Intellectual Capital - Brains on Ice in Northwest Florida

Intellectual Capital in Florida's Great Northwest
by
Scott T. Jackson,
Published in Climate Magazine Sept - Oct 2001
Vol 12, Issue 5
(Index of Other Articles)

Tom Hopkins was on his way home from work sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic on Atlanta’s 285 beltway. "I ought to get out of Atlanta, move to the beach and be a bartender" he mused. Tom is now enjoying a bartending job at Pandora’s Restaurant in Grayton Beach. A career change of this type would not normally be a big deal unless you consider that path that he took to get there. The original notion of moving to the beach occurred 30 years ago – and was realized after a succession of high-tech positions, most notably as a marketing manager for Compaq computers that went through a round of layoffs recently. But Tom is happy and feels no stigma with doing something totally different from his background and training. "It says you made the move to something you like and want to do", he says.

We see people like this all the time in Northwest Florida: highly educated and talented people that either by choice or circumstance are working in a position that diverges from their career track. Why? Tom would agree like many others that the draw of the quality of life. When asked if he felt that the lifestyle motivated people to do whatever it took to remain in the area for the lifestyle he noted, "Yes, absolutely. I have already made the decision that whatever my next full-time job is it will have to allow me to live here."

Recently a high-tech startup company in Panama City sought the acumen of one of the early pioneers in the field of ultrawideband wireless technology, a rapidly emerging field that until recent years was highly classified. The company searched high and low all over the world to locate the individual and obtain his sage advice and counsel. Well Dr. Henning Harmuth did work all over the world….from his wheelchair in Destin. They only had to look in their back yard. Dr. Harmuth wanted to "get away from the traffic in the Washington DC area, especially the beltway traffic." So he had moved down to the quality of life and relative obscurity. Ok, so the move may have backfired from the traffic standpoint. Nevertheless he has been quietly enjoying the lifestyle of semi-retirement collaborating via the Internet with a research group in the Ukraine. In addition he is having a book published in Singapore on his recent work, Modified Maxwell Equations in Quantum Electrodynamics. He aptly represents the ability to touch the world intellectually without compromising your lifestyle dreams.

While the lifestyle and wonderful amenities this region offers are such a strong draw to intellectual capital the presence of the military bases ensures a steady flow of it. With the military facilities of Pensacola NAS, Whiting Field, Hurlburt Field, Eglin Air Force Base, Coastal Systems Station and Tyndall Air Force Base disgorging highly trained labor into the region the challenge becomes finding employment that makes best use of those skills. Many are absorbed into the bourgeoning hospitality/real estate industry that characterizes our coastal economy. But for many the challenge is finding something that allows skills to be transferred.

The University of West Florida’s Haas Center for Business Research and Economic Development recently produced a research project on this subject for the Economic Development Council of Okaloosa County. The "Retired and Separated Targeted Transition" (RESTART) is a comprehensive examination of the character and demographics of retired and separated military members. Within the summary of the report the challenge is addressed, "Local military installations at Eglin AFB and Hurlburt Field are facing these issues and looking at a potential of over 1,700 transitioning personnel in our local area. The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) provides support to personnel at an average rate of over 60 people per month per base for those who choose to participate. Can the local labor market absorb these skilled workers or will they choose to relocate to areas with a higher demand for their skills?"

Economic Development officials from Escambia to Bay County continue to tout their unique ex-military labor pool in every venue they can in order to attract more companies to the region. It is a key inducement that gets a lot of attention from business relocation consultants.

But what about those individuals, who have made their mark in life, achieved much, retired in the area and not necessarily looking for work? Ever wary that they might go stagnant if they don’t’ have something to do.

Don Litke had achieved much in his 30 year Air Force career. From flying 27 different type aircraft from the B-25 to the F-16 to running the Defense Logistics Agency (51,500 employees and a $1.9 billion annual budget). After retiring as a Major General and a 10-year run with a successful consulting business Don decided to retire in Niceville.

"When we settled in Niceville, I drastically reduced my consulting activity so that I could spend more time with my wife and my hobbies" he says. "However, I became concerned that I was growing mentally stagnant and not using the invaluable experience I had gained over the years. That's when Bob Richburg offered me the opportunity to, using your term, invest some intellectual capital in the local community though membership in the Institute for Senior Professionals."

Of course this region would not expect any less a bold vision from Dr. Richburg of Okaloosa-Walton Community College and one of Climate Business Magazine’s "Millennium Men". Dr. Richburg formed the Institute for Senior Professionals (ISP) to provide a means for talented retired individuals to continue to make contributions to the community (http://owcc-r-06.owcc.net/ISP/ISP/pages/index.htm).

Don Litke is the outgoing chairman of the ISP and adds, "ISP is an organization of about 45 mostly retired senior men and women who have had successful careers at the highest levels of industry, education or government and who wish to use their experience for the betterment of the local communities. We do this primarily by studying

problems and issues presented to us by local governmental and not-for-profit agencies and making recommendations for solutions."

The cross-section of experience and industries in ISP is extensive - too many to enumerate but include aerospace, scientific, financial, utilities, chemical, military, health, medical, legal and even national intelligence operations. The institutes web site contains specifics on the range of talent and projects produced.

Membership into ISP is by invitation of the College President based upon a recommendation from the members. Prospective members are invited to attend a regular meeting as guests. The membership committee provides and reviews an application and makes recommendations to the entire membership.

Choosing between lifestyle and career track often involves a radical career transition, especially in this diverse region and its seductive lifestyle. Assistance programs may mitigate some transitions however many are abrupt and involuntary. But by and large this area’s quality of life continues to draw and retain some of the best and brightest.

Michael Hicks of Pensacola is a former naval aviator and now president of Hixardt Technologies, a network consulting and system integration company. He aspired to a navy career, which was suddenly cut short due to a medical situation. His pragmatic philosophy about adapting to career change is "Challenge – life is not without it’s share of challenges. You either adapt to the situation or get swept aside."

But underneath the challenge is the comfort of where he has chosen to live, which motivates Mike to move forward. "Pensacola is one of the best kept secrets in the south," he says. "This area is one of the best areas in the world for raising a family. Besides it’s beauty, "Pensacolian’s" possess that southern charm and hospitality and way of life that makes this a great area to live."

We definitely have a varied and talented group of people who enjoy living in Northwest Florida. And career changes will not keep them from pursuing new challenges as long as the can do it here. Just ask Tom the bartender.