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April 2023 PUBLISHER

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Josh Foster | josh.foster@citylifestyle.com

LIFESTYLE LETTER

Congratulate our Top 10 Under 40 most successful business owners! Spring is in the air and Easter celebrations fill many homes, parks and churches with joy as they commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Also, summer vacation plans are brewing that will bring thousands of visitors to Northwest Florida for fun in the sun. Our beautiful area is more than just a vacation destination though. It is also home to a vibrant community of involved locals and regular visitors who treat our coastal paradise like home. Despite major economic shifts around the world, we continue to thrive. Together, we are meeting the winds of change with optimistic energy. This issue of Destin City Lifestyle covers the local financial buzz! We will introduce a local Top 10 Under 40 who have put in the work to keep our area active and who inspire others to do the same. Their activities range from dishing up great food in a local favorite restaurant, Peppers, to realtors like TJ Martin successfully navigating one of the nation’s hottest real estate markets. Let's find out what our Top 10 Under 40 have been doing in 2023. Celebrate another beautiful Spring! Congratulate our Top 10 Under 40 when you see them around town. Take a moment to reflect on all that you have accomplished in the first quarter of the year. Recommit to your goals. And, approach every day with optimism and strength!

EDITOR IAL COOR DINATOR

Cheryl Forde | cheryl.forde@citylifestyle.com CONTR IBUTING WR ITER S

Cheryl Forde, Josh Foster CONTR IBUTING PHOTOGR APHER S

Robert Young, Mayeska Sand, Davista Photography, and Alexander Rea

Corporate Team CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt CHIEF SALES OFFICER Matthew Perry CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER DeLand Shore DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL MEDIA Mindy Hargesheimer ART DIRECTOR Sara Minor OPERATIONS DIRECTOR Janeane Thompson WEB APPLICATIONS Michael O’Connell AD DESIGNER Matthew Endersbe LAYOUT DESIGNER Antanette Ray

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Destin City Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of the Destin area’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Destin City Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the

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APRIL 2023

inside the issue The Explore Issue

F E ATU R E D

D E PA RTM E NTS

18 Destin’s Top 10 Under 40

Lifestyle Letter

City Scene

Financial Buzz LI FE + C U LT U R E

Money Matters PR O FES S I O NA L S E RV IC E S

Education Corner EDU CAT I O N

Expert Help R EA L ESTAT E

Meet Destin’s Rising Business Owners

30 Bill Blanken

Bill sparks excitement in investing at his Registered Investment Advisory Firm

34 The Future of Financial Technology Get smart about surcharges, dual payments and automation

40 Frank Bennett, Lender For Life Frank Bennett shares his purpose and perspective on lending with Element Home Loans

O N T H E C OV E R

Photography: Various photographers Collage magazine cover shows eight of our area’s top business owners under the age of 40! Brett Lindell, Tilly Souriyaseng, Greg Fisher, TJ Martin, Jonathon Howard, Ryan Holloway, Maggie Matthews, Jorge Lopez

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DESTIN’S TOP 10 UNDER 40 ARTICLE BY CHERYL FORDE | PHOTOGRAPHY BY FOREVER YOUNG IMAGES - ALEXANDER REA SHANNA MAGNUSON - MAYESKA SAND

MEET DESTIN’S RISING BUSINESS OWNERS

#10 Russell Hale 39, CEO, SNH Technologies “I took apart my mom’s electronics in elementary school and then put them back together, just to see how they worked. She was not happy then, but now she sees where that curiosity has led me.” Growing up, Russell always gravitated to anything engineering and knew he wanted to start his own business one day. Russell cultivated a career in technology with major corporations such as FEDEX, Bank of America, International Paper, and Autozone to name a few. A decorated combat veteran, he also collected civilian professional certifications (e.g. Cisco, ITIL, VMware, etc.) like travelers collect tchotchkes just to meet the demands of his work. The Hale family put down roots in Walton County six years ago and last year, Russell launched SNH Technologies. “SNH. Smarter Not Harder. Our job is to make technology simple and easy so you can get back to doing what you do best.” “Our team is best in class for each area,” he notes, comparing his company to his past experiences where there was always a gap in expertise. “I beam when I think about it…building our SNH team has definitely been our biggest accomplishment.” Russell has built SNH Technologies as a one-stop shop so business owners don’t have to juggle it all themselves. His 24/7 technical support includes partnerships with over 200 engineers! “Honor God in all that you do” is the motto for SNH Technologies, and part of that is to make sure that SNH is a good community member, not just a great service provider. The company has donated a workfrom-home office consultation in which they audit a work-from-home office and revamp it. SNH sponsors Mentoring Emerald Coast and is planning to host a technology-focused lunch series with the Greater Walton County Chamber later this year.

