So Long, But Not Goodbye

Looking back on the growth and evolution of Emerald Coast Magazine over these last 26 years, there are so many to thank.

We have our loyal readers and community ambassadors that engage with us. As readers, you invite us to be part of your lives when you flip through the magazines that appear in your mailboxes or as you enjoy and share our online content. And it is you, our community, who we look to for story subjects and inspiration.

Too, our valuable advertisers and community partners make our magazines possible. Each relationship and partnership is built on a trust in us to share their message, mission and offerings to our valuable readership, a responsibility we don’t take lightly.

Our dedicated and talented staff of 30 Rowland Publishing Inc. (RPI) employees and more than 20 freelance contributors work day in and day out to provide elevated products and services.

There is one staff member I would like to highlight and honor, Rhonda Murray.

After graduating from Florida State University in 2002, Rhonda came to RPI through a connection of one of her mentors and professors, Susan Shaw. For 22 years, she has been an integral key to the success of Emerald Coast Magazine as well as our other 22 sister titles and client publications.

I met Rhonda almost 18 years ago when I started at RPI. While we were close professionally since the beginning, it was a 2011 work trip that further bonded our relationship. We were both invited on the inaugural flight of a new airline in conjunction with a magazine we were publishers of, Emerald Grande’s Coast Lines magazine. Frank Sandro welcomed us and other local PR professionals to cover and experience the direct flight to Las Vegas. Rhonda and I became dear friends on that trip and remain so today.

I have had the pleasure of working with her and relying on her in every aspect of my life. To know Rhonda is to adore, love and be inspired by her. She is the best at anything she puts her mind to. I saw proof of her drive and work ethic in her ability to gain and maintain strong professional relationships with our community partners. I also saw it in her jewelry-making artistry and as a wife and mother.

She has the most patient and kind servant heart to all she knows. She is fun, funny and always the life of the party. She is also the most reliable and dependable person I know. In short, she is simply the best.

Recently, Rhonda has decided to refocus her professional time to work alongside her husband and business partner, James Murray, at SunQuest Cruises and its large hospitality portfolio of local businesses and services. In doing so, she is closing the chapter on her professional relationship with RPI.

I want to acknowledge and thank Rhonda for the leadership and hard work she has dedicated every day of those 22 years to RPI. I wouldn’t be where I am today professionally or personally without her wisdom, grace, leadership and most importantly, love. The SunQuest family portfolio just added the best asset along the Emerald Coast to their team, and I can’t wait to see the success she will provide in her new endeavors.

There are those people in life whose impact causes a ripple effect. Rhonda has made waves and always will. Too, she will always be a part of Emerald Coast Magazine and my life.

I am grateful for the impact she has made and will continue to make on RPI, our community and my life.

Cheers to you, Rhonda Murray.

Much love,

McKenzie Burleigh, Associate Publisher
mburleigh@rowlandpublishing.com