Ambassadors of the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce

08/20/2026

Good morning, my Amazing Ambassadors,
Thank you so much for taking time away from your businesses to attend our breakfast. We accomplished so much - breakfast, our guest speaker and a ribbon cutting - all in one and half hours!

Thank you to Kandace Lee CEO of the Emerald Coast Regional Council and Executive Director of the Okaloosa Walton Transportation Planning Organization for presenting highlights on transportation projects in our area. She made us aware of online sites we can access to follow projects. Perhaps most importantly she briefed us on Amendment 3 - the Homestead Exemption Act. While Kandace may not promote either side of this issue, she encouraged us to understand the amendment and make people aware of what passage of it may mean to City governments.

Birthday girls Denise and new member Laura of the Salvation Army were serenaded.

Our Sunshine Lead Denise encouraged the members to inform her of needs of our members. Barbara, Mentor Team asked us to help make new members aware of the benefits of mentors.

The ribbon cutting of Avalon HR based in Pensacola followed the meeting.

Have a great day and an amazing ribbon cutting today at Hyatt House Destin. Wish I could be there with you!

Thank you for all you do!
Janey

07/28/2026

July Ambassadors Meeting

Thank you to our breakfast sponsor Colleen Kelley with Bright Light Creative and special guest speaker Representative Patt Maney.

07/28/2026

Entering the Chamber to a meeting room full of the nicest, most dedicated people, makes my heart so happy! Thank you so much for being there, enjoying breakfast provided by the lovely ladies of Sunshine Financial, and hearing about all the great things happening in our Okaloosa County School System!

The speakers at our breakfasts have been amazing and so informative. Catherine Card, Public Information Officer for the Okaloosa County School District is no exception. Amazing Catherine presented to our standing room only group, a very impressive and informative "story" of what is happening in the District and what is yet to come!

Thank you for your generous donations to the District's project - "Stuffing the Bus"! Our "yellow bus" overflowed with your donated school supplies. It was a pleasure to present them to Catherine and the District. Many students will begin their school year with smiles on their faces and backpacks filled with your generosity.

Janey Rynearson
2026 Ambassador Chair

06/08/2026

May Ambassador Meeting Recap!

Happy June, my favorite green wearing, smiling, awesome friends!

Our Ambassadors’ breakfast meetings should be on the list of “to do’s in Fort Walton Beach”! Greeted the minute one walks in the conference room by the nicest humans, you know immediately that you are in for an amazing hour and fifteen minutes! The delicious breakfasts, an inspirational prayer, proudly standing for the flag and then an outstanding program - does it get any better?!

Thank you, Christine and Belinda for the yummy food, and Paul for your heartfelt prayer. All of these set the stage for Patrick Maddox, Okaloosa County Emergency Management Director for his informative program. I learned so much from his presentation.

I love our gatherings and all of you! Thank you for being so involved - not just for our many ribbon cuttings, but any time the Chamber needs you!

Janey Rynearson, 2026 Ambassador Chair

03/23/2026

I just love our wonderful group of green people! I mean Green Jackets!

After a wonderful breakfast "prepared" by Kari and an uplifting prayer and pledge by Paul, we fastened our seat belts and welcomed Police Chief Robert Bage for a question and answer session. A very unique presentation - so informative and effective. Chief Bage is a gem and a friend to our Community. We definitely need to invite him to return to continue the conversations we were having.

Denise David, our Sunshine Chair distributed birthday cards to be signed for March birthdays. Peter Daniel reported on the Tiger Team and the importance of it, inviting members to join him on his team.

Four Birthday "kids" were honored with the singing of Happy Birthday and of course the lovely Birthday Hat. I liked the upbeat tempo of the song. Thank you, Chamber Singers!

We were reminded that Ambassador name tags are available at the Trophy Center (850-862-8413). New online FWB Chamber store created by Impact Custom Clothing to order Ambassador polos Link: https://fwbchamberofcommerce.itemorder.com/shop/home/

We continue to invite businesses to purchase advertising on the business card holder we are planning to give to businesses at their ribbon cutting. Please contact Dayna to place your business card.

Small Cakes baker extraordinaire Haily Joens received her scissors pin. Our scissor pins draw a lot of attention and look so good on our green apparel.

New businesses are flocking to our area and our ribbon cutting list continues to grow. Please mark your calendars with these important dates. I so appreciate how you show up in your green and sweetest smiles. I know as busy business owners, it's not always easy to make these events, but I am thankful when you can. We definitely make a statement and represent the Chamber very well.

Thank you to Mary and Jodi with Sunshine financial and the prettiest roofer in town Kari and Quality Roofing Solutions for door prizes.