F IN A N CIA L BU Z Z | L IFE + CULTURE

#9 Maggie Matthews 32, Owner & Bridal Stylist, Margaret Ellen Bridals

Maggie grew up in Greenville, Mississippi, wanting to be a dress designer. Along the way, she set her childhood dream aside, but fashion and apparel were still in her future. In January of 2018, she opened her bridal shop with a new passion for building relationships with brides. Their success is documented in testimonial after testimonial at margaretellenbridal.com. “I don’t care if a bride walks out of here without a dress. I want her to feel that she was loved on and celebrated really well while she was in here.” She is in her shop every day assisted by two other bridal stylists delivering a one-on-one experience in their newly-built, elegant 4,000 s.f. venue in Santa Rosa Beach. They’ve helped 1,021 brides and counting. Maggie offers nine dress lines from designers around the world, including selections from the prestigious New York Bridal Week. Margaret Ellen Bridal has been named Best of the Emerald Coast every year, and is a member of the Wedding International Professionals Association.

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AP R I L 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / D E ST I N

“My approach has always been to follow my passion! You know that burning feeling deep down inside your soul when you talk about your passion?” Tilly is a local business powerhouse and Master Esthetician with a humble beginning who has allowed her passion for beauty to take her on an amazing journey! Born in a UN refugee camp in Thailand, she immigrated to America from Laos in 1987, settling in Arizona. Tilly started a “home-based business doing lashes in the spare bedroom of her apartment at Misawa AFB…” A licensed esthetician, she opened her first location after moving to Eglin on March 4, 2018 with $12,000 that she kept in a shoe box. Within three short years, she was managing two new locations. Today, she is stunned to find herself at the helm of a business grossing over $1 million annually! She also runs The Beauty Experts Training Center, where estheticians receive training and certifications in the main services of The Beauty Experts - lash extensions, clinical chemical peels and skin care, body waxing and natural body contouring. She selected 13 employees for their passion and amazing work ethic. She’s excited to see new estheticians ‘make anywhere between $45k to $85k within their first 1-2 years’. Tilly prioritizes training employees in communication and problem-solving skills to ‘become confident in their professional approach to their clients…’ The Beauty Experts’ community involvement includes: ABWA, Chambers of Commerce in FWB, Gulf Breeze, and Minority CoC in Pensacola; Women’s Entrepreneur group (FWB CoC), Take Stock in Children, Gulf Breeze Area Foundation, Shelter House FWB, support to youth sports, churches. emeraldcoastesthetics.com

F IN A N CIA L BU Z Z | L IFE + CULTURE

#8 Tilly Souriyseng, 36 Owner and CEO, The Beauty Experts

#7 Ryan Holloway 36, CEO, Holloway Yacht Charters

Ryan Holloway is an Alabama native, whose family’s love of the water brought them to the Emerald Coast. Ryan always loved the boats more than the beaches. He went on to graduate from Auburn University with a degree in Finance and International Business, then earned his MBA. He spent ten years in revenue cycle management for hospitals with his family’s company Holloway Credit Solutions of Alabama - headquartered in Montgomery, AL. This seemed to be his future until his father passed away in 2018. Ryan lost his drive to continue that work. ’After Dad passed away, I was looking for something to get closer to him.’ They had shared two things - boating on Lake Martin and Auburn football. After finding the right boat with his wife Heather, he earned his 100-ton US Coast Guard Master License. The first charters ran in March of 2021. The business just took off! Today, Holloway Yacht Charters employs 5 captains and 10 crew members. It was awarded Best in Destin and recognized as the top charter company anywhere from Texas to Miami in its first two years. In 2023, it was named Best Local Adventure experience. Ryan does not take these accolades for granted. He constantly looks for ways to improve. He is excited to launch a 31’ Center Console yacht in March. It will be available for fishing charters or half-day to multiple-day Crab Island Luxury Trips. Like all of the yachts in this growing fleet, it will deliver a 5-star experience with a customized food program that can include a private chef. Ryan is a Trustee of the Destin Chamber and one of the top level donors to Tigers Unlimited which provides athletic scholarships at his alma mater.

