850 Fall Soundbytes
Sinfonia Gulf Coast announces Founder/Music & Artistic Director Demetrius Fuller’s appointment to the board of Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, a global launchpad for exceptional pianists. Since 1962, the Fort Worth Cliburn has shaped classical music through competition, education, and global tours, celebrating excellence and creating careers. Fuller’s appointment reflects his commitment to emerging artists, creating pathways through Sinfonia and industry work for musicians to perform, connect, and build careers. His Cliburn relationship includes attending as an invited guest, engaging medalists, and presenting them in Sinfonia performances. This mirrors Sinfonia’s annual Young Concert Artists prizewinner presentation. In his twentieth season at Sinfonia, Fuller has transformed Northwest Florida through programming and engagement. A conductor and clarinetist, he holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Cincinnati College–Conservatory of Music, performed worldwide, collaborated with Roberta Flack, Patti LaBelle, Bernadette Peters, Kristin Chenoweth, Vanessa Williams, and Pink Martini, with commissions/premieres by Tan Dun, Chris Brubeck, and Nico Muhly. Fuller serves on Young Concert Artists’ board, led Musicians for Harmony, and supports the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, Cultural Arts Alliance, and Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center. This strengthens Sinfonia’s national presence and commitment to emerging musicians on the Emerald Coast and beyond.
Gulf Winds Credit Union is pleased to announce that Pete Lauter has joined the leadership team as vice president of Wealth Management. In this strategic role, Lauter will act as program manager for the Raymond James Financial Services advisors located at Gulf Winds and will oversee all wealth management services, expand the market presence, and develop a high-performing team of financial advisors dedicated to delivering exceptional results for members. Lauter brings extensive experience in financial planning, wealth management, and building teams. He’s known for driving growth, turning strategy into results, and putting clients first every step of the way. Lauter has served on several boards, including Peoples Home Health, First Tee Gulf Coast, the Kugelman Foundation, Baptist Health Care Foundation, and the Escambia County Sheriff Foundation. He was named EntreCon Servant Leader of the Year in 2025.
Pensacola Humane Society announced it reached no-kill status in 2025, according to Best Friends Animal Society’s annual data report. To reach this milestone, a shelter must save 90 percent or more of the dogs and cats that entered its care. Last year, Pensacola Humane Society achieved a 98.7 percent save rate, far surpassing the benchmark required to receive no-kill recognition from Best Friends Animal Society. The designation reflects the organization’s ongoing commitment to lifesaving animal welfare efforts across the Gulf Coast community.
The Gulf Winds Foundation is proud to announce that it recently awarded up to $45,000 in scholarships to five outstanding student members: Myiah Alverson, Ellie Nissim, Sarah Schultz, Colton Rollin, and Emma Grayce Fuqua. Each recipient will receive a renewable scholarship, including four awards of up to $10,000 and one award of up to $5,000, to support their educational pursuits and aspirations. This year, Gulf Winds received 62 completed applications for the program from a diverse group of students. Open to members of Gulf Winds Credit Union, recipients were selected through a competitive process that evaluated each application on academic accomplishments, community involvement showcasing a desire to make an impact, personal essays, letters of recommendation, and financial need.
The Mark Lee Team of Levin Rinke Realty has been ranked No. 37 among Florida’s medium-sized real estate teams by RealTrends Verified, based on verified 2025 sales data. The team closed $88.14 million in sales, earning national volume rank No. 382 and Florida rank No. 37. With an average home price of $847,853, the team operates at the top tier of the luxury and waterfront market serving greater Pensacola Beach. The recognition comes as Pensacola emerges as a leading Florida luxury destination. Its sugar-white beaches and emerald Gulf waters combine with a thriving downtown, restaurants, galleries, live music, and cultural energy that has drawn national attention, including from The Wall Street Journal. The mix of natural beauty and urban sophistication attracts relocating professionals, second-home buyers, and luxury investors seeking a lifestyle rivaling better-known Florida markets at compelling value. The Mark Lee Team has helped lead this growth, guiding clients through the Gulf Coast’s dynamic, fast-evolving luxury market.
Will Condon
Will Condon has been named chief executive officer of Ascension Sacred Heart Health System, a five-hospital ministry serving Northwest Florida, effective July 1. He recently served as interim market lead following three years as Pensacola market president. Born and raised in Pensacola, his family has depended on Ascension Sacred Heart for generations. He understands firsthand how much the health system means to Northwest Florida and considers it an honor to serve the community that shaped him. That grounding in community history is essential in a region where trust is built over time. During his tenure as hospital president, he led Sacred Heart Pensacola to become Northwest Florida’s only Level I Trauma Center and achieve Level IV Maternal Levels of Care designation. The Pensacola campus has earned a Leapfrog Health Grade “A” for five consecutive years and ranked among the top 50 cardiovascular providers in the country for nine consecutive years by Fortune and Premier, Inc. Beyond the hospital, Condon serves on the boards of Gulf Coast Kids House and the Health and Hope Clinic. Ascension Sacred Heart Health System includes Sacred Heart Pensacola, Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart, Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast, Ascension Sacred Heart Bay, Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf, and 108 Ascension Sacred Heart Medical Group locations from Perdido to Apalachicola.
