Tallahassee Business Podcast: Recent Episodes
Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce
The Tallahassee Business Podcast is a bi-monthly show aimed at sharing the unique stories of the leaders, influencers and personalities that are driving Tallahassee's fast-growing future.
Did you know that 90% of brain development happens from ages 0 to 5? This means a child's brain is almost fully developed before they enter kindergarten. In Tallahassee, our kindergarten readiness rate is at an alarming 49%. This means over half of our children who are entering kindergarten are not adequately prepared to adapt to this new learning environment. This is where Littles to Leaders comes in.
Littles to Leaders is an initiative by Leon County Schools to help establish parents as first teachers. The program will provide every parent of a newborn child in Leon County with brain development education and information about community resources to help with the development of the baby. Every family will receive a “brain bag” at the hospital following the birth of their baby. This bag contains resources and information to support their baby's brain development. Littles to Leaders aims to raise our kindergarten readiness rate by starting from birth.
Tune into this week's episode to hear all about Littles to Leaders and the details behind the program from Brooke Brunner.
According to Forbes in 2022, only 23% of Americans had a written financial plan, while 37% had done no financial planning at all. It is a common misconception that you need to have a lot of money or be a business owner to seek out financial planning services and this could not be further from the truth.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast we are joined by our 2023 Podcast Presenting Sponsor, MillCreek Financial Consultants. William Green and Robbie Kinney join us to break down the walls of financial planning. They discuss their Process vs. Product approach, advice on planning for retirement when inflation is inevitable, and how exit strategies need to be discussed sooner rather than later.
MillCreek shares their "why" behind their "what" and how they believe financial education is the forefront of what they do.
Tune in to this week's episode to learn more!
Visit MillCreek's website here: https://www.millcreekfinancialconsultants.com/
Disclosure: This podcast is intended for general public use and for educational purposes only. By providing this content, Park Avenue Securities LLC and your financial representative are not undertaking to provide investment advice or make a recommendation for a specific individual or situation, or to otherwise act in a fiduciary capacity. William and Robbie are Registered Representatives and Financial Advisors of Park Avenue Securities LLC (PAS). OSJ: 3664 COOLIDGE CT., TALLAHASSEE FL, 32311, 850-5629075. Securities products and advisory services offered through PAS, member FINRA, SIPC. Financial Representatives of The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America® (Guardian), New York, NY. PAS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Guardian. MillCreek Financial Consultants is not an affiliate or subsidiary of PAS or Guardian. William’s CA Insurance License Number - 0H88072, AR Insurance License Number - 3421324. Robbie’s CA Insurance License Number - 0H88072, AR Insurance License Number - 3421324.2023-160727 Exp 9/23
On this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by MillCreek Financial Consultants, Dan McGrew, Workforce Program Development Senior Vice President of CareerSource Florida and Leadership Tallahassee Chair joins us to elaborate on the benefits CareerSource Florida and CareerSource Captial Region has to offer. CareerSource Florida offers an integrated talent support solution to help businesses find, develop, and keep talented employees. They also provide expertise, funding, and resources businesses need to succeed.
Dan also talks about his experience with Leadership Tallahassee. From being rejected on his first application process to now serving as LT Chair, he shares how integral this program has been in his personal and professional life.
Tune in to this episode and learn how CareerSource Florida and Leadership Tallahassee could help shape your future.
When the Tallahassee Chamber was established 100 years ago, we had a vision for our great city. Now, it's time for us to come together and envision where we go next. On this week's episode, sponsored by MillCreek Financial Consultants, we sit down with Terrie Ard, President and Partner of The Moore Agency and Chamber Chair to discuss how through this initiative, we are elevating residents’ voices by gathering feedback and addressing our community’s opportunities and challenges by answering a simple yet foundational question: “How would YOU advance Tallahassee?” Through a new approach anchored in our Community Scorecard, we invite you to use our anonymous, online submission portal to tell us what YOU think matters most as we raise our families, expand our businesses, and build our region. Share your opinion: TellUsNowTLH.com
With a constant flow of new businesses entering the market, it is important for small business owners to know their options in Tallahassee. Each day, the Tallahassee Chamber advances opportunities that encourage business expansion, retention, and recruitment while supporting business-friendly initiatives. Florida First Capital is licensed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) as Florida's Statewide Certified Development Company. Their mission, much like The Chamber's, is economic development and job creation with their main goal to provide access to capital for small businesses.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, sponsored by MillCreek Financial Consultants, our President/CEO, Sue Dick chats with Mark Kruse about the different services Florida First Captial provides. Through small business loans, Florida First Capital wants to keep as much cash in the hands of business owners as possible.
