"Tipping point for Pensacola"

That's what campaign co-chair and Gulf Power Vice President Bentina Terry said about the campaign's success.  She also said that Pensacola is "on the precipice of something truly great" thanks to the over $7.3 million pledged to the Vision 2015 program.  Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward III is equally optimistic about the Chamber's program, saying "this is our time in this next decade to do great things."  The campaign's success can be attributed to new CEO Jim Hizer, whose message of more aggressive, strategic, and coordinated economic development efforts resonated with business leaders who are ready for new approaches to growth and prosperity.  Many business leaders who had not previously been big Chamber supporters were persuaded that Vision 2015 was the right approach, at the right time, and made significant commitments to the campaign.  One of them was professional golfer Jerry Pate, who owns a local turf & irrigation business.  In addition to a six figure pledge, Pate has volunteered to join local political and private-sector leaders on business recruitment trips. Read the Pensacola News Journal's coverage of the campaign victory celebration, and an Op-Ed by Gulf Power's Bentina Terry about the importance of the Vision 2015 program to the Pensacola region.