road, Sitework & Building Construction in Northwest Florida

Quality Projects Since 1958

gaccontractors.com

850.785.4675 CGC1522062 BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

45

out&about

2 1

Building a Better Bay

3

Each department from the Bay County Chamber of Commerce highlighted significant events in the last few months.

1. Bay Young Professional members Margaret Burke and Mariah Ducker at the March Sunset Serenade

2. MAC Chair, Andrew Rowell, BDA President, Tom Neubaurer; and Chairman of the Board, Chris Moore present a farewell gift to Commander Kevin Christenson 3. Bay Business Connections Lunch Networking Group #105523 4. Tyndall Rebuild Social – MAC Members gather to celebrate the Record of Decision for the Rebuild of Tyndall AFB.

5. Hotel Indigo groundbreaking

46

BAY BIZ / SUMMER 2021

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850-785-5221

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