Enjoy the beautiful sunshine brought to us by the Chamber and God.

See you at the ribbon cuttings.

Sent on behalf of Janey Rynearson, 2026 Ambassador Chair
Former First Lady of FWB

02/23/2026

Another wonderful meeting with my favorite green wearing, smiling, dedicated humans! What an amazing start to our day with the delicious breakfast presented by Barbara Britt. What does this lady not do? Thank you so much for sharing your gourmet talents with us, Barbara!

A meaningful prayer by Paul, followed by the pledge and we were on our way to a wonderful presentation by Linda Evanchyk, President of the Fort Walton Beach Woman’s Club marking the Club’s 105th birthday. Linda told of the many accomplishments of the Fort Walton Beach Women’s Club and their many contributions from Camp Walton and continuing to the present Fort Walton Beach. The Club will be celebrating their amazing birthday throughout the next few months at the locations of services they started.

Visitors and hopefully new Ambassadors Allyson Anger and Haily Joens were introduced.

Denise David, Sunshine Chair reported Judy Dunlap was recovering nicely after her recent surgery. Barbara Britt, Mentor Committee, suggested we make a better effort greeting new members and making them more comfortable at the First Friday Coffee. Peter Daniel reported on the Tiger Team. Gerry Gross was our February Birthday Boy, looking very handsome, wearing the birthday hat as we sang to him.

Jodi Ryan has been a faithful Ambassador and received her Scissors Pin.

Ambassadors were reminded of the available advertising space on the ribbon cutting gift book. A full cover ad is $300. and a business card size is $165. Please contact Dayna to reserve your businesses’ space.

The very busy Ribbon Cutting Calendar was presented.

Peter Daniels was the winner of Barbara Britt’s generous donation.

My very special thank you to Dayna, who continues to contribute so greatly to the Ambassadors - the Heartbeat of the Chamber.

See you at the next Ribbon Cutting – wearing green and smiling!

Janey Ryneasron, 2026 Ambassador Chair
Former First Lady of FWB

01/28/2026

What an amazing way to begin our Chamber Ambassador’s New Year with not just one blessing, but three. Thank you to Paul for his wonderful prayer, followed by Gerry’s Hebrew blessing (with translation) and then Donna’s blessing for “firsts”! Our Ambassador group is a blessing in itself - the heart beats of the “heart of the Chamber”. Such a wonderful turn out of members.

Thank you, Amber Jeter representing Mills Heating and Air for a most amazing breakfast! You have certainly set the bar high. I’m hoping the calendar was totally filled in with breakfast sponsors for the future meetings.

Jeff Peters, County Parks and Facilities Director gave a very interesting overview of projects that are ongoing in the County. The Bed Tax Revenue provides abundant funding for the County Commissioners to develop the properties they have been procuring and Jeff is at the helm of the design and development. A “field trip” to some of the sites would be so much fun! Thank you to Jeff for his wonderful presentation.

Next month’s speaker is Ft. Walton Beach Woman’s Club president, Linda Evanchyk.

The Club is celebrating its 105th birthday and Linda will be highlighting the activities the ladies have been participating in since1919.

I hope you and your business will consider participating in the new business card booklet the Ambassadors will present to the business owner at their ribbon cutting. Contact Dayna for details and to sign up to be a sponsor.

At the February First Friday Coffee, our Ambassador of the 4th Quarter 2025 will be announce and celebrated.

Stay warm and hope to see all of you next month.

Janey Rynearson, 2026 Ambassador Chair
Former First Lady of Fort Walton Beach

12/18/2025

A perfect way to close out 2025 with our Chamber Ambassadors. 💚

12/11/2025

12/11/2025

What a heartwarming gift it was to give back and to receive during our Ambassador Holiday Caroling at HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital. Moments like these remind us why this group is so special.

Thank you to all the Ambassadors who helped make this possible—from the little “green” elves who filled more than 200 ornaments and 75 stockings, to everyone who showed up with smiles, songs, and holiday spirit.

A special thank you to Donna Gross and the Flying Needles Quilt Guild of Niceville, Florida for creating the beautiful handmade stockings that brought so much joy to the HCA staff. Your time, talent, and hearts truly made a difference.

A big thank-you also to Shay and the FWBHS Valhalla Choir for their beautiful singing that brought joy to so many and touched countless hearts throughout the hospital. Your voices made the day feel magical.

And thank you to HCA Hospital for welcoming us in and allowing us to share the Chamber spirit with your staff and with patients spending the holidays in the hospital.

This truly is one of those special experiences where the more you give, the more your own heart fills in return—a reminder that kindness has a way of coming back even brighter.