Chairman’s Message: Is It Time For A Regional Focus?

John Donne wrote: “No man is an island, entire of itself…” Meaning that human beings do not thrive when isolated from others.  You may ask what in the heck does that have to do with the Chamber of Commerce?  I think it has a lot to do with the Chamber, and it represents a paradigm shift that we need to embrace.

When you look at Northwest Florida, you realize that we, the communities of Northwest Florida, are spread out and separated by large expanses of undeveloped land and diverse interests of concern.  It takes substantial time to travel between our major metropolitan areas, and these metropolitan areas are isolated from each other in many respects.  As a result of these physical barriers, the different communities in Northwest Florida developed independently from each other.

I don’t think it is a bad thing that our communities developed independently, and I would go even further to say that it was beneficial because that allowed the communities to focus on the issues and concerns specific to their area.  However, I think it is time to begin focusing regionally on issues and concerns.

This position was well stated by Destin Chamber President and CEO Shane Moody in his last message when he said, “If we can’t find those kinds of projects that have a direct impact on Destin, we’ll look for regional partnerships and projects that would have the most indirect impact for us.”

This is a philosophy that we must embrace as we look to the future because we cannot survive as isolated communities.  We recently saw the benefit of this concept when the Destin and Fort Walton Beach Chambers came together to express our concerns about proposed legislation to appropriate the Triumph funds, because we spoke with one regional voice.

When we look at projects in the future, we must think regionally.  We need to ask ourselves how road infrastructure projects interconnect our communities.  Will that employment center diversify our economy and create new high paying jobs?  How is this improving education to train up our workforce for the new economy?  Does this improve health care in our area?   These questions need to be at the forefront of our thoughts and we need to ask how we can collaborate to make this happen.  

As we look to our future, we cannot survive as isolated island communities; we must look to promote what is good for our region. 

Lockwood Wernet
2017 Destin Chamber Chairman

Destin Water Users, Inc.

Chairman’s Message: Keeping an Eye on Tallahassee

A recent headline from the Sunshine State News read: “House Appropriations Dooms Enterprise Florida, Guts Visit Florida, as Expected.”  The lead in this story went on to state: “The House Appropriations Committee voted 18-12 Tuesday to advance a measure that 1) eliminated Florida’s 21-year-old economic agency and 2) emasculates its tourism marketing arm.”

Why should we be concerned about this?  According to Carolyn Johnson with the Florida Chamber, the bill would end economic diversification efforts on Florida, including eliminating the economic development toolkit, international programs, marketing, and small business assistance.  Additionally, the bill cuts tourism marketing funding by 67 percent.

Again, I ask the question why should we be worried about this?  Is this something the State should be involved with or should they just stay out of the way?  Is this nothing more than a corporate welfare program that just benefits the few?

My opinion is yes, this is something that we need to be concerned about.  Forever, we have talked about trying to diversify the economy in Florida, and we are in a dog-eat-dog fight with other states, such as Texas, Alabama, Georgia, California, and New York to attract those new businesses to diversify our economy.  If we eliminate Enterprise Florida, we deny ourselves the use of an effective tool to compete on the national and international stage to recruit new industry to our State.

Likewise, the cuts to Visit Florida will have a negative impact on our economy.  The local tourist development agencies don’t have the same marketing power as Visit Florida, and it is imperative in the competitive vacation market to be able to use that marketing power to reach potential visitors to Florida.

Some may argue that Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida made mistakes, and they should be defunded.  Okay, if they did, let’s fix those mistakes, but it would be better to use a scalpel to carve them out rather than using an axe to chop them off. 

Let your legislators know what you think, and I hope you will encourage them to support Visit Florida and Enterprise Florida.

Lockwood Wernet
Destin Water Users, Inc.
2017 Destin Chamber Chairman of the Board

Chairman's Message: Help Us Shape the Next 50 Years

While growing up in Indiana, my parents instilled in me and my siblings the sense that it is our civic duty and responsibility to give back and serve the community in which we live.  Furthermore, it has been the mission of my employer, Destin Water Users, to do our part to preserve this paradise we call home.  With that in mind, it is my honor and privilege to serve as 2017 Chairman of the Destin Chamber Board of Directors.

I moved to the Gulf Coast in 1984, where I met a native Pensacola girl, Delores, who has been my bride for over 32 years. Together, we raised our son, who is married with two beautiful children, here.  Our roots run deep along the Emerald Coast.

Through the years, I have worked in real estate development and management, local government, and municipal services, and I have worked in the Destin/Fort Walton Beach area since 1990.  I point these things out to show that I have been around long enough to have experienced some of the booms and busts in our economy; to understand the things that drive our regional economic engine; and to know what it takes to recover from a natural disaster.  It is my hope that I can apply some of the knowledge and wisdom I have gained through my years along the Gulf Coast to help guide the Destin Chamber in 2017.  

The Destin Chamber has just celebrated 50 years of success, and as we look back, we can be proud of what we have accomplished.  The Chamber has been at the forefront of shaping and molding the community we live in by advocating for business.  However, we cannot rest on what has been, we must look forward and begin working on what will be.

The mission statement of the Destin Chamber is “Advocating for businesses… strengthening our community.”  Borrowing from our website: “The Destin Chamber prides itself on working to build successful businesses and a vibrant economy. The Chamber provides products and services to its member businesses helping them grow and prosper. The Chamber acts as the voice of business in government affairs. Governed by a volunteer board of directors and operated by a professional staff, the Chamber works daily to ensure that businesses have what they need to flourish. A strong base of volunteers assists in making sure that all of our programs are relevant to the needs of businesses.”

