For decades, the pulse of Walton County has beat strongest near its sugar-white southern beaches. But a new crescendo is rising north of the bay: in Freeport and DeFuniak Springs, years of quiet are giving way to a booming rhythm of growth. These towns are evolving beyond scenic drive-throughs—they’re emerging as vibrant hubs of commerce and community.
The Walton Area Chamber of Commerce is bringing back The Next BIG Thing on Monday, October 6, 2025, and we’re telling you now—this is not your average business conference.
This episode is all about the power of coming together—about what can happen when business owners stop seeing each other as competition and start seeing each other as community. At the heart of that mission in Freeport, Florida, is the Freeport Merchant Association—and at the heart of that is today’s guest, William “Bill” Blanken.
