Panama City Beach Chamber Humanitarian of the Year

On February 23, 2017 the Panama City Beach Chamber of

Commerce named Jimy Thorpe, owner of A Superior Air Conditioning Company, at their 2017 Annual Dinner. Attended by over 600 Chamber members, the event was held at Edgewater
Beach Resort; five people received various civic awards that evening. A Humanitarian, as the Chamber described, is a person who works to make other people’s lives better, is motivated by serving others, and loves to give back. Thorpe received the award for all of these reasons. In 2003 he launched A Superior Air Conditioning Company, and having served in the military as a
veteran of foreign war, he has possessed the perseverance necessary to keep his business thriving in a still-seasonal market.  Serving in the U.S. Army also prompted Thorpe to launch his “Vets Helping Vets” program in 2015, whereby the company gave away a new air conditioning system, quarterly, to one deserving U.S. Veteran. In 2016 he expanded the program to include First Responders, and began giving away eight AC systems per year.

In late 2016, Thorpe launched a new program, Choose Your Charity, in order to provide donations to dozens of local charities throughout Northwest Florida. “Our ten thousand-foot goal is to have as many businesses, like ours, donating to as many charities as possible, thus completing the Circle of Giving,” he explains. “A Superior is a model of what other businesses can get out there and do.” With this program, Thorpe personally visits charities, schools and churches all over Bay and Walton Counties to get a better understanding of their specific needs, and how they can use more funding. Customers utilizing the services of A Superior may choose which charity they want to benefit; 10% of the services performed, 5% of any equipment sales, and $25 per Preventative Maintenance Plan purchased is then given to that organization. Thorpe pays proceeds to selected organizations every Friday. For more information about Vets Helping Vets & First Responders, Choose Your Charity, or A Superior AC’s annual school jingle competition, go to www.ASuperiorAC.com, and LIKE us on Facebook.

PHOTO: Pictured from left: Kristopher McLane, Beach Chamber President; Jimy Thorpe; Ryan Davis, Chairman of the Board.