CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2026 INWEEKLY POWER LIST HONOREES.
Your leadership and steady commitment to excellence make a meaningful difference in our community. The impact of your work is felt across Pensacola.
I also want to recognize the many individuals who quietly show up and step up every single day without recognition.
Your service matters. Your efforts are seen. And our community continues to move forward because of you.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve District 6 and the City of Pensacola. It is a responsibility I value deeply, and it is an honor to work alongside you.
—Allison Patton— Council President, City of Pensacola
winners & losers winners losers
PHILLIP COOK The Florida Ambulance Association named Escambia County EMS Paramedic Phillip Cook a 2026 Star of Life recipient during a ceremony Feb. 4 at the Florida State Capitol. Cook earned the honor for his actions on Oct. 27, 2025, when he and partner EMT Isabella Gorne were diverted to transport a pediatric trauma patient after foggy conditions grounded air medical transport. During the long-distance transport, Cook detected rapidly deteriorating conditions, initiated lifesaving care and made the critical decision to divert to a Miramar Beach hospital when the patient needed resources unavailable on an ambulance. The patient survived. Cook has served Escambia County EMS since 2008.
SUMMERLIN MORRIS Baptist Hospital nurse Summerlin Morris, R.N., has been honored with the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses. Morris works in Baptist's critical care unit and was recognized by a patient for the extraordinary care she provided. The DAISY Award is part of a national merit-based recognition program established by the DAISY Foundation. It celebrates the education, training and skills nurses put into their work daily and, especially, the devoted care they give their patients. Nominations can be submitted by patients, families, physicians and colleagues. One nurse is then chosen as the DAISY Award winner. DAISY Awards are presented regularly, usually monthly or quarterly.
JO JO'S PAWS Local nonprofit Jo Jo's Paws helps families keep their pets at home through a partnership with Escambia County Animal Welfare. In 2025, the organization distributed nearly 44,000 pounds of pet food, assisted an average of 236 families monthly and kept over 13,000 pets out of shelters. Located inside the county's Animal Welfare and Adoption Center at 200 W. Fairfield Drive, the pantry is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Donations of pet food and supplies are welcomed during regular business hours. Contact Jo Jo's Paws at (850) 760-7876. Animal Welfare Director John Robinson called the partnership "an easy yes," adding, "We want to do everything we can to keep pets and families together."
ESCAMBIA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL The sud-
den closing of Escambia Christian School spotlights the lack of oversight in Florida's private school voucher system. Board members blame low enrollment, but deeper problems have surfaced, including the school falsely advertising accreditation it lost in 2022, according to WEAR-TV. Private schools in Florida receive billions in public voucher dollars with virtually no transparency requirements regarding teacher credentials, curriculum quality or accreditation status. Parents of Escambia Christian's roughly 70 students are left scrambling, and the state's $4 billion voucher program continues operating with minimal accountability for how taxpayer money is spent.
SHEVAUN HARRIS
Last week, the DeSantis administration acknowledged using opioid settlement funds to finance an anti-marijuana ad campaign ahead of the 2024 election. Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Shevaun Harris made the admission during a Senate confirmation hearing. As head of the Department of Children and Families, Harris oversaw a $5.1 million no-bid contract with Republican-aligned firm Strategic Digital Services, with $4 million coming from opioid settlement funds. The contract covered ads opposing both the recreational marijuana and abortion amendments. Harris defended the spending as drug prevention, citing marijuana as a gateway drug. The spending was part of more than $35 million in taxpayer money the administration used to defeat ballot amendments, according to a Tampa Bay Times/Miami Herald investigation.
ANASTASIOS KAMOUTSAS
The Florida Education Commissioner Anastasios sent a mass email to every public school teacher gloating after the state's two largest teachers' unions withdrew their legal challenge to a rule requiring colleges to post course syllabi 45 days before classes begin. Kamoutsas, a former DeSantis deputy chief of staff, told teachers the union "wasted your hardearned membership dues" on the lawsuit. The Florida Education Association and United Faculty of Florida had argued the State Board of Education's amended Rule 6A-14.092 represented unlawful overreach and threatened academic freedom. Faculty warned publicly searchable syllabi could chill controversial course content and invite instructor harassment.
Philip Cook / Photo Courtesy of Escambia County
outtakes
By Rick Outzen
CRIME DROPS EVERYWHERE
At his weekly press conference on Feb. 10, Pensacola Mayor D.C. Reeves reported the city is seeing a significant and sustained drop in crime, with overall offenses falling 28.6% from 2023 to 2025, a decline that mirrors a national trend confirmed by new data this week.
"As I have said many times, we don't have anything if we don't have a safe city," the mayor told the media. "That is job No. 1 for me and job No. 1 for our police department: to provide a city where we are safe."
Over the past two years, violent crime in Pensacola has dropped 25.4%, while property crime has fallen 29.3%. Thefts are down 34.1%, grand theft auto has plummeted 38% and vehicle burglaries dropped 20%. On the violent crime side, attempted homicides have fallen a staggering 78.5%, robberies are down 52% and aggravated battery assault declined nearly 21.8%.
Reeves credits community culture and technology. "We do have a culture of citizens who appreciate police officers and value the work that they do," he said. "At the end of the day, I believe the story behind these numbers is one of the dedication and professionalism of the members of the Pensacola Police Department."
Acting Chief Kristin Brown pointed to officer retention as another key factor, noting that keeping experienced officers has allowed the department to shift from reactive to proactive policing.
"We are very fortunate to police in the city limits where officers receive the community support as well as city administration support to get the job done," Brown said.
Sadly, neither Reeves nor Brown gave any credit to former Police Chief Eric Randall, who ran the Pensacola Police Department from June 2021 to July 2025. When Randall resigned, the public was told the officers had lost confidence in his leadership. Apparently, disgruntled officers don't have a negative impact on crime stats.
THE NATIONAL PICTURE Pensacola's improvement is part of a national trend. The news site Axios reported last week that violent crime plunged across America's biggest cities in 2025, citing data from the Major Cities Chiefs Association covering 67 of the nation's largest police departments. Homicides fell 19% nationally, robber-
ies dropped 20% and aggravated assaults were down nearly 10%.
Southern and Sun Belt cities saw the most dramatic improvements. Orlando and Tampa posted more than 50% declines in homicides, while Chicago and Baltimore experienced around 30% drops. The independent Council on Criminal Justice noted that if these trends hold nationally, "the U.S. homicide rate in 2025 would be the lowest observed since at least 1900."
Naturally, the White House wasted no time elbowing its way to the front of a parade it didn't organize.
The White House issued a statement crediting the declines to "President Trump's aggressive, no-nonsense approach to public safety." It claimed he rescued "Democrat-run cities that had devolved into war zones," celebrated removing "savage criminal illegals from our streets" and declared "the era of Democrat-inspired lawlessness is over."
It's a heck of a victory lap for a trend that started in 2023—when Donald Trump was posting on Truth Social, not running the federal government. Pensacola's own data makes the point nicely: the city's crime rate decline began under the Biden administration and continued right through the transition.
The statement also ignores what actual experts say is driving the trend. As Axios reported, researchers point to a complex mix of policing strategies, improvements in life-saving medical care, mental health treatment, gun laws and long-term trends like the removal of lead from gasoline in the 1970s. The COVID-era crime surge created an artificial spike, and what we're largely seeing is a reversion to a downward trend that's been underway for decades.
WHAT ACTUALLY MATTERS Strip away the political chest-thumping, and a genuinely good story exists. Pensacola's streets are measurably safer, and the people responsible—officers walking beats, community members who support them, city leaders investing in retention and technology—deserve the credit.
The challenge is sustaining it. Crime trends can reverse, and the forces driving them are too complex for anyone's talking points. {in} rick@inweekly.net
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BETTING ON UWF FOOTBALL
The University of West Florida broke ground last week on the Darrell Gooden Stadium, a multi-use football and events facility that will nearly double seating capacity from 3,800 to 7,500, while the Board of Trustees approved borrowing up to $20 million from the UWF Foundation to finance construction.
The stadium is funded through institutional investment and donor support, including a lead gift exceeding $9 million from the Gooden family and a $2 million grant from Escambia County's Tourist Development Council. The first kickoff is planned for fall 2027, with a new 85-by-30-foot LED video board to be installed for the 2026 season.
"We are celebrating a milestone that represents not just the start of construction, but the continuation of an extraordinary journey," said UWF President Manny Diaz Jr.
The Board of Trustees approved the loan, which carries a 4% fixed interest rate with a 10-year term and interest-only payments throughout. The full principal is due at maturity in January 2036 but can be prepaid without penalty. The loan is non-recourse to the university, meaning it is secured solely by UWF Foundation assets and earnings.
Repayment is expected primarily through philanthropic pledges and donations, with secondary sources including the Foundation's operating budget, stadium rental fees and athletic revenues.
Economic impact studies from the UWF Haas Center project the football program will generate $23.3 million in economic output over five years and contribute $8.7 million to Escambia County's gross regional product, excluding construction costs.
"This stadium changes what's possible for our program," said Head Football Coach Kaleb Nobles. "It enhances recruiting, allows us to attract quality opponents and gives our student-athletes a first-class environment."
DEMOLITION UPDATE
The City of Pensacola's $13 million demolition of the former Baptist Hospital campus is progressing on schedule, with asbestos abatement work now a month in and all air monitoring results coming back below regulatory limits, the city's owner's representative told the Community Redevelopment Agency.
Josh Wallace with Jacobs delivered a roughly 30-minute presentation to the CRA on Feb. 9, detailing the phased demolition plan, asbestos containment protocols, hauling routes and community engagement efforts. Crews from general contractor North Star began abatement work on Jan. 12 and are currently working through Towers 1, 2 and 3 on the north side of the site. Active demolition could begin as early as March, with completion targeted for January 2027.