To be successful we need your help.  We need your ideas on what is needed to build successful businesses and a vibrant economy.  We need to know if we are providing the right products and services to help you grow and prosper.  We need to know if you have governmental affairs concerns that we need to address.  We need your input to make sure we are doing all we can to help build a world-class community one business at a time.  But we also need your hands and feet to represent us as ambassadors, to assist with special events, and to help serve on our committees. 

Together, we can shape our future and make the next 50 years even more successful. 

Lockwood Wernet
Destin Water Users, Inc.
2017 Destin Chamber Chairman of the Board

Chairman's Message: Dynasties, Teamwork and Returning to Relevance

I grew up a fan of the Los Angeles Lakers.  Magic, Kareem, Shaq, Kobe and others filled my life with winning and excitement for over 25 years.  Championships were expected, playoffs were demanded and relevance was a given.  They were a dynasty, not unlike the 1970’s Steelers, 1980’s 49ers and Alabama football.  

Something happened, though, along the way - the Lakers became complacent.   In recent years, the successes became less frequent.  Methods and styles that were once successful were now outdated.  Dynamics around the NBA changed, but the Lakers failed to adapt.  They became something I never imagined was even possible - the Lakers became irrelevant.

Where am I going with this?    The Lakers eventually bottomed out, posting one of the worst records in the NBA for the past 3 years in a row.   But now, after that struggle, something has happened.  The team is playing a selfless style, which benefits all of the individuals.  They are ‘buying in’ and uniting for the common purpose of winning and getting back on the path to relevance.   There is a lesson in this for all of us, including Destin.

We need your help, as our business community, to:

1. Recognize that we are at risk of declining.
   1. Unless our methods change with the times, we will decline.  30a has become a premier community and Destin is known for traffic.   We need to ensure Destin is a business-friendly family destination.  That said, other communities around us have reversed that course, it is possible (Pensacola downtown revitalization, S. Walton).
2. Foster an environment of teamwork.
   1. No individual agenda reigns, but that which benefits the entire community.  
3. Be willing to adapt to what is next.
   1. For issues of traffic, land development codes, code-enforcement, beach access, etc.
4. Prepare now for our future.           
   1. If we only address today’s problems, we fail to plan for the livelihood of our future generations.  What will the town look like in 10, 20, 40 years?   What infrastructure will we need?  Where will Destin kids go to high school? 

I wanted my last Chairman’s message to be about the heart of what I feel is important to our community moving forward.   I hope that Destin is not complacent like my Lakers, because I want Destin to be vibrant……like it should be.

The Destin Chamber represents over 900 area businesses and is here for the long haul.  We are committed to see our community be the best place possible - to live, work & play.  That said, we need your help, advocacy and voice to be most effective.  Destin has incredible natural resources and beauty that other communities can only dream about.   We have a close knit community and a bright future.  The task is not insurmountable but there is work to be done.  Go Destin. Go Lakers. 

Jonathan Ochs
Trustmark National Bank
2016 Destin Chamber Chairman of the Board

Chairman's Message: It’s a Toll Bridge…get over it?

A source of major contention with locals and tourists alike is the high cost of travelling over the Mid-Bay Bridge and the newer Crosstown Connector. Is this a Destin problem? More directly, is this a Destin Chamber of Commerce problem?

For BusinessThe Destin Chamber exists to “advocate for business and strengthen our community.” It’s my desire as current Chairman to help make the Destin community a premier place to live, work and play. How does the cost of the Mid-Bay Bridge play into this goal?

Clearly, a large part of our workforce commutes from Niceville, Crestview and other areas north of Choctawhatchee Bay. Destin lacks the population to staff all of the jobs available in our marketplace, so we turn to area cities to hire the employees that we need.

The average full time employee who makes 20+ daily trips over both Bridge and Connector will spend approximately $2,000 per year in tolls alone (assuming the ‘discounted’ $3/trip rate). A part time worker (due to the $4/trip rate) pays an even higher price to work in Destin, if they have to cross the bridge, and many times they do it to work a shorter 4-6 hour shift.

If a job seeker is offered 10% less to work in Niceville rather than Destin, and they accept the reduced pay simply to avoid the tolls, this is a Destin problem. Many employers have paid higher wages to compete. Many have resorted to bringing in temporary employees from overseas simply to make sure they can meet staffing needs. Many have failed to expand due to concerns over finding employees. The lack of ability to grow is a Destin problem. 

The Borrower is Servant to the Lender…While it is easy to list reasons why a lower toll would help the local economy, the reality of is that the Bridge Authority has large debts, which must be paid. Simply lowering the toll because citizens desire to pay less is not a reasonable solution. Change is possible if united voices rise up.

Is this Important to You?The Chamber exists to advocate for our membership. Is this topic an important one for you? Is a lower toll vital to the success of your business? Speak up, tell us how we can advocate and let’s dialogue about it. We are not making a statement for or against the bridge toll at this time, but rather want to understand its importance in the lives of our membership.

Upcoming EventsThe Chamber is committed to providing and partnering in events that create environments for strong business networking, such as:

• 5^th Annual Paddle at the Porch (Aug. 20, on the beach behind the Back Porch)
• 50^th Anniversary Event (Dec. 15, at The Henderson)

Building bridges….and living in paradise,

Jonathan Ochs

President, Trustmark Bank

2016 Destin Chamber Chairman

Chairman's Message: What Vision of Destin’s Future is Best?

The newly appointed Mayor and City Council have their hands full….with the ‘burden’ of deciding the best way to bring the city forward for the next 50 years of growth and beautification.

