Marc D. Ensign, founder, CEO and visionary of Sound-n-Vision Designs has been a professional web designer and multi-media consultant for over ten years. He was introduced to the web design industry while working for a top advertising agency in New York City where he was in charge of designing for pinnacle companies such as Heinz, Knight Ridder and Prodigy. Marc took this incredible opportunity to experience the inner workings of a major corporations’ website and marketing strategy.

In an effort to take his design skills to a higher level, Marc then took on a position as a chief designer for an Internet based Entertainment Company, where he worked alongside a staff of some of the best designers, programmers and animators in the industry. This assisted Marc in achieving the expertise needed to formulate a strategy to launch his own company. It was there that the concept for Sound-n-Vision Designs was born.

In December of 2000, Sound-n-Vision Designs had become a reality. Over the next 5½ years, Marc would invest all of his time into building Sound-n-Vision Designs into a reputable enterprise that would eventually become the backbone for many other companies on the web. Along with web design, Sound-n-Vision has grown to offer services ranging from web hosting, marketing, consulting and search engine optimization.

Sound-n-Vision Designs’ diversified clientele rave about the quality of work they do. With clients ranging from artists, non-profit organizations, small, medium and large businesses and Fortune 500 companies, Sound-n-Vision Designs has been able to bring the incredible potential of the World Wide Web to companies big and small.

Most notably, Sound-n-Vision Designs has worked with companies including Nike, American Express, Travel and Leisure Magazine, The New York Pops, Callaway Golf, distinguished chef Tim Creehan and Beach Walk Café, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Radisson Hotel, The Mackinaw Theater and most recently Food & Wine Magazine.

Geordy Murphy
Hospitality Pro Search

Geordy spent the greater part of his restaurant career working with the likes of Wolfgang Puck and the Kimpton Group. He was with Club Corporations of America, where he was responsible for opening the Plaza Club in Honolulu, and Canyon Creek Country Club. After CCA, Geordy took on the role of Director of Marketing and Management for Studebakers of America.  Geordy then moved on to a new project of converting 3 seafood restaurants to Charlie Brown Prime Rib Restaurants. From 1987 until 1992, Geordy was General Manager of Kuleto’s, a Kimpton Group Hotel and Restaurant Management Company unit.  Geordy lead a sales effort that more than tripled the company’s revenues in three years. He also built and opened Wolfgang Puck’s world acclaimed restaurant, Wolfgang Puck’s Postrio. In 1992 Geordy became the proprietor of Geordy’s Restaurant on San Francisco’s Union Square.  Geordy’s was recognized as one of the “Ten Best New Restaurants of 1994” in the U.S.A. by Esquire Magazine, and as one of the “Four Best Restaurants in San Francisco” by the New York Times. From 1996 until 2000 Geordy acted as COO and co-founder of Long Life Noodle Company, a six store, $7.2 Million annual revenue restaurant chain. 

Today, Geordy brings his vast wealth of experience to Hospitality Pro Search as a partner and co-founder.

Judd Brown
Founder, Judd Brown Design

Mr. Brown founded Judd Brown Design (JBD) in 1983, as a firm specializing in Hospitality Design and Club Consulting. With extensive experience in restaurant and club operations, Mr. Brown has led JBD to become a nationally renowned, award-winning design and consulting firm. Mr. Brown founded JBD in 1983 to provide design and consulting services for hospitality facilities. Since JBD’s founding, Mr. Brown has developed expertise in the hospitality and club industries placing him among the nation’s most notable experts in the field. Having primary responsibility for private clubs, restaurant, and luxury residential projects ranging from under $100,000 to over $13,000,000, Mr. Brown has been able to instill confidence in his clients resulting from his caring, hands on professional approach to the design and consulting process.

Since our founding by Judd Brown and Steve McMahon in 1983, JBD has successfully completed an impressive array of design projects for the hospitality industry. Our staff of more than 25 design professionals has created a multitude of award-winning interior and exterior concepts throughout the world. Together with our sister-architectural-firm, Jefferson Group Architects, Judd Brown Designs continues to provide highly creative and complete design solutions for the nation’s restaurants, spas and hotels.

Our combined range of services include:

• building reviews and evaluations
• market positioning, membership surveys and master planning
• preliminary designs, architecture and interior design
• logo, graphics and menu design
• kitchen design and coordination
• mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering
• furniture, furnishings, and equipment purchasing and coordination
• lighting design, décor and accessory selection

JBD, as one of America’s foremost Private Club Planning and Design consultants, provides the nation’s clubs with a complete array of services to assist the membership and management in the development and presentation of Membership Surveys and Facility Master Plans as well as subsequent plan implementation programs.

