Destin Area Chamber Awards Outstanding Members and Installs 2009 Board

    

During the event, outgoing Chairman Myra Williams presents the James D. Neilson, Sr., Chairman’s Award for Volunteer Service to William Head (on left), Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, and the 2008 Business Person of the Year Award to Bill Lindsley (on right), Simple HR. Photos courtesy of Tracy Riddle, All Occasions Photography.

     Destin, FL, Jan. 30 - On the evening of Friday, Jan. 30, members from the Destin Area Chamber of Commerce gathered in the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa to celebrate 2008 successes and install the 2009 Officers and Board of Directors.

     “We have much to look forward to in 2009,” said incoming Chamber Chairman Karen McCarthy, Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union. “As we look and see what the nation faces, I encourage you all to do something. I want you to make the decision to make Destin the greatest place in the country. I want you to choose to make Destin the great place to live, work, and play we know it is. I want you to buy-in to Destin’s success. If we do, not only will we see Destin rebound, not only will we see Destin grow, we will see Destin prosper!”

     During the banquet, the Chamber’s most prestigious annual awards were presented to five outstanding members of our Chamber and our community. Due to the tremendous growth of his company and its stress on community service, customer service, and ethical business practices, the Business Person of the Year Award was given to Bill Lindsley, Simple HR.

     The Jim Darling Seafood Festival Volunteer of the Year Award was given to Wesley T. Fontaine, Rels Title. From way before the festival opened each day to well after closing each night, Fontaine’s efforts were instrumental in making it the largest and most successful festival in its 30-year history. When something needed to be done, he was the first to offer.

     The James D. Neilson, Sr., Chairman’s Award for Volunteer Service was given to William Head, Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. Head’s support of and belief in the Chamber was evident through his involvement in the Chamber’s Board of Directors and in almost every program and event the Chamber offered throughout the year. He also received the Chamber’s Retired Military Person of the Year Award in November.

     For the second year in a row, the winner of the Paul Woolman Ambassador of the Year Award was Richard Barrington, Holiday Isle Properties, Inc. Barrington was present at every Chamber event and ribbon cutting, and his efforts played a major role in motivating other Ambassadors to participate.

     The Ann Gibson Community Service Award was given to Gabby Bruce, A 2 Z Specialty Advertising. Bruce is tied to almost everything that supports the Destin community, and he has in some way touched nearly every non-profit organization in the area.

     Also during the event, 2008 Chairman of the Board Myra Williams, Howard Group, passed the gavel to the incoming 2009 Chairman Karen McCarthy, Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union.

     Members of the 2009 Executive Committee were introduced, including Chairman Elect Brian Haugen, UBS Financial Services, Inc.; Treasurer Mike Freeman, Whitney National Bank; Vice Chairman/Communications & Marketing Bill Lindsley, Simple HR; Vice Chairman/Community & Economic Development Les Porterfield, Porterfield Engineering, Inc.; and Vice Chairman/Membership Development George Brannon, Jr., Southern Escrow & Title.

     Other members of the 2009 Board of Directors introduced include Carmela Bell, ResortQuest Real Estate; Kevin Bowyer, O’Sullivan Creel, LLP; Jim Breitenfeld, Emerald Consulting and Management Group; Tim Edwards, Fudpucker’s Beachside Bar & Grill; Shaun Eubanks, Community Bank; Bill Head, Ft. Walton Beach Medical Center; Ed McMullen, Jr., Legendary Realty, Inc.; Rick Thomason, The Destin Log and Walton Sun; Mary Anne Windes, Real Estate Professionals of Destin and Destin Fishing Fleet Marina; Ex-Officio David Pleat, Pleat & Perry, P.A; Chairman’s Appointee Amy Perry, Pleat & Perry, P.A.; Chairman’s Appointee Carey Trotter, Trotter’s General Contractors, Inc.; and Special Appointee Kim Wintner, The Sterling Companies.

     Also honored during the event were outgoing Board members Gabby Bruce, A 2 Z Specialty Advertising; Jeanne Dailey, Newman-Daily Resort Properties, Inc.; Cory Fosdyck, Merrill Lynch; Alan Jowers, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC; and Paul Woolman, Copy Systems Business Center, Inc.

     To see photos from the event, please click here. All photos are courtesy of Tracy Riddle, All Occasions Photography.