June 2019 Business Briefs / Member News

Nurse Recognized at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast with DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®
Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast is proud to honor Lynn Shortino-Sanchez, a registered nurse in the hospital’s surgery pre-op and recovery unit, with The DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses®. The award is part of Sacred Heart Hospital and the DAISY Award Foundation's goal to recognize the extraordinary, compassionate care nurses provide patients and families every day.  Sanchez was nominated for The DAISY Award by three separate patients, having surgical procedures at the hospital. 




Northwest Florida State College Launches NWF Online for Fall 2019 Keep Moving Forward
Northwest Florida State College is proud to announce the Fall 2019 launch of NWF Online, offering distance learning academic programs, advising and tutoring to students. NWF Online combines Northwest Florida State College’s exceptional faculty and student-centered instruction with the accessibility and affordability of online learning. NWF offers top-quality, low-cost, open-enrollment courses and fully online programs that are just a click away, with outstanding student support from onboarding through program completion.

Destin Commons Announces Exciting New Rebrand
Since 2003, Destin Commons has been the place to shop, dine, and enjoy a variety of events, but as the landscape of retail has evolved, so has Destin Commons, into much more than a shopping center.

"For the past 15 years, Destin Commons has been blessed to be part of this community and the lives of our guests. We have grown and evolved throughout the years and our new branding reflects our growth. It is a true representation of what Destin Commons is today and our vision for the future," explained Robert Perry, general manager of Destin Commons.

Now, the popular lifestyle center is where friends and family gather together to enjoy those special moments in life.  Family Christmas photos near the Destin Common's giant Christmas tree is a tradition for many area residents and visitors, and the summer just isn't the summer without meeting up with friends to try the area's best BBQ, while benefiting local nonprofit organizations at the annual Smoke on the Coast BBQ & Fireworks Festival. 

What can you expect from the new face of the beloved Destin Commons? A fresh and more modern approach that differentiates Destin's "gathering place" from other outdoor shopping centers in the local area and appeals to a wider audience. 

SSgt Kirkland has Food Drive for CIC Kids
Seen here, Children In Crisis (CIC) President and CEO Ken Hair and CIC Volunteer and Events Director Laura Moore (right) accept a large donation of food from Air Force Staff Sergeant Aerin Kirkland.  The food drive will help fill the CIC Kay’s Cupboard Food Pantry with much needed items.  The donation is a true blessing to the at-risk children that call the CIC Neighborhood home.





Food For Thought Outreach Opens of 10,000-Square-Foot Warehouse
Since its inception and early steps in 2010, Food For Thought Outreach has grown to be a critical part of the lives of more than 3,300 children across 33 schools in Okaloosa and Walton counties. The organization works tirelessly to fight childhood hunger by providing weekly backpacks, monthly snacks, holiday food services, garden initiatives, and culinary education opportunities. The DeFuniak Warehouse space is only the next step in the incredible outreach possibilities for the Food for Thought organization. The warehouse, located at 2132 US 90 in DeFuniak Springs, will provide the organization for the first time with the capacity to purchase and hold at least three months’ worth of food and supplies at one time, preventing shortages or delays in receiving food. The space will be used as a pull center to ensure the small pantry locations in Santa Rosa Beach and Destin are always in stock and ready for services. The generous contributions and donations of many Food For Thought supporters made the warehouse vision a reality, including a $100,000 grant from the Dugas Family Foundation, a $25,000 grant from Isagenix International, a $30,000 grant and in-kind materials from The Seaside Style, a $20,000 grant from Army Aviation Federal Credit Union, and a $10,000 grant from Jim and Tammy Pierce. 