Tune in & see what First Florida Capital could do for your small business.
The Tallahassee Chamber is dedicated to improving the quality of life for our community, but what does this look like? Our focus is creating a strong regional economy by following a pro-job agenda that will foster growth in the areas of talent supply and education; innovation and economic development; community prosperity; and overall business climate. Through the efforts of the Chamber’s Business Advocacy Committee, led by Rob Clarke, Chamber Board Chair-Elect and Ausley McMullen Shareholder, we advocate for policies critical to positive change in community issues and the growth of the capital region.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, sponsored by MillCreek Financial Consultants, our President/CEO, Sue Dick chats with Rob about the collaborative work being done to address issues related to homelessness, job growth, and sales tax increases.
Tune in to learn more about the Chamber's role as a business advocate and the initiatives and projects we support to bring Tallahassee to the forefront as a destination to live, work, and play.
Research shows that higher kindergarten readiness rates translate into better life and health outcomes for children and lower crime rates in our communities. They also keep Florida businesses and workplaces competitive. The Children's Movement of Florida's 'Bosses for Babies' initiative helps employers implement work policies beneficial to businesses and working parents.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by MillCreek Financial Consultants, Madeleine Thakur, President/CEO, Children’s Movement of Florida, and Sachs Media President/CEO, Michelle Ubben join Sue to unveil the latest guide released by the Children’s Movement of Florida.
Through family-friendly work policies and benefits, businesses like Sachs Media have found a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent, increasing productivity, and employee loyalty.
Learn more about the Children’s Movement of Florida’s Bosses for Babies initiative at https://www.childrensmovementflorida.org/bosses_guide.
Tallahassee has a long-running list of assets and accomplishments, but there’s one that should make the whole community proud. Florida’s Capital City, as of last year, is home to the #1 Public HBCU in the country: Florida A&M University. U.S. News and World Reports awarded FAMU this top position as well as ranking them 103rd of all public universities, a 13-spot jump from the previous year.
In 2022, Florida A&M University launched a five-year strategic plan, ‘Boldly Striking’, with a goal to elevate performance and position FAMU to become a top 100 public institution. They set ambitious objectives through Student Success, Academic Excellence, Leveraging the Brand, Long-Term Fiscal Health and Sustainability, and Organizational Effectiveness and Transformation, with a plan to exceed all expectations. With application numbers setting new records each year, it’s clear the word of Florida A&M University’s achievements has already started to spread.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast sponsored by MillCreek Financial Consultants, School of Business and Industry Dean and Chamber Board Member, Dr. Shawnta Friday-Stroud joins us to update us on the continued success and goals for a transformative future.
May 1 marked the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month – a topic often avoided because of the stigma brought on by society. The difficult truth is, nearly one in five Americans live with a mental health condition, according to the National Institute for Mental Health.
On this special episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by MillCreek Financial Consultants, Dr. Jay Reeve, President/CEO of the Apalachee Center, joins us to normalize the conversation around mental health and shares ways we can support someone that might be suffering. The Apalachee Center has been serving the Big Bend region since 1948 and continues to provide innovative resources to make access to help easier. In 2018, following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, the Florida Legislature created the Public Safety Act, allowing organizations like the Apalachee Center to partner with local law enforcement in creating Mobile Response Teams (MRT). This proactive partnership offers care in a community-based setting, increasing opportunities to stabilize individuals in the least restrictive setting.
Since 2006, Access Tallahassee has provided opportunities for young professionals to connect and engage with others to help them grow personally and professionally. Access has attracted and retained hundreds of local leaders in the capital city through exposure to community movers, shakers, and unique social events. This year, the YP group is taking its programming in a new direction, with Tallahassee’s first-ever young professionals’ summit.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by MillCreek Financial Consultants, 2023 Access Tallahassee Chair, Jason Hollister shares more information about the inaugural event taking place on April 21, 2023. In addition to the jam-packed agenda full of workshops and a keynote speaker, Access Tallahassee will also recognize five local up-and-coming leaders for their contributions to our community.
