Inweekly April 11 2024 Issue

Clark Partington congratulates all 2024 Power List honorees, including attorneys Douglas Bates and Scott Remington!

“In business, as in baseball, the prizes go most often to the organizations that pursue their objective hard and relentlessly every day of the year.”- William Feather, American Writer

Well done, Hong! Thank you for making a difference.

Florida Blue is pleased to congratulate our very own Hong Potomski, Market Leader, for being named to Inweekly’s 2024 Power List

For 80 years, Florida Blue has been dedicated to helping Floridians like you with health solutions to support a healthier life. With our partners, we will continue to serve more than 5 million members, and countless nonmembers, in the state we love to call home.

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SHIGEKO HONDA The University of West Florida (UWF) Japan Center and Japan House director has been awarded the prestigious Order of the Rising Sun, Silver Rays. Honda, who has been the center's director for 26 years, was recognized at UWF's celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Japan House. The Order of the Rising Sun, established in 1875, is awarded to individuals for their services to the Japanese nation or public. Honda established the first Japanese language course at UWF in 1987. Her influence extended to UWF joining the Florida-Japan Linkage Institute, where she later orchestrated the relocation of its head office to UWF in 2006. One of her most significant accomplishments is conceptualizing and realizing the UWF Japan House, a center for Japanese culture in the Pensacola area.

GOLDEN ELITE TRACK AND FIELD CLUB

The club partnered with five-time Olympian and Pensacola native Justin Gatlin to organize last month's inaugural Justin Gatlin Freshman & Sophomore Invitational. The invitational, sanctioned by the Florida High School Athletic Association, had more than 280 athletes from various Florida high schools, including Blountstown, Choctawhatchee, Escambia, Gulf Breeze, Milton and Pensacola High. Unique to this invitational was its exclusive focus on freshman and sophomore athletes, providing them with a platform to shine on their own scale.

RAYME EDLER Escambia County Commission accepted its insurance carriers' recommendation to settle employment-related and Family and Medical Leave Act retaliatory claims involving former Escambia Medical Director Dr. Edler for $950,000. Commissioners Steven Barry, Lumon May and Mike Kohler voted for the settlement from the county's insurance policies. Meanwhile, Commissioner Jeff Bergosh disagreed, saying he didn't believe any proof exists that anyone took any employment action against the medical director. County Attorney Alison Rogers told the board that the whistleblower portions of the case remain active. Last summer, Edler's attorneys reported that a former commissioner aide, Jonathan Owens, had given them a thumb drive with more than 52,000 texts that were uploaded to the county server from Bergosh's cellphone.

ASHLEY MOODY She challenged two citizenled constitutional amendment initiatives before the most far-right Florida Supreme Court in state history and failed to convince the justices—five of whom were appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis—to keep them off the November ballot. Moody opposed the recreational marijuana proposal, arguing language that it "allows adults 21 years or older to possess, purchase, or use marijuana" misled voters because marijuana is still unlawful under federal law. The other proposed amendment would allow abortions to remain legal until the fetus is viable. Moody argued that "viability" has differing interpretations. Both arguments failed to convince the majority of the justices.

VISIT FLORIDA The COVID-19 pandemic cut the state's tourism agency's return on investment to 58 cents for every $1 spent on marketing as COVID-19 stifled travel, according to the recent analysis by the Florida Legislature's Office of Economic & Demographic Research. The pandemic hit in March 2020. Tourism ROI fell steeply from October 2019 through September 2022 compared to the prior three fiscal years, when it was $3.27 for every dollar spent. While overall tourism has grown as travel restrictions were lifted, the number of international travelers has remained below 2019 totals. The state economists are optimistic about the future of tourism, predicting the ROI will rebound to prepandemic levels.

FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY A North Carolina judge rejected Florida State University's (FSU) request to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) so that Florida State University's lawsuit against the conference, which was filed in Tallahassee, could proceed first. FSU filed a lawsuit Dec. 22 challenging the alleged more than $500 million in penalties if it wants to exit the North Carolina-based conference. The Tallahassee filing came the day after the ACC filed a lawsuit in North Carolina against FSU about many of the same issues, which focus on media rights. In his 76-page ruling, the judge concluded the conference did not engage in improper conduct.

Ashley Moody / Photo Courtesy of myfloridalegal.com

Shigeko Honda / Photo Courtesy of UWF

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outtakes

By Rick Outzen

OVER THE TOP

Whenever Judge William Stone ruled about the legality of Escambia County's 401(a) retirement plan, we expected whoever won the points of law would gloat some and take a victory lap. We knew the county clerk had animosity for Commissioner Lumon May that goes back years ( Read "City of Grudges" to understand how such hatred smolders).

However, County Clerk Pam Childers went over the top when she talked to the Pensacola News Journal, claiming the commissioners had "evil" intentions.

"Under the chairmanship of Commissioner Jeff Bergosh, this absurd pension was forced into unnecessary and costly litigation," Childers said. "It is clear that the evil present here needs to be corrected, and the commissioners who received this unlawful and exorbitant compensation will be compelled to pay it back."

The local retirement has existed since 1997, long before Childers or any of the present commissioners took office. Several HR professionals and the provider ICMA Retirement Corporation reviewed and approved the plan, and no one questioned its legality for 24 years.

The plan came under question when Commissioner Steven Barry learned nine of the 10 department heads hired by County Administrator Janice Gilley and Commissioner Robert Bender had signed on for the alternate retirement plan, which he and several senior managers in the county and working for the constitutional officers had not been told about. Barry appeared before the State Ethics Commission to get approval to discuss the plan so he could submit a proposal on correcting what he saw as a problem.

Now, there is another "City of Grudges" element. Childers blames Barry for the board firing Gilley, who may be the most incompetent administrator in county history. Even though she owed her job to Barry, Gilley had been whining about him to Childers and whoever would listen to her for months.

Barry's plan was never discussed in detail by the county commission. Bergosh had concerns about the legality of making any difference between the Florida Retirement System (FRS) and the local plan. The board voted to get outside

legal opinions, including one from the Florida Attorney General.

After the commissioners made that decision, Childers said, "I am not comfortable at this time to back fund a pension for the commission or the employees."

She also questioned the rate contributed to the ICMA accounts and expressed concern that the net benefit rate was higher than what FRS participants received. Childers did not question the plan's legality. When I interviewed her a few days later, Childers said the county should have backed out of the Unfunded Actuarial Liability (UAL) component of the Florida Retirement System rates to determine the rate used for 401(a) plan.

After the June 3 commission meeting, Barry and May said they didn't want any retroactive contributions made to their retirement accounts but would like the question answered for senior managers. Childers declared at a later meeting that the state had determined it is illegal to have a 401(a) for elected officials, even adding, "They emailed me yesterday." However, there was no such email.

When the commissioners asked her to join them in seeking an opinion from the Attorney General, Childers refused. At that point, I real ized a judge would ultimately have to decide the questions surrounding the local retirement.

Two and a half years later, Judge Stone rendered his decision. He ruled that local retire ment plans were authorized by Florida law, but county commissioners could not participate because they were elected officials, not county employees, and did not meet the qualifications of having 25 or more years of county service and other requirements. Also, the law allows supplement plans, not alternative ones like the county's 401(a) plan.

Judge Stone ruled it was not lawful for elected officials to participate in the local plan, the 401(a) contributions were unlawful compensation, and Childers correctly ceased making payments to the local plan.

$2,800,000 • 7.8 acres New wetland survey April 2023! 3283 Gulf Breeze Pkwy by Publix at Tiger Point and Tiger Point Park Drive. Access from Hwy 98 and Tiger

The judge did not rule that the commissioners were evil or had committed crimes, but this ruling does question whether the plan was even allowed for anyone. {in} rick@inweekly.net

Leading today, pushing the limits for what’s possible tomorrow.

Congratulations on being named to the 2024 Power List.

RICK FOUNTAIN Dean of the Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business

BRANDON “GROVER” BALLARD Instructor in the Department of English

HOWARD J. REDDY Vice President for University Advancement

DR. MARTHA D. SAUNDERS UWF President

NEW UWF PARTNERSHIP

The University of West Florida Historic Trust has partnered with F. Diane Pickett, local emerging author and the president and founder of DeFuniak Springs Landmarks, a nonprofit foundation established to preserve and protect the architectural integrity of homes within the historic districts of DeFuniak Springs. This partnership will further the mission of the UWF Historic Trust to collect, preserve, interpret and share the history of Northwest Florida.

"I am passionate about DeFuniak Springs and the cultural significance of our beloved community," Pickett said. "With rapid development, I don't want to see the architectural integrity of our historic buildings fall to the wayside and our unique identity lost to time. I hope this partnership can provide education and resources that make our city leadership take notice and make historic preservation a priority in this community."

Pickett made significant contributions to the UWF Foundation and UWF Historic Trust to establish two endowments that will support the UWF Historic Trust and their ongoing programming and education of history in Northwest Florida.

"We are honored to be part of the DeFuniak Landmarks organization and work with Diane to create a culture of architectural preservation, historic education and community connections in

DeFuniak Springs," said Howard Reddy, vice president for the Division of University Advancement.

He continued, "We believe this new partnership with DeFuniak Landmarks will help expand the footprint of the University and also improve the statewide and national prominence of DeFuniak Springs as we bring our resources to this wonderful community. We look forward to working with Diane and to all that will be achieved."

The first endowment will finance the preservation and maintenance of historic homes in DeFuniak Springs. The second endowment, the F. Diane Pickett Historic Landmarks Endowment Fund or Pickett Fund, will be used to educate the public through presentations and programs to provide an understanding of the historical and cultural significance of homes and public buildings in DeFuniak Springs in the early 1900s.

"By preserving the architectural heritage of DeFuniak Springs, we safeguard not only the physical structures themselves but also the memories, traditions and values that they embody," said Rob Overton, executive director of the UWF Historic Trust. "We create a stronger sense of place, foster community pride and lay the foundation for a more sustainable future."

For more information about the UWF Historic Trust, visit historicpensacola.org.

PENSION PLAN CANCELED

On April 3, Judge William Stone ruled that the Escambia County Commissioners' 401(a) retirement plan is unlawful, and the county's contributions to the Local Plan on behalf of county commissioners constitute unlawful compensation.

Escambia County Clerk Pam Childers questioned the plan when Commissioners Steven Barry and Lumon May switched from the state retirement system in the spring of 2021. The commissioners received opinions that the plan, created in 1997, was legal. However, the clerk believed otherwise and got a different opinion.

Childers initially reduced the contributions made to the commissioners' retirement accounts and later discontinued making any payments. In his ruling, Judge Stone said Childers "properly exercised discretion in ceasing to make the payments to the Local Plan."

Commissioner May is happy to have the issue settled after nearly three years. He said, "The judge made a ruling—that's what everybody wanted. I'm satisfied, and we're ready to move on."

