Shane Weddle moved to the Emerald Coast in 2021 with his wife and daughter to purchase FASTSIGNS of Fort Walton Beach/Destin, bringing an entrepreneurial mindset and strong sense of community with him.

• Originally from Indiana, with family ties to Florida, his path here was shaped by opportunity, growth, and building a life centered on both business and family.

As a business owner, Shane’s days start earlier than most — often well before sunrise — and revolve around team leadership, project coordination, and staying connected to clients and community. Whether he’s supporting local causes behind the scenes or helping his daughter get ready for school, his approach blends discipline, gratitude, and a focus on people.

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

Myself, my wife & our daughter moved here in 2021 to buy FASTSIGNS of Fort Walton Beach/ Destin. I am originally from Indiana, my wife is from Tallahassee and we met in Jacksonville where we both lived prior to moving here.

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

I am the owner of FASTSIGNS of Fort Walton Beach/ Destin

What’s your morning routine?

It depends on what time I wake up. Sometimes I wake up as early as 0200, sometimes it 0530, but it’s usually around 0400. I go to our living room as quietly as I can, hydrate, catch up on the news, social media, emails, review our team calendar & check the weather and sometimes get a quick workout & stretch in then get ready. Most days I help Ava get ready for school before I leave for work.

Describe what a typical workday looks like for you.

Our shop opens at 0730, so our team huddles for a production meeting where we discuss our current projects and what we need to complete them. We are a pretty close team, so discussion of current events usually makes its way into the conversation before we break away and get to work.

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

I dive deeper into my emails, review opportunities and touch base with the team.

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

Our ERP system, calendar, weather app, Company Cam & social media

Apple or Android?

Apple everything possible

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

Black coffee and I prefer Black Rifle Coffee Company. We stock it at home and in the shop.

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

Beef jerky for a snack, Sugar Mill Sweets for their chefs salad or Stewby’s for some great colossal shrimp

What’s one local business you love supporting?

I can’t pick one, so Papa’s Smokehouse for BBQ, LJ Schooners for my downtime, JoJo’s for birria breakfast burrito’s and Get The Coast for the latest news!

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

Make deposits, practice Extreme Ownership and take care of your team

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

Shut up and listen to the people who actually care about you. I was great at making terrible decisions as a young adult, focus on making decisions that would positively impact me and people who I cared about.

How do you unwind after a long day?

I do love cold beer or whiskey over ice, but unwinding at home with my family and no agenda while cooking or grilling is truly relaxing.

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

I am a pretty open book, but most people don’t know that I am very intentional with who and what I support. You may see an event that we sponsor, or cause that I lean into, but there are actually so many that I work behind the scenes. Unless I put it on social media, it kind of goes unseen. I truly care about people and our community.

What’s your favorite local event or tradition?

The Savage Loop! It is a 42 mile ultra marathon. No, I do not run, but I love volunteering and supporting this event.

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

I love getting on the water with my family as a hobby. I listen to a variety of podcasts, but usually Joe Rogan or Shawn Ryan.

Early bird or night owl?

100% early bird!

Most used emoji?

🇺🇸🤙

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

Yes. Whiskey Myers, Staind/ Aaron Lewis, Morgan Wallen, Creed Fisher, Jamie Johnson, Riley Green

Favorite motivational quote?

PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY

Standing desk or sitting? Mix?

Mix

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

You need more capital than you think. Focus on building the right team. Make deposits and network your ass off!

Anything we missed that you want to add?

I am sure that I missed something, but thank you Get The Coast for this opportunity! It was actually a great exercise to think about my responses and put things in perspective.