View This Issue - Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce
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View This Issue - Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce
Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce your connection to the beach Community Workforce Education Florida Film Commission See & Be Seen Grand Openings Eye View Some Like it Hot July / August 2011 PCBeach.org 58003_Circuit Cover Jul-Aug.indd 1 7/6/11 11:11 AM Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce Community Workforce Education Florida Film Commission See & Be Seen Grand Openings Eye View Some Like it Hot 58003_Circuit CoverWrap Jul-Aug.indd 1 7/6/11 11:16 AM keeping u in touch 58003_Circuit CoverWrap Jul-Aug.indd 2 © 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. With or without wires, it’s what we do. Always. att.com 7/6/11 11:16 AM 58003_Circuit Cover Jul-Aug.indd 2 7/6/11 11:11 AM Beautiful Legs. Beautiful You. The Cosmetic Vein & Laser Center www.SkinAndVeinS.Com 12238 Panama City Beach Pkwy | Panama City Beach, FL 32407 Telephone: (850) 233-0264 | Fax: (850) 233-3113 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 3 7/6/11 1:12 PM PA N A M A C I T Y TOYOTA Where Relationships are born. Thanks to our customers, we’ve just received the 2010 Toyota President’s Award. It’s one of the highest honors for a Toyota dealership. It’s also a symbol of our continuing dedication to satisfying our customers - from the day that you buy a Toyota and for as long as you own it. From every department and every person at our dealership, we thank you. Please stop by soon and see the award our customers helped us receive. Panama City Toyota 4 959 W. 15th St. Panama City, FL 850.769.3377 panamacitytoyota.com THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 4 7/6/11 1:12 PM Sure you remembered the paper, pencils, and new backpacks, but did you get their eyes checked? Poor Vision can interfere with learning, school performance, participation in sports, and self esteem. Models: Jill Johnson & Graysen Gladden COSTA Kate Spade Flexon Kids Wear David Yurman BCBG Dior School aged kids who come in for their back to school eye exams during the months of July and August can enter for a chance to win a $150.00 gift certificate to our optical shop. www.eyecenterofnorthflorida.com 784-3937 Nine Doctors 1 Vision Yours! THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 5 5 7/6/11 1:13 PM Chairman’s Message Pana a y Be a s Ch che m om of C ber e o th ec onn THE C mer ma C ity mbe r of Com me bea yo H W 2 Shop0p10 Holiday ing Gu ide ch CCOOM MMUNIT Y EDUCAT A WORKF ION ORCE c es MILITA HEhAL Ch TH &a mWb e T RY ur ELr LN MEMBE o f ESC oS co nn GRAND R NEWS m m e r c e ec CAALLEENDDAOPENINGS tio ARR OF FA n t EVND FALL o tENTS IN PCLL B h e G r ea ter Pa na ma Cit CIR y B ea CUI e b e Vol 3 Issue Pana you ber/D ecem ber ma C ity r co n pril Mar ch/A Nove m T ac h 5 THE C 2008 rce you r to tconnec he b t eac ion h Th ober h Ch a IRCUI T The ce THE INGS D OPEN Beac 2010 nec PCB each Beac h Ch amb er o f Co m IRCUIT merc e com workmunit forc y e tion .org 2008 to t he bea ch of C Chamber ity Beach Panama C THE CIRCUIT COMM UNITY EDUC ATION WORK FORC MILITA Sp E RY TDC UP D Din DA TE MEMB ER NE WS GRAN D OP ENING CALE S NDAR OF EV ENTS Mak Resere Your va od tion Swimay To With Dolph in! Daily sh each featuri ows Dolph ng Sea L ins, opical ions, birds R , and m eptiles uch m ore! This co ark Ad missio upon n. is good for Cha mbe E U E ES S March/April 2011 Wee sstarted our July 4th activities with W he ceremonial c the changing of command N at NSA PC, with Commander Jessica Pfe ff fe Pfefferkorn heading to Belgium being relieved by Com om omm Commander Anthony Anglin. Witnessing these accolades and specific attention to detail in every facet accola was wa an incredible experience. Our military presence all allows all of us to enjoy the freedom that not everyone t world can relate to. Their dedication to our in the ccoun to preserve that freedom is admirable, and I country CUIT r of Com mer you r to tconnec he b t eac ion h d Ope S ummer is in full swing, and we are off to one of our busiest tourist seasons ever. Airport traffic is up and the roads are full, long lines line can be seen at the restaurants, and the the Gulf G is full of adventurers. Seeing thiss brings b this excitement to all of us in he business b the community, knowing that Paa Panama City Beach is the place to be rigg now! We are grateful for all of right he tourists t the who continue to vacation u and look forward to your withh us, ret retu return. ce salute you for the daily sacrifices that you make. Thank you to all of our soldiers and veterans as we celebrate this great nation. On the 4th, we enjoyed the Panama City POPS Orchestra’s Salute Our Troops, and veteran’s celebration at Aaron Bessant Park, prior to the fireworks display. Watching a display of that magnitude with my two daughters and beautiful wife made me take the time to realize how lucky we are to not only live in such an amazing community, but in this great country. We all get so caught up in the day-to-day business of saving the world that we sometimes forget the reason for the hard work, and that is for our families. I look forward to seeing you at upcoming Chamber events, such as the upcoming Second Annual Poker Tournament at Ebro on July 21, our monthly Lunch & Learn workshops, and Business After Hours events. I wish you all a prosperous and safe summer. PCBeach.org 2011 January/February .org PCBeach r 2010 1 /Decembe WORKF OR HEALTH CE “AIR & SE “SEE & BE A” “SOME LIK SEEN” GRAND E IT HOT” OP “OUT & ENINGS OF EVENABOUT” CALEND TS AR Robert Carroll THE CIRCUIT November THE CIRC UIT Nov ember/D ecem ber 2010 1 May/Jun e 2011 PCBeach .org Are rree Y You ou Connected to the Beach? Advertise your business in The Circuit! For Rates & Information Contact: Skip Alford (850) 628-3490 Cyndi Ainsworth (850) 691-6259 6 President’s Message President’ G rowing up and living all over the U.S., when people used to ask me “where are you from?” I would usually have some nonchalant answer or say, “Hilton Head.” But in this past month that has changed. For the first time in almost 47 years, I know that Bay County is sincerely my home. On June 7, my mother Sara Kathryn Vallely Culley passed away. It was her birthday; she was 75. Mom was one of the smartest women I have ever known, and she is absolutely my role model. My open-mindedness and spirit comes from my mother. The desire for my children to see the world, and see that people from all colors, races and places have been created equally….that comes from my mother. I’m very proud to be her daughter, and proud to be the youngest sister to three beautiful older sisters. This has been such a hard time for me, but I’ve received a large amount of love, support and understanding from everyone in our community – from our Chamber businesses to parents to board members. If there’s anything good to come out of this experience, it’s realizing that we all need to find a way to try to make the world just a little bit better place. We need to feel compassion; we need to enjoy our life, and the people in it. Life is very short. I want to make sure my children and co-workers and community know how much I love them. I think Mom would be so happy to know that my husband, children and I have real roots here. And knowing how proud my Mom would be of me makes this a little easier to swallow. I’m going to miss her. Beth Oltman, IOM THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 6 7/6/11 3:33 PM Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce 309 Richard Jackson Blvd., Panama City Beach, FL 32407 Phone: (850) 235-1159 Fax: (850) 235-2301 PCBeach.org 2011 Board of Directors Chairman of the Board Robert Carroll, McNeil Carroll Engineering Past Chairman Philip Griffitts, Jr., Sugar Sands Inn & Suites Incoming Chairman Paul Wohlford, Resort Collection of PCB Treasurer Karen Blackerby, Magnum Capital Secretary Derrick Bennett, Law Offices of Derrick Bennett, P.A. CPA John Johnson, Segers, Sowell, Stewart, Johnson & Brill, P.A. Legal Council Steven L. Applebaum The Board Lisa Adams, Thrive Partnership Jack Bishop, Breakers Mike Burke, Burke Blue Hutchison Walters & Smith, P.A. Ryan C. Davis, Regions Bank Ramon Duvall, Beachside Fellowship Pam George, Gulf World Marine Park Jorge Gonzalez, The St. Joe Company Darren Haiman, Nations Real Estate Amy Harris, Royal American Hospitality Annie Holcombe, Oaseas Resorts Kenny Jett, Bonefish Grill James Johnson, Knology Jayna Leach, Sterling Resorts David Lee, Pier Park Pete Mallory, L3 Communications Procter McInnis, McInnis Builders Dan Rowe, Tourist Development Council Cil Schnitker, Comcast Cable David Sheets, Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort & Spa Claire Sherman, Lamar Advertising David Southall, Innovations Federal Credit Union Honorary Board Members Mayor Gayle Oberst, City of Panama City Beach Dr. Ken Shaw, FSU PC Dr. Jim Kerley, GCSC John Skaggs, Naval Support Activity PC Janet Watermeier, Bay County Economic Development Alliance Chamber Staff Beth Oltman, IOM Marta Rose Jena Kimmel Skip Alford Cyndi Ainsworth Lindsay Dring Kristopher McLane Catherine Collins President & CEO Vice President Communications Vice President Finance Director of Membership Development Vice President Member Services Events & Programs Coordinator Systems Coordinator Executive Assistant/Member Services THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 7 7 7/6/11 1:14 PM THE CIRCUIT 2011 GOLD your connection to the beach july l august 2011 16 20 31 38 32 AIR & SEA 10 Air & Sea l Scientist to Receive Naval Research Award l Navy Teams Up with Local Academia l Unmanned Systems Success FEATURES Business Spotlights Eye View “Some Like It Hot” Restaurant Review Local Retailer Wins 2011 Retailer of the Year For Leadership 32 A Few Minutes with John Wheat 42 A Few Minutes with General Browne 45 Health Update, Kristy McKinney 12 16 26 31 NEW TRENDS IN BUSINESS 18 Top 5 Business Apps for your Phone 18 Ten Business Trends for the New Future 19 Hottest Small Business Trends 8 26 19 Top 10 Biz Tech Trends for the 21st Century 20 The F-Factor 20 Top Entertainment Trends SEE & BE SEEN 37 Airport’s First Anniversary 40 After Hours at Boatyard 41 After Hours at Wyndham’s Sky Bar COMMITTEES 44 Committee Updates l Navigator l H.Y.P.E. l Connections MEMBERSHIP 54 54 55 55 Ambassador Update Ambassador Spotlights Ribbon Cuttings New & Renewing Members 42 AROUND TOWN 46 46 46 48 48 48 50 50 Bay District Schools, Bill Husfelt Bay County Commission, Bill Dozier EDA Update, Janet Watermeier TDC Update, Susan Estler Florida Film Commission, Julie Gordon Gulf Coast Workforce Board, Kim Bodine FSU Panama City, Dr. Ken Shaw Gulf Coast State College, Dr. Jim Kerley EDITORIAL STAFF Editorial/Creative: Marta Rose Contributing Writing: Catherine Collins Staff Photography: Skip Alford Online Content: Kristopher McLane Social Media: Lindsay Dring Production: Boyd Brothers Printing Advertising Sales: Skip Alford Cyndi Ainsworth Distribution: Coastal Communications THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 8 7/6/11 1:14 PM WARM SUN. BARE SHOULDERS. AND A DRESS TO TEMPT THE BREEZE. It all awaits you at Pier Park, conveniently located across the street from the beach and directly across from the City Pier. 600 Pier Park Drive, Panama City Beach, FL 32413 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 9 7/6/11 1:14 PM u Air & Sea Panama City Scientist to Receive Office of Naval Research Award for Scientific Achievement Navy Teams Up with Local Academia to Put Science in Hands of Students N avy scientists and engineers, teachers and students from he Office of Naval Research has seBay, Gulf, Holmes and Washlected Naval Surface Warfare Cenington counties gathered June ter Panama City Division (NSWC 8-24 at Florida State UniverPCD) Scientist Dr. Ted Clem as the recipisity Panama City to usher ent of the 2010 Captain Robert Dexter Conin new methods of learning rad Award for Scientific Achievement. The at the 2011 STEM Sumaward ceremony is scheduled to take place mer Camp July 19 at the Office of Naval Structured Research’s (ONR) Manageto revitalment Information Center. ize students’ interests in The Conrad Award is named the Science, in honor of the primary archiTechnology, Engineering and tect who initiated the Navy’s Mathematics (STEM) career scientific research program studies, this two-week camp at the end of World War II. challenges rising eighth and Captain Conrad’s efforts ultininth graders to solve probmately led to the creation of Dr. Ted Clem is the Naval Surface lems with a no-holds-barred the ONR as the first federal Warfare Center Panama City Dihands-on approach. sponsor of science, and to the vision’s lead scientist for Magnetic Sensing and Buried Mine creation of the National SciIdentification. Dr. Clem conducts “Basically, we challenge ence Foundation. research, development, testing students through what’s and evaluation for NSWC PCD’s ‘Inquiry-Based Dr. Clem was chosen for his Intelligent Sensing and Irregular called Learning,’” said Ed Lininnovative achievements in Warfare Branch. senmeyer, Scientist and the field of magnetic sensing as applied to the detection of underwater Community Outreach Coordinator at Namines and underground facilities. He also val Surface Warfare Center Panama City continues to excel in translating novel con- Division (NSWC PCD). “Inquiry-based Learning is a teaching style where instruccepts into technological prototypes. tors act more like facilitators allowing stu“I have had the fortune to work for the U.S. dents to explore their questions and ideas, Navy in the development and testing of un- often through hands-on activities, experimanned systems for undersea sensing,” said mentation and research.” Clem, NSWC PCD’s lead scientist for Magnetic Sensing and Buried Mine Identification. Life Science Masters Teacher Linda Yori “The accomplishments recognized in this said this method of ‘hands-on’ activity-based award represent the culmination of superlative learning not only helped to more effectively efforts by a number of professionals at NSWC capture students’ curiosity, but also develPCD and other research facilities throughout oped a deeper understanding of how their the country over a number of years. I am hon- subjects of study impacted their lives. ored to accept the award on their behalf.” “For our Life Science part of this year’s The Captain Robert Dexter Conrad Award STEM Summer camp, we have students usconsists of a gold medal and a citation signed ing what are called seine nets to drag some by the Secretary of the Navy. It is an annual of the larger invertebrates and fish to shore award granted to an individual who has made for temporary storage in fish tanks. Here outstanding contributions in the field of re- they can record data about the different spesearch and development for the Department cies they’re collecting,” Yori said, adding the of the Navy. intent of the lesson was to impress upon stu- T 10 Rising eighth and ninth graders pull a seine net containing samples of local sea life to the shoreline at Florida State University Panama City’s campus as part of the 2011 Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Summer Camp. dents how the lives of humans and sea creatures are interdependent – essentially, learning about the food chain. “The late animal activist/environmentalist Steve Irwrin said, ‘You can’t preserve what you don’t love and you can’t love what you don’t know.’ Teaching students like this may inspire them to find different ways to preserve our food sources and oxygen,” Yori said. “These students are learning so much by doing this first-hand. For instance, how the phytoplankton in our oceans gives our planet more than 50 percent of its oxygen, which is more than the rain forests provide.” FSU Panama City STEM Institute’s Executive Director Ginger Littleton said this was the fourth year that the Navy lab had assisted with procuring funds through NDEP. “The students also continue to enjoy the hands-on learning and love working with Navy engineers and scientists who become mentors in their classrooms,” Littleton said. “These STEM projects don’t end at the camp’s completion either. The engineers and teachers are partnering throughout the school year to ensure the spark of interest is kept ignited. Because of this our students are gaining mentors with whom they can share interests about their projects, but also about their journey to become a STEM professional.” THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 10 7/6/11 1:14 PM u Air & Sea LCS Sailors Declare Unmanned Systems Software Suite a Success T he Littoral Combat Ship Mine Countermeasures Detachment declared the SUMMIT program a success at the Office of Naval Research Mine Countermeasures Science and Technology Demonstration on June 15. SUMMIT stands for Supervision of Unmanned Vehicles (UxVs) Mission Management by Interactive Teams. According to MNCS Robert Olson, SUMMIT basically consolidates multiple software suites, combining them into one user-friendly interface similar to a MS Windows-based operating system. “We have a seven-man watch team and this just gives us the ability to better manage our people while we’re on watch,” said Olson. “Basically SUMMIT allows us the opportunity to take the tasks that have been assigned to our seven-man team and share those tasks.” NSWC PCD Chief Technology Officer Dr. Sam Taylor said SUMMIT was successful when tested and used to replace the Navy’s present technology which is a set of individual operator control systems that require one dedicated operator per system. “For the past three to four days, we’ve been demonstrating the ability to use SUMMIT to control multiple vehicles with several operators on different control stations,” Taylor said. “SUMMIT has effectively allowed tasks to be handed off among operators which have been done successfully dockside during this unmanned demonstration. We’ve successfully done that here in St. Andrew Bay.” According to Taylor, the goals of SUMMIT don’t stop with success in shallow waters, but extends to deeper waters. SUMMIT can be used to control both unmanned and autonomous unmanned vehicles. v v v TOP: 2011 Office of Naval Research Mine Countermeasure Science and Technology Demonstration participants prepare to deploy the Reliant project into the Gulf of Mexico waters on June 13 - the first day of the 2-week, in water demonstration testing the latest MCM Future Naval Capability technologies; hosted by Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division (Photo by Ron Newsome). CENTER: The MK18 sonar prepares to launch off a RHIB. Active duty and reserve Sailors are working with civilian scientists and engineers to demonstrate the latest and Future Naval Capabilities in mine countermeasure warfare (Photo by Craig McDonnell). BOTTOM: The Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) Mine Countermeasures (MCM) Detachment, pause for a group photo June 15 at the Office of Naval Research MCM Science and Technology Demonstration. LCS MCM Detachment Sailors, pictured from left: MNCS Robert Olson; MNC James Knott; MN1 Chris Thompson; MN1 Daniel Gwilt; MN1 Kevin Harris; MNZ Alnesugi Rivera; and MNCS Chris Bender (Photo by Dan Broadstreet, NSWC PCD Public Affairs). THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 11 11 7/6/11 1:14 PM BUSINESS Spotlights Thrive Partnership The Institute for Sustainability, a division of Resource Associates Corporation, is pleased to announce Shane and Lisa Adams of Thrive Partnership, LLC have recently become certified members. Shane and Lisa partner with organizations to help solve business problems and achieve higher levels of success by implementing a sustainability strategy. “Sustainability is greatly misunderstood and often misused,” says Shane. “Many simply view it as a green initiative. That’s part of it, but it’s much more. When done correctly, it will improve your bottom line while helping the environment. Innovation, employee loyalty, stakeholder loyalty, improved effectiveness and efficiency, and a stronger bottom line are some of the documented and proven results from a successful implementation.” This improvement process quickly allows clients to become more successful in meeting their sustainable business goals. The Adams are uniquely qualified to help enhance and develop the people and business potential that already exists within a company, while helping an organization achieve its Corporate Social Responsibility. Lisa can be reached at thrivecoach@gmail.com; more information can be found at mythrivecoach.com. v v v Nuts About Southwest O n April 21, 2006, the awardwinning blog Nuts About Southwest landed on the blog scene, among the first Fortune 500 Companies to establish a digital presence. 12 Nuts emerged on the heels of the hit A&E show, Airline, which followed Southwest Employees as they navigated through crises and exhibited the best customer service in the business. Nuts About Southwest created a place for Southwest Employees to continue telling their own stories, in addition to major announcements and contests. The blog has been redesigned three times to keep up with the constantly evolving digital space. It’s still a hub for stories, but serves as a Corporate newsroom; a platform where we release videos and photos, in addition to prose. We then share that message on our social channels, and our customers hear from us directly. Nuts About Southwest has been named Corporate blog of the year several times, and was also inducted into the PR Hall of Fame. v v v Harbourage Yacht Club T he Harbourage Yacht Club and Marina is located inside the gated community of Dolphin Bay in a secluded inlet off St. Andrews Bay and West Bay. This is a water lover’s and boater’s paradise, featuring sugar white sand and emerald green waters. Surrounded by wetlands, the Marina offers a serene private environment and convenience to the entire Bay and Gulf of Mexico, which is just a short 15 minute trip from the dock to the jetty. The wetlands offer protection from storm damage because minimal wave action protects the docks reducing vessel damage. Visit TheHarbourageYachtClub.com or HYCMarina.com. v v v Panama City Health Club P anama City Health Club (pictured above left) is the premier fitness destination in Bay County. They have been in the health industry since 2002, so they know that achieving personal fitness is a unique journey for each individual. They provide a variety of fun and easy ways to attain your fitness goals. The club offers a 24-hour access co-ed gym with free weights, touch screen TV cardio equipment, and top rated strength training machines. They also have a women’s-only gym, innovative group fitness classes with dynamic instructors, certified personal trainers, an unbeatable child care center, and a smoothie bar. The staff truly cares about the wellness of each individual who walks through our door. Let Panama City Health Club help you achieve your goals, whether it is losing 20 lbs for a reunion or just being able to climb stairs in your house when you get older. Stop by for a tour today and receive a 5-day VIP pass when you mention this article. For more information call (850) 914-BFIT (2348). v v v Hope Abbott H ope Abbott (pictured above, opposite page) is excited about the increase in our local real estate market this year, and wants to yell from the roof tops, “Come and buy NOW!...prices are great and deals are moving fast.” The hardest part of selling real estate, she says, is when you put so much effort into finding the perfect home or condo and customers say “we need to think about it;” and low and behold, the THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 12 7/6/11 3:02 PM realizing it’s not the same buyer’s market as it was last year. The tides are turning and properties are moving at a rapid pace. Inventory is down and Hope is looking for new listings to sell. Hope, an International Property Specialist, describes herself as a visionary, unique and rare individual/REALTOR®. She has travelled to foreign countries for the past three years, sharing with investors the best kept secret in the world: Bay County, Florida. Hope has a passion to see the area develop and prosper. In addition to working hard in her business, Hope and her husband Lewis are planning another international event being held here in October. Hosting realtors and developers from around the world, they feel, will increase future business and tourist development in Bay County. You can view their website at InternationalWorldSummit.com. v v v Panama City Rescue Mission T he Panama City Rescue Mission has adopted a new strategy (among nonprofits) in the way they do outreach to the over 1,000 children identified as homeless by Bay District Schools. While many back-to-school programs seen nationwide lack the diginity needed to add value to the lives of those served, the Mission’s Klothes for Kids is different. In the old model, which has never been followed, either clothes were piled on tables where families had to dig for what they need, or sets were already made up and delivered to the families in assembly line fashion. In the new model families have the freedom of choices. Starting with the beginning, they can register themselves using an online system, or they Continued on Page 14 THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 13 13 7/6/11 1:14 PM BUSINESS can call or drop by to sign up. The Mission collects uniforms and after school donations and sets up a free store organized by color and size. Families are given shopping appointments and paired with a personal shopper to help them choose and pick out just what they need. It is all done with dignity and true hospitality. More info at pcrmission.org/k4k.html. v v v Better Business Bureau Y our Better Business Bureau is the trusted resource for unbiased information on businesses, providing the most reliable evaluations in the marketplace. Millions of consumers and companies rely on BBB to research local businesses. The power of BBB is now available at your fingertips when traveling or on the go with a mobile website. Coming soon, the official BBB iPhone app will feature the ability to search for local businesses. You can do this via your current location, display search results in list or map views, share a business’ BBB listing via email, Twitter or Facebook, read the latest BBB Consumer News on your iPhone, and provide the BBB Business Review. (The latter comes complete with BBB rating, contact info, BBB Accreditation status, consumer complaint history and more.) For additional information about the iPhone app, start with bbb.org. v v v Dr. Myra Reed D 14 r. Myra Ancelet Reed (pictured above, left) specializes in Internal Medicine and total health care. As a member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians, she has received special training in the medical treatment of diet, nutrition, exercise and behavior modification. In January 2011 she began offering additional medical weight loss programs; with the HCG Diet and Low Carb Diet, patients can choose a plan that meets their needs. Vitamins are available in the clinic including B12, Vit-D, Magnesium and CO-Q10. Additionally, Dr. Reed performs popular cosmetics procedures such as Botox, Dysport, Restylane and Juvederm, and she carries Obagi, Glytone and Skinceutical cosmetic products. Dr. Reed and her colleagues Barbara Lubin, MD and Marqueta Seeuws, ARNP provide complete physical exams for women and men, and school/sport physicals. The practice also provides EKG, Skin Biopsy, Mole Removal and Bone Density Screening for Osteoporosis. For an appointment call (850) 249-5000 or email docreedschedule@gmail.com. v Brent Garrison B v v rent Garrison (pictured above, center) is a local financial advisor with Merrill Lynch. He and his wife, Francine, moved to Panama City from Atlanta after spending six months in Argentina and Peru learning Spanish and South American culture. You are most likely to meet them playing tennis, golf, or eating at one of their favorite local restaurants. You might also spot them and their dog, Ramona, sailing St. Andrews Bay or anchored at Shell Island. Brent is the president elect of the Panama City Beach Kiwanis club and through Kiwanis volunteers monthly with local organizations including Beach Care Services, the Boys and Girls Club, and the Beach Library and Library Foundation. At work, Brent’s passion for education and personal service drives his focus on 401k plan administration. He works with local business owners and their employees to insure they understand their investment choices and how they correlate to today’s environment. He offers active wealth management to include 401k plan administration and rollover, individual retirement planning and banking services including loans and mortgages. You may contact him at Brent. Garrison@ml.com or (850) 913-2819. v v v Carr, Riggs & Ingram C arr Riggs & Ingram (CRI) clients receive a full range of innovative, customized solutions – including accounting, auditing, business consulting, litigation support, tax and technology assistance. With industry specializations in manufacturing, construction, healthcare services, governmental auditing and compliance, and employee benefits plans – the Panama City team anticipates and exceeds your business’ specific needs. From start-up companies to entities with billions in assets and revenue, their team is focused on improving your organization’s financial performance. In this ever changing economy, you need accountants who are available, accessible, and understand your unique THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 14 7/6/11 1:14 PM needs in order to help your business grow. Like you and your business, those at CRI are a part of this community. It has been said that “Teamwork divides the task and multiplies success…” Don’t do it all yourself, partner with CRI. cricpa.com. v v v A Gift Gallery for all of your Senses! Book That Condo A new vacation rental management concept has landed on the Panama City Beach. Book That Condo (Reggie Johns, General Manager, pictured above, right) offers condominium owners an alternative to the traditional commissionbased rental programs. This “out of the box” concept utilizes a fee for service system whereby owners pay a monthly flat rate. They provide the complete package of guest reservations, marketing, accounting, cleaning and maintenance. Vacation renters will find multiple options to choose from at competitive rates. Each unit is marketed individually across multiple platforms; allowing renters to browse their preferred unit. The company offers premium beachfront accommodations for vacationers, short-term, long-term rentals, corporate housing, military lodging and social groups. BookThat Condo is committed to giving each of their clients a service second to none. For more info visit their office location at 11828 Front Beach Road, their website BookThatCondo. com or call (850) 588-7414. v v v Snelling Staffing O wners Ruth and Larry Burton are proud to show the citizens of Bay County that they believe in the economy of the area by investing so heavily in their business. Snelling Staffing has been a part of Bay County for over 40 years, helping the leading businesses find the best employees. If you are an employer or job seeker and have not tried Snelling, you are missing out on the best resource for employment in the Panhandle. They can also help small businesses with work comp, payrolling, staffing and more. Snelling is proud to be Bay County’s only locally-owned full service employment agency. Our motto is, “We don’t have customers, we have partners who we share success with.” Call (850) 769-1441 today. v v v Handcrafted Jewelry • Unique Culinary Temptations French milled soaps • Pottery • Specialty Teas • Art prints Blown glass • Textiles • Gift baskets • And other clever things Blue Heron Fine Gifts Store Hours: Monday - Saturday 10am - 6pm Located next to Publix in the Breakfast Point shopping center 11260 Panama City Beach Pkwy. Suite 104 Panama City Beach, FL 32407 www.blueheronfinegifts.com • 850-588-8008 LIST OR BUY WITH LINDA KIRK START PACKING Linda Kirk, ABR,GRI Each office independently owned and operated Realtor linda .kirk@cbunited.com THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 15 15 7/6/11 1:14 PM Eye View What’s on your mind? N ew trends in business appear to revolve around technology. Though we are said to be in the Middle Ages of the techno-era, nearly every businessperson has a smart phone, every business has an app, and every individual has a social networking account. Facebook and Twitter are a time- and cost-efficient way for businesses to virally promote events, products and people. In one instant, you can market your business to millions of people all over the world. It is truly remarkable what the World Wide Web has done for businesses and the advertising/public relations world. But how about the ways these new trends affect our personal lives? My close friend, not to mention roommate, is getting married later this year. After work one day, she tells me, “I’m going to Paris on my honeymoon!” Where the normal reaction would be along the lines of, “How exciting, you’ll have a great time,” my response was, “I know, I read it on Facebook.” Social media websites like Facebook and Twitter have given people the impression that everyone else in the world actually cares about what they are doing…all the time. CNNTech produced an article describing the 12 Most Annoying Types of Facebook Users*. Everyone knows exactly who these friends are on their news feed. They include the let-me-tell-you-every-detail-of-my-day bore; the self-promoter; the town-crier; the TMIer; and, my personal favorite, the