“We have brought a premier, multiple award-winning, luxury yachting experience to the Emerald Coast. The memories are priceless.”

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AP R I L 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / D E ST I N

Left Brandon Graves Right Tom Morton

#6 Brandon Graves 36, CEO, Stronghold SOF Solutions Graves is from Crawfordville, FL and was drafted as a pitcher for Minor League Baseball out of Valdosta State University. His military career was as a Special Forces Green Beret in the 7th Special Forces Group. Due to his Special Operations background, he wanted a way for prior SOF personnel to have a place called home in the Florida Panhandle. That led him to establish Stronghold SOF Solutions, a 50-acre facility staffed entirely by former special operators. Their unique ability to replicate an operational environment includes a live-fire shoot house, multiple ranges, an airfield, armory and more. ‘Work as hard as you possibly can on at least one thing and see what happens. ‘ -Jordan B Peterson “We focus on strategic, niche opportunities where we leverage our experience and talent force of prior SOF operators. Our customer base is DoD, LEO, and private companies.” The facilities are suitable for a broad array of users ranging from the SOF community, to SWAT teams, Warrior Poets, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, a flooring company’s corporate retreat and even the Freeport High School Football Program.

F IN A N CIA L BU Z Z | L IFE + CULTURE

The young players received valuable lessons in teamwork and leadership that will impact not only their lives, but our community for years to come. Stronghold SOF Solutions exists “To preserve the warrior culture, to prepare the warfighter, to protect the innocent.” Their state-of-the-art facility is wellplanned to support multiple training types. The airfield sports a paved runway. There are berms suitable for up to .50 caliber munitions. Ranges of all kinds including demolitions and even an underground facility. Finally, lodging and conference rooms are contained in a 10,000 s.f. Clubhouse. Graves is responsible for business development, operations, recruiting/hiring, and strategic growth/ partnerships. He has rapidly delivered capabilities to the SOF community and so many others. Stronghold was established in 2021 and has already been awarded a 3-year contract with AFSOC and another contract with the State of Florida supporting the Florida State Guard. Graves is a volunteer member of the Destin Task Force for the Special Operations Transition Foundation.

“My whole business is built off of relationships. Relationships are what create transactions.” TJ Martin is a Pensacola, FL native and son of a custom home builder. Construction always piqued his interest as a young man working on job sites. After college, he worked sales and construction with DR Horton and Holiday builders, then moved into general real estate. In 2018, the Abbot Martin Group was born as a real estate and new construction business spanning from Pensacola to Panama City Beach. ‘The Abbott Martin Group performs within the top 1/2% in real estate sales throughout the Florida Panhandle and is within the top 1% in production nationally.’ TJ is talented at creating development opportunities, putting deals together to bring 1,500+ units to the marketplace in the coming years. In 2022, they had over $365 million in Total Sales Volume. They just kept going in 2023, already passing $100 million by February! However, TJ did not cite a single statistic when asked about his greatest accomplishment. He instead celebrates the environment of the Abbott Martin Group. ‘We are so driven to help each other.’ The realtors then bring integrity and confidence into their relationships with their clients. In an industry where brokerages have soaring annual turnover rates, the Abbott Martin group stands out with many agents continuing the tradition year after year. They sponsor the My Wish Foundation for children with cancer, sponsor families at Christmastime, deliver homebuying education through Habitat for Humanity in Pensacola and work hard to support all the local vendors.

