Brad Pickel - Man of the Year

[Beachlover2]

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Pickel Named Person of the Year



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8/7/2006
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The Northwest Florida Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association has named Brad Pickel, director of beach management for the Walton County Tourist Development Council and the lead project manager for the recent beach nourishment project in south Walton County, 2006 Person of the Year.

The Person of the Year is awarded to a member of the local community who has demonstrated a creative use of communications to benefit the local community.

“Brad has given our community a unique and invaluable communication tool in his ability to take the complicated subject of beach protection and package it in a way that everyone can understand," said Stacey Brady, president of the Northwest Florida Coast Chapter of FPRA. "By taking a difficult subject-matter and making it understandable, Brad has educated dozens of community and professional groups and millions of other people via his media exposure, providing the very best of public relations effectiveness. He has represented our community with integrity and in an approachable way that has benefited all of us immeasurably."

[Smiling JOe]

Congratulations to Brad!

[SoWalSally]

[kurt]

Way to go Brad! One of the good guys caught in the middle.

[Teresa]

yooo-hooooo Brad!!! Person of the year - couldn't happen to a nicer guy!!! you the best...

[TooFarTampa]

Maybe the Person of the Year could grace us with his presence on this board more often!!

[Bob]

BRAD...........the man with the sand!!!!!

[Beachlover2]

BRAD...........the man with the sand!!!!!

[BPickelTDC]

Maybe the Person of the Year could grace us with his presence on this board more often!!

Thank you all and don't worry, he is always watching...

Any questions in particular?

[Miss Kitty]

Thank you all and don't worry, he is always watching...

Any questions in particular?

Hi Brad and congrats! I have a question for SJ...what can be done about all the ugly stuff left overnight on the beautiful beaches?

[BPickelTDC]

Hi Brad and congrats! I have a question for SJ...what can be done about all the ugly stuff left overnight on the beautiful beaches?

Great question and I will answer you in two parts. First, the enforcement of County ordinances regarding the beach can only be initiated by three agencies/people in Walton County: the Sheriff’s Department, Code Enforcement and Leslie Campbell, Beach Activities Coordinator. Of these three, Leslie Campbell is the person directly responsible and would be the best person to approach regarding the tents, umbrellas and chairs left/abandoned on the beach. She is currently working on a program on how to best address these problems and is VERY AWARE of the current situation. Her contact information is camleslie@co.walton.fl.us and her phone number is (850) 267-1853.



As for the TDC, we have placed over 400 trash receptacles along the beach that we service daily, and have recently ordered 50 more. They are emptied 7 days a week starting around 6 am. It currently takes 4-5 trucks about 8 hours to empty all of them. We do not remove tents, umbrellas, or chairs from the beach unless they are leaning against, or directly beside our trash receptacles. If items are adjacent to our trash receptacles, then they are considered trash and removed. Any other items are funneled through Leslie. Once an item is removed by us it is typically destroyed because we do not have the ability in our trash removal process to separate the good from the bad.



I hope this helps in directing those who are interested in providing a contact and also providing some additional information.

[Smiling JOe]

Now we know why you are Da Man of the Year. Thanks for the question, Ms Kitty, and the answer, Brad. That may help us find a person or two to focus upon changing the status quo, but that is another thread. I will copy and paste to the Crap on the Beach thread.

[John R]

Good for you brad, congratulations.

[olive]

They couldn't have picked a better guy!!!!!

[Bobby J]

Congrats Brad!!!!

[Jennifer Steele]

Love the Pickel!!! Congrats Brad!

[Chickpea]

Congrats Brad -for caring and seemingly being effective!!!

[Paula]

Thanks for helping to manage our beautiful beaches, especially as the area gets busier and gets harder to manage. We love SoWal beaches and people who take care of them.

[ShallowsNole]

Congrats Brad - good job!! As always!!

[BPickelTDC]

Hello all. It's official, they actually gave me the award this afternoon and I can't thank the Northwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association enough. I truly feel honored...

I just wanted to thank all of you who have posted and sent other messages directly to me- I truly appreciate it. If you have any questions in the future, just email me, or write my name in a post, I try to follow your questions as much as possible. Thanks again and NO MORE STORMS!!

Brad

[Miss Kitty]

If you are in a PICKEL, call BRAD!!!

Congratulations sir! Can you post a pic of your award? I am glad you are on the good guys team!

[Smiling JOe]

If you are in a PICKEL, call BRAD!!!

Congratulations sir! Can you post a pic of your award? I am glad you are on the good guys team!

I think Gov Bush misspelled Brad's name. :oops:

[Miss Kitty]

...I hate it when that happens!

[Teresa]

Hello all. It's official, they actually gave me the award this afternoon and I can't thank the Northwest Florida Chapter of the Florida Public Relations Association enough. I truly feel honored...

I just wanted to thank all of you who have posted and sent other messages directly to me- I truly appreciate it. If you have any questions in the future, just email me, or write my name in a post, I try to follow your questions as much as possible. Thanks again and NO MORE STORMS!!

Brad

yeeeeeeeee-hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! way to go!!!

[Smiling JOe]

Obviously, that award in the photo is a substitute award which I presented to Brad today, for photo purposes only. I am sure the real one is fancy.

[Smiling JOe]

[Miss Kitty]

...Brad looks so proud, just as he should!!!

[swantree]

Pickel is THE MAN!

[Johnrudy]

...Brad looks so proud, just as he should!!!

He's cute too!