NOVEMBER GOT INTERESTING Florida

voters will take control away from the Republican-controlled state government and decide the fate of recreational marijuana and abortion

limitations. The Florida Supreme Court approved two constitutional amendment initiatives for the November ballot.

By a 5-2 decision, the justices approved a proposed constitutional amendment (Amendment 3) that would allow the recreational use of marijuana. Attorney General Ashley Moody's office urged the court to reject the measure, arguing it would be misleading to voters and was not limited to a single subject as required by Florida law. Trulieve, the state's largest medical marijuana company, spent more than $40 million to gather the signatures needed to get it on the ballot.

The Supreme Court voted 4-3 to put the future of abortion rights in the state in the hands of Florida voters. The Amendment 4 proposal says, in part: "No law shall prohibit, penalize, delay, or restrict abortion before viability or when necessary to protect the patient's health, as determined by the patient's healthcare provider."

During a press appearance last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis lashed out at the initiatives. "Once voters figure out how radical both of those are, they're going to fail. They are very, very extreme."

He alleged that Florida cities will start to smell like marijuana but was less specific about Amendment 4, calling it "very, very extreme in a number of different ways."

Passage of the amendments requires 60% of the votes cast. DeSantis predicted they would fail. "I think Florida voters over the past, you know, four or five (election) cycles have developed the skepticism on these amendments generally because they're always written in ways that are confusing. So I think that there's a certain segment of voters, they default to just vote no on these things."

The News Service of Florida pointed out voters have approved several constitutional amendments during the past decade, including ones allowing medical marijuana, increasing the minimum wage and restoring voting rights to felons who have completed their sentences.

FLORIDA IN PLAY

After the Florida Supreme Court allowed initiatives concerning recreational marijuana and abortion rights in November, the Biden campaign cast the state as "leaning blue." The Lincoln Project still sees Florida as a red state, but the GOP will spend more campaign dollars in the state than originally thought.

"What is fascinating about this is that any state where these ballot initiatives have gotten onto the ballot, they have absolutely slaughtered MAGA, and they've done that because it does drive out the vote. People may not be excited about either candidate, but they are excited about

these two issues," said Ryan Wiggins, the Lincoln Project chief of staff.

"When it comes to issues like abortion, it's going to drive out the moderates, the people who may be pro-life, but they think that this all went a little far," she said. "It drives those people out to the polls where they're right now thinking they may sit home because they don't like either candidate. So that is very, very good for the Democrats, and it's very good, honestly, for democracy."

Wiggins believes voters will push back against the past six years of DeSantis in control. "The fact that people are so excited about it in Florida does tell you people are tired of the 'Go Woke, Go Broke' doctrine of DeSantis. They got tired of the Republican party, once the party of small government, all of a sudden being a party that's going to tell you how to parent your children and everything else."

The constitutional amendments will be listed at the bottom of the ballot. Voters will spend more time in the voting booth and consider voting on other races, not just the presidential race. Wiggins said, "This will bring people out. It will bring people down the ballot."

NEW CENTRAL RECEIVING FACILITY

People facing mental health crises will soon have an easily accessible new Central Receiving Facility

(CRF), which will open this month at Lakeview Center's main campus in Pensacola.

On WCOA's "Real News with Rick Outzen," LifeView Group CEO Allison Hill said, "We are shooting for no later than April 15. We've been working hard with the Agency for Healthcare Administration in Tallahassee, calling on as many people as we know to try to get our site visit and the licensure component complete."

The 2,275-square-foot CRF will be staffed by psychiatrists, APRNs, nurses, technicians, therapists, peer support specialists and behavioral health staff. The $5.4 million project created 90 new jobs at Lakeview Center.

The CRF will help meet a growing need in Northwest Florida to address how people in crisis are cared for under the Baker Act. Someone who has been "Baker Acted" or "placed under the Baker Act" refers to an involuntary examination under the law, allowing for people in crisis to be retained at a facility for stabilization purposes for up to 72 hours. During that time, an evaluation is done by a medical doctor, psychologist or advanced registered nurse practitioner.

"As a central receiving facility, Lakeview Center is positioned to ensure a smooth continuum of care from crisis support to the appropriate inpatient or community-based care, outpatient

treatment or residential program," said Shawn Salamida, Lakeview Center president.

The Lakeview Center CRF is now the designated entry point for adults living in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties who need a Baker Act screening. Adolescents and children will continue to receive care through Baptist Health Care, which is the designated CRF for all persons 18 years old and younger.

Law enforcement partners will transport adults to Lakeview Center's CRF, where they will be screened. If admission is needed, they will be transported by Lakeview Center to Baptist Health Care or HCA Florida West based on a rotation system that considers patient preference and capacity. To support the CRF and expand capacity for the uninsured, Lakeview will also operate a Crisis Stabilization Unit for inpatient care.

For information, visit elakeviewcenter.org.

CENTURY'S UDC PROBLEM Urban Development Center (UDC) failed to pay off its loan from the Town of Century last month and has asked for another extension.

In February 2023, the Century Town Council loaned the cash-strapped UDC $61,925 to help the company buy computers and workbooks

Johnnie Wright

Driven by a passion to serve her clients and community, Cyndi Warren is an influencer at Warren Averett and throughout Pensacola. Congratulations to Cyndi and to all the 2024 Power List honorees.

for its YouthFirst Century program to help 250 middle and high school students annually. The Escambia Children's Trust had agreed to give them $1.2 million over three years, and UDC would repay the interest-free loan when it received money from the Trust.

The computers were bought, and the Trust reimbursed UDC, but the company didn't cut a check to the Town of Century until September. UDC still owes $21,295 and now wants another two months due to "continued slow financial receivables." UDC officials didn't explain what receivables were outstanding.

The Trust stopped funding YouthFirst Century when it discovered the program had only served about 30 kids, ages 11-18. UDC received $264,058.03 from the Trust for taking care of those children, but the Trust board voted to cancel the contract because of the lack of participation.

The Century Town Council voted 5-0 to approve the loan payment extension. The new deadline is May 31.

PARKMOBILE RULES

As of April 1, The City of Pensacola will exclusively use the ParkMobile app as the official app for city-owned parking.

The city's previous app, PARKPensacola, has been deactivated and can no longer be used for parking transactions. However, parking information, such as stored license plate numbers and transaction history, can still be accessed in the PARKPensacola app at this time.

"We kept up our old app for about three months just to make sure that people had time to make the transition," said Mayor D.C. Reeves. "We've tried to be as proactive as possible to make sure that people know to go to the new ParkMobile app."

The decision to partner with ParkMobile LLC, the leading provider of smart parking and mobility solutions in the U.S., was based on results from the city's 2023 Downtown Parking Survey. The survey found that 45% of the respondents preferred to use an app to pay for parking, while 18% said that their biggest concern when parking downtown is difficulty using available payment methods.

Since its January launch, the ParkMobile app has handled over 42,900 transactions. The mayor said, "It's been great so far. Very, very few complaints. I mean, we are in a significantly improved place right now with ParkMobile in terms of our customer service and interaction with those transactions compared to when we were with our previous app."

The app is available for both iPhone and Android devices and may also be accessed on a mobile web browser. To pay for parking via the ParkMobile app or website, users will enter the zone number or scan the QR code found on the signs located within the parking zone, choose the duration of time they wish to park and select the "start parking" button.

For residents and visitors who would prefer not to use an app for city-owned parking

services, kiosk/pay machine and pay-by-text options will remain available.

OPENGATE DEPLOYED On April 3, the Escambia County Public Schools began randomly screening students at all middle and high schools with OPENGATE, a new weapons detection system. OPENGATE allows screenings to occur more frequently and are less intrusive than traditional metal detector searches. The technology identifies individuals possessing weapons, vape devices and other prohibited items.

"We are excited to deploy the OPENGATE technology to add one more layer of security to our schools," said Keith Leonard, school superintendent. "We will always be proactive in our search for ways to make our campuses and offices more secure."

Random screenings will be conducted quickly and in a way that limits interruptions to instructional time. Kyle Kinser, the district's director of protection services, said the system costs about $16,500 each. It is easily portable and can be deployed where needed.

"OPENGATE is designed to allow you to be screened with things in your pockets and your bags on, taking less time," Kinser said. "It's more reliable just to get folks moving through."

Escambia County Public Schools has purchased 25 OPENGATE detectors and may likely purchase more units in the future. Additional screenings will also take place at School Board meetings and extracurricular events.

"We wanted parents to know what we're doing," Kinser said. "We want the students to understand that they need to feel safe, but also know that they need to let folks know if they're seeing things that aren't right. But they also need to know not to bring things that they shouldn't be bringing to school that are a distraction and can possibly be harmful or concerning to others."

He pointed out that the Studers recently deployed similar detectors at Blue Wahoos Stadium. "Eventually, you're going to see these things being installed into doorframes, similar to when you shop at a retail store, and they have those devices that go off if you try to shoplift. This is just one more thing that I think we're going to start seeing as more of a norm in society."

LOWER POWER BILLS

According to the Public Service Commission, Florida Power & Light (FPL) customers in Northwest Florida who use 1,000 kilowatt hours in a month will pay $135.38 starting in May, down from $143.08 in April. FPL customers in other areas will pay $121.19 in May, down from $128.88 in April.

With little discussion, the Public Service Commission approved FPL's plan to reduce customers' bills starting in May because of the lower-than-expected fuel costs. FPL and other utilities rely heavily on natural gas to fuel power plants, and gas prices have been volatile in recent years. When gas prices surge, increased costs are passed along to customers; when prices drop, customers get a break in their bills. {in}

inweekly POWER LIST 2024

By Rick Outzen

The most audacious and anticipated list in Pensacola is the Power List. Who would dare to rank people based on their influence and risk upsetting elected officials, advertisers and the good old boys? Only Inweekly would.

The Power List began on a cocktail napkin at the Atlas Oyster House when I was asked who the most powerful person in Pensacola was—not the richest or most popular, but the person who could get something done with only a phone call. In 2007, the answer was easy—Fred Levin, but then the discussion shifted to who else should be on such a list.

We filled out the Top 10 with Judge Lacey Collier, car dealer Ted Ciano, attorney Jim Reeves, beer distributor Lewis Bear Jr., Clerk of Courts Ernie Lee Magaha, developer and restaurateur Collier Merrill, Studer Group founder Quint Studer, general contractor Jim Cronley and O'Sullivan Creel managing partner Mort O'Sullivan.

For some reason, I kept the cocktail napkin.

The following day, our planned cover story fell apart, and we had to come up with another option. I pulled out the napkin, and we expanded the list to 50 names. The Power List became the new cover story under the title, "Who's the Man?"