#5 Tristan ‘TJ’ Martin 33, President, Abbott Martin Group | EXP Realty

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AP R I L 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / D E ST I N

“I believe that the most wealth you ever make in your life will be investing in yourself.” Greg came to Florida from Michigan while he was in high school. Greg has been an entrepreneur all of his life. Yes, there was a lemonade stand! He studied Tourism at the University of Central Florida and created an online directory while there. Selling that directory became a motivator to do more. Today Greg is not only the CEO of Tripshock, but also a security software and a reservation booking company. When Greg returned to hotel work, he saw people combing rack cards for things to do. He decided to establish an online means for visitors to easily book excursions. In 2009, Tripshock started to link visitors to snorkeling adventures or dolphin tours for which Greg received a commission. Tripshock now services 25 destinations, provides jobs for 60 employees/contractors, and manages bookings for over 600 businesses! Tripshock gives peace of mind to the first-time traveler looking for things to do. After all these years, they are a reputable third-party booking service with long-standing relationships with the excursions they host. ‘I like the challenge of going against bigger companies.’ He credits his current business partner Alex Benko for the software integration that directly books 1,000+ local excursions daily. Greg hosts a podcast called The Awkward Watersports Guy and former President of the Watersport Coalition in Okaloosa County. “It’s about creating an environment to engage in watersports in a safe way.”

F IN A N CIA L BU Z Z | L IFE + CULTURE

#4 Greg Fisher 38, CEO, Tripshock

#3-Jorge Lopez 34, President, Peppers Jorge Lopez is a local restaurant owner who opened his first restaurant in 2007 fresh out of high school! However, he was already experienced enough to fill the role of manager. He has persistently opened new restaurants since then. His award-winning Mexican food is made with family recipes that have been passed down through several generations. “It’s not just about making the food. It’s also being committed and sharing the same vision. The vision is understanding responsibilities. Being responsible to our customers, each other, and our community. If you want to be a part of this company, we have to share the same vision.” The four local restaurants (Niceville, Crestview, Shalimar, and Fort Walton Beach) have 120 employees and he is involved in six additional locations throughout Florida. Peppers restaurants are casual, family restaurants that delight locals with the finest quality Mexican food. Jorge is serious about quality, insisting on the best ingredients and top customer service.

One of Jorge’s secrets is that all the cooks have been with Peppers for years. For his managers, he is always available to mentor and solve problems, but allows them to build their teams. His key business functions include programming promotions and carefully auditing restaurant orders and sales. Managing ordering responsibly allows him to offer reasonable prices to his loyal customers. And Peppers does have a following! They have been voted Best in Destin and Best Mexican Food in the area. The corn and flour tortillas made from scratch are a favorite. Peppers loves its community back. Aware that our future is in our kids, Jorge participates in food backpack drives and provided free lunches at the start of the COVID outbreak. Peppers provides turkeys to local families every Thanksgiving. Then, at Christmas time, they give out free tacos in exchange for toys to donate! Stop by a Peppers soon and find out why Peppers has been such a fast-growing favorite! peppersmexicancantina.com

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AP R I L 2 0 2 3 | C I TYL I FE STYL E . C O M / D E ST I N

#2-Brett Lindell 39, CEO, Pantheon Holdings/ Aegis Exteriors (68 Ventures)

F IN A N CIA L BU Z Z | L IFE + CULTURE

Brett is a US Marine Corps veteran with a young family and a love for the Florida Panhandle! His construction and development company has grown rapidly. They service areas ranging from Mobile to Port St. Joe. They are now the largest siding company along the Gulf Coast offering employment opportunities to over 160 of our residents! Brett noted that they are ‘kinda like the Chik-fil-A of subcontractors. We are very pleasurable to work with.’ Aegis Exteriors appears regularly in the Top 3 of trades for contractors to work with. Aegis works on new home exteriors, multi-family construction projects, and has a division dedicated to home remodeling. Aegis exteriors have four main categories of service: roofing, siding, windows, and waterproofing. Brett has a vision of being a $100 million company in five years. He began his company in 2017. In his first operational year, his company worked on 45 houses. The next year 250. Fast forward to 2022 when Aegis completed 2000 exteriors! This vision is not just for himself. Hiring for attitude over skill, he loves that his company is a venue for people to transition into a trade full of opportunity. One of his full-time employees is dedicated to training only! Also, he insists on work-life balance and puts family first. Taking care of employees is essential to the future of Aegis. Brett is invested in Walton County. He wants to know that it will still be the kind of place where his children want to live and offer opportunities to families in the future. To be part of the conversation, he serves as Vice Chair of the Walton County Republican Executive Committee. His giving community spirit exemplifies the culture of Florida’s Panhandle. Aegis Exteriors donated a $50,000 exterior remodel to a family, remodeled an orphanage, and gives regularly to local youth sports.