A key takeaway: 97% of the asbestos-containing material on site is non-friable, meaning it cannot become airborne when properly handled. The remaining 3%, primarily pipe insulation and fire-rated doors in the main hospital, is being managed under strict containment protocols, including sealed work zones, negative air pressure systems with HEPA filtration, daily air monitoring at multiple points and double-bagged disposal transported to regulated landfills under a chain-of-custody manifest system.
"All of our results have been below the regulatory limits for you to even need respiratory equipment," Wallace told CRA, whose board is the Pensacola City Council. "That doesn't necessarily say we can work in the area without it, but I think that's good as far as just what the results have shown to us thus far."
The following day at his weekly press conference, Mayor D.C. Reeves noted the presentation in combating misinformation surrounding the high-profile project.
"As we all know, with large-scale projects, information and misinformation and details and lack of details get thrown around in different venues and avenues. Just the nature of the beast when we have a $13 million project with lots of eyes on it," Reeves said. "It takes one person to say one thing in a meeting somewhere or on social media to let that grow and fester."
Reeves said the 97% non-friable figure was a critical data point for residents who may not watch the full presentation. "I think the fact that 97% of the asbestos is not the type that would be typically getting airborne, the stereotype that you would hear. That's obviously an enormous number," he said.
The mayor also defended the city's decision not to select the lowest bidder for the demolition contract, saying the project demanded contractors with local ties and proven quality.
"This is why when there's lots of conversations about, 'Why didn't you take the lowest bid—' we took the lowest quality bid that we could count on, and that meant local contractors, people who cared about this community that have lived in this community, that know the gravity of this project," Reeves said.
He cited Wallace's personal connection to the site—Wallace was born at Baptist Hospital, and his daughter was born there shortly before it closed—as emblematic of the team's investment in the project.
"When you see the amount of care that is being taken and the amount of precaution that is being taken, it's not only assuring, but I think it's reassuring," Reeves said.
A public forum on the demolition is scheduled for March 5 at the Fricker Center. The project team will also host open sidewalk talks at the site on the last Tuesday of each month at 7 a.m. Updates are available at formerbaptistdemolition.com. {in}
Congratulations
DR. BEN FISHBEIN
AND ALL OTHER POWER LIST RECEIPIENTS
Fishbein Orthodontics is honored to celebrate our very own Dr. Ben Fishbein for being recognized in the 2026 InWeekly Power List!
Since 2014, Dr. Fishbein and his team have grown their practice into the #1 Provider for Invisalign and 3M Braces in the state of Florida.
Dr. Fishbein is proud to call the beautiful city of Pensacola home.
inweekly POWER LIST 2026
By Rick Outzen
Power List Celebrates 19th Anniversary
One Pensacola publication seeks to measure the unmeasurable—publishing an annual roster of the influencers, power brokers and leaders who define our corner of Florida. The Inweekly Power List was born during a casual conversation at Atlas Oyster House in May 2007, when someone posed a deceptively simple challenge: what locals could move mountains with a single phone call?
That evening, the first answer came easily: attorney Fred Levin. As beers were poured and the debate continued, I jotted additional names onto a cocktail napkin: Judge Lacey Collier, Ted Ciano, Jim Reeves, Lewis Bear Jr., Ernie Lee Magaha, Collier Merrill, Quint Studer, Jim Cronley and Mort O'Sullivan. None of us imagined that off-the-cuff conversation would become one of Pensacola's most anticipated annual traditions.
The napkin scribblings became a feature when a scheduled cover story fell apart the following day.
The list grew from 10 names to 50 that we released as "Who's the Man?" That first Power List ignited immediate controversy. Phone lines exploded with callers demanding explanations for their rankings, or worse, their omissions from the list.
During an Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association luncheon, the list's title and demographic shortcomings triggered criticism—and rightfully so. The highest-ranked woman was Gulf Power CEO Susan Story at number 16.
However, the backlash proved we had touched a nerve, and we had a hit. What started as a lastminute filler would become something we revisit and expand.
The current Power List—now featuring 100 names—has grown far beyond that bar napkin beginning. Our selection methodology has advanced to a more systematic assessment incorporating public feedback and successive revisions. The number ones have included business leaders,
elected officials, philanthropists, educators and media personalities.
We balance new entries against removals, comparing visibility to actual impact. The formula remains imperfect, yet it provides a meaningful snapshot of who is steering Pensacola today and tomorrow.
Though we rarely select elected officials, Sheriff Chip Simmons tops the 2026 Power List because he has transformed law enforcement in Northwest Florida while building unprecedented trust with the community. Sheriff Simmons' leadership style and commitment to innovation, technology and community engagement have improved public safety throughout Escambia County. His unopposed run in 2024—a first in Escambia County's 200-plus-year history—reflects a level of public confidence rarely seen in modern politics.
The choice of Simmons for number one isn't the only surprise in the 2026 Power List. We hope you will enjoy it. If not, blame our publisher. {in}
A memory permanently etched in the mind of Escambia County Chief Deputy Andrew Hobbs occurred six years ago when Chip Simmons dove fearlessly into the air to apprehend an armed kidnapper.
"The bad guy is coming right at us, and we're screaming to get to the ground," Hobbs said. "Chief Deputy Simmons runs and tackles him. It just shows who he is, leading from the front."
A natural leader, Simmons is in his sixth year as Escambia County sheriff, and the office is arguably in the best shape of its 200-plus-year existence. His tenure has been so impressive that he made history in 2024 when he became the first sheriff to run unopposed in the county.
Born into a military family, Simmons felt a calling at a young age to serve and protect others.
"There was a desire on my behalf to look after those who may not be able to look after themselves—to stand up to a bully on behalf of someone else," Simmons said. "I guess that's what kind of started me in law enforcement, because there are people who are in need. There are people who are being victimized by someone else, and someone's got to stand up for those people. Someone's got to say, you're not gonna pick on these people, not on my watch."
#1 Chip Simmons
#1 x
Sheriff, Escambia County
President, University of West Florida
By Tom St. Myer
At age 20, Simmons began his law enforcement career, one year before being able to legally buy ammunition.
"I had to get my mother to buy my ammo for me," he said.
Simmons planned on starting his career as a deputy sheriff for Escambia County, but that changed when he broke his jaw, an arm and a leg in a motorcycle accident. Injuries from the accident prevented him from attending the police academy, and Simmons settled on being a county corrections officer. He remained in that position for two years before an opening at the Pensacola Police Department turned his dream of patrolling the streets into a reality.
"It was very much a learning experience," Simmons said of being a corrections officer. "I actually enjoyed it. Some of the relationships that I built, quite frankly, with law enforcement officers, but also with some people who were incarcerated, paid dividends later on when I was a narcotics officer and I needed informants, needed information as an investigator. I was able to maintain some of those contacts, and it helped me with building cases on different people."
Simmons excelled as a police officer. He served 29 highly decorated years and rose to
the rank of police chief before returning to the county as a chief deputy. He served as the right hand to Sheriff David Morgan for four years until Morgan decided against running for reelection in 2020. Simmons put his name on the ballot and easily won the open seat, capturing over 63% of the vote to defeat fellow former PPD chief David Alexander.
The sheriff inherited what he referred to as a "sleeping giant." Simmons has awakened that giant by prioritizing transparency and community engagement, embracing technology and bullishly tackling the fentanyl crisis and gun violence. His department is so stable that even with state agencies offering more money, his deputies remain entrenched.
"It's been a while since we lost a deputy to another agency," he said. "Our recruiting is going very well. We have probably 40 to 50 people who are coming here to our physical abilities test every time we put it on. So it has become an agency where people want to be a part of, whether it's from seeing us doing things or hearing about us doing things. The morale is high, and the opportunities are there. It's a front-row seat to the greatest show on earth."
Cracking Down on Drugs
Since Simmons took over as sheriff, the narcotics unit has doubled in size and his office has opened channels with state and federal law enforcement agencies. The result? His narcotics unit has executed record numbers of search warrants, including this past November, when his deputies seized nearly 5,000 grams of fentanyl, five firearms, brown heroin, methamphetamine, spice and about $10,000 in cash. That same month, his unit assisted the Florida Department of Law Enforcement in making 15 arrests and seizing nearly 15 pounds of fentanyl, 58 pounds of methamphetamine and 30 firearms.
Simmons said fentanyl overdoses are leveling off, but he described the efforts to tackle the crisis as a constant battle. Over 48,000 people nationwide died from fentanyl-involved overdoses in 2024, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"It is the most dangerous drug that I've seen in my career," said Simmons, who in recent years lost a relative to a fentanyl overdose.
State-of-the-art technology assists deputies with cracking down on drugs and other crimes in the county. The Escambia County Sheriff's Office has embraced this tech, in -
Chip Simmons / Photo Courtesy of Escambia County Sheriff's Office
cluding mobile video cameras and nuisance abatement vans with multiple cameras that stream live video.
ECSO has also established a real-time crime center. Star Network is a specialized facility that utilizes advanced technology and data analytics to gather, analyze and disseminate real-time information related to criminal activities and public safety. Simmons said the center pays dividends in response time, apprehension of criminals and overall deterrence.
"No one can avoid technology," he said. "Technology is creeping into our everyday lives. No matter how old you are, you're experiencing something you've likely never experienced before from a technology standpoint."
Lead by Example
Walk into Simmons' spacious office, and you feel as if you stepped into a museum. His two loves—law enforcement and history—are displayed prominently throughout the room.
A statue of a sheriff from yesteryear stands prominently on a table near his desk. A collection of awards, sheriff memorabilia, a bust of Abraham Lincoln and bobblehead dolls of Lincoln and George Washington line shelves in the office. Framed photos of Simmons posed with President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama adorn one wall. Framed medals he earned in his 29 years on the Pensacola Police Department adorn another.
Other interests for Simmons include weightlifting and taekwondo. Younger deputies find keeping up with their 61-year-old muscular sheriff—easily mistakeable for someone in his 40s— to be a Herculean challenge.
