Ted chats with Katie MacCartee from Dale Carnegie about the upcoming "Skills for Success" class.

Community Partner Spotlight

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Featured Chamber Events!

Browse the Business Directory and view current News Releases, Job Postings, and Hot Deals from fellow members.

Ready to add your own? The tutorials below walk you through how to post and manage your own content on the Chamber Website.

Check out these short tutorial videos that provide a step-by-step guide on how to navigate through the online Member Information Center (MIC). These instructional videos will show you how to update your profile, add keywords, add job postings, register for chamber events/add your benefit discount, add events to chamber community calendar, pay invoices and much more!

August New Member Luncheon: Mel Ibanez, Ibis Aerial Media (Future Member) | Joe Stanley, Creative Flooring of Florida | Rochelle & Ramone Phillips, RP Management Services LLC | Jen Backman, MPS Mechanical Plumbing Systems | Greg Durette, Future Secured Financial | Rosa & Thomas Lupero, Bagel My Day | Melissa Gadrix, New Chapter Mediation, LLC | Ryan Bradley, Dragonfly Behavioral Health Services | Kassia Garfield, MaxStrength Fitness | Tevan Mallette, Brilvont Business Brokers & Exit Advisory | Joe Lynn Lahovin, American Self Storage

𝐀 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠

Our amazing staff members with Okaloosa County EMS rarely learn the outcomes of the patients they treat, nor do they usually get to meet them again. This time was different.

Scouting America Troop leader Bret Moore was preparing to rent a vehicle to travel to the Scouting America National Jamboree last month. He suffered a major heart attack and fell to the floor unconscious. A staff member from the car rental agency immediately began chest compressions to keep the blood flowing through his body until paramedics arrived.

Okaloosa County EMS community paramedics and other EMS leadership arrived on scene, rendering life-saving aid. Bret was transported to the hospital, where he was treated and survived.

Okaloosa County EMS Community Paramedic Erika Henderson was one of the responding paramedics on that day. She recently gave a CPR and Narcan presentation to the Scouts of Troop 529. As she was preparing for the presentation, she spotted Bret in the parking lot walking into the meeting. Not knowing he would be there or that he was a scout leader, she recognized him and they made contact.

Smiles and “Thank Yous” ensued and made this chance meeting the highlight of the evening. This encounter impacted the young scouts who heard the story and were able to make the connection between the knowledge they already knew about first aid and a real human experience.

We could not be more proud of our EMS team who respond daily with these types of calls. While they are just doing their job, it does not minimize the very real impact they have on the community and the individual lives they treat.

Photo: Okaloosa County EMS Community Paramedic Erika Henderson, front right, poses with Scouting America Troop 529 leader Bret Moore outside of the Troop’s Scout Hut before a recent meeting.

EMS staff that was present on that day to help treat Bret include: Chief Darrel Welborn, Lt. Kenneth Worley, Community Paramedic Andrew Kindle, Community Paramedic Erika Henderson, Paramedic Jonathan Lopez and EMT Hayden Lech.

Learn more about Okaloosa County EMS at https://myokaloosa.com/ps-ems

Concerts at The Landing series returns for Fall 2026 season

The City of Fort Walton Beach, in partnership with Dan Collins Entertainment and 102.1 The Wave, is happy to announce the return of Concerts at The Landing to the Fort Walton Beach Landing this Fall.  

The 8-week Fall Series kicks off Sept. 4, 2026, and runs through Oct. 23, 2026.



Concerts are free and held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday nights at the newly renovated Fort Walton Beach Landing park, at 139 Brooks Street SE.  Bring your lawn chair or quilt and come enjoy an evening of music at this lovely waterfront park in heart of downtown Fort Walton Beach. 



