Fluent in Floridian: Recent Episodes
SalterMitchell PR
Fluent in Floridian is a podcast featuring the Sunshine State’s brightest leaders talking about the issues most important to the people of Florida and its more than 100 million yearly visitors. These issues include health care, economic development, environmental protection, transportation, tourism, politics, taxes, education, energy and more.
With 176 state parks across Florida, your next adventure might be closer than you think.
In this episode, SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway and Florida State Parks Foundation Board President Matt Caldwell discuss what makes the Sunshine State's public lands so extraordinary.
Listen to hear about Florida's crystal-clear springs, best-kept-secret spots and how to keep these natural treasures alive for generations to come.
Behind every hurricane forecast is a team making predictions that can impact millions of lives.
As the current director of NOAA's National Hurricane Center, Michael Brennan's career has been defined by one mission: helping people make better decisions before, during and after a hurricane. From forecasting major storms such as Irma, Michael and Matthew to directly influencing emergency planning and public safety across Florida.
In this episode, SMPR President Heidi Otway sits down with Michael to discuss the human expertise behind every forecast and the responsibility that comes with protecting one of the nation's most hurricane-prone states.
What does it take to build trust between law enforcement and one of Central Florida's fastest-growing communities? From improving language access and creating new reporting pathways as an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Liaison, Orange County Deputy Sheriff Thomas Lin offers a meaningful look at what supporting the communities through law enforcement can look like in practice.
In this episode, SMPR President Heidi Otway speaks with Deputy Lin about his decades-long career in law enforcement and the values that have shaped his career: commitment, perseverance, passion and dedication.
Innovation doesn't happen by accident. It takes vision, partnership and leaders who know how to bring people together around a shared future. That's what Paul Sohl, CEO of the Florida High Tech Corridor, is doing as he helps connect education and research across one of the state's most dynamic regions.
In this episode, SMPR President Heidi Otway speaks with Paul about his path from Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy to innovation leader, and how he is helping prepare Florida's students, businesses and communities for what comes next.
Water is one of Florida's most precious natural resources, sustaining our communities, ecosystems and economy. As population growth and development increase, protecting water quality has never mattered more.
Syed Shah, CEO of Eco World Water, points to a solution: wastewater reuse. In this episode, Shah joins SMPR President Heidi Otway to discuss his love for the Sunshine State, why water sustainability is essential for Floridians, and how water recycling can support a cleaner future.
Tampa Bay is growing rapidly, but rising housing costs are making it harder for working families to stay in the city they call home. That's why Mike Sutton, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside, is helping families achieve homeownership through zero-interest mortgages with the support of partners and volunteers.
In this episode, SMPR President Heidi Otway sits down with Mike to discuss his journey to nonprofit leadership and how he's helping families turn the dream of a "forever home" into a reality.
Martha McGill, president of Nemours Children's Health Hospital, shares Nemours' bold push to become Florida's top-ranked children's health system. From expanding core clinical programs to developing sharply talented care teams, Martha is leading the mission to invest in the well-being of kids across the state.
In this episode, she joins SMPR President Heidi Otway to share her journey from bedside nurse to pediatric health leader, and how she's helping Nemours make a life-changing impact on children and families, bringing the "magic" of children's hospitals to life.
With the longest coastline in the continental U.S. and 825 miles of warm beaches, Florida has a lot of shoreline to protect. That's where Pepper Uchino comes in.
As president of the Florida Shore & Beach Preservation Association, he leads the state's only organization devoted entirely to safeguarding the coastlines that make Florida so special. And with beach and waterfront activities among the most popular draws for out-of-state visitors, the state's natural beauty isn't just scenic – it's essential to our economy.
In this episode, SMPR President Heidi Otway talks with Pepper about his unexpected path into environmental advocacy and why investing in the next generation of coastal engineers may be the key to preserving Florida's future.
How is Palm Beach County reshaping mental health care? On this episode of Fluent in Floridian, Health Care District CEO Darcy J. Davis and Dr. Courtney Phillips share how passion and innovation are changing the game - from crisis response to long-term care. Together, they're building a model that not only treats mental health challenges but also restores dignity and saves lives.
From a childhood spent playing with snakes to leading some of Florida’s most innovative wildlife programs, Keith Winsten shares his journey in conservation and immersive animal experiences.
As executive director of the Brevard Zoo, which welcomes over 500,000 visitors annually, he helps rehabilitate sea turtles and manatees, restore habitats and create exciting adventures for visitors. In this episode, Keith and SMPR President Heidi Otway discuss how he inspires people to get outside and connect with Florida’s natural beauty.
Talethia Edwards is shaping the future of neighborhoods throughout Florida’s Big Bend region. As executive director of Good News Outreach, she works to connect residents with critical resources that help communities flourish.
In this episode, Talethia talks with SMPR President Heidi Otway about her path from Miami to the state capital, and why she believes investing and advocating for people is the foundation for real, lasting change.
Cybercrime is rising, and Danny Jenkins is one of Florida’s first lines of defense.
As co-founder and CEO of ThreatLocker, Danny leads a global cybersecurity company headquartered right here in Florida, protecting more than 50,000 businesses from digital threats that grow more sophisticated each day.
In this episode, Danny shares his journey with SMPR President Heidi Otway from the UK to the Sunshine State and how he’s helping businesses and communities stay secure. From the future of cybersecurity in Florida to the importance of staying one step ahead, Danny offers a powerful look at what it means to protect the digital landscape of the state we call home.
What does it really take to build hope, support and lasting change in the mental health space? Carali McLean, executive director of NAMI Florida, has some ideas.
In this episode, SMPR President Heidi Otway sits down with Carali, a lifelong advocate whose journey from Pinellas County to statewide leadership is rooted in a core belief: asking for help is a strength. They discuss her early work in clinical social work, Florida’s evolving mental health landscape, and NAMI’s role in supporting communities from big cities to rural towns.
Traci Deen has dedicated her career to advocating for Florida, first as a public defender and now as the CEO of Conservation Florida, a nonprofit focused on preserving the state’s water, land and wildlife. With over 34 million acres of land, Florida’s ecosystems are central to the state’s identity. But now, more than ever, they need our protection.
In this episode, Traci sits down with SMPR President Heidi Otway to share her journey, what drives her passion, and why every Floridian has a role in protecting this special place they call home.
In this episode, SMPR President and Partner Heidi Otway sits down with James Woolley, a lifelong film enthusiast and executive director of the Miami Film Festival. He shares his journey from studying film management to gaining global festival experience and now curating a lineup that celebrates Miami’s rich culture.
James shares that film festivals are more than just watching movies. They offer a behind-the-scenes look at the industry, opportunities to hear from filmmakers, and the chance to ask questions to rising stars. All while experiencing Oscar-worthy cinema alongside fellow movie lovers.
Tune in to hear how James is shaping the future of film in Miami and discover how you can help keep the industry alive.
In this inspiring episode, SMPR President Heidi Otway sits down with Tiffany Greene, a proud FAMU alumna and trailblazing ESPN play-by-play commentator. As a Tampa native, Tiffany shares how her father’s influence and her passion for storytelling led her from FAMU’s broadcast journalism program to making history as the first African American woman to call NCAA football on a major network.
From her early days as a local TV reporter to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in HBCU football, Tiffany opens up about the challenges and successes of being a woman in sports media. Plus, she gives us a glimpse into what’s next for her career.
Tune in for an inspiring conversation about resilience, breaking barriers, and the power of representation in sports broadcasting!
One of Florida's most successful early learning models can be found where you may least expect it – a rural, multicultural community in South Florida with a population of 34,000 people.
Immokalee is home to Guadalupe Center, where educators are breaking the poverty cycle and shaping childrens’ futures through innovative educational programs. In this episode, SMPR President Heidi Otway chats with Guadalupe Center CEO Dawn Montecalvo about her inspiring transition from film studies to the nonprofit industry, and the importance of early childhood education in strengthening communities.
Florida may be best known for its beaches and tourism, but it is also a manufacturing powerhouse. In this episode, seasoned manufacturing expert and FloridaMakes CEO Kevin Carr joins SMPR President Heidi Otway to chat about this growing industry.
The word "manufacturing" is often associated primarily with cars, but it encompasses everything around you, from chocolate and medical devices to cheesecakes and everyday essentials. Tune in to hear Kevin map out how vital manufacturing is in creating self-sufficiency and strengthening Florida’s economy.