poor grammarian. The author of the article put it perfectly when he said, “Yes, I know the punctuation rules are different in the digital world. And, no, no one likes a spelling-Nazi schoolmarm. But you sound like a moron.” Granted, this qualifies him for Facebook classification as the crank, someone who constantly complains about others’ inad- 16 equacies. I will fess up to my Facebook persona – the lurker. I don’t post information as much as I admittedly stalk others. Status updates are only the beginning. I personally think Twitter is a better outlet for posting every thought and action of your day. On the other hand, Facebook, or as I affectionately call it Stalker.com, has literally morphed from a social networking site limited to college students to this unstoppable vortex of personal information available to anyone who wants it. The irony is that Facebook has completely dissolved personal relationships. You post all of your private information to develop impersonal associations. Take, for example, friends’ birthdays. It used to be that you had a little black book or calendar to write them down, or if you are like my mother, you have a keen ability to memorize them. Thanks to Facebook, you will know all 1,200 of your closest friends’ birthdays at the click of a mouse. This way, it makes it much easier to know when to pick up the phone and wish your friend a happy birthday… Only no longer do we actually take the time to call our friends and celebrate their being born. These days it is perfectly acceptable to post “happy birthday” in all-capitalized letters with one-million exclamation points and an emoticon smiley face to your friends’ Facebook wall. Somehow it has become gratifying to log on and see 462 new notifications on your birthday; clearly, love in its sincerest form. Speaking of love, one of my personal favorite Facebook updates is seeing that little red heart next to someone’s name telling me they By Catherine Collins are “now in a relationship with” so-and-so. Then 3 minutes, hours, days later that little red heart breaks in half and tells me that the relationship has ended. It is not the fact that the relationship ended that cracks me up; it’s that people feel the need to display it so boldly, especially when you’re a serial dater. There is always that one person who is in a new relationship what seems like every other day, further creating quite the reputation for themselves. But when the affection lasts, in life and on Facebook, there is no limit to the potential bizarreness. In May of this year, an Israeli couple who were so engrossed in Facebook decided to name their newborn daughter Like. For the non-Facebook users out there, instead of saying, “hey, I like what you said here,” all that is required of you is to click the word “like” beneath the post. The father explained that they chose the name “because it’s modern and innovative.” He stated that after much research, he found that no one else in the world is named Like, which was a major condition upon naming his baby. As if that weren’t twisted enough, the father says that “like” is the “modern equivalent of the name Ahava (Love),” further explaining that it is his “way of saying to my fantastic daughter, ‘love.’” He named his daughter Like to say that he loves her? This girl has a world of issues ahead of her. Simply for giggles: the couples’ other two daughters are named Pie, for their love of cooking, and Vash, the Hebrew word for honey. To each his own, I suppose. I only hope you “like” what I have to say. *http://articles.cnn.com/2009-08-20/tech/annoying.facebook.updaters_1_facebook-users-friendonline-social-networks?_s=PM:TECH Catherine Collins is the Executive Assistant to the President & CEO of the Beach Chamber. Eye View is her observations of everyday life in Bay County, Florida. THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 16 7/6/11 1:14 PM THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 17 17 7/6/11 1:14 PM New Trends in Business Business and technology have fused into one system, one conversation, and one strategy for one world. This is central to understanding the New Future. The era of the tech-savvy executive has arrived; new business models, processes and strategies are emerging, and the dot-com debacle is the first stage of a massive technology transformation in business. Will you be ready to meet the changes and challenges in this New Future? As you prepare for the next year, here are Ten Business Trends for the New Future. Courtesy of the Institute for Global Futures, globalfuturist.com Ten Business Trends for the New Future Top 5 Business Apps for your Phone Technology has provided a new world of opportunity to get us away from the desk and out in the world to have face time with your associates – and it sits right in the palm of your hand. Here are the current top five mobile phone applications to help you get business done when you’re on the move. 1. Splashtop Remote Desktop ($1.99). You can carry your desktop with you on your phone when you download this application. Gain access to all of your Microsoft Office files, Flash videos, music and more remotely with your mobile phone. 2. ScannerPro ($6.99). This app allows your phone to scan hard copy documents and send them in a readable format while you’re on the go. Whether it’s a business card, receipt, or notes on a classroom whiteboard, you can adjust the scanner to fit various sizes and produce 18 the clearest document possible without using an actual scanner. 3. Documents To Go® Premium – Office Suite ($16.99). Just like you’re used to doing at your desktop computer, you can create, edit and view documents in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint on your smartphone. 4. WorldCard Mobile ($5.99). Manage your business life more easily. With this app, not only can you scan business cards directly to your phone but it recognizes, organizes and syncs directly to your mobile contacts. 5. iSchedule ($2.99). This app is perfect for employees of a busy office. Staff members are given the ability to check, release or swap shifts, and make schedule requests directly from their phone. This allows more freedom for happy employees and less stress on the boss. 1. Innovations are about new business models, enterprise and marketplace collaboration, new leadership and knowledge engineering. 2. Knowledge engineering, the formation and networking of knowledge-that which creates results, is the true asset of the 21st century. 3. The capture and analysis of customer information about product/service use, needs, wants, desires and behavior is mission-critical to the enterprise. 4. The integration of customer touch points across all channels is essential to future success. Watch out for the breakdowns. 5. The capacity of an organization to understand the key trends that will shape the future of technology, customers, society and the marketplace will determine the survival of the enterprise. 6. More disruptions are coming in the form of emerging markets, electronic exchanges, security breeches, and changing customer demographics. 7. Human capital, the value of talent will be the most valuable resource in the 21st century. 8. Entirely new industries will be formed by innovations yet to be brought to market. Look for the health enhancement, interactive TV nanotech, and on-demand supply chains to emerge. 9. The New Future will need new leaders that are aware of how to attract talent, manage innovation, set high visions and execute profitably. There is a new paradigm about leadership that is emerging. 10. Sales Knowledge Management: Getting the right information to the right people at the right time so they can make the right buying decision–will be mission-critical to sales. THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 18 7/6/11 1:14 PM Hottest Small Business Trends about.com Trends are far easier to observe than time. Timing of entering into a growing trend market can be costly if the trend has yet to enter public consciousness. The best time to enter the market is when the trend is entering mass awareness so educating a market is less expensive. The following four trends were selected for longevity, market awareness and potential profitability. 1. Managing the convergence of 21st-century Power Toolscomputers, networks, biotech, and nanotech-will create the highest yield market opportunities for future business. 2. Shaping customer relationships and enhancing customer satisfaction through the use of technology innovation will be business-critical for every enterprise. 1. YOUTH MARKET The Y generation is a market force to be reckoned with. This power is why a small-town pop sensation, Avril Lavigne, can go from obscurity to the 5th most searched word on the Internet and move to the number two music spot on Billboard’s Top 200 charts. This power is also why the auto industry can expect peak numbers from 27 million teen car buyers, and 4 million new buyers, a year for the next eight years. A quick, trendspotting technique is to take a stroll to your local magazine rack. You can get a fast take on a market by looking at the thickness of the publication. Computer and business magazines, Red Herring and Fast Company, have thinned from an absence of advertisers. Take a look at the huge size of Muscle Magazine and Muscle & Fitness as the teenage bodybuilding markets have grown, so has the advertising. TOP 10 BUSINESS TECH TRENDS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY 3. Every business that wants to survive in the future must learn to evolve into an E-business: communicating, servicing, distributing, and marketing on the Net. 4. The convergence of the TV, computer, Net, and telephone will result in new business models, markets, and electronic channels that will revolutionize business. 5. The social impact of leadingedge technology on a longer-living, digitally savvy, globally connected marketplace will provide many new opportunities. 6. Real-time agility-how fast an enterprise can embrace leadingedge technology-will determine the efficiency, speed, and costeffectiveness of its operations. 7. High-performance education about leading-edge technology solutions will become a central strategy for all companies. Opportunities Serving the teen auto aftermarket with customization should be hot. Try the Classic Driving School, a unique, teen driver training experience with a Porsche. Youth sport supplements should continue growing but with fierce competition. Look for avenues in fitness mixed with extreme attitudes. 2. GREEN POWER The environment trend has been around and been a struggle for many companies, such as automakers with electric cars trying to capitalize on green awareness. The care of Mother Earth is still a big concern of society. Over 73% of U.S. citizens approve of the Kyoto agreement for countries to limit their carbon monoxide and greenhouse gas emissions. Although the United States has not signed the accord, countries like Canada that have accepted the accord will be a watch place for the impact. Continued on Page 21 8. Managing rapidly emerging technological change within an organization will be one of the central capabilities for everyone across the enterprise. 9. Technology-enabled products and services that incorporate deep customer contact, on-demand choices, and intuitive interaction will drive business success. 10. Learning to celebrate technology innovation, risk taking, and out-of-the-box thinking will be business-critical for the 21st-century enterprise. THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 19 19 7/6/11 1:14 PM The “F-Factor” That’s F for Friends, Fans & Followers who influence consumers’ purchasing decisions in ever-more sophisticated ways. smallbiztrends.com Consumers are increasingly tapping into their networks of friends, fans, and followers to discover, discuss and purchase goods and services, in ever-more sophisticated ways. As a result, it’s never been more important for brands to make sure they too have the F-FACTOR. Why is the F-FACTOR important to consumers? It offers the promise of a consumption arena* that is more efficient, more relevant, and more interesting than before, where consumers either had to spend endless time and effort on trying to discover the best of the best, or had to rely on sources that were distant, unknown or untrusted (read: branddriven), and therefore potentially unreliable or irrelevant. Of course, consumption has always been social: people have forever been influenced by what those around them think and buy. KellerFay, a U.S. word of mouth marketing research consultancy, estimates that there are nearly one trillion conversations about brands every year in the US alone. But, just as with so many consumer trends, while the core consumer behavior isn’t new, technological developments are unlocking new manifestations of that behavior, which here amplify its importance and impact. Indeed, the F-FACTOR is being fueled by new tools and platforms available to both consumers and brands, and by the sheer numbers of people now using and contributing to these tools. Just a few recent stats demonstrating the reach and power of the F-FACTOR: • The F-FACTOR is currently dominated by Facebook, as over 500 million active users spend over 700 billion minutes a month on the site. Top Entertainment Trends New digital technologies will reshape the economics, production, distribution, and marketing of the entertainment industry. Traditional media enterprises must learn to adapt new Internet and computer technologies to maintain competi- 20 tiveness. The convergence of the Net with TVs, telephones, kiosks, autos, and wireless devices will create many new media channels. On-demand interactive entertainment content that is personalized for our preferences will be a standard feature. • And its impact isn’t just on Facebook itself. Every month, more than 250 million people engage with Facebook across more than 2.5 million external websites. • The average user clicks the ‘Like’ button 9 times each month. And a couple of brand-related, F-FACTOR stats: • Three quarters of Facebook users have ‘Liked’ a brand. • Over 50m users ‘like’ brands every day. • Juicy Couture found that their product purchase conversion rate increased by 160% after installing social sharing features. • Incipio Technologies, a gadget accessory retailer, found that referrals from Facebook had a conversion rate double the average. But it’s not just about Facebook. Take for example the explosive rise of the daily deal site Grou- Advanced virtual reality bundled with digital agents and holographic entertainment worlds will transform our experience of entertainment. Movie theaters will receive digital broadcasts and satellite downloads of movies, video con- pon, which used referrals from friends and colleagues to drive sales of over 40 million deals in the two and a half years since it launched in November 2008, via email. So, here are just five of the ways that the F-FACTOR influences consumption behavior: 1. F-DISCOVERY: How consumers discover new products and services by relying on their social networks. 2. F-RATED: How consumers will increasingly (and automatically) receive targeted ratings, recommendations and reviews from their social networks. 3. F-FEEDBACK: How consumers can ask their friends and followers to improve and validate their buying decisions. 4. F-TOGETHER: How shopping is becoming increasingly social, even when consumers Continued on Page 22 about.com ferencing, and other interactive programming. Faster, smarter, and more powerful multimedia communications devices will enhance our capacity for producing and distributing entertainment. Digital TV will provide new programs where we will experience real-time participation with the media content, personalities, and shows. Edutainment, the merger of entertainment and education, will offer a new genre of programming that will be greatly in demand. THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 20 7/6/11 1:14 PM Continued from Page 19 Opportunities: This trend will be supported by businesses reducing reliance on oil & gas with new forms of energy like wind power. Wind power experienced a 1.7 billion dollar increase in new equipment during 2001 (American Wind Energy Association). Also, look to companies helping companies reduce energy consumption with new forms of energy saving products. For example, one small business is profiting from installing energy efficient shipping doors for corporate shipping operations. 