66 | VIPPensacola.com
Jenn and Lewis Bear III Named
Honorary Chairs for The Big Gala
2019 Benefi ting Big Brothers Big
Sisters of Northwest Florida
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest
Florida has named Jenn and Lewis Bear III as
Honorary Chairs of the annual Big Gala.
“Jenn and Lewis are amazing advocates for
the community,” said Paula Shell, President
and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Northwest Florida. “With this being our
30th year, we felt it was important to have
Honorary Chairs who exemplify that history.
The Bear Family has been involved since
the beginning. Belle and Lewis Bear Jr. were
instrumental in bringing our services to
Northwest Florida and serving on our board.
Cyndi Bear Bonner has also served on our
board, and now Lewis Bear III currently
serves. Our Littles are blessed by the service
of this family.”
“We are so happy to support Big Brothers
Big Sisters of Northwest Florida as they
begin their 30th year,” said Lewis. “We
love our Little Brother Sam. We started
this relationship to help Sam, but we have
benefi ted far more than we imagined from
having him in our lives,” shared Jenn.
The Big Gala is Big Brothers Big Sisters of
Northwest Florida’s signature fundraising
event and will be held on January 11, 2019
at Skopelos at New World. The event will
kick off the agency’s 30th anniversary serving
kids in the Panhandle. To learn more about
becoming a sponsor, visit www.bbbsnwfl .org
or call Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest
Florida at 850-433-5437.
‘Broken Time: Sculpture by Martin
Payton’ on Exhibit at Pensacola
State
“Broken Time: Sculpture by Martin
Payton,” a collection of the artist’s most
sophisticated improvised creations, will be
on display at Pensacola State College through
Friday, Nov. 30.
Inspired by New Orleans jazz musicians,
the exhibition of works created by Payton
over the last 20 years is in the Charles W.
Lamar Studio on the Pensacola campus.
A reception followed by a question-and-
answer session with Payton is set for 6-8 p.m.
Thursday, Oct. 4, in the Lamar Studio.
Using scrap metal, Payton welds the
medium into sparse, lyrical steel sculptures
that are deeply rooted in the modernist
tradition. Characteristics of his works include
striking lines, curves and planes deepened
with nuanced layers of meaning rooted in
African symbolism, the African American
experience and jazz.
Born in New Orleans in 1948, Payton
lives and maintains a studio in Baton Rouge.
A professor of art at Southern University
from 1990 until 2011, he received his BFA
from Xavier University and MFA from
Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles. His work
is in the permanent collections of NOMA,
the Amistad Research Center, the William
King Regional
Arts Center and
the Rosekrans
Runnymede
Sculpture Garden.
The Charles
W. Lamar Studio
gallery hours are
8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Monday through
Thursday and
8 a.m.-4 p.m.
Friday. Tours are
available with prior
arrangements. Admission is free and open to
the public. For more information, call 850-
484-2550.
Saltmarsh Named One of the
Nation’s Top 200 Firms by INSIDE
Public Accounting
Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund, one of
the largest CPA-led consulting fi rms in the
Southeast, has been recognized as one of the
nation’s Top 200 accounting fi rms according
to INSIDE Public Accounting (IPA).
The list is comprised of accounting fi rms
ranging in size from the multi-billion-dollar
Big 4 to fi rms of roughly $10 million in net
revenue. The rankings are compiled using
data gathered from IPA’s Annual Survey and
Analysis of Firms, which received over 600
responses.
“With our 75th anniversary approaching,
we are proud that our fi rm has grown to
become one of the nation’s top accounting
fi rms. This recognition validates our
commitment to providing quality service,
investing in our people for sustainable
growth, and upholding our shared vision
and guiding principles,” said President Lee
Bell. “Our success is driven by our dedicated
professionals, loyal clients and communities.
Pensacola can be proud that a fi rm founded
in our area is being recognized at the national
level for its continued success.”
In light of the evolving landscape in the
accounting industry, Mike Platt, principal
with IPA, stated: “CPA fi rms continue
their expansion into services that are not
traditionally associated with accounting fi rms
- wealth management, cybersecurity, [and]
client marketing assistance...” Saltmarsh
continues to expand and refi ne our services
to best help our clients achieve success in
their various industries, both now and in the
coming years.
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