Niceville and DeFuniak Springs, FL …The Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) just announced George Barnes as their new Vice President of Development. Almost everyone along the Scenic 30A Corridor has had interaction with George Barnes, a well-known entrepreneur and restauranteur in South Walton County for over 30 years.

Barnes relocated from New Orleans to the Northwest Florida area in 1995. Over the years, including founding and running his own Smiling Fish Café in Gulf Place for 13 years, he has opened or provided consulting and management expertise to many restaurants along 30A, such as Borago, Café 30A, 723 Whiskey Bravo, Shunk Gulley and Gallion’s. In 2015, he and Charles Modica, Jr. founded 30A Coastal Dunes Wine Company that they recently sold to new owners. With his very brief retirement, to follow his passion, Barnes accepted his new VP position with ECCAC.

The new job is a natural for him. Over the years, Barnes has been involved with, or donated to virtually every important non-profit organization in the area. It is important to note that Barnes introduced his friends, Jim and Tammy Pierce, to the ECCAC cause almost 12 years ago. The Pierces made a generous lead gift to make ECCAC’s Defuniak Springs center a reality. Fast forward, the Pierce Family Center will celebrate it’s 10th Anniversary on April 8, 2026.

Barnes said, “I really feel strongly about the ECCAC cause and mission. After much thought and support from Gayle, I quickly decided to come out of my short-lived retirement for one more chapter in life. I look forward to continuing my involvement in Walton and Okaloosa Counties on behalf of ECCAC and the children they serve.”

“We are so pleased to have George as a member of our ECCAC team,” commented ECCAC CEO, Julie Porterfield. “His long-time knowledge of our community and relationships with its people will be such an asset to help us continue to bring hope and healing to the most vulnerable in our community. We are beyond blessed to have him join our team.”

ECCAC’s mission is to heal and prevent the trauma of childhood abuse and neglect by providing advocacy, child-friendly therapies and a safe environment for kids to feel seen, heard, and understood. Last year alone, ECCAC assisted 1,553 kids and 17,275 students received Child Safety Matters child abuse prevention education in area schools. All totaled, ECCAC provided services to 19,888 children in 2025. Though ECCAC does not house children, they provide services to children and their families at no cost in their two Centers in Okaloosa and Walton Counties.

For more information, visit www.eccac.org. If abuse is suspected, report it by calling the anonymous Florida Abuse Hotline at 1-800-96-ABUSE.

George Barnes named VP of Development for Emerald Coast Childrens Advocacy Centers