Growing up in Salt Lake City, Utah, I can remember the excitement of the 2002 Winter Olympics being held in my hometown. The International Olympic Committee selected Salt Lake seven years prior, after many failed attempts to secure the games. The city’s preparations for developing the necessary infrastructure and state-of-the-art sports facilities began decades before applying. It takes strategic and thoughtful leaders, as well as the foresight to build the foundation, for the “what if” to become a “we are” scenario.

The drill team at our high school had the opportunity to audition for the opening ceremonies. Many of the girls performing in the ceremony were teammates of mine, and it was all so magical. I truly didn’t realize the uniqueness of this opportunity as a 16-year-old. It was only later in life that I began to fathom how fortunate we were to see these incredible athletes compete. We saw the United States dominate the men’s half-pipe snowboarding podium with Ross Powers taking gold, Danny Kass silver, and J.J. Thomas bronze. We witnessed the women’s bobsled event make its Olympic debut—all on a mountain I had “carved” that same season.

As impressive as the sporting events were, more magic took place in the festivities throughout the city.

Tallahassee has an even more unique sporting event coming to town. The World Athletics Cross Country Championships are taking place on January 10 at Apalachee Regional Park’s cross-country course. The overarching vision and leadership for establishing this world-class cross-country facility was thanks to the Leon County Board of County Commissioners and their Division of Tourism, with construction starting as far back as 2008. Projects like this require people with the foresight to see a beautiful opportunity that aligns with what Tallahassee is all about.

Take advantage of witnessing and participating in this historic event. This is not only the first time a Florida venue will host this prestigious global event, but it is only the third time the event has been held in the United States—the last was in 1992. Sixty countries and many age groups will be represented in this elite competition.

Not only will there be sporting events to watch, but there will also be activities for the entire family to enjoy, including a fun run to get our community out and moving.

A similar international competition, taking place in Denmark in 2019, brought in nearly $5 million to local businesses from international tourism and amateur participants. A similar economic boon is expected for Tallahassee.

I look forward to seeing you
out there.

Much love,

McKenzie Burleigh

Photo by Boo Media

I had the pleasure of hearing from Hod Lipson, professor of engineering and data science at Columbia University, one of the keynote speakers at the annual Florida Power and Light Symposium earlier this year. He said, “Those that see it, lead, and those that don’t get dragged along.” He was speaking about the benefits of utilizing generative artificial intelligence.

Being in the publishing industry, we have been keeping our eyes on the resources available while ensuring we maintain our journalistic integrity through authentic, original work. We also know the benefit of leading with strategic foresight to enhance our efforts in this arena. I can assure you that every word written in our products is not generated by artificial intelligence. We can use these types of tools to enhance our research and efficiency in many functions, but they will never replace the art of the written word.

Lipson shared the remarkable journey behind many generative artificial intelligence programs and how they can assist in the human experience, not replace it. Those same values remind me of the mission behind The Institute of Human & Machine Cognition, based in Pensacola, and one that I, too, believe in.

Lipson educated and inspired the group by sharing two examples of implementations I had coincidentally experienced firsthand. A self-driving car at any given time uses over 150 different scenarios to make a decision, compared to a human driver who uses only one. This increases the probability of a safe ride 150 times compared to human driving. When Lipson showcased the data and visual model behind this sophisticated technology, the entire room, including myself, was disarmed of the notion that AI was only something to be wary of.

The overarching truth is that as time goes on, more data is collected to reduce error and increase accuracy. The examples we saw showed us how much more effective certain generative artificial intelligence systems can be compared to relying solely on humans. We simply can’t compete with that level of accuracy—even the most brilliant among us.

We are already witnessing this type of AI support in the medical sector. Pathology reports are now reviewed by generative artificial intelligence, not only increasing the accuracy of diagnoses and saving lives but also reducing the cost of these resources. I have personally seen this at my dermatologist’s office. Instead of sending a biopsy to a pathologist, they can digitally review the margins of inspection and provide immediate results to the patient, possibly avoiding excision altogether if the results come back clean.

Our region is taking an active approach to ensure our education systems incorporate this mindset and these resources into university and college curricula. You will be proud and inspired to read more details later in this issue showing how our students are being prepared to enter the job market fully equipped. The overarching theme echoes what I learned from Lipson: You either lead or get dragged along, and our region is taking the lead.

The data collected is the asset, and incorporating these programs into our business industries will enhance performance, not replace it.

Northwest Florida has much to be proud of when it comes to education. Not only are our institutions adapting and enhancing their programs, but they are also expanding access to our communities, continuing to be a driving force for growth.

