Destin, FL June 2024

ARTS + CULTURE

BARBER BY BLADE: HOW JOE

CLARK ELEVATED THE LOCAL BARBER EXPERIENCE

June: Men's Issue

It's June and all eyes are on Dad for Father's Day, but at Destin City Lifestyle we like to focus on all aspects of masculinity. In this issue you will meet a local family who exemplify the important role of father and son bonds with Jim and Brody Fish, you will experience the luxury of fine men's haircare with Joe Clark and will learn how men are breaking the mold by supporting women in financial planning with Mark Dutrum.

June 2024

PUBLISHER

Carmen Ionascu | Carmen.Ionascu@citylifestyle.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Josh Foster | josh.foster@citylifestyle.com

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR

Savannah Vasquez savannah.vasquez@citylifestyle.com

ACCOUNT MANAGER

Melanie Gray | melanie.gray@citylifestyle.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Robert Young of Forever Young Images, Shanna Magnuson of Davista Photography, Sean Murphy

We will also introduce you to a line-up of businessmen who are making positive changes in the community both through their jobs and volunteer work. Our community is full of amazing fathers, sons, brothers, husbands, friends and role models who all deserve a month to celebrate. So, here's to the men who have made a difference in your life. May they be celebrated this month and throughout the year for their hard work and dedication to making this community a better place!  CARMEN

Corporate Team

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson

AD DESIGNER Rachel Collins

LAYOUT DESIGNER Antanette Ray

Learn how to start your own publication at citylifestyle.com/franchise.

New Chef. New Menu. New Ovide.

Voted the Most Romantic / Best Special Occasion Restaurant in Destin, Ovide has found a new way to elevate your experience. Our new menu and weekly specials are thoughtfully curated with a passion for seasonality and sustainability. Enjoy your favorite coastal classics prepared with a southern twist.

Book an intimate date night for two, or large private parties for the perfect special celebration.

Located inside Hotel Effie Sandestin. Call us today at (866) 875-5856 or visit us at hoteleffie.com. Follow us on Instagram for exclusive events and mouth-watering specials every weekend.

Open to the public. Private parties accepted. Complimentary valet parking. Reservations are recommended, but not required.

SAVOR EXQUISITE CUISINE

inside the issue

city scene

1: Julie Carter and her fiancee Alexander Rieger. 2: Michael and Shelli Lyn Chinlund, Owner of Charcuterie By Shelli. 3: Employees of Smart Bank Destin. 4: Destin City Lifestyle Magazine cover reveal party’s guests at La Famiglia Italian Restaurant. 5: Bennett Stein owner at Stein Financial LLC, Sena Kown, Naddine Parker, Evgeniya Stetsenko, Greg Ganske. 6: Stephen Wright and Jessi Turnaugh-Rice from Renovation Flooring 7: Austin and Heather Moore. Photography by Robert Young -Forever Young Images

8: Destin City Lifestyle Magazine cover reveal party’s guests at La Famiglia Italian Restaurant. 9: Steve Franco, CEO at BeachWorx and Angela Cornner. 10: Owners of La Famiglia Italian Restaurant, Valentina, Michaela, Francesca & Stefania Tuzzi, DCL Publisher & Editor. 11: Guests attending to Destin City Lifestyle Magazine cover reveal party at La Famiglia Italian Restaurant. 12: The BeachWorx Destin team with CEO Steve Franco at center. 13: Guests attending Destin City Lifestyle Magazine cover reveal party in April. 14: Scot Andrews, Steven Franco, Greg Gansgke, Mike Chastain, Van Theodore. Photography by Robert Young -Forever Young Images

Design. Purposeful Planning.

Mark S. Dutram CPWA®, CFP®, AEP® President & Wealth Advisor

Jonathan Slater CFP®, Wealth Advisor

By Blade BARBER

How Joe Clark Elevated The Local Barber Experience

ARTICLE BY SAVANNAH VASQUEZ

PHOTOGRAPHY BY SEAN MURPHY

Sleek black leather chair, straight-blade shave, warm clean hot towel and shampooed head massage; this is the showmanship of Joe Clark of Clark’s Barber Lounge. You will find his chairs in unorthodox places such as Cadillac dealerships, a gym, and his flagship location modeled after a speakeasy. But Joe was not always this flashy, in fact, the way he tells it, he became a barber out of necessity. As a kid

growing up in Puerto Rico, Joe said while other kids played sports and video games, he taught himself how to cut fades.