In this special homecoming episode, SMPR President Heidi Otway is joined by Jennifer Conoley, former SMPR intern and now president and CEO of Florida’s Great Northwest.
Jennifer shares her journey from studying Public Relations at Florida State University to becoming a self-taught economic developer, driven by her passion for creating diverse, high-wage jobs.
Tune in to learn about Jennifer’s vision for promoting the region’s thriving industries and how the Panhandle is more than its famous beaches but rather a hub of diverse job opportunities and economic potential.
SMPR Founder and CEO April Salter sits down with legendary sports broadcaster Gene Deckerhoff. Deckerhoff shares highlights of his decades-long career calling electrifying Florida State Seminoles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers games and memorable moments with icons such as Coach Bobby Bowden and Burt Reynolds.
Deckerhoff also shares insights into the evolving media landscape, the challenges of breaking into the broadcast industry, and his personal experiences that shaped his career.
Tune in to hear Gene’s inspiring stories and his thoughts on staying connected to community values while navigating the world of sports broadcasting.
SMPR founder and CEO April Salter chats with Dick Batchelor, founder of Dick Batchelor Management Group. Dick shares his journey from citrus farming and activism during the Vietnam War to becoming one of the youngest members of the Florida House of Representatives.
He also gives listeners a glimpse into his latest book, Building Bridges in Toxic Political Times: A Road Map for Community Leaders, offering practical strategies for tackling grassroots issues.
Children aren’t just our future – they’re also our present. That’s why SMPR President Heidi Otway sat down to talk with Children’s Forum President and CEO Erin Smeltzer, an advocate for quality early childhood education for young students across the country.
Inspired by her mother’s impact as the first female first responder in her county, Erin knew she wanted to make a life-long difference in her community. But it wasn’t until she discovered her passion for public policy and early learning that she found she could advocate for childhood education. After starting her career as a preschool educator, she quickly emerged as a passionate and successful leader in her field. Now, Erin has worked to advance educational opportunities for Florida’s youngest for over a decade.
Join us for an inspiring conversation about finding your passion, the power of leadership, and the importance of early learning!
To mark Mental Health Awareness Month, SMPR CEO and Founder April Salter sat down with Florida Behavioral Health Association CEO and President Melanie Brown-Woofter to discuss her work in the mental health space.
Growing up in the tight-knit community of Wakulla County, caring for others was a way of life that seamlessly translated into her early career as a nurse. It was not until she entered the world of public policy that she learned she could positively impact millions of Floridians. At FBHA, she aims to reshape the dialogue around mental health and substance use disorders.
In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, SMPR President Heidi Otway sat down with Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center’s Executive Director Robin Hassler Thompson to discuss her journey through politics and navigating her life as a human rights activist.
Thompson’s political passion was ignited as a high school senior while volunteering for Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign. She shares how this initial spark led her to pursue a law degree and develop a love for public service. However, it wasn’t until Thompson witnessed sex and labor trafficking in Bangladesh that her life changed forever. She returned to the States inspired to make a change.
The 100th episode of the Fluent in Floridian podcast features none other than SalterMitchell PR CEO and Founder April Salter. From her idyllic upbringing in Key West to her dynamic career as an entrepreneur and PR professional, April's story is a testament to her love of the Sunshine State.
Tune into this special 100th episode as April discusses her influential role in Governor Lawton Chiles' administration and first encounter with a young journalist named Heidi Otway that led to a decades-long friendship and the establishment of SalterMitchell PR, which celebrates 25 years of business in 2024.
Josie Tamayo has never been afraid to be “the first.” Inspired by her mother’s legal career in Cuba, Tamayo grew up in rural Georgia to become the only Hispanic woman to graduate from her law school class.
Tamayo’s passion for helping others drew her to a career in public service, where she charted a course from state attorneys' offices to the Second Circuit Court bench to serving as general counsel for six of Florida’s state agencies.
Today, Tamayo’s current role as CEO of VolunteerFlorida reflects her years of passionate community service: a pathway that she now gets to help others walk.
As social media emerged in the early 2000s, many top corporate executives and business leaders wrote it off as a passing trend. Frustrated by crisis management professionals’ hesitancy to embrace digital communications, Melissa Agnes saw an opportunity to serve a developing industry. Nearly 15 years later. Agnes is a leading voice on all things crisis management and communications. She joins SalterMitchell PR Founder and CEO April Salter to share her story and discuss today’s communications challenges.
Fluent in Floridian is going on summer break! So far this year, the podcast has featured some fascinating Floridians, from high-profile politicos to pro athletes. Use this time to catch up on episodes you may have missed, and stay tuned for the new season to begin later this summer.
When Kamaiu Johnson was spotted swinging a tree branch at golf balls that rolled astray near his grandmother’s house, onlookers could see that the teen was a natural talent. Many masterful strokes later, Johnson is now one of the few black golfers at the professional level, and he’s committed to making golf look “more like America.”
Tune in as professional golfer Kamaiu Johnson joins SalterMitchell PR CEO + Founder April Salter to share stories from the fairway, and explain how the kindness of a stranger led him to pursue his passion.
From hurricanes to pandemics to refugee crises, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has led the state’s response to countless disasters.
FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie joins SalterMitchell PR CEO + Founder April Salter to share stories from the emergency operations center, and discuss his career trajectory from local law enforcement to leading statewide emergency management operations.
Yolanda Cash Jackson may be Florida Trend’s latest Floridian of the Year, but the self-described “girl from Liberty City” has been making her mark as a lobbyist for over two decades.
In her compelling conversation with SalterMitchell PR President and Partner Heidi Otway, Jackson shares her story of growing up in South Florida and pivoting to a lobbying career in her late twenties. They also discuss Jackson’s notable achievements, such as spearheading the effort to install a sculpture of Mary McLeod Bethune — founder of Bethune-Cookman University — in Statuary Hall at the United States Capitol and securing record funding for Florida’s four Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Harris Rosen has made a name for himself as Florida’s largest independent hotelier. A self-made millionaire and savvy businessman, Rosen is president and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts. But, he would have never pursued a career in hospitality had it not been for a chance encounter with Marilyn Monroe as a child.
In this fascinating conversation with SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway, Rosen shares the story of his life, from humble beginnings working banquets as a boy to growing his hospitality empire in Central Florida. They also discuss his notable philanthropic work, which includes early childhood education and cancer research initiatives as well as his storied ‘adoption’ of the Tangelo Park neighborhood in Orlando.
Harris Rosen has made a name for himself as Florida’s largest independent hotelier. A self-made millionaire and savvy businessman, Rosen is the president and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts. But, he would have never pursued a career in hospitality had it not been for a chance encounter with Marilyn Monroe as a child.
In this fascinating conversation with SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway, Rosen shares the story of his life, from humble beginnings working banquets as a boy to growing his hospitality empire in Central Florida. They also discuss his notable philanthropic work, which includes early childhood education and cancer research initiatives, as well as his storied ‘adoption’ of the Tangelo Park neighborhood in Orlando.
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor joins SalterMitchell PR CEO April Salter to share how growing up in Tampa in the era of Title IX led her to become Tampa police chief and the first openly gay woman to serve as the city’s mayor.
Tune in to their conversation to hear Mayor Castor’s perspective on what makes Tampa a world class city, the challenges it faces, and her goals for the future.
Florida Lottery Secretary John Davis joins SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway to discuss his journey from top-ranked high school recruit and star safety for the Florida State Seminoles to his current position leading the Florida Lottery.
Tune in to their conversation to hear Secretary Davis share stories of leadership from both on and off the field.
Former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn was elected to lead the City of Tampa out of the Great Recession. His vision has helped transform the city into a place where people want to live, work, play and invest. Buckhorn joins SalterMitchell PR CEO and Founder April Salter to discuss the roots of his political DNA, his storied career in Tampa, and why he believes mayors can make the biggest impact on a city.
Miami-Dade College President Madeline Pumariega has had a courtside seat to the growth of the country’s largest public college. Listen to her conversation with SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway about the importance of basketball in her life, her journey to become a statewide leader in education, her former role as Chancellor of the Florida College System, and the vision she has for the future of Miami-Dade College.
In our newest episode of Fluent in Floridian, author and outdoorsman Jim McClellan joins SalterMitchell PR CEO April Salter to discuss his book, "Life Along the Apalachicola River," which depicts the Northwest Florida way of life he experienced growing up in the Apalachicola River Valley.
