Sound Bytes Fall 2025
Capital // Local Honors
Distinguished bankers in the Capital
In keeping with tradition, the Florida Bankers Association (FBA) presented awards to a select group of deserving bankers during its 137th annual meeting. The distinguished awards recognize individuals for their dedication and contributions to the FBA and Florida’s banking industry. Kenneth Pratt, senior vice president and Southeast regional lobbyist, Citibank (Tallahassee), was presented with the Chairman’s Award. This award is given to recipients selected by the outgoing FBA chairman, in this case Derek Jones, region executive of Gulf Coast of Wells Fargo Bank, to honor members who have gone above and beyond to support the FBA. Pratt has worked tirelessly on the FBA’s behalf to return the Interest on Trust Accounts (IOTA) Program to a sustainable level, ensuring its success.
GrayRobinson is pleased to announce Dena H. Sokolow has joined the firm as shareholder in its Labor and Employment practice. Based in the Tallahassee office, Sokolow is a nationally recognized labor and employment litigator and advisor who blends sharp legal insight with practical HR knowledge to help businesses navigate today’s complex workplace landscape. Sokolow’s practice is defined by her direct, solution-oriented approach, combining strategic counsel with robust litigation experience. She represents employers across many industries—including health care, retail, construction, hospitality, and staffing—in federal and state employment disputes involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, wage and hour violations, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) claims, and employee misclassification. Nationally recognized for her work in wage and hour law, she regularly advises on U.S. Department of Labor audits, Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) collective actions, and internal classification reviews involving independent contractor and exemption issues. In her advisory role, she helps clients proactively identify and address compliance risks, strengthening workplace policies,
and minimizing
legal exposure.
Out of hundreds of businesses throughout the state of Florida, Tallulah CBD, has been named No. 7 on the 2025 JMI 30 Awards list, recognizing the fastest-growing businesses in Florida led by Jim Moran Institute alumni. Tallulah, the alternative wellness company redefining smoke shops, kava bars, and functional retail in the Southeast, has been named the No. 1 fastest-growing business in Tallahassee and No.7 overall in the state of Florida. The JMI 30 honors the fastest-growing, privately held companies.
Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed Jason Vail, a shareholder with Allen Norton & Blue’s Tallahassee office, to the Judicial Nominating Commission (JNC) for the 2nd Judicial Circuit. Vail was appointed from a list of nominees recommended by the Florida Bar for a term ending July 1, 2026. The JNC is a panel that recommends lawyers for judgeships, selecting nominees to fill judicial vacancies within the Florida court system. The 2nd Judicial Circuit covers Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla counties. Vail represents public and private clients in employment law matters before Florida state and federal courts and in traditional labor matters, including collective bargaining, labor arbitration, and unfair labor practice cases before the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) and the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Vail is Board Certified by the Florida Bar as a specialist in labor and employment law. He earned his J.D. cum laude from the Florida State University College of Law and a B.S. in Legal Studies from the University of Central Florida summa cum laude. He frequently lectures and provides training to employers on employment-related matters. He also serves on the board of directors for Big Bend Habitat for Humanity and most recently as president. Allen Norton & Blue, with offices in Miami, Orlando, Tallahassee, and Tampa, represents public and private sector employers and focuses its practice on employment litigation.
Florida Realtors®, the state’s largest professional trade association with 238,000 members, has named Trey Goldman as its new senior vice president of public policy. As the senior vice president of public policy, Goldman will lead the legislative and regulatory advocacy-related efforts of the association. In addition to managing the public policy office, he is also responsible for all initiatives relating to the legislative agenda of Florida Realtors and the coordination of member involvement in all public policy-related matters for the organization. Prior to taking on this new position, Goldman was Florida Realtors’ legislative counsel based in the Tallahassee public policy office. He represented Realtors® before the Florida Legislature, state regulatory agencies, the Governor’s office, and the Cabinet, with a focus on insurance and community association-related issues. He is a member of the Florida Bar and serves on the executive council of the Bar’s largest section, the Real Property, Probate, and Trust Law Section. Goldman was raised in Daytona Beach, Florida, where both of his parents were Realtors. He graduated from the University of Florida College of Business with a degree in Real Estate and Urban Analysis. He also received his J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law.
Emerald Coast // Local Honors
Recognition of dedicated bankers in EC
Florida Bankers Association (FBA) also presented awards to a select group of
deserving bankers in the Emerald Coast (EC) during its 137th annual meeting. The distinguished awards recognize individuals for their dedication and contributions to the FBA and Florida’s banking industry. Fred Leopold, Coast Region chief lending officer, Community Bank (Miramar Beach), was named Banker of the Year. This award recognizes an individual who demonstrates the highest level of commitment to the banking industry and service to his or her community. Leopold has worked in banking for 42 years and serves as chair of the Florida Bankers Educational Foundation Board. He is actively involved with the FBA’s efforts to cultivate and mentor future banking leaders. He is highly respected by his peers, colleagues, and community partners.
