President's Message: Congratulations to our Winners

Now that 2016 has come and gone and we ended our celebration of 50 years in December, 2017 is screaming by in break-neck speed!  I’m amazed that January is over.

I don’t want to get to far into 2017 without congratulating our award winners from 2016.  After sending the press release about the 50^th Anniversary Party and pictures of our winners to the local newspapers, they never printed it or gave us recognition, other than a very broken down version of the press release Elizabeth put together.  They didn’t include pictures of our winners.  That’s the first time in 13 years that they haven’t done that. I’m not sure why, but here they are straight from the chamber.

Ambassador of the Year, Bill Head

Ann Gibson Community Service Award, Jason Belcher of FNBT Bank

Business Person of the Year, Kim Wintner of Alliance Association Management Co. Inc.

James D. Neilson, Sr., Chairman’s Award for Volunteer Service, Amy Perry, Pleat & Perry, P.A.

Amy was also recognized for her seven years of service on our board.

All of our award winners are seen here with 2016 Chamber Chairman Jonathan Ochs, Trustmark National Bank.

So there you go.  I wanted to make sure we gave them the recognition they deserved, since it seems we have to do that ourselves.

With wishes for continued success,

Shane A. Moody, CCE, FCCP

President & CEO

Destin Chamber of Commerce

Destin Chamber Celebrates 50-Year Anniversary & Awards Outstanding Members

Destin, Fla., Dec. 16 - On Dec. 15, the Destin Chamber celebrated its 50 years of service to the Destin community, during the 50^thAnniversary Gala & Awards Ceremony presented by Fort Walton Beach Medical Center and Twin Cities Hospital. The grand event, which was held at Destin’s newest luxury resort, The Henderson, culminated in a champagne toast led by 14 of the Chamber’s past chairmen and presidents. (See photo above)

More than 275 Chamber members were present to witness the festivities, including the presentation of the Chamber’s most prestigious annual awards, which were announced by Chamber Chairman Jonathan Ochs, Trustmark National Bank.

 
 

(Top left) For her years on the Chamber’s board, her long-running role as host of the Chamber’s TV show, and for her company’s continued support of and involvement in Chamber programming, Amy Perry, Pleat & Perry, P.A., received the James D. Neilson, Sr., Chairman’s Award for Volunteer Service. Ochs also presented her with a plaque recognizing seven years of service to the Board of Directors, including one year as Chairman.

(Top right) Kim Wintner, Alliance Association Management Co. Inc., received the Business Person of the Year Award.

In presenting the award, Ochs read from the nomination form: “soft spoken with great compassion; takes great pleasure in raising up his employees; has a way of expanding your thought process enabling you to see things in a broader, brighter light; engages with everyone, taking a heart-felt interest in each individual; always conducts himself with dignity and respect; and treats everyone around him the same.”

(Bottom left) Jason Belcher, FNBT Bank, received the Ann Gibson Community Service Award.

“His love for his community and his fellow man shows through everything he does,” explained Ochs, after listing Belcher’s positive involvement in many area organizations.

(Bottom right) For the fourth straight year, the winner of the Paul Woolman Ambassador of the Year Award was Bill Head, for his untiring service to the Chamber and its Ambassador Program.

After the awards presentation, guests crowded onto the dance floor, as TriggerProof, dubbed “the Best Party Band of the South,” took the stage.

Thank you to all event sponsors that contributed greatly to the event’s success, including Title Sponsor Fort Walton Beach Medical Center & Twin Cities Hospital; VIP Reception Sponsor Trustmark National Bank; Gala Sponsors Dale E. Peterson Vacations and Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc.; Entertainment Sponsor Destin Commons; Champagne Toast Sponsor ZT Motors of Fort Walton Beach; Platinum Sponsor Cox Communications, Inc.; Gold Sponsors Southern Light and Today's Fashion Boutique; Valet Sponsor CartoBlue; Cocktail Napkin Sponsor Insight Investments, LLC; and Sponsors Destin Beach Photography Company; Perfect Imprints; and Smile Y'all Photo Booth.

