850 — The Business Magazine of Northwest Florida

01/24/2025

Spanning the streets of Grand Boulevard at SandestinTown Center, sample all the flavors at the South Walton Beaches Wine & Food Festival from April 24–27! 🍷⁠
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Over 500 fine wines and spirits will be on hand along with delectable bites from the area's top chefs.⁠
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Get your tickets today!⁠
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Premier festival continues to offer superior sips

12/19/2024

🚨Our 2024-25 Winter issue of 850 Business Magazine is Hot Off The Press! Read the digital edition at: https://www.850businessmagazine.com/digital-edition/
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🎉In this issue, we are proud to announce our 2025 Pinnacle Awards recipients! For 11 years, we have recognized the prestigious achievements of women leaders and influencers across the Florida Panhandle.⁠
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👏Congratulations to the incredible 2025 Pinnacle class, including:⁠
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✨️ Teresa Horton (), Executive Director, Seaside School Foundation: ⁠
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✨️ Summer Griffith, Founder, ⁠
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✨️ , President, Sandestin Investments ()⁠
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✨️Tracey Cohen (), President and CEO, Target Print & Mail⁠
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✨️ Dr. Alma Littles, Dean, College of Medicine⁠
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✨️ Karah Fridley-Young, President, Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation ()⁠
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✨️ , Market Leader, .blue⁠
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✨️ Jennifer Grove, Vice President of External Relations (Retired), Baptist Health Care ()⁠
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✨️ , Executive Director, Point Washington Medical Clinic ()⁠
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✨️ , President and CEO, ⁠
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✨️ Carol B. Dover, President and CEO, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA)⁠
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✨️ , USE Olympian; Co-Founder and Former CEO, ⁠
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We can't wait to celebrate our Pinnacle recipients at an award presentation in Spring 2025. More details to come!⁠
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Also in this issue: inventors fuse innovation with entrepreneurship, Gulf Coast Aerospace Corridor is opening along the panhandle and a local bakery takes the pastries to new heights.⁠
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📸: Cover and Pinnacle recipient photography by .co

10/25/2024

The Studer Community Institute annual business, leadership and entrepreneurship conference, EntreCon® is back.

With vision, commitment, intentionality, and the right resources, EntreCon® encourages people to say embrace what really matters and let go of what’s holding them back. Get ready to 'Discover Your Potential' at EntreCon® 2024, on Nov. 13–14. Celebrating a decade of growth with a lifetime of possibilities.

At EntreCon® 2024 you will be challenged to think differently and reassess old ways of doing things.

You will leave feeling more equipped to:

1. Tackle tough challenges.
2. Embrace discomfort as an opportunity for growth.
3. Focus on what’s working well.
4. Strengthen your company culture.

Learn more and get your tickets: https://www.850businessmagazine.com/local-events/?_evDiscoveryPath=/event/2490626-entrecon-business-leadership-and-entrepreneurship-conference

10/23/2024

Partners for over 20 years, Stewart Proctor and J.R. Long joined Ciminelli Real Estate Services, establishing the Tallahassee Office of Ciminelli Real Estate Services, in 2020.

Ciminelli has a regional office that handles marketing, accounting and HR tasks, which enables Proctor and Long to focus their efforts on their specialties of leasing, sales and property management, currently managing a portfolio of 950,000 square feet of commercial space and establishing long-term client relationships.

To learn more:

J.R. Long, CCIM and Stewart Proctor, CCIM

09/30/2024

Eat, Drink, and B. Mary at The Market Shops’ ninth annual Bloody Mary Festival on Saturday, Oct. 12 from 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.

Powered by Step One Automotive Group and benefiting Habitat for Humanity of Walton County, the event offers unlimited bloodies prepared by local bars and restaurants, local food, live music, a DJ, craft beer, Bubbly Bar, shopping, SEC Football, and much more!

Learn more and get your tickets: https://www.850businessmagazine.com/local-events/?_evDiscoveryPath=/event/2590235-the-market-shops-bloody-mary-festival

09/30/2024

Welcome to Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, a 55-and-better community inspired by the music and lifestyle of Jimmy Buffett. Built on food, fun, music and escapism, this community redefines active adult living for those growing older but not up.

