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| | | | | | Why Customer Service is Still the Most Powerful Marketing Tool |
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| | Marketing attracts consumers, but customer service is what keeps them coming back. Our latest article explores how thoughtful, human-centered service isn’t just support — it’s strategy. Great customer service builds brand loyalty, fuels word-of-mouth referrals, and differentiates in competitive markets. Invest in developing customer service teams for strategic, long-term growth. |
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| | | | Burnout Busted:A New Reboot Resource for Dentists |
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| | Elevate Next is proud to announce the website launch of a new start-up, Burnout Busted, formed by Dr. Laura Schwindt, DDS, and Sandy Baird, MBA. The partners’ first one-day workshop, Burnout Busted! A Reboot Solution for Dentists takes place at St. Mary’s in beautiful Sewanee, Tenn., on May 28 and 29, 2026. Providing 6 valuable continuing education (CE) credits and held in gender-specific environments, the interactive workshop is designed to help dentists build burnout-resistant practices, careers, and mindsets. Early bird pricing is available before April 1, and workshop discounts are available for those who invite colleagues to register. Explore the new website and learn more about the workshop here. |
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| Considering a website refresh? Let’s talk. Elevate Next offers complimentary consultations and custom design plans tailored to your business goals. |
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| | Frame Gallery Gifts & Art |
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| | Vote for your favorite custom frame of 2025 at Frame Gallery Gifts and Art! Participate by commenting on this post with the number of your favorite frame by February 8, and you’ll receive a 10% discount on your next framing project. The winner with the most votes will be crowned Favorite Frame of 2025 and receive a $50 gift certificate toward their next custom framing project! Through February 28, Frame Gallery is also offering 15% off custom framing refreshes, which are a simple, affordable way to update the art you already love. |
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| | | | JC’s Gourmet’s seasonal favorite, Chummin’ Chowder, is now back at the Seaside, Fla., Farmers Market on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A Mediterranean twist on a classic shrimp and corn chowder, the recipe includes sautéed red onions for depth, white shoepeg corn for sweetness, and a homemade blend of Mediterranean spices for tangy, earthy, and subtly spicy notes. Enjoy it as a hearty main course or a delicious side dish. |
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| | | | One of them (owner Sam Vickroy, Jr.) is working hard. The other one (Bella) is nailing the art of rest and relaxation. Ain’t Life Cool, a cryotherapy and wellness center in Miramar Beach, Fla., has new hours starting in February: Visit the website to learn more about the broad selection of wellness services available on a walk-in basis. (Bella, a whoodle, is a regular fixture that provides her own specialized therapy services for clients at Ain’t Life Cool.) |
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| Transform your space and spur conversations with this captivating artwork that combines mystery and imagination. “Crowned & Confused” is an acrylic mixed-media painting on canvas that measures 36” x 48”. |
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| | Sewanee Children’s Center (SCC) |
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| | Sewanee Children’s Center is offering two Summer Camp sessions in 2026 for children ages 6 weeks to 9 years in Sewanee, Tenn. Open enrollment begins March 1. The Summer Camp programming blends structured learning, supervised play, and outdoor exploration, with age-appropriate groupings and rotating weekly themes that encourage curiosity and connection to nature. Families may enroll in Session 1 (June 1-30), Session 2 (July 6-31), or both. Tuition assistance and sibling discounts are available for qualifying families. |
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| | | | Dog-Harmony’s therapy dogs recently joined instructional and solutions teams at Liza Jackson Preparatory School to reflect on goals, celebrate progress, and strengthen community ties. The experience was a powerful reminder of how the human–animal bond can bring calm, joy, and renewed energy into learning environments. Assistant Principal Nicole Lockwood wrote, “I just wanted to take the time to thank you for bringing such love and light to our building last week, not just with Nash and Jake but with Jeri and Dinah too! The staff has not stopped talking about and thanking us for such an uplifting afternoon.” |
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| | | | Author Dan Madson and his grandson (and co-creator), Mack, bring heart and old-fashioned fun to children’s literature with the Burgerhead and Mean Jerry series. The first three books celebrate childhood mischief, imagination, and life lessons through characters Mack dreamed up and Dan brought to life through storytelling. Blending humor with gentle reminders about friendship, responsibility, and learning as you grow, the series is perfect for gifting to young readers who believe books should be fun. |
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| | Emerald Coast Public Relations Foundation |
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| | Emerald Coast Public Relations Foundation (ECPRF) will award three $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from high schools in the Northwest Florida counties of Okaloosa, Walton, and Santa Rosa who plan to pursue a college degree in public relations, communication, marketing, or journalism. The 2026 college scholarships are sponsored by: Sherry Harlow, APR; Eglin Federal Credit Union; and Linda Evanchyk, Carr, Riggs & Ingram, and Pitell Law Firm. |
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| ECPRF invites residents of Northwest Florida counties to share its college scholarship opportunities with high school seniors interested in public relations and encourages them to apply by the March 16, 2026, deadline. |
