CityBox Media

CITYBOX MAGAZINE COVER STAR UNVEILING & THE VANGUARD COLLECTIVE PRESENTATION
What an unforgettable evening in downtown Pensacola as CityBox Magazine welcomed business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and community changemakers from across the Gulf Coast to celebrate our newest Cover Star, Alexis Bolin of Keller Williams Realty.

With more than four decades of leadership and thousands of homes sold throughout the Gulf Coast, Alexis embodies the excellence, integrity, and lasting impact that CityBox Magazine proudly celebrates.

A special thank you to Attorney Ashley Armstrong of Ashley Armstrong Law Firm for opening the evening and introducing Maryan Aiken, Founder & CEO of CityBox Media Holdings, CityBox Magazine, CityBox Index, and ARENCON GLOBAL.

We are grateful to Michele Carlton, Franchise Owner of PJ's Coffee, Greater Pensacola Chamber Ambassador, and former CityBox Magazine Cover Star, for presenting Alexis and sharing inspiring remarks on leadership, service, and community impact.

Thank you to our keynote speaker, Mike Arbrouet, Founder of CyberCon and Field CTO for IBM, for delivering powerful insights on innovation, technology, cybersecurity, and the future of business.

The evening also showcased The Vanguard Collective, bringing together leaders from real estate, AI, cybersecurity, healthcare, legal, financial services, technology, construction, hospitality, workforce development, and entrepreneurship to connect, collaborate, and build meaningful relationships.

Special appreciation to our Event Co-Hosts:
Synovus + Pinnacle Financial Partners
Thank you to:
• Gwen Smith
• Diane Mendoza
• Patricia "PJ" Johnson
• Crystal Berkley

And our valued partners and supporters:
Dillard's • T-Mobile • Lightroom Studio • Haus of Hue • Greater Pensacola Chamber • Cumulus Media • The District Lounge

Most importantly, thank you to every guest, presenter, sponsor, supporter, and member of The Vanguard Collective & our deepest gratitude to The Good Lord for His light, blessings & guidance.

CITYBOX MAGAZINE COVER STAR PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Jai P Savage

Shot on location at
The Haus of Hue

📸 More event photos coming soon.
Event photography by Isiah Hale

CITYBOX MEDIA PRESENTS
CityBox Magazine Cover Star Unveiling & The Vanguard Collective Presentation

CityBox Magazine was honored to welcome business leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and community builders from across the Gulf Coast for an inspiring evening at The District Lounge in downtown Pensacola as we celebrated the unveiling of our latest Cover Star, Alexis Bolin of Keller Williams Realty.

With a career spanning more than four decades and thousands of homes sold throughout the Gulf Coast, Ms. Alexis Bolin represents the leadership, excellence, and lasting impact that CityBox Magazine seeks to highlight through its Cover Star series.

The evening featured opening remarks from Attorney Ashley Armstrong, Founder of Ashley Armstrong Law Firm, who welcomed attendees and introduced Maryan Aiken, Founder and CEO of CityBox Media Holdings, CityBox Magazine, CityBox Index, and ARENCON GLOBAL.

Attendees also had the opportunity to hear from Cover Star Presenter Michele Carlton, Franchise Owner of PJ’s Coffee, Ambassador for the Greater Pensacola Chamber, and a previous CityBox Magazine Cover Star, whose leadership and community involvement continue to make a meaningful impact throughout the region for presenting Ms. Alexis Bolin.

A special thank you to keynote speaker Mike Arbrouet, Founder of CyberCon and Field CTO for IBM, for sharing valuable insights on innovation, technology, cybersecurity, and the evolving future of business.

The gathering also showcased The Vanguard Collective, bringing together professionals from real estate, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, healthcare, financial & legal services, workforce development, technology, construction, entrepreneurship, and other key industries.

Designed to encourage meaningful connections and strategic collaboration, the event created an environment where leaders could exchange ideas, build relationships, and explore opportunities to support one another's growth and success.

CityBox Magazine extends its sincere appreciation to our Event Co-Hosts, Synovus and Pinnacle Financial Partners, for their partnership and support of the business community. Special recognition goes to Gwen Smith, Retail Market Manager and Senior Vice President; Diane Mendoza, Senior Vice President and Office Leader, Downtown Pensacola; Patricia "PJ" Johnson, Senior Vice President and Office Leader, Pine Forest; and Crystal Berkley, Executive Banker with the Client Services Group in Downtown Pensacola. Their commitment to supporting local businesses and fostering economic growth continues to strengthen the Pensacola community.

Most importantly, thank you to the members of The Vanguard Collective. Your willingness to share knowledge, collaborate across industries, and support one another reflects the very spirit of leadership and community that CityBox was created to celebrate.

