Sound Bytes Winter 2025
CAPITAL
LOCAL HONORS
Leon county is winning
Leon County Government has been honored with 12 state and national awards for outstanding public relations from the Florida Public Relations Association (FPRA), the National Association of County Information Officers (NACIO), and the City-County Communications & Marketing Association (3CMA). The county set a new record for the most statewide awards received from FPRA in the county’s history and nearly twice as many awards as any other single agency or organization, with six Awards of Distinction, one Judges’ Award, and the Leon County Community and Media Relations (CMR) team being awarded with the Government Team of the Year Silver Pinnacle Award. Additionally, the County earned two NACIO Awards of Excellence, with both awards receiving the Best of Category designation. The Florida Public Relations Association is the oldest public relations organization in the United States, dedicated to developing public relations practitioners who, through ethical and standardized practices, enhance the public relations profession in Florida. Honoring top communications teams in the region, FPRA’s Annual Golden Image Awards exemplify public relations excellence in the state of Florida. Leon County was the most-awarded organization—public or private—at the 2025 FPRA Golden Image Awards.
From over 100 entries submitted by public relations agencies and teams across the state, Leon County was recognized for the following award-winning projects: Leon County 2024 Annual Report Video, Award of Distinction in the category of Video – Institutional under Digital Tools of Public Relations; Leon County Bicentennial Community Cookbook, Award of Distinction in the category of Specialty Item under Collateral of Public Relations; Leon County Bicentennial Library Card, Award of Distinction and Judges’ Award in the category of Specialty Item under Collateral of Public Relations; TEAM Leon Promotional Plan, Award of Distinction in the category of Crisis Communications under Public Relations Programs; Leon County Government Library Lecture Series: Bicentennial Beginnings, Award of Distinction in the category of Special Event under Public Relations Programs; Teddy Bear-a-medic Video, Award of Distinction in the category of Digital Communications under Student Projects in Public Relations; and Leon County Community and Media Relations, Government Team of the Year Silver Pinnacle Award.
Stifel (NYSE: SF) announced that financial advisor Tom Stitely has joined the Huggins Wealth Management Group of the firm’s broker-dealer subsidiary, Stifel, Nicolaus& Company, Incorporated. Stitely began his financial services career in 2008 with SunTrust Bank and, over the past 17 years, has worked for Ameris Bank, Bank of America, and South Georgia Banking Company. Most recently, he served as business development manager at Bayshore Mortgage Funding. Stitely specializes in investment planning with a focus on analyzing performance and providing highly personalized guidance to clients.
Tallahassee State College (TSC) has been named the 2025 Entrepreneurial College of the Year by the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE), North America’s leading advocate for entrepreneurship education. The award was presented during the NACCE 2025 annual conference in Coronado, California. TSC has distinguished itself as an entrepreneurial leader through innovative initiatives, including reef restoration and sustainability, advancing artificial intelligence, and excellence in workplace culture.
Seven Oaks Health, the parent company of Big Bend Hospice, is proud to announce the appointment of Norman Pasley, MBA, MSN, RN, NHA, NE-BC, CRRN as chief nursing officer. Pasley brings more than 30 years of health care leadership and clinical experience to the role, along with a longstanding connection to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare (TMH). For more than two decades at TMH, Pasley held a range of leadership roles, including nursing director of outpatient surgery, director of patient flow in hospital nursing operations, administrator of the TMH Rehabilitation Center, and most recently, service line administrator for multiple services at TMH, including Home Health. Under his leadership, the Rehabilitation Center achieved a prestigious five-star rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). He also guided Home Health services to a 3.5-star CMS rating and oversaw the Outpatient Neurological Clinic, which served an average of 70-90 patients each day. A U.S. veteran, Pasley served seven years as an active-duty combat medic and licensed practical nurse, concluding his service at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He is board-certified as both a certified rehabilitation nurse and in nursing executive leadership (ANCC). Pasley holds dual master’s degrees in nursing and business administration and is pursuing a Doctor of Nursing Practice in executive health care leadership at Florida State University.
NEW & NOTABLE
THF (Thomas Howell Ferguson P.A. CPAs), a leading Florida-based professional accounting and advisory services firm, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Hamic Previte & Sturwold, PA (HPS), a respected CPA firm with offices in Lakeland and Dade City. With over 150 team members, THF provides clients with a full range of traditional accounting, auditing and tax services, complemented by comprehensive consulting and advisory services. The firm currently serves clients across key industries such as insurance, government, nonprofit, and health care. With offices in Tallahassee, Tampa, and Panama City, this merger represents a strategic step in THF’s continuedgrowth and solidifies its presence in the central region of the state.