“I come from a single mom and early on, I felt the urge to help her, so I started cutting hair,” Joe said. "I got good, fast and then my friends would come around asking for haircuts."

In high school, Joe started working in a barbershop and shadowed the number one barber in Puerto Rico, his mentor Bolivar. Although it was a humble establishment, Joe said that hometown barber shop brought in people from all walks of life. At the young age of 16, Joe was becoming a popular barber, brushing up with famous people from all over the island.

"People came into the barber shop from all walks of life," Joe said. "It was a really humble barbershop, the working man's barbershop, but the haircuts were really good. What made us stand out was that Bolivar had moved to Puerto Rico from New York, so he brought the city's influence to Puerto Rico."

At the encouragement of his mentor, Joe decided to go to barber school and get his barbering degree. Joe then traveled to big cities himself, barbering in New York and Orlando, learning to elevate his style to match the energy of his clients. He began to offer quality services to his customers such as a hot towel shave and hair shampooing, which had become uncommon in the barbershop.

“Hot towel shaves have always been part of barbering but in the 90s most shops were focused on volume. But around 2012, all the beards and mustaches and grooming became more popular, and that’s when we opened our Clark’s Barber Lounge."

In 2015, Joe and his brother JC opened their flagship location, Clark’s Barber Lounge in Fort Walton Beach and soon had more clients than they could handle. Joe called his barber friends from large cities across the country and convinced them to move to the Emerald Coast area to help him; he even brought his original mentor Bolivar to work in his shop.

“I guess I came at the right time, and I hit a niche because there were not a lot of barbers using straight razors, and doing long services, so there was really a bigger market for that,” Joe said.

With the help of social media, online booking services and word of mouth referrals, Joe started

attracting clients from Pensacola to 30A, and was soon asked to open shops up and down the Emerald Coast.

So just how did he end up with chairs in Cadillac dealerships? It was just one impressed client with a novel idea.

“The Step One Automotive CEO at the time was a client of mine, and he mentioned he had extra space in his dealerships. We set up two shops in their Cadillac dealerships, one in Pensacola and one in Fort Walton Beach."

After the success of the Cadillac dealership barbershops, Joe set out to replicate the idea in other out-of-the-box locations.

He next opened a barber chair inside of a club and then opened a location inside of Destin Health and Fitness. Now with four locations running strong, Joe said he is just focused on the next person in his chair.

"I love barbering and I can honestly say it saved my life," Joe said. "It's nice to be involved with the community, share memorable times with clients and see growth in the community. I keep barbering because it’s something I enjoy and there’s nothing like enjoying what you do and who you surround yourself with."

ARTICLE BY SAVANNAH VASQUEZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT YOUNG, FOREVER YOUNG IMAGES

Mighty Small But

If a quote could define Mark Dutram of Bayview Private Wealth, it would be Theodore Roosevelt’s famous line; “People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

This is evident by the fact that although Dutram is a highly credentialed financial planner and has 25 years of experience as a Wealth Advisor, he says relationships with his clients are first and foremost in the culture at Bayview.

“We work with about 100 families at our Destin practice, and that facilitates not only a great work life balance for us but is very intentional," Mark said. “The average advisor spends a large portion of their time trying to find new clients, but since we are intentionally small, we can use that time to add value to the families we have.”

Building familial trust among his clients has led to client relationships that stretch generations and beyond financial advice, touching all aspects of the lives of those they serve.

“Our families call us for everything such as which contractors to work on their houses," Mark said. "Between our 100 families, we collectively can come up with strong recommendations, while still doing the normal financial things such as investments, tax strategy estate planning, and building a legacy for the next generation.”

Bayview Private Wealth has three focus niche markets that work hand in hand. The first is serving military veterans, the second is empowering women, and the third is championing small business owners.

As an Air Force veteran who served in Special Operations, Mark said that he is passionate about helping service members achieve their financial goals. Mark explained that veterans often seek a second career after retirement or separating from the military, and many open small businesses. As for the focus on empowering women, Mark said that hits a personal chord with him as he was raised by a single mom.

“My mom was a single mother, raising five children and worked two jobs. That is my big why,” Mark said. “She was a teacher, and we now do a lot of education both with our clients and out in the community. Our practice is based around community and client events, and we try to engage women through the StrongHer Money initiative, which is about empowering women to become more financially independent and break down barriers that the industry has set up against them.”