#1 Jonathan Howard 34, Real Estate Entrepreneur & Business Coach

Companies: Florida Charms Vacation Rentals & Realty, Beach Please Vacation Rentals, Trinity Title, Florida Charms Lawn Care, Howard Real Estate Consulting. Jon was born in Louisiana and raised in Texas. Despite his meteoric success in the world of real estate, that never was his plan. He joined the military at 18 and became a special operator as an Air Force Combat Controller. In 2015, he and his wife, Rizz (also an Air Force veteran) purchased a condo in Destin. A neighbor suggested they rent out their condo while out of town for the summer of 2016 and that’s where it all started. In 2017, Florida Charms launched and stood out in the property management space with the quality of its properties, as well as Jon’s leadership and a completely different mindset from being a special operator. “Clients liked that I wasn’t just sales but also the rental company. I wouldn’t fluff rental income to get a sale because I had to answer for those numbers as the management company.” In four years, the company grew from $60,000 to $61,000,000 and 35 employees. Their success attracted AvantStay who bought Florida Charms in 2022, and asked Jon to become the Principal Broker for the state of Florida. For that, he oversees all agents and operations statewide. Jon recently launched a consulting business where he coaches entrepreneurs and excels at helping businesses streamline operations. Jon is also building homes on 30A and Naples and plans to build multiple luxury homes a year to sell. Jon has a very unique background that includes a bachelor’s degree in Aeronautics, Air Traffic Controller, Master Diver, parachuting & instrument-rated pilot with his own plane. Jon described his greatest accomplishment as, “Making people financially free. It changed my life and when I see the same for them, that makes me happy. Jon volunteers with First There & Water Front Warriors.

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ARTICLE BY JOSH FOSTER PHOTOGRAPHY BY FOREVER YOUNG IMAGES

M ON E Y M AT T E R S | PR OFE S S I ONAL S E RVI CE S

Bill Blanken is the owner and operator of Blanken Management, a financial planning, and investment company based in Northwest Florida. Bill was born in New Brunswick NJ, and raised in Sayreville NJ. He left his home to enlist in the United States Navy. After his active military service was over, Bill went back to New Jersey where he met his wife Jane Marie and worked in the food service industry for almost 30+ years. In 2010, he went to visit a friend on the Emerald Coast. That was it. He decided to sell everything, pack up two cars, two dogs, and move to the Emerald Coast. The transition was not easy as one could imagine. During their first year here, Bill lost both of his parents and father-in-law due to medical issues. Appreciating and celebrating their lives, Bill realizes that life is short, and one must achieve what one is meant to do. Many years of hard work and success were ahead, but life continued to deliver blows. His wife, Jane, developed cancer. After many hard months, her treatment was successful! She is now a powerlifter. Life sends us all many twists and turns, but a dream can prevail! Recently, Bill was blindsided by medical issues. He suffered a widowmaker heart attack, blockages requiring a quadruple bypass, and a fractured pelvis. These issues - he explains in an upbeat manner - were minor. That was a big hit but wasn't hard enough to keep him down. Bill got back up and moved forward. He's become much stronger physically and mentally and is committed to helping others succeed. After years in the hospitality industry, Bill decided to make an unprecedented change into the financial industry. He started his firm, Blanken Management. For years, he studied how money works in the investment arena for himself and decided to spread that knowledge to others. After difficult training, education, and a rigorous registration process, he established his Registered Investment Advisory Firm, Blanken Management. Using skills obtained in the military and as a chef, Bill offers a comprehensive, personal approach to financial investing and financial planning. The way Bill helps one build wealth is first to be aware of what is money and how it works. He begins with the concept that a person can make money by working for a company, but investing in financial markets allows a person to make money using other people's money. The second is to build a portfolio with the premise of understanding the compounding and correlation that surrounds the financial markets. Bill makes wealth-building approachable.

"THERE A RE N O G UARAN TE E S IN L IFE . L IK E WI S E , T H E R E A R E N O GUA RA N TEES IN THE FIN AN CIAL IN D USTRY, B U T PO S S I B I LI T I E S A RE WA ITIN G TO B E RE AL IZ E D."

