Destin, FL June 2023

151 SNOWDRIFT RD

June 2023

PUBLISHER

Carmen Ionascu | Carmen.Ionascu@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Josh Foster | josh.foster@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Cheryl Forde | cheryl.forde@citylifestyle.com

Gentlemen's Issue

An inspirational man has the incredible power and privilege of shaping and mentoring the young people in his life to grow and mature in a multitude of ways. Whether he is a father, a coach, an uncle or a boss, being a role model and leading by example can make a lasting impact on those watching.

We can all probably think of a man in our life that has had a big impact on us at one time or another. Whether it was someone pushing us to be a better version of ourselves, or someone who sees the best in us, or someone we look up to for guidance, or perhaps someone we don’t personally know but that inspires us by their greatness, we can recognize the impact these role models can make our lives.

This month we are honoring men and their contribution to the betterment of our community. We are highlighting men who put themselves second, work hard and inspire others to do the same.

To all of the men out there that are making a difference in someone’s life, big or small, we applaud you. The lasting impact that you are making and the ripple effect that often ensues is worth it.

LIFESTYLE LETTER 6

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Savannah Vasquez | savannah.vasquez@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Josh Foster, Savannah Vasquez, Cheryl Forde

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Robert Young, Forever Young Images, Sean Murphy, Mirko VM Bertossi

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry

CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore

DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer

ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor

OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson

WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell

AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe

LAYOUT DESIGNER Antanette Ray

Learn

AJ’S ROCKIN-L

ARTICLE

BY

SAVANNAH VASQUEZ

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT YOUNG & SEAN MURPHY

Farm-to-table is the ultimate goal for quality restaurants and Alan Laird of AJ’s restaurants and AJ’s Rockin’-L Specialty Meats and Gourmet Market knows the reason; fresh food just tastes better.

“People talk farm-to-table; now this is my farm to your table. We produce what you want,” Alan said. “It’s pretty exciting to be able to walk into one of my restaurants and see my own products on the plates.”

CONTINUED >

Ranch talk with Alan Laird

Alan said that what started out as a hobby on his land in Florala, turned into a full-scale cattle ranch, honey and produce farm over the past few years. The Rockin' L, short for Rocking Laird, has now become the new focus of his business.

“I bought the ranch in 2015 and I had about 18 cows on it, but they were just pets. Then, when I married Heather, she’s from Kansas and it’s a big farm country so we decided to make it part of our life. We started raising cattle and now we have approximately 200 heads of cattle.”

On their 300-acre Alabama ranch, the Lairds raise Wagyu, Black Angus and registered Black Hereford. In addition to the cattle, the Lairds have about 100 beehives for producing local honey. On the produce side, the couple has cultivated more than 750 tomato plants, squash, zucchini, and a plethora of other vegetable staples.

“Everything we produce is free-range, organic, pesticide and herbicide free,” said Alan. “We recycle and reuse everything we can because we are trying to build a self-reliable farm. That is important for me about what we are bringing to the area, self-sustainable farms.”

At this point, Alan said his ranch is supplying about 60-70 percent of the meat and produce to his market and three restaurants, and the rest he sources from other local farmers.

In the future, he hopes to close that gap, but Laird said for now the thrill of bringing his business full circle from ground to plate is enough.

“There is enough meat and produce from the ranch to supply the market and plenty left over for the three restaurants,” Alan said. “We pick produce, we pull honey, and we deliver the animals; It’s just become a beautiful thing.”

After opening AJ’s Rockin’ L Specialty Meats and Gourmet Market about six months ago, Alan said the feedback on both his produce and his beef has been all positive.

“We get the most compliments on our meats and our hamburgers are praised heavenly and high,” he said. “I’ve been in the area with my restaurants for 39 years, and I’m proud of where we’re at. It’s exciting to offer farm-totable, and you know it’s always fresh.”

Alan said that he recently had a customer come into AJ’s Rockin’-L Meats and Gourmet Market looking for some fresh beef. A few days later the customer came back with his wife who then revealed that she had been vegan for 10 years due to the way her body reacts to most store-bought meats. She said that after some coaxing from her husband, she tried a bite of his hamburger, and immediately wanted more.