We didn't know how our readers would take the list, and we didn't try to sell any ads for the issue. But our phones began ringing almost as soon as it hit the stands. People wanted to know why they weren't on the list, and some were upset with their ranking. I sat on a panel with PNJ columnist Mark O'Brien at an Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association luncheon and was blasted for the article's title and the lack of diversity in the Top 10. Gulf Power CEO Susan Story was the highest ranked woman at 16.

The controversy and angry phone calls told us that readers cared what we wrote, and we also realized we had a hit on our hands that needed to become an annual feature.

Since 2007, the list has grown to 100 names.

We don't include many elected officials because their power is usually tied to their office. We have pushed beyond the easy choices and included change agents in our community who might not have high name recognition but are making a difference by organizing and using their voices.

The days of putting together the list on a cocktail napkin have long passed. We ask community leaders for their input and go through several draft lists, adding, deleting and moving names around on a master spreadsheet. We constantly ask who needs to be removed from the list and who is missing. It's not an exact process, but it eventually hammers out the top 100.

Dr. Martha Saunders tops the 2024 Power List. As the president of the University of West Florida, she has had tremendous influence, raising the institution's academic reputation and community presence. Dr. Saunders has significantly contributed to our area's growth and prosperity.

We hope you enjoy the 2024 Power List.

#1 Dr. Martha Saunders

President, University of West Florida

By Tom St. Myer

Dr. Martha Saunders vividly recalls a childhood conversation with her father in which she told him she planned to be an opera singer. Not exactly a common career choice among children anywhere, let alone those growing up in Southern Mississippi.

Yet, her father supported her dream in earnest. He enthusiastically painted a picture of her performing on the biggest stage in the Big Apple.

"He said, 'You know, that's wonderful. And when you open at the Metropolitan Opera in

New York City,'—now remember we're in South Mississippi, so New York is like this alien place— 'your momma and I are going to come see you, and I'm going to buy momma a long dress and get her some opera glasses so she can see you real good,'" Saunders said. "He would paint the picture, and I benefited from that. When you're trying to get a university moving forward, if you can paint the picture for the folks you need to help get you there, it makes all the difference."

Saunders inherited that visionary trait from

her father. Her mother, a successful nurse, instilled commitment and discipline in her daughter. It turns out those characteristics make for an outstanding university president.

With Saunders at the helm, the University of West Florida is experiencing record enrollment, record fundraising, national recognition and respect from power players in the state capital. Saunders attended a Board of Governors meeting in March, and one official told her UWF "has experienced a renaissance" under her watch.

"When I'm in Tallahassee, I'll say, 'I'm Martha from UWF' and they say, 'Oh yeah, UWF,' and you get the head nod," said Saunders, seated in her spacious office with a picturesque view overlooking the UWF Nature Trail. Framed diplomas, pictures and other mementos hang on the walls. Behind her desk is a sign with a quote from Winston Churchill: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat."

Saunders is in her eighth year as UWF president and continues to add to her legacy. High-

Photo Courtesy of UWF

lights during her tenure include UWF achieving status as the top-performing public university for three consecutive years, according to the Florida Board of Governors' performance-based funding metrics. Also, the university has consistently ranked among the top 15 public regional institutions in the South, according to U.S. News & World Report. Other notable accomplishments include two $5 million gifts naming the Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business and the Usha Kundu MD College of Health.

Howard Reddy serves on the president's cabinet and describes Saunders as "inspiring, driven, tenacious, energetic and focused." He says she is laser-focused on results and the best interests of the university.

UWF Board of Trustees Chair Suzanne Lewis commends Saunders for implementing transformational change as president. Lewis credits Saunders for "relentless focus on a strategic plan" that has increased enrollment and the recruitment and retention of highly ranked faculty. Saunders' collaborative relationship with the trustees further strengthens her influence as president.

"She openly shares information and listens carefully as she works with the entire board to address the needs and challenges facing UWF in a time of great change within the state university system," Lewis said.

Guiding UWF to unprecedented success is just one of many milestones for Saunders, who broke glass ceilings in Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin and Mississippi as the first woman in each of her previous leadership positions.

"You do worry when you're the first," Saunders said. "There's a burden there. I've got to do a good job. They've never hired a woman before. Will they hire another after me?"

Saunders rose up the academic ranks to the top spot in 2005 when the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater hired her as its chancellor. She then moved on to her alma mater, the University of Southern Mississippi, where she served as president for nearly five years. Saunders said she learned valuable lessons at those stops that positioned her for success as UWF's president.

"I'm more perceptive here in my third presidency than I was in my first," she said. "It's not that I didn't hear people or didn't listen…I'm just quicker, a lot quicker than I was before, and I've learned that when people talk, it is important to listen earnestly to what they are saying, and that does come with seasoning."

Saunders is 75 years old and shows no signs of slowing down. UWF is about to kick off a capital campaign, and she plans to remain president through the campaign and possibly longer.

A part of her yearns to return to the classroom as a full-time professor, though. Her eyes sparkle and she flashes a megawatt smile when teaching comes up in conversation.

"I have been teaching off and on since I became president, but I would like to wrap it up where I started," she said. "I love the classroom. I certainly have gained a good bit of information over the past several years I think students could benefit from."

The number of students taught by Saunders tops 8,000. Whether on or off campus, she inevitably bumps into former students. She

said the students share stories about how her encouraging words "meant the world" to them.

One of her former students, Will Kennedy, is an assistant professor of clinical practice at UWF. He still holds on to a humorous but stern note Saunders wrote him some 30 years ago, reminding him to show up to class on time. Kennedy credits Saunders for opening doors for him first as a student and now as a faculty member.

"I remember her connecting me with opportunities to study abroad and an internship opportunity at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado," Kennedy said. "Dr. Saunders has a way of seeing the larger picture and helping others see it too."

Another former student just so happens to be her friend of 40 years, Dr. Mona Amodeo. The senior consultant, chairperson and founder of idgroup describes Saunders as a "phenomenal teacher." She said her creativity shines through in all aspects, especially in the classroom.

"She's a constant communicator in that she's able to inspire and entertain and get across information all at the same time."

Mona Amodeo

"She's a constant communicator in that she's able to inspire and entertain and get across information all at the same time," said Amodeo, who has co-taught courses with Saunders at UWF. "She has an appreciation for brevity and clarity, but she cares. She cares that every student in the class gets it and advances."

Amodeo describes her longtime friend as focused, committed, a creative problem solver and impatient. She said Saunders is not built to slow down. Her personality is that of someone who will search for the next mountain to climb after her presidency ends.

Whatever Saunders decides to pursue next, her husband, Joe, will be by her side supporting her. The couple lives on Pensacola Beach and spends their free time taking walks, fishing and gardening. Saunders describes her husband as the most encouraging person she knows.

"Each time I've thought about making a change—am I going to take this leadership role, am I going to move forward—he's good about helping me think it through," she said. "But then he almost always ends with, 'You can do this, and what's the worst that can happen?' He's that committed to doing this together. I couldn't do what I do without his encouragement."

What Saunders manages daily is putting UWF in the best possible position to achieve its mission. The university delivers a top-rate education to over 14,000 students. Just as importantly, UWF conducts research and forms community partnerships that enhance the prosperity of the region and state.

"You have to be worthy of the investment," Saunders said. "Anybody can come up with a bright idea. We've delivered for this region. We've delivered for the state. We're good stewards of the state investment."

2024 inweekly POWER LIST

#2 D.C. Reeves

Mayor, City of Pensacola

Sleep comes in short supply for D.C.

The Pensacola mayor is a workaholic who proudly carries the weight of his hometown on his shoulders.

"From a clock-in and clock-out standpoint, I'm used to the clock never turning off and working round the clock," Reeves said. "I get to make decisions that positively impact my hometown. I get to do this. I get to have this opportunity to help Pensacola."

Reeves celebrated his 500th day in office on April 7 and is off to a successful start by any measure. Highlights for Reeves include landing a deal with American Magic, purchasing the Pensacola Motor Lodge to address affordable housing and securing millions of dollars in grants by creating economic development and grants offices.

Reeves is also in line for significant victories from the state legislature this session, pending approval from Gov. Ron DeSantis. The bill passed by the legislature includes $7 million to demolish the old Baptist campus and construct affordable housing on the site, and $2.2 million to remove the condemned boardwalk and create nature trails at Bay Bluffs Park.

Recognized as leaders in providing personalized care

Congratulations to Ascension Sacred Heart leaders on being named to the InWeekly 2024 Power’s List! We are thankful for your continued leadership, vision and commitment to our patients, care teams, and the communities Ascension Sacred Heart serves.

"I'm very excited about where we are as a city," Reeves said. "I'm excited about the projects in the first year, plus that we were able to get into the fire. Now we're in that execution phase, and I'm very, very excited about a lot of that."

His execution phase includes 24 in '24. In January, Reeves announced 24 priority projects for the city. He is rapidly checking items off the list, which includes attainable housing initiatives, the Brownsville commercial revitalization project, code enforcement policy, construction of a third hangar at Pensacola International Airport and parks and recreation organizational assessment.

"With park maintenance, homelessness and affordable housing, the easiest thing to do is nothing, and that's not why I signed up to be mayor," Reeves said. "With that comes difficult decisions that can upset people, but I didn't sign up to do the easy thing. Sometimes, there will be calls people don't like, but we'll have the right research and team around us to make decisions."

Reeves relies on data when making decisions. His data-driven approach told him to

scrap mandatory curbside recycling after ECUA increased its rates. ECUA reported contamination in about 50% of city loads.

"Look at recycling," Reeves said. "Nothing in the data suggests what we were doing was a good idea, but data goes against what we're used to, and breaking habits is hard."

City Hall is breaking habits too. Reeves is shaking the foundation by establishing new offices, making new hires, improving communication and requiring quarterly training sessions for all supervisors. The mayor said from the beginning that he planned to work from the inside out, and he is following through on his word.

Reeves is a political newcomer, but as he proved in his first 500 days, he is up to the challenge. His round-the-clock mentality is paying dividends for Pensacola.

"At the end of the day, I'm doing this job because it's purpose-driven," Reeves said. "It's easy to forget that amidst disagreement, but that's why it's always important to get back to the 'why.' Why am I doing this? You'll agree with me sometimes and disagree with me sometimes, but I'll give you everything I got."

Justin Labrato Ascension Medical Group Sacred Heart

Will Condon President and CEO Ascension Sacred Heart

2024 inweekly POWER LIST

#3 J.T. Young

Vice President/General Manager, Florida Power & Light

day, I come in and think about how I am going to affect those three critical constituencies."

Young left Pensacola in March 2018 after

There is no shortage of customers. FPL is the country's largest electric utility, serving more customers and selling more power than any other company. FPL provides electricity to approximately 5.8 million accounts or more than 12 million people.

Young prioritizes positive interactions with employees and customers. He ensures employees feel valued and that customers understand that FPL is serving their best interests.