Schedule

• Sept. 4 - Heart of Glass & Subliminal Doubt (Tributes to Blondie and No Doubt)
• Sept. 11 – Sons of Saints (Rock and Roll variety)
• Sept. 18 - Saucy FuzZ (Alternative/Indie Funk Rock)
• Sept. 25 – Black Eyed Blonde (Rock variety)
• Oct. 2 – Below Alabama (Country and Southern Rock)
• Oct. 9 – Cat Rhodes & The Truth (Blues, Funk and Neo Soul)
• Oct. 16 – Chase Mitchell Band (Country and Southern Rock)
• Oct. 23 – Rockstarfish (Party Rock Variety)  

City recognizes longtime Fort Walton Beach resident, businessman Jim Tucker

U.S. Army (retired) Lt. Col. James “Jim” Tucker, a longtime Fort Walton Beach resident, businessman, and past City Council member, was presented with the “Key to the City” during the Aug. 11, 2026, City Council meeting.

Lt. Col. Tucker operated The Boat Marina in Fort Walton Beach for decades and, prior to that, had a distinguished military career spanning more than two decades. He served in the Vietnam War, commanded the U.S. Army Florida Ranger Camp, and was inducted into the Army Ranger Hall of Fame in 2016.

Here is an excerpt from the proclamation, read by Mayor Nic Allegretto.

“Lt. Col. Tucker's legacy extends far beyond any single achievement, encompassing distinguished military service, entrepreneurial success, disaster recovery leadership, civic engagement, and decades of unwavering commitment to improving the quality of life for the citizens of Fort Walton Beach… through his courage, vision, generosity, and dedication to both country and community, Lt. Col. James "Jim" Tucker has earned the admiration, gratitude, and respect of generations of residents and has left an enduring mark on the history and character of Fort Walton Beach.”

We thank Lt. Col. Tucker for his service to his country and his many years of dedication to the community of Fort Walton Beach.

READ THE FULL PROCLAMATION HERE: https://fwb.org/m/NewsFlash/home/detail/881

Okaloosa County School District Unveils 2025 – 2026 Annual Report

The Okaloosa County School District has released its 2025 – 2026 Annual Report, providing a look at the accomplishments, milestones, and initiatives that shaped another successful school year districtwide. The report highlights student achievement, innovative programs, district initiatives, and the dedication of the teachers, staff, administrators, and community partners who contribute to the success of Okaloosa County students. Read more...

Take Stock in Children Okaloosa County Receives Prestigious Luminary Award

Take Stock in Children Okaloosa County has received the prestigious Luminary Award at the annual Take Stock in Children Conference in Orlando, in recognition of the program’s outstanding service and support for its 2025–2026 student cohort. The Luminary Award reflects the collective efforts of Take Stock in Children Okaloosa County staff, mentors, students, families, and community partners who work together to help students achieve their educational goals and prepare for success beyond high school. To earn Luminary status, an affiliate must achieve a perfect 100% score on Take Stock in Children’s Balanced Scorecard, which evaluates program performance across four key areas: Mentoring, College Readiness, Program Data, and Take Stock in Children Compliance Standards. Achieving a perfect score across all four categories demonstrates that Take Stock in Children Okaloosa County met or exceeded the organization’s highest standards for serving students. The recognition highlights the program’s commitment to high-quality mentoring, individualized student support, college and career readiness, and scholarship opportunities. Read more...

OCSD VPK Classrooms Earn Outstanding State Designations

The Okaloosa County School District (OCSD) is celebrating another year of outstanding results from its Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) classrooms, with six schools earning an “Excellent” designation and three earning an “Above Expectations” designation from the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) for the 2025–2026 school year. FDOE’s VPK accountability system evaluates providers based on quality, child achievement, and learning gains, providing a comprehensive measure of how effectively VPK programs prepare young learners for kindergarten and future academic success. The following OCSD VPK sites earned an “Excellent” designation: Read more...

Got a business idea but not sure where to start? Stop overthinking and start building!

Join us at the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday, September 23, 2026 for our Starting a Business workshop. In just 3 hours, we will help cut through the confusion and cover the essentials needed to launch your vision into a successful reality.  

What we'll cover:



✅ Legalities, licensing, & local regulations  

✅ Essential business planning & startup steps  

✅ Connecting with professional business guidance and resources  

📅 When: Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM CT  

📍 Where: Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, 34 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548  

🎟️ Register now: tinyurl.com/fwb-sbdc