"I'm 46, and sometimes he smokes me in the gym," Hobbs said.
A desire to set an example for his deputies and always be ready when called upon motivates Simmons in the weight room. He sets the standard by pushing his body to the limits.
"I want my deputies to be able to jump a fence and help me out if I ever need their help, because I certainly will jump a fence and help them out if I need to," he said. "It's not something I get to do often, obviously, because I'm in the office a lot, or I'm in meetings a lot, or I'm talking to groups of people a lot—but I always have my radio on, and I'm always a step away from maybe jumping back in there."
Coach Simmons
Football is another passion of Simmons'. He is a diehard Notre Dame fan. A miniature Notre Dame helmet occupies the same shelf as the Lincoln and Washington bobblehead dolls in his office.
Simmons still tosses the football around with his two sons, whom he coached to five consecutive league championships.
"He won a ton," Hobbs said. "We were in a local business about a year ago, and a guy called him Coach Chip and said he went 30 games in a row without losing."
Those years coaching football partially motivated Simmons to establish male and female Blazer academies. The academies immerse 13-15-year-olds in mentorship and instruction on topics such as courtesy, empowerment, re -
spect and responsibility. Last year, his office expanded its efforts by launching the Dream Big Academy for children ages 5-11. The children receive specialized training and experience the life of a junior deputy.
"I've seen kids that I coached who were good kids end up being arrested and doing many years, dozens of years in prison," Simmons said. "You think, 'Where did that go wrong? What could we as a society have done to prevent that?'"
A framed photo of the inaugural 2021 Blazer Academy class hangs on one of his office walls. Simmons said some of his favorite memories since taking over as sheriff involve Blazer Academy students. He recalls riding the bus with the male students—dressed in blazers, button-up shirts and ties—to the Saenger Theatre for the graduation ceremony.
"I hear one kid look at the other kid and he said, 'Man, we look like a million bucks,'" Simmons said. "You could tell the sense of pride he had."
His smile fades as he recalls a telling moment with one of the female Blazer Academy graduates.
"One of the females got up there, and the question was, 'What do you want to be when you grow up?'" Simmons said. "Her only answer was, 'I want to be noticed. I want someone to know who I am, that I was on this and that I was here.' Sometimes, we lose sight of the fact that kids have a different thought process. They're still developing, and they're still learning and they're a sponge for information and for mentorship. The greatest gift I think we can give them is time."
Striving for Perfection
Simmons is readily available to the community. He greets everyone with a warm smile and firm handshake and listens intently to their concerns.
"I have never seen him turn down a meeting," said Whitney Lucas, his chief of staff. "He's the most accessible politician this community has ever seen. It's one thing to take a meeting and suffer through it, but he wants that engagement. He wants to know what we can do better, how we can improve."
Simmons is just as readily available for his deputies. Hobbs said he doubts a night passes without Simmons responding to a message. Simmons strives for perfection and settles for excellence.
"The standards the sheriff keeps are what everyone should aspire to," Hobbs added.
Simmons is an ideal fit as sheriff, but what about another political office? Congressman, perhaps? State senator or representative? Simmons politely says thanks but no thanks when contacted about possibly running for open seats.
"I happen to think that there's not a better position than the sheriff of Escambia County," he said. "You're really on the ground level, making an impact in the community that you love, the community that you have been raised in, in a community that you anticipate staying in."
Simmons continued, "You look at where you can make the most impact, and at this point, I think that is the sheriff of Escambia County." {in}
Congratulations to
Chandra Smiley and Natasha Howard!
It’s no small feat to keep a nonprofit healthcare system up and running — ensuring care is available for so many in our area who depend on it.
2026 inweekly POWER LIST
2. D.C. Reeves
Mayor, City of Pensacola
Evidence is all over the city that Mayor D.C. Reeves delivers on his promises. Simply navigate from the American Magic headquarters at the Port of Pensacola, to the Hollice T. Williams Stormwater Park, to the Pensacola International Airport terminal expansion, to the demolition at the old Baptist campus, to the New Palafox project. Other notable achievements by Reeves include delivering the city's first comprehensive strategic plan, "Strive to Thrive: Pensacola 2035," and enhancing public safety with record wages for police and firefighters and by creating a Community Response Team.
3. Dr. C. Edward Meadows
President, Pensacola State College
Dr. Ed Meadows is about to embark on his 19th year as president, with Pensacola State humming along as the epicenter of workforce development. PSC offers workforce development programs in just about every imaginable field, and Meadows is a master at forming partnerships with key stakeholders to ensure everyone in the region benefits. The PSC nursing program is another bragging point for Meadows. U.S. News & World Report ranks its Bachelor of Science in Nursing online degree program No. 46 in the nation.
2026
4. J.T. Young
Vice President & General Manager, Florida Power & Light Northwest Florida
Pensacola native J.T. Young, vice president and general manager of FPL's Northwest Region, builds trust through community partnerships. Through NextEra Energy Foundation grants, sponsorships and employee volunteer support, Young champions nonprofit partnerships in education, healthcare and economic opportunity. He co-chairs the Business Alliance and serves on several boards, including Baptist Healthcare, Health & Hope Clinic, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Habitat for Humanity. Young frequently speaks at civic organizations, keeping customers informed about FPL's value and investments in Northwest Florida.
Pensacola lawmaker Alex Andrade emerged as a force to be reckoned with during the 2025 Legislative Session. Andrade fearlessly pursued answers about financial irregularities concerning a Medicaid settlement and the Hope Florida Foundation. As chair of the House Health Care Budget Subcommittee, he has taken primary responsibility for crafting Florida's healthcare budget. His honors include the University of Florida Hall of Fame, Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division President's Award and being named "Legislator of the Year" by Associated Builders & Contractors of Florida.
5. Alex Andrade Representative, Florida House District 2
Thank you to Rick Outzen and the team at InWeekly for finally recognizing how powerful I truly am.
All joking aside, serving in this role as a State Representative has been an honor and a privilege. I appreciate the trust voters in House District 2 placed in me and hope that I ’ve done them proud.
To justify paying for this full page ad, I need to ask readers to support the following items.
1. Vote for Jon Fay to replace me as State Representative in August and November. He’s a good man and very sincere; I hope he outperforms me in every aspect in the coming years.
2. Look up the bills I’ve sponsored this year at FLHouse.gov then please write other representatives and ask them to support those bills.
3. You can also review our budget proposals at FLHouse.gov , please look them up and voice your support and opposition for the items in our proposed House and Senate budgets.
Most importantly, please pray for those of us in elected office. We aren ’t perfect and we often lack discernment. Getting elected officials to do the right thing often requires divine intervention; not because we’re bad people or anyone is intentionally corrupt, but because we’re still human and we just might not know the right things to do.
Finally, thank you to anyone reading this ad. Whether you’ve supported me, opposed me, praised me or criticized me, you are a part of this community, and I appreciate you.
Sincerely,
Alex Andrade
P.S. – I apologize for the lack of artwork, I ’m currently sitting on the House Floor doing the job of a representative, and I didn’t have time to create a better graphic.
2026 inweekly POWER LIST
6. Brandy V. McGraw
Pensacola Plant Senior Director, GE Vernova Onshore Wind
A supply chain executive with 20-plus years in the energy sector, Brandy McGraw serves as Managing Director of GE Vernova's Pensacola site—North America's largest wind turbine manufacturing facility with 450+ employees. The site recently completed production for the SunZia Wind Farm in New Mexico, North America's largest wind energy project, powering more than three million American homes. McGraw serves on the UWF Hal Marcus College of Science & Engineering advisory board and is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
CEO since 2016, Allison Hill is responsible for the daily functions of a $250 million, 2,700-employee human services organization that impacts lives in 14 states and Washington, D.C. The University of West Florida graduate is active in the local community. She serves in the UWF Executive Mentor Program, the UWF Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business Advisory Council and on local and statewide boards, including the YMCA of Northwest Florida and the Florida Network of Youth and Family Services.
7. Allison Hill President/CEO, LifeView Group
2026 inweekly POWER LIST
8. Peter Mougey Shareholder, Levin Papantonio
Peter Mougey is a senior partner at Levin Papantonio and is recognized as one of the country's preeminent trial lawyers. He is routinely called upon to try the most complex cases. He was one of the primary architects driving the $60 billion settlement with opioid manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies. In recognition of his long-term and sustained dedication to promoting the interests of Main Street, he received the Lifetime Distinguished Service Award from his peers. Peter and his wife, Katrina, are active in the community as founders of One Pensacola, which focuses on food insecurity by providing almost 200,000 meals annually throughout Escambia County.
9. Chad Henderson Founder/CEO & Managing Partner, Catalyst Healthcare Real Estate
Chad Henderson founded Catalyst Healthcare Real Estate in 2011 and has grown it into a national healthcare real estate development and investment platform with a portfolio over $2.5 billion in completed and active investments across 23 states. In partnership with Dr. James Andrews, he serves as a board member and investor in Andrews Medicine and founded Andrews Athlete to advance athlete-centric care models. Beyond healthcare, Henderson is the visionary and primary investor behind transformative Northwest Florida developments, including Outlying Fields, the East Garden District and Ransley Station. He has been recognized as a Florida Trend Top 500 executive and 2023 Healthcare Real Estate Executive of the Year.
Well done, Hong!
Thank you for making a difference.
Florida Blue is thrilled to congratulate our very own Hong Potomski, Market Leader, for being named to Inweekly’s 2026 Power List. This prestigious recognition is a testament to Hong’s tireless efforts and dedication to shaping the Pensacola community.
For more than 80 years, Florida Blue has been committed to helping Floridians with health solutions to support a healthier life. With our partners, we will continue to serve more than six million members in the state we love to call home. We are proud to have leaders like Hong who embody our mission and make a lasting impact in northwest Florida.
2026 inweekly POWER LIST
10.