Registration for the 2023 YP Summit & Future 5 Awards is still open! To view the full agenda and learn more, visit www.TLHYPSummit.com.
In an industry that is not often talked about, Tallulah CBD Mushrooms THC Owner, Ashley Guy is making noise throughout the capital city and beyond. You’ve seen the name and you’ve probably seen one of her six locations, but what’s the story behind Ashley's rapid success?
On this week's episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by MillCreek Financial Consultants, we follow this former teacher's path to entrepreneurship and a booming business. Without a business background, Ashley took a leap of faith into the CBD market that has blossomed into a wide array of wellness products that can be found at one of the multiple Tallulah storefronts in Tallahassee.
As students and families gear up for spring break, the team from Second Harvest of the Big Bend is prepping for the Junior League of Tallahassee’s annual Mighty Meals event – distributing meal boxes for families over spring break that rely on school lunches. As a Feeding America local food bank serving 16 counties, Second Harvest is tackling hunger one meal at a time.
Second Harvest of Big Bend's CEO, Monique Ellsworth, joins us on this week's episode of the Tallahassee Business podcast, presented by MillCreek Financial Consultants. Tune in as she shares more about the innovative programs Second Harvest is implementing to battle food insecurity and how her team of only 40, makes it all happen.
If you’ve flown through the Tallahassee International Airport lately, you’ve probably noticed a lot happening – updated TSA security scanners, renovations to the terminals, and even a new Dunkin’ Donuts opening soon. But the most recent update might be the most important to local air travelers.On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by MillCreek Financial Consultants, TLH Airport Director of Aviation David Pollard joins us to share details about JetBlue’s new air service, updates on the International Processing facility, and investments being made in both the land and air sides of the airport.
In a study done by the House Committee on Small Business, Black business ownership declined more than 40% within the first two months of the pandemic- the largest decrease across any ethnic group. Even before the widespread impacts of COVID-19, Black businesses faced many financial hurdles due to racial wealth disparities. Many federal funding and grant programs became available; however, the majority of businesses were not educated on how to take advantage of these resources. This is what led Vaughn Wilson, a local small business owner, to create the vision for the Black Business Expo. Wilson has worked closely with the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality (OEV) to bring this highly anticipated event to life.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by MillCreek Financial Consultants, Vaughn joins us to share his own story of survival and how he’s using his platform to share local resources with fellow black business owners. On February 25, 2023, Mega Ace Media, OEV, bankers, and business development partners will come together for the 2nd Annual Black Business Expo. Tune in to learn more about this year’s event and the $15,000 in grant funding being awarded.
Learn more about the Black Business Expo by visiting www.BBETally.com.
In the midst of our celebration this year for the Chamber’s 100th Anniversary, we’re already looking ahead to another major milestone for the entire community. In 2024, Tallahassee-Leon County will celebrate its bicentennial.
Visit Tallahassee, Leon County’s division of tourism has already started to put wheels in motion for the big year. Earlier this month the County Commission approved the formation of a bicentennial steering committee and task force to engage the community and begin plans for the next year.
In our latest episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by MillCreek Financial Consultants, Visit Tallahassee’s Director of Tourism, Kerri Post joins us to share their vision for 2024. More than a dozen representatives from local organizations, Chambers of Commerce, higher education institutions, and historical societies will come together to create a community-wide celebration that engages all segments of the community, and shares residents’ experiences and stories of our community from their unique perspectives.
More than 80 percent of Florida business leaders, across industry sectors, surveyed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce “emphasized the importance of employability skills. These skills which include communication, critical thinking, and problem-solving are universally valuable work competencies that are essential to adapt to shifting demands within and between careers.”The State of Florida is listening to those employer concerns and invested in a free career readiness solution called Florida Ready to Work. The program focuses on developing a work-ready talent pipeline with the essential employability skills required for individual, business, and whole community economic well-being and growth.
In our latest Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by MillCreek Financial Consultants, Florida Ready to Work’s Tiffany Vause and our own Corrie Melton join us to share how our local employers can find ready-to-work talent and reduce hiring, training, and turnover costs.
On January 17, Florida Ready to Work will host an informational webinar for employers and in partnership with Lively Technical College, they will offer a chance to take the assessment free every Friday starting on January 27.