The Seacoast Collegiate High School Expansion Project, in partnership with Northwest Florida State College, is one of many initiatives in this regard. The expansion will offer dual enrollment opportunities, allowing high school students to graduate with both a diploma and an Associate of Arts degree. We are also seeing increased resources for workforce training to local agencies and businesses. For the fastest-growing county in the state, this educational infrastructure is becoming a major factor.

With all digital enhancements and resources comes more responsibility and a reminder of digital ethics. The lines can be harder to see in cyberspace. I am inspired to see how our experience and impact can be propelled toward more efficient and productive outcomes. However, I encourage our leadership to ensure that education on ethics and integrity when using these systems is valued just as highly as the benefits of the systems themselves. We can enhance the human experience, but I urge that our discernment in how we use these tools be held in even higher regard.

Best,

McKenzie Burleigh

Photo by M. Little Productions

Most people living in Northwest Florida love to live here. Later in this issue, you will read why in our periscope section, which focuses on Okaloosa and Walton counties. In these stories, entrepreneurs and business-minded experts in our community share insights, successes, and opportunities.

I sat down with Uriah Matthews, executive director of Wonderful Walton Economic Development Alliance (Wonderful Walton). Since our last update from Matthews in the summer of 2023, Wonderful Walton has grown to 20 private sector member investors. Economic development requires a team effort to be successful, and leveraging resources from the private sector will expedite growth opportunities.

Matthews’ vision was to metamorphize this organization into a transformation machine that sets the community up for success and diversifies outcomes, continuing to increase wealth prosperity in our area, beginning with a framework for ensuring positive outcomes with our most scarce resource in the region: land.

Economic development deals typically contain sensitive information, where details remain confidential until agreements are finalized. While I cannot specify more, I have learned that Matthews and his team are working to cultivate agriculture produce to become more accessible to the public, similar to an organization in Tallahassee called Red Hills Online Farmers Market, which has created recourses for farmers in Tallahassee. Matthews aims to replicate this model of success for the many farmers in North Walton.

Other improvement efforts are also underway in DeFuniak Springs. Due to the incredible efforts of Mayor Campbell and the City Council, the Triumph Gulf Coast Board has voted to advance the final grant award for up to $4,229,000 to support improvement of the City of DeFuniak Springs Airport, which will bring 100 new jobs to the region.

The aerospace industry has long been touching down in Northwest Florida, but improvement efforts are also underway in Okaloosa County with funds from Triumph Gulf Coast awarded to create 336 high-wage jobs in support of Project Opal, an aviation aerospace manufacturer, in partnership with Florida Commerce, Space Florida, and the University of West Florida. These new jobs will create growth for our region in Niceville and into Freeport and DeFuniak Springs, adding to the expansive community near Eglin.

Freeport is the fastest growing city in the Northwest Florida region, and our community is working hard to ensure the growth is thoughtful and strategic. Partners, such as Florida’s Great Northwest with the leadership of Jennifer Connolly, are generating competitive opportunities for economic development in the region that align with our values and focus on protecting our beautiful landscape.

In the past, I have facetiously referred to DeFuniak Springs as the Paris of Florida. In the early 1900s, many prominent artists, such as Claude Monet, Pablo Picasso, and even Earnest Hemmingway, were drawn to the South of France for a quieter way of life. Like the South of France, DeFuniak Springs offers vibrancy away from urban life, a unique landscape and charming villages—a creative’s paradise. Similarly, we have a plethora of talented artists and artisans relocating from South Walton to Freeport and DeFuniak Springs. From Tim Jackson’s Storyteller Concert Series to Sylvia Rockwell’s Native American Finger Weaving workshops, artists have a home here with opportunities to display their art at DeFuniak Springs Art Co-op and DeFuniak Springs Art Gallery.

Whether you live in the heart of the Panhandle or along the coast, I invite you to visit and see the Paris of Florida for yourself, and wherever you are get involved in your community, learn of the opportunities for education, connection, investment, and more. We have a special place that is no longer a secret.

May we be thoughtful in how we grow and not take our Wonderful Walton for granted, preserving the natural beauty of our amazing life here.

Best,

McKenzie Burleigh

In 1958, a father of five suddenly found himself as a single Dad when his former wife left him for another man. Realizing his children needed a better foundation than he could provide at the time,
he was forced to turn his children over for foster care services. 

Carol Carlan was three years old when she went into foster care and experienced six different households before graduating from high school. With little money and less support, she made her way through college by working at a local bookstore, graduating from Pensacola State College. She also completed the Florida School of Banking program out of the University of Florida and has become one of the most impactful and inspiring women in the region. 