Florida's 1st Judicial Circuit and chaired the Chief Judge's Children's Council Fatherhood Advocacy Committee.

"I missed it quite a bit. Pensacola is truly

He oversees the region and is a member of its three-tier strategy," Young said. "The three tiers

He is just as comfortable interacting with community groups. Young currently serves on the boards of Baptist Healthcare, Health & Hope Clinic, Habitat for Humanity and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He also chairs the 2024 Northwest Florida Heart Walk executive leadership team and cochairs the Pensacola Area Business Roundtable and Achieve Escambia.

Young's past board experiences include the University of West Florida Board of Trustees, Covenant Hospice, United Way of Escambia County, Waterfront Rescue Mission, SunTrust Bank and Truist. Additionally, he served as a gubernatorial appointee on the Judicial Nomination Commission for

"I was trying to be somewhat strategic with how best to have our representation on those boards," Young said. "I did reconnect on a couple of boards with Baptist Healthcare and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. I have a lot of respect for what Health & Hope does, as well as what's going on with Habitat. Affordable housing is a really big deal right now, and Habitat is right in the middle of it."

Young manages to balance his career and philanthropic activities while spending quality time with his family. He and his college sweetheart, Deidre, will celebrate their 39th wedding anniversary this November. The couple has raised two successful boys. Their oldest son, Thomas, is married with a baby boy and lives in Pensacola. He is a senior financial analyst with Deloitte. Their younger son, Joseph, lives in Paris and is a general manager for Delta Airlines.

"I value my family immensely," Young said. "God has blessed me with a loving family, and they are central to my inspiration to do what I do every day."

The Equity Project Alliance is committed to making a difference in our community. As a part of Innisfree Hotels’ Hive Foundation, the EPA serves as a community resource to convene conversations, raise community awareness and collaborate with businesses, other nonprofits and organizations to promote transformative thinking and creative action. Together – making a difference.

Congratulations to Dr. Lusharon Wiley on being a 2024 Power List Member!

2024 inweekly POWER LIST

#4 Dr. C. Edward Meadows

President, Pensacola State College

Father Time is losing the battle against The 76-year-old Pensacola State College president shows no signs

"I thought this would be my last stop, and I had no idea that 16 years later, I'd still be here enjoying what I do and watching the college grow," said Meadows, whom PSC named president in 2008.

Positive news seems to roll in daily at PSC. Enrollment is up 15% from last spring and hovers around 10,000 students. Community partnerships to address workforce development continue to rise at a similarly

"We have a lot to be proud of, but I think forming the partnerships we've formed to make things happen has been one of our greatest accomplishments," Meadows said.

One of these partnerships is with Santa Rosa County to construct a diesel mechanics program in Milton's Truck Driving Training Facility. PSC secured a nearly $4 million Triumph Grant for the program.

PSC has opened and is in the process of opening several facilities. The college recently opened the state-of-the-art Bear Jones Moore Reeves Center for Math and Advanced

Technology, which primarily houses math, cybersecurity and IT courses.

The Bear Jones Moore Reeves Center is arguably the crown jewel of the PSC Pensacola campus, and another first-class facility is on the horizon. A coalition that includes the Escambia County Promotion and Development Commission, FloridaWest, Space Florida and LIFT Technologies is seeking to build a 39,000-square-foot learning center on the campus. The plan is for the facility to house offices plus research and development activities conducted by LIFT.

Another transformative partnership involving PSC is a leadership training program with the City of Pensacola. The training program is for city supervisors and includes continuing education and college credit options, with tuition reimbursement.

Last year, ST Engineering announced a partnership with PSC to set up an aviation training academy in Pensacola. Together, the two sides will develop a Federal Aviation Administration Part 147 Aircraft Maintenance Technical School at Pensacola International Airport.

In fall 2022, the college opened a charter academy for high school students in the Florida Power & Light Company Innovation Center on

its Warrington campus. The academy allows juniors and seniors to dual-enroll and earn their high school diploma, transferable college credits and an associate degree simultaneously.

Those partnerships just scratch the surface for PSC. The college is invested in virtually every workforce development project possible, and its degree programs in subjects ranging from culinary to cybersecurity to nursing rank among the best in the region.

Meadows said one of the primary reasons he has stayed entrenched at PSC is how beloved the college is in the community. The community support fuels him to juggle dozens of responsibilities as PSC president. Meadows somehow manages to find time to chair the Florida College System Council of Presidents and fit in some of his favorite hobbies, including hunting, riding horses and lifting weights. Those hobbies ease his stress level, keep him young at heart and help fend off Father Time.

"I know I have to retire sometime; you can't live forever," Meadows said. "But I'm more focused on accomplishing things we have underway. We have to get some programs off the ground. If we get all that done in the next two to three years, I think I'll have accomplished what I need to."

Brian Aylstock

Douglas Bates

Nix Daniel

Ed Fleming

Therese McKen

Marcus Michles

Stephen Moorh

Peter Mougey

Eric Stevenson

Scott Remingto

Aaron Watson

Justin Witkin

Joe Zarzaur

2024 inweekly POWER LIST

#5 Dr. Ken Ford

Founder/CEO, Institute for Human & Machine Cognition

Before he founded the world-renowned Institute for Human & Machine Cognition and won every accolade possible in his profession, Dr. Ken Ford scratched out a living as a music promoter. His responsibilities included hiring the talent, renting the facilities and advertising the events.

"It was a serious undertaking," Ford said.

Ford ultimately decided to take a different route. His decision to forego a music promoter career wound up putting Pensacola on the map as a groundbreaker in science

IHMC started humbly, operating out of Ford's office at the University of West Florida. Today, IHMC operates in a stateof-the-art facility on East Romana Street; a research facility in Ocala; and soon a $20 million Healthspan, Resilience and Performance complex on South Alcaniz Street. Ford said the complex is tentatively sched -

"We are all looking forward to the new facility and the work it will enable here," he said. "It will be a unique facility under a single roof, being able to work from molecule to

The company that began with Ford, Dr. Alberto Cañas and Dr. Bruce Dunn now employs about 160 of the brightest scientific minds. IHMC no longer recruits scientists. Researchers come knocking on its doors seeking opportunity.

"We certainly did not contemplate in 1990 what exists today, and I think one rarely does," Ford said. "You do your best, and things evolve the way they will."

The breakthrough occurred in 2004 when the Florida Legislature established IHMC as an independent, statewide research institute. Ford attributes its growth since then to addressing three focus areas: artificial intelligence and computer science; robotics; and healthspan, resilience and performance.

Ford said further expansion is certainly possible, but only if focused in an area where IHMC will be extremely competitive and able to recruit "top-drawer researchers." If expansion does occur, he added, "I hope it's done in a very thoughtful way."

The 69-year-old Ford said many of his former colleagues in the music industry are retired, but he is nowhere close to slowing

down. Ford finds his fountain of youth in Wyoming, which he visits every month to walk trails and hike mountains.

"It's very sparsely populated and very dramatic in landscape," he said. "It's a great contrast with Florida where it's warm and humid, and there it's cold and dry and very mountainous."

Ford usually stays in Wyoming for 10 days before returning to Pensacola. Some of his best thoughts occur on those trips as he escapes the daily interruptions of office life.

One of his focuses, whether in Wyoming or Pensacola, is ensuring that the culture built over decades at IHMC lives on. That culture starts with a commitment to excellence.

"Defending the culture is the number one priority," Ford said. "If culture is not working, that's a big problem."

Collaboration is another important piece of the culture. Ford is the mastermind behind IHMC, but he attributes its success to everyone involved from the top down.

"Really, the accomplishments attributed to a leader are the consequence of the work of others," he said. "My colleagues don't get enough credit."

Joe Zarzaur

BOARD CERTIFIED CIVIL TRIAL LAWYER* 2024 Power List Honoree

One of the largest Jury Verdicts in 2023 in Santa Rosa / Escambia County for a single plantiff.

JOE ZARZAUR ZARZAUR LAW, P.A.

BOARD CERTIFIED CIVIL TRIAL LAWYER PENSACOLA, FL

*Board Certification by the Florida Bar Association and the National Board Of Trial Advocacy. Statistical information current as of November 2022.

6. Peter Mougey

Shareholder, Levin Papantonio Rafferty

In the National Opiate Multidistrict Litigation, Peter Mougey served as co-lead of the distributor cases and on the plaintiffs’ executive committee. He was a key negotiator in the nearly $60 billion settlements with opioid manufacturer Johnson & Johnson and the “Big Three” drug distributors. As co-lead trial counsel for San Francisco and New Mexico in opioid lawsuits, Mougey reached $1.5 billion in settlements for his two clients. He also spearheads several local projects, including The Heart of Pensacola’s Food as Medicine event, the Fourth of July’s Symphony Sparks & Stars and the Palafox Street Beautification project. Mougey also serves on various local boards.

7. Julian MacQueen

Chairman/Founder, Innisfree Hotels

Julian MacQueen’s impact on Pensacola goes much further than his hotels. He has been inducted into the University of West Florida’s College of Business Hall of Fame and named a Distinguished Alumni by the University of South Alabama. He and his wife Kim have supported several philanthropic activities in Pensacola, including Parent University, Dixon School of Arts and Sciences, Independence for the Blind of West Florida, The Hive, From the Ground Up Community Garden, Escambia Children’s Trust and the Bail Project. Each addresses a community need in innovative, creative ways. The Equity Project Alliance is their latest initiative to confront systemic racism and promote transformative thinking, unity and equity in the community.

8. Dr. Sunil Gupta

Founder, Retina Specialty Institute, Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems and USRetina

Dr. Sunil Gupta is a nationally recognized retinal surgeon, a successful entrepreneur and a healthcare pioneer. His Retina Specialty Institute has created a nationwide care delivery model and a clinical trials center for treatments of blinding retinal and macular conditions. He co-founded USRetina, one of the largest associations of retina physicians in the United States. Gupta is also the founder, chairman and chief medical officer of IRIS, an FDA-cleared, cloud-based telemedicine tool for assessing retinal eye disease in the primary care setting. His IRIS team is committed to ending preventable blindness due to diabetic retinopathy and other conditions.

Congratulations to Nix and all the 2024 Power List honorees

Attorneys & Community Partners Since 1883 BeggsLane.com

J. NIXON DANIEL, III

Attorney at Law

9. David Deliman

Market Vice President Gulf Coast, Cox Communications

In 2004, David Deliman transitioned from working as a reporter and managing editor at WEAR-TV to handling public affairs for Cox in Northwest Florida. In 2016, he became the market vice president and assumed responsibility for day-to-day operations in Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Destin, Crestview and Niceville. Deliman is actively involved in the community, serving on the board of directors for the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, First Place Partners, Achieve Escambia and the industry association Florida Internet and Television.

