May 2015 Business Briefs / Member News Part 1

VPS Holds Emergency Training Exercise

The Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport (VPS) will be conducting a “Triennial-Full Scale Emergency Exercise” as mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), from 9 a.m. until approximately noon on May 6. Initial planning started in August of 2014, following numerous coordination meetings and table-top drills.

The Civil Aircraft Ditching exercise scenario is designed to test the effectiveness of emergency response plans for the Airport, participating agencies, local first responders, state and federal response teams, and other stakeholders in the event of an aircraft mishap into the Choctawhatchee Bay near Lincoln Park in Valparaiso. This critical training session allows for the Airport and first responders to collaborate and comply with the highest FAA standards in safety and security.

Lincoln Park in Valparaiso will be closed from 8 a.m. – 12 p.m., on May 6. There will be no impacts to airlines schedules, passengers, or the traveling public at VPS. If you have any questions, please contact Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport at (850) 651-7160.

Newman-Dailey Real Estate Sales Division Awards Top Producers

Broker Associate Mark DeSalvo and Sales Associate Eva Pickens were recently awarded 2015 First Quarter Top Producers in Newman-Dailey’s Real Estate Division. DeSalvo was recognized as Top Sales Agent and Pickens as Top Listing Agent for first quarter 2015.

DeSalvo has enjoyed repeated top producer status throughout his 13-year career with Newman-Dailey, including Top Sales Agent for 2013 and Top Listing Agent for 2014. Originally from Little Rock, Ark., he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Arkansas. He is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Florida Association of Realtors, Emerald Coast Association of Realtors, Council of Residential Specialists, Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council, Arkansas Realtors Association, Little Rock Realtors Association, and Past President of the Emerald Coast Networking Group of Destin.

Originally from Huntsville, Ala., Pickens obtained her Alabama Real Estate license in 1984 before moving to Northwest Florida in 1996, when she obtained her Florida Broker Associate and Community Association (CAM) license. For more than 17 years, she has specialized in condo and home listings and sales, and managing COAs and HOAs. She is a member of the National Association of Realtors, Florida Association of Realtors, and Emerald Coast Association of Realtors. She also is a Graduate, REALTOR Institute (GRI), Community Association Manager, in addition to being a Notary Public.

Online Auction Benefiting BBB® Foundation

The Better Business Bureau of Northwest Florida Foundation is hosting a “Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics” online auction. The auction begins on Monday, May 4, at 9 a.m. and ends on Thursday, May 21, at 8 p.m. The auction site is bbb.org/northwest-florida/auction. The auction serves as a fundraiser to help the BBB Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable corporation, fulfill its mission of providing “community education and recognition programs”. Money raised will help provide $1,000 scholarships to college-bound high school juniors and seniors who personify high ethics as demonstrated through leadership, community service, overall personal integrity and academic history. For more information on the Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics, visit BBB.org/nwfl/TorchAward.

MKAF Extends Open Call to Visual Artists

The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) continues a yearlong celebration of its 20th anniversary with the 20th annual Festival of the Arts Oct. 24-25, throughout the grounds of the Mattie Kelly Cultural Arts Village in Destin on the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast.

MKAF has a rich history of this award-winning fine art festival, dating back to 1995, but as MKAF marks two decades, it completes its third year of staging events at the contemporary Dugas Pavilion and spacious Village Green. The Festival site is on 6.76 acres of expansive green space and can accommodate 110 artist booths and other festival amenities for this regional juried fine arts and music festival. Artist applications and poster competition entries are now being accepted for the MKAF’s 20th annual Festival of the Arts. Artists will compete for $10,000 in cash awards. For Artist Application, Rules of Participation and Poster Entry Form, visit online at MattieKellyArtsFoundation.org.

FWB Sail & Power Squadron Donates to CIC

Dr. Judy Manning, Children In Crisis (CIC) operations director, receives a donation of supplies from Ray Morgan, commander of the Ft. Walton Beach Sail and Power Squadron, to kick off “National Safe Boating Week” starting May 16. Also helping with the donation is Laura Moore, CIC volunteer and events coordinator, and Allie Noah, CIC development director. The donation will help the at-risk children living at CIC to prepare for the summer vacation.

T-Shirt Celebrates Okaloosa County Centennial

100% polyester Okaloosa Centennial T-Shirts are now available for a $12 donation at the Heritage Museum of Northwest Florida gift shop. All proceeds fund the museum, which is a 501(c)3 tax exempt education foundation. For details, call (850) 678-2615 or visit it at 115 Westview Avenue in Valparaiso, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Tuesday through Saturday.