David Deliman Market Vice President, Cox Communications
David Deliman has been responsible for Cox Communications' operations in Northwest Florida since 2016. He is extremely active in the community, serving on the board of directors for the Pensacola Chamber of Commerce, Ronald McDonald House and Equity Project Alliance. Prior to Cox, Deliman served as a reporter and managing editor at WEAR-TV.
11. Bill Yarbrough CEO, Emergency Care Partners
Bill Yarbrough has led multiple healthcare organizations for over three decades. He is CEO of Pensacola-based Emergency Care Partners, a private physician group partnership that provides care to over 1.7 million patients annually through some of the country's largest hospitals and most well-known health systems. ECP has been recognized locally and nationally for its success and culture, winning Modern Healthcare's 150 Best Places to Work in Healthcare three years in a row, as well as EntreCon's 2025 Employer of the Year. Yarbrough is a University of West Florida graduate and has served on multiple local boards and community organizations.
Allison
President and CEO
Shawn Salamida President
2026 inweekly POWER LIST
12.
Marcus J. Michles II Founder/Managing Partner, Michles & Booth
Marcus Michles is a Florida Bar Board Certified Civil Trial expert and a member of the National Association of Distinguished Counsel and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum for Trial Lawyers. A retired Army captain and son of a 100% disabled Vietnam veteran, Michles and his wife Cindy founded the Michles Family Freedom Foundation, dedicated to providing financial assistance and professional services to families of law enforcement, first responders and military members killed or injured in the line of duty. To date, the Foundation has also awarded $50,000 in college scholarships named in honor of Michles' father, Maj. Marcus R. Michles.
13.
Robert Rinke Owner/Broker, Levin Rinke Realty
Robert Rinke is in charge of the No. 1 independent real estate brokerage in the area, selling over $5 billion in real estate over the past 30 years. He and his partners have improved the quality of life for locals and tourists by developing over 1,000 resort condominiums including the Portofino towers on Pensacola Beach. Growing up in California, Rinke developed a passion for surfing. He is just as comfortable in the water as in the office.
14.
Don Gaetz
Senator, Florida Senate District 1
The former Senate president returned in 2024 after an eight-year hiatus and has found that his voice still carries tremendous weight at the State Capitol. Arguably, no senator takes bigger swings than Don Gaetz. Just ask the electric and property insurance companies that he challenges to justify their rate increases. Gaetz extended his swing to school choice this session. The Senate unanimously approved his bill, passing sweeping reform legislation after a damning state audit revealed widespread problems with the state's universal scholarship programs.
15. Julian MacQueen
Chairman & Founder, Innisfree Hotels
Julian MacQueen founded Innisfree Hotels nearly 40 years ago. He still serves as its chairman, but his primary focus is on philanthropy. He and his wife Kim better the community by supporting the Dixon School of Arts and Sciences, Escambia Children's Trust, the Equity Project Alliance, From the Ground Up Community Garden, The Hive, and Independence for the Blind and Parent University. MacQueen attributes his generosity to the Bahá'í Faith, a religion that emphasizes the unity of all people and the establishment of a unified world order.
2026 inweekly POWER LIST
16. DeeDee Davis
Owner/CEO, NAI Pensacola Commercial Real Estate
A former Gulf Breeze High School teacher who earned the Florida Teacher of the Year Award, DeeDee Davis bought NAI Pensacola in 2013. She guides a skilled team of commercial real estate professionals in brokering commercial sales, leasing and property management transactions. Davis served in the Florida House of Representatives and co-founded the Pensacola International Film Festival. Her affiliations include past board member of the University of West Florida Foundation, past chair of the Board of Directors of the Council on Aging and the Pensacola Redistricting Commission.
17. Aaron Watson Founder, The Watson Law Firm
Named one of the National Black Lawyers' Top 100 attorneys in the United States, personal injury attorney Aaron Watson founded The Watson Law Firm in 2016. Watson serves on the board of governors for his alma mater Stetson University College of Law, the American Association for Justice, Florida Justice Association and the YMCA of Northwest Florida. He and his wife Kimberly co-founded The Watson Family Foundation to provide support, mentoring and resources to local families. Their charitable activities include distributing over 1,000 turkeys and hams each Thanksgiving and hosting the annual Juneteenth Festival.
18. Britt Landrum III
CEO, Landrum
Britt Landrum III began at the family company in 1992 and served 25 years before being named President and CEO. His experience includes sales, information technology, operations and management. Landrum serves on the National Association of Professional Employer Organizations Board of Directors. He is the worship leader at Central Pensacola Beach Church, an accomplished musician and an endurance athlete who has completed multiple Ironman events.
19. Ted Ent
President/CEO, Innisfree Hotels
Ted Ent began his hospitality career over 30 years ago as a dishwasher at a state park. Today, he runs the day-today operations of a company with $1 billion in assets under management and properties in Florida, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina. His philosophy is "focus on the people first, and the profit will follow." Ent is active in the community, supporting the Hive Foundation and other philanthropic initiatives by Innisfree founder Julian MacQueen and serving on the University of West Florida Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business Advisory Council.
Moving You Forward
Gulf
Federally Insured by NCUA.
2026 inweekly POWER LIST
20. Ryan Greenhut
President, Greenhut Construction
Founded in 1946, Greenhut Construction reflects 80 years of building across the region. Ryan Greenhut plays a key leadership role alongside a seasoned management team, helping guide impactful projects in the medical, aerospace, educational and commercial sectors. His leadership emphasizes quality, integrity and strengthening the communities Greenhut Construction serves.
21. Tyson Lamond
Chief Operating Officer, American Magic
Tyson Lamond serves as Chief Operating Officer of American Magic and Chief Executive Officer of American Magic Services, where he leads a world-class highperformance organization at the forefront of elite sport and advanced innovation and technology. His mandate is clear: build, manage and continuously evolve a team capable of competing—and winning—at the highest levels, while translating that performance culture into sustainable commercial growth.
22. Justin Witkin
Founding Partner, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz
Justin Witkin serves as Managing Partner and Settlement Counsel for the firm, which marks its 25th anniversary this year. Under his guidance, the firm has grown from two attorneys and two staff members to more than 30 attorneys and 300 staff members. The firm has represented hundreds of thousands of clients over that period and recovered well over $10 billion for its clients. Witkin chairs the Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz Justice Foundation, which supports a multitude of local charitable organizations and sponsors the "Justice Scholarship," which has awarded hundreds of thousands of dollars to local high school seniors.
23. Daniel Souers
President/CEO, Gulf Winds Credit Union
President and CEO since 2022, Daniel Souers oversees 260-plus employees, managing more than $1.25 billion in assets and serving over 73,000 members across 75 counties. Under his tenure, Gulf Winds has expanded to include commercial business lending, introduced new construction mortgage loans, launched a free certified financial coaching program, broke ground on a new headquarters and has been certified Great Place to Work for consecutive years. Souers has also increased Gulf Winds' philanthropic investment with a banner year in 2025, providing more than 2,600 hours of team volunteerism and support for over 80 nonprofits across the region.
2026 inweekly POWER LIST
24. Scott Remington Shareholder, Clark Partington
Scott Remington possesses a wealth of legal expertise, practicing in the areas of probate litigation, business litigation, mediation and real estate. Remington serves as general counsel for Triumph Gulf Coast and the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. He has served as Chancellor for the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast for over ten years. From 2013–2022, Scott served as President and Managing Shareholder of the firm, overseeing five offices and 90 employees.
A banker invested in community development, Bruce Vredenburg is in his 18th year at Hancock Whitney and 15th as resident for the Northwest Florida Market, which encompasses Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties. Vredenburg currently serves as board chair and executive committee chair of the University of West Florida Foundation and on the FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance board of directors. He is part of the Business Alliance, which offers business leaders' insights and advocacy on commerce and economic development in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. Vredenburg previously served as board chair of HCA Florida West Hospital and Florida's Great Northwest.
26. Joe Zarzaur
Founder, Zarzaur Law, P.A.
Perhaps the most recognizable attorney in the panhandle, billboards with pictures of Joe Zarzaur and the catchy "I Hate Joe Zarzaur" campaign are seemingly everywhere. The personal injury attorney is among the 1% in Florida who are board-certified civil trial lawyers. His clients have received record jury verdicts in Escambia ($9.3 million) and Santa Rosa ($16 million) for injury and wrongful death cases. Zarzaur is active in philanthropy through the Zarzaur Law Legal Graffiti event and making direct gifts to Gulf Coast Kid's House and FavorHouse. He is also an accomplished Ironman athlete.
27. Bryan Aylstock
Founding Partner, Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz
Named a 2024 Florida Trend Florida 500 honoree, Bryan Aylstock made national headlines as co-counsel in the 3M case. Aylstock represented veterans who said 3M earplugs failed to protect their hearing during their military service. Aylstock won four of the first five bellwether trials before 3M settled, agreeing to pay his clients $6.01 billion. His memberships include the American Inns of Court, the American Association for Justice, the Florida Justice Association and the Florida First Judicial Bench and Bar Professionalism Committee Panel.
25. Bruce Vredenburg President, Northwest Florida Market, Hancock Whitney Bank
2026 inweekly POWER LIST
28. Travis Jones
Mill Manager, International Paper
Promoted to mill manager in December 2024, Travis Jones assumed responsibilities for safety, people engagement, commercial and operational excellence and community stewardship at the Pensacola Mill. Jones joined International Paper in 2005 in global technology. He held a variety of roles at the Rome, Ga., and Pensacola mills before being promoted to mill manager. International Paper is a trusted leader in corrugated packaging, dedicated to delivering innovative, sustainable solutions that strengthen supply chains and create lasting value.
29. Cyndi Warren
Local Partner in Charge–Growth, Warren Averett
Known for passionately serving clients, Cyndi Warren is an expert in individual and corporate tax planning and tax code compliance, specializing in the construction industry. She shares her expertise as a keynote speaker at conferences across the country. Her extensive community involvement includes co-chair and treasurer of Impact 100 Global Council, past president of IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay Area, University of West Florida Foundation Board of Directors, Ascension Sacred Heart Foundation Executive Board and Fiesta Pensacola Executive Board.