Comprehensive Plan
Part of the burden lies with some major decisions that are to be made regarding the comprehensive plan as it relates to development (new applications, height restrictions, permissible land use, impact on area). As I have stated previously in this forum, the Chamber supports responsible growth with a focus on maintaining a business and family-friendly environment in Destin.  If changes are to be made, let them not include any moratorium on development that would chase away strong projects and new professional jobs.

Underground Utilities
A new wrinkle to the burden that is being raised by some within the City is the question of whether or not to purchase the electrical utility from Gulf Power with the ultimate goal being to underground the city’s power lines. The benefits to burying the lines are obvious - far fewer power outages (even in high winds) and a much cleaner, more professional look that is synonymous with destination cities, such as Naples and Orlando. The negatives are also obvious - the project would come with a very high price tag that residents would pay to enjoy, and the cost to repair the underground lines is higher.

The Chamber is not making a statement for or against Underground Utilities at this time, but this is an item to watch for, and we encourage you to educate yourself as to the pros and cons. In a strict business sense, there are many benefits to having Destin present itself in the best possible manner - real estate would become more valuable and demand for commercial space would likely rise. The real question is cost - how do we pay for it? 

Stay tuned…

Upcoming EventsThe Chamber is committed to providing and partnering in events that create environments for strong business networking, such as:

·         5^th Annual Paddle at the Porch (8/20/16, on the beach behind the Back Porch)

·         50^th Anniversary Event (9/15/16, at The Henderson)

Be well and enjoy the summer!

Jonathan Ochs

Trustmark National Bank

2016 Destin Chamber Chairman

Chairman’s Message: New Teammates…..Same Game

The residents of Destin recently voted for a new mayor and four seats on the City Council, and I congratulate the winners.   In the spirit of teamwork, I’d like to take this opportunity to encourage our new council from the Chamber’s perspective.

The council recently approved a Comprehensive Plan that sets a strategic vision for the way Destin will be developed, redeveloped, and adapted into a cohesive community over the next five, 10, even 50 years.   The Chamber strongly supported this plan because it represents prudent, quality development, height and density restrictions, and a walkable harbor district, and it begins to address the issue of traffic and how to negotiate that concern.    We acknowledge that the plan may need some tweaking over time, but we believe this is a great start to get the city on track. 

Destin is naturally a beautiful, unique place.   That said, there are other beautiful and unique places that do not enjoy the quality of life, tourist draw, and strong economic conditions that we have become accustomed to here.  For example, Bay County is currently feeling the effects of some poor planning and development decisions over time, and the entire community is suffering (at least for a time) because of it.  There is an inherent risk that lies in a lack of order; poor planning leads to poor execution and poor results.  

I believe that we in Destin have an incredible product, a wonderful foundation, and a golden opportunity to plan a vibrant city for our children’s futures.  Let’s continue on a path of planning and order, use the recently approved comprehensive plan to our benefit, and work with the existing personnel to see what results can be achieved.  If the results are not forthcoming, make changes as necessary, but not until we give the appropriate amount of effort and time.

I welcome the new mayor and council to the team. Let’s win the game together!

Upcoming EventsThe Chamber is committed to providing and partnering in events that create environments for strong business networking, such as the following:· Tax Relief Golf Tournament (4/21/2016, Emerald Bay Golf Club)· 50th Anniversary Gala (9/15/2016, The Henderson)

Be well and enjoy the spring!

Jonathan Ochs
Trustmark Bank
2016 Destin Chamber Chairman

Chairman's Message: The Destin Chamber - 50 years STRONG!

“Unity is strength... when there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved”. - Mattie Stepanek

Sincere Thanks
It is my honor to serve you this year as Chairman. What a time to serve, in the 50th year of our existence! That type of milestone is not achieved without countless leaders giving of themselves for the good of the community. Thanks are deserved by many, so wehumbly thank those who helped make 50 years possible. Also, to our outgoing Chairman Ken Wampler, our board of directors and our truly dynamic staff led by Shane Moody, your 2015 contributions were significant and praiseworthy. Thank you!

Unity vs. Independence
Are we unified? That might seem like a strange question in this forum, but bear with me. Perhaps many of us started off 2016 by crafting goals for the year…. things that we’d like to achieve….results we would like to realize.  It may or may not have occurred to us at the time that, in order to achieve those goals, we would need the assistance of other people.

We live in a culture of independence and isolation, where true relationship and collaboration are often devalued. Today’s society roots for individuals over teams, lacks concern for the needs of others and prioritizes individual success over the group’s success. Culture teaches us lessons that are counter to a spirit of collaboration.  I’d like to suggest to you that we all have fallen prey to this ‘me-centered’ approach at times and that we need to be purposeful in resisting this cultural norm for the sake of our families, our businesses and our community at large.  

The Destin Chamber is intent on being a positive voice for our area by accomplishing our mission - “advocating for business…strengthening our community.” Without unity and collaboration, we all suffer. The opposite is also true. As we work together, ‘wonderful things can be achieved.’ 

Advocating for Business
In 2016, the Destin Chamber will continue in our strong history of collaboration towards making the greater Destin area the best possible place to live, work and play!  

• We’ll continue to work alongside the City, County, TDC, EDC and other chambers of commerce to do our part in fostering a community of collaboration.  
• We’ll support pro-business initiatives and encourage managed growth/quality of life to keep Destin a family-friendly destination.
• We’ll support the Destin Harbor and recognize its importance in our legacy, community and economy. We are in favor of prudent, quality development in the Harbor and in creating a pedestrian friendly environment for families to enjoy.
• We’ll maintain our strong support for our military via our Military Affairs Council.
• Our governmental efforts are not only focused within the city; we will monitor legislation at the state and federal levels of government and take needed positions.
• Our community education and leadership program, Destin Forward, will see another group of local professionals become civic minded leaders this year, along with raising support for the local “Food for Thought” charity feeding initiative.

