Media Contact: Kelley Fowler, Senior Vice President Marketing & Public Relations Director Kelley.fowler@smartbank.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 23, 2025 SMARTBANK DESTIN WELCOMES PRIVATE BANKER LESLIE STRICKLIN Destin, Fla. – SmartBank is pleased to announce the addition of Leslie Stricklin as Senior Vice President, Private Banker, based in Destin, Florida. With 19 years of experience in the financial services industry and expertise in private wealth management, sales, leadership, and risk
Contact: Liz Eulberg 850.228.6223 For Immediate Release July 16, 2025 HCA Florida Healthcare Hosts Construction Ceremony for HCA Florida DeFuniak Springs Emergency$19 Million Freestanding Emergency Room in DeFuniak Springs Slated to Open in Early 2026Niceville, Fla. – HCA Florida Healthcare has announced that it has begun construction on the new $19 million HCA Florida DeFuniak Springs Emergency as part of HCA Florida Healthcare’s continued expansion to serve the growing North Florida
Naomi Alvarado (601) 331-2663 Freeport Merchants Association events@thefma.onlineFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 15, 2025 FREEPORT NIGHT OUTFreeport, FL: The Freeport Merchants Association is proud to announce our partnership with The Windmills at Hammock Bay’s Bluegrass on the Green and Props Brewery to bring you this year’s Freeport Night Out! Our theme for this year’s Freeport Night Out is Locals Under the Lights and we couldn’t be happier to work with The Windmills at Hammock Bay and Props for
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASECultural Arts Alliance Awards More Than $30,000 In Art For All Grants To Support Walton County Arts Education SANTA ROSA BEACH, FL – (Jul. 11, 2025) The Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County (CAA) is proud to announce that over $30,000 in Art For All grant funding has been awarded to support arts education and creative projects benefiting more than 900 K-12 students across Walton County. In its ongoing mission to foster creativity, the CAA has granted more than $885,000 to teachers,
Human Trafficking through a Trauma-Informed Lens” free training on July 24 DeFuniak Springs, Fla. (Jul. 9, 2025) – Human trafficking often intersects with trauma, mental health challenges and vulnerable life circumstances. LifeView Group invites community members to a free training event designed to strengthen awareness and understanding of these complex dynamics. Led by Alicia Tappan of Survivor-Led Solutions, the session will explore how trauma impacts both vulnerability to trafficking and the path to
Contact: Summer PadgettContent and Public Relations SpecialistWalton County TourismSummer@WCFLTourism.com(850) 267-1216 Nominations for 2026 Perfect in Walton County Awards Are Now Open WALTON COUNTY, Fla. – July 30 – The nomination period for the 2026 Perfect in Walton County Awards is now open until Friday, Aug. 15. During this time, anyone can nominate their favorite businesses, events and activities using the online form only available at perfectinwaltoncounty.com. "The Perfect Awards are such a
June 30, 2025 MEDIA CONTACT: Heather Kretzer External Communications Manager Phone: 850-832-0406 Email: Heather.Kretzer@ascension.org Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast investments in surgical care The hospital is the first in the area to utilize the da Vinci 5 system and is hiring two surgeons MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla.– Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast is excited to be the first hospital in the area to introduce the da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system. This system allows surgeons to control
Media Contact:Kelley Fowler, Senior Vice PresidentMarketing & Public Relations DirectorKelley.fowler@smartbank.comFor Immediate ReleaseJune 26, 2025 Smartbank earns 2025 great place to work certification KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — SmartBank is proud to announce that it has been Certified™ by Great Place To Work® for the second year in a row. This prestigious award is based entirely on what the bank’s associates say about their experience working at SmartBank. This year, an impressive 92 percent of team members said
We are pleased to announce that Michael Whalen has been appointed Resort Operations Director at Seascape Resorts, Inc. Michael has served as our Director of Sales & Events and will continue to lead that division. In this newly expanded leadership role, he will now oversee all aspects of resort operations, including rental management, maintenance, housekeeping, group sales, events, business development, and owner relations. Additionally, Michael will play a key role in the continued growth of The
There’s a certain alchemy that happens when two small businesses decide to link arms. It’s not just about splitting costs or widening reach—it’s about building something better than either could do alone. But collaboration takes more than enthusiasm and handshakes; it demands alignment, clarity, and a touch of humility. Successful partnerships among small business owners are entirely within reach, but only if approached with the right mindset, tools, and communication. Shared Purpose Beats Shared
Growing a business is a messy, caffeinated grind that demands decisions faster than you can second-guess them. Among the trickiest calls? Figuring out which outside professionals to trust with your sales and marketing. You can have a great product, a passionate story, a killer team—but if the people guiding your outreach strategy don't get it, you’re toast. That’s why choosing the right external help is less about price or flash and more about fit, context, and traction. Trust Chemistry Over
Embarking on a business venture demands more than just enthusiasm; it requires a strategic approach to defining clear objectives. As an entrepreneur, setting precise goals is essential for steering your business toward success. This involves understanding your market, crafting a compelling brand narrative, and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory standards. By focusing on these critical areas, you lay a strong foundation for your business, positioning it for growth and sustainability.Defining
The Corporate Transparency Act may require certain U.S. companies to disclose beneficial ownership information to FinCEN to combat financial crimes. While a Texas federal district court’s preliminary injunction puts this requirement on hold, many experts expect that to be overturned. In that event, failure to file could lead to fines of $500 per day, up to a maximum of $10,000, and possible criminal penalties. Read more for details on how this may impact your business in the future. 1. Determine if
Feeling stuck in your career can be a frustrating and disheartening experience, often leaving you questioning your direction and future prospects. This sense of stagnation can build up over time, making it difficult to envision a path forward. However, the decision to seek out a new career is the first step toward revitalizing your professional life. By focusing on self-assessment, exploring different industries, and taking intentional steps toward change, you can break free from the inertia and move
Adobe Acrobat is a versatile software suite that offers a wide range of benefits for small and local businesses. From document management to collaboration and security features, Acrobat is an indispensable tool for organizations of all sizes for many reasons: Efficient Document Management: Acrobat provides robust document management capabilities, allowing businesses to create, edit, organize, and archive documents seamlessly. With features like merging, splitting, and indexing PDFs, businesses can
Nowadays, many people prefer remote work. There are a lot of benefits to allowing people to work from home, including more productivity and happiness for the workers. When building a remote team, however, you have to take extra effort to ensure the team stays effective. Here’s some advice for helping you find success with your remote team. 1. Pick Ideal Work for Remote Teams According to research, many remote workers have higher productivity and job satisfaction. When hiring a remote team, think