Christy Gibson, Visitor Center Manager
Christy moved to the Panhandle from Michigan in 1978. She graduated from Florida State University with a degree in Public Relations and has enjoyed working in that field for the Florida Lottery, Up With People, Seaside and Walton County. Christy worked for the Walton County Tourism Department for the first time from 1998-2001 as Public Relations Specialist, returning in 2016 and now serving as Visitor Center Manager. Christy says, “It’s a real joy for me to share what I’ve learned about this exceptional county over the past 40 years to help our visitors enjoy their time here to the fullest.” During her free time, Christy enjoys spending time with family, including her husband, Gary, and their two children.
Norma Jean Umble, Lead Information Specialist
Norma Jean has worked for the Walton County Tourism Department for 9 years and is the Lead Visitor Information Specialist in the Visitor Center. Prior to joining the team, she worked for Topsail Hill Preserve State Park for 20 years. Norma Jean has lived in Walton County for over 30 years and has two children, Daniel Kelly and Christina Jimenez, and six grandchildren. She is married to Todd Umble, loves spending time with family and enjoys fishing and boating. She also enjoys cooking and is known to share her creations with her work family. When asked to write a bit about herself for this issue, the two points she highlighted are “family is the most important thing to me, and my favorite name is Nana.”
Joyce Clark, Information Specialist
After completing her education in administration, Joyce became a resident of Walton County in 2001 when her career began as a tour guide within the winemaking industry, a position she served for 12 years. In 2016, she shifted her focus to the tourism industry, joining the Walton County Tourism Department, where she has worked as an Information Specialist for the past five years. During her free time, Joyce enjoys taking day trips or spending quiet time at home.
Angela Loubier, Visitor Information Specialist
Originally from New Hampshire, Angela has called Florida home since 1998 and South Walton home since 2013. As a Visitor Information Specialist, she interacts with visitors and locals daily, sharing the hidden gems of our area and leaving a memorable impression on everyone who comes into the Visitor Center. When she’s not at work, you’ll find Angela spending time with her family, reading and walking her dogs on the trails throughout South Walton.
Dana McDowell, Visitor Services Specialist
Dana and her husband recently moved to Santa Rosa Beach from Nashville, where she worked with the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp for ten years, serving as manager of the Nashville Visitor Center for the last eight years. Having vacationed along the Panhandle for many years, they always dreamed of living near the beach – and following her husband’s retirement, they decided to make their dream come true. Dana enjoys soaking up the sun, watching the sunset on the beach and taking leisurely drives in her VW Bug convertible. Dana has been married to Joe for 19 years and has two sons, a stepdaughter, a stepson and one granddaughter.