Local Jennifer Conoley, President & CEO of Florida’s Great Northwest, the regional economic development organization in our area serving 13 counties, was appointed by Florida’s Secretary of Commerce to serve on the inaugural board for SelectFlorida, a newly formed organization focused on the state’s international commerce functions under FloridaCommerce. She is one of only seven members of this important statewide board.
Jennifer is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD) with the International Economic Development Council and a Master Economic Development Practitioner with the Advanced Economic Development Leadership program. She has been promoting Northwest Florida for growth and diversification, attracting quality companies and fostering new job creation since 2009. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Florida State University.
“To be chosen as an inaugural board member of this important organization is an honor,” said Jennifer. “Promoting Florida as a business destination is crucial in creating more high-skill, high-wage job opportunities in the private sector, and I’m excited to join my other colleagues on the SelectFlorida board and contribute to this goal.”
Florida Secretary of Commerce J. Alex Kelly announced the first SelectFlorida Board of Directors, appointing Greg Britton as chair and Jennifer Conoley, Beth Kigel, Nick Primrose, Michael Simas, Kelly Smallridge and Mark Wilson to the board.
SelectFlorida was formed and founded in 2023 to lead the state’s international commerce functions under FloridaCommerce following the signing of House Bill 5 and serves as a catalyst for economic development by promoting Florida as a premier business destination and expanding the state’s economic power through private-sector job creation.
FloridaCommerce combines the state’s economic, workforce and community development efforts, expediting economic development projects to fuel job creation in competitive communities and promote economic resiliency. For more information, including valuable resources for employers and job seekers, please visit www.FloridaJobs.org.
The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) recently announced the newest member of its Board of Directors, Shannon Amos.
Originally from Tennessee, Amos moved to the Florida Panhandle in 2005, where she has been a Destin resident with her husband and their age 10 daughter. They also have three adult children. Amos is currently a real estate agent with World Impact Real Estate. As well, she and her husband, Dr. Warren Amos, a radiation oncologist with Genesiscare, are in the real estate investment and rental arena with their two companies, Lullaby Properties and Lullaby Rentals, with Amos serving as the Managing Partner.
Prior to her real estate career, with her Master’s Degree from the University of Tennessee in speech-language pathology, Amos was the owner of Speech & Swallowing Services, LLC. Amos has been very involved in the community. She served on the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation (DCWAF) Board until 2021 and still serves as a DCWAF Trustee.
Currently, she is an Impact 100 member, a 7F Foundation member and now a member of the ECCAC Board.
The City of Fort Walton Beach’s Recreation Center is presenting a Teen Night for middle and high school students from 5-9 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 27. Participants will receive a free membership to the Recreation Center, but must register for the event by Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024. For more information, contact Pat Sherman at 850-833-9576 or psherman@fwb.org.
Kitchen Solvers of the Emerald Coast will be holding a coat drive for the community of the Bread House at UMC Shalimar, Saturday, January 20, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at The Oasis of Shalimar. Please bring new or gently used coats, hats, scarves, or gloves/mittens to be donated.
Join the FWB High School Air Force Jr. ROTC for a Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, January 20, 7:30-10 a.m. to benefit the Air Force Enlisted Village, Bob Hope and Jr. ROTC programs. There will be all-you-can eat pancakes served with sugar smoked sausage, orange juice and coffee. Minimum donation: $8 per person. Magnolia Grill | 157 Brooks Street | Fort Walton Beach
Join the W.C. Pryor Middle School band for a Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, Feb. 3, 7:30-10 a.m. to benefit the Pryor band program. There will be all-you-can-eat pancakes served with sugar smoked sausage, orange juice and coffee. Minimum donation: $8 per person. Magnolia Grill | 157 Brooks St. | Fort Walton Beach
The FWB Snowbird Club meets at the FWB Recreation Center on Jet Drive. There’s a coffee bar and snacks sponsored by the Magnolia Grill and opens at 8 a.m. Upcoming meetings are Tuesday, January 30 and Tuesday, February 20. For club information contact FWB Club President Dave Thaldorf at 920-619-4065.
Register for the 21st Annual Bob Hope Memorial Charity Golf Classic, May 17-18 at the Fort Walton Beach Golf Club as a Presenting, Gold, Silver, or Bronze Sponsor and secure your golf spots. Sponsorship registration is now open for the 2024 Bob Hope Memorial Charity Golf Classic. Secure your golf spots with a Presenting, Gold, Silver, or Bronze sponsorship. Sponsorships without golf are also available. Visit https://birdease.com/25465 and register today with your online payment.