Acentria Insurance Producers Receive National Top Honors
Acentria Insurance receives top honors for five insurance agents being recognized as National Top Producers, according to Insurance Business America Magazine (IBA). Selection criteria is based upon sales thresholds and year over year growth. Amongst those recognized was company President Kevin Mason. Located at the corporate headquarters in Destin, Mason specializes in multi-family protection, while focusing on national condominium associations. With more than 25 years of industry experience, this makes the fourth consecutive year that Mason has been recognized as this prestigious and elite level. Mason actively gives back to his community through his efforts with the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation.  

Other Top Producers recognized included Brian Stanton and Jeff Bajza of the Fort Lauderdale office, Shawn Budney of the Jacksonville Beach office and Jonathan Brooke of the Fort Myers office. 

Bands of 30A Community Concert Raises $20K for The Sonder Project 
The Bands of 30A hosted a charity concert at Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar on April 14, to benefit The Sonder Project. The threat of severe storms did not keep Bands of 30A from hosting one of the best local charity concerts. Shunk Gulley Oyster Bar stepped up to provide the back up venue and adjustments were made to the original event plans. The rain cleared and concertgoers showed up in overwhelming support of the Bands of 30A Concert event. At this “Plan B” charity concert, $20,000 was raised for The Sonder Project. 

Raising monetary help and awareness for local charities that need community support is the vision of Bands of 30A. With the generosity of sponsors and artists participating in the concerts, founders Casey Kearney, April Roach, and Crystal Smith have raised more than $100,000 to date. 

Fort Walton Beach Medical Center Introduces New Device that Reduces Risk of Stroke for Patients with Heart Condition
Fort Walton Beach Medical Center (FWBMC) recently became the first hospital in the Tri-County area to offer patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) an alternative to long-term warfarin medication with the WATCHMAN™ Left Atrial Appendage Closure (LAAC) Implant. FWBMC had its first device implant on April 19, 2019. The WATCHMAN, the only FDA-approved implant, is proven to reduce stroke risk in people with AF not caused by a heart valve problem. This device, which has been implanted in more than 50,000 patients worldwide, closes off an area of the heart called the left atrial appendage (LAA) to keep harmful blood clots that can form in the LAA from entering the blood stream and potentially causing a stroke. By closing off the LAA, the risk of stroke may be reduced and, over time, patients may be able to stop taking warfarin. 

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Appoints Gail Pelto to Board of Directors
Heather Ruiz, 2019 Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) board chairman, announced the appointment of Gail Pelto, real estate professional with Keller Williams, to the foundation's board of directors effective immediately. Pelto and her husband John Groah have called Destin home since 2007.  Originally from Michigan, Pelto transferred with her previous company to the Clearwater, Fla., area in 1999.  Currently, she is an active, full time real estate professional with Keller Williams. In addition to assisting her clients in reaching their real estate goals, she’s is also an educational instructor and new agent mentor with her Keller Williams office.  Prior to her real estate career, Pelto spent 24 years with ClubCorp, first in event planning, then as a membership director in the country club division and eventually became a field specialist and sales trainer for the company. Pelton and her husband are both involved with the arts through appreciation and application; Groah is a prolific painter and has won awards and sold watercolor paintings at the MKAF Festival of The Arts.  Pelto, who attended Center for Creative Studies Detroit, still practices figure drawing when she has time off through classes and workshops.  

Clark’s Barber Lounge Team Helps CIC Kids
Seen here, Joe Clark, owner of Clark’s Barber Lounge in Fort Walton Beach, presents a $480 check to Allie Noah, Children In Crisis (CIC) development director, and Ken Hair, CIC president and CEO, along with members of the Clark’s Team. Left to right, those team members are Heather Manning, Maya Nikolova, Madison Crenshaw and Luke Cully.  The funds will be used to give local at-risk foster children a safe, loving home at the CIC Neighborhood.



Frances Roy Agency Chooses Emerging Talent for 2019 Summer Internship Program 
Frances Roy Agency is excited to announce three interns for the 2019 Summer Internship Program. With creativity, strong work ethic and talent that is unmatched, Frances Roy Agency President Shantelle Dedicke is confident each intern brings a unique skill set to the team.