30. Stephen R.
Founder, Moorhead Law Group
For nearly four decades, Stephen Moorhead has been rooted in real estate law, civic leadership and long-standing community service in his beloved hometown, Pensacola. Moorhead founded Clear Title in 2014 and Moorhead Law Group in 2019. The firm has had phenomenal growth, adding a second office in Santa Rosa Beach. Involvement in charitable and civic boards has been particularly important to him. Moorhead maintains deep professional and personal ties to the community he serves with integrity, perspective and commitment.
31. Brian Barr
President of the Levin Papantonio law firm, Brian Barr leads one of the nation's premier law firms focused on bringing justice and accountability to injured victims throughout the United States and here in Pensacola. Barr recently led the effort to secure justice for victims of Skanska's escaped barges, serving as trial counsel in multiple successful trials. He is presently representing military veterans injured by their toxic exposure to the water at Camp Lejeune as a lead member of the team attempting to negotiate a resolution with the Department of Justice.
Moorhead
President, Levin Papantonio
2026 inweekly POWER LIST
32. Hong Potomski
Market President–Northwest Florida, Florida Blue
Hong Potomski is a visionary leader with a passion for building healthy communities. As Florida Blue's Northwest Market President, she spearheads market strategy across the Panhandle, focusing on improving the health and well-being of the communities served. Her dedication to collaboration and improving health literacy and access to affordable, quality care is unwavering. Potomski holds leadership roles on numerous boards, including the American College of Health Executives North Florida Chapter, Florida's Great Northwest, UWF Usha Kundu, MD College of Health and Pace Center for Girls.
33. John Adams
Pensacola Managing Shareholder, GrayRobinson
One of fewer than 70 members of the Florida Bar to hold dual board certifications in civil trial and business litigation, John Adams is a force in the legal profession. In addition to extensive trial experience in his litigation practice, Adams provides strategic counsel on real estate and business transactions, trust matters, probate matters and guardianship proceedings. He serves as general counsel for Gulf Coast Kid's House and is an adjunct professor at UWF.
34. Lee Bell
President, Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund
Owning and promoting the strategic vision of Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund, Lee Bell leads the 80-plus year-old accounting and consulting firm. Saltmarsh is one of the largest firms in the Southeast and provides accounting, tax and advisory/consulting services to clients throughout the U.S. Bell plays integral roles in firm practices, serving highly regulated industries including financial institutions and healthcare. His consulting background includes private equity matters, mergers and acquisitions, business valuation and litigation support.
35. Chandra Smiley
CEO/Executive Director, Community Health Northwest Florida
Driven by a desire to ensure access to quality and affordable healthcare regardless of financial circumstances, Chandra Smiley is in the perfect role overseeing the nonprofit Community Health Northwest Florida. Since Smiley took charge in 2014, Community Health has increased their number of employees, sites and types of services.
Smiley also serves on the Florida Association of Community Health Centers board, the Pensacola State College Foundation Board of Governors, 90 Works, the Continuum of Care Leadership Council, the Northwest Florida Area Agency on Aging, the UWF Health Advisory Committee, and is chair of the Northwest Florida Health Council.
WHERE LOCAL INSIGHT MEETS LASTING VALUE
GUIDING COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DECISIONS WITH LOCAL INSIGHT AND EXPERIENCE.
Congratulations to Michael Carro, CCIM for being named to Inweekly’s 2026 Power List
THE 2026 inweekly POWER LIST
1. Chip Simmons, Sheriff, Escambia County
2. D.C. Reeves, Mayor, City of Pensacola
3. Dr. C. Edward Meadows, President, Pensacola State College
4. J.T. Young, Vice President & General Manager, Florida Power & Light Northwest Florida
5. Alex Andrade, Representative, Florida House District 2
6. Brandy V. McGraw, Pensacola Plant Senior Director, GE Vernova Onshore Wind
7. Allison Hill, President/CEO, LifeView Group
8. Peter Mougey, Shareholder, Levin Papantonio
9. Chad Henderson, Founder/CEO & Managing Partner, Catalyst HRE
10. David Deliman, Market Vice President, Cox Communications
11. Bill Yarbrough, CEO, Emergency Care Partners
12. Marcus J. Michles II, Founder/ Managing Partner, Michles & Booth
13. Robert Rinke, Owner/Broker, Levin Rinke Realty
96. Michael Kimberl, Director, Alfred Washburn Center
97. Robin & Lloyd Reshard, Founders, Kukua Institute
98. Taxie Lambert, Founder, 4EVER DEZ Foundation
99. Dr. Justin Roper, Owner, INHER Physique
100. Anna Lochas, President, Pensacola Young Professionals
Impact That Hits Home
Congratulations to Billy Anderson on being named to the 2026 inweekly Power List.
True leadership isn’t just about influence; it’s about impact. Billy’s unwavering commitment to our community makes a tangible difference in Escambia County every single day.
We are proud to celebrate Billy and all the remarkable honorees on this year’s Power List. Thank you for leading the way.
Billy and Max
2026 inweekly POWER LIST
Power List Hall of Fame
The Inweekly Power List launched in 2007 with the mission of capturing the dynamic nature of influence in Northwest Florida in real time. We built it to change year by year, reflecting shifts in leadership, community growth and evolving influence patterns across the greater Pensacola area. Those who topped the rankings deserved recognition and a special place. That's why we established the Power List Hall of Fame—to honor those whose impact transcended any single year.
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. In 2022, the city celebrated his brilliance, showmanship, quick wit and philanthropy with the dedication of 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 presi-
dent 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 away in 2023. As president and CEO of the Lewis Bear Company, a wholesale beer distributorship founded by his great-grandfather in 1876, Bear played a major role in the area's economic development for decades, working with the Pensacola Chamber, FloridaWest, the Pensacola-Escambia Economic Development Commission, the 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 the 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 founder of The Studer Group has been a catalyst for Pensacola's renaissance— from championing the Community Maritime Park to bringing Pensacola an MLB Double-A team to investing more than $100 million in new office buildings and housing in downtown Pensacola to donating millions to local education, healthcare 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 more than a dozen books. "Results That Last" and "The Busy Leader's Handbook" became Wall
Street Journal bestsellers. His Studer Community 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, as well as 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 the Woodland Heights Resource Center. 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 innovation 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 becoming 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.
David Morgan (2013)
The unknown retired Air Force police officer and private investigator shocked the good old boys when he beat the well-financed, two-term 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.
Mike Papantonio (2014)
Considered the nation's top trial attorney, Pensacola's Renaissance man is a lion in the courtroom, the author of several 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.
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.
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.
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 and her husband, Quint, have made numerous sizable donations to nonprofits and local hospitals and funded several scholarships at the University of West Florida and Pensacola State College.
2026 inweekly POWER LIST
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 the Pensacola City Council. He sponsored the bill that created the Historic Pensacola Preservation Board, which has since evolved into the University of West Florida Historic Trust. Reeves chartered two federal savings and loans, three banks and one bank he took over—Liberty Bank, which became Hancock Whitney Bank. On Pensacola Beach, Reeves built the Tiki Motel, the 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 fourth term on the Escambia County Commission in 2024. 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.
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 soughtafter emcee for local charity events.
Troy Rafferty (2022)
Rafferty has litigated cases many saw as impossible and received numerous jury verdicts and settlements over $10 million. 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 attend-
ing the Dozier School for Boys. Thanks to his advocacy, the Florida Legislature approved $20 million for a fund to compensate the victims. Rafferty has since launched his own firm, Rafferty Domnick Cunningham & Yaffa, with offices in Pensacola and West Palm Beach.
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 Foo Foo Fest to promote local arts and culture. He has chaired Triumph Gulf Coast, FloridaWest and Escambia County Tourist Development Council. Bear gets things done, like his father, grandfather, great-grandfather and greatgreat-grandfather.
Dr. Martha Saunders (2024)
Dr. Saunders transformed the University of West Florida during her nine-year presidency, leading the institution to record enrollment, fundraising success and national recognition. Under her leadership, UWF became one of Florida's topperforming public universities and consistently ranked among the South's top public regional institutions. Colleagues described her as "inspiring, driven, tenacious, energetic and focused." Saunders brought decades of experience as a trailblazing leader, breaking glass ceilings across multiple states. Her collaborative leadership style and strategic vision attracted major gifts, including two $5 million donations that named the Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business and the Usha Kundu MD College of Health.
Belle Bear (2025)
This longtime Pensacola philanthropist and volunteer leader has achieved major accomplishments focused on building local nonprofits, leading women's philanthropy and steering multimilliondollar charitable giving in Northwest Florida. She is a founding member of IMPACT 100 Pensacola Bay and serves on the board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northwest Florida. She has been especially devoted to organizations serving children, families and those with special needs. In 2025, Bear was inducted into the Florida Women's Hall of Fame for her lifetime of service to Escambia and Santa Rosa counties. {in}
2013 HONOREES
Robert Hill
Quint Studer
Bentina Terry
Roderick Bennett MD, MBA
Alexa Canady-Davis MD
Lonnie D. Wesley III
Rana’ Marti
2014 HONOREES
Shirley Cronley
Gloria Clay
Grover Fields
Dr. Tara Gonzales
Cecily McLeod
Rick Outzen
Sue Straugh
2015 HONOREES
John Peacock
Captain Keith Hoskins
Dr. Ezra Merritt
Mamie Hixon
Aaron Watson, Esq.
Terry Levin
Jessica Lee
2016 HONOREES
Dick Appleyard
Robin & Lloyd Reshard
David & Belle Bear
Fred Levin, Esq
Fred Robbins
Linda Moorer (Sonshine)
David Hawkins
2017 HONOREES
Dr. Joyce Hopson
Troy Rafferty
Ronnie Cole
Harry & Evan Levin
Kevin Mair
LaRuby May
Dan Shugart
2018 HONOREES
Willie Kirkland
Janet Pilcher
Georgia Blackmon
Eddie Todd Jr.