David Bear has joined the Board of Directors of the Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition, adding to his impressive business and civic resume. Bear is the owner and CEO of The Lewis Bear Company, a beverage distributorship founded in 1876 in Pensacola. Bear and his company founded Bear Family Foundation in 2002, which has awarded millions of dollars in grants to more than 118 local nonprofit organizations serving Northwest Florida. In addition to his entrepreneurial success, Bear has built upon his family’s legacy of commitment to public service and community engagement. From August 2021 until June of 2025, he served on the Board of Triumph Gulf Coast, the nonprofit corporation funded by a legal settlement with BP following the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Its purpose is to seed projects that will transform the regional economy. Bear’s leadership extends beyond business into cultural and community development. He is the founder and trustee emeritus of Art, Culture, and Entertainment, Inc. and has held significant roles, such as the current chair of the Escambia County Tourist Development Council, chair of the Florida Beer Wholesaler Association, and chair of FloridaWest. Additionally, he played a key role in founding the Foo Foo Festival, a fall event that celebrates the arts and culture as a driver of tourism in the community. Bear is past president of the boards for the Arts Council of Northwest Florida, Pensacola Museum of Art, Creative Learning Academy, and Pensacola MESS Hall. He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Belhaven College.
Emerald Coast // New & Notable
Expanding maternity services
Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast is expanding its maternity services at The Family Birth Place through a partnership with OB Hospitalist Group, OBHG. As the only NICU close to home for families living in Walton and Okaloosa counties, Sacred Heart Emerald Coast is renowned for its award-winning maternity care. Sacred Heart Emerald Coast will also partner with OBHG to provide an OB ER, ensuring timely evaluation and intervention for emergencies like abdominal pain, bleeding, contractions, and high blood pressure. The goals of the program include reducing ER wait times for expecting mothers, increasing patient safety, and improving outcomes.
Dock Blocks of the Florida Panhandle, a leading provider of modular floating dock systems, announced today that every component of its docking systems is now 100% made in the USA—a major milestone that comes as demand surges across Florida’s coastal and inland waterways. The announcement coincides with a local push: Dock Blocks is strengthening its on-the-ground support for Florida residents and contractors, offering fast delivery through terminal partners in towns across the state and a growing network of certified installation pros. Customers in Florida can now receive systems in just days—not weeks. Dock Blocks’ expansion into Florida is part of a larger trend toward resilient, low-maintenance waterfront solutions, especially in hurricane-prone regions. Modular floating docks offer superior flexibility and durability compared to traditional fixed docks—and are easier to maintain, repair, or relocate after storms. The system has already been adopted by homeowners, marinas, municipalities, and military clients, including the U.S. Coast Guard and Marine Corps.
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport (ECP), together with Life Media Publications, announces a new cultural initiative, Art Escape, which showcases contemporary work by local artists in the airport’s concourse. The inaugural exhibit “Where am I Going?”opened July 1, with a plan for rotating works to cycle through the space over the next five months. Comprised of artists from across the region, this project brings together dynamic regional voices with the intent of enhancing the airport experience for those traveling to and from the Emerald Coast. Welcoming nearly 1.9 million passengers in 2024, ECP acts as a gateway to the cultural attractions of surrounding counties, which, beyond airport doors, include art galleries, world-class live music, documentary film festivals, stand-up comedy, and much more. “Where am I Going?” includes the work of artists Francisco Adaro, Christon Anderson, Mark Little, Chandler Williams, Mandy Yourick, and Jamie Zimchek in mediums that range from painting to photography and installation.
EG America has broken ground on a new-to-industry retail site at 23rd Street and Beck Avenue in Panama City. The Cumberland Farms-branded store will offer innovative on-the-go food items, numerous fueling stations, a car wash, and more—strategically positioned in a robust business district with easy access for guests. The new site will be EG America’s eighth location in the Panama City area, further expanding its footprint in a growing market. It strengthens the company’s presence, boosts local brand recognition, and deepens guest connections. Shoppers will also enjoy the benefits of the popular SmartRewards loyalty program, featuring exclusive deals and rewards. With 1,500 retail locations and 18,000 team members across the U.S., EG America is one of the fastest-growing convenience store retailers in the country.
NAI TALCOR has acquired the Phillips Portfolio, a rare, 60-plus asset collection of residential, commercial, and land holdings across Northwest Florida—one of the fastest-growing regions in the U.S. These assets include residential, commercial, and land in Okaloosa and other high-growth counties. These assets provide a debt-free advantage with opportunities for multigenerational holdings. Additionally, most sites are shovel-ready or have active development orders. NAI TALCOR was founded in 1990 as a real estate brokerage firm specializing exclusively in commercial properties in North Florida, South Georgia, and South Alabama. The brokerage company is staffed with the most experienced and competent professionals in the real estate business. We offer individual specialists in retail, office, agricultural, multifamily, industrial, and investment property sectors.