“I just thought it was pretty amazing that she was willing to try it,” Alan said. “Her husband said

“People talk farm-to-table; now this is my farm to your table. We produce what you want. It’s pretty exciting to be able to walk into one of my restaurants and see my own products on the plates.”

he would buy the whole store out just to be able to have meat with his wife. She said she tasted the freshness and the quality, and now they can enjoy this meal together.”

In addition to fresh-cut beef products, honey and produce, AJ’s Rockin-L also carries Boar’s Head meats and cheeses, house-made cakes and pies and to-go style holiday meals complete with sides.

“The market is a vehicle that if we want to bring in something special, we can try it here and really offer something different to the Destin area,” Alan said. “At the market, we produce big holiday meals and of course, carry some signature side dishes straight off of the AJ’s menu.”

Ranch life has been a welcome change of pace, Alan said. Something he is glad he found, especially during the pandemic years, and something he plans to continue to pursue and grow.

"I have a little bit of a different lifestyle now that helps both my personal well-being and my business,” Alan said. “The pandemic shut our meat market plans down for about two years, but we are finally catching back up and getting excited about it. It’s such a natural fit and truly raises the quality of the food we serve in the restaurants and what we have to offer to the Destin area.”

JOSEPH COGSWELL TALKS GUNS AND BUSINESS

A HIGHCALIBER GUY

ARTICLE BY SAVANNAH VASQUEZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT YOUNG, FOREVER YOUNG IMAGES AND SEAN MURPHY

Joseph Cogswell is one of those guys whose reputation precedes him. His business, Seaview Glass and Mirror, has been a beacon of quality workmanship and professionalism in the Destin area for more than a decade.

“I’m very obsessed with making people happy,” Joseph said. “There was a job we did on Old 98 that got national recognition from our suppliers. It was a custom shower, and the suppliers said it was too large and couldn’t be done, but I piecemealed it together and did it anyway. It’s a huge shower, so big we call it the car wash.”

Joseph has a thing for high-caliber workmanship. Over the past decade, in addition to growing his business, Joseph has become a connoisseur of historic and sporting guns. His first gun was a single-shot 20 gauge that his wife purchased for him as a gift. Since then, his gun collection has morphed into an obsession.

“I love big booms and big bangs, like anything I do in my life I go big or go home,” Joseph said. “I love higher-end firearms and I do prefer American-made guns. I’m just a patriot through and through and I feel like that’s important.”

Joseph also noted that firearms ownership brings with it a responsibility to know and follow the cardinal rules of gun safety along with safe storage practices. This includes the basics such as handling every firearm as if it is loaded, being sure the muzzle is pointing in a safe direction at all times, and never placing your finger on the trigger until the sights are on target.

But there is much more to know. A firearms safety course is a great starting place and further training is important for achieving competence and proficiency to avoid mishaps.

From his large collection of guns, Joseph said his favorite by far, is his pair of 1911 Nighthawk Customs.

“Part of the reason I enjoy the Nighthawk platform is because of their craftsmanship and the accuracy that comes along with them,” he said. “I love antique guns, 1911’s are considered an old man’s gun. I just love the feel of them, how comfortable and accurate they are.”

Sitting in his gun room, Joseph could talk guns all day, but he said he wouldn’t be sitting where he is today if it hadn’t been for the people that believed in him 11 years ago.

“In my early days, so many people saw something in me that I just couldn’t see. Influential customers encouraged me to go out on my own, and after a huge

amount of positive reinforcement, I finally did it,” he said. “Even though I don’t necessarily live in Destin, my heart is here, and my business is established here.”

Joseph went from subcontractor to business owner in 2012, successfully building his custom glass and mirror business from the ground up solely through customer satisfaction and word-of-mouth referrals.

From two trucks and two employees to his current eight service trucks and 15 employees, in just over 10 years, Joseph said he has the Destin community to thank for his success.

“I want Seaview Glass and Mirror to be a beacon of what it means for community to truly build your business, because we want to see other businesses grow and succeed,” Joseph said. “I want to see Destin grow and succeed and be the best it can be.”