3. QUALITY OF LIFE The wellness and health trend shows no sign of slow down since it’s early infancy during the 80’s fitness movement. This trend is the convergence of rising health care costs in all developed countries, the aging of the baby boomer, the desire to keep our youth, and growing life expectancy. Paul Zane Pilzer, world economist and entrepreneur, who predicted with accuracy the U.S. Savings & Loans crisis, foresaw the wellness industry would be worth a trillion dollars by the year 2010. Wellness encompasses: looking good, feeling great, being healthy, and fighting aging and disease. Opportunities: A wide range of products and services such as; botox and energy drinks, to nutraceuticals and wrinkle creams, to serve this large and steady trend. The energy drink market alone grossed $275 million in 2001, more than doubling the profits from the previous year. Introducing a revolutionary idea: Affordable health insurance. Á¸`⁄‹›fifl‡°·‚—±"'»ÚƯ˘¿|áéíóúâêîôûàèìòùäëïöüÿãñõÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙÄËÏÖÜŸÑÃÕÂÊÎÔÛ € avenir_underline It's reassuring when you know you have the right coverage. And as an insurance expert, I can help you find the perfect policy at a surprisingly affordable price. • Affordable health insurance policies • Coverage that includes a Pharmacy program • One of the largest provider networks in Florida* • One-on-One customer service in your neighborhood • Affordable dental insurance 4. INTERNET The Internet meltdown was a period of shakeout for capitalists wanting to make a quick million. At the beginning of the century, many companies were formed to take advantage of the birth of the auto industry. Only a handful of players emerged to become household names but opportunities were plentiful in the area of building roads, suburban communities, and restaurants. The Internet represents a similar venue. Internet usage continues to grow. Pollster, Ipsos-Reid’s Internet usage survey, shows 72% of Americans go online at least once during a 30-day period. Canada has the second largest usage penetration with 62% of Canadians online. With increased usage comes more online spending. According to the Internet measurement firm, comScore Networks, total online spending has grown to over $117 billion. Fisher Brown Insurance 144 Harrison Avenue Panama City, FL 32401 850-785-7404 WWW.FBBINS.COM Appointed Agency Opportunities: With billions of dollars of goods sold online, many businesses will need assistance in website rebuilds and search engine optimization. Look for growing markets in e-learning and online gaming. Don’t forget computer security. Gartner Group estimates only 35% of small & medium businesses have disaster recovery. The impact of these long-term trends will continue to shape markets and industries. For new entrepreneurs, gauge the market closely. If you are expanding a business, look for complementary markets to those you are currently serving. For existing businesses with no growth plans, observe and plan for how these trends may impact your industry. v v v The amount of benefits provided depends upon the plan selected and the premium will vary with the amount of benefits selected. These policies have limitations and exclusions. For costs and complete details, contact your local insurance agent. *Our Networks are made up of independently licensed health care professionals. ****Dental Insurance is offered by Florida Combined Life Insurance Company, Inc. an affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida. BCBSF and FCL are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ***Discounts available as a courtesy to all BCBSF member through separate business partners. Discounts may be used once covered benefits, if any, are exhausted. 64858-0910 MX THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 21 21 7/6/11 1:14 PM and their peers are not physically together. 5. F-ME: How consumers’ social networks are literally turned into products and services. * This Trend Briefing is about the impact of consumers’ social connections on how they find, decide and purchase, i.e. what happens when consumption is increasingly social, rather than the personalized retailing opportunities on social networks (which is currently still the main focus of F-COMMERCE). 1. F-DISCOVERY Consumers’ ongoing obsession with owning or experiencing the best of the best and their desire for serendipity, excitement, interaction and community explains the pull of F-DISCOVERY. People are curious and interested in what their friends and contacts think, do, eat, read, listen to, drive in, travel to and buy, because often this will be similar to how they want to think, act and buy. No surprise then that consumers are embracing communities, tools and apps that allow them to dive into and discover selections from friends, fans, followers and so on. Just a few examples: • Polyvore bills itself as ‘a community of 22 tastemakers’, where users can clip products from around the web and compile them into virtual ‘looks’ or sets which can be shared across social networks. The site also features sets from brands and celebrities, with users able to follow, like and buy desired items. • Boutiques.com is a personalized shopping site from Google where users can establish their own collection of favorite items from around the web. • Users of TheFind, the shopping search engine, can ‘Shop Like Friends’ and view their Facebook friends’ tastes and preferences. • A number of extensions make it increasingly easy for consumers to see exactly what their friends ‘Like’ around the web: check out Likebutton.com, which shows users what their friends have liked across a number of the most popular sites, or LikeJournal, which stores users’ and their friends’ likes. • Belgian magazine Flair launched their fashiontag Facebook app in March 2011. The app enables users to tag photos of friends’ clothes and ask them where they had bought them. Within a week, the magazine’s number of fans increased by 35%, from 17,000 to 23,000. • Kaboodle, Svpply, Fancy and Nuji all help users to discover new products from apparel to art that have been selected by fellow consumers. • Canadian shoppers can use ItSpot’s iPhone apps to discover what fellow shoppers nearby are buying. The apps cover a number of cities, and include details of local promotions as well as shopping tips from local Shoppingistas. In November 2010, Gifts.com and Hunch joined forces to create their GiftFinder app, which logs into Facebook and suggests suitable gifts for friends based on the information in their profile pages. The company said the conversion rate was up to 60% higher than when users were shown generic recommendations. 2. F-RATED While consumers sometimes enjoy finding the best of the best through discovery, they are increasingly able to access personalized recommendations and reviews on something they know they want to purchase. In fact, expect more and more sites to automatically serve up friends’ recommendations, ratings and reviews* next to goods and services that people are researching. THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 22 7/6/11 1:14 PM In April 2010, Levi’s was the first big brand to integrate its online store with Facebook, allowing shoppers to view which products their friends had ‘liked’, interact with them and create a ‘like minded shopping’ experience. Facebook’s Instant Personalization project moves this beyond Facebook itself, by enabling users to have content that their friends have liked or recommended highlighted on other websites. Partner sites include local review site Yelp, music site Pandora, Microsoft’s search engine Bing and travel site Trip Advisor. The Trip Advisor tie in, launched in December 2010, means that visitors to the travel site who are logged into Facebook see their friends’ reviews first, as well as being able to quickly view which of their friends have been to particular cites. Friends can also message each other quickly for additional travel tips. Amazon launched a feature in July 2010 that allows users to integrate their Facebook and Amazon accounts. The feature allows Amazon to connect through to a user’s social network and base recommendations upon the information found in his/her Facebook profile. Moreover, the feature also informs users of friends’ most popular books, DVDs and musicians and also reminds them of birthdays and gift suggestions. In February 2011, Microsoft’s Bing rolled out their “Liked Results” feature to all users. The update brings Facebook ‘likes’ and search preferences of friends into the search engine’s algorithm. Similarly, Google’s +1 feature, launched in March 2011, brings personalization to search results, by allowing users to ‘+1’ results. These are then shared with an individual’s Google contacts, and highlighted in their search results. Google’s stated aim for the project: enabling users to help each other out in choosing the best and most relevant results. * Privacy concerns are of course the elephant in the room here. Ensuring that consumers maintain control and choice over when and where their information ends up is one of the big challenges for brands. Check out the Wall Street Journal’s excellent (if scary) What They Know feature. 3. F-FEEDBACK Over the last decade, online reviews have greatly empowered consumers. But anony- mous reviews aren’t always what consumers need or want; they can lack relevance and context, and consumers with many options sometimes just want an unambiguous, or finite opinion. Which is where F-FEEDBACK comes in: consumers actively disclosing their purchasing intentions and reaching out to their friends and contacts for personalized feedback. Some indicators: • Product recommendations from family (63%) and friends (31%) are the most trusted. However, 81% of U.S. consumers now go online to do additional research, with 55% looking for user reviews, and 10% soliciting advice from their social networks. Amongst people aged 25-34, this figure rises to 23%. • 90% of people trust the recommendations of their Facebook friends. • 31% of daily Twitter users ask their followers for opinions about products and services. • One more key driver here: with more and more consumers increasingly viewing their online reputation as something to enhance Continued on Page 24 THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 23 23 7/6/11 1:14 PM as well as just protect, the quality of answers on Q&A services is rapidly improving. Some examples: 1. Facebook Questions was recently redesigned to focus on helping people ask their friends (rather than the whole Facebook community). 2. Sites such as StackExchange and Quora allow users to follow topics and other users, building detailed databases of questions and answers that are tagged and publicly searchable. 3. LoveThis is a user review website for people to write tips and recommendations to share among friends on their network. 4. Travel Q&A sites Gogobot and Hotel Me are trying to bridge the gap between known friends (who are trusted but may not have the answer) and wider audiences. There are also a whole host of sites for consumers who want tips and recommendations about which products and services to purchase, rather than more general Q&A: 1. Visa’s RightCliq is an online shopping tool that enables consumers to save potential purchases in their ‘Wishspace,’ which can be shared with friends for feedback. 2. Shopsocial.ly offers consumers a platform to connect with their friends and others who wish to share product recommendations or purchases. The website enables users to ‘shout’ out a question regarding a product in order to receive feedback from their community of trusted advisors. 3. Online price comparison site Twenga launched a feature in April 2011 that allowed users to instantly pose questions to their social networks. Due to the continued spread of smartphones, F-FEEDBACK can happen in real-time too: MyShopanion and Scandit are just two iPhone apps that allow consumers to scan items while out shopping and not only see online reviews but get instant feedback via Facebook and Twitter. Check out these examples of how friends can now come into the fitting rooms: • The Tweet Mirror enables customers to send snaps of themselves to friends and fol- 24 lowers directly from the fitting room. • In Spain, Diesel hooked up cameras in their stores to Facebook, allowing customers to post photos of themselves trying on clothes to their profiles for instant feedback from their friends. • From September to November 2010, Macy’s Magic Fitting Room enabled shoppers at the brand’s New York flagship store to virtually ‘try on’ items via an augmented reality ‘mirror’ and then post the results to Facebook. • Go Try It On takes this concept one step further, by providing a platform for users to ask not just their friends for feedback, but the site’s community for their opinions on their outfits. More and more online consumers are also sharing and discussing potential purchases with their friends in real-time: 1. WetSeal, the U.S. fashion retailer, has a ‘Shop With Friends’ feature, similar to toy retailer Mattel’s ShopTogether. 2. Shop With Your Friends, a Dutch startup has developed a tool that enables consumers to shop online together in real-time. 3. Quorus Discuss is a plugin that any online vendor can install that allows users to chat and discuss products with friends. 4. In November 2010, Cisco encouraged consumers to use their WebEx tool to share their desktops with friends on Cyber Monday, the post-Thanksgiving day when many U.S. retailers launch online promotions. 4. F-TOGETHER While group-buying platforms such as Groupon are revolutionizing local retail, consumers usually don’t know the other members of the group that they’re buying with. So, while consumers get to leverage the power of the web to benefit from better deals, the actual shopping experience frequently lacks the F-FACTOR. Consumers, of course, have strong incentives to share certain purchases, especially for F-FACTOR-friendly experiences such as buying event tickets; what’s not to like about automatically inviting friends to a concert or movie right after purchasing a ticket? • 83% of consumers state that they tell their friends if they get a good deal. • Facebook announced in April 2011 that every time a user posts on Facebook about buying a ticket from Ticketmaster, the company estimates they receive an extra $5.30. • Eventbrite, the event ticketing site, found that users are 10 times more likely to share details of events they have bought tickets to (than those events they are still considering whether to buy). The ticket sales generated by people who share details of purchased events are 20% higher than if they haven’t yet bought tickets. The site estimates that the value of a Facebook share is $2.53. Expect to see more tools that help consumers easily share and coordinate relevant purchases with their close friends and family, but for now we’ll just highlight a few: 1. Disney’s Tickets Together Facebook app enables users to buy theater tickets directly from Facebook, posts details of the screening on a user’s wall and enables them to invite friends to buy tickets. 2. Indian consumers can do something similar with ticket site BookMyShow’s Ticket Buddy Facebook app. 3. Ebay’s Group Gifts feature, launched in November 2010, allows users to invite friends to split the cost of a gift. The application integrates with Facebook to allow friends to be privately invited, while infor- THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 24 7/6/11 1:14 PM mation from the recipient’s profile can even be used to suggest suitable gifts. 4. In April 2011, Facebook piloted ‘Deals in Facebook’ in various U.S. cities including Atlanta and San Francisco. Facebook users in these cities can find local deals and then easily share, buy and plan them with friends. Users are alerted to deals through email, Facebook notifications and, if their friends buy the deal, through their News Feed. Also, when users see deals from a business that their friends frequent (i.e. check-in at), this information will be included in the deal. 5. F-ME The F-FACTOR also makes possible personalized products and services based on the activities and output of one’s social network: • Flipboard is an app that integrates tweets and updates into a single, personalized online magazine. Launched in July 2010, the free app automatically creates a magazine from the user’s social content, letting readers quickly flip through the latest stories, photos and updates from friends and trusted sources. Links and images are rendered right in the digital magazine, so users no longer have to scan long lists of posts and click on link after link; instead, they instantly see all the stories, comments and images in one place. • March 2011 saw the launch of LinkedIn Today, a socially curated news homepage for users that rounds up the stories and links that are being read, shared and discussed by a user’s network. • Newsle is a tool that launched in public beta in April 2011 that alerts users to public news articles about members of their social networks from Facebook and LinkedIn. • ‘Personal search engine’ Greplin launched publicly in February 2011. The search engine scans across a user’s personal and social accounts including: Gmail, Facebook, Twitter and Google Docs, enabling users to locate any desired information that may be scattered across their social media network, whenever they want it. • U.S. based PostPost, launched in December 2010, is a free application that turns one’s Facebook page into a digital newspaper. Users connect the application via the PostPost site, which enables it to link to Facebook and create a presentation of their news feed in the traditional format of a newspaper. Check out these very sign of the times F-ME examples of consumers literally turning their friends and followers into actual physical products and services: 1. Twournal enables users of Twitter to transform their tweets and pictures into a real-life published journal. In addition to creating their own ‘books,’ users can also buy and sell publications from other users. 