Aaron Ball
Tia & Fred Robbins
Mark Faulkner
JT Young
Living The Dream
is Pensacola’s signature event for celebrating Dr. King’s legacy and a commitment to diversity and progressive leadership that promotes a more cohesive community. The 2026 Living the Dream Pensacola gala, held Saturday, January 17, at the Brownsville Community Center, celebrated local leaders embodying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy of service, unity, and community impact through a “Soulful Motown Night” tribute.
Distinguished 2026 Honorees
special teams. Honored for returning home to mentor youth and inspire resilience in his community.
Community advocate recognized for dedicated service and positive local impact. Celebrated alongside fellow honorees for advancing unity and uplifting Pensacola through her contributions.
LEROY WILLIAMS
Founder and president of the Pensacola Community Arts & Recreation Association (PCARA) since 1987. He has led youth mentorship, arts programs, tutoring, and violence-prevention initiatives, earning praise for decades of empowering young people and fostering community cohesion.
VIRGINIA BUCHANAN
Shareholder and senior litigator at Levin Papantonio in Pensacola. A top-rated personal injury attorney with over $500 million in verdicts/settlements, she was awarded the Community Service Award for her pro bono work, legal clinics, volunteering (e.g., Habitat for Humanity), and commitment to justice and civic engagement.
ELIZABETH EUBANKS
Lead Gardener and steward of From the Ground Up Community Garden in Pensacola. She has transformed the urban space under Interstate-110 into a vibrant hub for community building, sustainability, education, local art installations, live music, grief support programs, and healing initiatives.
philanthropists are honored for em bodying Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy through service, generosity, and leadership. By promoting financial literacy, entrepreneurship, mentorship, and encouragement, they uplift others, spread genuine joy, and inspire positive change across Pensacola and beyond.
FRED LEVIN WAY
ROBERT
HILL
Longtime owner of WRNE radio station and influential media figure in Pensacola. Received the Special Legacy Award for his enduring voice in local issues, community engagement, and leadership that has shaped the area’s public dialogue.
STUDER
FAMILY OF COMPANIES
Legendary Pensacola attorney, philanthropist, and civic leader whose legacy of generosity, community support, and service continues through the Fred Levin Way Festival and Foundation.
Accepting the award on his behalf: Brenton Goodman, Martin Levin and Marci & Ross Goodman.
ASHLEY ARMSTRONG
Pensacola attorney and justice advocate. Dedicated to equity, community leadership, and empowering the next generation through purpose-driven service and truth-speaking, in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s dream.
ADOPT AND SHOP AT KENDRA SCOTT Shop at Kendra Scott in Cordova Mall, 5100 N. Ninth Ave., 12-2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, and 20% of proceeds support adoptable kitties at Pensacola Humane Society. Details at pensacolahumane.org.
PET PANTRY The Pensacola Humane Society bi-monthly pet food distribution will take place 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25 at the Humane Society, located at 5 N. Q St. Details at pensacolahumane.org.
ANIMAL ALLIES FLORIDA BINGO Animal Allies Florida hosts bingo twice monthly at Beef 'O' Brady's, 1 New Market St., Cantonment (on Nine Mile Road near Pine Forest Road). The cost is 10 rounds of bingo for $10, with cash prizes for winners. Food and drinks are also available for purchase. For more information, visit facebook.com/animalalliesflorida.
ANIMAL ALLIES CAT AND KITTEN ADOP -
TION 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 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays. The ministry's food pantry opens 10 a.m. and also 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.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
ESCAMBIA RETIRED EDUCATORS AS-
SOCIATION The monthly meeting is 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 at EEA Building, 6551 N. Palafox St. Brunch is at 9:30 a.m., and the program and meeting are at 10 a.m. All retired education personnel and friends of education are welcome. Further info can be found by calling (850) 393-3091.
ARTS & CULTURE
TWELFTH NIGHT The University of West Florida Department of Theatre presents William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night." Performances are Feb. 20-22 with shows at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. All performances are in the Mainstage Theatre of the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, Building 82, 11000 University Parkway. General admission ticket prices are $7-$20 a person. UWF students are admitted free with their Nautilus cards. Tickets can be purchased online at uwf.edu/tickets.
SPEED FRIENDING AT COASTAL CAT
CAFÉ Make new friends and meet adoptable cats 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 at Coastal Cat Café, 1508 W. Garden St. Cost is $28 a person and $50 a couple. Details and tickets are available at coastalcatpcola.com.
BOURBON & BROADWAY Join Pensacola Opera for an evening of Broadway favorites paired with a curated, guided bourbon tasting from Old Hickory Whiskey Bar and catered by Culinary Productions 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 at the Museum of Commerce, 201 Zaragoza St. Tickets are $50$75 and available at pensacolaopera.com.
GALLERY NIGHT The next Gallery Night is 5-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20. on South Palafox Street. Details are at gallerynightpensacola.org.
PENSACON Enjoy the all-inclusive pop culture convention Feb. 20-22 at various locations in Pensacola. The main convention center is located at Pensacola Bay Center, 201 E. Gregory St. Tickets and details are available at pensacon.com.
GALLERY NIGHT, PENSACON, COWBOY CARTER DANCE PARTY There is something for everyone at Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. Dance party is 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20. Visit dorothyspensacola.com for details.
SUPERHEROES, SCI-FI & ART Pensacon showcase at Reverie Fine Art Collective 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20 located at 200 E. Garden St. Details at facebook.com/reveriefineart.
MAGIC AT THE GORDON Magician Nathan Nickerson blends sleight-of-hand, mentalism and storytelling in an intimate setting 7-8:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20. Located at 306 N. DeVilliers St. Details and tickets at nathannickerson.com/magicatthegordon.
THE BAPTIST TOWN QUILT: RECEPTION AND EXHIBITION The Kukua Institute hosts "The Baptist Town Quilt," a large-scale appliqued art quilt that tells the story of Baptist Town, a predominately African American neighborhood in Greenwood, Miss. The opening reception is 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20. The exhibition is 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 with a quilter talk at 2 p.m. Details at kukuainstitute.org.
JAPANESE FOOD & CULTURE DAY Join UWF World Languages, UWF students and community for a celebration of Japanese culture with cooking demonstrations, music and performances including Japanese traditional drummer Takumi Kako. Event is 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at St. Slyvester Church, 6464 Gulf Breeze Parkway.
POURS & ENCORES
Enjoy live performances from Pensacola Opera 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. Details are at pensacolaopera.com.
PENSACOLA HISTORIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY This monthly luncheon is 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at Sonny's BBQ, 6702 N. Ninth Ave. Lunch Buffet $15 at the door. The lecture topic is "Mystery at Green Pond," a 1917 truelife murder with Pensacola roots presented by Ronald Collins, author and guest. Call (850) 3933091 by Feb. 19 to RSVP.
HOUSE OF ANDROGYNY: HELLUVA HAZBIN II DRAG SHOW The show starts at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info is available at thehandlebar850.com.
PENSACON AFTER PARTY: WIZARD OF OZ THEME DJ set is 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. Visit dorothyspensacola.com for details.
CLOSING EVENT FOR CACONRAD 309 Artist in Residence CAConrad will have a closing exhibit 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 at 309 N. Sixth Ave. Details at facebook.com/309punkproject.
WEST SIDE VINTAGE GRAND OPENING Celebrate Pensacola's vintage resellers, local jewelry makers and artists. Grand opening is 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at 2729 W. Cervantes St. Details are at instagram.com/westsidevintage.850.
IMPROVABLE CAUSE PRESENTS: CHEESE FOR THE TABLE Show starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. An hour of improv where everything connects. Your suggestion becomes scenes, characters, and stories that weave together into something the cast doesn't see coming either. Each show is completely unique. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.
FEBRUARY BOOK CLUB: FIRST TIME CALLER Visit Coastal Cat Café and chat about "First Time Caller" while cuddling adoptable kitties. This book club discussion is for ages 18 and over. Event is 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26. Cost is $20. Details at coastalcatpcola.com.
HOT GLASS COLD BREW: 70S EDITION First City Art's next Hot Glass Cold Brew is 5-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 at 1060 N. Guillemard St. Tickets are $30 for members and $40 for non-members and includes a handmade artisan glass or ceramic cup and two complimentary craft beers or wine for ages 21 and up. Get tickets at firstcityart.org.
COACHELLA DANCE PARTY Visit Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. for a dance party 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27. Visit dorothyspensacola.com for details.
TAPE B PRE-PARTY DJS DJ set 6 p.m.-12 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 at Dorothy's, 309 S. Reus St. Visit dorothyspensacola.com for details.
GARDEN PARTY AT QUAYSIDE GALLERY Exhibit featuring artists Ellen Holland Manual Rivas at Quayside Gallery, 17 E. Zaragoza St. On view through March 30. A reception will take place 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22. Details at quaysidegallery.com.
LONG AFTER DARK: STORIES WITHIN THE COLLECTION Curated for this exhibition are pieces that form a visual chronicle of place, history, culture and community. It is on view through March 8 at Pensacola Museum of Art, 407 S. Jefferson St. Visit pensacolamuseum.org for details.
MICHELLE JONES: SEVEN SISTERS Inspired by Greek mythology and the jungle-like landscape of the Gulf Coast, Michelle Jones presents lush, vividly colored landscapes using mixed media. Exhibit is on display through May 1 at the Switzer Gallery at Pensacola State College, 1000 College Blvd. Details are at visualarts.pensacolastate.edu.
a&e happenings
THRIFT STYLE This new exhibit at Pensacola Museum of History explores the reuse of feed sacks to make clothing and other household objects. View the exhibit and explore the museum, 330 S. Jefferson St. Details are at historicpensacola.org.