Events, Networking and Tourism
The Chamber is committed to providing and partnering in events that create environments for strong business networking, such as:

• Leaders in Business Lunches (2nd Tuesday of each month)
• Business After Hours (4th Thursday of most months)
• Multi-Chamber Business Expo (3/15/16)
• Tax Relief Golf Tournament (4/21/16)
• Women’s Symposium with the Walton Area Chamber (April 2016)
• 50th Anniversary Event (September 2016)
• 4th Annual Bourbon at the Bay (October 2016)
• Holiday Party

Part of our focus is to put on and promote, with the help of others, including the TDC, local events to draw even more interest in our area for tourism during the shoulder seasons.  

• Bayou, Bay and Beach 5K, 10K and Half Marathon (1/23/16)
• Paddle at the Porch - The Destin SUP Cup (8/20/16)

Your Role
What are we asking of you? First, Shop Local. Your money flows back into our community as you shop next door instead of online. Also, your membership, participation, sponsorship and volunteerism are what we need!  The Chamber exists to provide access, opportunity and relationships. Without our committed members, there is no Chamber. Without teamwork, we can’t achieve our best. Consider being proactive about the way you and your staff will be involved this year in making Destin and the Chamber even better. Let’s collaborate to help one another be successful and ride the wave of great momentum that currently exists in our community.

A wise man once said, “a rising tide lifts all boats.” Join us, and perhaps together we can make the tide rise. Destin Chamber…50 years STRONG!

Jonathan Ochs
Trustmark National Bank
2016 Destin Chamber Chairman of the Board

Chairman's Message: Farewell Message

It is time for my term as Chairman of the board to come to an end, but I would be remiss if I didn’t let everyone know how much I have enjoyed my year. There are too many individuals to thank, so please accept this as my heartfelt appreciation for everyone’s support and effort over the past 12 months. The one group of individuals that I must list is the staff at the Chamber: Shane, Elizabeth, and Dena. The staff has done a great job with all the phone calls, emails, walk-in visitors, member requests, events, and lunches. Just to finish out the year with a bang, two staff members moved onto other opportunities. Thank you very much for taking care of the day-to-day business, while membership steadily increased.

I would encourage all members to take advantage of the opportunities that the Chamber provides, because you never know who you may meet at the various events. Not everyone can make all the events, but hopefully there is an event/function that works within your schedule. Here is the list of events/functions that are offered: Leaders in Business Lunch, Annual Awards & Installation Banquet, Bayou Bay & Beach Run/Walk, Business After Hours, Paddle at the Porch, Multi-Chamber Business Expo, Tax Relief Golf Tournament, Bourbon at the Bay, Grand Openings, Ribbon Cuttings, and the Annual Holiday Party.

As everyone takes this time to sit back, relax, reflect, and spend time with family and friends, I ask that you commit to participate in the local, state, and federal government affairs. If We the People do not get involved with the various aspects of the government, then We the People may be impacted in ways that could change the way you operate your business and/or live your life. Please get involved. In 2016 there will be significant changes in the local government, so I also encourage everyone to get out and learn about the different candidates, so you can make an informed decision during the elections. Let’s not let the views and opinions of a few set the path of our future.

Finally, I hope to see everyone at the Annual Awards and Installation Banquet on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, at the Emerald Grande. In addition to the annual aspects of this event, the Marketing Committee will be sharing some exciting and new marketing and advertising visuals. We think everyone will be very impressed and leave the event with great anticipation for all the opportunities that lie ahead in 2016.

If there is ever anything we may do for you, please do not hesitate to call the Chamber at (850) 837-6241. I look forward to serving you throughout 2016 and together building this world-class community one business at a time. Thank you for your support and participation over the past year. I greatly appreciate everyone’s effort.

Sincerely,
Ken Wampler
Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc.
2015 Destin Area Chamber Chairman of the Board

Chairman's Message: Season of Thanks

I hope that all businesses in the Greater Destin area are taking a few moments to be thankful to all those that contributed to the successful year of 2015.  I encourage everyone to stop for a moment and recognize that our community has a great deal to be thankful for, but especially recognize the first responders, city/county officials, and staff.  This group adds those services that we sometimes take for granted, but would not be able to enjoy our community without them.

The Chamber Ambassadors have had a number of ribbon cutting ceremonies recently, WealthTrust Asset Management, Richard P Chern MD, Somerby of Santa Rosa Beach, Porsche of Destin, Mama Sherry’s Pizza Wings & Things, Destination Segway Tours, Rollin Smoke BBQ, Emerald Coast Kids, and Westwinds Conference Center, each with great turnouts.  During the upcoming holiday months, we hope to see you at some of the following events: Christmas Tree Lighting at the Destin Community Center, Bowling for Business Tournament & Lunch, Destin Christmas Parade, Harbor Boat Parade, Business After Hours at Chamber’s Annual Holiday Party, and the Annual Awards & Installation Banquet, just to name a few.  Please check the Destin Chamber website for more details on the events.  For those that came out to the Bourbon at the Bay, thank you for participating and showing your support to this unique event.

Membership continues to increase with each passing week, and through November we have 983 active members as compared to 971 through October.  If you are looking for a quick way to gain exposure to your business, contact the staff to find out how you can take advantage of this great resource.  If you have a change in personnel or with any of your contact information, please contact the Chamber so we can update your membership file.

