In Florida, students lag behind the U.S. average in science and mathematics. The state and the nation have failed to keep pace globally. Florida ranks behind 18 countries (including the 9th-ranked U.S.), according to the 2007 study “Chance Favors the…
Don't think it matters what your signature looks like? Don't be so sure. It relays a lot about you. Redefining John Hancock Originally published in the Apr/May 2011 issue of 850 Business Magazine Have you ever considered how you sign…
Stress. Apart, these six letters mean virtually nothing, but together they carry myriad meanings. Webster’s defines the word as “a specific response by the body to a stimulus; physical, mental or emotional strain or tension.” But for one business owner,…
The Future of New Business Looks Bright Indeed By Brian Rowland Originally published in the Apr/May 2011 issue of 850 Business Magazine If you’re worried about the entrepreneurial spirit of Northwest Florida’s youth, I have a word of advice:…
Many Tallahassee residents don’t realize the popular steakhouse isn’t an out-of-town chain, nor is the name a marketing gimmick. There is a real Marie Livingston. Making Her Steak Marie Livingston was a newcomer to Tallahassee when she decided to open…
Front Beach Road is the artery that feeds the heart of tourism in Panama City Beach, and now it is undergoing a procedure that should dramatically improve the health of the vacation town. Front Beach Makeover From party strip to…
Accomplished equestrienne. Cancer survivor. Working mother. Influential lobbyist. Carol Dover, who manages the 10,000-member Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, is all that and more. And in the wake of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, she has now become an…
Meet Krys-Tina Scott, proud proprietor of Acquired Sole — an urban-themed clothing and sneaker retail specialty shop in Fort Walton Beach — and winner of the 850 Business Magazine’s 2010 Collegiate Entrepreneur Invitational. Young Minds + Big Ideas At the…
As the state enters the fourth year of state budget cuts, with jobless numbers that continue to outpace the nation and a housing market that collapsed and has now been restored to merely gasping, Gov. Rick Scott is casting himself…
For Northwest Florida’s northern counties — the ones that bump up against Alabama and are frequently seen only through the blurred window of a car traveling down Interstate 10 — attracting tourists is a frustrating and tough sell. Welcome Back…
Security hiring represents a challenge for vacation properties because there are unique liability risks involved, both from the actions and the inaction of guards. Heavy-handed security can alienate guests and lead to confrontations, while lax security can leave guests at…
They can walk into businesses and launch into red-faced tirades that turn heads. They can yell expletives over the phone they would never dare say in public. They can break down crying, unburdening their woes to strangers. “They” are anxious…
David and Trish Warriner are Port St. Joe royalty. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who doesn’t know them or appreciate what they’ve done to help revitalize the tourism industry in this small coastal town. In June 2001, the…
Sandy Williams’ Boomer Aviation is the largest operation of its kind between Jacksonville and California, according to Williams. The three-generation aerial banner towing business is now in its 31st year of operation. Credits go to inspiration, business sense and perseverance…
While CEOs are expected to display leadership talents, some of the skills they need for the job must be learned. And, anyone who has stood for the first time before a large audience — very possibly with shaking knees and…
Winter is tedious. Try these handy devices to make your exec life a little easier (and enjoyable). Company Perks: Helpmates Compiled by Tisha Crews Keller Originally published in the Feb/Mar 2011 issue of 850 Business Magazine AUTO-PILOT This is…
Very few people in Tallahassee are aware Datamaxx Group exists, much less understand what this privately held company does. And that is intentional. Datamaxx develops crucial software that allows law enforcement agencies to communicate and share information with one another.…
Dominic Calabro on tax reform in Florida Righting Taxes By Dominic Calabro, Florida TaxWatch Originally published in the Feb/Mar 2011 issue of 850 Business Magazine As the nation recovers from one of the worst economic recessions in history, our state…
Business Arena: News & Numbers Statewide (Feb/Mar 2011) Compiled by Janeen Talbott and Linda Kleindienst Originally published in the Feb/Mar 2011 issue of 850 Business Magazine ‘There’s an App for That!’ Considering that mobile application technology was only introduced…
Many locals probably remember when the movie “Secondhand Lions,” starring Michael Caine and Robert Duvall, was filmed in Panama City in 2002. But what they don’t know is the pivotal role that Bay County Film Commissioner Julie Gordon played in…
Although Kimbrough, 63, has spent time in the corporate world far away from those roots, he came back. Now he’s working to sell the world on what a perfect place Jackson County is to start a business and raise a…
After Two Years of Rough Roads, the Future Looks Brighter in 2011 By Brian Rowland Originally published in the Feb/Mar 2011 issue of 850 Business Magazine Listening to the news shows, I could not count the times the “talking heads”…
Meet some of the writers featured in the Feb/Mar 2011 issue of 850. 850 Contributors: Feb/Mar 2011 issue JON BURSTEIN is an award-winning reporter with the Sun Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale. He has written about legal issues, gambling and…
Over the past few decades of being in the publishing industry and advertising business, I have probably worked with several thousand business owners. Most have been established business entities in the many markets in which we serve, but I would…