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| | | | Housing Hub, a 501(c)3 non-profit dedicated to providing new, affordable homes to residents in the South Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee, broke ground on its second home at the end of 2025 with an estimated completion date in late Spring 2026. Designed by architect Amanda Shadowens, the second house is a 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home totaling 1,344 sq. ft. and designed to be attainable for a local working family. Visit Housing Hub’s website to read its latest newsletter, which details the nonprofit’s extraordinary progress in 2025 and its ambitious plans for 2026. |
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| | THE ELEVATED EXPERIENCEA curated collection of upcoming events with our talented clients, partners, and friends |
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| | Insurance Untangled Live: Redefining Success in 2026 |
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| February 5, 2025 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm CST |
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| | Join Sandy Baird, MBA, and her cohorts for a free live webinar on February 5 from 8–9 PM EST focused on building strong, forward-thinking dental teams. Sandy will share practical strategies for streamlining systems, improving training, strengthening leadership, and keeping teams aligned with long-term goals. Attendees will earn 1 CE credit and have the opportunity to participate in a live Q&A session. Register here. |
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| | Share the Love: Frame Gallery’s 8th Anniversary Arty Party |
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| February 7, 2025 10:00 pm - 12:00 pm CST |
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| 📍Frame Gallery Gifts & Art Sewanee, TN |
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| | Join Frame Gallery Gifts and Art for a special anniversary celebration featuring hands-on art activities and live art demonstrations with local artists Randa Wells and Connie Keetle in Sewanee, Tenn., on Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Themed “Share the Love,” Frame Gallery’s 8th Anniversary Arty Party is a free event designed for all ages. Art supplies, party favors, and refreshments will be provided for guests and party participants. |
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| | Integrated Influence: Aligning PR & Digital Marketing for Maximum Reach |
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| February 10, 2025 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. |
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| 📍Greater Ft. Walton Beach Chamber Ft. Walton Beach, FL |
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| In today’s fast-paced landscape, "siloed" marketing is a thing of the past. Join ECPRO on Tuesday, February 10, for an expert-led session on how to bridge the gap between public relations and digital marketing to supercharge your brand’s reach. Guest speakers, Nogah Winfield (Digital + Social Media Manager) and Stacey Young (Community + Public Relations Manager), from Destin-Fort Walton Beach Tourism will discuss how to align PR and digital workflows for maximum visibility; provide real-world insights and case studies from our local tourism leaders; and describe their tactics to amplify engagement and deliver measurable results. Although advance ticket sales end on February 4 at midnight (because lunch is catered), you can still attend the Lunch & Learn as a walk-in! Please note that lunch is not guaranteed, and payment will be collected at the door. |
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| | 4th Annual My Chemical Cocktail |
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| February 28, 2026 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. |
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| 📍Emerald Coast Science Center Ft. Walton Beach, FL |
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| | Shake things up at the 4th Annual My Chemical Cocktail, an interactive cocktail competition benefiting the Emerald Coast Science Center. On Saturday, February 28, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m., guests are invited to sample inventive drinks crafted by local bartenders and mixologists who blend chemistry, biology, and physics into every pour. Attendees 21+ will taste and vote for People’s Choice, Judge’s Choice, Most Scientific, and Best Presentation cocktail award winners. The evening also features live music and opportunities to win prizes. |
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| | 11th Annual Doggie EGGstravaganza |
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| April 3, 2026 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. |
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| 📍Grand Boulevard Miramar Beach, FL |
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| Grab your four-legged bestie and hop to Dog-Harmony’s 11th Annual Doggie EGGstravaganza at Grand Boulevard in Sandestin on Friday, April 3, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. This canine-only Easter egg hunt features treat-filled eggs, separate hunting areas by dog size, local food and dog treat vendors, music, pet photos, and prizes. Pre-register for the canine egg hunt for $20 per dog (or $25 on the day of the event), with free admission for spectators, or hop into event sponsorship here. |
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| Under the Tuscan Sun: A Driftwood Retreat for Women |
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| | Escape to Tuscany, Italy! From May 1–6, 2026, Driftwood Adventure Treks is hosting a soul-restoring women’s retreat blending yoga, pilates, photography, culture, and incredible farm-to-table meals at Podere Trafonti, a serene eco-luxury villa in the rolling hills of Southern Tuscany. Participants can also enjoy excursions to charming villages, vineyards, hot springs, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the region. Learn more and register here. |
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| | Thank you for reading this latest issue of ELEVATED NEWS and the thoughtful feedback you continue to share with us. We’ll leave you with one last quote for February to inspire activism from the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: “Every man of humane convictions must decide on the protest that best suits his convictions, but we must all protest.” |
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