Regarding marketing exposure, the Chamber website continues to show great improvement.  As a comparison to last year, here are the key indicators; Sessions are up 38% year to date with 303,197 sessions, Users are up 32% with 222,935 users, and Page Views are up 18% with 559,951 page views.  During each leaders in business luncheon, I state what a great marketing medium the website is for all business, and this shows you just how great it really is, so please spread the word.

Finally I want to extend a warm thank you to two key staff members that have chosen to move onto other opportunities, Suzy Nicholson Hunt and Jacqui Luberto.  Suzy has been instrumental in the growth in all of the Chamber events over the years, and her wit and humor will be greatly missed.  Jacqui, although she was not at the Chamber for a long time, has really demonstrated what an energetic positive personality can do for the membership given the proper guidance.  Both have set standards and records that will make their successors’ jobs really difficult.  We wish you both the best of luck in your new adventures and ask that you continue to stay active in the community.

If there is ever anything we may do for you, please do not hesitate to call the Chamber at (850) 837-6241. We look forward to serving you throughout 2015 and together building this world-class community one business at a time. I hope everyone is Living the Dream in this place we call home, the Destin Area.

Sincerely,
Ken Wampler
Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc.
2015 Destin Area Chamber Chairman of the Board

Chairman’s Message: A Time of Reflection and Recognition

The busy season has passed, and now it is time to evaluate all business practices to ensure for a strong future.  This is also the time of year for businesses to address some much needed deep cleaning and capital renovations/improvement projects.  This is not only true for businesses, but also true for the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber Ambassadors have had just a few ribbon cutting ceremonies recently, Dermatology Specialists of Florida and Workout Anytime, but both had great turnouts.  During the month of October, we hope to see you at some of the following ribbon cuttings and events:  Westwinds Conference Center Ribbon Cutting, Emerald Coast in a Box Ribbon Cutting, Destin Custom Home Builders Ribbon Cutting, Studio Blue Pilates Ribbon Cutting, Leaders In Business Lunch Sponsored by White-Wilson Medical Center, and Business After Hours at Emerald Bay Golf Club, just to name a few.  Please check the Destin Area Chamber website for more details on the events.  The larger events include the Destin Seafood Festival, on Oct. 2-4, and the 3^rd Annual Bourbon at the Bay, on Nov. 19, at Regatta Bay Golf and Yacht Club, both are projected to be great events for the area.  The first person to send me an email after reading this article will receive two tickets to attend Bourbon at the Bay.

Membership continues to increase with each passing week, and through August we have 971 active members, as compared to 881 through August of 2014, a 10.2% increase.  If you are looking for a quick way to gain exposure to your business, contact the staff to find out how you can take advantage of this great resource.  If you have a change in personnel or with any of your contact information, please contact the Chamber so we can update your membership file.

The City of Destin will be rolling out the next step of the “Envision Destin” plan, so we hope that everyone will attend these critical meetings.  The results of the first two workshops can be found at www.EnvisionDestin.com/?page_id=68. Be on the lookout for the next set of meetings.  On a related note, the utility work for Highway 98 widening plans will begin shortly, so please be considerate of the workers along the road ways.

During the August Leaders in Business Lunch, Trustmark National Bank sponsored and awarded four lucky winners with accommodation stays with four of our local vacation rental management companies.  We were fortunate enough to have the honorable Sen. Don Gaetz as our speaker. He encouraged all residents to be actively involved in the local and state government.  Please do not sit by idly, get out and involved.

Finally, I want to thank everyone who assisted with the Chamber’s 4^th Annual Paddle at the Porch on Saturday, on Aug. 15. It was a great event. There were more than 100 participants, and a $6,000 purse was distributed to the top performers in the six mile elite event.  We hope to see everyone at next year’s event.

If there is ever anything we may do for you, please do not hesitate to call the Chamber at (850) 837-6241. We look forward to serving you throughout 2015 and together building this world-class community one business at a time.  I hope everyone is “Living the Dream” in this place we call home, the Destin area.

Sincerely,

Ken Wampler

2015 Chairman of the Board of Directors

Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc.

Chairman's Message: Fall is Around the Corner

The summer season is upon us, and I hope the businesses are all benefiting from the summer traffic occupying the roadways.  As we set our sights on the upcoming fall/football season, I want to thank everyone for their patience and hard work to keep our little slice of paradise a great place to Live, Work, and Play.

Over the past couple of months, the membership has been busy with multiple ribbon cuttings, grand openings, and Leaders in Business Lunches, with the main program hosted by Destin Commons, Smoke on the Coast on July 3.  If you were not able to attend, you missed another great event where a wide variety of food was the feature followed by a great July 4^th Fireworks show.  For those of you who participated, thank you for your hard work to make this event successful.

Membership continues to increase with each passing week, and through June we have 949 active members as compared to 874 through June of 2014, an 8.6% increase.  The Chamber office traffic is averaging approximately 700 visitors each month.  Calls are up over last year by 1%, walk-ins up by 29%, and emails are up 22%.  If you are looking for a quick way to gain exposure to your business, contact the staff to find out how you can take advantage of this great resource.  If you have a change in personnel or with any of your contact information, please contact the Chamber so we can update your membership file.

The City of Destin held its follow up workshops “Envision Destin,” to roll out the possible changes to the land development code based on public input from the earlier workshops.   I hope those that were able to participate in the three public workshops are energized on the future development plans within the City. On a related front, the City has submitted its Highway 98 widening plans to the utility companies in hopes that the utilities can begin moving after Labor Day.

