While others were moving out, contractor John Southwell and architect Cindy Southwell were moving in to the wreckage of Hurricane Michael. 

John thought there would be a huge need in Panama City for his extensive construction experience. As empty nesters, the time was right to move from Atlanta to the coast where John could finish out his career and Cindy could work remotely, traveling part time, until retirement.  He reached out to several companies in the area and found a place with Royal American Construction. John had been a general contractor in the Atlanta area and owner of Atlanta Building Company where he worked on high-end residential, new construction, and remodeling projects. Additionally, he constructed pre-engineered steel buildings, tenant buildouts, and other light-commercial projects. Since joining Royal American Construction, John has enjoyed leaving the ownership responsibilities in Atlanta. Working for the Chapman family, John has built many new single-family homes, high-end townhomes, several much-needed apartment complexes, and  completed remodeling projects. His expertise has made an impact on the community.

 

Cindy’s career started out in Birmingham, AL with architectural firms as an Interior Architect (class of ’81, School of Architecture, Auburn University) working on construction documents, furnishings and finishes for hospitals, Cancer Treatment Centers, churches and Alabama Power Corporate Headquarters. Cindy had no idea that one day she would deliver her first-born child, Christine, in one of the labor and delivery rooms she designed or that her dad would be a patient at one of the Cancer Treatment Centers (funny how things work out). 

Cindy later moved to Atlanta, GA, her home State, and shifted to commercial space planning, and the furniture sales side of the industry with customers ranging from CDC, UPS, FAA (in response to 911), VA hospital (where patient rooms were converted to PTSD offices, and conference rooms were converted to patient appointment call centers due to soldiers returning from Afghanistan).  Cancer Treatment Centers of America was another customer, interestingly enough, Cindy headed straight there after being diagnosed in 2019. “All part of God’s plan” she said. 

The most interesting and fun customers were by far the production and film industry ranging from Universal Studios, Disney, Viacom, and Paramount. She was involved in Georgia’s booming growth of the industry due to the tax incentives and efforts of Georgia Production Partners.  “Fear of the Walking Dead” production offices in Savannah, GA was Cindy’s last curtain call after a 43-year career. Cindy learned early on from working with UPS that you “make it happen”. When CDC called at 5PM and needed emergency offices set up because they discovered “AIDS was a plane trip away”, Cindy made it happen. On every project, and even today when decorations are needed for a Bay Point Yacht Club party or Witches Ride, her motto is “make it happen”.

Cindy met Cherie and Ben Alexander, of Counts Realty, when ready to buy a home in PCB. "Ben and Cherie made it happen selling us on the Bay Point neighborhood, and lifestyle.” The purchase involved a swap of contracts with a buyer across the street, Curtis Pennington (rest in peace). “We all had so many laughs over the swap and remained the best of friends and neighbors.”  

The couple has been active in Bay Point Women’s Club, Reel Ladies Sports Fishing, Bookers of the Night, Bay Point Dinner Club, Krewe of Dominique Youx, and the Bay Point Yacht Club.

They look back twenty-four years ago, to a backwoods boat trip taken with four children, down the Chattahoochee River, from Columbus ending at Bay Point Marina never dreaming that one day, they would live here. Funny how life brings you back.