2024 November - Avery Adcock

For more information about the FSU PC Entrepreneurship Program: https://pc.fsu.edu/entrepreneurship Brian Baber interviews Avery Adcock, entrepreneur and owner of Dan's Pawn. Avery Adcock is a longtime resident of Panama City, having called it home for the last 34 years, though he originally hails from Mississippi and Texas. He earned both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University and was a registered Professional Engineer (P.E.). During his 10-year career, he worked on infrastructure projects, building roads, bridges, and airfields. Avery has been involved in real estate since the age of 19 and currently owns a dozen investment properties. In 1995, he founded DANS PAWN in St. Andrews, which grew into three locations by the 2000s, employing over 35 people and offering a range of services including eBay sales, tax preparation, check cashing, and payday advances. Though one location was sold and another lost to a hurricane, the flagship St. Andrews store remains family-owned and operated to this day, having been rebuilt twice due to Hurricane Opal in 1995 and Hurricane Michael in 2018. All five members of the Adcock family have worked in the business over the years. In addition to his business ventures, Avery has been an active volunteer in Bay County for over three decades, serving on various boards and supporting numerous charitable organizations. One of his proudest achievements is his role in helping to establish the Bay Haven Charter Academy school system, where he served for over 17 years. Avery is also involved in the community through his participation in the Krewe of Dominique Youx, where he currently serves as Treasurer. He and his family are members of the Methodist Church and reside in Lynn Haven, Florida.