Project types for which we are internationally know include:

• full service restaurants and casual dining facilities
• quick serves restaurants, chain and single unit operations
• country clubs, city dining clubs, yacht clubs and athletic clubs
• lodging, resorts, gaming facilities, spas, salons and luxury residences

Bill Pope
Founder, WAPA Architects

Mr. Pope has 27 years of development, architectural, master planning, construction, leasing and all aspects of development experience. Mr. Pope has successfully completed more than 50 projects ranging in from $10 million to $500 million. He has directed and managed all aspects of development activities including project planning and feasibility analysis, site evaluation/selection, project management, zoning, construction management, leasing , major tenant negotiations and financing.

Mr. Pope is a licensed architect in 15 states and currently owns W. Development, Inc. and W. Architects, P.A. with commercial, retail, condominium developments and architectural projects in the Southeast. He has previously been affiliated with the Edward J. DeBartolo Corporation, Jim Wilson & Associates and The Irvine Company. As director of retail development for the Irvine Company, he was instrumental in re-developing Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California; and in the development of Tustin Center, Tustin, California; and Irvine Center in Irvine, California and other Southern California projects.

Mr. Pope’s current clients are Turnberry Associates, Legendary, Inc., Intrawest, various regional retail chains and private commercial projects.

Don Rutland
Founder, The Rutland Development Company

Mr. Rutland is President and CEO of the Rutland Company, a real estate development company that is head quartered in Destin, Florida with a satellite office in Atlanta, Georgia. The company’s focus is on commercial and residential real estate development, including office, retail and multi-family condominiums and townhouse development. Additionally, the company provides a wide variety of consulting services including development, marketing/sales, design and construction and financing.

Prior to his current responsibilities, Mr. Rutland served as President of the Property Development Division at The Landmarks Group. He was responsible for all property development activities including Mexico and the formation of the Mexican subsidiary of The Landmarks Group. He has also served as Group Director/partner at Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates, Inc. a prestigious national architectural firm.

Mr. Rutland is a present member of the American Institute of Architects, National Association of Office and Industrial Parks, National Apartment Association, National Association of Realtors, and is the past chairman of the Advisory Council of the Auburn University School of Architecture.

He presently sits on the Executive Board of the College of Architecture Design and Construction at Auburn University. He is a native of Alabama and graduated from Auburn University, where he earned a Bachelor of Architecture Degree. He is married with three children and resides in Seagrove Beach, Florida.

Jackie Ely
J.Ely Business Services

J Ely Business Services, Inc. was founded by Jackie Ely in 1998. She has worked in the restaurant accounting field for 31 years. J Ely Business Services, Inc. presently provides accounting services for 40 businesses across the Florida panhandle. It’s client base includes restaurants and bars as well as retail stores, owners associations, builders, lawyers, churches and local service organizations to name a few.

Ms. Ely spent eight years with the Chuck Muer Corporation, working as a property accountant, as well as training and opening new properties for that multi state operation. She was recruited by Mainstreet Ventures, Inc., a restaurant management company with operations in five states. During her tenure with Mainstreet Ventures, she was instrumental in establishing a fully integrated accounting system with the restaurant point of sale system. Ms. Ely served as assistant controller, managing all of the accounting and administrative functions for Mainstreet Ventures for thirteen years.

Ms Ely was then recruited by Destin Development Co. Inc., and spent four years with that organization as their corporate controller. In that position, she streamlined processes and eliminated manual operations, making it possible to manage remote businesses without on-site accounting personnel. Her extensive restaurant and computer experience allowed her to give more advanced support in the areas of menu engineering, POS system programming and support and customized management reporting.

Ms. Ely’s is presently a Pro Advisor for QuickBooks and is working toward her certification with that organization.

At J Ely Business Services, Inc., Ms Ely applies her experience and expertise to make outsourcing of internal accounting functions a practical, cost-effective reality throughout the business world.

Paul Hertzog
Owner, Silver Sands Development
General Contracting

Paul Hertzog, Owner and President of Silver Sands Development, is a recognized business leader in this community. His work has captured the attention of the public and won numerous awards, namely the Building Industry Association’s “Builder of the Year” award for both 2000 and 2001, and several Apex Awards between 1999 and 2005. Paul maintains both a Building Contractor and Marine Contractor license, and is not only a member of the National Association of Home Builders and Marine Contractors Association, but also the 2004 President of the Okaloosa/Walton chapter of the Building Industry Association.

Silver Sands Development is the premier contractor on the Emerald Coast. Since 1994, our company has developed a solid reputation for quality construction and customer satisfaction. Silver Sands offer thier customers an extensive variety of construction services, as well as over 19 years of experience in the building industry

Constant Contact

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Kathleen Shoop
Oasis Outsourcing

Kathleen Shoop is a professional employer consultant that specializes in supplying peace of mind for her clientele. She works closely with many restaurants and hotels by providing them Human Resource solutions for many time-consuming administrative functions associated with the employment relationship. By helping them shoulder this burden she helps them to become an employer of choice, which allows them attract and retain the best in the industry.

Gene Barker
Partner, O’Sullivan Creel, CPA

Bio coming soon!

Donny Theriot
Kesko Supply Services

Bio coming soon!

Dan Murphy
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association
Vice President, Membership & Corporate Relations

Bio coming soon!