Tune in as Jim and April recount the stories that shaped Jim’s childhood and led to them working together for Governor Lawton Chiles’ administration.
Poynter Institute President Neil Brown joins SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway to discuss the evolving role of media in our society, how Brown is helping to shape the next generation of journalists, and some of the head-scratching Florida stories that Brown has broken.
SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway is joined by award-winning agricultural and human rights activist Greg Asbed to discuss his work combatting forced labor in Florida’s agriculture industry and around the globe.
SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway is joined by Florida Trend 500 Most Influential Leader and 2019-2021 Chair of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Charles “Charley” Caulkins. They discuss his childhood, his transition to Florida, his work as a nationally-recognized labor and employment lawyer, and the Sunshine State’s business boom amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
Orlando City Soccer Club Founder Kay Rawlins joins SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway to discuss her journey from U.K. bank clerk and daycare owner to female leader paving the way in the American soccer industry.
Sean Snaith, PhD joins Heidi Otway in a conversation that travels the globe. From Cairo, Egypt, to Kingston, Jamaica and other stops in between, Dr. Snaith studied economies and taught across the U.S. and in foreign countries before calling the University of Central Florida home. Tune in as he takes us through his journey from humble beginnings in Pennsylvania to becoming an award-winning economist.
SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway discusses all things energy with Florida Municipal Power Agency General Manager and CEO Jacob Williams, who leads FMPA’s efforts in advancing and improving the utilities industry. His agency serves more than 2 million residents and 10 percent of Florida’s power. In a state dubbed the Sunshine State, that is no small undertaking.
SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway speaks with Florida Secretary of Commerce Jamal Sowell, a sixth-generation Floridian. During their conversation, he explains how his faith, family, and overseas military experience prepared him to serve as the state’s Florida Secretary of Commerce.
SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway speaks with Dr. Cheryl Holder on her family’s journey from Jamaica to New York, her decision to become a doctor and activist, and her current roles at the FlU College of Medicine, the Florida Clinicians for Climate Action and the Florida State Medical Association.
In this episode, Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE) President and CEO Frank Rudd discusses how FSAE is continuing to support its members during COVID-19. With more than 25 years of experience in the association industry, it’s no surprise Rudd was selected to lead FSAE. Since 2014, Rudd has helped teach other associations how to […]
The post 74. Florida Society of Association Executives President and CEO Frank Rudd appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
In our 80th episode of #FluentinFloridian, SalterMitchell PR CEO April Salter and Lieutenant Governor Nuñez discuss her South Florida upbringing, her education at Florida International University, and life outside of the office. Nuñez’s love for the Sunshine State and its people display what it truly means to be fluent in Floridian.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida President and CEO Dave Krepcho wasn’t always in the food banking business. The native Canadian was formerly in advertising before moving to South Florida. Krepcho got involved as a volunteer at a local food bank in Miami and found his calling.
His previous work for Feed America led him to his position with Second Harvest, where thousands of Central Floridians have been fed and employed thanks to his leadership.
The Children’s Movement of Florida Chairman David Lawrence Jr. is a lifelong advocate of children’s education and has proven to be an outstanding ally to kids across Florida. In his conversation with SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway, Lawrence discusses racism and discrimination in education and how we can confront them. He also discusses the importance […]
The post 76. The Children’s Movement of Florida Chairman David Lawrence Jr. appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
New Yorker turned Floridian, Council for Educational Change Executive Director Dr. Elaine Liftin got her start as a singer on Broadway. While attending Hunter College, she became intrigued by the challenge of education and, upon graduating, began her teaching career in South Florida. Dr. Liftin has dedicated her career to education advocacy and believes “if […]
The post 78. Council for Educational Change President & Executive Director Dr. Elaine Liftin appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
New Yorker turned Floridian, Council for Educational Change Executive Director Dr. Elaine Liftin got her start as a singer on Broadway. While attending Hunter College, she became intrigued by the challenge of education and, upon graduating, began her teaching career in South Florida.
Dr. Liftin has dedicated her career to education advocacy and believes “if every child can get a quality education, every child can succeed.”
An Orlando resident since she was eight years old, League of Women Voters Florida President Patti Brigham began her career as a public servant working in suicide prevention and crisis intervention.
After graduating from the University of Central Florida, Patti went on to become a radio DJ, journalist, thespian, and eventually, a member of the League of Women Voters Florida.
Now, as president of the League, Patti is learning how to navigate the upcoming presidential election in a COVID-19 world. Through a strong vote-by-mail campaign, the League is debunking myths and preparing citizens to vote safely and at a distance, if they so choose.
The Children’s Movement of Florida Chairman David Lawrence Jr. is a lifelong advocate of children’s education and has proven to be an outstanding ally to kids across Florida.
In his conversation with SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway, Lawrence discusses racism and discrimination in education and how we can confront them. He also discusses the importance of reading and how books can be a great tool for all people.
Florida Nonprofit Alliance Executive Director Sabeen Perwaiz has dedicated her life to helping others. In addition to her work in the nonprofit sector, she is also the founder and executive producer of TEDxJacksonville, where she’s amplifying the voices of other Floridians and positively impacting others.
In this episode, Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE) President and CEO Frank Rudd discusses how FSAE is continuing to support its members during COVID-19.
With more than 25 years of experience in the association industry, it’s no surprise Rudd was selected to lead FSAE. Since 2014, Rudd has helped teach other associations how to better serve their members by facilitating collaboration among association management professionals through networking and educational events, online communities, and best practice resources.
Ed Moore spent 16 years shaping higher education in Florida as president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF). Moore recently retired from the position with a lasting impact.
In his conversation with SalterMitchell PR Founder + CEO April Salter, Moore details the changes ICUF made early on to expand online courses for college students. This transition is more relevant than ever as students across the country finish their school year taking classes remotely.
As Florida House Executive Director, Diana Beckmann and her team have worked tirelessly to help the nation’s only state embassy reach its fullest potential. By elevating the space and collaborating with partners on visitor and staff experience, Beckmann is bringing a true sense of rejuvenation to this historic building on Capitol Hill while staying true to its objective of connecting, celebrating and championing Florida to the world.
In her conversation with SalterMitchell PR CEO + Founder April Salter, Beckmann discusses how she became familiar with Florida House, the passion she has for working in the nation’s capital, and the camaraderie she has forged with her Florida House colleagues.
Dr. Jeffrey Sharkey is a serial entrepreneur, visionary, and director of a wide variety of organizations and associations. He’s now a leader in Florida’s growing medical cannabis industry and guiding the expansion of legislative policy as the founder of the Medical Marijuana Business Association. He has worked to position himself and this association at the forefront of this new frontier in the nation’s third most populous state.
His interview with SalterMitchell PR CEO April Salter was recorded in front of a live audience during the Leadership FPRA conference this month. Listen to Dr. Sharkey as he details his entrepreneurial journey from Pennsylvania to Tallahassee, which also included mission-driven work in underdeveloped countries.
Holly Bell, Florida’s first director of cannabis, is focused on leading the state’s new medical marijuana and hemp programs.
More than two dozen people applied for the position, however, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Nikki Fried said Bell was the person “to get it right” on implementing a state hemp program. For the past year, the former banker has been developing the program from the ground up, from growing to processing and manufacturing.
Fines and Fees Justice Center Florida State Director Ashley Thomas is a trailblazer for change with a passion for policy reform. She’s working hard to advance state and local campaigns to reform the imposition and collection of fines and fees in Florida, specifically dealing with driver’s license suspensions due to unpaid court debt.
Tune in to hear how fines and fees are addressed in the justice system, and learn how driver’s license suspension impacts Floridians and Florida’s economy.
Dr. Carrie Pettus-Davis devoted most of her career to improving the lives of formerly incarcerated people. Her five key approach prepares them to be job ready and job steady for when they complete their sentences.
Pettus-Davis believes that if we want to influence the children of our country, as well as our community, we need to make sure the parents are thriving so children won’t be affected. The Institute for Justice Research and Development does just that. Their mission to advance science, policy, and practice to improve the well-being of individuals, families and communities impacted by the criminal justice system involvement. Creating a movement towards smart decarceration to produce effective, sustainable and equitable criminal justice reforms.
Today, more than 22.7% of children in Florida live in “food insecure” homes. No Kid Hungry Florida is working to eradicate this statistic for good by providing innovative hunger solutions to communities across the Sunshine State.