JOSEPH COGSWELL OF SEAVIEW GLASS & MIRROR

Back in 2012, a business was started and a commitment was made: to serve the local community and put the customer first. What started out as two trucks and a few dedicated individuals slowly grew into what we are today, and all of it is due to satisfied customers spreading the word about us. One thing that sets us apart from the

others: we don’t advertise. Every job we get is from word of mouth, and that means everything we have is based on positive encounters and jobs well done. We don’t just service the community, we’re part of it. Thanks to this amazing community we have grown and, we sincerely hope, have helped you grow as well.

ABOUT SEAVIEW GLASS & MIRROR

“I LOVE BIG BOOMS AND BIG BANGS, LIKE ANYTHING I DO IN MY LIFE I GO BIG OR GO HOME,” - JOSEPH

Model S&W500 4”

S&W500 revolvers, like all modern revolvers, are a highly refined version of Samuel Colton’s Colt Paterson revolver, patented in 1836. The original revolvers used a .28 ball and percussion caps with five chambers in its revolving cylinder. Though tricky to reload and hazardous by today’s standards, it ushered in the age of the fabled “six gun”, a centerpiece of American history.

The S&W500 4” also sports 5 chambers, but power and velocity are maximized with a massive .500 S&W Magnum cartridge that delivers 2,600 ft/lb. of muzzle energy. Its two muzzle compensators reduce recoil and accommodate both lead and jacketed bullets. The overall length of this handgun is 10.25 inches with a 4” barrel. It is the “most powerful production revolver in the world today”.

NIGHTHAWK CUSTOM 1911

Nighthawk Custom offers a dazzling selection of 1911 pistols. This design was adopted by the US Army on March 29, 1911, and has stood the test of time. The 1911 was a semi-automatic Colt pistol designed by John M. Browning to fire the new .45 Automatic Colt Pistol (.45 ACP) cartridge. This design stood head and shoulders above the rest for reliability and has kept that reputation for over 100 years. Some versions of the Nighthawk Custom are chambered in 9mm with a lighter profile.

These 1911’s are beautiful collector’s items that elicit nostalgia for an American history that is relatively short, yet immeasurably deep. The 1911 was in service through some of the darkest times in modern history, accompanying Americans around the globe from WWI to post-9/11 operations.

Meet One of the Emerald Coast’s Brilliant Marketing Minds

ARTICLE BY CHERYL FORDE AND JOSH FOSTER PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT YOUNG, FOREVER YOUNG IMAGES

You may have noticed the massive Jeep Apocalypse 6X6 cruising around Destin, beautifully wrapped with a large “Five Channels” logo covering the vehicle. This is just one of the many examples of Jason Hall’s brilliant marketing abilities on full display.

It all started in 1999 when Jason became employed at a Chicago-based digital marketing company. In 2007, he launched his own agency that he named “Five Channels” to represent the five major domains of marketing. He operated as a one-man band until adding Brian and Tera to his team in 2011. Jason quickly gained celebrity in the industry and found himself published over 100 times across dozens of national magazines including Inc., Money, Fast Company, Entrepreneur, and Forbes. This recognition allowed him to work with huge national brands like the 497-year-old Beretta which was founded in

1526! The list also includes brands like Allied Van Lines, the National Dental Association, and New York Red Bulls pro soccer club. Five Channels currently works with over 100 businesses including local organizations ranging from the Destin Commons to the Destin Chamber of Commerce.

SEO is only one channel. Five Channels also manages paid traffic, social media, digital assets (such as video or content marketing) and PR campaigns. His agency’s approach of using these five marketing channels is perfect example of omnipresent marketing which translates to businesses receiving visibility across multiple platforms to reach multiple demographics. He has found that his team’s expertise in this rapidly evolving space allowed them to fine-tune each channel. And this is the secret to keeping his clients visible to the people they aim to serve. CONTINUED >

Jason Hall, Forbes magazine contributor & CEO of Five Channels talks about AI and marketing

Jason predicts imminent changes are happening in online search spurred by the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in marketing, especially with the growth of voice search. Many businesses will wake up to find their online presence has declined rapidly once these changes are implemented. If a business has not already implemented a strategy to combat this, it may find itself behind the curve and incur a financial cost.

AI has been already used extensively to quickly match shoppers with relevant products and services. Early search engines simply matched keywords. Newer search engines are more nuanced and include an analysis of many aspects of a business's overall online presence. This analysis is heavily infused with AI that can do the heavy lifting of sifting through the glut of information hosted on the internet to serve up relevant results.

