New Faces, Places and Accolades

In Walton County, the landscape is continuously evolving, welcoming fresh faces and exciting new locations, collecting accolades that speak to our world-class travel status. We’re pleased to greet these new and noteworthy additions to the community.

In late May, the Walton County Board of County Commissioners selected Quinn Robertson as new administrator. Hailing from Indialantic, Florida, Robertson is an Army Veteran. Prior to joining the Walton County team, he also owned and managed a popular German biergarten in Melbourne, Florida.

Before his Florida ventures, Robertson served as the manager of Colonial Beach, Virginia, for two years. His educational accomplishments include an MBA from Radford University, and he has nearly 20 years of senior management experience. 

Alys Beach has welcomed Robert Stenhammer as its new vice president and general manager. Stenhammer brings with him a bachelor’s degree in business management and a wealth of knowledge and expertise in resort management, community associations, private club management and luxury real estate services. 

Stenhammer’s 25-year career in hospitality began in the ski resorts of Colorado. During his tenure with Vail Resorts and Intrawest, he directly oversaw the management of over 2,600 vacation rental properties and 40 homeowner associations, as well as various hospitality aspects, including retail, food and beverage, real estate, hotels, golf and resort operations.

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa announced the appointment of Angelina Covington as general manager. Covington brings to her role a vast knowledge of the hospitality industry and a deep understanding of the local area. Her primary focus will be on enhancement of comprehensive guest experience, overseeing revenue management and managing the daily operations of the hotel.

Covington’s journey with the resort began as manager of Sandcastles, one of six dining outlets located on the property. This experience equipped her with a unique appreciation for different departments within the hospitality industry, which she will draw upon in her new position.

Walton County Tourism Director Matt Algarin has been accredited as a Certified Destination Management Executive. The CDME credential, awarded through Destinations International, is the tourism industry’s highest individual educational achievement, preparing senior executives to thrive in a constantly changing environment. The program focuses on vision, leadership, productivity and implementation of business strategies. 

Algarin has been with the organization since 2017 and served as the department’s director of communications before his promotion to tourism director in 2022. Prior to joining the Walton County Tourism Department, Algarin worked in the magazine and newspaper industries, serving as editor of The Destin Log and The Walton Sun. He holds a bachelor’s degree in communication arts from the University of West Florida and a master’s degree in new media journalism from Full Sail University.