Alicia Perez (left), account management and public relations intern from the University of Wyoming, brings to the agency strong written communication skills, determination, and robust work ethic. Her active involvement with Tri Delta Sorority, aided the development of professionalism and organizational skills necessary for this internship program.

Kayla Koger (center), graphic design intern from the University of South Florida, is a Niceville High School alumni. Her eye for creative design, passion and positive attitude made her a great candidate for the internship program. Frances Roy Agency took note of Koger's work around the community, one being the creation of the CORE Chiropractic logo in the Publix shopping center.

Kenneth Manuel (right), videographer intern from Northwest Florida State College, uses unique style, creativity and out-of-the-box thinking to create captivating visuals through videography. The agency saw Manuel's talents first hand when he won the Powerade, "Power Your School" video submission for Niceville High School's Pole Vault Team.

Community Rallies to Bring Back Children’s Volunteer Health Network’s Mobile Dental Clinic
Last month, Children’s Volunteer Health Network (CVHN) unveiled a new and improved mobile dental clinic, allowing the organization to more efficiently serve students in Okaloosa and Walton counties. In 2018, CVHN was forced to retire its beloved mobile dental clinic, Just for Grins, after it sustained previously undetected water damage.

“The loss of our Mobile Dental Clinic was disappointing,” said Brian Lowe, executive director of CVHN. “Although it made our outreach in the schools more challenging, our determined team served more than 650 kids, while performing 2,856 procedures during the 2017-2018 school year.”  

For the last 10 months, CVHN has been securing the funding, designing, and coordinating the manufacturing of a brand new 37’ long and 12’ 6” tall mobile dental clinic bus. The bus is equipped with two treatment bays to facilitate both preventative and restorative dental services, an area to educate children on appropriate dental hygiene, and plenty of space to recognize the donors who passionately support CVHN’s programs to the most vulnerable children in both counties.

NWF State College’s Walton Works Training Center of Excellence Proposal Marks a Major Milestone with Approval by the Triumph Gulf Coast Board  
Northwest Florida State College is excited to announce the Triumph Gulf Coast Board unanimously voted to approve the Walton Works Training Center of Excellence project at its meeting on April 29. The Triumph Gulf Coast Board’s action moves the proposal forward from economic review to term sheet review. The Walton Works project includes career and education initiatives and expansions to be offered at the College’s Chautauqua Center in DeFuniak Springs. Over the next five years, the College projects northwest Florida residents will earn at least 1,570 industry-recognized certificates. The Triumph Gulf Coast Board committed $2,763,716, representing 48.2 percent of the $5.7 million project.

The Walton Works project will establish a Center of Excellence for 10 new workforce programs, preparing students to earn industry-recognized credentials including state licenses and certifications. The project will expand career education programs in public safety (law enforcement, fire, emergency medical technician (EMT)), cybersecurity, drone technology, and building trades (plumbing, electrical, welding, millwright and construction). The Walton Works project will provide industrial lab space, an indoor drone facility, and a fire tower to meet area training needs. By 2024, a minimum of 1,570 industry-recognized certifications would be awarded at a cost of $3,652 per certification.

Shard Shop Expands with Two New Summer Pop-Up Shops
Summer fun on the panhandle has two new destinations! The Shard Shop has opened two Summer Pop-Up Shops, one in Grand Boulevard and one in the Village of Baytowne Wharf. The Shard Shop is a friendly make-your-own-art boutique with two permanent shops open year round in Destin and Grayton Beach. This fun way of making ShardWorx™art is contagious, so now we’re expanding to bring it even closer to you this summer! 

Grand Boulevard in Sandestin. Open daily from 10am - 7pm, now through Labor Day. Reservations can be made by visiting www.shardshop.com or by phone at (850) 737 - 1221. 

 The Village of Baytowne Wharf. Open now through Labor Day. Walk-ins only. For more information, please call (850) 830 - 3885.