In addition to StrongHer Money, the team at Bayview Private Wealth are very active in supporting local charities. The firm runs Bayview Hope Foundation which allows for charitable giving to deserving charities throughout the year.

“I do this personally, as I give a percentage of my income to charitable causes, so I wanted to do it professionally as well,” Mark said. “The funds from Bayview Hope Foundation go to nonprofit organizations and missionaries. Locally we support many organizations like the White Wilson Community Foundation and various veteran associations. It feels good to help make our community a better place.”

Mark holds various credentials such as a Certified Private Wealth Advisor CPWA®, Certified Financial Planner CFP® and Accredited Estate Planner AEP®. Everyone on the team is highly

Jonathan Slater

Mary Richards

Chandler Dutram

“Our practice is based around community and client events, and we try to engage women through the StrongHer Money initiative.”

qualified including Wealth Advisor Jonathan Slater CFP®, Wealth Advisor Chandler Dutram, who manages the St. Petersburg office and is currently in the CFP® program, and Mary Richards the Client Relationship Manager.

“There are lots of credentials in the financial industry, but there are only a few that are nationally recognized,” Mark said. “The CFP® is the standard for financial planning. Professionals must meet experience, education, training, and ethical standards and are required to operate as a fiduciary with their clients. The CPWA® certification is designed specifically for those advisors who work with high net-worth families. All these designations and qualifications serve to make us better at what we do.”

DISCLOSURE

Advisory services offered by Investment Advisory Representatives of RFG Advisory, LLC  ("RFG Advisory" or "RFG"), a registered investment advisor. BayView Private Wealth and RFG Advisory are unaffiliated entities. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where RFG Advisory and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure. No advisory services may be rendered by RFG Advisory unless a client agreement is in place.

FAMILY OF

LOCAL FATHER-SON DUO

Jim and Brody Fish are quite the pair. The Destin duo have a relationship that seems closer than most fathers and sons.

“We are more like brothers than father and son really,” Brody said. “We’ve been to concerts and restaurants and people always call us brothers.”

With nearly three decades of time together, Jim and Brody have built a strong bond over a love for classic cars.

ARTICLE BY SAVANNAH VASQUEZ PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHANNA MAGNUSON, DAVISTA PHOTOGRAPHY

“We have been to Barrett-Jackson, a huge car auction, twice," Jim said. "Until the past two years, we never missed a car show in Moultrie, Georgia; that was our thing, car shows. Brody likes the early ‘80s trucks and I’ve had seven first-generation Camaros."

Jim grew up on the Emerald Coast, having moved here in 1975 at the young age of five. He remembers biking to the Okaloosa Island Pier to fish before dawn, and remembers hearing all the hype when Jaws 2 was filmed in Destin in ’79.

“When I had my son, we named him Brody because Sheriff Brody was the character in the movie Jaws,” Jim said. “I was a

police officer when Brody was born. It was a really scary movie back then.”

Jim joined the military straight out of high school, and as luck would have it got stationed at home at Eglin Air Force Base. In 1990, he got out of the military and began his second career with the Fort Walton Beach Police Department. After eight years, he left the force and began his life as an entrepreneur with multiple successful business ventures in the hospitality industry including two baby equipment rental businesses and a commercial laundry business. Now a realtor with Compass, Jim says his lifetime living here and the

“We are more like brothers than father and son really,” Brody said.

relationships he has built in the tourism industry have given him a niche with shortterm rentals and investment properties.

“When I owned the baby crib rentals, I got into these multimillion-dollar homes and you get to see the taste of other people,” Jim said. “Now when people ask where the best place to invest is, I’ve already been there hundreds of times, I’ve been to every neighborhood there is from Panama City to Pensacola, so I know what people are looking for. I also own a condo so I not only sell condos, but I also live in one.”

With such a close father-son bond, you might think Brody would follow his

father’s footsteps into the military or entrepreneur world, but with a last name like Fish, Brody couldn’t help but follow his own call to become a boat captain.

“A lot of people think that my name is fake when they hear my last name. They think it’s a stage name just to get customers, but it does help out with reviews,” Brody said. “People often post online that they are fishing with Captain Fish. It helps me stand out.”

Jim and Brody also have the same taste when it comes to their favorite fish to both eat and catch. When asked separately both father and son answered that their

favorite fish to catch were red snapper and grouper. Both also answered that grouper and snapper were their favorite fish to eat, although Brody specified that his favorite snapper is Mangrove Snapper.