Welcome to Latitude Margaritaville Watersound, a 55-and-better community inspired by the music and lifestyle of Jimmy Buffett. Built on food, fun, music and escapism, this community redefines active adult living for those growing older but not up. Located along the Intracoastal Waterway near Panama....

09/26/2024

Ciminelli Real Estate Services Tallahassee branch, led by Stewart Proctor and J.R. Long specializes in property management solutions and services to fit a variety of commercial business models. They ensure your property is maintained, tenants are satisfied and that economic benefits are maximized for the owners.

📸: Erich Martin

Ciminelli Real Estate Services’ property management solutions exceed expectations

09/26/2024

The ITEN WIRED TechNet CyberCoast 2024 conference will take place Oct. 16–18 at Hilton Pensacola Beach, welcoming entrepreneurs, business leaders, industry experts, students and all who are interested in furthering the region’s success through technology and innovation.

Many are looking forward to the annual convergence of learning and connection that the 2024 ITEN WIRED | TechNet CyberCoast summit will present.

09/02/2024

Enjoy the last days of summer this Labor Day Weekend! 😎

08/30/2024

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort is pleased to announce the appointment of Bob LaCasse as its new general manager.

Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort® is pleased to announce the appointment of Bob LaCasse as its new general manager.

08/30/2024

Phillip Gainer, a product of Washington County, is the secretary for the Florida Department of Transportation’s District 3, headquartered in Chipley, where Gainer resides.

His route to work isn’t congested, but his job involves coordinating projects designed to keep pace with development.

District 3’s efforts to compete for state transportation funding are complicated by the fact that while it is home to two of the ten fastest-growing counties in the state—Walton and Santa Rosa—its population is the smallest among the state’s seven transportation districts.

Even as development accelerates, the best the district can do is to apply a process for prioritizing projects and knock them off the list as funds become available.

Illustration by Sierra Thomas

Phillip Gainer is the secretary for the Florida Department of Transportation’s District 3. His job involves coordinating projects designed to keep pace with development.

08/30/2024

Watersound Fountains, a 148-apartment resort-style independent living community located in Inlet Beach, Florida, has opened its doors to residents.

Developed through a joint venture with The St. Joe Company, Watermark Retirement Communities and BRW, this community is the first free-standing independent living community in Watersound.

Watersound Fountains, a 148-apartment resort-style independent living community located in Inlet Beach has opened its doors to residents.

08/29/2024

🎉 Congratulations to Alex and Mitch, the winners of our 2023–24 Ultimate Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa Getaway! The engaged couple plan to marry on the beach in Panama City Beach, Florida. They are extremely excited to have won and can’t wait to sink their toes in the sand at the Gulf-front Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach, Florida!

🙏 Thank you to the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa for partnering with us on this amazing giveaway! Stay tuned for your chance to enter to win the 2025 Ultimate Getaway!

🏖️ The Hilton is the ultimate getaway where amenities abound. Not only is it situated on the beautiful white sand beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, the property was recently renovated and boasts three swimming pools (two outdoor and one indoor), whirlpools, the award-winning world-class Serenity by the sea Spa and an expansive sunbathing deck and an array of recreational and water sport activities.

📸: Jessica Rae Photography

We are thrilled to announce that we have selected a winner of the 2024 Hilton Sandestin partnership giveaway!

08/28/2024

Matt Algarin, director at Walton County Tourism, favors a regional approach to tourism promotion. That sentiment is shared by Algarin’s counterpart in Okaloosa County, Jennifer Adams Kemp.

“We would rather them stay in the region than go somewhere else, even though they may not get to me the first time,” she said. “They will get to me at a later date.” Individual counties have their respective attractions, but there is nothing to prevent visitors from parasailing off Panama City Beach one day and cooling off at Vortex Spring in Holmes County the next.

📸: Courtesy of CCA Florida

Tourism promoters are joining forces