FIRST FRIDAY AT BLUE MORNING GAL-
LERY Visit Blue Morning Gallery, 21 S. Palafox St., 5:30 p.m. every first Friday of the month for a reception with wine, live music and occasional artist demonstrations. Visit bluemorninggallery.com for details.
PENSACOLA HERITAGE FOUNDATION
LECTURES Learn Pensacola and Northwest Florida history through interesting, informal lectures every other Tuesday at The Wright Place, 80 E. Wright St. Doors open at 11 a.m., and lunch is served at 11:30 a.m. The lecture starts at noon and lasts one hour. Lecture cost is $5 for non-members and is free to members. Lunches are $12. For reservations, call (850) 380-7759.
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 stand-up comedy in open mic style 7 p.m. Mondays at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Follow BTB Comedy on Facebook for updates.
SCRIPTEASERS Join writers at Pensacola Little Theatre, 400 S. Jefferson St., for Scripteasers every month. Visit pensacolalittletheatre.com for details.
PENSACOLA CINEMA ART FILM SCREEN-
INGS Pensacola Cinema Art screens multiple films most weekends at 220 W. Garden St. Tickets are $10, and payment is cash only. Visit pensacolacinemaart.com for their complete schedule.
PALAFOX MARKET Palafox Market is 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays. The event features local farmers, artists and crafters on North and South Palafox streets 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 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 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 Para-
normal Investigation and Dinner happens inside one of Pensacola's most haunted restaurants with real 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. After 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.
LIVE MUSIC
DALTON WRIGHT TRIO, CODY BENNETT AND ASHTON & LEE Show starts 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info is available at thehandlebar850.com.
CLINT BLACK Show is 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details are at pensacolasaenger.com.
ROGERS, RICHIE & ROBINSON: CELEBRATING THE MUSIC OF KENNY ROGERS, LIONEL RICHIE AND SMOKEY
ROBINSON Show is 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details are at pensacolasaenger.com.
BLACKWATER HOLYLIGHT, RUFUS MCBLACK AND MARIGOLD'S APPRENTICE Show starts 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info is available at thehandlebar850.com.
PENTAGRAM STRING BAND, LITTLE FOOT, YES MA'AM AND GOODWIN RAINER Show is 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at 309 S. Sixth Ave. Cost is $15. Details at facebook.com/309punkproject.
A TASTE OF IRELAND: THE IRISH AND MUSIC DANCE SENSATION Show is 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details are at pensacolasaenger.com.
CAN'T FEEL MY FACE: 2010S DANCE PARTY Show is 9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at Vinyl Music Hall, 2 S. Palafox St. Tickets are at vinylmusichall.com.
MISMITHS AND BASILANTROS Show starts 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info is available at thehandlebar850.com.
UWF KAMERMAN PIANO SERIES UWF School of Music performance is 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway. The event is open to the public, but tickets are required. For more information and reservations, visit uwf.edu/cfpa.
ELVIS: IN PERSON FEATURING MATT STONE Show is 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22 at Saenger Theatre, 118 S. Palafox St. Details and tickets at pensacolasaenger.com.
UWF SINGERS: A MUSICAL JOURNEY The UWF singers will perform 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 at the Center for Fine and Performing Arts, 11000 University Parkway. The show is free, but tickets are required. For more information and reservations, visit uwf.edu/cfpa.
a&e happenings
OCEAN OF ILLUSIONS, TARCIL, ROTTED REMAINS AND BLOODRUSH Show starts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.
MATTHEW LOGAN VASQUEZ Show is 7-10 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Get the link to tickets at facebook.com/oddcolony.
PENSACOLA SONGWRITER ROUNDS SERIES FEATURING JACOB KYNARD, JAKE GOOBECK, ALEX HUEY, FRIENDSHIP STARSHIP AND HOST KATIE DINNEN Show starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 26 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.
FOOD + DRINKS
BLACK HISTORY MONTH AT FIVE SISTERS' BLUES CAFÉ Visit Five Sisters' Blues Café, 421 W. Belmont St., to celebrate Black culinary innovators: Hoppin' John by Edna Lewis from Feb. 16-22 and buffalo wings by John Young all month. Featured drinks include Nearest Old Fashioned and Uncle Kentucky's Mule (Nathan "Nearest" Green). Visit greatsouthernrestaurants. com for details and menus.
PENSACON FESTIVITIES AT PERFECT
DEADLY FISTS OF KUNG FU, SAFETY TRAINING, PALMMEADOW AND LASENTO Show starts at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.
EDDIE 9V FEATURING SOUTHERN MAGNOLIA Show starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, Feb 28 at The Handlebar, 319 N. Tarragona St. More info available at thehandlebar850.com.
MONDAY NIGHT BLUES AT SEVILLE QUARTER The Blues Society of Northwest Florida brings blues to Florida 7 p.m. Mondays at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Food and drink specials start at 8 p.m. Details are at sevillequarter.com.
PENSACOLA PICK NIGHT AT ODD COLO -
NY Music pickers of all levels are invited to play 7-9 p.m. every last Monday of the month at Odd Colony, 260 N. Palafox St. Bring your acoustic instrument and jam. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.
TUESDAY NIGHT JAZZ AT SEVILLE QUAR-
TER Enjoy smooth jazz with Melodious Allen and The Funk Heads on Tuesday nights at Lili Marlene's in Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Visit sevillequarter.com for more information.
ROSIE O'GRADY'S DUELING PIANO SHOW
Watch the famous dueling piano show 8 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at Rosie O' Grady's at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St. Doors open at 7 p.m.
OPEN MIC NIGHT AT GARY'S BREWERY
Open mic night is hosted by Renee Amelia 6 p.m. every other Wednesday at Gary's Brewery, 208 Newman Ave. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.
VIBE IRIE REGGAE: LIVE IN THE COURT-
YARD Enjoy Vibe Irie Reggae band 4-10 p.m. Sundays at the End O' the Alley Courtyard at Seville Quarter, 130 E. Government St.
LIVE MUSIC AT CALVERT'S Listen to live music 5-8 p.m. Sundays at Calvert's in the Heights, 670 Scenic Highway. Visit facebook.com/calvertsintheheights for details.
PLAIN The Pensacon fun continues through Saturday, Feb. 21 at Perfect Plain, 50 E. Garden St. Star Wars Trivia and Drink and Draw is 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19, Cantina Karaoke is 8 p.m.-midnight and Saturday, Feb. 21 is Hyperspace Rave Cave at Garden & Grain from 8 p.m.-midnight. A Galactic Bar Crawl takes place all weekend. Details are at facebook.com/perfectplainbrewingco.
PENSACON AT ODD COLONY Odd Colony gets in the Pensacon sprit Feb. 18-22 at 260 N. Palafox St. A special cask tapping is Friday, Feb. 20. On Saturday, Feb. 2,1 is Bilbo's Birthday Party and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, is second breakfast brunch with Globetrotter street food. Visit facebook.com/oddcolony for details.
THE FISH HOUSE CELEBRATES PENSACON Visit The Fish House, 600 S. Barracks St., where the restaurant will be transformed into Harry Potter's Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from Feb. 20-22. Enjoy photo ops and drink specials such as the Goblet of Fire available starting at 11 a.m. all weekend long. Visit greatsouthernrestaurants.com for details.
DOODLE'S DAY OUT Dog park, games and drink specials 1-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 at Coastal County Brewing, 3041 E. Olive Road. Details at coastalcountybrewing.com/events.
STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL AT GARY'S BREWERY Two days of fun including a petting zoo, vendors, drink specials and more 1-7 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21 and 12-6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22 at Gary's Brewery & Biergarten, 208 Newman Ave. Visit facebook.com/garysbrew for details.
FUNDAMENTALS: DUMPLINGS FOR DAYS Class is 2-5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22 at Pensacola Cooks Classroom, 4051 Barrancas Ave., Unit C. Sign up at pensacolacooks.com/classesand-events.
CHOCOLATE AND CHEESE FEST Fourth Annual Chocolate and Cheese fest is 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22 at Maritime Community Park, 351 W. Cedar St. Details and tickets at apexshowsandevents.com.
THE RAQ ROOM REVUE An evening of music and movement with bellydance artists and themed cocktails 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 at The Well, 42 E. Garden St. Details at facebook.com/thewellpensacola.
free will astrology
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 19
ARIES (MARCH 21-APRIL 19): Saturn has entered Aries. I see this landmark shift as being potentially very good news for you. Between now and April 2028, you will have enhanced powers to channel your restless heart in constructive directions. I predict you will narrow down your multiple interests and devote yourself to a few resonant paths rather than scattering your intense energy. More than ever before, you can summon the determination to follow through on what you initiate. My Saturn-inAries prayer: may you be bold, even brazen, in identifying where you truly belong, and never settle for a half-certain fit.
TAURUS (APRIL 20-MAY 20): I am issuing a Wow Advisory. Consider this your high-voltage wonder alert. Your future may offer you thrilling quests and epic exploits that could be unnerving to people who want you to remain the same as you have been. You will have a knack for stirring up liberating encounters with lavish pleasures and rich feelings that transform your brain chemistry. The rousing mysteries you attract into your sphere may send provocative ripples through your own imagination as well as your web of allies. Expect juicy plot twists. Be alert for portals opening in the middle of nowhere.
By Rob Brezsny
cheerful rebellion against conventional ways of organizing reality will spawn energizing innovations in your beautiful, mysterious life.
CANCER (JUNE 21-JULY 22): In falconry, there's a practice called "weathering." It involves regularly exposing trained birds to the wild elements so they don't become too domesticated and lose their wildness. The falconer needs a partner, not a pet. Does that theme resonate, Cancerian? Is it possible that you have been too sheltered lately? Either by your own caution or by well-meaning people who think they're protecting you? Let's make sure you stay in touch with the fervent, untamed sides of your nature. How? You could expose yourself to an experience that scares you a little. Take a fun risk you've been rationalizing away. Invite touches of rowdiness into your life.