From Wigs & Fiber Optic Networks to 3D Maps & Ice Cream, Destin Chamber Welcomes Newest Members

On Aug. 30, new members were introduced to the Chamber, its Board Members, and staff at a new member reception.  We wanted to give a shout out to those who attended and shared with us a little about their businesses.  Check out those new members below:

For more than 130 years, Beggs & Lane - Destin has represented a broad and diverse client base, including major corporations, businesses, professionals, non-profit organizations, and individuals. Our attorneys serve clients in many areas of law, including estate planning, real estate and construction, financial services, and all aspects of litigation. Our diverse practice offers the flexibility and resources to address most any legal issue that a client may face. Our attorneys recognize that no two clients are the same, and are committed to understanding and responding to the individual objectives of each client. Please call (850) 650-4747 or visit www.beggslane.com.

Ben & Jerry’s offers ice cream, sundaes, shakes, smoothies, and ice cream. Visit the new store in The Market Shops, located at 9375 Emerald Coast Pkwy., in Miramar Beach. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday, from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., and Sunday, from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. For details, call (850) 460-8884 or visit www.benjerry.com/miramarbeach.

CartoBlue is a high-end architectural rendering and illustration service company. For interactive maps, 2D and 3D floor plans, drone videography, resort and community maps, pre-build renderings, 3D walk-throughs, and more, visit www.cartoblue.com or call (800) 838-4675.

Destin Beach Photography Company offers beach, wedding, and event photos, as well as engagement, senior, maternity, and school athletic portraits. It also offers complete videography services and has a team of expert designers, graphic artists, and certified photographers. Visit its new studio at 4012 W. Commons Dr. Ste. 226C, in Destin’s Henderson Beach Office Park. For details, call (850) 424-3277 or visit www.destinbeachphotographycompany.com.

First Watch, The Daytime Cafe specializes in award-winning, made-to-order breakfast, brunch, and lunch. A recipient of more than 200 “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch offers traditional favorites, such as omelets, pancakes, sandwiches, and salads, and unique specialty items, like Quinoa Power Bowls, Avocado Toast, and the Chickichanga. First Watch was named a 2015 Top Consumer Pick by Nation’s Restaurant News and a 2014 Top Franchise Value by FSR Magazine. Our Destin First Watch location is locally owned.  For more information, visit www.firstwatch.com or visit (850) 640-9800. It is located in the Paradise Key Shopping Center at 4427 Commons Dr. E.

With locations inside the The Palms of Destin Resort & Conference Center and the Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Med-Spa of Destin & Sandestin offers a wide range of therapies and treatments focused on your health and skin care, including massage, facials, waxing, Botox, Juvaderm, and much more. For details, call (850) 267-6727 for the Sandestin location or (850) 351-0600 for the Palms location or visit www.medspadsd.com.

Reed Music, LLC, is a full service entertainment company, performing and promoting small groups to those as large as the Temptations, corporate and private parties, alike. For details, call (850) 399-1934.

Southern Light designs, constructs, and operates more than 6,000 route miles of fiber optic networks in the Southeast, delivering large bandwidth solutions to telecommunications carriers, governmental agencies, and enterprise customers. We provide high resiliency Internet and Ethernet connections to the most demanding customers using our dense last-mile fiber optic networks. For details, please call (334) 618-0081 or visit www.southernlightfiber.com.

From machines, tools, and supplies to fabric and vinyl, The Sewing Corner offers all your design and product needs for sewing, quilting, embroidery, serging, and more. Training is available. Visit The Sewing Corner at 73 Business Centre Dr., in Miramar Beach. For details, please call (850) 424-7779 or visit www.thesewingcorner.com.

Wigs by Cheyenne is a full custom wig and hairpiece distributor and salon. For details, call (850) 650-3342 or visit www.wigsbycheyenne.com.

You may learn about these businesses and all of our Chamber members in our online Business Directory. For details about Chamber membership, please call (850) 837-6241.

