The Gulf Coast Charity Celebration Association Inc. is proud to announce that Austin Brooks of Birmingham, Ala., has joined the team of the Gulf Coast Charity Horse Shows & Music Festival as Executive Director to continue work alongside Mr. Phillip Griffitts, Mrs. Cathy Williams and Mr. Ben Lee, the Board of Directors, along with Mr. Todd Fisher, Mr. Dan Harmon and Mr. Tom Lewis, the show managers. Brooks is a 2008 graduate of Samford University at Birmingham, Ala., with a B.S. in business administration. After graduation, Brooks went to work in the sales sector for Sprint Nextel Corporation, a Fortune 500 company, where he consistently exceeded sales goals before coming in contact with the Gulf Coast Charity Celebration Association Inc.       
 
As a fresh face to the Tennessee Walking Horse, Saddlebred, and Missouri Fox Trotter industries, Brooks has a newfound love and admiration for these breeds. “After my first encounter with Tennessee Walking Horses, it was easy to see why they are referred to as the world’s greatest show, trail and pleasure horses,” Brooks stated.  With his business and sales background, Brooks is looking forward to the opportunity of bringing value to the industry and innovatively promoting and introducing the Tennessee Walking Horses, Saddlebreds, and Missouri Fox Trotters to existing and new audiences and promoting fun in the sun at Panama City Beach, Fla., the world’s most beautiful beaches.
 
Sister Blackmon Milligan, founder of the Gulf Coast Charity Celebration Association Inc., a 501 (c) 3 organization, says, “Panama City is lucky to have a person of Austin’s caliber, education, background and charm. He will be a true asset to the shows and a friendly face that everyone in these industries will become familiar with and love. He is a totally objective breath of fresh air because his first time riding a horse was at Panama City Beach on April 22, 2010. We feel like he will be warmly embraced throughout these industries and represent each breed very well.”    
 
Brooks states, “I am extremely proud to be working diligently for the Tennessee Walking Horse, Saddlebred and the Missouri Fox Trotter. When this great opportunity presented itself to me, it was an easy decision to take the chance to work with such great people in such passionate industries. I look forward to meeting more of the wonderful people in the Tennessee Walking Horse, Saddlebred and Missouri Fox Trotter industries, and I thank the people that I have already met for their immense hospitality. I can assure you that I will actively promote growth within these industries and maintain the already high standards these industries have established.”
 
Brooks further states, “We will continue to foster the education and knowledge of the equine industry and the different breeds of horses by putting on multi-breed shows at Panama City Beach, Fla. I am overwhelmed with anticipation of our 2011 Panama City Beach Horse Shows that will be on April 20-23, 2011. I certainly hope everyone will feel free to call me with any suggestions or ideas on how we can continue to make our shows one of the best in the country. I am looking forward to seeing everyone at the Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration in Shelbyville, Tenn.”