2. U.S. based CrowdedInk offers an app that allows users to generate mugs filled with pictures of their Facebook friends or Twitter followers. Users only need to enter their username and a preview of the mug is automatically generated in minutes. 3. Social Print Studio can provide the analogue equivalent to the online album. The site creates posters generated from Facebook friends’ profile pictures, Facebook photo albums, Twitter followers, and even Tumblr accounts. 4. Kunst Buzz, a Dutch art company, has started producing Twitter art where users’ tweets make up their portrait. OPPORTUNITIES With the F-FACTOR a growing force in the consumption arena, ultimately the only way for brands to succeed is to be liked, if not loved, and this liking and loving comes from superior performance. In that sense, the Perform or Perish theme is stronger than ever, and underscores that while the F-FACTOR is currently playing out in the online arena first and foremost, this is in the end about business at large. The F-FACTOR is about being so exceptional that consumers will find and ultimately choose you, without you as a brand having to do anything extra. It’s not about bribing or even compelling people to “Like” yourFacebook page. This is something, of course, which brands that truly have the F-FACTOR don’t have to worry about. So, for all F-entrepreneurs, this space is still wide open: simply come up with new tools and platforms that help consumers help each other to discover, discuss and buy the best of the best. For B2C brands, it’s time to deliver innovations, products, campaigns and experiences that truly have the F-FACTOR. v v v THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 25 25 7/6/11 1:14 PM “SOME LIKE IT HOT” All of our steaks & seafood are grilled over open pit charcoal The Beach’s Most Unique Salad Bar Here at Deadeye Dick’s Steak House we make almost everything from scratch including our soups, sauces, sides, desserts, salad bar items & even our french fries & ice creams!!! We cut most of our meats in-house & use USDA choice, aged mid-western steers (quite a mouthfull, literally). We also grind our own meats for burgers, turkey burgers & even make our own veggie burgers. At Deadeye’s we know a thing or three about fine seafood, just ask Deadeye’s twin brother Dirty. We are proud of these efforts and you will see them mentioned over & over again throughout the menu. y 11:00 am -2:00 pm dail Initial order uity grat 8% ....1 2pm in by ed added to bill. All serv s. with choice of two side “MEAT UP” for SUNDAY BRUNCH at Deadeye Dick’s Steak House featuring our magnificent food bar with savory items including soup, salad, breads, rolls, breakfast items/breads, desserts, and much more changing everyday. We also feature a chef attended carving station, omelette, waffle, and grits Hey, It’s a Class Joint martini bar. Horses Must Be $ Mimosa or Bloody Mary Champagne $ But only with purchase of brunch! 2.99 2.99 Kept Outside Tied on the Railin’... YES YOU! 9802 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, Florida 32407 deadeyedickssteakhouse.com 850.249.3425 We also feature a FUNCTION ROOM Multiple rooms to meet any party size State of the Art Audio Visual Experience 26 Once upon a time there were two twin brothers who were separated at birth. One grew up on the West Coast, and the other grew up on the East Coast. The brothers reunited as adults, and now run restaurants sitting next to each other in Panama City Beach, Florida: Dirty Dick’s Crab House and Deadeye Dick’s Steakhouse. Both serve food that is fresh and made from scratch. Both offer unique and distinctive dishes with a twist, like fried crab lasagna and creamy cheese smoked brisket grits. The locals and visitors of Panama City Beach are fed well, and the brothers are living happily ever-after. The End. A native of New Orleans, Beany Macgregor has been in the restaurant business since college. “I was the former Executive Chef for Stephen & Martins Restaurant/4141 Club in the Garden District of New Orleans,” he explains. After leaving this upscale establishment, he became Worldwide Corporate Executive Chef for both Hard Rock Café and Planet Hollywood. Both enterprises are headquartered in Orlando, and Beany travelled extensively all over the world. When Beany left Planet Hollywood, he was introduced to Jack Frestel and Ken Hersey, lifelong friends, through a mutual friend. The two were were doing restaurant consulting work and were opening a new restaurant in North Carolina. “We all hit it off, and I decided to help them,” he remembers. “I ended up buying out the person who introduced us.” Jack, an attorney who is now retired, is originally from Chicago and now lives in Sarasota. He was the senior Vice President of US Air in charge of Human Resources, and also served on the board of directors of the Santa Fe Railroad. Ken, who hails from the Washington, DC area, now lives in Ft. Myers, FL. An executive with Converse Shoes, he knows the retail and marketing business as well the construction and building world. Upon vacationing in the Outer Banks of North Carolina (the vacation hub for the DC area) Ken noticed no one was selling crab. He was retiring anyway, so he opened a little take-out place on the beach and started selling T-shirts and crabs by the bushel. This venture was wildly successful. Next, he opened Dirty Dick’s Crab House in Avon, THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 26 7/6/11 3:03 PM OT” Restau rant Review NC. After opening Avon, Jack - who was also retiring - joined his friend in the business. Together they opened another Dirty Dick’s in Nags Head, NC, and finally a third in N. Myrtle Beach, FL. The fourth Dirty Dick’s was opened in Panama City Beach, Florida. You got it!! ALL of our fish is FRESH, not FROZEN. “Dysfunctional but functional partnership!” he says with a big smile. “We don’t know how it works, but it just does.” Served with Served with corn corn on the cob, red red potat pot atoe oes, s, our famous hush puppies puppies and drawn drawn butter butter.. Available for lunch ‘til 2:00PM year round. Available Availabl e for for lunch & dinner Oct October ober-January -January.. -January Dinner orders orders must must be placed by 8:00PM. The three partners each have their area of expertise at the restaurants. Beany, who now lives in Panama City Beach, manages all front and back-of-house operations. Jack oversees legal, financial, corporate contracts and location scouting. Ken oversees the buildings and marketing. “We get together quite often,” says Beany. “We visit the properties together throughout the year, continually revamping things and changing out the menus.” Deadeye Dick’s is a traditional steak house with lots of things on the menu that you won’t find in other places. Everything is fresh and made from scratch, and the USDA choice steaks are all cut on site and cooked over an open pit grill. The French fries and ice cream are even made from scratch, and the meat entrees range from Kobe beef to grilled BBQ meatloaf. Every entrée comes with two sides from a choice of 16 (try the grilled fresh peaches with balsamic glaze and honey roasted pecans); appetizers include Thai duck wings, homemade lobster sausage served over Creole corn pudding with lobster sauce, and fried green tomatoes with a fresh corn relish. Deadeye Dick’s offers easily the county’s most unique salad bar. “It’s more of a food bar than a salad bar,” says Beany. Even the chopped salad contains a delicious bacon brittle. No Sharing • No T To-Go Try Our Big Boats $ v v 9 59 L ECIA P S CH Fri LUN specials Mo$n5.9- 9! 4 If you’re impressed by now with Deadeye Dick’s, you’ll love his brother’s establishment as well. Similar to a New Orleans crab house, Dirty Dick’s serves up seafood with a Cajun flair. Everything fresh; everything cooked to order. “Deadeye Dick’s and Dirty Dick’s are places you can be very comfortable without getting dressed up or spending a lot of money,” explains Beany. “We’re all about fun; the only thing we’re serious about is the food.” Deadeye Dick’s Steakhouse is located at 9802 Front Beach Road. Right next store is Dirty Dick’s Crab House. For reservations, call (850) 249-3425 (DED) or (850) 230-3425 (DD). #1 SNO CRAB SPICED SHRIMP DUNGENESS CRAB g at in st art “Seafood with a New Orleans Accent”® W 9800 Front Beach Road Panama City Beach, FL (850) 230-DICK (3425) v THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 27 27 7/6/11 3:03 PM Her first word. Her first step. Are you ready for her first emergency? You’d do anything for your children. So why not make the right choice in health care? When it comes to caring for children, we know kids aren’t little adults and that they need specialized care when it comes to treating injuries. That’s why we’re here with the area’s only Pediatric ER. Sick?There’s an app for that. iTriage now available free on iPhone, Android and more. 28 Go to www.itriagehealth.com/get-mobile THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 316-056 GCMC_PED_ER_Circuit_Mech.indd 1-2 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 28 D O W N LO A D N O W 7/6/11 1:15 PM EMERGENCY PEDIATRICS AGES 0 UP TO 18 • Pediatric triage • Pediatric-friendly rooms • Pediatric-specific beds • Labor & Delivery • Area’s only Level 2 NICU • Area’s largest Pediatric Specialty Unit • Area’s only Pediatric ER • More Pediatric specialists and subspecialists on staff than any other area hospital 449 WEST 23RD STREET PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA 32405 (850) 769-8341 WWW.GCMC -PC.COM The Area’s Shortest Average ER Wait Times 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 29 12/22/10 6:43 AM 7/6/11 1:15 PM 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 30 7/6/11 1:15 PM L aurie Olshefski, owner of four local businesses, was recently named the “2011 Retailer of the Year For Leadership” by the Florida Retail Federation (FRF). Olshefski was urged by President & CEO Beth Oltman of the Panama City Beach Chamber to enter the competition and nominate her four businesses, as she was previously awarded a Small Business Person Award by the Beach Chamber in 2010. Local Retailer Wins 2011 Retailer of the Year For Leadership “Laurie exemplifies true leadership, in not only the community but in her profession, her church and her family,” said Oltman. “She has been a positive force through the tragedies and economic downturn of the past few years, and has always kept an optimistic attitude. We are extremely proud of her.” A retailer for 18 years, Olshefski earned a B.A. in Economics & Business Management, and started her first business at the age of 27. She owns and oversees four busy retail businesses: Shimmering Seas Jewelry & Gifts in Pier Park; Jake at the Beach-Life is Good Shoppe in Pier Park; The Fitness Fetish-Sport & Beach Shoppe in Seaside; and Shimmering Seas Jewelry & Gifts in Seaside. Olshefski has been a Certified Fitness Instructor for over 20 years, and has taught fitness and yoga classes in the community for past 19 years. She has been happily married to her husband John for 25 years, and has two children: a son Landen, 10 and daughter Alina, 6. Laurie’s life goal is to inspire others to lead happy and healthy lives. In additional to honoring the winners’ accomplishments, the Retailer of the Year For Leadership award brings recognition to the entire retail industry and raises the public’s awareness of the importance of retailers in local communities, as well as the entire State of Florida. Winners attended several events at the Caribe Royale in Orlando in June, including an awards presentation luncheon and the FRF’s mid-year meeting reception and dinner. These events were held in conjunction with the nationally acclaimed Retail Smarter Symposium, held at the University of Florida’s David F. Miller Center for Retailing Education and Research. Sponsored by FRF since 1999, the statewide Retailer of the Year Award for Leadership (ROYAL) program recognizes outstanding retailers from all types of businesses who have demonstrated a blend of effective business practices with a commitment to their communities, customers and employees. v v v Pictured top: Rick McAllister, Jesse White, Laurie Olshefski, Norman Love and Dan Doyle. Right: Laurie and husband John with her award. THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 31 31 7/6/11 1:15 PM a few minutes with john wheat Interview by Marta Rose J ohn Wheat came to visit the Panama City Beach Chamber on a hot June afternoon. The Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport’s new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) just relocated to Panama City Beach six weeks ago from Tampa, and he has been acclimating to the area. Already, as one from a more metropolitan area does, he is noting the distinctions and unique facets that define our small slice of heaven. “I’ve been impressed with the open arms I’ve been greeted with,” he says with a smile. “This is a very relaxing and fun community, and the people here are delightful. I’m looking forward to meeting and greeting everyone in the area.” A Salt Lake City native, John attended the University of Utah and majored in Biology. “I had no idea what was next,” he says. “I was one of those kids that went to school, enjoyed the sciences but didn’t have a pure vision of what I was going to do with my major.” So he went to work for the Salt Lake City Corporation’s Business License Department. Within three years he had risen to director of the department, and ultimately moved up to Chief of Staff for the City’s Chief Administrative Officer where he was responsible for City finance and administration. After working for the City for 10 years, he transferred to the Salt Lake City International Airport and served as the Director of Finance and Administration and the Chief Operations Officer (COO) for the next 16 years. There he was responsible for the day to day operations of the airport: finance, administration, operations and maintenance functions, real estate functions, planning and development. John had worked with Lou Miller, who hired in him in 1983 at the airport. Lou had spoken to John several times throughout the years about coming down to Florida and working as COO for the Tampa International Airport. In 1999, John decided to make the move. The newness of Panama City Beach by no means compares to the culture shock John experienced when relocating from Salt Lake City to Tampa. The pace was slower. The 32 attitude was more laid back, the local population more diverse, and the summers hot and balmy. “In the first six months I didn’t meet anyone who was a native. It’s a melting pot of transplants.” Regular activities changed, from fishing, hiking and hunting to beach outings and “everything-warm -living-related. