Meet more of Northwest Florida’s-up and-coming business leaders in this fifth installment of 40 Under 40. From Tallahassee to Pensacola, from a former major leaguer to an economic development specialist to a hot shot realtor, see who is making a mark on the business world and in their own community.
Started What's Next Marketing right after graduating from Florida State University three years ago. In 2011, the company was named as a finalist by Forbes Magazine for America's Most Promising Companies. The Ad Club of Boston named the company as Emerging Interactive Business at the 2011 South by Southwest Festival. No surprise then that this summer his company was acquired by Ron Sachs Communications — and that he's writing a book to help business and government leaders navigate the fast-changing landscape of social/digital media platforms.
Chris left the high pressure life of working for a Fortune 100 company after his father, a Destin charter boat captain, passed away. He took early retirement from corporate life and returned to Destin with his wife, Heather, to start Destin Vacation Boat Rentals, now in its third year of operation. Heather Thomas does PR and marketing for the company. She has a tourism blog and was named one of the Amazing Women of 2011 by a top website for women.
Realtor who works on Pensacola Beach — and closed more than $4 million in sales during the first half of 2012 in spite of the economy. His grandmother established the first Pensacola Beach newspaper, The Islander, which his mom owns and manages today as Island Times. An expert marksman, he is in the process of opening a gun sales shop — and is involved in a rescue program for golden retrievers.
A mainstay for the Bay County Economic Development Alliance, where she heads up the marketing program. She got her professional start with Herrle Communications in Tallahassee and now lives in Panama City, where her job with the EDA is to promote Bay County to businesses looking to relocate.
Introduced this year to the FSU Baseball Hall of Fame, spent a decade playing in more than 1,000 major and minor league ballgames before returning to Tallahassee.
Humor is the salve that helps relieve the stress of our publishing world, and our team does it so well.
No matter what we do, we should never forget the people who help us stay in business, our customers.
Tiny Holmes County has become a hotbed for manufacturing in Northwest Florida.
Trey Young is the quintessential American cowboy, a Wakulla County native who has a special knack for training horses and is now spreading that knowledge through television and national appearances.
