Cali Hlavac moved to the Emerald Coast 12 years ago after filming a beach wedding and never looked back. Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska, what started as a creative career in wedding videography evolved into a dynamic mix of entrepreneurship, marketing, and event leadership across Destin.

• Today, Cali wears multiple hats — owner of To Do in Destin, founder of Sassy Tangerine Creative, owner of Coastal Protein & Energy, Event Director for the Destin Seafood Festival and Billy Bowlegs, and Director of Operations for the Destin Songwriter Festival.

Her days range from opening a protein café at sunrise to coordinating large-scale festivals, shooting content for local businesses, and building brands across the Emerald Coast.

Are you a life-long local, if not, where are you from originally and how did you end up in the area?

Originally from Lincoln, Nebraska but have been here 12 years. I was a wedding videographer and I relocated here after shooting a friend’s wedding on the beach.

What’s your current job title and where do you work?

How much time do you have? Kidding — I own To Do in Destin, a social media channel and website to share things To Do in Destin. I run a marketing agency called Sassy Tangerine Creative doing digital marketing for local businesses, and recently I now the owner of Coastal Protein & Energy, serving protein waffles, donuts, shakes, coffee, and clean caffeine drinks. I am also the Event Director for both the Destin Seafood Festival & Billy Bowlegs, and the Director of Operations for the new Destin Songwriter Festival.

What’s your morning routine?

A few days a week I wake up at 5:30am to open Coastal Protein & Energy at 7am. Other mornings I wake around 7:30/8am, hang with my dogs, get a walk in, and start doing social media work for clients before the day gets too busy.

Describe what a typical workday looks like for you.

Every day is different. Some days I open Coastal Protein & Energy at 7am and spend the day helping customers and making drinks / protein treats. Other days, I am working on digital marketing, bouncing business to business taking photos of drinks / food / real estate / boats, creating video content, coordinating logistics and vendors for the events I run, attending networking meetings, etc. And then I have days where I am in meetings for the events I plan, or sitting in front of a computer planning and corresponding all day long.

What’s the first thing you do when you get to work (or start your workday)?

Get my clean energy — I will make a protein coffee or an energy tea with clean caffeine, protein & collagen to get me going.

What tools, apps, or gadgets can’t you live without?

Tools: my cell phone / laptop — Apps: Canva, CapCut, and Lightroom — Gadgets: my phone tripod, headphones

Apple or Android?

Apple

What’s your go-to coffee (or tea) order?

Energy Tea: It’s called the Razz Rizz, and it’s Raspberry, Watermelon, Coconut with a Wild Berry Protein & Collagen. So yummy!

What’s your go-to lunch spot or work snack?

I don’t have a singular lunch spot, as I like to bounce around and support everyone. My recent work snack is little cups of chicken salad with crackers – so good!

What’s one local business you love supporting?

Sandos Beachside! Destin’s newest coffee shop and cocktail bar — a very cool concept that I want to see survive!

What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?

You can’t please everyone. My mom told me once back when I was newly in business that it was only a matter of time until I encountered someone who would leave a bad review, or who would complain. She told me it was less about the complaint and more about how I handled the situation, and that has always stuck with me.

If you could give your 20-year-old self a piece of advice, what would it be?

My 20 year old self was so driven and naive (in the best way) that she didn’t need much advice. I would tell her to never skip the adventure — You can always make money but the memories are once in a lifetime.

How do you unwind after a long day?

I like to play with my dogs, or play mindless games on my iPad for 20-30 minutes just to clear my head. After you’re “on” all day, it’s nice to give your mind a break!

What’s one thing most people don’t know about you?

That I have been golfing since I was 5 years old. My grandpa and dad used to take me, and I grew up playing – all through high school, and could have played in college but chose not to.

What’s your favorite local event or tradition?

The Destin Seafood Festival… of course 😉 The Destin Songwriter Festival is a close second, we’re doing amazing things with this one!

What’s inspiring you right now (book, podcast, person, hobby)?

My team! I was blessed to join a great group of leaders when I took over Coastal Protein & Energy and we are always bouncing ideas off each other and helping each other grow.

Early bird or night owl?

I have been a night owl my entire life, but recently with my 7am workdays, I’m more of an early bird.

Most used emoji?

The laughing face because I am hardly ever serious

Music while working — yes or no? (and if yes, what’s on your playlist?)

If I’m working from home or driving in the car, I prefer a podcast or audiobook over music.

Standing desk or sitting? Mix?

A mix — It really depends what I’m working on.

If you could give any advice for someone getting into the same field as you, what advice would you give?

I would tell anyone that the easiest way to be successful on any journey, is to get in rooms with other business owners, high caliber people. It will always be WHO you know over what you know, and building those relationships is important.