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time there,” he remembers. “Lots of things to do and places to see. I took advantage of all the places to visit in the region.” After almost 12 years in Tampa, an opportunity presented itself. “The (Panama City Beach) Airport Authority reached out to see if I was available.” He was, and he made the move to Panama City Beach, previously only having been in the area once, eight years prior, for a few days. *** John is a professed world traveler who likes to read and learn. Five years ago, he married his great friend of 25 years, Theresa. Combined, they have four grown children, two in Salt Lake City and two in Florida. “My wife and I love to travel and explore,” he says, noting one of the most fun trips the family took was to Italy for a couple of weeks. They rented an apartment in Rome, in a farmer’s market area. “We spent ten days walking, giving ourselves tours and getting to know Rome. We made a game of it. Everyone had to pick two sites, do the research and lead the tour for the family.” Another recent trip he took with Theresa several years ago was to Istanbul, Turkey, where he received an IATA (International Air Transport Association) award. Only two awards had ever been given to airports in the U.S., and this was the third. “When we researched the restaurants, there were only ever three mentioned,” he laughs. “Alcohol is highly taxed in the country as we found out our first night when we ordered two martinis,” John remembers. “They came in 2 oz. glasses with two olives each, and the bill was $60, not including tip!” They did enjoy the Turkish Baths and Spice Market. Three other travel venues at the top of John’s list include Napa Valley (“we are wine fans and love wine tasting”); Walla Walla, Washington (“an up-and-coming place for great wine tasting”); and Vancouver, BC (“such diversity of people”). As CEO of the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, John oversees everything associated with marketing, building and operations. “The first year is focused on solving several challenges,” he says, “such as bringing the construction issues to closure and improving our financial performance.” Into 2012 the emphasis will shift to growing the market, air service and possible new carriers. The outgrowth of that is stimulating new markets in addition to current markets. “It’s much more fun to fly someplace,” he says. “Less stressful, it doesn’t cost a lot more, and time is important to people. Air travel provides everyone an opportunity in enhancing how they utilize their time.” He also observes that Panama City Beach seems to be the area for future growth potential, both for commercial, industrial and residential. Destin is built out, and there’s not a lot of available land to the north. “The airport can play a key role in helping that happen,” he maintains. “When businesses relocate, air transportation is one of the first things they will evaluate. Our tourism industry is dependent on getting people here as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.” So what is in store for John Wheat? “We plan to be here for five or six years, then retire to Bonners Ferry, ID, population 10,000,” he says. (Sandpoint, ID, where Sarah Palin was born, is nearby.) “My wife’s parents moved up six years ago, and it’s breathtaking.” v v v THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 32 7/6/11 1:15 PM LaketownWharf.com 9902 South Thomas Drive Panama City Beach, Florida 32408 850.628.1490 10th Floor sky-level Pool 12 month leases available there’s very little Between you and living well. experience extraordinary living on a grand scale. · 1, 2 & 3 Bedroom floor plans · Gulf, lake & golf course views · Private lake with dancing waters · 5 Amazing swimming pools · Restaurants & retail shopping · Advanced fitness center 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 33 · Theater, pier & boardwalk · Kids playground · Controlled access entry · Covered garage parking · Convenient beach access 7/6/11 1:15 PM COVERED AIRPORT PARKING Yes, it is finally here! Covered Airport Parking for Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport in Panama City, Florida. You won’t ever have to worry about how far you will need to walk from your car, what the weather may be like when carrying your luggage, or how to get your luggage from your car to the terminal. Park with Covered Airport Parking (CAP) and you will be directed to a specific spot where a designated shuttle will come to you every time. The shuttle drivers are friendly and will be more than happy to help you with your luggage. Customer service is CAP’s top priority. CAPCare Car Services Do you have a dirty car and don’t want to waste time out of your busy day to wash it? Have a ding in your car and don’t have the time to take care of it? Well, Covered Airport Parking offers services that can take care of almost all your car care needs, and they do it while you are away. Covered Airport Parking, or CAP as the employees like to say, offers a wide range of services including multiple types of hand car washes, paintless dent removal, windshield chip repair, and engine cleaning. Oh, and don’t worry if your tire goes flat while away, CAP will fill your tire for you and even jump your battery if it dies. And on your way out, don’t forget to grab your free ice cold bottle of water, which they offer to every customer. Discounts & Pricing Guess what? You can get all this for only $10.00 a day! That’s $1.00 per day LESS than the airport’s short term parking. But it gets even better! When you join CAP’s Frequent Parker Program every dollar spent on parking converts into valuable points which can be used for FREE PARKING! Plus, check out their website, www.CoveredAirportParking.com, for seasonal discounts. Their current discount is 10% off your parking stay with the CAP coupon you download from their website. And, if you are an active member of the military, all you have to do is provide your military ID and you get 10% off too. CAP even offers a discounted rate for long term parking; if you are gone for 30 days or more you will receive 30% off (discounts cannot be combined, however). Give CAP a chance on your next airport visit and enjoy the ultimate airport parking experience. The CAP team looks forward to enhancing your travel experience. Visit CoveredAirportParking.com today and learn more! 34 Scan barcode with your smartphone barcode app reader to link directly to our website. THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 34 7/6/11 1:15 PM It’s FINALLY Here! COVERED AIRPORT PARKING Convenient off-airport covered parking with shuttles every 3 to 5 minutes to and from Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport . With quick and easy check in/check out, you’ll never have to worry about where to park! Relax in our air-conditioned shuttles while we get you to the terminal quick! Earn points towards free parking by joining CAPClub, our frequent parker program. It’s free to join! We're open around the clock, 365 days a year! 5540 Enterprise Center Drive | Panama City | Florida 32409 | 850.236.7275 THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 35 35 7/6/11 1:15 PM Sugar High 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 36 7/6/11 1:15 PM SEE & be seen 1 AIRPORT FIRST ANNIVERSARY May 23, 2011 4 4 1. Southwest Airlines helped the Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport celebrate it’s first anniversary at a recognition luncheon held at Edgewater, with (from left): Robert Carroll, Beach Chamber Chairman; Dawn Moliterno, Executive Director Walton County TDC; Sherri Hull, Southwest Airlines; Dan Rowe, Executive Director Bay County TDC; Carol Roberts, Bay County Chamber President & CEO; Beth Oltman, Beach Chamber President & CEO; John Wheat, CEO of Northwest Florida Beaches Int’l. Airport. 2. From left: Carol Roberts; Janet Watermeier, EDA; KJ Rice, Southwest Airlines; Beth Oltman. 2 THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 37 37 7/6/11 1:15 PM SEE & BE SEEN 2 1 1. Jayna Leach and Laurie Olshefski at the June Business After Hours at Wyndham’s Sky Bar. 2. Beth Oltman, Commander Jessica Pfefferkorn and Brigadier General Browne at the MAC Farewell Party for Cmdr. Pfefferkorn on June 21. 3. Dr. James Dever presents “Success through the Competitive Advantage” at the Small Business Conference at GCSC on May 18. 4. Cute critters were on hand at Kritter, Inc.’s grand opening, May 18. 5. Gene Mitchell performs at the Wyndham Sky Bar Business After Hours. 6. Calypso’s Grand Re-opening on June 3, with (from left) Marsha and Ramon Duvall, John Reichard and Capt. Jack Sparrow. 7. Navigator’s “Social Media II,” presented by CyberSytes, covered advanced social media tactics (turn to page 44 for details on upcoming Lunch & Learn workshops). 8. Ambassadors enjoy lunch at C-Level Bar & Grill on Thomas Drive. 3 4 5 6 7 38 8 THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 38 7/6/11 1:15 PM www.sunglassworld.net 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 39 7/6/11 1:16 PM SEE & BE SEEN Business After Hours on May 19, 2011 1. The Beach Chamber held its annual May Business After Hours at Boatyard. 2. As always, Chef Konrad wowed the crowd with a delicious buffet spread. 3. Sylvia and Mike Smith enjoyed the late afternoon mixer, held upstairs on the second level. 4. Mills Heating & Air sponsored the event (from left): Bill Masek, Kevin Swanson, Lisa Smith, Danielle Riley, Beth Canterbury and Jason Killion. 1 2 40 3 4 THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 40 7/6/11 1:16 PM SEE & BE SEEN Business After Hours on June 16, 2011 1. The Beach Chamber held its June Business After Hours at the beautiful Wyndham Sky Bar, sponsored by Bay Bank & Trust (from left): Cyndi Ainsworth from the Beach Chamber, and from Bay Bank & Trust Kristie Canaday, Ron Bryan, Cindy Schwartz and Bill Nazaruk. 2. Guests enjoyed the Sky Bar and delicious catering by Dee’s. 3. From left: Zachary Coleman, Rikki Hughes Coleman and Patti Hughes. 4. From left: Mayor Gayle Oberst, LeeAnn Leonard and Mel Leonard. 1 2 3 4 THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 41 41 7/6/11 3:03 PM a few minutes brigadier general browne R ecently, I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Brigadier General James Browne, the 325th Fighter Wing Commander at Tyndall Air Force Base. It was a truly memorable and enjoyable meeting as the General and his wife Alison spoke, explained, laughed and elaborated on military life and their time serving as Tyndall’s first family. It was evident in the short time we spent together that these two are best friends and partners. Alison’s comment early on that, “We have lived and loved life all over the world,” attests to this. General Browne loves to fly and is a command pilot with more than 3,300 flying hours which include over 700 combat hours. His current assigned aircraft is the F22 Raptor, “the world’s greatest plane,” and until its recent deferment, the general was able to fly about twice a week. When I asked why he loves this plane above others he explained, “The F22 flies twice the speed of sound and higher than 60,000 feet, ten miles above the Earth. So high, that you can see the curvature of the earth and stars shining in the middle of the day.” The plane, he notes, is so complex…it is like a human being, with similarly interwoven veins and systems. Initially operational since 2005, Tyndall currently has 29 of these jets and is the only training base in the Air Force that teaches pilots how to fly them. Born in Woodland, Northern California, the Browne family moved to San Diego when he was very young, so the general calls San Diego home. He attended Christian High School and later entered the Air Force Academy (class of ‘86), receiving his B.S. in Engineering Mechanics. The first in his family to become involved with the military; his younger brother, Bruce, followed him at the academy and is now an F16 pilot. Upon graduation the general was selected and offered a Guggenheim Fellowship at Columbia University, where he received an M.S. in Flight Structural Engineering. However, according to the general, while Columbia was a tremendous opportunity for him, flight school was always on his mind. So after completing the M.S. he was off to Williams Air Force Base in Arizona where, in 1988, he received his pilot wings. 42 THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 42 7/6/11 1:16 PM Opposite page, top: General Browne in his office on June 22, 2011; Bottom: Alison and General Browne at the MAC (Military Affairs Committee) Farewell for Commander Pfefferkorn on June 21. Left: The history of Tyndall, displayed in the entrance of the Wing Headquarters Building. something totally unique is their shared birthday of September 26. Discussing the couple’s hobbies and current interests Alison said, “Right now we do a lot of golfing at the base’s course. But depending on where we have lived, our interests varied and have included snorkeling with tropical fish in Okinawa, Japan, fishing and ice climbing in Alaska, biking, jogging and running two marathons together in Washington, DC.” Alison admits that she loves to cook Thai and Cajun cuisine, and “Jim is great with barbeque,” she brags. They both enjoy eighties rock and new wave music, and cite “Moments in Love” by Art of Noise as their song. When asked what their favorite assignment has been, Alison hesitated and said each has been unique and special in its own way. “We have truly loved our time here in Bay County. The people are so genuinely nice…it’s that Southern hospitality…” says Alison. “We absolutely love our Airmen here and leaving them will be very hard,” she says sadly. What does the future hold for the Browne family? In September, the two will relocate to Air Force Global Strike Command in Louisiana. But beyond that the General said, “In ten years I believe we’ll be doing something different than the Air Force. Maybe we’ll tour the country in a motor home, or just live in a van down by the river…” The two laughed, Jim more than Alison. Although he cites his favorite U.S. cities as Washington D.C. and Denver, he qualified the comment with, “For long-term living, it could very well be right here!” Until assuming command of the 325th Fighter Wing, General Browne had not been permanently assigned to Tyndall. However, he has been at the base many times for training, the first of which was in 1988 to qualify as an F-15 pilot. General Browne’s military career has taken him to many places, where “every assignment came out of the blue,” he offers. After leaving Tyndall he transferred to Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska, where he and Alison married. When asked how she and the General met, Alison explained that she and “Cadet” Jim Browne met at a health club in Denver where she was working. He was in town playing handball on the Academy team when their paths crossed, and it was love at first sight. She smiled as she explained that their first date was to the movie, Top Gun, together in 1986. While the two discovered many common interests during their varied ventures, v v v THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 43 43 7/6/11 1:16 PM u Committee Updates CONNECTIONS Greetings from the members of Connections, your Chamber of Commerce membership committee. Our job is to find ways to increase the value of your membership, and we have been hard at work gathering input and implementing new programs. Among these new programs are Connect for Cash, and the Member Roundtable. Connect for Cash enables you to earn a $50 credit to your membership account by referring potential members to the Chamber sales staff. Simply promote the Chamber to your business associates, and refer those interested in membership to Cyndi Ainsworth or Skip Alford. If the prospective member joins within 60 days of your referral, you will earn a $50 credit which can be used to purchase any Chamber service except membership dues. Navigator You asked for it, you got it! Navigator, the Beach Chamber’s small business initiative, has been focused on Social Media as the core subject for its monthly Lunch & Learn workshops. In April and May, Jason Koerge from CyberSytes dove into the subject, first at an introductory level and later followed by a session on mid-to-advanced tactics. Both sessions were such a huge hit, with attendees asking for more on Social Media. On June 30, Chris Peer and Jason Pence from LocalEdge, a Hearst Media Services Company, presented “Reputation Management & Behavioral Targeting” at FSU-PC. Today’s “word of mouth” is the “world of mouth,” and attendees learned how to utilize Online Reputation Management to manage and control their businesses online profile. Attendees also became familiar with Behavioral Targeting, referred to as “waste-not advertising,” which is all about sending the right message to the right audience at the right time. On July 27, LocalEdge will present “All About Smart Apps” (did you know 400 new smart apps are created each day, worldwide?). Cost is $30 per person ($25 per person for H.Y.P.E. members) and includes a catered lunch. Pre-Registration is required by calling the Beach Chamber at (850) 235-1159. Pictured top left: On June 16 Deborah Evers from Demajo Resources LLC presented a free workshop, “Enhancing Your Leadership Charisma” at the Sky Bar. Top right: Jason Pence teaches attendees about Reputation Management on June 30. 