Create defaults for panels to be deployed on install only
To start, I created my mini panel as I wanted it to be and did an export. I saved the export code to a file in a custom module I created. I used install file in the module and this hook_install function:

function custom_footer_install() {
  if (!ctools_export_crud_load('panels_mini', 'fat_footer')) {
    $filename = drupal_get_path('module', 'custom_footer') . '/panel_exports/profile.txt';
    $handle = fopen($filename, "r");
    $contents = fread($handle, filesize($filename));
    fclose($handle);
    $panel = ctools_export_crud_import('panels_mini', $contents);
    ctools_export_crud_save('panels_mini', $panel);
  }
}