10. Robert Rinke

Owner, Levin Rinke Realty

Robert Rinke's influence on Pensacola Beach began in a trailer parked across from what became Portofino Island Resort. He sold people on the Pensacola Beach lifestyle and made Portofino one of the most successful condominium projects in Northwest Florida. Over two decades, Rinke has had a significant influence on the growth and development of Pensacola Beach and has succeeded in making it a vibrant destination to live, work and play.

11. Gabe Bullaro

CEO, HCA Florida West Hospital

Before HCA selected him to head its hospital here, Gabe Bullaro had lived in Pensacola on three separate occasions while in the Navy. He served as the operations officer for the U.S. Navy helicopter squadron that flew missions in response to Hurricane Katrina. Bullaro has championed several successful healthcare initiatives across Northwest Florida. Last summer, the HCA Healthcare Foundation provided a $50,000 grant to establish the Nurse Explorer Boot Camp at Pensacola State College's Warrington campus. Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed him to the Pensacola State College Board of Trustees in 2022.

12. Marcus Michles

Founder/Managing Partner, Michles & Booth

Marcus Michles has won some of Northwest Florida's largest medical malpractice jury verdicts. As a retired Army captain and the son of a disabled Vietnam veteran, he has been committed to military issues, including the creation of the Michles Family Freedom Foundation—a charitable foundation supporting the military, first responders and their families. The firm's Christmas Caroling Caravan has raised funds for Ronald McDonald House, Mr. Robbins Neighborhood, FavorHouse and other local charities.

Beggs & Lane is a full-service law firm that provides legal advice and counsel to major corporations, businesses, and individuals. The firm has a diverse practice that offers the flexibility and resources to serve a variety of client needs.

The Hive Foundation INNISFREE HOTELS

EDUCATING

Vulnerable Communities

EMPOWERING

Marginalized People

ENRICHING

Healthy Food Options

Innisfree Hotels and the Hive Foundation are proud to support the communities we call home. Innisfree Hotels is a Triple Bottom Line company focused on People, Planet and Prosperity. We are also proud to support the following and many other organizations:

Dixon School of Arts and Sciences

Epps Christian Center

Healthy Gulf Independence for the Blind of West Florida

Parent University

The Bail Project

From the Ground Up Community Garden

Escambia County Sheriff’s Foundation

University of West Florida

Satori Foundation

Studer Community Institute

Pensacola Children’s Chorus

Project Search

Equity Project Alliance

Center for Civic Engagement

Hive Arts Academy

Congratulations to this year’s Power List members

Julian MacQueen and Ted Ent

innisfreehotels.com

13. DeeDee Davis Owner/CEO, NAI Pensacola

For decades, DeeDee Davis has been an inspirational leader. While teaching at Gulf Breeze High School, she was named the Florida Teacher of the Year. She served in the Florida Legislature, co-founded the Pensacola International Film Festival, and hosted one of BLAB TV's most popular shows before getting into real estate and eventually buying NAI Pensacola. If she chairs a fundraiser, you can count on it setting a record. She serves on the University of West Florida's Foundation Board of Directors and the SmartBank Board of Advisors.

14. Chip Simmons Sheriff, Escambia County

A Florida county's quality of life is directly tied to the quality of the sheriff protecting the community. Since taking office four years ago, Sheriff Chip Simmons has focused on enforcement and engagement. He has created his own police academy to recruit and train more deputies. He has added body cameras, ShotSpotter technology and a real-time crime center to improve enforcement. He also created the Escambia County Sheriff Foundation, which supports the Blazer Academy, movie nights and other community outreach events to enhance engagement with the public.

15. Bill Yarbrough CEO, Emergency Care Partners

Bill Yarbrough has been known for building and leading successful healthcare companies for over 30 years. Emergency Care Partners is a national leader in providing emergency medicine and emergency department services for hospitals, handling 1.4 million patient visits at 55 programs in eight states annually. The company's workforce has over 1,000 physicians and mid-level providers. Yarborough has served on several boards and in the community, including at Arc Gateway.

16. Chandra Smiley

Executive Director/CEO, Community Health Northwest Florida

As leader of the primary health care provider for lowincome families in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties, Chandra Smiley works daily to ensure everyone has access to quality and affordable health care—a challenging mission considering cuts in Medicaid eligibility and 340B revenue. Under her leadership, CHNWF had an economic impact on our region of $85.9 million in 2020, which is significantly higher than its $15 million impact in 2013.

Congratulations to Allison, Shawn and all of the 2024 Power List Honorees!

As Northwest Florida’s most comprehensive behavioral health provider, Lakeview Center impacted more than 27,000 lives last year, including adults and children with mental illnesses, drug and alcohol dependencies, and intellectual disabilities. Thank you to our leaders for guiding us in achieving this mission and to our community partners for working alongside us towards a better future.

To read stories of our team helping our community, visit eLakeviewCenter.org

Allison Hill President and CEO

Shawn Salamida President

17.

Bankers have been key leaders in our community's de velopment for over a century. Bruce Vrendenburg has made sure Hancock Whitney Bank has lived up to that legacy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the bank pledged $40,000 to Feeding the Gulf Coast. When Hurricane Sally struck, their branches distributed ice. Vrendenburg chaired Elevate Escambia and successfully helped convince voters to renew the EDATE program, which grants tax exemptions for business projects that meet specific economic development criteria. The next challenge he's taken on is resur recting the Committee of 100.

Aaron Watson has built a successful law firm in North west Florida. He is known for his commitment to his clients and to the local community. His accolades include the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, National Black Top 100 Lawyers, AAJ National Champion Trial Advocacy, Studer Institute's Entrepreneur of the Year, Stetson University's Living the Dream Award and the University of West Florida's Trailblazer Award. The Watson Family Foundation hands out over 1,000 turkeys and hams every Thanksgiving and hosts the community's largest Juneteenth Festival every summer.

19.

F. Aylstock

As co-lead counsel, Bryan Aylstock represented U.S. military veterans and service members who said they suffered hearing loss from using 3M's earplugs. The company tried to file bankruptcy to limit its damages as Aylstock and his fellow attorneys won several bellwether cases, but the court rejected the filing. In January, 3M agreed to pay $6.01 billion to settle the lawsuits. The Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Justice Foundation helps dozens of local charities and sponsors the Justice Jog to support its scholarship fund.

20.

Mark

Faulkner

President/CEO, Baptist Health Care

Mark Faulkner accomplished what his predecessor failed to do. Under his leadership, Baptist Health Care moved to a new $650-million, state-of-the-art campus on Brent Lane near Interstate 110 after more than seven decades in the West Moreno District. He joined Baptist as an administrative resident in 1993. Nineteen years later, Faulkner was named president and chief executive officer. He chaired Achieve Escambia, supported the Escambia Children's Trust referendum and helped launch Achieve Healthy EscaRosa to improve our area's health outcomes.

Bruce Vredenburg Regional President, Hancock Whitney Bank

18. Aaron Watson Founder, Watson Law Firm

Bryan

Founding Partner, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz

2024 inweekly POWER LIST

THE LIST

Power List Hall of Fame

When we created the first Inweeky Power List in 2007, we wanted it to be vibrant, dynamic, and ever-changing as influence and power evolved in our community. As roles shifted and the greater Pensacola grew, we wanted the names and rankings to reflect what was happening. However, those who topped the list needed a special place. Thus, the Power List Hall of Fame was created.

Fred Levin (2007)

The flamboyant Pensacola trial attorney and native son was an easy choice to top the inaugural Power List. In 1993, he crafted Florida's $13.2 billion settlement with the tobacco industry. Levin received the Perry Nichols Award in 1994, the highest honor bestowed by the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers. In 2009, Levin was inducted into the National Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame. He passed in 2021 but is remembered for his brilliance, showmanship and quick wit. Several buildings bear Levin's name, like the University of Florida's Fredric G. Levin College of Law and Fred Levin Way in downtown Pensacola.

J. Collier Merrill (2008)

Few Pensacola natives have accomplished as much as Merrill has in so many areas. In real estate and commerce, he is the president of Merrill Land Company and the Great Southern Restaurant Group. He has served as president of the Home Builders Association of Northwest Florida and chaired Visit Pensacola, Community Maritime Park Associates, Pensacola Chamber and the Pensacola-Escambia County Promotion and Development Commission. In the community, Merrill served as the founding chairman of the University of West Florida's Board of

Trustees, Pensacola Museum of Art's president and Fiesta's DeLuna LXV. Merrill knows not only the powerful but also their gatekeepers. He helped guide American Magic's relocation to Pensacola.

Lewis Bear Jr. (2009)

Pensacola lost one of its biggest champions when Lewis Bear Jr. passed last year. As president and CEO of the Lewis Bear Company, a wholesale beer distributorship that his great-grandfather founded in 1876, Bear played a major role in the area's economic development for decades—with the Pensacola Chamber, FloridaWest, Pensacola-Escambia Economic Development Commission, University of West Florida and Triumph Gulf Coast. He was a legendary force in Florida politics, both locally and statewide. Politicians knew to take his phone calls. The Studer Family Children's Hospital at Sacred Heart, Baptist Hospital and YMCA have facilities bearing his family's name, as does the University of West Florida's Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business.

Quint Studer (2010)

The Studer Group founder has been the catalyst for Pensacola's renaissance—from championing the Community Maritime Park, to bringing Pensacola an MLB Double-A team, to investing over $100 million in new office buildings and housing in downtown Pensacola, to donating millions towards local education, health care and charities. Inc. Magazine named Studer its Master of Business, and Modern Healthcare chose him for its 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare. He has authored 12 books. "Results That Last" and "The Busy Leader's Handbook" became Wall Street Journal bestsellers. His Studer Commu-

nity Institute has launched several projects, including the Building Brains program, Venture Mentoring Services, EntreCon and CivicCon. He has personally mentored and coached hundreds in Pensacola and other communities nationwide.

Ashton Hayward (2011)

In 2010, the Pensacola native was elected Pensacola's first strong mayor since W.D. Chipley. Hayward oversaw the completion of the Community Maritime Park and Admiral Mason Park, and the renovation of the downtown library. He championed diversity and built two community centers in the city's urban core, the Theophalis May Resource Center and Woodland Heights Resource Center. He championed ST Aerospace Engineering, which continues to expand at the Pensacola International Airport. Since stepping down in 2018, Hayward has served as president of the Andrews Research & Education Foundation, working with Dr. James Andrews to expand orthopedic research and innovations nationwide. No one works a room better than Hayward.

Dr. Judy Bense (2012)

Pensacola came to know Dr. Bense through her "Unearthing Pensacola" segments on WUWF. Before being the University of West Florida's fifth president in 2008, she established the UWF Anthropology/Archaeology program and the Florida Public Archaeology Network. As the institution's first female president, Bense transformed UWF from a commuter campus to a residential one with students living and learning on campus by adding residential halls, modern academic facilities and a football program. After she stepped down in 2017, the UWF Board of Trustees cemented her legacy by naming her president emeritus. For the inspiration she has been for women both academically and professionally, Bense has been inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame.