44 H.Y.P.E. May and June have been eventful months for H.Y.P.E. In May, Ray Green from the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association spoke about what it means to have a “balance” personally and professionally. His knowledge and career experience helped deliver a powerful message to our young professionals. We would like to thank Kingfish restaurant, Bay Bank & Trust and Ray Green for making this event a great success. Our June social at Hofbrau in Pier Park was well attended, and four new H.Y.P.E. members joined the committee. The new additions bring total membership to over 35 members in only five months of being active. We extend thanks to Hofbrau for their support. Our next event includes a tour of the Lewis Bear (Anheuser Busch) facility at 4:00 pm on Thursday, July 21. This tour is being held in conjunction with the Chamber’s Business After Hours & 2nd Annual Poker Tournament at Ebro Greyhound Park, at 5:30 pm. We look forward to making a strong push this fall to recruit more young professionals to join this great group of future leaders. For more information about H.Y.P.E., please contact Kristopher McLane at the Beach Chamber, or visit facebook.com/pcbhype. Our last Member Roundtable was a resounding success. Input from those who attended have enabled us to address the needs of many of our members. If you have suggestions or concerns regarding your Chamber membership, we invite you to the next Roundtable on August 16 at 4:00 pm in the Chamber Boardroom. Are you looking for a way to become more active and connected with the Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce? If so, join us the 1st Tuesday of each month at 11:30 am in the Chamber Boardroom for our Connections committee meeting. We have a place for you to serve, and have a lot of fun doing it. Call Catherine at (850) 235-1159 to make your reservation! 2nd Annual Beach Chamber Poker Tournament Thursday, July 21 Ebro Greyhound Park THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 44 7/6/11 1:16 PM u Health Update We invite you... By Kristy McKinney, Gold’s Gym B usinesses are finally catching on to the FACT that exercise during the workday improves job performance. In fact, studies have proven that after exercising, participants returned to work more productive and in a much better mood. Their work performance was consistently higher, as shown by better time management and improved mental sharpness. mckinneyfitness.com Workplace exercise programs benefit more than just the workers. They give companies more efficient employees who work better together. Health care costs can be expected to go down for employees who exercise regularly, resulting in fewer sick days, better attendance and more cooperation between coworkers. Do you know whether your employer offers any type of reimbursement for your health club membership? This new trend in business is happening all over America. In fact, many local businesses will pay for your gym membership up front, so you have no expense whatsoever. Some local businesses require a certain number of visits to the gym per month and if you meet that number, they will reimburse you for half of your dues. Other businesses even develop a “Biggest Loser” type of challenge amongst the staff and pay for a trainer to take them through a group training session several times a week and provide nutrition counseling and weigh ins. Check with your employer and see if they are willing to help out with your gym dues. And if they will, make it worth their while and actually USE the gym! After all, your increase in exercise could easily convert to a pay raise if it increases your job performance! Contact me anytime for help getting your corporate memberships or goals started, at kristy@mckinneyfitness.com. v v v Gold’s Gym 11205 Hutchison Blvd. 850.233.2111 ...to start your lifelong health plan today! Kristy & Michael McKinney, Owners Sharon and Gregory Yordon, HAS, BC-HIS, MS SALE: $990 100% CUSTOM DIGITAL (Regular Price $1,295) Optima Access Digital Hearing Aid. Cannot be combined with other offers. Limited time only. l FREE Hearing Evaluations. l Advanced digital designs for clarity l 95% + patient satisfaction rating l Most trusted brand w/ adults over 50 l Exclusive lifetime aftercare program l Financing available ...same as cash plans (wac) Panama City Location 2633 Highway 77, Suite A BeachLocation (Tuesdays) 12234 Panama City Beach Pkwy. In Healthpoint Medical (next to Cox Pools) Call for appointment: 850-763-0801 or 877-608-4327 THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 45 45 7/6/11 1:16 PM a round Town Updates on Community, Education, Workforce & Government Bay District Schools Bill Husfelt, Superintendent Bay District Schools Media headlines about budgets are generally grim these days, but we have something to smile about in Bay District Schools. In passing the half-cent sales tax, our community gave the green light to technology and capital projects that provide the best possible learning opportunities for our students. Thanks to your support, there is exciting news in a time when good news is hard to find. Throughout our district, our classrooms will be equipped with new 21st century technology and learning software to provide a first class learning environment in every school. SMART boards, mounted projectors, student responders, document cameras, and audio enhancements will be standard, and proven software applications will be available to all students. Students will be taught in an environment that more closely resembles the world in which they will eventually work. Along with these new technology tools, we are deploying fifteen instructional technology teachers to the schools to train all classroom teachers to integrate the new technology into the classroom curriculum. These technology trainers will be located in schools and will work with groups and individuals to ensure effective and immediate implementation of these new resources. A consistent trend for the past few years for businesses and school districts has been doing more with less. In an era of belt-tightening, we are punching new holes to cinch our belts tighter and tighter. School board members and I face each new funding cut with the understanding that all businesses and individuals are experiencing the same budget-cutting realities. However, we also understand that we cannot cut back on the quality of the education that our students receive. We cannot eliminate 46 the third shift or decline to serve more “customers.” We are in the process now of examining everything we do to determine how we will cut spending yet again and maintain quality. We welcome input from our community as we address these painful realities. Engen, LLC, the Waste-to-Energy plant is now an asset rather than a liability. Engen has also implemented a host of costsaving measures that have helped the facility run more frugally and efficiently, and that’s a business trend we can all be proud of. Bay County Commission EDA Update Bill Dozier, Chairman Bay County Commission Janet Watermeier, Executive Director One of the newest business imperatives being undertaken locally not only brings Bay County closer to paying off the debt at the Waste-toEnergy facility – it’s also great for the environment. Did you know that if you live in Bay County, you recycle simply by setting your trash out for pickup? We commend the Bay County Board of County Commissioners for passing an economic incentive plan as an attraction tool for high-impact, diverse industries with quality jobs looking to locate or expand to an area with a favorable business climate. This is the first plan of its kind in Bay County’s history. The Bay County Waste-to-Energy facility creates from our everyday garbage enough electricity to power 4,000 homes, while reducing the trash that goes into our landfill 90 percent by volume and up to 60 percent by weight. The incinerator burns trash at extremely high temperatures, using steam emitted to create electricity. The byproduct of the process – ash – is trucked to the landfill. Until now, the ash included both ferrous metals, such as steel and iron, and non-ferrous metals, such as silver, aluminum and copper. Metals are the most valuable recyclable materials in any marketplace, and we now have a new component in place at the plant that will extract the metals from the ash for recycling before it goes to the landfill. It’s a $1 million venture that is expected to pay for itself in less than two years and provide an estimated $500,000 per year in additional revenue for the county thereafter. If you’ve lived in Bay County longer than a few years, you’ve heard what a boondoggle the incinerator was in years past, but that’s not the case anymore. Thanks to a partnership with our operator, Bay County Economic Development Alliance The Bay County Economic Partnership is a comprehensive, flexible, performance-based plan that acts as an inducement for companies that bring high-skill, high-wage jobs into Bay County. This incentive is in addition to Bay County’s property tax abatement program and other various incentives offered by the State of Florida. To be considered for the economic incentive, the applicant must meet certain criteria established by the Bay County Board of County Commissioners in partnership with the EDA. The County Commission has the final authority to approve or deny any applications for the incentive. The company must meet the following criteria: • It must operate in a target industry sector designated by the EDA or State of Florida. • It must create at least 150 new, full-time, permanent Bay County jobs paying an annual average wage that is at least 115 percent of Bay County’s average annual wage. • It must make a cumulative capital investment within Bay County over the life of the project that is greater than the amount awarded through the incentive program. Continued THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 46 7/6/11 1:16 PM Outpatient Surgery and Procedures ENT Surgery General Surgery Neurosurgery Ophthalmic Surgery Gastroenterology Neurology Procedures Orthopedic Surgery Plastic Surgery Podiatric Surgery Retinal Surgery 767 AIRPORT RD. PANAMA CITY, FL 32405 (850) 747-0400 www.nwfsc.com NWFSC is nationally accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC). Seared Ahi Tuna THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 47 47 7/6/11 1:16 PM a round Town Updates on Community, Education, Workforce & Government • The company’s share of sales or revenues of products or services derived from outside of the region must exceed 50 percent. We are especially thankful to our County Commissioners for their leadership in taking such a meaningful step in making our community more business-friendly. We would also like to give special thanks to the county’s administrative team for working diligently to create a viable plan and seeing it to fruition. which helps us publicize Panama City Beach in a way that potential and returning visitors respond well to. Mark Your Calendars The EDA will host another Economic Development 101 Session on July 20 to provide an overview of the economic development process and available job creation incentive programs. Also, the EDA will host its 2nd Annual Celebration of Industry Excellence Awards Luncheon on September 23. Be sure to check our website for updates and applications for the Community Impact Award. For additional information on any of these events, call the EDA at (850) 215-9965 or visit BayEDA.com. Fresh and ever-changing content is equally as important, which caused us to recently reskin the destination website, VisitPanamaCityBeach. com. While maintaining the core messaging, we changed the existing website to reflect TDC commercial shoot at the Shores of Panama the look and feel of our new and to the myriad of workers at the City Hall advertising campaign. Additionally, we have launched a new mobile for helping us get parking for 50 people on a site, which can be viewed by typing in the Friday afternoon at Pier Park to shoot on the normal website address in any smart phone’s City Pier. web browser. We are pleased with the re- Thanks to the Panama City Beach Police Desult, as the mobile site has the look and feel partment for not only helping us with our huge of an app but offers all data that is available trucks, trailers and motor homes, but for being on the website. From maps to events to spe- on site and making sure we all made it to the cial deals, all things Panama City Beach are locations safely. Thanks to the local media for available any time of day, anywhere. the coverage on the casting, as well as the pro- TDC Update Florida Film Commission Susan Estler, Vice President Marketing Tourist Development Council Over the last year, the TDC has embraced several new trends to promote visitation to the destination. Our outreach via social media, namely Facebook, has been particularly successful. Thanks to user-generated content, timely responses and constant interaction, we recently surpassed 200,000 fans. For those who have not seen our Facebook page, it can be found by typing in Panama City Beach in the Facebook search bar. I encourage you to take a look at all the positive comments from loyal PCB visitors and perhaps even post your own tip for a must-see restaurant, activity or attraction. The new trends in tourism suggest people are seeking user-generated content that is fast and simple to access. Facebook has a newly designed website with a separate mobile site 48 Julie Gordon, Film Commissioner Florida Film Office, Inc. There were a couple of commercials shot in Bay County last month, but this update is focused on one in particular. Thank you to everyone who played a part in the filming of the CVB/TDC’s latest commercials. There are no “small parts” in a production; every person is so valuable. From Kathy Rentz, resident hair & makeup artist, to Sharky’s Beach Club for letting us take over their extra space and turn their fundraising fish-fry into a spectacle. Thank you to the Shores of Panama for not only hosting much of the production, but also providing casting/auditioning space; to the Barefoot Beach Café for reserving much-needed patrons’ tables for the commercial so that the perfect time of day could be caught on film; to Bay Point Marriott golfers for letting us set up on your favorite “hole,” duction itself. A special Thank You and “Atta’ Girl” to Susan Estler, VP of Marketing at the TDC, who was on location and spent days in post production to see the Marketing Committee’s vision through to the end. Here’s a big kudos to the production company who went to great lengths to hire as many local crew members and talent as possible. It feels great to be appreciated by the people we so proudly represent. Keep those headshots and resumes coming…we are always working on “the next one.” Florida’s Minimum Wage Increases Kim Bodine, Executive Director Gulf Coast Workforce Board On June 1, 2011, Florida’s minimum wage increased to $7.31 per hour, with a minimum wage of at least $4.29 per hour for tipped employees, in addition to tips. This is up Continued THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 48 7/6/11 1:16 PM THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 49 49 7/6/11 1:16 PM a round Town Updates on Community, Education, Workforce & Government six cents from the $7.25 per hour and makes Florida’s minimum wage rate higher than the federal one. The annual calculation is based on the percentage change in the federal Consumer Price Index for urban wage earners and clerical workers in the South Region for the 12-month period prior to September 1, 2010. In deciding whether the federal or state minimum wage applies, federal law directs that businesses must pay the higher of the two. an evening reception. It was serendipitous yet very fitting that the meeting held on our campus was former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives Allan Bense’s first meeting since he was appointed by the Governor to the Board of Trustees. We, along with our community, are excited that Allan was appointed to the Trustee Board as he has been a strong supporter of both FSU Tallahassee and FSU Panama City. On November 2, 2004, Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment which created Florida’s minimum wage. The minimum wage applies to all employees in the state who are covered by the federal minimum wage. Many good things continue to happen at FSU Panama City. Summer enrollment is up over last summer. Middle school and high school students are once again on campus doing incredible and fun things in the summer STEM camps. In fact, while preparing this article for submission, the students were launching rockets outside my window! We very much appreciate our Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division partner and the work they have done to provide funding from the National Defense Education Program to sponsor the FSU Panama City STEM Institute’s summer activities. In addition, the FSU Panama City STEM Institute was recently selected as the only statewide provider for Project Lead the Way, a national program designed to help teachers engage students in critical thinking skills through hands-on, project-based learning and prepare students to take on real-world challenges. Florida Statutes require employers who must pay their employees the Florida minimum wage to post a minimum wage notice in a conspicuous and accessible place in each establishment where these employees work. This poster requirement is in addition to the federal requirement to post a notice of the federal minimum wage. Florida’s minimum wage poster is available for downloading in English and Spanish from the Agency for Workforce Innovation’s website at floridajobs.org/ workforce/posters.html. The