During the July Leaders in Business Lunch cookout at the Chamber office, we took a few minutes to recognize the JUCO Baseball World Series Champions, Northwest Florida State College Men’s Baseball Team.  This marks the second National Championship the school’s athletes have brought back to the region this year.  We are extremely proud of what the college has been able to accomplish, and we look forward to continued success stories.

Finally, I want to ask for everyone’s support and participation in the upcoming events: Rock the Docks at the HarborWalk Village stage, the Bushwacker 5K to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, and the Chamber’s 4^th Annual Paddle at the Porch on Saturday, Aug. 15, south of the Back Porch Restaurant.  If you are not a paddle boarder, you need to either sign up as a volunteer or just come out and watch these three events.  Last year’s six mile race was won by our very own local Garrett Fletcher, so come out and support the local athletes.

If there is ever anything we may do for you, please do not hesitate to call the Chamber at (850) 837-6241. We look forward to serving you throughout 2015 and together building this world-class community one business at a time.  I hope everyone is Living the Dream in this place we call home, the Destin area.

Sincerely,

Ken Wampler

2015 Chairman of the Board of Directors

Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc.

Chairman's Message: Summertime in Destin

I hope that everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend and took the opportunity to appreciate those brave souls that have given the ultimate sacrifice in order for us to enjoy our freedom.

The past couple of months have been filled with educational celebrations, so it is obvious to see that the business community is planning for the future.  If you have not had anyone participate in the Chamber’s Destin Forward Class, the Northwest Florida State College Leadership Okaloosa Class, or the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, you are missing out on some great opportunities.  It is truly amazing what these individually unique programs teach the participants, all the while not duplicating sessions.  Probably the most amazing graduation celebration was the Young Entrepreneur’s event on May 18.  There were seven local high school aged students that were required to give a product business plan presentation to a panel of business investors in hopes of being awarded some seed money to launch the product.  Although only one individual is allowed to represent the region in the state competition in Boca Raton, all seven represented themselves in a manner that all parents, mentors, and instructors should be proud.  The participants were Savannah Bartleson, Huston Locht, Christopher Loffler, Peter Masone, Ashley Pellerin, Baili Pettet, and Olivia Rose Talley.  Peter will be traveling on to represent the region at the state competition, so we wish him the best of luck.  I encourage all business owners to send participants to all three of these classes when registration begins for the next session.

In the past few months, we have had a number of successful events, including monthly Leaders In Business Luncheons, multiple ribbon cuttings and grand openings, the Chamber’s Annual Tax Relief Golf Tournament, multiple 5K run/walks, wine tasting fundraising events, City of Destin recognized Founders Day with the dedication of the Primrose at its new home with the Destin History & Fishing Museum, and the Week of Blessings featuring the 58^th Annual Blessing of the Fleet, just to name a few.  Please check out the Community Calendar on the Chamber’s website at DestinChamber.com for all the upcoming event details.

Membership continues to increase with each passing week, and through May we have 946 active members.  The Chamber website traffic is averaging more than 55,000 page views per month, so if you are looking for a quick way to gain exposure to your business, contact the staff to find out how you can take advantage of this great resource.  Two premium home page positions are available. If you have a change in personnel or with any of your contact information, please contact the Chamber so we can update your membership file.   

The community and economic development front has seen some important topics come up to the local city government.  The City of Destin held a workshop to discuss the possible need to adopt a code to limit the number of individual adults allowed to occupy a short-term vacation rental home.   By the end of the workshop, I believe the city officials felt there were enough codes to address the problems impacting our residences without the need to adopt additional codes.  The City of Destin also held six public workshops to gain citizen’s input on what the city should focus on for the future.  These workshops, “Envision Destin,” were all held at the Community Center. I hope that everyone had an opportunity to attend one.  If you have not been able to listen in or participate in any of the City meetings or workshops, I encourage all residents to get involved.  The City is working to help the business community, but if the business owners are not actively participating, the end results may end up hurting business, so please participate.

Finally, I just want to share some of the upcoming events so that all members can plan time to network: the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Thursday night concerts, Rock the Docks at the Harbor Walk Village stage, and the Chamber’s Annual Paddle at the Porch race on Saturday, Aug. 15, south of the Back Porch Restaurant.  If you are not a paddle boarder, you need to either sign up as a volunteer or just come out and watch the event.  Last year’s six-mile race was won by our very own local Garrett Fletcher, so come out and support the local athletes.

If there is ever anything we may do for you, please do not hesitate to call the Chamber at (850) 837-6241. We look forward to serving you throughout 2015 and together building this world-class community one business at a time.  I hope everyone is Living the Dream in this place we call home, the Destin area.

                                                                          Sincerely,

                                                                          Ken Wampler

                                                                          2015 Chairman of the Board of Directors

                                                                          Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc.

Chairman's Message: Living the Dream in Destin

I hope that everyone is enjoying the nice spring weather that has finally entered our area. It sure does make it easier to deal with the influx of spring traffic.  As anticipated, this year has started with a flurry of activities, events, and opportunities.

Membership continues to increase with each passing week, and I especially enjoy meeting everyone at the New Member Receptions held each quarter at the Chamber office.  At the most recent reception, I believe we set a new all-time high number of attendees, so thank you to all who turned out for this event.  We also celebrated our Member Appreciation Day on Feb. 10, with a proclamation from the City of Destin and distribution of the 2015 membership directory to all of our members.  I would like to thank all the volunteers who assisted with delivering the directories. If for some reason you did not receive your directory, please contact the Chamber, so we can confirm your mailing and physical address.