The organization recently hired long-time child advocate Sky Beard as its new Florida Director. She’s using her experience and connections to create partnerships and new programs that give youth 18 and under more access to meals year-round.
In 2019, Desmond Meade was featured in TIME magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential list for his leading efforts to empower and civically re-engage local communities in Florida.
Meade has seen his fair share of hardship and struggle. He was incarcerated, homeless, but later turned his life around and earned a law degree. Now he’s the President of Florida Rights Restoration Coalition and last year lead the efforts to pass Amendment 4 – One of the largest expansions of voting rights in Florida’s history.
Listen to his conversation with SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway as they discuss his journey from felon to nationally-recognized activist.
George LeMieux’s passion for politics began at an early age when a pivotal moment made him realize that being a part of public office can be truly impactful.
LeMieux went on to lead Charlie Crist’s successful gubernatorial campaign and serve as Chief of Staff to the governor before being appointed as Florida’s 34th Senator in the 111th Congress. In 2012, he founded the LeMieux Center for Public Policy at Palm Beach Atlantic University and today, he enjoys his new role as author.
Tune in to hear his conversation with SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway as they discuss his political career, how the LeMieux Center engages students through powerful speakers and research, and his first book, “Florida Made: The 25 Most Important Figures Who Shaped the State.”
Flagler College President Dr. Joseph Joyner is a third-generation educator and his passion for the classroom has been the guiding force of his career.
From Florida State University football player to teacher to superintendent of St. Johns County School District, Dr. Joyner’s work and leadership has been recognized many times over for its commitment to students. Now, Dr. Joyner enjoys serving as a college President for one of Florida’s most historic institutions for higher education, where he is creating a diverse and inclusive community.
If you enjoyed this episode, you may enjoy our episode with Florida State University President John Thrasher or our many other higher education guests.
NASCAR fans, this one’s for you. This week on Fluent in Floridian, Daytona International Speedway Corporation & NASCAR Southeastern Region President Frank Kelleher (formerly vice president of sales and marketing) takes the driver’s seat to share what life is like working for one of the largest motorsports corporations in the world.
From the high-energy, epic sporting event of the Daytona 500 (the racing world’s Super Bowl) to the ultimate fan experiences the company has created through destination race tracks and dynamic corporate sponsorships – this is one episode you don’t want to miss.
At the end of every Fluent in Floridian podcast, we ask our guests the same four questions. One of those questions is “Who is a Florida leader that you admire?” In this compilation episode, you’ll hear fascinating answers to this question by Orlando Mayer Buddy Dyer, Florida Sports Foundation President Angela Suggs, U.S Attorney for […]
The post 62. Who is a Florida leader that you admire? appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
At the end of every Fluent in Floridian podcast, we ask our guests the same four questions. One of those questions is “Who is a Florida leader that you admire?”
In this compilation episode, you’ll hear fascinating answers to this question by Orlando Mayer Buddy Dyer, Florida Sports Foundation President Angela Suggs, U.S Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Larry Keefe, Tampa Bay Times Editor of Editorials Tim Nickens, Universal Orlando Public Relations Director Alyson Lundell, Orlando Sentinel Columnist Scott Maxwell, former State Representative Matt Caldwell, and Florida Author Jeff Klinkenberg.
Growing up in Tampa as a young girl, Susan Glickman had a childhood that created a heart for advocacy.
As a child, she saw her father open one of the few desegregated dentist offices in Tampa. As a young Jewish woman, she attended Episcopal and Catholic private schools. Early in her career, she helped her brother successfully run for Hillsborough County Commissioner.
Now, as a seasoned environmental advocate, Susan goes by the moniker Clean Energy Girl – a superhero battling big money interests in politics.
At 75 years young, Dr. Norman E. Thagard is a Floridian whose work has been immortalized in history books. While he jokes about being a foot-note on Sally Ride’s first trip to space, Dr. Thagard has had a long and illustrious career as a doctor, pilot, engineer, astronaut and first American Cosmonaut.
A two-time graduate of Florida State University, Dr. Thagard exemplifies a lifelong commitment to education. He attended the University of Florida in his mid-sixties in pursuit of an MBA, a degree that he felt he needed as he worked to co-found the Challenger Learning Center in Downtown Tallahassee.
In his interview with April Salter, Dr. Thagard discusses the early days of NASA’s space program, the intense training and schooling he endured to become an astronaut, and the nearly six-months he spent in space with a Russian crew.
Florida Polytechnic University President Dr. Randy Avent embodies what it means to bring application to education. A longtime researcher, Dr. Avent has led the university to go all in on STEM studies. When students aren’t in the classroom or library working hard, they’re likely to find Dr. Avent enjoying the beautiful campus, taking part in ping pong tournaments or attending the annual integral bee on campus.
Prior to Florida Polytechnic, Dr. Avent obtained his PhD. in Biomedical Mathematics and Engineering from the University of North Carolina, served at the Department of Defense and conducted research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In his conversation with SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway, he discusses the many fields of study for students at Florida Poly, including brain mapping, autonomous vehicles and quantum communications.
Albert Einstein famously said, “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Thinking differently has never been a problem for Chris Castro, the Director of Sustainability for the City of Orlando and a self-proclaimed ‘ecopreneur,’ who has made it his mission to catalyze change through organizations such as […]
The post 58. Orlando Director of Sustainability Chris Castro appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
Albert Einstein famously said, “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Thinking differently has never been a problem for Chris Castro, the Director of Sustainability for the City of Orlando and a self-proclaimed ‘ecopreneur,’ who has made it his mission to catalyze change through organizations such as IDEAS for US, Fleet Farming and Citizen Energy.
The UCF alumnus has given back to his adopted Central Florida community with his devotion toward ameliorating the symptoms of global warming. His goal: to create a model of sustainability that can be replicated throughout the world.
Learn more about Chris and how he plans on saving the planet in his Fluent in Floridian episode with Heidi Otway.
The man who never saw himself in local politics has presided over one of the most vibrant, up-and-coming cities in the Southeast.
Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has seen the city’s rapid growth over the years and has been proactive in finding solutions for some of its most pressing needs. By his own admission, Mayor Dyer feels positive about the work he’s been a part of in Orlando. He says that the barometer for being a good mayor is the ability to not worry about shopping at your neighborhood grocery store.
In his interview with April Salter, he addresses the highs and lows of his job, including the Pulse shooting and the ripple effect it’s had on the community at-large.
You’ve never met a legislator like Representative Anna Eskamani. The first Iranian-American to hold public office in Florida ran a campaign rooted in her identity and values, and it paid off when she overwhelmingly won House District 47 in Central Florida.
She fights for women, children, immigrants and all of her constituents back home, but she’s also fighting for a more representative form of government. Representative Eskamani is front and center in the new age of American politics, and she hopes to shape the conversation through her new role.
In the newest episode of Fluent in Floridian, SalterMitchell PR Founder + CEO April Salter sits down with Representative Eskamani to discuss her first legislative session, her campaign’s authentic voice and how she inspires new leaders.
The Super Bowl is coming! The Special Olympics are coming! The World Cup is (potentially) coming! Angela Suggs is the Paul Revere of Florida sports.
In her role as president of the Florida Sports Foundation, she’s had the privilege of heralding all sorts of good news in Florida’s sports scene. In the latest Fluent in Floridian episode, Angela sits down with SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway to discuss Florida’s $57 billion dollar sports economy, the upcoming national and international events slated to be in Florida, and the value that sports provide to the state.
Mac Stipanovich is known throughout Florida as a Republican cognoscente, so when he penned an open letter to his fellow Republicans in 2016 imploring them to vote for Hillary Clinton, it came as somewhat of a shock. Now he’s left the Republican party completely.
He explains why in the latest episode of Fluent in Floridian. Mac sits down with SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway to discuss the state of political rhetoric in America, his involvement in Florida’s political history and the importance of voting (and knowing how to vote).
The fastest growing sector in the United States job market isn’t technology or real estate. It’s marijuana.
Christian Bax, former director of Florida’s Office of Medical Marijuana Use, sits down with SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway. In their conversation, they discuss the growth of Florida’s medical cannabis industry from zero patients to over 250,000 in two years, the takeaways that Florida can learn from other states and the future of the industry in the state.
Dr. Larry Robinson has been a steadfast presence at Florida A&M University since joining the faculty as a visiting professor in 1997. A nuclear chemist and researcher by trade, Dr. Robinson went on to serve as interim president at FAMU on three separate occasions. In 2017, he was finally named the 12th president of Florida’s only historically black public university.
