Gulf Winds Credit Union breaks ground
BY FRANKLIN HAYES Gulf Breeze News franklin@gulfbreezenews.com

Franklin Hayes/Gulf Breeze News From LEFT to RIGHT: Architect Dennis Kingsland Shipley, Real Estate Broker Dr. Alan Overbaugh, Gulf Winds CEO Chris Rutledge, City Manager Edwin 'Buz' Eddy, WAM Construction President Mark Schroth, Gulf Winds Facilities Manager Rex Burt and Gulf Winds Board Member Ozzie Oswald.

Gulf Breeze members of Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union (GWFCU) won't have to drive all the way to Pace Boulevard in Pensacola to do their banking anymore, as the company celebrated the groundbreaking for their eighth office.

During the first week of March, developers held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new office complex that will include a GWFCU branch as well as offices for Gulf Breeze Land, Gulf Breeze Reality and the offices of Mark Lyons III.

"We have thousands of Gulf Breeze members," GWFCU Chief Executive Officer Chris Rutledge said.

"This is the perfect opportunity to serve them. The location is very convenient, we will have good access in and out."

According to Mark Schroth with WAM Construction, the concrete foundation will be poured with in the first two weeks of March, and the outer shell of the building should be complete in six months.

"Of course, it depends on hurricane season, but we should be up and running by winter," Rutledge said.

Officials for the City of Gulf Breeze were on hand for the groundbreaking ceremony as well.

"This is a good addition to the downtown area. It creates a banking center to go along with the healthcare facilities in the area," City Manager Edwin 'Buz' Eddy said.

Developer Dr. Alan Overbaugh said the new building will be a 14,000 square foot, two-story office complex. Next month, developers plan to begin construction on a smaller 2,400 square foot building that will house Schroth Reality and Gulf Coast Investments. The smaller complex will sit on the property where Harry Hamm's Mug & Brush, Barber & Style is currently located at 1388 Shoreline Drive.

"We'll start next month on the strip center (smaller building), hopefully by the beginning of August," Schroth said.

Gulf Winds Federal Credit Union, formerly Monsanto Employees Credit Union, has a new charter and a new name. GWFCU is now a community credit union, currently serving all those who live, work, worship, or attend school in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties, Florida and Escambia county, Alabama. The "winds of change" now allow a broader field of membership to enjoy the friendly, reliable service for which GWFCU has long been known.