David Morgan (2013)

The unknown retired Air Force police officer and private investigator shocked the good old boys when he beat the well-financed, twoterm incumbent in a GOP primary in August 2008—the biggest upset in Escambia County history. The powerbrokers and the News Journal didn't know how to deal with a sheriff who didn't play favorites. They did their best to make him a one-term sheriff, but Morgan

easily won re-election twice. Despite constant political attacks, he built a professional organization that the community trusted. His decisive leadership, especially with the 2009 Billings murders and the 2010 BP oil spill, earned Morgan a reputation for being one of the top sheriffs in Florida.

Mike Papantonio (2014)

Considered the nation's top trial attorney, Pensacola's Renaissance man is a lion in the courtroom, the author of five bestselling thrillers and an accomplished jazz musician. He helped create Air America Radio, which has evolved into The Ring of Fire Network and amassed over one million subscribers. He has been awarded the Perry Nichols Award, Defender of Justice Award from the American Association for Justice, Temple University Beasley School of Law's Award for Social Justice and the Compassionate Gladiator Award from the Florida Justice Association. He has been featured in several award-winning documentaries, including "Jesus Camp," "Beyond Pollution," "The Devil We Know," "The Oxy Kingpins" and "Into the Weeds."

Stan Connally (2015)

The president and CEO of Gulf Power Company worked his way up Southern Company's corporate ladder with steps at all its subsidiaries. After he came to Pensacola in 2012, Connally served as chairman of the Board of Directors of the Florida Chamber of Commerce and on the boards of Achieve Escambia, Capital City Bank Group, Florida Council of 100 and Enterprise Florida. Before Gulf Power's sale to NextEra Energy, he was promoted to executive vice president of operations for Southern Company. Connally is also chairman, president and chief executive officer of Southern Company Services, where he oversees Southern Company's system wide operations.

Bentina Terry (2016)

In 2017, we lost Terry when she was promoted to senior vice president of the Metro Atlanta Region for Georgia Power. However, her decade of living in Pensacola profoundly impacted this community. She was the highest-ranking Black woman at Gulf Power and served on the Community Maritime Park Associates and the University of West Florida boards. Terry also worked to make the multicultural center Voices of Pensacola a reality and mentored several young female leaders in our area. In January, she assumed the roles of president and CEO of Southern Communications with the responsibility to lead Southern Linc and Southern Telecom, Inc.

Rishy Studer (2017)

The Studer Family of Companies co-CEO has created and overseen several businesses in downtown Pensacola and Janesville, Wisc. Her retail shops have revived the once-dead Main and South Palafox intersection into the vibrant SoGo District. Studer has had a hand in all the family renovations, including Five Sisters Blues Café in the heart of historic Belmont-DeVilliers and the former SunTrust Building on Garden Street. She has a passion for children and, with her husband, Quint, has made numerous sizable donations to nonprofits and local hospitals and funded several scholarships at the University of West Florida and Pensacola State College.

James J. Reeves (2018)

The veteran politician, banker, attorney, developer and entrepreneur has been a force in Pensacola for decades. He was elected to the Florida House and Pensacola City Council. He sponsored the bill that created the Historic Pensacola Preservation Board, which has evolved into the University of West Florida Historic Trust. Reeves chartered two federal savings and loans, three banks and one bank that he took over—Liberty Bank, which became

2024 inweekly POWER LIST

Hancock Whitney Bank. On Pensacola Beach, Reeves built the Tiki Motel, Howard Johnson Inn and the Mai Kai Motel, home to the Sandshaker Lounge. He also founded the McGuire's Irish Politician Club with McGuire Martin, further validating his induction into the Hall of Fame.

Lumon May (2019)

The Pensacola native, general contractor and co-founder of the Southern Youth Sports Association (SYSA) won a third term on the Escambia County Commission in 2020. He has become one of the most popular and, at times, controversial commissioners due to his advocacy for those often overlooked. May created Escambia County's Summer Youth Employment Program, which provides paid internships to local youth in various community departments. He received support from his fellow commissioners to develop the Brownsville Community Center. May has successfully reached across political lines to help Escambia County residents. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sally, his appeal to Rep. Matt Gaetz got water and ice for residents after the county administrator said it was impossible to do.

Congratulations to Robert Rinke, Mark Lee, and Gary Michaels for their recognition as influential leaders in the Pensacola area by InWeekly.

Their commitment to excellence mirrors our dedication to providing the best service and results for our clients.

Sue Straughn (2021)

For over 40 years, Straughn has been a regular guest in homes as the evening news anchor for WEAR-TV. In 1979, Straughn created Communities Caring at Christmas, which annually provides a special holiday season for our most vulnerable children. She helped found the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE) and has served on countless boards, including Covenant Hospice Foundation, Autism Pensacola, American Red Cross and Sacred Heart Hospital Advisory Board. She's also a longtime supporter of Arc Gateway and FavorHouse. Straughn is a much sought-after emcee for local events. This year, she has served as the master of ceremonies for Living the Dream and the Pensacola Chamber PACE Awards.

Troy Rafferty (2022)

Rafferty has litigated cases many saw as impossible and received numerous jury verdicts and settlements over $10 million. In 2017, he obtained $150 million and $140 million verdicts. In 2021, Rafferty and Levin Papantonio Rafferty helped craft a $26 billion settlement with the nation's three biggest opioid distributors and Johnson & Johnson. He served as Florida Justice Association's president from

2014-2015. In 2016, FJA awarded him the Perry Nichols Award, its highest honor. Rafferty championed the cause of the men who had been tortured and raped while attending the Dozier School for Boys, a state-run reform school in Marianna that was open from 19002011. Thanks to his advocacy, the Florida Legislature approved $20 million for a fund to compensate the victims.

David Bear (2023)

The weight of leading a family-owned business founded in Pensacola in 1876 might seem daunting. Add to that pressure following a father's legacy of having a hand in every Escambia County economic development for 50 years, and you might be tempted to sell the business and retire. Not David Bear. He has accepted these challenges and added to the Bear family's rich legacy. When the Arts Council fell apart, Bear founded Art, Culture and Entertainment, Inc. (ACE), which created the Foo Foo Festival to promote our arts and culture. He chairs the Triumph Gulf Coast, FloridaWest and Escambia County Tourist Development Council boards. Bear gets things done, like his father, grandfather, great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather. {in}

Mark Lee

Gary Michaels

Thank You

The ‘Building Brains Ballpark Bash’ event was a collaboration between Studer Community Institute and the Blue Wahoos baseball team.

This unique event brought awareness to the pivotal importance of early brain development, raised funds for our di erence-making programs, and promoted the upcoming baseball season in a vibrant and engaging way.

BUILDER SPONSORS

Ed Shanno, Jimitre McMillan and Ju Lopez

Studer Community Institute is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization

FRAMERS SPONSORS

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

CHAMPION SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR

asking about hip-hop duo Atmosphere's upcoming Pensacola performance. The last time rapper Slug (Sean Daley) spoke with Inweekly was in 2018 promoting the album "Mi Vida Local." He sounds different.

Slug is at the point in his career where he barely knows what album he's promoting— metaphorically speaking, of course; he knows it's the "Talk Talk EP." He's at the point where he's allowed a complicated relationship with hits like "GodLovesUgly"—even if it's tattooed on a fan or a hundred of 'em. You could fire the guy; he's at the point where even if it wasn't his job to create the music he's creating, he'd just do it anyway.

Slug is as open and genuine as in the previous interview, but he's freer now; you can hear it in his voice.

"Being a Midwesterner from lower middleclass parents with work ethic, I learned, 'Once you get a job, you do your best,' and that's what I did; I faced the whole thing like that," Slug said. "And now here I am, 20 years later looking at it like, 'Oh, this doesn't necessarily feel like a job.' Now it feels more like I've reached the part of my career where I'm my own biggest critic, worst enemy, biggest hurdle, and I wish for every artist to be able to reach this space. There's so much

Challenge Accepted

Slug's newfound uninhibited freedom might have something to do with that.

"You've seen a giraffe in person, right? But until you see a giraffe with a child, you have no idea how crazy this thing looks," Slug said. "So I'm really experiencing all of these regular life things, but through the lives of these kids, and it's definitely invigorating. It's giving energy and soul to somebody like me who's been living for how I've been living for so long."

The "Talk Talk EP" was inspired by the '80s style dark synth pop song of the same name—Atmosphere's first time collaborating closely with an artist of a vastly different genre, Bat Flower, as well as Slug's return to rapping at a rapid pace.

"The trend has not been that direction; rap has gotten way slower than it used to be," Slug said. "But also, my vibe has not been 'party.' My vibe over the last few decades has been a lot more somber and about my observations of the world."

"If you were to upload a bunch of your old photos from back in the day, when people took photos on disposable cameras, you'll see deterioration; you'll see some of the effects of age," Slug said. "I'm trying to focus on those parts, because I think those are the parts that actually give flavor to the songs."

Slug will comb through old lyrics to remove "problematic" parts. Frankly, he didn't fully understand what the hell he was trying to communicate through them at the time, he said.

"I have a lot of insecurity about—people get these words tattooed on them sometimes or they take some of the songs and take ownership of them like it's theirs," Slug said. "I've figured out how to be OK with that by offering and saying, 'OK, yes, the song is yours. But if that's the case, then let me make sure you are not misinterpreting what this song is about.'"

On the "Talk Talk EP," Slug is painting with colors he never has before, but now he realizes this imagination is five projects in the making—starting with a TV soundtrack that never happened but Atmosphere released anyway as "Whenever."

"That was my first attempt at making some music that didn't matter to Atmosphere, but more so just mattered for the sake of it," Slug said. "It's weird because I used to be against making art for the sake of it. So here I was trying to write these songs that fit somebody else's narrative and it was kind of fun—them feeding me concepts or storyboards for their episodes and me trying to write songs that fit that was a new challenge."

Then came "The Day Before Halloween," another step away from standard Atmosphere stuff that Slug describes as "super dark, super almost industrial synth-y rap stuff." "Word" was all sampled-based fun, he said.

Then was their Covid album, "So Many Other Realities Exist Simultaneously" (aka smores)—a typical Atmosphere album, also known as "what kind of shit's going on in Sean's head," he said. At the time, Slug was doing distance learning with his three school-aged kids—he has four—and spending more time with them than a touring musician could ever dream of.

Quick to spot flaws in the "Talk Talk" track, Slug and DJ/producer Ant (Anthony Davis) decided to build a project around it. They loved reviving "dead technology" like old samplers and keyboards to create it.