The strengthened relationship between FAMU and the global economy is one of the accomplishments Dr. Robinson is most proud of. He is also a proponent of the university’s research and regularly promotes the impact of many high-achieving FAMU graduates.
In his conversation with SalterMitchell PR President (and FAMU grad) Heidi Otway, Dr. Robinson discusses the role of historically black colleges and universities, his vision for the future, and details about a new partnership with tech giant Google.
One of three U.S. Attorneys for the state of Florida, Larry Keefe has spent his life setting and achieving his goals as the result of hard work and great mentorship.
On the newest episode of Fluent in Floridian, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida Larry Keefe talks to SalterMitchell PR CEO April Salter about his career, his mentors, and how he progressed from the Levin College of Law to the highest federal law enforcement position in North Florida.
“The future 100 years of Southeast Florida will be about managing the water relevant to the land, building vertically, and connecting them with elevated transportation systems.”
This week on Fluent in Floridian, SalterMitchell PR President, Heidi Otway, sits down with Jim Murley, the Chief Resilience Officer for Miami-Dade County to talk about the ways Southeast Florida is going to have to adapt to #SeaLevelRise.
In their conversation, they discuss Jim’s history serving under multiple Governors, his time spent researching with the Center for Urban and Environmental Solutions at FAU and what exactly is in store for Florida and the planet.
Since he was in the eighth grade, Tim Nickens knew he would be a journalist. What began as a dream to become a sports writer turned into a 35-year career reporting for two of Florida’s top newspapers and winning a Pulitzer Prize.
Nickens is Fluent in Floridian. Over the course of his impressive career, he has reported on many of the cultural events that have defined the 21st century, including 9/11, Hurricane Charlie and both election recounts in Florida.
On this episode of Fluent in Floridian, Nickens discusses his career in journalism, the way the industry has changed, his thoughts on today’s young voters, and his new role as Editor of Editorials at Florida’s largest newspaper, the Tampa Bay Times.
Sea level rise. Unprecedented super storms. Toxic algae blooms. The effects of climate change on Florida’s environment have become increasingly overt in the last decade. However, activists like Aliki Moncrief are reminding us that while global warming is a human-made phenomenon, it can also be solved by people working together.
As the executive director of Florida Conservation Voters, her mission is to keep citizens informed of the threats of climate change. Moncrief is Fluent in Floridian. Born in Greece, she grew up in South Miami before attending Emory University for undergrad and Harvard Law for her J.D. She has used her legal education to fight for the environment through the Department of Environmental Protection Enforcement Division and by spearheading The Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative in 2014.
In this episode of Fluent In Floridian, Moncrief sits down with us to discuss her career path, the impact Florida Conservation Voters has had on voter awareness, and what she expects from the new administration in Florida.
John Lux got his start in Florida working for Walt Disney World, but after leaving the mouse’s house, he was drawn to a career in film production. Since becoming involved with Film Florida, Lux progressed from volunteer to treasurer before being named the full-time executive director in 2016.
Lux is Fluent in Floridian. As an advocate for the film, TV, and digital media industries, he is aware of the natural benefits our state offers to digital creators, but also of the incentives that can help to move filming away from Hollywood studios, and bring that money to smaller communities. Lux speaks to the influx of money and notoriety seen by the city of Clearwater after it was featured in the hit film Dolphin Tale.
On this episode of Fluent in Floridian, John Lux discusses how the Sunshine State’s industry growth stacks up to our coastal neighbors across the South East. He also talks about some of the many memorable shows that were shot in Florida, as well as the engagement of companies like EA who help to expand the video game industry in the state.
When Eric Eikenberg graduated from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, he had little idea who Stoneman Douglas was, or that he would be walking in her boot-prints as an activist championing the Florida Everglades. Eikenberg began his position as the CEO of the Everglades Foundation in 2012 and has since been an unapologetic advocate for one of the most distinctly Floridian landmarks.
Eikenberg is fluent in Floridian. Whether it’s discussing the blue-green algae being discharged from the east and west sides of Lake Okeechobee, the pivotal function of the Everglades in cleaning the water of millions of South Floridians, or the two former Florida Governors that he had the chance to work closely with, Eikenberg seems to have found his calling in Florida. However, when Eric first moved to South Florida from New York, he saw so many Mets, Jets, and Giants colors that he says South Florida was like the sixth borough!
On this episode of Fluent in Floridian, SMPR CEO April Salter discusses with Eric Eikenberg the ties he has to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and Marjory Stoneman Douglas the advocate. They also dive into the effect of sugarcane production on water quality, the #NowOrNeverglades movement, and the long trek towards a more permanent solution to the issues in Florida’s water management.
From top to bottom, the state of Florida is filled with distinctly ‘Floridian’ features, yet in one corner of Orlando it’s possible to experience the sights, sounds, smells and tastes of London. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter has been one of Universal Orlando’s calling cards ever since it opened in 2010 with the help of PR pro, Alyson Gernert.
Gernert is Fluent in Floridian. As the Director of Public Relations at Universal Orlando, Alyson has a hand in one our state’s biggest economic drivers in the theme park industry. With over 120 million tourists projected to take trips to Florida, there needs to be something for everyone. Guests at Universal can expect for their vacation to be an immersive experience – right down to the Butterbeer taste tested by J.K. Rowling herself.
Listen as she sits down with SMPR President Heidi Otway to discuss her last decade working with Universal Orlando, the way the PR landscape has shifted since the opening of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and her best advice for young professionals in PR.
A transplant from tar-heel country, Scott Maxwell has spent the better part of the last two decades reporting for the Orlando Sentinel as the Taking Names columnist. In his 20 years of reporting, Maxwell has seen it all – describing the Florida political reporting scene as “addictive.”
Maxwell is Fluent in Floridian. From covering the last several election cycles to documenting natural disasters, Scott has earned a masters in Floridian Fluency, all while peppering his writing with his patented wit and astute perception. Some of his best stories are about Florida politicians, but also his readers’ reactions – which range from enthralled to disenchanted.
On this episode of Fluent in Floridian, Scott Maxwell discusses the changing landscape of the print media industry, his time as a Florida journalist, and his social media presence.
Since this episode of Fluent in Floridian was recorded, Ashley Moody was elected Florida’s Attorney General. Growing up in Plant City during the 1980’s, Ashley Moody’s life was surrounded by family, faith, community, and the town’s singular McDonald’s restaurant. Who would have guessed that in 2006, the woman with a Master’s in Accounting from […]
The post 43. Former Hillsborough County Judge Ashley Moody appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
Growing up in Plant City during the 1980’s, Ashley Moody’s life was surrounded by family, faith, community, and the town’s singular McDonald’s restaurant.
Who would have guessed that in 2006, the woman with a Master’s in Accounting from the University of Florida would go on to be the youngest circuit court judge in the entire state (besides Ashley herself)? Moody’s experience with the law is drawn from many wells — her first job as a business litigator, her time as a federal prosecutor, being the daughter and granddaughter of judges, and even the experiences of her husband, a federal agent.
On this episode, Moody discusses her vision for Florida as a safe, strong, and prosperous state. She also reflects on the role of Attorney General as the ‘guardian of justice,’ the ability of the attorney general to be proactive in shaping policy, and issues like the opioid crisis, elder abuse, and human trafficking.
Some kids grow up wanting to be an astronaut or a firefighter, but as Sean Shaw grew up in Tallahassee, his vision of the future was shaped by his after-school hang out spot: the Florida Supreme Court. After integrating the Jacksonville bar association, Leander Shaw, Sean’s father, spent 20 years on Florida’s Supreme Court, becoming […]
The post 42. Former State Representative Sean Shaw appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
Some kids grow up wanting to be an astronaut or a firefighter, but as Sean Shaw grew up in Tallahassee, his vision of the future was shaped by his after-school hang out spot: the Florida Supreme Court.
After integrating the Jacksonville bar association, Leander Shaw, Sean’s father, spent 20 years on Florida’s Supreme Court, becoming the first black Chief Justice in the court’s history in 1990. Sean says it would be “impossible” to say he doesn’t feel pressure to live up to his father’s legacy. Having been elected to Florida’s House of Representatives in 2016, Shaw is now running to be Florida’s Attorney General. He didn’t see himself jumping into the race until he saw the changing political landscape in the wake of the 2016 national election. Shaw wants to bring back decency to politics.