A 2015 850 Business Magazine Pinnacle recipient, Carlan serves as this year’s keynote speaker, addressing our 11th Pinnacle Awards Luncheon on March 26, 2025, at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort. Her inspiring life story and many moments of resilience and hope have shaped who she is today. 

As the first female president of Wachovia Bank, her career spanned more than 30 years. Carlan is also a prolific philanthropist, having served on over 35 nonprofit organizations, including as an emeritus member of the Pensacola State Foundation, inaugural chair of the Institute of Human and Machine Cognition (IHMC), and is the longest serving trustee of Pensacola State College Board of Trustees. She is also a founding member of The Pace Center of Girls Escambia/Santa Rosa and 125th chair of the Greater Pensacola Chamber. 

 I was invited back to participate in the Pensacola Chamber’s AlltogethHER event again this year, sponsored by Carol Carlan, where she and eight other women shared their stories. The positive reoccurring message throughout the day was to view life as an opportunity. Carlan does not see herself as a victim of circumstance, but instead, she feels lucky and grateful for the journey she has experienced and strives to impart the same hope she feels in others. 

As an entrepreneur, leader, and businessperson in our community, I walked away from this event being motivated to share Carlan’s message of hope through positive actions. There are countless sources of negativity in every part of every day, but I choose to be a light for the people I encounter. When my day feels impossible, I think of the incredible people along my journey, and I find the hope I need to carry me forward. My mission is to be the same for the other people in my life.

As leaders, there are small ways we can give hope to others. We can mentor young professionals or connect them with someone in your network. A simple phone call might create opportunities for someone who is just starting out that might take them years to cultivate on their own. I aim to pay it forward as often as I am able because none of us have gotten to where we are alone. Though connected via Teams calls and social media 24/7, sometimes we are less connected than ever before, and many of us has forgotten that “it takes a village.” Despite our different backgrounds, we are all one community. When one of us is lifted, we are all lifted. 

If we can look outside of screens, our problems, and our “self” for long enough, we can make our city, region, and state shine, one person at a time. 

That is the message of Carol Carlan, which is evident in her life and her legacy. I walk each day, aiming to following in her footsteps, obliged to share her wisdom and grace with those in my path. 

McKenzie Burleigh
mburleigh@palmbeachmedia.com

As Greek philosopher Heraclitus once said, “The only constant in life is change.” But if change is constant, why is it so often met with resistance as an instinctual human reaction?

In the last few months, my colleagues and I have experienced a lot of change. The company we’ve all worked for, known, and loved for years and decades has met both an end and a new beginning.

Publisher of Rowland Publishing Inc. Brian Rowland made the decision to sell his namesake company and officially retire.

Rowland was my boss, mentor, and friend of 20 years. As a pillar of Northwest Florida communities, he’s left a lasting impact. I have heard and continue to hear firsthand accounts of gestures large and small by Rowland over the years. In those stories, a common theme shined through—shared words of wisdom and opportunity.

Rowland was known to give just about anyone a chance. While resume and experience are important, hiring came down to a gut feeling for Rowland. Some hires brought unique creativity, some resulted in enhanced workplace dynamics, and others inspired lifelong working and personal relationships. In any case, careers and lives were changed or shaped in some way by a Rowland experience.

I remember my Rowland Publishing interview about 20 years ago. I met with then Vice President of Finance Greg Springs. I felt like it went well, but I was absolutely nervous. Springs called in the company’s president and publisher to conclude the interview. In walked Rowland, calm, cool, and collected in his blue jeans, button-up yellow linen shirt, and tennis shoes. Leaning back casually in his seat, he asked me, “If you could describe yourself as an animal, what would it be and why?” I answered that I would be a golden retriever, describing myself as loyal, loving, dedicated, and smart. Little did I know at the time his immense passion for dogs.

I got the job and had the pleasure to learn, observe, fail, grow, and admire this unique human. I spent a lot of time working alongside Rowland. He was hard on me and pushed me. At the same time, he supported and guided me. And when we didn’t see eye to eye on something, we were always able to respect each other’s position, an understanding we called, “I can live with it.”

As with all change, the sale of Rowland Publishing has been a significant adjustment for myself and my colleagues.

When Rowland started the search to find the best new owners to continue the company’s 34-year legacy, he knew he had found the perfect match in Palm Beach Media Group, a subsidiary of Hour Media.