federal poster can be downloaded from the U.S. Dept. of Labor’s website at dol.gov/ whd/regs/compliance/posters/flsa.htm. FSU Board of Trustees Visits Panama City Dr. Ken Shaw, Dean FSU Panama City What a privilege it was to host the Florida State University Board of Trustees on June 2 and 3 for their regular meeting and workshop! Accompanying the Board of Trustees was FSU President Eric Barron, Interim Provost Robert Bradley, university vice presidents, and many other dignitaries. Our guests were warmly welcomed to Bay County by over 150 community members at 50 an education, but a prestigious university and campus where students obtain high quality bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Gulf Coast State College Expands its Mission Dr. Jim Kerley, President Gulf Coast State College It’s finally official – we are Gulf Coast State College! With the governor’s approval, we became GCSC on July 1, 2011. This is a tremendous opportunity for our students and community. The launch of our first bachelor’s degree program in Technology Management was a great success, and now it’s time to keep moving forward. We have listened to area business and industry leaders in order to determine where we should focus our time and effort next. The healthcare industry has told us through professional advisory committees and needs assessment surveys that there is definitely a community need for a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) program. Trustee Allan Bense and President Eric Barron at the Community Reception Once that need was communicated, our faculty and administrators researched economic development data on the growth and future potential of nursing professionals for this region. Once the research identified a gap in the number of skilled nurses and the growing demands on our aging population, then faculty began developing a BSN curriculum to serve the needs of hospitals and healthcare providers. It is this combination of long-range planning and rapid response that is the hallmark of GCSC. Most universities take years to add programs -- our BSN degree will launch next year in August 2012. Florida State University was recently ranked 20th in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2011. Florida State University is also ranked in the top 50 for all public universities in the United States. These rankings make Florida State University Panama City not only a very affordable option to pursue We continue to serve the community in many other ways, such as our recent International Fair. Over 40 countries from around the world shared their cultures with over 350 students, K-12 students, civic groups and community members. The purpose was to provide an opContinued Florida State University was recently ranked 20th in Kiplinger’s Best Values in Public Colleges in 2011. Florida State University is also ranked in the top 50 for all public universities in the United States. These rankings make Florida State University Panama City not only a very affordable option to pursue an education, but a prestigious university and campus where students obtain high quality bachelor’s and master’s degrees. THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 50 7/6/11 1:16 PM Top 100 Overall Excellence (USA) www.top100chineserestaurants.com 2010-2011 Asian Cuisine II Lin’s Asian Cuisine offers an array of Szechuan, Cantonese and Chinese dishes. ALL yOU CAN EAT SUSHI - SASHIMI HIBACHI Every Day From 10:30 to 10:00 LOCAL DELIVERY See our ALL YOU EAT menu LUNCH START ES IN AT $6.9 G 5! Serving All Types of Beer, Wine & Sake 11160 PCB Parkway • Suite #408 PANAMA CITy BEACH 850-233-6566 130 Scenic Gulf Drive • Suite 5B MIrAMAr BEACH 850-424-5888 Hours: Mon - Thurs. 10:30-9, Fri & Sat. 10:30-9:30, Sun. Noon-9 Citizens, Teachers, Military, 10% DISCOUNT Firefor Senior & Rescue Workers, Police, & EMTs www.linsasiancuisine.com Summer is here... and we are K C O R ‘n ! G N I L L RO FRED ASTAIRE FRANCHISED DANCE STUDIOS. Evening Adult Classes $10/person or a complete beginner course taught by licensed and certified instructors. Open Monday-Friday, 12 to 9 pm Weekends by Appointment 850.873.6269 2401 Ruth Hentz Avenue www.FredAstairePanamaCity.com THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 51 51 7/6/11 1:16 PM a round Town Updates on Community, Education, Workforce & Government portunity for exploration of the countries of our world, through art, educational displays, food and entertainment. It was the first event of its kind on our campus and we are looking forward to making it even bigger and better next year. Lastly, another highlight of Gulf Coast is our Kids’ College, held each summer for the last few years. Previous years were for middle school kids only, but this year the curriculum expanded to include elementary school age children and transportation was provided for kids who reside in Gulf and Franklin counties. It is always a joy to see so many children at the college who are learning and building their skills through fun activities. Making a difference in the lives of everyone in this community is what we do best, and we are fully committed to doing just that in the coming years as Gulf Coast State College. v v Left: Chefs in training at GCSC’s Kids’ College. Above: Children learn tech skills at GCSC’s Kids’ College. v Freedom Fight the bite against the mosquito. Remember to repair or replace old screens. Exercise caution. Wear long sleeve shirts and pants. Escape mosquito bites at dusk and dawn hours. Go indoors. Drain standing water around your outdoor environment weekly. Only wear insect repellents containing the ingredient DEET or Picaridin. Mosquito Control Districts appreciate your assistance by doing your part. For Free Inspections, Treatment or Assistance in Panama City Beach, Florida Contact: Beach Mosquito Control District (850) 233-5030 or www.pcbeachmosquito United we can prevent the spread of mosquito diseases. 52 THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 52 7/6/11 1:17 PM 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 53 7/6/11 1:17 PM Ambassador Update Terri Hugghins, Ambassador Chairman Hello Ambassadors and thank you for your commitment during the first half of 2011. We have some new Ambassadors I would like to welcome: Alex Locke from LocalEdge, and Alicia Perez from Great Clips. What great additions to our Ambassador Group. There is a special recognition to Ambassadors in each Circuit edition now called Ambassador Spotlight. It highlights one of our Ambassadors and their accomplishments. Please make sure you thank the staff; what a great way to recognize the hundreds of hours the Ambassadors put in every year. We’ve had some really great Grand Openings, thanks to the new members who make such a great effort to introduce your business to the Ambassadors. Summer is here, the beach is buzzing with activity, and we are so grateful to be a part of it. As Ambassadors, our mission is to support and encourage new and existing Chamber members. If you are not an Ambassador, and would like to become one, the procedure is simple. All you need to do is obtain an application at the Panama City Beach Chamber office, fill it out and turn it in. Ambassadors, thank you for all the time and talents you contribute. v v Denise began her Real Estate career in Bay County in 2001 and is currently with Pelican Real Estate. She earned a B.A. in Liberal Studies majoring in Business Management. She is an active volunteer in Bay County participating as an Ambassador with the Beach Chamber for over 10 years, as well as volunteering in the Bay County Association of Realtors as past Director, Leadership Chair and Communications Committee Chair. Denise assists customers in buying and selling Real Estate along the Northwest Panhandle in Bay County and Walton County. She specializes in the purchase or sale of primary homes, vacation homes, land purchases and commercial property. Denise Fitchben Realtor, Pelican Real Estate Practical Solutions & Strategies for Creating Work-Life Balance Productive Sessions Motivating Speakers Innovative Ideas Straight Answers for the Professional Woman v I would like to give a special thank you to Linda Kirk, Coldwell Realty, for volunteering to help with the Ambassador collection of points. Ambassador Spotlight m u i s o p m y S e f i L k r Wo Contact Lindsay Dring for details at (850) 235-1159. Ambassador Spotlight As the president of LifeInsuranceLarry.Com, I provide the smallest companies with the biggest benefits. It is my intention to bring affordable health and life insurance benefits to everyone who works on the beach. I have been marketing insurance products on Panama City Beach for five years specializing in the hospitality industry. I started with the Ambassadors in 2006. My affiliation with the Chamber has created substantial business and social relationships for me. Take it from me: everyone should be active in the Chamber! Ask me, I’ll show you how. Larry Deutch LifeInsuranceLarry.com NEW MEMBERS Anderson Brothers Deep Sea Fishing Arias Artifacts Bay United Soccer Club Book That Condo Chop Shop Hair Studio Covered Airport Parking Coyote Ugly Saloon Crown Shuttle & Resort Transportation/30A Emerald Coast Rheumatology Fresenius Medical Care - PC Front Beach Laundry G. Miles Interiors Great Clips/JALR Enterprises Hippie Market and Cafe’ IZIGG Mobile Media Oilspill Recoveries PCB Embroidery POSabilities Reich & Binstock Resort Vacation Properties Soap Opera Laundry Stepping Stones Tacky Jack’s Panama City Tadlock Roofing & Solar The Sterling Sun Zoom Tan RENEWING MEMBERS Renewals - 1 Year Capt Anderson III Gulf Coast Business Intermediaries Gulf Coast State College Foundation Smok “N” Butts BBQ WonderWorks Renewals - 2 Years Bay County Audubon Society Bookit.com Castaway’s Coastal Furniture Consignment Feathers Shoe Boutique Junior Service League of PC 54 THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_TheCircuit Jul-Aug.indd 54 7/6/11 1:17 PM m embers Ribbon Cuttings . New & Renewing Chamber Members . Membership & Ambassador Updates Ribbon Cuttings Gulf Coast Chiropractic, 5/12 Kritter, Inc., 5/18 Shane’s Rib Shack, 5/26 Calypso, 6/3 C-Level Bar & Grill, 6/11 Zoom Tan, 6/15 Military Media Miracle Strip Carousel Regions Bank @ Pier Park Soldiers’ Angels/NW FL Brigade Sting Ray Sunsations Waste Pro Panama City Renewals - 3 Years Ernest M. House Jos A. Bank Jubilee Foods, Inc. Ocean Reef Resort Properties Southern Coastal Management Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge The Vein Center @ Vascular Assoc. Renewals - 4 Years C.W. Roberts Contracting Cellular Sales/Verizon Wireless Disaster Response Team (DRT) The Grand Theatres Nova Engineering and Environmental Panera Bread Sunjammer’s Watersports Toys for Kids Foundation Treasure Island Resort Rentals Wine World Renewals - 5 Years Charles Heyman Gift Basket Designs Gulf Coast Dermatology Jimmy Phelps Keller Williams Success Realty Stephen Wilson Sunglass World of NW Florida Renewals - 6 Years Carillon Beach Rentals Interspace Airport Advertising Laguna Beach Christian Retreat Penguin Parlor Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum West Florida Regional Planning Council Renewals - 7 Years Belvedere Commons of PCB Betsy Ann Riverboat Tours Chick-fil-A Panama City Beach Parkway CK’s Secrets Emerald Coast Dental Spa Los Rancheros Mexican Restaurant McDonald’s/David Costa Enterprises Mike’s Cafe & Oyster Bar Miss Charlotte’s Renewals - 8 Years Dale E. Peterson Vacations Labor Ready Legacy By The Sea Resorts McDonald’s Restaurant/ Zeebest ResortQuest Renewals - 9 Years Bay Credit Union Calypso Restaurant Carpet One Floor & Home Condom Knowledge Frimet to Z Auto Center Merrimac Resort Nature Walk Golf Club Optimist Club of the Beaches Pelican Real Estate UCI Communications Renewals - 10 Years ACE Cash Express Brown & Brown Insurance Coastal Parasail Corporate Accommodations of N.W. Florida Peaden Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing Science and Discovery Center of Northwest Florida Sonny’s Bar-B-Q Venture Out at Panama City Beach Renewals - 11 Years Barbara Fraley BB&T Bank Capt. Jack’s Family Buffet Coral Reef Condominium Renewals - 12 Years Better Business Bureau of NW FL Segers, Sowell, Stewart, Johnson & Brill P.A. Renewals - 13 Years PCB Convention & Visitors Bureau Renewals - 14 Years Burke, Blue, Hutchison, Walters & Smith, P.A. Emerald Coast RV Beach Resort The Original J. Michael’s Musgrove Florist Plumb Better Zooworld Renewals - 15 Years Liz and Jane Clothes Lollye On The Beach Renewals - 16 Years Brian D. Hess Attorney At Law Magic Broadcasting II, LLC Mariner West Owner’s Assoc. Princess Condo Rental Renewals - 17 Years Early Education and Care, Inc. Renewals - 18 Years Culligan Water Services First National Bank of NW FL Half Hitch Tackle Co. KLW Enterprises, Inc. Naval Support Activity Panama City Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City Division Seltzer Management Group Great Clips, 6/21 Renewals - 19 Years Billy’s Oyster Bar, Inc. Blowin-N-The Wind Mgt. Gulf Glo Banners & Signs Sea Dragon Pirate Cruise Renewals - 20 Years Ace Home Helpers Buffalo Rock Pepsi City of Panama City Beach Club La Vela Hooter’s/Gulf Coast Wings SunTrust Bank Treasure Island Marina Renewals - 21 Years Bay Point Marriott Golf Resort & Spa Beach Mosquito Control District Breeze Animal Hospital Capt. Anderson’s Marina CET Management Commodore Condominiums Ebro Greyhound Park and Poker Room Gulf Power Company Jubilee & Treasure Island Deep Sea Fishing Stephen Myers, D.M.D., PA Pirate’s Island Adventure Golf Schooner’s Spinnaker Beach Club & Paradise Grill United Way of Northwest Florida Renewals - 22 Years Fisher-Brown, Inc. Gulf Highlands Beach Resort Homeowners Association Waste Management WJHG TV Channel 7 Renewals - 23 Years Boyd Brothers, Inc. Walmart Super Center Renewals - 24 Years Bay Bank & Trust Co. Capt. Anderson’s Restaurant & Water Front Market Chateau Motel Continental Condominiums Dunes Of Panama Management Association Edgewater Beach Realty, Inc. Hancock Bank Lamar Advertising Palmetto Inn & Suites Regions Bank Signal Hill Golf Course Summerhouse Condominiums TECO/Peoples Gas THE CIRCUIT July/August 2011 58003_Circuit Cover Jul-Aug.indd 3 55 7/6/11 11:11 AM we Take Care oF you. Cosmetic and General Dentistry on the Beach smile make over nuTriliTe viTamins PorCelain veneers BoTox JuveDerm essix orThoDonTiCs Crowns & BriDges in oFFiCe whiTening laser DenTisTry oBagi skin Care sysTem Cleaning DigiTal x-rays Tara m. griFFin, D.m.D. P.a. Healthy Happy People Spread Smiles pcbden TexT t t to 9021 for cisu specia rrent 0 emeralls from DenTaDl CoasT sPa! 850.249.9311 3135 T h o m a s D r i v e , P a n a m a C i T y B e aC h , F lo r i D a 32408 • 58003_Circuit Cover Jul-Aug.indd 4 w w w . ecdspa.com 7/6/11 11:11 AM MobilizeEverything.com Better together Bringing AT&T customers a stronger network faster. AT&T customers, including those who join us from T-Mobile, will see significant service improvements from the merger. The addition of T-Mobile’s spectrum resources and thousands of cell sites will quickly increase capacity and coverage, resulting in better call reliability and data speeds. Mobile data traffic on AT&T’s network has grown 8,000% over the last four years. With tablets, cloud computing, and a new generation of bandwidth-hungry devices on the horizon, demand is expected to increase an additional 8-10 times by 2015. Integrating T-Mobile’s network resources, while continuing AT&T’s network investment, is the surest, fastest, and most efficient way to meet this challenge. Continued innovation for T-Mobile customers. Through the integration with AT&T, T-Mobile customers can continue to enjoy innovative technologies, devices, and services for many years to come. They will have the freedom to keep their existing pricing plans and phones, and will benefit in the future with expanded capabilities. T-Mobile customers will also benefit from network enhancements — such as improved coverage in remote regions and access to AT&T’s planned next generation networks. Reaching more of Florida with LTE. LTE technology is a super-fast way to connect to the Internet. The combination of AT&T and T-Mobile will allow AT&T to expand its LTE wireless broadband network to cover over 98% of Florida residents. That means one million more people in Florida, many in small towns and rural areas, will get access to LTE due to the merger. Our customers will get a stronger network. The state will get a new choice for broadband. And more of Florida will get access to a cutting-edge wireless network and all the opportunities it brings. © 2011 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. 58003_Circuit Cover Jul-Aug.indd 5 7/6/11 11:11 AM 309 Richard Jackson Boulevard Panama City Beach, FL 32407 PCBeach.org 58003_Circuit Cover Jul-Aug.indd 6 PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO 50 PANAMA CITY, FL 7/6/11 11:11 AM