By Jamie Zimchek
Gulf Coast Shutter and the Overhead Door Company of Northwest Florida (both Dillard companies) together are such a well-known entity, you’d be forgiven for thinking they’ve been around forever. But it was in 2011, when Wayne Bernheisel acquired Gulf Coast Shutter (founded in 2001) that this local business really became part of the local community. Now, with the acquisition of Quality Gates and Openers in Panama City, they’re poised to extend their reach even farther down the Gulf Coast.
Wayne Bernheisel had always wanted his own business, but the path to this end goal wasn’t a straight one. It took a stint in the Air Force and corporate jobs with companies like Rolls-Royce and Crane Aerospace & Electronics before he was able to buy Gulf Coast Shutter in 2011. It turned out to be the perfect time for him to combine his love of community with his dream of a self-owned enterprise. “I wanted something that provided me opportunity to be out serving the community and building relationships, to me that was really important and more fulfilling. Coming from the corporate side, local community was not such a priority during my tenure,” explains Bernheisel. For him, Gulf Coast Shutter and the Overhead Door Company of NW Florida offer a way to provide the community with needed products, for security and otherwise, but also much-needed services. Their tagline – Live Life Beautifully Secure – is reflected in a product line that ranges from basic hurricane screens to Colonial and Bahama Shutters with plenty of curb appeal to a variety of eye-catching garage door options.
And though they got their start primarily in residential, they are now a major supplier for commercial as well. Whether they’re dealing with a large business or a comparatively small residential project, customer service is paramount.
The recent merger with Quality Gates and Openers in Panama City under the ownership of Chris Harris allows Bernheisel and his team to extend this community reach well outside of Walton County. Now, they have over 40 employees spread between two locations, one location to cover the Southport to Port St. Joe region and another to service the Valparaiso/Destin area stretching west to Pensacola, as well as everything in between. Additionally, Quality Gates and Openers offers a broad range of services that will nicely complement those of Gulf Coast Shutter and the Overhead Door Company. “We design, we fabricate, we powder coat, we install, and we service automated gates,” explains Harris. He rattles off a list of gates that includes (but is not limited to) driveway gates, gates for residential homes, industrial complexes, boardwalk gates, garden gates, pool gates, and pedestrian gates in general. In addition to offering a range of installations, Harris also offers a 24-hour response time for stuck or broken gates, whether or not he installed them.“Service is something we have always poured a lot of effort into.” Harris is also a long-time football coach at Mosley High School, and the company is a participant in both Bay and Walton County Chambers, the Community Association Institute, the American Fence Association, and recently joined the Panama City Beach Rotary Club.
For more information or a consultation, call (850) 269-1066 or visit Overhead Door of Northwest Florida at www.destinoverheaddoor.com, Gulf Coast Shutter at www.gulfcoastshutter.com, and Quality Gates and Openers at www.qualitygatesandopeners.com.
Author: Sowal Editor
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