In September 2024, when Palm Beach Media Group took over, the inherited staff from Rowland Publishing all had questions and concerns about what was to come and how these changes would impact lives both personally and professionally. Initially, most were experiencing worry about the unknown.

Upon first meeting the leadership team from Hour Media and Palm Beach Media Group, I was struck with a gut feeling. While I didn’t get a chance to inquire as to what animal they identify as, I just knew that the change they were bringing had the potential for great things.

Hour Media’s industry longevity alone is inspiring, and their portfolio is impressive as the largest city and regional lifestyle publishers in the country. But also, I’ve seen in the company a commitment to quality and excellence and a sincere investment in the people within the organization.

At our in-person onboarding meetings in Tallahassee after the acquisition, we saw many of our questions answered and learned of opportunities to come. During this time, I took a moment to share a thought with my longtime friends and co-workers …

“What if everything ends up great?”

I encouraged others to wonder if this could be the opportunity we didn’t know we were waiting for.

Today, I am excited and honored to continue producing your local business magazine. As a publication of Palm Beach Media Group, we remain dedicated to telling the stories of people, places, and opportunities that create the fiber of our community. My passion to inspire, educate, and support the communities we serve remains, and I thank you, our readers, for supporting us along the way.

I also thank Brian Rowland for his 34 years of dedication to Northwest Florida—publishing countless magazines, books, newspapers, maps, guides, programs, and more. I have sincere respect and gratitude for my past experiences under Rowland’s leadership, and I am humbly honored and ecstatic to begin the new legacy of what is to come.

As we approach the new year, I encourage all to remember my question during times of uncertainty and change:

“What if everything ends up great?”

It just might!

Much love,

McKenzie Burleigh, Publisher

mburleigh@palmbeachmedia.com

One of the most challenging decisions we had to make for this issue was selecting six realtors to profile in our feature story.

Real estate is one of the largest industries throughout Northwest Florida, and there were so many professionals to choose from; however, we managed to narrow the list down to a small group of commercial realtors with unique regional market perspectives — Stewart Proctor, J.R. Long, Justin Beck, DeeDee Davis, William Brock and Slaton Murray — and they graciously shared their ingredients for success and chatted with us about current market conditions and industry trends. We hope you’ll find this story as illuminating as we do.

Also in this issue, we do a deep dive into the rapidly growing economy of Bay County and the efforts of leadership to find balance in the military and tourism sectors, which are currently the main foundation pillars of the economy. As is often said in finance, a balanced portfolio is critical to long-term financial success and stability. The St. Joe Company has reacted to the creation of the new city of WaterSound by constructing a platform capable of sustaining an increasing population in well-planned residential sectors. This growth model will require collaborative efforts from visionaries and leaders in the 850 region to lay the groundwork for Northwest Florida’s future, and more businesses will be called on to support the growing community’s needs.

The uncontrolled growth of Central and South Florida has caused immense pain to the region’s infrastructure and overall quality of life. Though some growing pains are inexorable, I believe we have the right development companies in place, like St. Joe, to minimize disruptions to our community during the expansion phase. By looking at our growth with a long eye, as far into the future as 2050, we are transforming Northwest Florida into a touchstone for our growing nation.

It’s going to take a whole lot of concrete to build the region — SRM Concrete is making a $30 million investment in Bay County today by transforming the decommissioned West Rock Paper Mill on deep water channels into part of the largest ready-mix concrete supplier in the country, so we have the ingredients from around the world to make the mud that hardens the concrete. The region is in good hands, and our economic future is very bright.

Take care,

I have found that, many times, the best interviews are those that are arrived at the least easily. The most compelling subjects are often people who are habitually busy.

So, I kept at it for 18 months in which I would periodically contact Florida State University officials in an effort to arrange for a writer to sit down with FSU President Dr. Richard McCullough and his wife, Dr. Jai Vartikar.

Finally, stars and calendars aligned, and an interview was scheduled for a December afternoon during a holiday break in classes.

Our story based on that conversation appears in this edition of 850 Magazine. I think you will find that President McCullough and First Lady Vartikar are the right people to steer the FSU ship as the school works to build upon its status as one of the top universities in the country and serve as an asset that will benefit all of Northwest Florida for decades to come.

President McCullough left Harvard University, where he served as vice provost for research, to come to Tallahassee. Dr. Jai, as she is known around campus, and her husband both hold doctorates in chemistry from Johns Hopkins University, where they met as graduate students. She has emerged at FSU as an enthusiastic “Ambassador for the Arts.” His interests include strengthening the relationship between FSU’s research arm and the private sector, thus improving the flow of new advancements and products to the marketplace.