Now married with his own daughter, Caroline James, Brody says he is grateful for such a role model and friend he has in his father.

“He’s always dependable, not afraid to tell the honest truth that you need to hear. I really respect that about him,” Brody said. “So many people in the community know him, respect him and love him and it makes me proud of him.”

LOCATED IN GRAND BOULEVARD, SANDESTIN

Gourmet Food For Everyday People

ARTICLE BY SAVANNAH VASQUEZ | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT YOUNG, FOREVER YOUNG IMAGES

The Small Town Success Story of Blue Collar Cafe

If you had told Eli Mason ten years ago that he would own and run a restaurant that was listed in Southern Magazine’s Best Diners in the South, he would have laughed at you. But Eli of Blue Collar Cafe in Niceville has just that sort of humility about him. Although he went to culinary school and has worked his entire adult life in the food industry, he still places himself at the table with any one of his customers, a regular Joe making a regular paycheck; thus the name Blue Collar Cafe.

“My whole family are blue collar people, fishermen and restaurateurs, we have been here our whole lives,” Eli said. “I have always wanted people from all walks of life to be able to experience gourmet-style breakfast and coffee without having to spend a lot of money.”

Before opening his own restaurant, Eli managed kitchens, then owned fast food franchises, then oversaw large restaurant chains regionally in Florida and Texas. However, when diagnosed with a rare bone disease, he had to rethink his pace and landed with an idea for a coffee shop.

“I went through all these surgeries and it kind of slowed me down,” Eli said. “I had both hips replaced in 2012 and my knees and ankles replaced in 2013. I did not know if I would be able to do the restaurant business anymore, but I found a guy who was getting rid of his coffee equipment, and I thought it would be slow-paced.”

But as humble as he is, Eli can’t do anything halfway, so soon enough Blue Collar Cafe was turning heads. His homemade bagels and maple bacon, his house-roasted coffee and small-town charm caused his slow-paced idea to grow at gaining speeds.

“I have always wanted people to be able to experience gourmet-style breakfast and coffee without having to spend a lot of money.”

The most popular menu item by far, Eli said, is The Breakfast On a Bagel also known as The BOB. It consists of a homemade bagel with maple bacon and a cheese omelet. Bagel choices include everything bagels, poppy-seed bagels, garlic onion bagels, sweet bagels, and of course, plain bagels.

“Everything we do at Blue Collar is big, fresh and good,” Eli said. “We like to call it Texas-sized; our bagels are as big as your head! We have also never changed our prices for the 10 years we have been open, and we always kept the same top-quality food-wise.”

"We basically outgrew our Fort Walton location, and I started looking for places in my hometown of Niceville,” Eli said. “After Southern Living Magazine put us in as Best Diners in the South in 2019, it kind of blew up everything and we got a lot of attention from it.”

No longer a hidden gem, Blue Collar Cafe is known for its American staple breakfast specials where everything is freshly made and cooked to order.

Blue Collar Cafe is a true hometown success story, and Eli says he really owes it all to his family and community who have banded together to support his dream.

“It's a true family business, " Eli said. "My mother has been involved in the business from the get-go and my girlfriend is a big part of the business. We are part of everything here in Niceville. It took me a couple of years before we gained trust and regulars but it's now, truly a community restaurant.”

Men Making an Impact

MEET SOME DESTIN BUSINESSMEN MAKING A DIFFERENCE

ARTICLE BY SAVANNAH VASQUEZ

Brian Rabon30A Distilling

There’s something magical about the Emerald Coast; the way it brings friends and families together for some muchneeded rest and relaxation.

“When I turned 21, having a bourbon with my Dad and uncles on the beach was a rite of passage,” said 30A Distilling Co-founder Brian Rabon.

A couple of years ago Brian traded a more than 25-year career in Information Technology for Craft Distilling.

“When I sold my technology company, I was looking for ‘what’s next,’” Brian said. “I was a self-proclaimed chemistry nerd in high school, started college in Chemical Engineering, and recently had a best friend open a distillery. Craft Distilling seemed like a perfect fit and a way to exercise the more creative side of my brain.”

As a fitness buff, it was very important for Brian to produce healthier spirits; 30A Distilling Co is committed to only using natural ingredients like Chilton County Peaches. Also, Brian wanted to be connected to the local farming community and sources grains from Murphy Farms in Jennings, Florida.

