Author: Laura Patrick

Those funny looking QR codes popping up all over the place are a new tool to help you market your business. Coded Messages An explanation of QR codes and how to use them intelligently By Laura Bradley You’ve seen them…

McCoy’s Country Store is a mainstay for customers who can find anything they need, from a tank of gas to a cup of coffee to a new shotgun. Taking Aim Small-town McCoy’s Outdoors shoots down the competition with great prices…

Andy Stein is a successful Panama City banker who raised millions to open his own bank even as many others in the region were failing. Boutique Bank Boss One bank CEO turns a profit while other banks fail By Wendy…

Northwest Florida survives on small businesses, and the Fort Walton Beach-based Small Business Development Center helps to launch many of them. Small Businesses Pack a Big Economic Punch Small Business Development Center launches the Growth Acceleration Program By Zandra Wolfgram…

Resort Vacation Properties on St. George Island is a friendly affair, literally. The company is run by five women who learned to balance work and friendship.   Friends and Partners There’s room for both, if the rules are spelled out…

After traveling the world to supply their Havana shop, Wanderings, Tony Lombardo and Terri Paul came up with an idea to help their own community. Meet Team Unity. Think Globally, Bead Locally Havana’s Team Unity creates jobs by creating jewelry…

Few people know or appreciate that agriculture is Florida’s second major industry — and that cattle ranching is a significant component of the equation. Florida, in fact, is the birthplace of this country’s cattle industry. The state ranks 11th in…

For American workers, vacations can be few and far between. Is that good for them — or your business? The No-Vacation Nation Working hard for the money By Angela Howard The alarm clock sounds. You get up, get showered, get…

Jim Hizer talks about Pensacola's push for job creation and strengthening economic partnerships with the military. Jim Hizer Jim Hizer, CCE, CEcD, joined the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce as president/CEO in August 2010. He is responsible for the…

Internationally-known modeling coach Marsha Doll muses on life and her work with aspiring models. Model Businesswoman Marsha Doll, Tallahassee Marsha Doll Models/Promogirl.com by Rosanne Dunkelberger With a spiky blonde ’do, short skirt, sky-high heels, blinged-out jewelry and energy to spare,…