Blink your eyes and you might drive right by it. The tiny town of Ebro, nestled in the extreme southwestern corner of Washington County, is a little more than three square miles and home to 241 people. Yet, despite that,…
When Northwest Florida Community Hospital in Chipley announced the promotion of Janet Kinney to chief operating officer last spring, it was a testament to the value of hard work. Long Way to the Top Determination and a strong work ethic…
“There’s a slight clash of cultures between the residents who’ve lived in Sopchoppy for generations, hunting and fishing, and visitors and new residents who would rather hike, bike and enjoy nature in different ways. They’re both positive groups enjoying the…
Tom Morgan looks around his Apalachicola store with a smile that exudes confidence. It’s the look of satisfaction that comes from knowing he has built something from the ground up and answers to no one but himself. Leap of Faith…
Great ideas can come from anyone — young or old, male or female. The Emerald Coast has some residents who have come up with ways to enhance our lives. Meet a few who turned their creative ideas into reality —…
Candid Q&A with Walton area executives turn up some surprising answers What Execs Admit Out of the Office Interviewed by Zandra Wolfgram Originally published in the Dec 2010/Jan 2011 issue of 850 Business Magazine We asked and they answered.…
It’s no secret that college football is big business. The student-athletes aren’t paid a salary, but everyone else profits. Tickets, concessions, merchandise and more: If you can slap a logo on it, someone can sell it. It’s a simple formula.…
The Chinese Dracaena has stood as a silent sentinel in the front office for 10 years, growing slowly but surely, expected to bring its owner prosperity, luck and harmony. In many ways, it has. But most of Rick Oppenheim’s success…
There comes that moment for Matt Brandman when he knows he chose the right career. The plumbers and painters have moved on. The newly planted trees are swaying in the gentle Gulf breeze. The kitchen is gleaming. The bathrooms are…
Finding the perfect gift for a colleague or significant other (who happens to be an exec)? These fab finds are within easy reach. Giftworthy Executive Luxuries and Must-Haves Complied by Tisha Crews Keller Originally published in the Dec 2010/Jan 2011…
Frank Brogan's take on the value of top-notch education? "Florida’s economic marquee has contained agriculture, tourism and growth as its stars for a long run. But while these sectors have been very good to the state — and instrumental in…
From the iPad to the State University System, there's some interesting trends in the business world right now Business Arena: Dec/Jan 2010 Complied by Linda Kleindienst Originally published in the Dec 2010/Jan 2011 issue of 850 Business Magazine The…
There’s no doubt, laptops and smart phones are necessary tools to survival in the modern world — but sometimes, old-school is still the best way to go. That’s why we all keep pens on our desks and in our purses…
Across the Panhandle, businesses small and large have spent the past few years trying to come up with innovative ways to retain loyal employees and recruit new blood at a time when economic challenges have kept more financially lucrative incentives…
Awards won’t make a business — reasonable prices and outstanding service do that — but they can provide an edge in an economic time when even the slightest boost helps. Strut Your Savvy Stuff Awards competitions offer a way to…
Family businesses are loosely defined as businesses in which two or more family members are employed. The underpinnings of our economy, they are known for their personal service and commitment to the community. But they often struggle to stay open…
For all our communicating, is anybody really listening? Probably not as much as you think. The guilty parties may even be found in your own building. Loss of morale, physical distance and isolation between departments, rivalries, conflicting personalities and more…
Jack Kerigan has never forgotten the professor at Florida State University in Tallahassee who each day urged his students to “make it a great day.” He continues to weave this optimism into every marketing project he takes on Ad Man…
More and more companies are discovering that providing fitness opportunities for employees pays off big time in productivity, stress relief and morale Don’t Sweat the Investment Accumulating evidence shows that wellness in the workplace benefits the employee and the employer…
Once a booming business, catfish farming has dwindled since the influx of imported seafood. Vernon Hiebert and other aquaculture professionals are having to reinvent the business to remain viable. Fishing for Marketshare As imports take up a larger market share,…
Most experts say a workplace gift exchange is a fun way to share the spirit of the season. Bringing the holidays into the office can be a rewarding morale-building exercise that can pay off well into the New Year if…
Four hours northwest of “The Land That Disney Built” sits another Florida gem, a land that time forgot. Instead of tourism on steroids, where fun is measured in how fast the rollercoaster flies or how far it drops, this oasis…
Matt Fleck, who loves to sail, scuba dive and fish, has found the perfect place to do all three. Now his job is to introduce thousands of others to the place he calls paradise — Port St. Joe. Selling Small-Town…
Amendment 4 has the power to change the way cities are built in Florida. Businesses and environmental groups see the measure from vastly different viewpoints. Which is right? What is better for business? To Build Or Not? Amendment 4 —…
The oil seems to be gone, but the economic impact of the distaster lingers The Slick Effect While the visible physical impacts of the BP oil leak are minimal in Northwest Florida, the economic damage of the disaster is a…
Michelle Evans defines herself in many ways: a mother of a 20-year-old, a fun-loving fiancée, a passionate start-up business owner — and a biker girl. Motorcycle Maven Blazing a new path in business, and in life By Zandra Wolfgram Originally…