The annual, family-friendly Mardi Gras Parade will be held in Downtown Fort Walton Beach on Jan. 28. Floats, beads and live music will fill the streets on Sunday, Jan. 28, for the city’s annual Mardi Gras celebration. Kicks off is at 11 a.m. and will feature floats created by local organizations and businesses. Participants should line up along First Street between Eglin Pkwy. and Perry Ave. to begin. The parade then heads north on Eglin Pkwy., east on Perry Ave., south on Ferry Rd., then west on First St. Ferry Road between First Street and U.S. Hwy. 98 will be closed to vehicles so that festivalgoers can enjoy a free performance by Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register, visit https://www.fwb.org/DocumentCenter/View/688/2024-Mardi-Gras-Parade-Application-PDF.
The Fort Walton Beach High School (FWBHS) Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) program was recently presented with a $5,000 check from Forever Warriors (FW). Forever Warriors, a nonprofit organization funded by Step One Automotive Group to support past, present, and future U.S. service members, was invited by United Fidelity Bank (UFB) to support the FWBHS JROTC for their Military Appreciation Football Game. “While meeting with UFB and the JROTC Leadership, I asked the JROTC Leadership if there were any issues or needs for the JROTC students,” said Tiffany Orner, Forever Warriors. “They shared with me the need for funding since the Department of Defense pulled funding for JROTC field trips this school year. I asked the size of that financial loss and they said between $4,000 – $5,000.” The donation will help aid and support the JROTC’s program mission and student community engagement.
The goal of Forever Warriors is not to change the game, but rather to equip students with the tools necessary to succeed. We aim to augment existing military community programs by highlighting them and even bringing awareness to the public about any gaps in resources. Their ever-growing list of vetted, top-notch resources provides a safe haven and a unique experience for military members, veterans, and their families alike.
Become a sponsor of the Gate to Gate Memorial Run Walk, Saturday, May 25, to benefit the Morale, Welfare & Recreation (MWR) fund, which is responsible for facilitating on-base special events and programs for military families. The Air Force Commercial Sponsorship and Advertising Program, in conjunction with the programs of the 96th Force Support Squadron, is the only authorized program providing civilian businesses inside-the-gate promotional benefits and direct access to a military market. Contact Eglin’s Director of Commercial Sponsorship at 850-882-8651 or visit sponsorship@eglinlife.com.
Congratulations to Airman 1st Class Sagelee Nichols who is this year’s winner of Operation Home for the Holidays, a service provided to a military service member each year by the Okaloosa County Airports Department at VPS. In its 8th year, Operation Home for the Holidays provides a roundtrip flight for the selected service member to fly home for the holiday.
The automotive training program at Okaloosa Technical College (OTC) in Fort Walton Beach has again received ASE Training Program accreditation from the ASE Education Foundation. OTC’s automotive program has been accredited category of Automotive Service Technology (AST). To achieve this coveted recognition, the school’s automotive training program underwent rigorous evaluation by the ASE Education Foundation. Areas evaluated according to nationally accepted standards included instruction, facilities and equipment.
OTC Director Jon Williams reacted to the accreditation renewal, saying, “ASE accreditation is the best standard an automotive program can hold. I am proud of our instructors and staff who met this high bar on behalf of their current and future students. With this designation in our toolbox, OTC will continue to be a great place to become certified and ready for work in the automotive industry for many years to come.”
“This is great news for automotive-minded young people and their parents,” said Michael Coley, ASE Education Foundation President. “Because this program increases cooperation between local education and industry leaders, it gives added assurance that OTC’s graduates will be employable entry-level technicians. As a result of the quality education provided by OTC, the motoring public will benefit since better repair technicians will join the workforce.” Upon completion of the evaluation, OTC became re-accredited by the ASE Education Foundation.
The ASE Education Foundation is a non-profit, independent organization that evaluates and accredits entry-level technician training programs against standards developed by the automotive industry. OTC’s lead automotive instructor, James Welch, added, “During the past few months, our automotive program staff has worked closely with the ASE Education Foundation to make certain that our program would meet strict industry standards, and now we are proud to continue as an ASE accredited training program. Also, I want to thank OTC Advisory Committee members Lee Brannon, Service Manager for Step One Chrysler of Crestview, and Mike Holmes, Owner of Holmes Auto Repair of Fort Walton Beach, who teamed up with the ASE Education Foundation ETL and gave their time to evaluate our program. OTC students will be assured a quality education, and shop owners will be assured of getting quality job applicants.”
