Aerial Opportunists
In just a few years, drones have evolved from a hobby device to a serious industrial tool. With the industry taking off, expect to see more of them, especially over outdoor events, industrial sites and real estate.
Happenings
Sound Bytes June/July
CAPITAL APPOINTED BY GOV. SCOTT » Four prominent Tallahassee individuals were recently appointed to the Florida Constitution Revision Commission: Timothy Cerio, an accomplished attorney who had previously served as general counsel to the governor and in 2013 was appointed to…
Ecotourism
Tourism remains Florida’s No. 1 economic driver, and the number of visitors who visit each year continues to grow. So, too, does the number of the ecotourists who want to get a glimpse of Florida’s natural features. To enhance visitor experiences, Northwest Florida tourism agencies are promoting the region’s natural, historical and cultural resources.
Taking the Long View
As an attorney in Atlanta, Kim Rivers discovered an appetite for forging big deals that she found to be in relatively short supply upon moving back to Tallahassee, where she had served as a student body president at FSU. She thought about trading Florida’s capital city for a metropolitan environment, but saw Tallahassee as an ideal place to raise her son. Today, she is still making deals while working to make Tallahassee an even better place to live.
Get Booking
TripShock owner Greg Fisher was named by Pensacola’s Studer Institute as its 2016 “Entrepreneur of the Year” — with good reason. His entrepreneurial spirit hasn’t waned since he was 16 years old.
Back on Track?
It’s going to be an uphill battle, but hopes remain high that Amtrak will resume its passenger rail service between New Orleans and Orlando. Although fans are hoping to see some of the service return within two years, the major hurdle that remains is funding for the project and who will pay what.
Making Room for More Good Ol’ Days
Honoring old traditions while embracing new strategies is a key to the success of the largest locally owned hardware store in Tallahassee — J.H. Dowling, which recently celebrated its 70th continuous year of being in business.
Looking to the Future
Panama City has some of the finest cataract surgeons around, drawing in doctors from around the country to learn new techniques. And to think it all happened because Dr. Bret Fisher had the desire for a climate change.
Rare Birds
While women have made great strides in a variety of careers and industries, there is still a gender gap when it comes to female aviators. Tallahassee business partners Lacey Smith and Faith Drewry — cofounders of FL Aviation Center — think today’s women need to see more of their contemporaries making a real, viable, everyday career in aviation.
Flying Private
Adjacent to Northwest Florida’s major airports and tucked in smaller, out-of-the way airfields, fixed base operators are a boost to the region’s economy by helping to keep private planes flying — including those owned by visitors who might be taking a jaunt to the coast for lunch or dinner or to Tallahassee for a legislative hearing. But their major product isn’t necessarily fuel. It’s more to do with customer service — and rolling out the red carpet for visitors who could bring future business to the area.