"The listeners might never hear what I'm talking about; they might hear it and go, 'Sounds like an Atmosphere album,'" Slug said. "But in my world, it definitely was me trying to challenge myself and just having fun cracking codes and solving puzzles, which is what I think the last five years for me musically has been all about."

His latest puzzle is concocting a setlist for "Tour De Friends: Part Deux." He wants to perform something from every project.

"We're just trying to create an experience that allows them to feel like we touched every era of our relationship with each other—our relationship between Anthony and myself, as well as our relationship with the listeners, whether you're a brand new listener, or an old school listener that stopped listening to the new stuff, or somebody who stuck with us for the whole thing," Slug said. "It's weird because it's not easy. You only get a certain amount of time on stage, and we've got 1,000 albums, but challenge accepted."

In performing older songs, Slug isn't trying to recreate who he was then. He likens a song to a photograph.

Slug looks at "God Loves Ugly" and "Seven's Travels" with nostalgia, because those albums introduced Atmosphere to a wider audience. But he admits it's a love-hate relationship.

"I can resent 'Seven's Travels,' because people wanted me to rap like that and sound like that forever," Slug said. "It's easy to look at that like, 'Oh God, I hate playing those songs.' Everybody hates their biggest hits. But being able to make the new music is what's allowed me to actually embrace the older stuff again, because now I'm able to separate it and go, 'OK, so I don't have to resent the hits. Those things are there and those are important for some people, and I love that they're important for some people.' The new stuff— maybe nobody cares about the new stuff. But the simple fact I'm allowed to continue making music and release it and tour is beautiful." {in}

ATMOSPHERE WITH HEBL AND NOFUN!

WHAT: Minneapolis-based hip-hop duo

Atmosphere's Tour De Friends: Part Deux

WHEN: Doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m.

Saturday, April 13

WHERE: Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox

COST: $30 (plus fees)

INFO: atmospheresucks.com, vinylmusichall.com

Atmosphere / Photo by Dan Monick

a&e happenings

NONPROFITS & FUNDRAISERS

FRED LEVIN WAY FEST: CELEBRATION OF GIVING

Free fun for the family including kids activities, live DJs, Jordan Chase from "American Idol" and "The Voice," essentials giveaways, free museum entries, and free swimming, basketball and yoga at YMCA. Event is 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, April 14. More information is at fredlevinfest.com.

THURSDAY NIGHT TRIVIA AT COASTAL CAT CAFÉ Trivia is free to play, but admission to the cat café is required for $15. Event is 6-6:45 p.m. Thursday, April 18 and 5-5:45 p.m. Thursday, April 24. Coastal Cat Café is located at 1508 W. Garden St. More information is at coastalcatpcola.com.

PET ADOPTION EVENT AT GARY'S BREWERY See Paws Crossed Dog Rescue 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 19 at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Hip Pocket Deli will be on site. Live music from Elise Taylor is 6-9 p.m.

GUMBO YA-YA COOKOFF Gumbo cookoff contest benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida is 4-6 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $15-$20. To learn more about team registration, contact Buck Mitchell at buck@rosies.com. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Director of Development Lori Oswald, at loswald@bbbsnwfl.com.

SPRING PURREAK YOGA WITH KAYA

BLOXHAM

Join Coastal Cat Cafe for a Spring Purreak Cat-tacular Yoga event 9:45-10:30 a.m. April 21, featuring feline-inspired yoga led by instructor Kala Bloxham. Bring your own mat. Tickets are $28 and have limited availability. More information is at coastalcatpcola.com.

ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal

Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Scenic Hills Country Club, 8891 Burning Tree Road. The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. The full bar and restaurant offer special adult beverages just for bingo nights. You must be 18 to play. For more information, visit facebook. com/animalalliesflorida.

ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN

ADOPTION

Visit Pet Supermarket 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every first and third Saturday of the month at 6857 N. Ninth Ave. to meet your furever friend. Visit aaflorida.org for details.

CARING & SHARING MINISTRY FOOD

DRIVE The Gloria Green Caring & Sharing Ministry is attached to the Historic St. Joseph Catholic Church, 140 W. Government St. The ministry feeds the homeless at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens at 10 a.m. and has clothing. Food donations needed are pop-top canned goods, Beanie Weenies, Vienna sausage, potted meat, cans of tuna and chicken and soups. Clothing donations needed include tennis shoes for men and

women as well as sweatshirts and new underwear for men in sizes small, medium and large. Call DeeDee Green at (850) 723-3390 for details.

ARTS & CULTURE

BIG SCREEN ON THE BAYOU MOVIE NIGHT Watch "Top Gun: Maverick" at Bayview Park, 200 E. Lloyd St. Food trucks open by 5 p.m. and movie starts at 6:30 p.m. Friday, April 12. Visit myeasthill.org for details.

ADVANCED STEAM Adults ages 18 and older interested in virtual reality, AR, coding, robotics, engineering, construction, board games, crafts, and scientific experiments and exploration are invited to stop in for special STEAM activities. The theme for April is Earth and will take place 2-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 23 at the Pace Library.

IHMC OPEN HOUSE

The Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition will host an open house honoring Robotics Week 3-7 p.m. Thursday, April 11 at 40 S. Alcaniz St.

PAGE TURNERS BOOK CLUB This Gulf Breeze Library book club is for anyone ages 18 and older. Club meets noon Thursday, April 11 at Gulf Breeze Library, 1060 Shoreline Drive. This month's book is "Eternal" by Lisa Scottoline.

OPERAZZI IN BLACK AND WHITE Pensacola Opera fundraiser is 5:30 p.m. Friday, April 12 at Supposey Warehouse, 101 S. F St. Tickets are $175 at pensacolaopera.com.

A NIGHT AT THE OPERA Event featuring the Choral Society of Pensacola and Pensacola Civic Band is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 13 at Pensacola Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Tickets are available at pensacolasaenger.com.

TRUCKER HAT POP-UP AT BODACIOUS BOOKSTORE Stop by Bodacious Bookstore 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, April 13 at 101 E. Intendencia St. to decorate your own trucker hat with Get Lit Pensacola. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.

BUTTERFLIES IN MOTION Learn about Florida's native butterflies and visit the mobile butterfly house at Santa Rosa County Libraries. Dates include 1-3 p.m. Thursday, April 11 at Pace Library, 10 a.m.-noon. at Gulf Breeze Library, 10 a.m.-noon Thursday, April 25 at Gulf Breeze Library and 1-3 p.m. Thursday, April 25 at Navarre Library, 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 26 at Jay Library and 1-3 p.m. Saturday, April 26 at Milton Library.

1980S MURDER MYSTERY SHOW Interactive murder mystery show is 6-9 p.m. Sunday, April 14 at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Show. Tickets are $30 and available at facebook. com/perfectplainbrewingco.

AUTHOR READING WITH STEPHANIE BOLINGER

Local author book reading and signing is 3 p.m. Sunday, April 14 at Bodacious Bookstore, 101 E. Intendencia St. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.

BODACIOUS ROMANCE BOOK CLUB Enjoy this discussion of "Last Call at the Local" by Sarah Grunder Ruiz. Club meets 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 16 at Bodacious Bookstore, 101 E. Intendencia St. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.

SWIFTIE SOIREE

Zarzaur Law is hosting Taylor Swift-inspired events as part of its "Eras Giveaway" promotion 6-9 p.m. Thursday, April 18 at The Well, 42 E. Garden St. The bar will be dressed in Taylor Swift-inspired decorations, including photo backdrops, music, karaoke, Swift-inspired cocktails and a chance to win two VIP suite tickets to see Taylor Swift's "The Eras" Tour concert in Miami on Saturday, Oct. 19 at the Hard Rock Stadium. Visit zarzaurswiftgiveaway. com for complete contest rules, event details and more information.

LIBERATION! PRESENTS: NEON NIGHTS

Lineup of DJs and '80s-inspired drag featuring Wanda Doomy is 8 p.m. Friday, April 19 at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Details and tickets are available at Liberation Pensacola on Facebook.

GALLERY NIGHT: EARTH DAY

The April Gallery Night is 5-9 p.m. Friday, April 19 with the theme of Earth Day. Enjoy a vintage market and live performances along South Palafox. Visit gallerynightpensacola.org for details.

CINEMAS IN THE SAND: 'JUMANJI' The next Cinemas in the Sand features the 1995 fantasy, "Jumanji." All movies are free to the public. Movie starts at sunset at the Gulfside Pavilion stage. For weather updates, go to facebook.com/ visitpensacolabeach.

EARTH DAY PENSACOLA Pensacola's 34th annual Earth Day festival on Sunday April 21 from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Bayview Park, located at 2001 E. Lloyd St. The event showcases sustainable living through a fun day of environmental education, art, live music, local food, green products and handson activities. For full details please visit the event website at earthdaypensacola.com.

SILENT BOOK CLUB AT BODACIOUS

Sundays are for quietly reading at Bodacious Bookstore & Café, 110 E. Intendencia St. Join the Silent Book Club 10-11 a.m. every Sunday. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousbookstore.

PENSACOLA ROSE SOCIETY Monthly meetings are normally 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the Pensacola Garden Center, 1850 N. Ninth Ave. Visit pensacolarosesociety.org for more information.

BTB COMEDY Watch live standup comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.

COMEDY SHOWCASE AT SUBCULTURE

BTB Comedy presents a comedy showcase the first Thursday monthly at Subculture Art Gallery, 701 N. V St. Follow facebook.com/pensacolasubculture for updates.

SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers

every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.

THE MARKET AT GARY'S BREWERY Market Perdido Key vendors will sell fresh produce, art, baked goods and more noon-5 p.m. the second Sunday of the month through May at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. The next date is Sunday, April 14. Visit facebook.com/ garysbrew for details.

PALAFOX MARKET Enjoy Palafox Market 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox Street at Martin Luther King, Jr. Plaza and Plaza Ferdinand. For updates, visit facebook.com/ downtownpensacola.

CABARET DRAG SHOWCASE AT AMERICAN LEGION POST #193 Don't miss Cabaret Drag Showcase every second and fourth Saturday at the American Legion Post #193, 2708 N. 12th Ave. Doors open at 8 p.m. Showtime is 10 p.m. For more information, contact show director Taize Sinclair-Santi at taizesinclairsanti@gmail.com.

SPIRITS OF SEVILLE QUARTER GHOST

TOUR AND LUNCHEON Dine inside Pensacola's oldest and most haunted restaurant and investigate the spirits with actual paranormal equipment at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Tickets are $12 and include a voucher toward Seville Quarter's menu. Tours are held 11 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays and 2-4 p.m. Sundays. Make an appointment by calling (850) 941-4321.