Being able to speak a query has changed how a person approaches online search. Research has shown that typed queries tend to be quite telegraphic, including just a few keywords. With AI, many customers are shifting to a conversational approach to search. “Where is a shoe store near me that carries leather sandals?” Jason explains that longtail keywords need to show up in blogs and other online content. Wording should include phrases that people use when speaking.

"Rapid developments in online searches do require constant updates to marketing strategy. However, the heart of an effective marketing strategy that is always relevant is omni-present marketing, which is maintaining an active, online presence in multiple areas as we discussed earlier when describing

Five Channels,” Jason told us. One interesting Five Channels project highlighted the many different paths consumers take to find products and services. Five Channels thought it would be fun to film street interviews. They asked the general public a predictable question, “If you need to buy an item (for example, a television, socks, or jewelry), how do you search for it?” They expected a Google search to be the most common answer. Instead, the answers were completely different! There was a wide variety of answers - asking a friend, YouTube reviews, buying from a favorite social media reviewer. They ended up confirming the importance of omni-present marketing.

Ultimately, the goal is to have your business at “position zero”. If you are like us, you may be asking yourself, "What is position zero?” Position zero is the first slot in the search results – above the search results.  Jason wrote about this and the significance it has today in his most recent Forbes Magazine article  How SEO Impacts AI And Voice Search

In the past, it was okay to show up on the first page of search results. That doesn’t translate to a voice-driven search. Try it. After you ask for something, you are offered the number one answer. That’s the only result you will hear unless you ask for more.

So, in the Men's Issue, we wanted to feature the man who brings big marketing to a small town. With the evolution of everything in the business world, it remains crucial to evolve your marketing to maintain your digital market presence as our small town grows. Jason Hall remains one of the great marketing minds in the area.

“With the evolution of everything in the business world, it remains crucial to evolve your marketing to maintain your digital market presence as our small town grows. Jason Hall remains one of the great marketing minds in the area.”

FROM POSTER TO PORSCHE

ARTICLE BY SAVANNAH VASQUEZ AND CHERYL FORDE PHOTOGRAPHY BY MIRKO VM BERTOSSI

If you ask Nathan Lambert when he became a car aficionado, he will probably get a twinkle in his eye.

Nathan, owner of boutique real estate brokerage Lambert Realty & Development, says sports cars have always intrigued him.

“My mom used to tell me, ‘Cars don’t need to be fancy; they just need to get us from point A to point B and back again,’ but I just can’t help myself,” Nathan said. “As a kid, I watched James Bond and Magnum P.I., and those were prestigious men driving Ferraris and Aston Martins, and I just thought; Now that’s the way to live!”

Of course, prestige doesn’t come without years of hard work behind it, and Nathan’s story is no different. Nathan grew up in Northwest Florida and watched as the Emerald Coast took shape, growing from just a small fishing village in Destin to the large and sophisticated tourist town that it is today.

“I grew up in Walton County, my two brothers and I were raised by my mom and grandparents,” Nathan said. "I learned good work ethics, working summers on the farm with my grandpa. Now I take that same work ethic and apply it to everything I do.”

Growing up, Nathan said he always had posters of Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Porsches in his room, but he always thought cars like that were completely unattainable. But that’s where those hard-earned work ethics kicked in.

Nathan put himself through college, working in hospitality, and grew to love the fast-paced life of the people-focused industry. After earning his B.S. in Finance at the University of West Florida, Nathan landed a job as a mortgage banker. Although he enjoyed helping clients on the financial side of real estate, Nathan said most of his work was over the phone and he missed face-to-face interaction.

“Coming from tourism there were always events going on, to working in a bank, it was just a very different world,” Nathan said. “I like the freedom of working with my clients and being on my feet. Real Estate agents are on the go all the time and I’m way more suited for that.”

Nathan switched paths into real estate in 2007 and has now spent nearly two decades helping people find and buy, or market and sell beach properties along the Emerald Coast. In 2016, with the help of his wife and partner, Corina, Nathan branched out and started his own brokerage, Lambert Realty & Development. Together the couple has worked to grow the brokerage; bringing on a team of talented agents and striving to set the highest service standards possible. In the past few years, Lamberts Realty has added new construction project management to the list of services offered.