On this episode, Shaw discusses his reputation as a consumer advocate, following his father’s footsteps, and his campaign’s focus on common sense gun laws, medical marijuana, immigration, and protecting the Affordable Care Act.
Since the early 1800s, Matt Caldwell’s family has had roots in Florida. Today, Matt is staying true to those roots and running for Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Before deciding to run for Agriculture Commissioner, Matt Caldwell was your average, everyday, pocket constitution carrying member of Florida’s House of Representatives.
The man who once tweeted that he’d rather engage in fisticuffs with a coyote rather than an alligator (any Floridian would), decided to jump into a statewide election to shift the focus to the issues he sees as most important: “jobs, water, and the second amendment.”
In this episode, you’ll hear him talk about his background growing up in Fort Myers, his experience as one of the trailblazers in Florida Gulf Coast University’s inaugural years, and his love for the natural beauty of the state.
Love and family. Devoted Health, a start-up launching Medicare Advantage plans in 2019, aims to connect those words with healthcare. In this episode, Dariel Quintana, the Florida market president for Devoted Health, talks about what’s changed with healthcare in his two decades in the industry, what’s remained the same, and why choosing a healthcare plan […]
The post 40. Devoted Health Florida Market President Dariel Quintana appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
Love and family. Devoted Health, a start-up launching Medicare Advantage plans in 2019, aims to connect those words with healthcare.
In this episode, Dariel Quintana, the Florida market president for Devoted Health, talks about what’s changed with healthcare in his two decades in the industry, what’s remained the same, and why choosing a healthcare plan needs to look more like online car shopping.
Listen in to hear how Florida stacks up with other states’ Medicare Advantage options, tips for people approaching age 65, and find out how Devoted Health is using world-class technology – and love – to change the way we think about healthcare plans.
Born in Oklahoma, raised in Alaska, attended high school in Miami and college at Duke: not the path you would expect from the twelfth president of the University of Florida, but Kent Fuchs is far from an ordinary university president. In college, Kent had his sights set on engineering, then business, and eventually the ministry […]
The post 39. University of Florida President Kent Fuchs appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
Born in Oklahoma, raised in Alaska, attended high school in Miami and college at Duke: not the path you would expect from the twelfth president of the University of Florida, but Kent Fuchs is far from an ordinary university president. In college, Kent had his sights set on engineering, then business, and eventually the ministry before turning to a life of higher education. In his third year as UF’s president, he is reflective of the experiences he has had that led him to the University of Florida.
Even though he grew up in the culturally vibrant 1960’s, President Fuchs witnessed minimal culture growing up with no television. Now, as the president of a preeminent research institution, President Fuchs is having to make decisions about free speech and social media.
It isn’t often someone can go from executive assistant to executive director, but since starting with the Florida Police Chiefs Association in 1999, that’s exactly what Amy Mercer has done. As executive director of one of the largest policing association in the country, Amy is on the cutting edge of police technology and technique, but the job has continued to develop new challenges over the nearly two-decades.
Mercer is fluent in Floridian. One of the hardest parts of her job is addressing the negative glare cast on law enforcement by a select few. Mercer says, “I know the type of commitment and dedication that the majority of our law enforcement members have. They’re truly individuals that’s wanting to make a difference to better their communities and the citizens that they serve better their lives, but I do recognize that unfortunately in all industry there are some bad apples, and law enforcement is no different.”
Although she doesn’t have personal experience as a member of law enforcement, Mercer does have inspiration for her new career, stating “my great-grandfather on my mother’s side, he was in law enforcement. Years ago, he was in Ripley’s Believe it or Not, as the longest acting living sheriff in Georgia, where I’m originally from.”
Bringing with him his Marine background and homegrown Florida story, Ken Lawson has taken VisitFlorida in a bold, refreshing, and transparent direction. Appointed by Governor Scott to right a sinking ship, Lawson has been fundamental in revitalizing the state’s tourism bureau, however he still has to fight against hurricanes, national and international competition.
Ken is fluent in Floridian. Ken takes advantage of social media to innovate the way tourists are ‘sold’ on Florida, he informed us, “We have a program called Share A Little Sunshine where people send their video clips of their experience. And when you see it on Facebook, on Instagram. It’s like, “No. No one’s selling me anything. They’re sharing with me.” And then I’m going to put myself in the shoes of that person and it’s just after the hurricane for a live camera showing that, “Hey, it’s 1:10 here in Destin and the sky is clear. The air smells good. Feel the sand underneath your toes.” In fact, Facebook told us that after the hurricane our campaign on Facebook was basically the second most popular, successful campaign they had and this is after Visa.”
When making decisions on how to market the state, Lawson turned to an unexpected source: the general tourism council of Canada. Lawson learned that greater than marketing any theme park, beach, or fishing hole, is marketing the diversity of experiences in Florida. Lawson describes being able to traverse the west coast of Florida and experience fine dining, nightlife, museums, concerts and more.
As one of Florida State’s three Heisman trophy winner, Charlie Ward left Tallahassee to play professional basketball with the New York knicks as their starting point guard, only to return to the city that saw the birth of his two-sport superstardom as the newest head basketball coach at Florida High. But if you ask him, it’s all about the love of the game. His star-studded journey has brought high, lows, and lots of lessons.
Ward is fluent in Floridian. Winning his Heisman as FSU’s quarterback, his life outside of sports holds a deeper meaning, “I want to be known as a giver, whether it’s giving back to a high school, giving to a charity, whether financial or time, just want to be a giver.” One way he practices giving back is by having his Heisman trophy on display at the Thomasville Public Library for the children of his hometown.
During his time in New York, Ward had the chance to learn under the tutelage of NBA legends such as Derek Harper, Herb Williams, and even Doc Rivers.
A journalist for four-decades at the Tampa Bay Times, Jeff Klinkenberg has the kind of job that most people dream of. His column, Real Florida, began in 1986 and documented the arts, culture, nature and way of life of Floridians. Faced with cave diving, mosquitos, hurricanes and alligators, jeff would still classify the drive from Tampa to Daytona Beach on I-4 the most dangerous thing in Florida.
Jeff is fluent in Floridian. Jeff got his start in Miami covering the sports beat, but it wasn’t ideal, he describes, “so I was covering the Miami Dolphins and I got tired of it. I was looking for a way to write about interesting people. I volunteered to be the outdoors editor. A lot of people thought I was crazy because I was 22 years old. I had the best beat, according to some people, on the whole newspaper. I’m traveling across the country. I’m talking to the Miami Dolphins when they’re the world champions. I just found it boring. I wanted to talk to real people who might be a little colorful.”
One thing Jeff loathes nowadays is the narrative description of Florida as the ‘weird capital’ of the world. “I don’t think of that as Real Florida,” Jeff states plainly, “Real Florida tends to be somewhat timeless.”
He has served under Florida Governor Askew and with the New York Yankees, but over the past two-and-a-half decades, Doug Sessions has found the most success as President and CEO of the Ounce of Prevention Fund (preventchildabusefl.org), which works to end child abuse in Florida. His background in government made him an unlikely candidate for the position, but his overwhelming devotion to preventing child abuse in Florida makes him an obvious choice.
Doug is fluent in Floridian. However before he was fluent in Floridian, he was speaking Yankee as he served with the New York baseball team, he describes one experience with the organization, “I got a call one day from a marketing person, and she said, “I represent Miller beer, and we want to do a Miller Lite commercial with Mr. Steinbrenner and Billy Martin.” So I said, “Well, I’ll go check.” And I visited with George and he said, “I’m not really inclined to do that.” Then he started thinking, he said, “Well, are they going to pay me to do it?” And he said, “I’m sure they will.” He says, “Well, if they will take whatever they’re going to pay me and give it to this,” there was an orphanage in the Bronx. And he said, “If they will give it to,” I think it was called St. Mary’s, “I’ll talk Billy into doing it, and we’ll do it.” So I called the lady back and I said, “Here’s the deal.” And she said, “Well, that’s great. We’ll do it in a heartbeat.” And they gave, I think it was like, $50,000 to this orphanage.”
The sort of selflessness he saw while with the Yankee organization is matched by what Sessions says he learned from Governor Reubin Askew: lessons on ethics, humility, and ambition. According to Sessions, Governor Askew was once set to receive the King of Jordan at a space launch in Cape Canaveral, and not knowing how to address him at the time, simply said, “hello, king, how are you?”