LOCAL HAPPENINGS
Sarah Davis
As Walton County grows, Freeport resident Sarah Davis is bringing more than 15 years of national leadership development experience to organizations facing a pressing workforce challenge: finding and retaining great talent. Davis is a community volunteer and co-founder of Lead Aligned, helping organizations reduce avoidable turnover and retain employees. She has helped leaders, teams, and organizations navigate change, maximize talent, and improve performance through strengths-based leadership development and resilience programs. Her experience spans Tier 1 Special Operations communities, health care systems, corporations, and mission-driven nonprofits, with much of her career supporting military service members, veterans, and their families—an especially meaningful connection in Walton County and surrounding communities. Davis translates complex leadership challenges into practical, sustainable solutions, addressing underperformance, disengagement, and turnover by developing stronger leaders, healthier cultures, and workplaces where people choose to stay. Her work is particularly relevant as employers navigate a rapidly changing workforce landscape.
NEW & NOTABLE
Florida State University’s InSPIRE, the Institute for Strategic Partnerships, Innovation, Research, and Education, added two week-long robotics trainings in July. ROBO 101: Introduction to Robotics in the Classroom is free to Bay County educators July 6-12 and Okaloosa County educators July 13-17, bringing the total to nine free summer professional development workshops across Northwest Florida. This is InSPIRE’s third summer offering free professional learning for K-12 teachers and second year holding courses in local school districts and partner state colleges. ROBO 101 participants work with FSU faculty and industry partners to integrate robotics, AI, and engineering design into instruction while building durable skills, robotics and pre-engineering knowledge, computational thinking, and block-based coding across subjects. Brigitte Gudz joins as an InSPIRE STEM Specialist after facilitating the 2025 ROBO101 course. With 35-plus years in mathematics, STEM, CTE, applied learning, curriculum, robotics, and mentoring, she brings workforce-focused expertise supporting emerging aerospace, advanced manufacturing, robotics, energy, and technology opportunities. Julie Perry, EdD, joins as an InSPIRE STEM specialist with more than a decade in K-12 education, computer science, robotics, STEM curriculum, teacher learning, and statewide standards. A recent FSU doctorate recipient, her research focused on educator perceptions of elementary computer science education. She began teaching ESE students in Wakulla County and later taught at Florida State University Schools and Tallahassee Collegiate Academy in STEAM, coding, digital information technology, AP computer science, physical science, forensics, and robotics. Gudz has deep Northwest Florida roots, including family ties to Franklin County and connections to Bay County schools through her children’s work as educators. Perry developed a foundation in differentiated instruction and hands-on STEM education before expanding into STEM and technical subjects.
Left to right: Bill Bulla, Will Bulla, Steve Bulla, and Kevin Bulla
KMS Communications, a leading communications company providing state-of-the-art telephone and communications systems, network and data services, security camera systems, and Managed IT Services, is celebrating its fiftieth anniversary in business. KMS is a full-service communications company, serving the needs of Gulf Coast businesses and beyond. Located at East Cervantes Street in Pensacola, KMS is a family-owned business with three generations of the Bulla family working within the company. Founded in by Bill Bulla, the company began as a provider of Dictaphone services and over five decades has expanded to include state-of-the-art telephone and communications systems, security cameras, access control, and managed IT network services. With clients across a wide range of industries, KMS Communications serves the needs of businesses both along the Gulf Coast and beyond.
ServisFirst Bank, a subsidiary of ServisFirst Bancshares (NYSE), announced the opening of its new Panama City office at 2402 State Avenue, Suite 101. The full-service office opened May 15, strengthening the bank’s presence and long-term investment in Northwest Florida. The 5,000-square-foot facility, financed by ServisFirst Bank, includes two drive-thru lanes, a drive-thru ATM, mortgage loan assistance, and treasury management services for businesses and individuals. Gulf Coast Plaza developed the building under Dr. Daniel “Skip” Daube of Gulf Coast Facial Plastics and ENT Center. Seven associates currently staff the Panama City office, delivering personalized banking solutions and client service. ServisFirst has served the area for more than three years and continues to experience strong market growth. The office was designed to meet the growing needs of clients throughout the Panama City area and provide comprehensive banking solutions under one roof.
The Island Resort at Fort Walton Beach announced the opening of Sea Oats Kitchen & Bar, a reimagined dining destination replacing Coastal Kitchen. Rooted in Gulf Coast rhythms, the concept combines fresh-caught local seafood, chef-driven specialties, and Southern classics in a warm, distinctly coastal setting. Sea Oats serves breakfast and dinner daily, with additional food service in the lounge. Designed as a gathering place open to resort guests, families, and neighbors, the restaurant’s seasonal seafood program is sourced through a partnership with Destin Ice Seafood Market in downtown Destin, as well as local fishermen and day boats when available. The concept is intended to feel warm, welcoming, and unmistakably coastal while offering a fresh interpretation of the resort’s dining experience.
