June 2014 Business Briefs / Member News Part 2

New Realtors Join ERA American Realty ERA American Realty Of Northwest Florida, Inc., welcomes Linda Adams, Karla Del Monaco, and Dave DelDonie. Adams, who has worked in real estate in the area for the past three years, will join the Destin office. Del Monaco and DelDonie, who have worked in real estate in the area for the past 14 year, will work from both the Grayton Corners and Destin offices. For more information, call (850) 837-2181 or visitwww.ERA-American.com. Okaloosa Turns Corner on FCAT to Recoup Top-10 in Reading for all Grades 3rd through 10th; Middle Schools Move to Top 5! In her first full year in office, Superintendent Mary Beth Jackson takes great pride in the fact that Okaloosa Schools are back near the head of the pack among Florida’s sixty-seven counties. Most every grade level moved up in state rankings in both reading and math, and all grades, 3rd through 10th, are among the state’s top 10 in reading. The district also excelled in science, with students finishing in the top five in both of the assessed grade levels (5 and 8). Click here to keep reading. Foundation Hosts Wounded Warrior Weekend Retreat Local nonprofit organization Emerald Coast Community Cares Foundation hosted eight families local to the Destin and Fort Walton Beach area for a Wounded Warrior Weekend retreat May 2-4. The mission of the retreat was to give local service veterans returning from their time overseas an opportunity to not only relax, but to also reconnect with their wives, children, and the local community. All aspects of the retreat were donated by the local businesses and restaurants or funded by the foundation’s annual golf tournament, which is set for Sept. 4-5, at Burnt Pine Golf Club. For details, visitwww.ecccf.org. Sacred Heart Guild Supports Hospital Initiatives with $63,769 Donation The Volunteer Guild at Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast recently presented a $63,769 donation to the hospital in support of a variety of patient-care initiatives. Each year, the Volunteer Guild invites hospital department managers to apply for one of the Volunteer Guild’s special capital sponsorships to enhance patient care, resulting in new equipment, software upgrades and customer-service projects. The Guild’s largest fundraising event is the annual Emerald Coast Duck Regatta at Baytowne Wharf each October, which features family-friendly games and the opportunity to adopt a duck before thousands of rubber ducks set sail across the pond for a chance to win $5,000. For more information about this exciting event, please visit www.emeraldcoastduckregatta.com. For more information about Sacred Heart, please visit www.sacredheartemerald.org. Blue Marlin Realty Group adds new members to the team  Blue Marlin Realty Group has expanded once again with two new realtors, Craig Carter and Cat Stevens, and a new rental and guest services manager, Devin Marquez. Carter, originally from Kalamazoo, Mich., is a graduate from Western Michigan University. After college Carter worked for several well established companies in executive rolls. Most recently, he formed the rental company Carter Beach Properties, which he sold in 2013. Stevens is a licensed real estate broker in Tennessee and Florida and a businesswoman in every sense of the phrase. Beginning her career in the male-dominated automotive franchise business, Stevens owned nine franchises in Indiana and Florida for 18 years. After the sale of the area franchise rights, Cat obtained her real estate license and began managing a large LLC/PUD consisting of upscale villas in a golf course community in Naples. Blue Marlin Realty Group’s new Rental & Guest Services Manager Devin Marquez hales from Albuquerque, N.M., but is no stranger to the Destin area. Marquez has lived in the area for nine years and has managed vacation rentals for five of those years. From reservations, guest services, inspections, housekeeping coordination and property management, Marquez worked in every position in the industry during her time with a local beachside realty group. For more information, visit www.bluemarlinrealtygroup.com. Godwin Achieves Resort and Second Home Specialist Certification World Impact Real Estate Broker Dr. Rodney Elkins announced that Realtor Roy Godwin has now been certified as a Resort and Second Home Specialist (RSPS) by the National Association of Realtors. This certification is designed for REALTORS who facilitate the buying, selling, or management of properties for investment, development, retirement, or second homes in a resort, recreational, and/or vacation destination. Call Godwin at (850) 585-1066. Gulfarium Adds New Dolphin Encounters To add to the lineup of animal interaction programs, Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park unveiled two new encounter opportunities, each unique to the dolphins' talents, while taking full advantage of the serene setting at the newly renovated Dolphin Point exhibit. During the new Dolphin Doodle encounter, participants can let their creative side go wild as they team up with one of Gulfarium's talented dolphin artists to create a one-of-a-kind work of art. Guests of the Breakfast with the Dolphins program will start their day with a smile as they enjoy a delicious breakfast with the company of dolphins on the deck of the new Dolphin Point exhibit. Advanced reservations are recommended. To see a full list of interaction opportunities and to make a reservation, visit www.gulfarium.com or call (850) 243-9046. Gulf Pointe Academy Art Supply Drive for Children in Crisis The Gulf Pointe Academy helped the kids of Children in Crisis (CIC) get ready for their summer enhancement program by conducting an art supply drive. Thanks to the generous donations of a huge variety of art supplies from the Academy and community, all the kids at the Children’s Neighborhood received needed supplies to take them through the summer. Seen here are Ken Hair, CIC President & CEO; Jessica James, Gulf Pointe Academy; and Penny Minnamon, CIC Teen Transitional Coordinator. For more information about CIC, visitwww.childrenincrisisfl.org. Ondrejkova Earns Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM Certification Merrill Lynch announced that Financial Advisor Simona Ondrejkova earned the Chartered Retirement Planning CounselorSM (CRPC®) certification awarded by the College for Financial Planning. This specialized education credential is awarded to individuals who have successfully completed the requirements of the designation program, which includes a course of study encompassing pre- and post-retirement needs. Ondrejkova may be reached at (850) 269-7011 or by visitingwww.fa.ml.com/krueger_group.