A hopeful, hard-working, Boston-transplant, Philip Levine will be the first to say he wasn’t a ‘stellar student,’ instead, he would probably attribute his ascension to the upper echelon of Florida politics to his convictions and mentality of hard work. His background in politics and history have led him to ‘think big and act small,’ which is why when he saw paralysis on the part of Miami Beach legislature to address climate change, he took up the fight and ran for mayor.
Philip is fluent in Floridian. Although his stint at the U of F was brief, he does have valuable advice for students, “I always say, “Study what you would enjoy the most. Study what you would wake up in the morning and be excited to go to class. Because if you want to go into business, you don’t need a business degree. Matter of fact, I’ll give you a business degree right now. You buy something for a dollar, you sell it for two. You write it down, it’s called accounting. And it doesn’t make a difference which business you’re in.””
One innovative strategy that Levine employed during his campaign was his Living Room Speaking Tour. When he ran for mayor of Miami Beach, Levine knocked on over 6,000 doors, so in order to increase the efficiency, he has people invite over their friends and neighbors to talk with him about this issues in Florida. “They’re the ones that kind of give you your PhD on Florida,” he says.
A fifth-generation Floridian, still living on the same piece of property that she grew up on in Zolfo Springs, Denise Grimsley knows a thing or two about ‘Flo-Grown.’ Grimsley experienced a different childhood than most: her family’s land included a 350-acre citrus grove, 100-acres of cattle, she learned to drive on a dirt road, and […]
The post 32. State Senator Denise Grimsley appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
A fifth-generation Floridian, still living on the same piece of property that she grew up on in Zolfo Springs, Denise Grimsley knows a thing or two about ‘Flo-Grown.’ Grimsley experienced a different childhood than most: her family’s land included a 350-acre citrus grove, 100-acres of cattle, she learned to drive on a dirt road, and there were no neighbors to speak of. When her dad fell ill, she returned from her job as a registered nurse to take care of the family oil business, all while attending business school at nights and on the weekend. Her time in the Florida Senate has led her to running for Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture.
In a fertile ground for political careers, Brecht Heuchan took a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Florida State, an internship with the House Republican Campaign Committee, and turned it into a lengthy career as the founder of Contribution Link, a political data and fundraising company. Now, he faces the unparalleled pressure of […]
The post 31. Constitution Revision Commissioner Brecht Heuchan appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
In a fertile ground for political careers, Brecht Heuchan took a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science from Florida State, an internship with the House Republican Campaign Committee, and turned it into a lengthy career as the founder of Contribution Link, a political data and fundraising company. Now, he faces the unparalleled pressure of sitting on a commission tasked with reviewing the constitution that governs the people of Florida.
Lucy Morgan is NOT your typical Florida retiree. A long-time veteran of the Florida journalism industry, Lucy has both reported news, as well as made news, while investigating corruption in law enforcement. The accolades are second to the stories she’s collected, not that a Pulitzer Prize or an induction into the Florida Women’s Hall of Fame and the Florida Newspaper Hall of Fame is anything to sneeze at, Morgan would probably equate these accomplishments to the prison sentence she received for protecting sources.
It isn’t just Florida’s enticing attractions and vast ecological diversity that make this state stand out. Florida is also the only state in the union to have an automatic Constitution Review Commission (CRC) which meets every year. Mary Adkins, a Master Legal Skills Professor at the University of Florida, joins us to discuss her research into the history of Florida’s CRC, and her new book, Making Modern Florida: How the Spirit of Reform Shaped a New State Constitution.
It isn’t just Florida’s enticing attractions and vast ecological diversity that make this state stand out. Florida is also the only state in the union to have an automatic Constitution Review Commission (CRC) which meets every year. Mary Adkins, a Master Legal Skills Professor at the University of Florida, joins us to discuss her research […]
The post 29. UF Professor & Author Mary Adkins appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
In Panama City Beach, there’s a famous seafood restaurant called Capt. Anderson’s. Owned by the Patronis family since it opened, Capt. Anderson’s has been serving Panama City Beach as for just over fifty years. For Jimmy Patronis, clocking in at Capt. Anderson’s from the time he was a teenager helped prepare him for his current job as Florida’s Chief Financial Officer. “Up until I took the job as CFO, my brothers and I still clocked in and clocked out every day […] That was probably what taught us to be loyal to the business, understanding that it boils down to managing people, and taking care of the customer, and keeping the trains running on time.”
You probably know Representative Charlie Crist as the former governor of Florida, and as a current member of the US House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 13th district. What you probably didn’t know is that he served as the general counsel for minor league baseball right out of law school, although a career in politics would […]
The post 27. U.S. Representative Charlie Crist appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
You probably know Representative Charlie Crist as the former governor of Florida, and as a current member of the US House of Representatives, representing Florida’s 13th district. What you probably didn’t know is that he served as the general counsel for minor league baseball right out of law school, although a career in politics would soon call to him. “I guess I probably should have seen the forecast though, because all through school, beginning with junior high school and earlier, I was involved in student government and did so all the way through law school. So that should have been a precursor for me that this would be the calling that I would answer.”
Orlando is one of Florida’s most well known tourist destinations and technological hubs, and as such is a major source of revenue for the state. It stands to reason that a prosperous Orlando helps to create a prosperous Florida, and Tim Giuliani is doing whatever he can as the President and CEO of the Orlando […]
The post 26. Orlando Economic Partnership President and CEO Tim Giuliani appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
Orlando is one of Florida’s most well known tourist destinations and technological hubs, and as such is a major source of revenue for the state. It stands to reason that a prosperous Orlando helps to create a prosperous Florida, and Tim Giuliani is doing whatever he can as the President and CEO of the Orlando Economic Partnership to make Orlando as successful a it can be. Having previously worked for the Chambers of Commerce for the state of Florida, Gainesville, and Raleigh, NC, Giuliani knows the importance of leadership and giving a community a voice in policy decisions. “If you’re in the business community taking an active leadership role in the community, it can make a world of difference. It can get things done faster. It can give voice to issues that might have gone unnoticed. And it really makes for a much more dynamic community.”
If you listened to the radio in 2014, chances are you heard the hit song “Best Day of My Life,” meaning you’ve heard Tallahassee-native James Adam Shelley. Shelley, the lead guitarist of the band American Authors, has spent his life making what often seemed like an uphill climb to break through into the music industry. This struggle is reflected in the hit song that would later make their name, which was written when the band was at their nadir. “People are telling us, ‘No, you guys will never do it.’ The song is maybe when we’re sleeping, that that’s the best day of our life, and that’s a better version of where we’re at right now.”
Christopher Still, whose paintings can be seen in the Governor’s Mansion and Smithsonian Institute, has earned acclaim throughout his career for the way in which he takes Florida landscapes and depicts them in styles more often reserved for “higher” subject matter, such as historic European architecture. Still’s dedication to Florida through his art has earned him an induction into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame, as well as a commission from the Florida House of Representatives to create 10 paintings that tell the history of the state.
When Marshall Criser III’s father left his law practice to serve as the president of the University of Florida, he couldn’t wrap his head around the choice. “I didn’t really understand why he chose to leave […] Could not understand why my parents would make a decision like that.” However, later in his life, Criser would prove to have more in common with his father than just their names, as he made a similar career change to become the Chancellor of the State University System of Florida. “When I later made something of a similar decision in 2014, I suddenly understood what it was all about[…] You want somehow to have as much of an effect in making it stronger, better for our students.”
While most would consider earning either a World Series or Super Bowl ring to be a career-defining honor, Mark Lamping is one of the very few who can boast ownership of both. Lamping, the current president of the Jacksonville Jaguars, earned his World Series ring while president of the St. Louis Cardinals, and his Super Bowl ring while CEO of the New York Giants’ MetLife Stadium. However, he’s not content to stop there. “I was fortunate enough to be president of the St. Louis Cardinals for 14 year […] and won the World Series in 2008. And that was wonderful, but that was [their] 10th world championship. If I could be part of bringing the first Super Bowl champion to Jacksonville, you only have the opportunity to do something for the first time once.”
Cissy Proctor can blame her former coworkers for her interest in public service work. Having attended Florida State for her undergraduate and law degrees, Proctor went on to work at a local Tallahassee law firm called Bryant Miller Olive, where she said many of her colleagues “Had been inside state government, inside state agencies, inside the governor’s office, legislature, and really spoke so highly of their time inside stat government. So I kind of got bit by the bug to really go do more public service work.” This led to a series of public service jobs, including serving as Jesse Panuccio’s Deputy of Legislative Affairs Director, his Director of Strategic Business Development, his Chief of Staff, all culminating in her current role as the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s Executive Director.