As a master pizza maker, he likens investing to pizza making. If you go to a pizza joint, you don’t blindly pick up a pizza. You build it! Start with crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings. Build your pizza to suit your likes in a way that will satisfy you and your family. That is money well spent. Bill advises clients to start with the basics and build financials in a way that suits their wants and needs. There are no guarantees in life. Likewise, there are no guarantees in the financial industry, but possibilities are waiting to be realized. Bill does not just regurgitate talking points or irrelevant statistics. He presents investment in an approachable way. His satisfaction comes from the reactions of people who get excited about how money works and want to learn more, to be more. Bill learns what his clients want to accomplish, then offers ways to achieve that.

ABOUT THE PERSON

Bill Blanken is a Navy veteran who spent 30 years in the food service industry. All that time, he avidly learned to invest for himself. After he and his wife overcame major blows to their health, he powered through the registration process to establish his Registered Investment Advisory Firm. He has found his “why” - sparking excitement in his clients about growing wealth!

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ARTICLE BY JOSH FOSTER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY FOREVER YOUNG IMAGES

The Future of Financial Technology GATEWAY PAYMENTS DISCUSSES GROWING TRENDS THAT ARE HERE TO STAY - SURCHARGES, DUAL PRICES, AND AUTOMATION

EDU CAT ION COR N E R | EDUCATI ON

It has been three years since Covid brought the world to a screeching halt. Many enjoyed their time off from work. Some chose to spend more time with family, friends, or enjoying a new hobby. But some worried about the future of their businesses. During Covid, I worked on the front lines. Well, a different front line. Not nearly as important as those working in the medical system. However, I found that business owners needed to be saved just

as much. The survival of their business was at stake. The Fintech industry played a crucial role in the evolution of not only small businesses but also large corporations during the last three years. Automation and surcharging helped combat shutdowns, staff shortages, and inflation. Ironically enough, legislation that happened after the housing crash in 2008 played a vital role in the current economic climate that we face today. In July of 2010, The Dodd Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act was passed. This legislation had a small amendment with major consequences that has altered the landscape in the payments space ever since. The Durbin Amendment paved the way for merchants to now find creative ways to alleviate merchant acceptance costs by passing it to the consumer. Translation, merchants can create a dual price for both

card and cash acceptance. Usually these programs are advertised in the form of a discount for paying with cash. What it is really doing is creating a price increase to offset card costs while maintaining the original goods price as the cash price. By implementing these programs merchants saw small financial relief immediately. That’s why we saw the greatest adoption rates of these kind of programs over the last two years. Now that the dust has settled, we are still seeing overwhelming demand for these programs. The debate isn’t if these programs will disappear. Instead, it is how they will be implemented moving forward. Technology will be the driver to ensure that these programs remain aligned with the card brands’ compliance. Surcharging and dual pricing will become more common over time. CONTINUED >

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Amazon is one of the most successful business models in the history of capitalism. There are many ways to describe their success. I use one word - ‘Automation’. Now, we can all debate if it’s right or wrong for technology to replace people. I am here to tell you that it doesn’t matter what you think. It is already happening all over the country. Major changes to any industry are usually done by large corporations first. Self-checkout kiosks, QR codes, mobile delivery apps, and the shift to e-commerce will continue to happen. You as a consumer have most likely already experienced these technologies. Technology evolves faster and faster, and shifts to automated payments will continue to grow. McDonald’s for example just launched their first fully automated location in Fort Worth, Texas. There are zero employees at this location. Consumers can order from their phones and pick up their food from a mechanical arm in the drive-thru. Or, if they choose to sit inside, they place their orders at a payment kiosk, then a robot food cart delivers food directly to the table. Automation. Even on a local level you can take a ride over to Crumbl Cookie and order from a payment kiosk or stop at a Circle K convenience store and place your items on a platform to be rung up immediately. In the future small business owners will start to implement more technology once it’s reasonably priced and they see the benefits that it can bring. I started in this industry in 2007 and have seen it evolve drastically in that time. The near future seems extremely healthy for us at Gateway. The demand for our services has only skyrocketed like many other industries with the increased growth in the Panhandle and lack of infrastructure to support this growth. I do, however, fear that at some point in my life technology will make us irrelevant as well! All we can do day to day is evolve like any other small business.

