850 — The Business Magazine of Northwest Florida

09/17/2025

For our fall issue, school is fully back in session, and we are taking a look at the current state of education, spanning AI to alternative forms of schooling. Educators at Northwest Florida universities and colleges talk about how generative AI is being embraced on campuses. We look at how children are learning in imaginative ways that often take place outside of the traditional classroom, from robotics to farming. Spanning the opposite end of life, there are the forever learners who keep seeking knowledge through their passions, be it martial arts or cooking. Our people profiles include Jacqueline Sheffield, a recently awarded Fort Walton Beach High School math teacher, and Allan Branch, Panama City’s new mayor. This issue is all about intellectual pursuits and how those are impacting and influencing our region. Take a seat and study up: https://www.850businessmagazine.com/issue/850-the-business-magazine-of-northwest-florida/fall-2025/

09/16/2025

Only 2 more weeks to nominate a deserving woman for 850 Business Magazine’s Pinnacle Awards. If there’s a lady in your life who exudes passion for her community, is making waves in the business world, is an influential leader, or all of the above, nominate her now: https://www.850businessmagazine.com/pinnacle-awards/
Nominations close on Sept. 30

09/09/2025

Do you know an outstanding woman business leader? 850 – The Business Magazine of Northwest Florida is looking for your help in recognizing 12 outstanding women in our region who have demonstrated notable leadership skill in their business and communities. Nominations are now open!

13 women will be selected to receive the Pinnacle Award — women of character and integrity, our leaders, mentors and community servants.

07/25/2025

Even upscale hotels often lack the comforts necessary to accommodate travelers seeking a short-term living arrangement. The Edgewater Group has found a niche business model in the hospitality industry, offering guests apartment-like living spaces with hotel conveniences—something between a home-sharing platform and a hotel.

Photos Courtesy of Edgewater Group LLCBusiness is conducted at the capital. While many of Tallahassee’s visitors are transient, staying for days or weeks at a time, high-quality hotels are limited, opening a gap for travelers seeking apartment-like comforts rather than a simple refuge while stayin...

07/22/2025

In an age where the majority of trades and transactions are made at the touch of a finger, innovative solutions are required to meet client needs. PenAir Credit Union has introduced state-of-the-art technology to service members. We sat down with CEO/President Lee Morgan for his perspective on the business of banking.

Beyond having a great business model, products, goods, and services, all businesses require stable financial and asset management. With approximately 92 percent of global trade conducted electronically, there is a growing need for innovative solutions to banking needs. We briefly discuss the busines...

07/16/2025

Destin’s first high-rise condominium went up in 1971. A building boom quickly followed. With increasing tourism demands, development kept pace for several decades. Still today, we are seeing new resorts and condominiums pop up across our coastline. But back then, the starting point was little more than beach. Empty expanses of sand soon became Sandestin, and a Destin Harbor addition forever changed the postcard view from Marler Bridge.

Courtesy State Archives of Florida - Florida MemoryItwas just after developer and cofounder of Sandcastle Resorts and Hotels Frank Flautt had purchased a 10-acre beachfront lot that would house the future Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa that he placed a call to his friend Ernest Shahid. Sha...

07/10/2025

Most vacationers who visit 30A understand the true value of this scenic getaway along our coast. However, preserving the market, ensuring profitability among stakeholders, and providing a unique experience to guests requires vigilance from owners. New realty is being added to 30A, increasing supply, and while demand was booming post-pandemic, international travel has resumed. Thriving in this changing market necessitates innovations for the region.

Photos by Jarrod Carley with The VueFinders, LLCTourism is Florida’s No. 1 economic engine, and in Walton County, it plays an especially pivotal role. The scenic 30A corridor is not just a beloved stretch of sugar-white sand and turquoise water; it’s also home to a tourism ecosystem largely buil...

07/08/2025

With its new partnership, Sandestin Real Estate gets a new name and the backing of an international franchise. The Agency provides a broader market with more resources, while preserving the boutique feel and collaborative culture Sara Becnel, president of Sandestin Investments, cultivated during her tenure. The merger will expand the talent pool while offering agents opportunities to explore regional and international markets.

Photo by Nathan Saczynski / NASCO photoLuxury in real estate isn’t necessarily defined by price point,” says Sara Becnel, president of Sandestin Investments and managing partner of The Agency Northwest Florida Beaches. “It’s about ensuring that anyone who entrusts us with their real estate n...

07/07/2025

🍷 The Harvest Wine & Food Festival is coming to WaterColor this October and presale tickets are live today (July 7) through July 9 using the code HARVEST9 (use the link below to purchase)!

Enjoy 4 days of epicurean excellence that is sure to delight both wine and culinary enthusiasts alike.

The 2025 event will be hosted October 16-19 and will feature wine dinners, the famous Grand Tasting, a cocktail brunch, and much more.

Rated as one of the premier wine and food festivals in the Southeast, Harvest provides patrons the opportunity to sip and savor some of the world's finest wine and culinary selections.

Again, please visit the link below, using the code HARVEST9 to get your presale tickets today through Wednesday, July 9, 2025.

Rated as one of the premier wine and food festivals in the Southeast, Harvest Wine & Food Festival returns to WaterColor for four days of epicurean excellence that is sure to delight both wine and culinary enthusiasts alike. This year's festival will feature wine dinners, our famous Grand Tasting, H...

07/02/2025

Craft breweries tapped more than $28.9 billion in 2024 with global sales of nearly $330 billion, roughly 25 percent of the beer market. Including microbreweries, brewpubs, taproom breweries, and regional craft breweries, there were 9,796 craft breweries operating in the U.S. over 2024. Many travelers look for local brewpubs as part of the vacation experience. On the coast, three locales are looking to dominate the market.

Photo courtesy of 3rd Planet Brewing3rd PLANET BREWING Ten years ago, Tim McCool put his head together with homebrewer and fellow Air Force veteran Jason Doster to bring to Niceville its first microbrewery with the goal of creating quality beer and a new community hub. As a nod to Doster’s youthfu...

06/24/2025

Buc-ee’s is not your ordinary, corner convenience store. With 75,000 square feet on 73 acres of land, this behemoth will make a massive impact on Leon County and the surrounding region.

Illustration by Lindsey MastersonEvery story needs a hook, an opening line so brilliant, the reader is compelled to reach the next line, so at first, the following words may feel like a lackadaisical start, “Another gas station may be coming to the Florida Panhandle.” In most cases, such news wo...

06/16/2025

Represented here is an eclectic group of skilled individuals in Northwest Florida, impacting every sector, from finance, government, and real estate to art, photography, and hospitality. Come and meet the top 30 young pioneers thriving in Northwest Florida.

850 Business Magazine’s 2025 30 Under 30 850 Business Magazine is accepting nominations for our 30 Under 30 Awards honoring the brightest up-and-coming leaders and entrepreneurs living and working in the 850 region. These rising stars can include anyone under the age of 30 that is making an impact...