In today’s volatile political climate, it can be hard to “cut through the noise,” as Dr. Bob McClure puts it. But Dr. McClure, as the CEO and President of the James Madison Institute, one of the oldest non-partisan think tanks in the country, makes it his (nonprofit) business to cut through the noise. The James Madison Institute focuses on “policy that advances opportunity and economic prosperity for all Floridians,” working with organizations such as the Republic Party, or the ACLU on issues such as criminal justice reform.
Described as “today’s seminal civil rights lawyer” by Morgan & Morgan founder John Morgan, Ben Crump has represented some of the most high profile civil rights and discrimination cases of the 21st century, including Trayvon Martin, Michael Brown, Martin Lee Anderson, and the currently unfolding Chris Jones case.
For some college students, a hospitality job is nothing more than a necessity to pay for school. For Carol Dover, it was more than that; it was a stepping stone that led to her becoming the President and CEO of the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, a position she has held since 1995. Dover represents over the interests of over 10,000 members of the Florida hospitality industry in front of the state legislature.
Dominic Calabro has been with TaxWatch, a non-profit non-partisan research institute, so long that he sometimes jokes “There’s no life before or after TaxWatch.” While he hasn’t yet discovered what comes after, there was a before, during which time Calabro worked in a Catholic Seminary. It was here that he asked himself who he wanted to be, a question that led him on the path of citizen advocacy.
At the end of each episode of Fluent in Floridian, we ask our guests four questions, including “What in Florida deserves more attention?” This episode presents the answers given by our first ten guests.
Over the course of his career as FEMA Administrator, Craig Fugate oversaw more than 500 presidentially-declared major disasters and emergencies, including Florida’s first back-to-back major hurricanes since the 1950s. Coming from a long background in emergency management, after updating Alachua County’s disaster plan in February 1987 shortly after being promoted to Lieutenant in Fire Rescue, Fugate’s focus during his tenure as FEMA Administrator was preparedness.
Miami Herald Capital Bureau Chief Mary Ellen Klas is a celebrated journalist within the sunshine state. She notes that her interest in journalism was sparked at a young age. “I got into journalism because, as a little kid, I was really interested in writing. […] Florida as a state was growing fast and every newcomer who was engaged didn’t think twice about subscribing to a newspaper. So it was a really exciting time to be a journalist.”
Martha Barnett is one of the Sunshine State’s most influential lawyers. A graduate of both Tulane University and the University of Florida, Barnett was a member of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission in 1997 through 1998 and previously served as President of the American Bar Association from 2000 to 2001. Currently, Barnett is a retired senior partner at the Holland & Knight Law firm.
Orange County Sheriff Jerry L. Demings is dedicated to serving and protecting his Florida community. A former Chief of the Orlando Police Department and Director of Public Safety for Orange County, Demings’s interest in law enforcement was sparked from his childhood experiences watching television shows such as Hawaii Five-0 and Mannix. After joining the Orlando Police Department in 1981, Demings moved up the leadership ranks to become the department’s first African-American chief in 1998.In 2008, Demings became the department’s first African-American sheriff.
Since this episode of Fluent in Floridian was recorded, Jerry Demings was elected mayor of Orange County, FL. Orange County Sheriff Jerry L. Demings is dedicated to serving and protecting his Florida community. A former Chief of the Orlando Police Department and Director of Public Safety for Orange County, Demings’s interest in law enforcement […]
The post 12. Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
New York Times Bestselling author and Tampa Bay Times reporter Craig Pittman is a celebrated journalist and storyteller in the sunshine state. A Florida native and graduate of Troy State University in Alabama, Pittman has won several awards, including the Waldo Proffitt Award for Distinguished Environmental Journalism in Florida four times, the top investigative reporting award from the Society of Environmental Journalists two times, as well as three first-place awards from the Florida Magazine Association. Pittman notes that his parents influenced his career aspirations. He states, “I always joked that my mom taught me to appreciate a good book and my dad taught me to appreciate a good story.”
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida Executive Director Howard Simon is a prominent fighter for American rights and freedoms. Simon began his work for the ACLU as the Executive Director of the organization’s Michigan affiliate. In 1997, he was appointed as the organization’s Executive Director of Florida and became responsible for the organization’s legal, public education, legislative lobbying, membership and fund-raising programs. Simon has a Ph.D. degree from the University of Minnesota in legal and political philosophy and social ethics and served as a philosophy professor at the University of Minnesota and the DePauw University in Indiana prior to working for the ACLU.
A prominent attorney and outspoken politician, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has a strong history of fighting for the progression of our Sunshine State through the legal system. A graduate of the University of Florida, as well as the Stetson Law School, Bondi has successfully worked her way up the leadership ladder. As the state’s attorney general, Bondi has fought to eradicate several notable public issues, including drug abuse and human trafficking. Additionally, Bondi has appeared on several cable news programs and worked for Fox News as a legal analyst. Bondi is the first woman Attorney General of the State of Florida.
Florida Chamber of Commerce Chair Syd Kitson is dedicated to creating a better business climate within the sunshine state. As the Chairman and CEO of real estate company Kitson & Partners, he developed Florida’s innovative and sustainable “city of the future”: Babcock Ranch. In addition to his revolutionary real estate endeavors and Florida Chamber of Commerce efforts, Kitson also serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation, the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, and the Grassy Waters Preserve.
Peter Schorsch is a man of many titles, including political reporter, blogger, consultant, and entrepreneur. He’s a celebrated web publisher, known for popular websites such as FloridaPolitics.com, serves as a political consultant to several large governmental affairs and public relations firms, and is the president of award-winning media publishing house Extensive Enterprises. Schorsch’s passion for politics was ignited early on and his shift from active political participation to political writing was influenced by his work with former Florida State University president Stan Marshall.
Before becoming the first African-American nominee for governor in Florida, before becoming mayor of Florida’s capital city, and before becoming the youngest City Commissioner in Tallahassee’s history, Andrew Gillum was the son of school bus driver and a construction worker. The values instilled by his hardworking parents led Andrew to become a devoted civil servant, the first of his brothers and sister to graduate high school and college.
Though Sally Bradshaw is most known for serving as Jeb Bush’s senior advisor during the 2016 presidential race, her accomplishments far exceed politics. The George Washington University graduate is the epitome of success having worked alongside political giants such as former president George H.W. Bush, completed consulting work for award-winning firms such as CoreMessage, and […]
The post 5. Longtime Jeb Bush Senior Advisor Sally Bradshaw appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.
Though Sally Bradshaw is most known for serving as Jeb Bush’s senior advisor during the 2016 presidential race, her accomplishments far exceed politics. The George Washington University graduate is the epitome of success having worked alongside political giants such as former president George H.W. Bush, completed consulting work for award-winning firms such as CoreMessage, and served as a member of the Florida State Board of Education. Additionally, Bradshaw is a sought-after public speaker and most recently, a successful bookstore owner.
Adam Smith, Political Editor for the Tampa Bay Times, has quickly become one of 2018’s leading reporters. Focusing on state and national politics, Smith has successfully weathered the changing nature of political media coverage, having worked in the field for nearly three decades. Smith has been named one of the country’s Top 10 political reporters by the Columbia Journalism Review, previously served as the co-host of Bay News 9’s television show Political Connections, and is the creator of award-winning Florida politics blog, The Buzz.
Audubon Florida Executive Director Eric Draper, a professional conservationist, has dedicated his career to protecting the Sunshine State’s unique environment and wildlife. Having grown up during Florida’s environmental discovery period, Draper’s early life consisted of innocently wandering the state’s forests, as well as adventurously canoeing through the Hillsborough River near Tampa. His career aspirations developed during his participation in a political campaign aided by environmental groups. Today, Draper works diligently to protect and preserve Florida’s natural landscape.
Florida State University President John Thrasher has dedicated his life to serving the Sunshine State. Within the span of 50 years, Thrasher has served in several respected roles within multiple fields, including the military, law, government, and education. Prior to assuming the role of 15th president of Florida State University, Thrasher served as Chairman of the Clay County School Board, speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, member of the Florida Senate, as well as chairman for the Republican Party of Florida.