Focused on Impact: Aerial Payne’s One-Year Appointment to the Walton Area Chamber Board
By Meagan Prescott, Maranta Copy Co.
I wasn’t in the room, but one photo from the meeting said everything I needed to know. Chamber President Megan Harrison’s service pup sat at attention, eyes fixed on the discussion. That look of steady focus is the right metaphor for what comes next.
Our founder, Aerial Payne, has been appointed to serve a one-year term on the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce Board in 2026. She joined other incoming members, including Paul from Eglin Federal Credit Union, whose financial expertise and regional insight will be invaluable in the year ahead.
“I’m honored to be appointed to the Walton Area Chamber of Commerce Board for 2026. At Maranta Copy Co, my team and I steward six and seven figure budgets. That means we study the climate of the markets where our clients invest, then multiply every dollar with strategy, data, and disciplined execution,” Aerial shared.
At Maranta, we talk a lot about return on investment. Aerial challenges us to add another measure: return on time. Time is the one resource you can’t replenish, so we treat it like the most valuable investment we make. Serving on the Chamber Board is a deliberate choice to stay informed, engaged, and maximally useful to the businesses that trust us to guide their marketing. Her leadership approach is built on intention, showing up where it matters and committing her time where it can create lasting value.
Aerial also often reminds our clients to view marketing as infrastructure. It’s the steady current that keeps opportunity flowing, not a last-minute effort to fix a dry spell. “Marketing is not a Hail Mary when a pipeline dries up. It’s the ongoing work of keeping market share flowing to you, regardless of climate,” she says. In her first 90 days, Aerial plans to lead through action. That’s also how we operate as a team, less talking about what will be done, more doing what we’ve promised. Maranta has grown into an 18-person team, and I am proud to be one of the committed individuals making a difference both inside and outside of work. Our staff volunteers across local causes and shows up where help is needed. We aim to give more than we receive, to our team and to the neighbors our clients call customers.
This appointment marks a focused season for Maranta Copy Co. The past few years have been defined by growth, new partnerships, and opportunities that stretched us in the best ways. As we enter this new chapter, we do so with intention and open hands. We cannot predict five years that God may guide in higher ways, but we can give these twelve months our full attention. “If you’re leading a 2026 initiative in Walton County and want to compare notes on market signals, let’s connect,” Aerial says.
From a service pup’s steady gaze to a founder’s clear commitment, the signal is focus. The ripples created by today’s leaders are already forming the waves of tomorrow, and we’re proud to help carry that momentum forward into 2026 and beyond.