Behind the Scenes: Spotlight shines on those not always on center stage

From Pensacola Business Journal, June 2005 edition

Dave Cleveland

Age: 46.

Birthplace: New Bedford, Mass.

Job title: Senior vice president/partner.

Company: Highpointe Hotel Corp.

Job duties: Cleveland is responsible for attracting and cultivating new business development opportunities and manages client and partner relationships as well as the sales and marketing activities for the firm’s 12 hotels. Cleveland handles the acquisition and negotiation of all insurance and risk management needs for the firm’s portfolio.

Community involvement: Cleveland serves as the chairman of the funding committee for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce, on the board of directors and investment committee for the University of West Florida Foundation and as the chairman of the finance committee and a member of the board of trustees for Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church.

What motivates you to stay involved? Cleveland’s motivation comes from “observing firsthand as ideas take shape and become reality and the realization that new developments and opportunities don’t just happen. Rather, there is always a group of dedicated people working earnestly to make things happen.”

Which community leaders do you most admire and why? Cleveland admires Buzz Ritchie, Bill Greenhut, Lewis Bear, Dick Baker, Tommy Tait, Kirk Ball, retired Vice Adm. Jack Fetterman, Miller Caldwell, Dick Appleyard and Mack Strange for their tireless community service and the enthusiasm they have generated for the causes they care about, over the long haul. “No sprinters in this group (only marathon runners)!”

Business philosophy: “It comes down to the Golden Rule — treat others the way you want to be treated. That is the philosophy we always attempt to have toward our hotel customers, our partners and clients, our associates and our community.”

Personal/professional goals: “We want to become a company of significance, not just a company of success. There’s a subtle difference there, and I think some of the things we do in the community, some of the things we encourage our people to do, that’s going to be another philosophy that we continue to pursue.

“(My personal goals) are not a lot different (from business goals). I just want to continue to do the same thing. I want to continue to work with the same people.”

Family ties: Cleveland has been married to his best friend, Lisa, for 17 years and is the proud father of two daughters, Lauren, 10, and Carleigh, 7.

Hobbies/interests: Cleveland enjoys traveling with his family and attending his daughters’ recitals and games. He also plays golf and drums.

Kudos: “Dave Cleveland is one of the most thorough and reliable businessmen I know. Conscientious, competent and calm best describes Dave.” — Banker Tommy Tait.

Behind the Scenes

by Kris Thoma

In the Pensacola Bay Area, the number of unsung heroes is hard to grasp. That’s the observation of Nancy Halford, vice chairman for tourism development for the Pensacola Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. She herself has been involved in, and recognized for, many community projects for the betterment of the Bay Area, but she said it has always been with the help of other businesspeople and volunteers working behind the scenes — without glory or recognition.

This issue of the Pensacola Business Journal spotlights 16 such unsung heroes within the business community — people whose names don’t immediately come to mind as an outspoken “community leader” but who are nonetheless active volunteers and advocates for community issues.

Debbie Ritchie, editor of the Pensacola Business Journal, wanted to use “Business Behind the Scenes” as a way to inform business professionals about such people in their midst, while at the same time giving some long overdue recognition to those individuals for their volunteer efforts.

“From my personal involvement in the business community, I have seen many people who work hard and often are not recognized publicly for their efforts,” Ritchie said. “Realizing that, I felt there was a real opportunity to share with others in the business community who these unsung heroes are.”

She requested the assistance of a group of people who probably do come to mind as community leaders — including architect Miller Caldwell, Santa Rosa community leader and business owner Sparkie Folkers, Santa Rosa Medical Center Chief Executive Officer Pete Gandy, developer Collier Merrill, Pensacola area Realtor and developer Eric Nickelsen, Rebuild Northwest Florida president and Gulf Coast Community Bank Chief Executive Officer Buzz Ritchie, Whitney National Bank Northwest Florida Regional President Tommy Tait, Pensacola News Journal Director of Human Resources Kimberly Wheeler and Halford.

The selection committee — with suggestions from other prominent businesspeople — prepared a list of individuals they consider unsung heroes.

Editor Debbie Ritchie then had the task of telling 16 modest individuals that she aimed to print their name, photo and profile in the June edition of the Business Journal.

The reaction from many of those selected was reluctance or pure resistance, Ritchie said.

“These individuals are the types that are very comfortable doing what they do outside of the spotlight,” Ritchie said. “They were all flattered but some were hesitant to put their name out there as someone who is working on these projects.”

Ritchie eventually was able to persuade each of them to submit to a little positive press coverage. From a large number of nominees, the selection committee chose the 16 as a representative sample of individuals devoted to making the Pensacola Bay Area a better place to live and work.

“These people oftentimes are doing all the work and getting none of the limelight and none of the praise,” said selection committee member Tait. “I thought it was way overdue to recognize those who work behind the scenes and are doing most of the heavy lifting.”

Along with a love for the community, these unassuming activists of the business arena are willing to get involved without notoriety, have a lot of energy and care more about the cause than their own ego, selection committee members agreed.

“I don’t know where any of us would be if we didn’t have our support team,” Tait said.

Halford agrees and believes the community is dependent on people working behind the scenes.

“It is a tremendous impact on the Pensacola Bay Area,” she said. “Without your volunteers working for you, many, many organizations would not be able to succeed. … These individuals walk into schools, churches, parks or wherever projects are (taking place) and help as strangers, but come out making many close friends.”

Gandy said that those who work behind the scenes “get their self-satisfaction in seeing the results.”

“There are a number of folks out there volunteering in this community for a number of good causes — day in and day out — who are not highly visible but yet they’re out there making things happen.”

Selection committee member Nickelsen recalled occasions where people like honoree Dick Baker helped him with a chamber of commerce initiative, then sat back and let others receive the praise.

That’s typical of the 16 chosen individuals.

“It is their dedication and loyalty which are the moving forces for improvement and change,” Nickelsen said.

Wheeler said she heard a lot of unfamiliar names the day the selection committee met to determine the recipients.

Of course, the recipients probably prefer it that way.

“I think the idea to highlight them or recognize them is good because a lot of times people don’t understand what it takes to get something done in the community,” Wheeler said.

“I think everybody deserves recognition sometimes,” she said. “I don’t know of any community anywhere that can exist and survive and do well without its unsung heroes. People who are out in front need unsung heroes and people working behind the scenes to get it done.”