I thought carefully about where best to photograph the FSU president and First Lady before settling upon the President’s House. I intended for our project to represent both their personal and professional sides.

The decision would prove to be a good one, and the photo shoot would include an element that I hadn’t anticipated.

Photographer Dave Barfield and I arrived at the residence early to check out possible settings for a cover photo. We settled on the backyard versus the home’s formal interior in part because it would give Dave the opportunity to take advantage of natural lighting.

While inside, I noticed a dog bowl in the kitchen. When President McCullough and Dr. Jai presented themselves for the proceedings, I asked them whether we might include “Bodhi” in some shots. We opted to first take some photos without the dog and try later to add Bodhi — I was told he can be highly protective of his owners.

Bodhi, I should point out, is a Saint Berdoodle, not quite large enough to replace Renegade the Appaloosa in pregame festivities on Bobby Bowden Field, but he’s stout. When President McCullough brought him outside on a leash, Dave and I gave Bodhi plenty of room. I think you will agree that the cover shot worked out well, and I invite you to make some discoveries about FSU’s first couple by reading our story.

I would also like to congratulate Alice Collins, the “Queen of Forgotten Coast Real Estate,” upon completing 50 years in business. Alice had a vision decades ago, and hers was the first real estate company to set up an outpost on St. George Island at a time when it was accessible only by ferry. Over the years, she’s built a leading real estate vacation rental service company and has been an integral part of the island’s growth and plans for responsible development.

I have had the pleasure of knowing Alice for more than 20 years. Take it from me, her passion for the quality of life along our developing coastline is unparalleled. 

Have a great summer!

Brian Rowland
browland@rowlandpublishing.com

On a Sunday morning, I noticed after breakfast that the water pressure at my house was lower than normal. Had my water lines sprung a leak somewhere? I suited up and commenced looking for the source of the problem.  

Hours of detective work turned up no clues, and I then went outside my fence to check to see if my water meter was spinning. Aha! Nothing. I saw my neighbor Wally do the same and by the process of deduction, we concluded it was a city issue, and I headed out on a walk. 

By the time I got home, the flow of water had totally stopped, not even a trickle. I called the Water Department and learned that an auto accident had taken out a fire hydrant and damaged a water main. There was nothing I could do but wait. I was fortunate to have a few bottles of water and several sodas on hand, and I would take steps to avoid having to flush the toilet.

Most of us have no real appreciation for what it takes to maintain a clean, safe, reliable source of drinking water. We trust without thinking about them that aquifers never will be drained. We don’t often consider that throughout much of the world, a lack of water is accounting for burgeoning numbers of refugees who have been forced to leave their homelands in search of the most fundamental means to survive.

I received my Waste Management bill yesterday and wrote a $15 check for another service that I take for granted — the disposal of household garbage and yard trash. All I do is roll the big black can to the street every Wednesday afternoon, and magically, when I get home on Thursday, the garbage is gone. Where it goes, I’m not really sure. I’m just glad it’s gone. 

Solid waste disposal is a challenge that has come home to roost in cities across the country. Landfills are becoming exhausted, and the international demand for recyclables has dried up. Cities from New York to Key West are having to truck garbage at considerable cost to sites hundreds of miles away.

Garbage disposal has been a particular problem at remote military installations that have resorted to burn pits that exposed personnel to toxic fumes — an approach that has resulted in massive class-action lawsuits.

It’s hard to get your head around the massive amounts of garbage that an affluent consumer society like the United States produces. In today’s edition of 850 Business Magazine, you will read about the various ways in which tourism-promotion organizations are using bed tax dollars. They include removing trash from our region’s beaches.

In Walton County alone, beach maintenance crews removed 1,083 tons of garbage from Gulf-front and bayfront locations in 2022, the equivalent of 108,396 bags of trash. Those crews carried away 26,538 items of beach gear including chairs, umbrellas and towels.

You don’t have to ponder the global garbage problem for very long before you realize that our current disposal methods are not sustainable. Over time, we would be overcome by our own refuse.

But help is on the way, and it’s coming from our own backyard. Pensacola-based scientist and entrepreneur Dave Robau, the founder of a company called National Energy USA, is pioneering waste-to-energy systems capable of substantially reducing the volume of waste reaching landfills while providing sources of off-the-grid energy.

Robau is among many talented minds who call our region home and are seeing to it that Northwest Florida is becoming a center of innovation in addition to one
of recreation.

With gratitude,

Brian Rowland
browland@rowlandpublishing.com