“Just like fine wines have a ‘sense of place or terroir,’ so do craft spirits,” Brian said. “We work with local ingredients, minimally process them, and bottle them at the peak of maturity. You can really taste the difference between our craft and mass-produced whiskeys for instance.”

30A Distilling Company is located in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida just north of HWY 98 on HWY 393. Public and VIP tours are offered daily and bookable on our website at 30adistillingco.com.

Dion MonizHand

Arendall

Harrison Sal e

Dion is a partner at Hand Arendall Harrison Sale and serves as the managing lawyer for the firm’s Destin office. He practices primarily in the areas of real estate and business law. Dion is also President of Emerald Coast Title Services. He was named to Florida Trend’s Legal Elite in 2022 and has maintained an “AV Preeminent” Rating from MartindaleHubbell since 2013.

“I believe in giving back to my community to help make it a better place to live, work and play. Rotary’s motto of ‘Service Above Self’ says it best; giving back via time and/or treasure not only enriches the lives of others but also brings fulfillment to our own lives.”

Dion is active in the local community and believes in giving back. He is currently the Chairman of Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation, Vice President of Aletha’s Legacy, Area Governor for Rotary District 6940 (Area 5), Board Member of All Sports Association, founding Board Member of the Ellison McCraney Ingram Foundation, and a member of and 100 Men Who Care –Emerald Coast.

“Managing time between work, philanthropy and family is certainly a challenge. I’m still trying to find the perfect work-life balance and, honestly, I may never find it. I do thoroughly enjoy a good day out on the water and visiting the ‘kids’ at college to see how they are growing into adulthood and building their own success.”

Dion is married to his wonderful wife, Mindy, and has three great kids between them: Rylee, Maddox and Merrick. When he’s not busy working or serving the community, he enjoys spending time with family, boating and, of course, Bourbon.

“I believe in giving back to my community to help make it a better place to live, work and play.” Dion Moniz

Scot AndrewsPrime IV Hydration

Scot Andrews, owner of Prime IV Hydration in Destin, has a vast wealth of knowledge when it comes to brands. His first career as a brand consultant for Fortune 500 companies led him to easily recognize a good idea when he saw one. When he began consulting and speaking in the health industry, a brand caught his eye and he decided to spring into the entrepreneur world.

“Amy Meary, the founder of Prime IV is a biologist, and we are business operators that love great brands,” Scot said of him and his wife Donna. “Where healthcare is going is more self-care and self-help and IV therapy is the most efficient way to get the nutrients your body needs.”

With treatments spanning from athlete performance to immune system recovery, Scot said customized care plans are made for every client in order to optimize results. The quality of what they offer can be witnessed by the fact that in just five months, Prime IV has already built a solid client base.

“We make it a spa experience that makes it a very pleasant thing to do to get your nutrients,” Scot said.

In addition to his business, Scot is a musician and enjoys playing guitar and mandolin. He and his wife Donna love to dive and are excited to explore artificial reefs in the Destin waters. Scot is also eager to get involved in charity work with a focus on helping young people make wise decisions for the future.

“We want to give back to the community and really want to serve the community well,” Scot said.

“We want to give back to the community and really want to serve the community well,” Scot said.

Jason ShinholsterWhite Ox Construction Company

Jason Shinholster remembers starting over again. With just a backpack and a car, he moved to Destin for a fresh start. Thankfully with the help of friends, the once misguided young man found a safe place to live and work. Fast forward 10 years later and Jason is now owner of White Ox Construction Company as well as community outreach pastor for Watershed Community Church in Santa Rosa Beach.

“I made the vow that if I ever had the opportunity to give back and to give someone else a second chance that I would do it,” Jason said.

That’s just what Jason and his wife Jenna have done. Since launching White Ox Construction Company, Jason has intentionally hired men who have just left prison. As part of his ministry, Jason visits Walton County Correctional Institute to mentor men, many of whom struggle with the same temptations he once did.

“My work in my construction company aligns with my role at the church,” Jason said. “My focus is outreach towards people that are struggling in life.”

Jason is in the beginning phase of launching a non-profit that will provide transitional housing for men who have recently left prison. The idea came from his own story, and will benefit many of the men he currently serves as both mentor and employer.

“When these men get out, I can give them employment, but they do not have a roof over their heads,” Jason said. “We feel a need to provide a space for these men to move in, help build a work history, get mentored and transition smoothly into society.”

“I made the vow that if I ever had the opportunity to give back and to give someone else a second chance that I would do it,” Jason said.