AFTER DARK: SEVILLE QUARTER

GHOSTS, MURDER, MAYHEM AND MYSTERY TOUR AND DINNER After Dark Paranormal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with actual ghost-hunting equipment 6-8 p.m. Sundays. Listen as your guide weaves tales of ghosts, debauchery, murder, mayhem, paranormal activities, history and more related to Seville Quarter and downtown Historic Pensacola. Following your ghost tour, enjoy dinner at Seville Quarter Palace Café, 130 E. Government St. Reservations are required. Call (850) 941-4321. Tickets are available at pensacolaghostevents.com.

PENSACOLA ARTS MARKET Shop small and buy art at Pensacola Arts Market 11 a.m.-4 p.m. every fourth Saturday of the month at Cordova Square, 1101 N. 12th Ave. Enjoy a local artisan and farmers market with more than 50 vendors, food trucks, plants, vintage clothing and décor, live musical performances, kids' crafts and games. This is a free event. Pensacola Arts Market is set up 4-9 p.m. every first Friday of the month and 2-6 p.m. every third Sunday at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave.

BODY, MIND, SPIRIT MARKET AT EVER'MAN

Local vendors, artisans, holistic practitioners, speakers and more come together 10 a.m.-4 p.m. the first Saturday of the month at Ever'man Downtown, 315 W. Garden St. This is a free indoor and outdoor event with door prizes, entertainment and children's activities. For a vendor table, call (850) 941-4321 or go to empowermentschoolhouse.com.

Stock Market Losses?

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BEST SPORTS BAR

a&e happenings

THE FLUIDITY OF PERCEPTION Enjoy an exhibit from Chris Gustin and Nancy Train Smith in collaboration with the Gulf Coast Kiln Walk Society. The show is on view through May 17 at the Switzer Gallery at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd.

LOVE LETTERS TO URSA MAJOR: WORK

BY KELLY ANNE MUELLER

Enjoy a solo show from Kelly Anne Mueller, Best in Show from the 2023 PMA Members Show. Exhibit is on view through May 25 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

PMA MEMBERS SHOW

The 70th annual Members Show is on view through May 25 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.

FOOD + DRINKS

FUN-DA-MENTALS: THE PERFECT STEAK

Cooking class is 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 12 at Pensacola Cooks, 4051 Barrancas Ave. Cost is $60 per student. Registration link is available at facebook.com/pensacolacooks.

ARABIAN NIGHTS & ALE Enjoy kababs, gyros and more from Western Shawarma's food truck, belly dancing performances by Gina Nolan of Emerald Coast Belly Dance and nontobacco and non-nicotine shisha premium fresh smoke flavors offered by TnT Hookahz. Event

208 Newman Ave. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.

DATE NIGHT: BEEF WELLINGTON COOKING CLASS WITH CHEF EDWARD LORDMAN Class is 5:30-9:30 p.m. Monday, April 15 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Details are at facebook.com/bodaciousshops.

TABLE TALKS WITH THE TRUST Monthly lunch and learn session at Voices of Pensacola, 117 E. Government St. Event is noon-1 p.m. Wednesday, April 17. Monica Tapper, a historian and author, will share "Southern Historic Menus." Event is free and open to the public.

COOKING WITH CHEF IRV MILLER: MEATEATER TASTINGS The April cooking class with Chef Irv Miller is for carnivores. Classes held at 5 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 17 at Jackson's Steakhouse, 400 S. Palafox St. Cost is $55 a person. Reservations are required and can be made at eventbrite.com. More information is at greatsouthernrestaurants.com.

SEVILLE QUARTER WINE DINNER Wine

Dinner with winemaker Sean Minor 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18. Tickets are $75 a person. Reservations can be made by calling (850) 434-6211.

EVERYTHING: CREPES Learn everything you need to know about making crepes 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 18 at Pensacola Cooks,

dent and available through the link at facebook. com/pensacolacooks.

DRIFTEE DARTY Day party with vendor market, tie dye station, live music and more. Event is noon Saturday, April 20 at Perfect Plain Brewing Co., 50 E. Garden St. Tickets are available at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.

THIRD ANNUAL PENSACOLA BEACH

BEER FEST Beer festival is 3-6 p.m. Saturday, April 20 at Hampton Inn, 2 Via de Luna Drive. Tickets are $40 and available at eventbrite.com

SWAMPFEST 2024 All four Perennial Hospitality Group locations will transform into enchanting landscapes that will transport you back to a time of make believe for a day filled with fairy godmothers, Grimms' fairy tales, and more. Event starts 11 a.m. Sunday, April 21. Visit facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco for details.

ADVANCED HAND ROLLING SUSHI CLASS

Class is 6-9 p.m. Monday, April 22 at Bodacious, 407-D S. Palafox St. Tickets are $75 and available on eventbrite.com.

GREEN THUMB WINE TASTINGS Join Green Thumb Wines for a wine tasting 6-8 p.m. every first Friday of the month at 9 E. Gregory St. Cost is $15 which can be applied to a bottle purchase of your choice. For more information

and tickets, visit greenthumbwines.com/collections/events.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT CAFÉ SINGLE FIN

Partake in brunch specials, full café menu, espressos and bottomless mimosas until 1 p.m. Sundays at Café Single Fin, 380 N. Ninth Ave. Live music begins at 10 a.m. Visit cafesinglefin. com for details.

SIPPIN' IN SUNDRESSES LADIES' NIGHT AT FELIX'S Pop-up shops, pink drink specials and live music is 5-8 p.m. Thursdays at Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar, 400 Quietwater Beach Drive.

SUNDAY BRUNCH AT ATLAS OYSTER HOUSE Sunday Brunch at Atlas Oyster House, 600 S. Barracks St. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. View menus at atlasoysterhouse.com.

GAMER/JACKBOX NIGHT AT O'RILEY'S

Gamers unite 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Mondays at O'Riley's Irish Pub, 321 S. Palafox St. Visit orileyspub.com for details.

BINGO NIGHT AT CALVERT'S IN THE HEIGHTS

Play a game (or two) of Bingo 6-8 p.m. Mondays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. For more information, visit calvertsintheheights.com.

for more listings visit inweekly.net

Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day with us on Saturday, April 27

• Exclusive Indie Bookstore Day merch

• Special discounts

• Drink specials

• Complimentary Bodacious Bookstore branded totes with every $100 purchase

• Follow @bodaciousbooksandcafe on social media for more info!

news of the weird

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION

As the November presidential election looms, with incumbent Joe Biden, 81, and former President Donald Trump, 77, squaring off again, some American voters would like to see literally anybody else on the ballot—and Literally Anybody Else, of North Richland Hills, Texas, wants to give them that chance. A 35-year-old seventh-grade math teacher and U.S. Army veteran who legally changed his name from Dustin Ebey, the candidate says his goal is to inspire change. "America should not be stuck choosing between the 'King of Debt' (his self-declaration) and an 81-yearold," reads the declaration on Else's campaign website. "Literally Anybody Else isn't just a person, it's a rally cry." NBC-5 Dallas Fort Worth reports that Else needs the signatures of 113,151 registered voters who did not vote in the presidential primary, by May 13, in order to run as an independent candidate.

SSSSURVIVOR! We've heard of dogs and cats going missing, only to turn up at their owners' doorsteps weeks, months or even years later; now we can add snakes to that list. The BBC reported that the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were recently called to a residence in Spennymoor, County Durham, to rescue a 3-footlong corn snake atop a garage roof; the snake had escaped a crow that attempted to carry it off. When a neighbor came by to see the rescued critter, she recognized it as her pet snake, Agnus, who had been missing for a year. RSPCA inspector John Lawson was surprised the snake had survived out in the cold for so long. "The vet believes Agnus had gone into brumation mode, similar to hibernation, and her body had shut down in order to survive," Lawson said. Agnus received treatment for a respiratory infection before being reunited with her owner.

HAVE IT YOUR WAY, PAL

Some people go to extremes to get a great deal, but on March 31, one disgruntled customer at a Burger King drive-thru in Willowick, Ohio, pulled a firearm on an employee who was trying to give him a discount on his breakfast items. The employee, Howard Vernon, 38, told WOIO-19 News that when he gave the customer his total, the man argued that it should cost more. "I'm, like, trying to explain to him that we had a promotion going on ... and he started cussing and getting all loud," Vernon said. The enraged man drove his gray Honda sedan out of the drive-thru but quickly returned, then stepped out of his car and pointed a gun at Vernon. After threatening him and calling him racial slurs, the man returned to his car and sped away. "It was about some bread and sausage sandwiches at 9 o'clock in the morning on Easter," Vernon said, "and you're that mad that you'd put a gun in somebody's face?" Authorities are still searching for the customer.

MALE PATTERN BOLDNESS

Hey, fugitives have feelings, too! After the Avon and Somerset Police posted a wanted notice on Facebook on April

1 describing Daniel Kellaway, a wanted fugitive, as "white, about 5 ft. 9 in., of average build, with brown eyes, receding hairline ...," Kellaway (or someone claiming to be him) replied, "No need to mention the hairline, guys." A comment posted by the same account the next day reminded the police that Kellaway's birthday had passed since the information was compiled for the notice, and that he was now 29. Kellaway is being sought in connection with driving offenses, criminal damage and threatening behavior, so while social media users got a kick out of Kellaway's comical posts, authorities have warned the public not to approach him and to call authorities if he is spotted.

GHASTLY

After having lurked quietly on the shelves of Harvard's Houghton Library for the better part of a century, the philosophical meditation "Des Destinees de l'Ame" has undergone a facelift, according to a statement issued by the library in March. The book was acquired by the school in 1934, along with a note explaining the process of preserving human skin. The book's previous owner, an eccentric French bibliophile named Dr. Ludovic Bouland, claimed to have added the "human touch" (read: human skin) to his prize because "a book about the human soul deserved to have a human covering." The cover's origin could not be confirmed until 2014, and NBC News reported that this eventually led to an ethical review in 2023 and the recent decision to rebind the book in something less macabre.

YOUTH INACTION

Young people are cutting loose and losing their blues in Cambodia, but rather than embracing the "Footloose" of it all, the Guardian reports that Prime Minister Hun Manet is cracking down on the source: vehicle owners and operators who replace their cars' standard horns with ones that blast popular tunes. So enticing are these familiar refrains that young Cambodians are literally dancing in the streets, which the prime minister says poses a traffic hazard. He has directed the ministry of public works and transportation, along with Cambodia's police force, to crack down on vehicle operators whose horns emit anything other than the standard honk.

•Students and parents at Alston Ridge Elementary in Cary, North Carolina, have been dealing with a unique carpool annoyance: an aggressive pest of a turkey. WTVD in Durham reports that the bird pecks at cars, windows, people—any perceived threat in "his" territory. "This was a young male turkey who probably was looking for a mate ... and was unable to find one," said Cary Animal Services Officer Beth Wilson. "He was trying to claim a territory, and I guess he decided the carpool lane was going to be it." Wilson predicts Lonely Tom will chill out—just as soon as his hormones die down. {in}

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