"It’s very satisfying for us to see a new-build project go from an idea to a design concept, to a fully

Nathan Lambert reviews the Porsche 911 Carrera S

realized and finished home,” Nathan said. “It’s a fun journey and a real pleasure for me personally to have the regular opportunity to help so many different people find or build their little piece of paradise here along the Emerald Coast."

Now, back to that dream of Porsches and Ferraris.

After years of hard work, Nathan now owns the 2020 Porsche 911 Carrera S. Here is his review of his prize car that went from a poster on his childhood wall, to a real-life hot rod.

WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PERFORMANCE METRICS AND FEATURES

OF THE PORSCHE 911 CARRERA THAT DREW YOU TO SELECT THIS MODEL?

I bought my 2020 911 Carerra S brand new about 2-3 years ago when they first released the latest generation of the car, which is known as the 992. The 911 is exhilarating to drive with a 0-60 mph time of just 3.1 seconds! It also handles like it’s on rails when going around corners, so I absolutely love it. My 911 Carrera S is rear-wheel drive biased and the engine sits in the back of the car over the rear axle. All the weight of the engine is in the back and that helps to make the power delivery to the road spectacular.

Over the years, the car has grown in size, which some purists do not like, but it has also continuously improved in terms of the power delivery, handling and pretty much every other performance metric that you can think of. Porsche designers often refer to the evolution of the 911 as having been a gradual refinement of the original design, rather than the typical total redesigns that so many other car manufacturers usually do every few years with their popular models.

For me, owning a 911 is sort of like owning a piece of car history. The silhouette of the 911 is actually considered to be one of the most recognizable shapes in the world. They all

embody the beautiful and timeless lines of the original 911, which believe it or not, was almost named the 901, but that’s another story for another day.

HOW HAS YOUR IMPRESSION OF THE 911 CHANGED AFTER BECOMING ITS OWNER?

My impressions of the Porsche 911 have only improved since buying it. I previously owned a 2016 C7 Corvette Z06 with the Z07 Performance Package. It was the most powerful and track-ready Corvette ever produced until the later release of the highly coveted ZR1. The Z06 was great for track day and going ridiculously fast, but it was not ideal for me personally as a “daily driver” type of sports car.

When I later bought my Porsche 911, I began to understand the real appeal of the car. Yes, it’s beautiful and fast and performs great both on the road and on the track, but it’s also just so well balanced and manageable as a daily driver with a spacious cabin, a large frunk -it's a trunk, in the front- and even two small rear seats in the back. The 911 just works better for me as a great all-around sports car that is actually usable on a daily basis. If anything, I’m an even bigger fan now than I was before I owned it.

WHAT’S ONE OF THE BEST PLACES ALONG THE EMERALD COAST FOR DRIVING A CAR LIKE THIS?

It’s fun to drive the 911 anytime in our area, even if it’s only at 45 mph and just down the street for groceries; yes, you can fit a lot in the Frunk! The curvy country roads north of the bay really afford the best nearby opportunities to enjoy the driving dynamics of the 911 though. I know of a few fun and isolated country roads nearby that can be fun for a weekend cruise. I enjoy pushing the car hard out of the corner and then reigning it back in again before you enter the next one, all the while constantly shifting the gears up or down as needed to keep the engine revving within the sweet spot that is known as the power band. That’s when you really feel the car come to life. It’s quick and agile and ready to thread the needle of the road for that perfect weekend drive. It’s a beautiful thing. Long live the classic, the Porsche 911 Carrera S.

ARTICLE BY SAVANNAH VASQUEZ

Local Athletes Championed by All Sports Association

MEN’S NON-PROFIT PROMOTES ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE

When it comes to good ideas the All Sports Association (ASA) has made the proverbial podium. The mission of the non-profit is to support local and rising-star athletes as well as youth sports programs in Northwest Florida. Since 1970, ASA has supported organizations like Boys & Girls Club of the Emerald Coast, Special Olympics Florida-Okaloosa and FCA Okaloosa-Walton.

Every February, ASA hosts an Awards Banquet honoring local high school, collegiate, amateur, professional, and Special Olympic athletes as well as champions of youth athletics. ASA also hosts an annual golf tournament fundraiser in July.

Former Dallas Cowboy Chad Hennings speaking at 54th Annual Award Banquet