LEO (JULY 23-AUG. 22): The loudest noise in history? It was the 1883 volcanic eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia, heard thousands of miles away. The pressure wave circled the Earth multiple times. I am predicting a benevolent version of a Krakatoa event for you in the coming months. Not literal loudness, but a shiny bright expression of such magnitude that it redefines your world and what people thought was possible from you. Can you be prepared for it? A little. You'll be wise to cultivate visionary equanimity: a calm willingness to stay focused on the big picture. I predict your big boom will be challenging but ultimately magnificent and empowering.
Like everyone else, we want to be appreciated. On the other hand, I have found that practicing an art that gets so much disdain has been mostly liberating. It's impossible for me to get bloated with excess pride. I practice astrology for the joy it affords me, not to garner recognition. So in a backhanded way, a seemingly disheartening drawback serves as an energizing boon. My prediction is that you, Libra, will soon harvest an analogous turnabout. You will draw strength, even inspiration, from what may ostensibly appear to be a liability.
CAPRICORN (DEC. 22-JAN. 19): There's a certain miracle you could really use right now, Capricorn. But to attract it into your life would require a subtle and simple shift. In a related development, the revelation you need most is concealed in plain sight. To get these two goodies into your life, you shouldn't make the error of seeking them in exotic locales. Ordinary events in the daily routine will bring you what you need: the miracle and the revelation that will change everything for the better.
GEMINI (MAY 21-JUNE 20): In Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks, you find anatomical drawings next to flying machine designs, mathematical calculations alongside water flow observations, and philosophical musings interrupted by grocery lists. He moved from painting to engineering to scientific observation as curiosity led him. Let's make him your inspirational role model for now, Gemini. Disobey categories! Merge categories! Mix and match categories! Let's assume that your eager mind will create expanded knowledge networks that prove valuable in unexpected ways. Let's hypothesize that your
VIRGO (AUG. 23-SEPT. 22): Buddhism teaches about "near enemies": qualities that may appear to be virtues but aren't. For example, pity masquerades as compassion. Clingy attachment pretends to be love. Apathy and indifference pose as equanimity. In the coming weeks, Virgo, I hope you won't get distracted by near enemies. Your assignment: investigate whether any of your supposed virtues are actually near enemies. After you've done that, find out if any of your so-called negative emotions might harbor interesting powers you could tap into.
LIBRA (SEPT. 23-OCT. 22): Many intelligent people think astrology is dangerous nonsense perpetrated by quacks. For any horoscope writer with an ego, this affront tends to be deflating.
SCORPIO (OCT. 23-NOV. 21): Mycologist Paul Stamets claims mushrooms taught him to think in networks rather than hierarchies. He sees how everything feeds everything else through vast webs of underground filaments. This is Scorpio wisdom at its most scintillating: homing in on the hidden circuitry working below the surface; gauging the way nourishment is distributed incrementally through many collaborative interconnections; seeing the synergy between seemingly separate sources. I hope you will accentuate this mode of understanding in the coming weeks. The key to your soulful success and happiness will be in how well you map the mycelial-like networks, both in the world around you and in your inner depths. PS: For extra credit, study the invisible threads that link your obsessions to each other, your wounds to your gifts and your rage to your tenderness.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV. 22-DEC. 21): The peregrine falcon dives at speeds exceeding 240 miles per hour, making it the fastest animal on Earth. But before the dive, there's often a period of circling, scanning and waiting. The spectacular descent is set up by the patient reconnaissance that precedes it. I believe you're now in a phase similar to the falcon's preparatory reconnaissance, Sagittarius. The quality of your eventual plunge will depend on how well you're tracking your target now. Use this time to gather intelligence, not to second-guess your readiness. You'll know when your aim is true.
AQUARIUS (JAN. 20-FEB. 18): Over the last 4,000 years, a host of things have been used as money in addition to precious metals and paper currency. Among them have been cows, seashells, cheese, tobacco, velvet, tulips, elephant tusks and huge stone wheels. I hope this poetic fact will inspire your imagination about financial matters. In the coming weeks, I expect you'll be extra creative in drumming up new approaches to getting the cash you need. Here are questions to guide you. Which of your underused talents might be ready to boost your income? What undervalued gifts could you be more aggressive about giving? What neglected treasures or underutilized assets could you use to generate money?
PISCES (FEB. 19-MARCH 20): Big bright transitions are at hand: from thrashing around in the educational mire to celebrating your sweet escape; from wrangling with shadows and ghosts to greeting new allies; from messing around with interesting but confounding chaos to seizing fresh opportunities to shine and thrive. Hallelujah! What explains this exhilarating shift? The Season of Dazzling Self-Adoration is dawning for you Pisceans. In the weeks ahead, you will be inspired to embark on bold experiments in loving yourself with extra fervor and ingenuity.
HERE'S THE HOMEWORK: What imperfect but pretty good part of your life deserves more of your love? {in}
BRIGHT IDEA Former college design professor Don Glickman was 93 and dying when he and his daughter discussed how he wanted to be memorialized, The (Spokane) SpokesmanReview reported on Feb. 9. Leah Glickman said her father faced his fate head-on: "We never used words in our house like 'he passed,'" she said. "We said, 'he died.' No one gets out of here alive." She and her dad came up with a clever idea: Send out postcards to family and friends, announcing his death. On the front is a photo of Glickman and the text, "If you're reading this, I'm dead, and I really liked you," with a small sketch of him that had become his signature. On the back, Leah wrote, "After 94 years on this planet, my dad has departed. ... In a last act of design and Glickman ethos, he asked that this postcard be created, photo and text chosen by him." Glickman died on Nov. 11. Former student Jason Snape, 56, got a postcard. "It made me laugh really hard because it was just so him," Snape said. "It's unusual, it's sweet, it's straightforward." [Spokesman-Review, 2/9/2026]
SIR, THIS IS A WENDY'S City officials in Gastonia, North Carolina, got involved after a video surfaced of someone getting a tattoo in a Wendy's dining room in the city, WBTV reported. The video was recorded on Feb. 5 from outside the restaurant and shows a man with his shirt off and another person sitting behind him, wearing blue gloves and holding a tattoo gun. A city official said an environmental health team member talked to the store manager on Feb. 6 and reminded them that the restaurant "cannot tattoo without a permit." For its part, the franchisee said they "took immediate disciplinary action to address the situation." [WBTV, 2/6/2026]
THE PASSING PARADE Residents of Stoughton, Wisconsin, have been complaining to police about someone using a city park as their toilet, WMTV reported on Feb. 7. The Stoughton Police Department said it had received numerous calls from citizens who found human feces and used toilet paper along a walking path in the park. Using trail cameras, police discovered the person was fouling the park in the early morning hours, then used a drone to catch a 46-year-old woman in the act. Officers say the woman is not homeless and doesn't appear to be mentally impaired. [WMTV, 2/7/2026]
AWKWARD Olympic gold-winning downhill skier Breezy Johnson was jumping around in excitement after her medal ceremony in Italy on Feb. 8 when the medal broke, the Associated Press reported. "It's not crazy broken, but a little broken," Johnson said. She's not the only Olympian to experience a medal malfunction. German biathlete Justus Strelow realized his bronze medal had fallen to the floor as he danced with teammates, and U.S. figure skater Alysa Liu posted a photo of her team gold medal detached from its ribbon. Chief games operations officer Andrea Francisi said they're working on it. "The medal is the dream of the athletes, so we want that in the
By the Editors at Andrews McMeel
moment they are given it that everything is absolutely perfect." [AP, 2/9/2026]
HAIR TODAY During a boxing match on Jan. 31 in New York, heavyweight Jarrell Miller lost his head—or at least, his hair. Fox News reported that as Miller fought Kingsley Ibeh, one of Ibeh's punches knocked Miller's head back, and his hairpiece flew upward from the front, revealing a mostly bald head. Miller ripped off the toupee and thew it into the crowd, where spectators posed for photos with it. Strangely, Miller said he got the hairpiece just two days before, after he accidentally washed his hair with "ammonia bleach" instead of shampoo. Miller won the bout in a split decision. [Fox News, 2/1/2026]
NOPE At Ershui Junior High School in Taiwan, it's not enough to be successful in the classroom, Oddity Central reported on Feb. 10. Before their graduation certificates can be signed, students must scale a 15-meter-high rockclimbing wall. The students take six climbing lessons each week in preparation for the test. The school says the training challenges students' limits and cultivates focus and physical coordination. [Oddity Central, 2/10/2026]
WAIT, WHAT? Christopher Carroll, 36, was suspended from his job as a paramedic with the Baltimore County Fire Department and is facing 23 criminal charges following inexplicable behavior at work and elsewhere, WSFA-TV reported on Feb. 7. Investigators said Carroll urinated in different spots all over his workplace, including on his supervisor's keyboard, in a pot of chili, in coffee creamer and in an icemaker. Prosecutors said Carroll "urinated into the ice, wiped on a scoop and used the scoop to mix the urine throughout the ice"—all while filming himself. Other targets were someone's ChapStick, a can of vegetables and a carton of orange juice. Officials believe Carroll was making the videos to post to online subscription services. He was de nied bail. [WSFA, 2/7/2026]
OVERSHARING Norwegian biathlete Sturla Holm Laegreid, who won bronze in the 20km individual event, stunningly announced in his postevent interview on Feb. 10 that he had cheated on his girlfriend three months ago, Yahoo! News reported. Through tears, Laegreid, 28, said he met "the love of my life" six months ago, then "made the biggest mistake of my life." He said his sport had "taken a back seat in recent days." For her part, the girlfriend called his revelation "hard to forgive. Even after a declaration of love in front of the whole world." Later, Laegreid told a group of reporters, "Maybe it was really selfish of me to give that interview. I'm not really here mentally." [Yahoo! News, 2/11/2026] {in}