Despite the seasonably cool weather, Destin’s Bayou, Bay & Back 1-Mile Fun Run, 5K Run/Walk, 10K & Half Marathon was another successful event, with almost 500 participants from 26 states and Canada.  This event continues to draw runners in from all over the United States, a number coming specifically for the event and long weekend.  I would like to thank all the sponsors and volunteers who made this event possible, and I was proud to issue donations to both the Choctawhatchee Basin Alliance and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office Posse.  I hope to see everyone when we hold our first full marathon and name change to Destin’s Bayou, Bay & Beach on Jan 23, 2016.

                This spring we’ve had great participation at the Leaders in Business monthly luncheons, ribbon cuttings, Business After Hours at World of Beer, and the 8^th Annual Multi-Chamber Business Expo. Thank you for everyone’s support and participation.  If your business is interested in hosting or sponsoring an event or program, please contact the Chamber.

We have also had the pleasure of working with a number of the community leaders on some critical issues within the Destin area.  For those of you that were not able to hear Mayor Mel Ponder’s State of the City, you missed a great presentation.  The Mayor highlighted all the challenges the citizens overcame in 2014 and all the success stories as a result of all the cooperation within the community.  If you would like to view the presentation, you can via the City’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4yhWIms13s.  In addition to the Mayor’s activities, the City staff has held a number of meetings with key business owners challenged with the issues that come with increased amounts of visitors and residents.  I truly think that the City staff is focused on improving the challenges our business owners are facing, so please be sure to work with them toward positive solutions.

The Destin Forward leadership class continues to make the community proud with its tireless efforts to restore the Primrose and Post Office.  Over the past two months, the class held a successful Pins and Pancakes fundraising event at Uncle Buck’s Fish Bowl & Grill in the Destin Commons, as well as received recognition from the Destin Rotary Club.  The class also made its annual trip to the State Capitol to meet with the locally elected representatives, and I was fortunate enough to join them, so thanks for spending the day with me.  This group is a great representation of the future leaders of our community, so please plan to attend the relocation of both historical items to the Destin History & Fishing Museum in May.  If you know of any young up and coming leaders in the community, please encourage them to sign up for the next class.

Finally I just want to share a few statistics about the traffic to the Chamber office and website.  In 2014, we had 5,101 visitors in the office, fielded 6,064 phone calls, distributed more than 16,000 of the award-winning Destin Area Visitors Guide & Membership Directories, and had 183,114 users on our website, which generated 549,384 page views. The top three searched categories on the website were restaurants, accommodations, and attractions.  Through the first two months of 2015, we are pacing ahead of the 2014 numbers in all categories, so the future business opportunities for the area are bright.

If there is ever anything we may do for you, please do not hesitate to call the Chamber at (850) 837-6241. We look forward to serving you throughout 2015 and together building this world-class community one business at a time.  I hope everyone is Living the Dream in this place we call home, the Destin Area.

Sincerely,

Ken Wampler

2015 Chairman of the Board of Directors

Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc.

Chamber Leadership Sets Direction for 2015

As I sit and reflect on the past year and formulate how to keep the Destin Area Chamber moving in a forward-thinking direction, it is important to recap the key points.

First of all, it is my honor to recognize Amy Perry, outgoing chairman, for all she has given to the Chamber over the past year of service.  And to her husband, David, we thank you for supporting Amy during her year.  

As we look ahead to 2015, I see great things.  At our Board’s planning retreat in November, we took a look back at the last five years and saw what we’ve done well, where we needed to improve, and what we needed to change.  I’m pleased to say that there was plenty of positive to see.

Thanks to the Board, membership is the highest it’s been in several years, our major events are drawing more attention than ever before, and our members are receiving more benefits.  We want to continue that trend.

The Board determined that the Chamber’s efforts need to continue in the direction we are headed.  We’ll continue to grow our tourism-related events, like Destin’s Bayou, Bay & Back 5K, 10K & Half Marathon, and we’ll begin preparations to add a full marathon to the event in 2016.  I want to thank Shoreline Church for its continued title sponsorship.

Paddle at the Porch is still growing, and we cannot thank BOTE enough for its immeasurable support of the Chamber and this event.  Plans are already underway for the most successful Paddle at the Porch over its four year history.

For our members, we’ll continue to provide networking opportunities, while improving the existing events.  The monthly Leaders in Business Lunches will continue to be the leading monthly networking event.  Our Business After Hours will continue to provide you the social aspect of networking.  Bourbon at the Bay should continue to grow and be one of the most talked-about events in town.  The success of our events is paramount to driving membership retention and growth due to the added value and immeasurable benefits we’re bringing to you, our members.  I haven’t even mentioned the Multi-Chamber Business Expo and the Tax Relief Golf Tournament, two events that are staples for business development each year.  We want you doing business with each other.  You’ve heard it said at many of our functions – buy and shop local – and we want to emphasize that.

We will continue our efforts in community and economic development programs.  The Chamber’s community education and leadership development program Destin Forward is receiving rave reviews and is stronger than ever.  We know you’ll agree when you see the Class of 2015’s project in May!  This project is one of the ways we work with the City of Destin to improve the community and economic viability Destin enjoys, which leads us to the spectacular quality of life we all love.  We’ll work hard to maintain and improve our working relationship with the city and Okaloosa County. 

We’ll continue to monitor pro-business legislation at the state and federal levels of government and take needed positions, and we’ll be the voice of the business community of the Destin area.

We’ll be sure that your Chamber stays involved regionally and statewide and be the advocates on managed growth and quality of life.