Destin Chamber Reveals New Logo & Kicks Off 50th Anniversary Year at Annual Banquet

Destin, Fla., Jan. 18 – The Destin Chamber has a new look! On Friday, Jan. 15, during its Annual Awards & Installation Banquet, the Chamber unveiled its new logo.

“I think the new logo certainly reflects what we want to project as our brand.  We’ve captured the tourism component with the waves and colors, but we also captured a growing business community and growing economy with the waves growing from small to large and growing higher.  It’s clean, it’s fresh, it’s iconic.  It’s something our Board is proud of, and we know our members are as well,” explained Chamber President and CEO Shane Moody, CCE, FCCP.

The event also kicked off the Chamber’s 50^th anniversary year, which included recognition of two members, FNBT Bank (left) and Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park (right), who have been members since 1966, the year the Chamber was established.

More than 200 Chamber members gathered at the Emerald Grande at HarborWalk Village to witness the festivities, which included the presentation of annual awards and installation of 2016 officers and board of directors.


Outgoing Chamber Chairman Ken Wampler (right), Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc., presented the awards. Julie Cotton (left), Northwest Florida State College, received the James D. Neilson, Sr., Chairman’s Award for Volunteer Service.
“Our winner has always been there for advice, guidance, direction, and simple, even-keeled decision making,” explained Wampler. “She has shown a true passion for the Destin Chamber.” 


Kathy (left) and Ken Whidden (right) of Emerald Coast Chiropractic received the Business Person of the Year Award. 

In presenting the award, Wampler read from the nomination form: The Whiddens “are an outstanding example of local business owners, active community service volunteers, and civic volunteers. They have run a growing local business for over 14 years, contribute to various charitable organizations, and lead by example in encouraging others to also contribute time and talent whenever possible.”


Jeanne Dailey (left), Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc., received the Ann Gibson Community Service Award.

“There isn’t much that’s happened in the Destin community over the past couple of decades in which this year’s winner has not been a part – beach restoration, formation and leadership of Citizens for Good Leadership, the Destin Chamber, the United Way, Rotary, the TDCs of Okaloosa and Walton counties, the Destin Charity Wine Auction,” said Wampler.


For the third straight year, the winner of the Paul Woolman (right) Ambassador of the Year Award was Bill Head (left), for his untiring service to the Chamber and its Ambassador Program.

Outgoing Board members recognized with a plaque for their service included Steve Jay, Warren Averett; Jami Jones, Big Red Truck; Karen McCarthy, Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union; and Scott Seay, Southern Vacation Rentals.
Members of the newly installed 2016 Executive Committee include Chairman Jonathan Ochs, Trustmark National Bank; Chairman Elect Lockwood Wernet, Destin Water Users, Inc.; Treasurer Bill Lindsley, SimpleHR; Immediate Past Chair Ken Wampler, Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc.; Vice Chairman – Communications & Marketing Michelle Terry, Dale E. Peterson Vacations; Vice Chairman – Community & Economic Development Bob Perry, Destin Commons; and Vice Chairman – Membership Development Fred Fenn, Fenn Properties, LLC.
Other members of the 2016 Board of Directors include Jeramie Bates, Destin Pointe by Wyndham Vacation Rentals; Kevin Bowyer, Warren Averett; Jason Connor, ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance, Inc.; Julie Cotton, Northwest Florida State College;  Hayward Dykes, Conerly, Bowman & Dykes, LLP; Rebecca Jones, The Rehabilitation Institute of Northwest Florida/Fort Walton Beach Medical Center; Pam Martin, Gulf Power; Brock Rice, Regions Bank; Most Immediate Past Chairman/Ex-Officio Amy Perry, Pleat, Perry & Ritchie, P.A.; Chairman’s Appointee Steve Barber, Destin VIP Magazine and barber & gall promotions; Chairman’s Appointee Jennifer Lovell, Coastal Bank and Trust; and Special Appointee Kim Wintner, Alliance Association Management Co., Inc.

For more information and to see photos from the event, please visit https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.912764992154202.1073741956.105008336263209&type=3.