THE VANGUARD COLLECTIVE
PRESENTERS
Alex Boykin
Founder. Owner
Gulf Coast Wine
Food & Beverage
Dave Prater
Account Executive
Apex Systems
IT Services and IT Consulting

Grant Corbin
Co-Founder
Iron Cloud Labs
Financial Services and Information Technology

Joe Bookout
Healthcare Specialist Commercial Real Estate
CARR
Commercial Real Estate

Joshua Turner
Founder
Old Crows Wireless Solutions
Electronic Warfare Technician
United States Navy
Information Technology and Services and Telecommunications + Information Warfare

JR Sartaguda
Agency Owner
Superior Insurance Brokerage
Financial Services

Madeline Pendley
Trial Attorney
Rafferty. Domnick. Cunningham. & Yaffa
Legal Services

Mary White
Senior Vice President & Senior Financial Advisor
Merrill Lynch
Financial Services

Riza Ayson
Owner
Travel Advisor
Ayson Travel Agency
Hospitality

Imani Wright
President
American Advertising Federation
Pensacola Chapter
Non Profit

THANK YOU
We are equally grateful to our sponsors, presenters, partners, speakers, featured professionals, and supporters whose contributions helped make this gathering possible. Special thanks to The District Lounge team for their hospitality, our CityBox Fellowship Team for their dedication behind the scenes, our photographers and creative partners for capturing the evening, and every attendee who invested their time and energy into building meaningful professional relationships. To my fellow Pensacolians for your continued support & to The Good Lord for the blessings & guidance.

SPONSORS & PARTNERS
Dillard’s
TMobile
Lightroom Studio
Haus of Hue
Greater Pensacola Chamber of Commerce
Cumulus Media
The District Lounge

Together, we are building more than a business network. We are cultivating a community of leaders, innovators, and changemakers committed to shaping the future of Pensacola and creating opportunities that extend far beyond a single evening.

MORE PHOTOS COMING SOON
www.cityboxmagazine.com

CITYBOX MAGAZINE COVER STAR PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Jai P Savage

Shot on location at
The Haus of Hue

EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Isiah Hale

CITYBOX INDEX
The Leaders Shaping What Comes Next

Some people build businesses.
Others build the places where life happens.
The homes where families gather. The spaces where companies grow. The buildings that become part of a community's story for generations.

I had the opportunity to meet with Lane Otto of Fairhope Building Company, a firm helping shape communities throughout Alabama and Florida through luxury residential and commercial construction.

Behind every remarkable project is a team of professionals whose work extends far beyond blueprints and building materials. Their decisions influence how people live, work, connect, and create memories for years to come.

These are the types of leaders CityBox seeks to document through the CityBox Index.

Not because of a title.
Not because of an award.
But because their work leaves a lasting mark on the communities they serve.

The future of a city is shaped by the people willing to build it.

Quiet Authority. Lasting Influence.

www.cityboxmagazine.com

THANK YOU
A million thanks to Alex Boykin, Founder of Gulf Coast Wine for the thoughtful introduction.

CITYBOX INDEX
The Leaders Helping Shape What’s Next

Dr. Javier Santos, the newly appointed Director of DARPA in Washington, D.C., represents the kind of visionary leadership helping shape the future of innovation, national security, advanced technology, and scientific discovery in America. DARPA, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, is one of the most influential research and development agencies in the world, responsible for helping pioneer breakthrough technologies that have impacted everything from modern communications and cybersecurity to artificial intelligence, aviation, robotics, and the early foundations of the internet itself. The agency plays a critical role in advancing strategic innovation and supporting technologies that shape the future of global competitiveness and national defense.

Also participating in the CityBox Index Signature Portrait Series is Joshua Turner, Founder and Visionary of Old Crows Wireless Solutions and a United States Navy Electronic Warfare Technician. Known for his leadership within wireless communications, technical operations, and mission critical infrastructure, Turner represents the growing intersection between advanced communications technology, strategic operations, and emerging innovation shaping the Gulf Coast region and beyond.

Dr. Santos and Mr. Turner have been selected as CityBox Index Founding Members in Pensacola within their respective industries and sectors, joining a growing collective of professionals, innovators, founders, executives, and forward thinking leaders helping shape the future of business, technology, infrastructure, healthcare, cybersecurity, ai, defense, leadership, and economic growth throughout the region.

LEARN MORE ABOUT CITYBOX INDEX
CityBox Index is a public leadership visibility and discoverability platform designed to help document and showcase professionals, founders, executives, innovators, and organizations contributing to the growth and advancement of their industries in major cities nationwide interconnected by the CityBox platform.

CityBox Index was founded by Maryan Aiken www.cityboxmagazine.com

Fashion provided by Dillard’s Cordova Mall.
Styled by Wendy. Shot on location at The Haus of Hue.