We want to ensure that the Destin Harbor is known for its history and economic impact, and we want to preserve that history.  We understand that the harbor is the heart of our community, and we want residents and visitors alike to understand that history and heritage.  We want quality, controlled growth there, and, above all else, we want the harbor to become a pedestrian friendly atmosphere so more and more families may safely enjoy it.

As always, we will continue to support our military through our Military Affairs Council.

So we hope that all business professionals agree on this plan, but the plan cannot be realized without all members' input and participation.  We feel it’s aggressive, progressive, and just what the Chamber needs at this time.  So how do we achieve this?  We achieve this by working with the business professionals representing you on your Chamber Board.  When you have something to suggest or would like to be a part of any aspect of the plan, please speak up, step up, or show up.  

If you’ve attended a New Member Reception in the past 18 months, you’ve heard Shane tell the new members he wants them to think of the Chamber as only three things.  He suggests that you look at the Chamber as access, opportunities, and relationships – that’s all we are and that’s all we provide.  If you, our members, take advantage of the access to people and information we provide, you’ll create opportunities for you and your business to build relationships with others in the community.  And as those relationships are built, you create more access, more opportunities, and more relationships.  Just think how strong this Chamber, this community, and this economy could be if we all did that.

We look forward to serving you in 2015. 

Ken Wampler

2015 Destin Area Chamber Chairman

Newman-Dailey Resort Properties, Inc.

Chairman’s Message: Farewell to 2014

I knew this day would come. Frankly, in January, it seemed like a long way away.  But now that the end is near, it seems like this past year flew by at the speed of light.  Maybe that is because things ran so smoothly. 

My approach to the Chamber was much different than I thought it would be when I first found out I was going to be the 2014 chairman – way back in late 2012.  I had BIG plans – we were going to make changes, be everywhere all the time, yada, yada, yada.  Well, things have a way of changing and adjustments must be made.  Wisdom must be used (I am not implying that I had any great wisdom, but I did remember a lot of wise sayings and advice I have heard/been given over the years).

The course of action I chose to take was “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.”  I did not think that our Chamber was broken.  Could we improve?  Always.  But overall the Destin Area Chamber is a great Chamber. So, I let the professionals do their jobs. I provided guidance when it was needed, did what was asked and required of me, provided what I could to make their jobs easier, and then stayed out of their way. 

I also vowed to listen to anyone who needed the Chamber. The traffic light versus a signalized cross-walk comes to mind.  Last, year the Chamber supported building a traffic light at Marler Street and Highway 98, as opposed to a fully signalized cross-walk.  This year, several property owners asked the Chamber to support the fully signalized cross-walk over a traffic light.  We listened.  Then decided that the best approach for the Chamber was to support getting pedestrians across U.S. Hwy 98 SAFELY. The details of how that should happen we left to the professionals.

We also let go of an event that had run its course.  Goodbye, PUTToberfest. I enjoyed this event, but it was time to say farewell.  While the events that are growing got even more focus from the Chamber.  Paddle at the Porch was successful, as was the second Bourbon at the Bay at Regatta Bay.

So, what did my “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” approach yield? Glad you asked!  The Chamber is in the best financial shape it has been in in years.  New memberships and renewals are higher than they have been in years.  Our relationship with the City of Destin is very good (thank you, Mayor Ponder, Greg Kisela, City Council, and Staff), as is the relationship with the Economic Development Council (thank you, Nathan Sparks).  Destin Forward is growing.

Is this the right approach for 2015? I don’t know, but the good news is Ken Wampler is on the job in just a few short weeks! To borrow a line from Oprah, what I know for sure is that I am turning over the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce in a healthy condition.  What I also know for sure is that it had little to do with me and everything to do with Shane, Elizabeth, Suzy, Dena, and Jacqui, the Board of Directors who were so engaged, our wonderful Ambassadors and Volunteers, and, most of all, YOU.  You make this Chamber the great Chamber it is today.  Be proud of that, I am.

Now on a personal note, I want to say a special thank you to Karen McCarthy, who chose me as her special appointee to the Board of Directors when she was Chairman in 2009.  Karen was (and still is) a wonderful mentor to me and an even better friend.  Thank you to my two appointees, Michelle Terry and Fred Fenn, for accepting three-year Board terms.  You both bring unique perspectives and were great additions to the Board (big pat on the back to me for great choices). Thank you to Shane Moody, you are great at what you do and do not ever let anyone make you doubt that; Elizabeth Spies, your quiet strength inspires me more than you know; Suzy Nicholson Hunt, you provide so much humor and comic relief, I get a little mini-vacation every time I enter your office and have a few laughs; Dena Critch, you have so much professional experience, and I am so happy the Chamber gets to enjoy the benefit of that, plus you are just awesome on the phones; and Jacqui Luberto, you have only been with us a short time, but WOW, you have made a big impact.  Ken Wampler, thank you for the notes during our Board meetings (and you’re welcome!!).  Bill Head, I appreciate your kindness at every single lunch this year – you always took care of me. 

Thank you to everyone at Pleat, Perry & Ritchie and to my law partner, West Ritchie, who is the Walton Area Chamber Chairman this year – you were a good sounding board for me, I hope I was for you.  Thank you to my paralegal, Sharlene, you kept me organized and helped me do so much more with less time and kept so many calendars straight for me.  Thank you to my husband, David Pleat, who knew what I was getting into because he did this seven years ago and yet he still encouraged me to do it anyway.   Thanks for covering me at work when I needed it.

A new year is on the way, and the possibilities are endless! Let 2015 be your best year yet!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year, 

Amy Perry

2014 Chamber Chairman

Pleat, Perry & Ritchie, P.A.