EDU CAT ION COR N E R | EDUCATI ON

The last three years have shown us the future of the retail and restaurant businesses. Surcharging and automation are here to stay.

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Frank Bennett, Lender For Life Interest rates and their recent uptick are always part of the conversation when discussing mortgage options. Veteran lender Frank Bennett and his wife Karen (married for over 38 years) have been a mortgage team for 31 years. Collectively, they have served over 8,100 families and continue to advise these past clients on achieving and protecting wealth through creative mortgage strategies. “Low interest rates have been the norm since the 1990’s and are headed back that way soon,” says Bennett. “Today’s home buyer

has spent months planning their home purchase - improving their credit scores, saving funds to close and find that perfect home. With the recent spike in interest rates, they find themselves at a crossroads.” The timing of Destin City Lifestyle’s conversation with Frank was ideal because after 35 years, his depth of knowledge allows him to help clients move forward. He can listen to complex financial goals and match them up in realtime with suitable financial products. Element Home Loans (est. 2007) has rolled out several products this year designed to

FRANK BENNETT SHARES HIS PURPOSE AND PERSPECTIVE ON LENDING WITH ELEMENT HOME LOANS

ARTICLE BY CHERYL FORDE

EXP E RT H E LP | R EAL ESTATE

ease the stress of recent interest rate changes. These solutions range from allowing borrowers to temporarily buy the rate down, to offering 100% loan products. The highlighted product is the 5-year rate drop pledge. This bridges the gap between buying your home today and capturing the appreciation. As rates are projected to improve in the near future, EHL will refinance your mortgage with no lender fees when that happens. In other words, don’t miss out on the opportunity to make a great investment due to a temporarily higher payment. The gains are far exceeded. Frank also offered some thoughts on how EHL aims to make the mortgage process less stressful. He noted, “The mortgage process has a lot of moving parts.” Once a loan type is settled on, EHL walks each client through the process, communicating loan status regularly and answering questions. Further, EHL continues to surpass client expectations by reviewing all accounts annually to look for changes that could maximize the benefit to their clients. Frank and Karen joined Larry Sutton, the Division President of Element Home Loans in 2008. “Frank is very passionate about his role as an advisor,” Larry comments. The combination of operational support, products and passion is the key to this team’s success. Element Home Loans allowed Frank and Karen to grow beyond viewing each transaction separately to being an invaluable resource throughout the lifecycle of a client’s financial future. This is important because home lending is much more than just buying a home. Later in a person’s financial journey, it’s about buying a second home, leveraging equity to improve their financial

position, or investing in real estate. Whatever the goal, Frank is fueled by the ability to be a part of his clients meeting their goals. Kari Painter, who is fairly new to Element, has already learned that the title ‘Lender for Life’ also includes meaningful relationships and a family-like atmosphere at EHL. Frank truly appreciates having people return to him as their lender as many as 30 years after their first home loan. Kari has heard about Frank and Karen both celebrating and crying with employees and clients through countless birthdays, funerals, and weddings. She has found it easy to settle into a company that builds caring into its DNA. The family-style environment they have created is so atypical that Frank hesitates to talk about it. He feels words fall short of communicating it authentically. Of this, he said, “It sounds corny and trite to say, ‘Oh. I care.’” But people feel the camaraderie when they walk into the office. Frank feels it when meeting with the other branch managers. Kari felt the welcome when she met her corporate support team in Atlanta. And, the ‘caring’ shines through in the stories. EHL Division President Larry Sutton oversees 26 offices in 5 states, but his contribution to this story shows his passion to continue to grow EHL. He starts their culture of caring at the top and creates opportunities for employees to achieve their dreams. He met with Frank several times for coffee to discuss Frank coming on board. He finally had to say, ‘Frank, I like having coffee with you every once in a while, maybe it’s time you come to work here.’ We know that Frank did and it has been a wonderful fit. Frank and Karen Bennett have found personal fulfillment with Element Home Loans where most just find a profession.

“I have lived

being a ‘Lender

for Life’...I want people to come

back to me time

and time again.”

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