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Reflections from survivors
The Holocaust Education Resource Council (HERC) welcomed more than 400 guests to its 14th annual Remembrance Dinner, held at the Dunlap Champion’s Club. The evening featured keynote speaker Dara Horn, award-winning author of People Love Dead Jews, and honored Bill Graham and Shelley Hill with the Steve Uhlfelder Humanitarian Award. Guests heard powerful reflections from Horn, who spoke about the rise of antisemitism and the status of Holocaust education. The program also highlighted HERC’s ongoing mission to advance Holocaust education across North Florida. The event raised almost $150,000, which will directly support HERC’s programs, including teacher training workshops, classroom resources, and community education initiatives. Since its founding in 2005 by Barbara Goldstein and Rita Miller Blank, both daughters of Holocaust survivors, HERC has provided educators and the public with resources and training to teach the Holocaust with accuracy and empathy. The Remembrance Dinner has become a signature annual event, honoring survivors and community leaders while reinforcing the organization’s mission to build hope.
EMERALDCOAST
LOCAL HONORS
Frances Roy Agency is pleased to announce the promotion of Nicole Malley to manager of digital strategy. Having previously served as a digital media specialist, Malley will transition into a leadership role where she will manage digital operations, oversee campaign execution, and mentor team members. In her new position, Malley will manage day-to-day digital strategy operations, including campaign planning, execution, and performance measurement, while supporting and mentoring the agency’s digital team.
Sacred Heart Emerald Coast received a “4-star rating” from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) in their 2025 Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings. The CMS Overall Hospital Quality Star Ratings are derived from 46 publicly reported quality measures, categorized into Mortality, Patient Experience, Readmission, Safety of Care, and Timely & Effective Care. The hospital was recently recognized with a “5-star” rating for patient recommendation by CMS.
Regions Bank announced John Gormley has joined the company and will serve as market executive and commercial banking leader in Pensacola and the surrounding communities. Gormley has nearly three decades of experience meeting the complex financial needs of municipalities and businesses in the area. Specializing in health care organizations, real estate firms, and automotive clients, Gormley has a proven record of delivering thoughtful financial solutions in collaboration with colleagues from multiple banking specialties. He most recently served as senior vice president and managing director at PNC Bank (previously BBVA Compass), where he led commercial and governmental banking relationships across North Florida and South Alabama. Gormley began his banking career in 2001 with SunTrust Bank in Pensacola. Gormley succeeds Scott Barrow, who retired earlier this year after more than 40 years of faithful service to clients of Regions Bank and its predecessor, AmSouth.
NEW & NOTABLE
Developing escambia county
Catalyst Healthspan, in partnership with Jim Wilson & Associates, has officially announced plans for Outlying Fields —
a transformational, multi-generational, mixed-use development on the 540-acre site. At Outlying Fields, commerce meets community. Delivering an innovative approach to high-demand job creation, outdoor recreation, shopping and dining, and residential options, Outlying Fields will serve as the vibrant hub of community life and workforce development–making it easier than ever to build, grow, work and live right here in Northwest Florida.
Ascension Sacred Heart is grateful to have Thomas Johnson, MD, medical oncologist and hematologist, back
at Ascension Sacred Heart Cancer Center in Santa Rosa Beach. Dr. Johnson started back full-time on October 1. Dr. Johnson has been with Ascension for more than 14 years. He joins the team with Mark Deleon, MD and Heather Hilty, DO, increasing access to cancer care for patients in Walton County and surrounding areas. After starting the Sacred Heart Emerald Coast practice in 2008,
Dr. Johnson spent 10 years developing his Santa Rosa Beach hematology/oncology practice. After three years in private practice in Northwest Alabama, he returned to Ascension Sacred Heart Bay in 2021 to help open the new clinic there. He is glad to be back in Walton County permanently.
PenAir Credit Union (PenAir) has agreed to purchase certain assets related to Service 1 Federal Credit Union’s (Service 1 FCU) branch in Mobile, Alabama. The transaction between the Michigan-based Service 1 FCU and Florida-based PenAir is expected to be completed by Jan. 1, 2026, and includes assets related to the operation of the Service 1 FCU facility in Mobile, Alabama. Branch employees also will become part of the PenAir organization.
Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC) has named seasoned banking executive Kelly Peace as its new middle market banking leader for Alabama and the Florida Panhandle, which are important markets for the bank. Peace will be based in Birmingham and lead a team focused on deepening and expanding Truist’s relationships with clients in the region and elevating the company’s profile as a trusted financial partner. She brings more than 25 years of financial services experience to her new role, having held key positions in commercial and middle market banking, credit, and risk management. Her proven track record of driving business growth, fostering client relationships, and navigating complex financial landscapes makes her ideally suited to lead Truist’s middle market business in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
Grizzly MEP (“Grizzly” or the “Company”), a commercial mechanical, electrical, and plumbing platform focused on partnering with best-in-class founders and management teams, announced the hiring of John K. Adams as chief executive officer. In addition to Adam’s appointment, Grizzly also announced the expansion of its platform through a new partnership with Air Design Systems (“ADS”), a full-service mechanical and plumbing contractor headquartered in Pensacola, Florida. Adams brings more than three decades of leadership expertise and a proven track record of driving transformational growth, including building go-to-market strategies for platform build-ups. In his new role, Adams will further diversify Grizzly’s platform by establishing new and synergistic partnerships across key markets, while helping existing partners expand their service offerings.
Nemours Children’s Health and Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola have officially launched their new collaboration, ushering in a new era of pediatric health care in the region. As a result, children and families in Pensacola and the surrounding community now have access to an enhanced level of subspecialty care services. This collaboration brings together the expertise of both organizations to provide comprehensive, high-quality care to children and families in the region. Nearly two dozen pediatric subspecialty services are being provided by Nemours Children’s and are now available to patients’ families. With the transition, more than 100 additional clinicians and staff are now employed by Nemours Children’s and will practice at Studer Family Children’s Hospital as well as in the outpatient setting as part of this new strategic collaboration.
Tails are wagging in Pensacola as Hounds Town USA, where everything they do is for the dogs, opened its newest location on October 4. Situated at 9245 North Palafox in Pensacola, the facility offers doggy daycare, boarding, and spa services to pet owners throughout Pensacola, Ensley, Cantonment, Nine Mile Road, and surrounding communities. The Pensacola location is owned and operated by local entrepreneurs Renee and Derrick Drinnon. Derrick brings over 37 years of experience in animal health, holding leadership roles in both manufacturing and distribution. Renee has 25 years of experience in human resources, specializing in building strong team relationships, employee engagement, and effective communication.
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Cox Communications gives back to the community
Cox Communications employees have awarded a total of $50,000 in grants to 10 local nonprofits through Cox Charities Community Investment Grants. The program provides employee funded grants of up to $5,000 to support a special program benefiting residents in the area. Earlier this year, organizations were invited to submit applications for funding. This year’s recipients of the Cox Charities Community Investment Grants are: Autism Pensacola; Emerald Coast Autism Center; Emerald Coast Science Center, Inc.; Gulf Coast Council, Scouting America; Gulf Coast Kid’s House; Gulfarium CARE Foundation; Institute for Human & Machine Cognition; Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center; S4P Synergy, Inc.; and The Seaside School. Cox Charities is a charitable giving initiative of Cox Communications fully funded by Cox employees and business partners. The funds raised are then invested annually as Cox Charities Community Investment Grants to organizations that align with our focus areas of youth innovation programs focused on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM); conservation and sustainability initiatives; and equal opportunity. A total of $315,000 is being awarded to 63 grant recipients throughout Cox’s East Region.
The Escambia County Healthy Start Coalition hosted its annual Bow Ties and Tiaras fundraiser on Oct. 2 in Downtown Pensacola. Bow Ties and Tiaras directly supports some of the most vulnerable members of our community—pregnant women, new moms, and infants—by funding programs that provide essential items like portable cribs, car seats, strollers, diapers, wipes, and baby formula, all at no cost to families in need. Guests enjoyed a catered dinner, presentations, and entertainment while supporting a powerful mission: giving every baby in Escambia County the healthiest possible start in life. Thanks to the generosity of local sponsors, 100% of the event’s proceeds went toward purchasing life-saving and life-changing supplies for families who lack access to the basics.
I-10
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
DHM Melvin Engineering is honored to partner with the City of Bonifay on the Downtown Resilient Stormwater Project, a forward-thinking initiative funded by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) through the Resilient Florida program. With an estimated construction cost of $2.1 million, the project is designed to improve water quality, enhance stormwater capacity, and reduce flooding risks in the area. Led by Project Manager Brent Melvin, P.E. – DHM, the stormwater facility was carefully designed with consideration of the surrounding residential neighborhoods and adjacent Middlebrooks Park. The project ensures that critical stormwater resilience is achieved in a way that fits within the context of the community.
