Michael S. Brim
Executive Director
801 Jenks Avenue, Ste. G
Panama City, Florida 32401
Phone: (850) 215-5592
Fax: (850) 215-5591

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Best, Inc. was incorporated in 1996 as a Florida not-for-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) status provided by the Internal Revenue Service.  BEST, Inc. serves as the financial entity and receives and disburses funds in accordance with the purposes of grants or donations in support of Friends of St. Andrew Bay projects.  BEST, Inc. employs, supervises, and is responsible for the Administrative Support Team.  BEST, Inc. is governed by its bylaws and the policies developed by the Board to implement the bylaws and conform to the state and federal laws that govern such a corporation. 

The Best, Inc. Board of Directors consists of seven members who serve as volunteers. The Officers of the Board of Directors consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.  Board meetings are held the second Wednesday of each month at 3 p.m. at the BEST Inc. & Friends of St. Andrew Bay offices.

BEST, Inc. Board of Directors

2008 - 2009
 

President – Charles “Charlie” Yautz:  Charlie Yautz  was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and is a longtime resident of Bay County.  He attended the University of Cincinnati College of Design and Architecture, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Design, with a major in Advertising.  He is a longtime member of BEST.  Charlie also served as the City Clerk of Springfield, and is now retired and is an active volunteer.

Vice President – Larry Hawks: Bio coming soon!

 

Treasurer – Marie Largilliere: Marie was born in Pascagoula, Mississippi and has been a resident of Bay County since 2001.  She obtained a BS in Biology from the University of South Alabama in 1978.  In 1980 she started her career with The Southern Company in Mississippi.  In 2001 she transferred to Gulf Power Company.  She is currently the Compliance Team Leader at the Lansing Smith Generation Plant located in Southport.  Marie has been a member of the BEST Steering Committee since 2001 and is currently a member of BEST, Inc.  She has also served on the Board of Directors of Girls’ Inc.

Secretary – Jill Blue Reich: Secretary - Jill Blue Reich was raised in Panama City but attended high school in Fort Walton Beach so as to dance with the Northwest Florida Ballet.  Upon graduation, she danced professionally with the Atlanta Ballet for three years before attending University of Florida.  She graduated in 1997 and moved to Washington, DC where she interned for Senator Bob Graham and then worked for Science Applications International Corporation.  Jill then attended FSU and received her law degree in 2001.  She moved to Savannah, GA shortly thereafter and obtained her real estate license.  Jill moved back to Panama City in 2004 and worked for Burke, Blue, Hutchison, Walters, & Smith, PA.  After the death of her husband, Major Stephen Charles Reich, in Afghanistan, Jill began volunteering and contracting with BEST.  She is also a member of the Kiwanis Club of Panama City.

Director – James T. “Jim” Mann:  Jim Mann was born in Alabama and is a longtime resident of Bay County. Currently the Transportation Manager for Smurfit-Stone, Jim has been affiliated with the paper mill in Panama City since 1972. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications from Auburn University. A member of BEST since 1988, and founding member of BEST, Inc., he is also a Member of the Board of Directors for Bay Credit Union; a member of the Kiwanis Club of Panama City; and member of the Bay County Chamber of Commerce. Previous civic and community organization affiliations include: Chairman, Board of Directors, Central Panhandle Chapter of American Red Cross; President and member, Board of Directors, Bay Area Auburn Club (alumni association); Member, Board of Directors, United Way of Northwest Florida; Member and award winner, Florida Public Relations Association; Member, Board of Directors, United Cerebral Palsy of North Florida; Member, Board of Directors, Florida Pulp and Paper Association.  He is married with two grown children.
 

Director – Steve Haines: Steve Haines was born in Panama City, but reared elsewhere, reconnecting with the panhandle in about 1975. He is an army combat veteran, and earned a Bachelor's degree from Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee and a masters in Organizational Communication from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky. Steve is a retired police officer, and owns two small businesses, as well as being Blog editor for Small Craft Advisor magazine. An avid sailor and beach bum, Steve is on the board of Panhandle Crimestoppers crimestoppers as well as BEST.

Board Member – John Newman:  John Newman was born in Albany, Ga., and reared in Panama City. He graduated from Bay High School and holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of the South, and served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force.  John is Vice-President of Engineering & Equipment Co. and Vice-President of Shady Oaks, Inc.  He is a Member of BEST, Inc. and is the former Co-Chairman of the Chemical Contaminants Committee of BEST. He is a Senior Active & Charter member, former Vice-President (twice) of  Northside Rotary Club of Panama City, and prior to that, a member of the Downtown Rotary Club. He is a lifetime member of the Gulf Coast College Foundation; and lifetime member of the Bay Medical Foundation. Former President, Secretary, Treasurer and now current V.P. and board member of Panhandle Crime Stoppers; longtime member of the Florida Sheriff’s Association; Life Member of the Bay County Conservancy Inc.  Former board member of Southern Wholesale Association (several terms); member of Bay County Chamber of Commerce, including Military Affairs Committee; and member of Panama City Beach Chamber of Commerce.