Over the past 12 months, we have accomplished a lot as a Chamber and as a community. Our team has engaged and worked alongside dynamic leaders on our Board of Directors, moving our Mission forward to drive a higher quality of life in our community. This week, we’ve had the opportunity to reflect on another great year and we’re joined by our Board Chair, Sammie Dixon for our final podcast episode of the year.
Sammie shares some of his fondest moments as Chair and some of the successes we’ve had under his leadership. We hope you’ll tune in for Sammie’s farewell and learn more about the great work being done by your Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce.
2022 Tallahassee Business Podcast Presenting Sponsor: The Health Network
The Tallahassee-Leon County region is continuing to face an ongoing workforce crisis with an extreme talent shortage. Over the past two years, the Chamber has worked to streamline the talent pipeline, encouraging educators and employers to work together and place qualified candidates in high-paying jobs. Through local partnerships, we’re working towards that goal, and thanks to the latest efforts of Big Brothers Big Sisters, we’re one step closer.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by The Health Network, Big Brothers Big Sisters Executive Director, Molly Lord joins us to introduce their Big Futures program. With the expansion of their mentorship services, volunteers will work one-on-one with high school students from Godby and Rickards High School to prepare them for life beyond high school.
Learn more about how the Big Futures program is setting youth up for success and how you can make an impact at www.bigbendmentoring.org.
Following a dream and starting a business is a brave task that not many take on. But it is the risk-takers and innovators introducing new technologies, products, and services that create jobs, and change the economic landscape for the future.
Next week, our community will come together to celebrate the entrepreneurial spirit in the capital city at Tallahassee Startup Week. On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by The Health Network, Robert Blacklidge, Executive Director of Domi Station, and local entrepreneur, Julia Holly join us to share the details of this year’s events. The schedule is jam-packed with thought-provoking events, led by local entrepreneurial leaders in twelve different industries.
Learn more at https://www.domistation.org/tlhstartupweek/.
Contact Your Candidates
Laurie Lawson Cox
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Alex Stemle
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Paula DeBoles-Johnson
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David O'Keefe
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Christian Caban www.christiancaban.com christian@christiancaban.com
Hannah Crow www.votehannahcrow.com hannahlacey.crow@gmail.com
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Josh Johnson www.voteforjosh.org joshforleoncounty@gmail.com
Nick Maddox www.nickmaddox.com maddox.nicholas@gmail.com
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John Dailey www.daileyformayor.com johndaileycampaign@gmail.com
Kristin Dozier www.dozierformayor2022.com kristindozier@gmail.com
For 30 years, Big Bend MED Week has celebrated the monumental impacts our small/minority businesses have had on our local economy and recognized business owners for their contributions and leadership. On October 17, 2022, we will kick off the beginning of the 30th Minority Enterprise Development Conference.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast sponsored by The Health Network, Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality’s MWSBE Deputy Director, Darryl Jones joins us to share the exciting events taking place to honor our small/minority businesses. From networking opportunities and workshops to galas and receptions, there is a lot to look forward to! Tune in to learn more about this year’s agenda along with the announcement of 30th Anniversary MED Week Award Winners!
Visit www.bigbendmedweek.org to learn more.
Earlier this year, we hosted our annual Prosperity Summit, highlighting the local affordable housing crisis. With alarming statistics shared with no relief in sight, it was apparent that we were going to have to think outside the box and find innovative ways to solve this problem… And that is exactly what Kyndra Light was doing.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by The Health Network, Kyndra, Owner of Precision Building & Renovating shares how she and her husband are utilizing 3D printing to build homes that are more affordable, environmentally friendly, and manufactured much quicker than traditional construction. On September 30, Kyndra and James will unveil to the public, the first 3D-printed home in the state of Florida, built in the Griffin Heights neighborhood in Tallahassee.
Learn more about Kyndra at www.rethinkconstruction.com.
Earlier this year, we hosted our annual Prosperity Summit, highlighting the local affordable housing crisis. With alarming statistics shared with no relief in sight, it was apparent that we were going to have to think outside the box and find innovative ways to solve this problem… And that is exactly what Kyndra Light was doing.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by The Health Network, Kyndra, Owner of Precision Building & Renovating shares how she and her husband are utilizing 3D printing to build homes that are more affordable, environmentally friendly, and manufactured much quicker than traditional construction. On September 30, Kyndra and James will unveil to the public, the first 3D-printed home in the state of Florida, built in the Griffin Heights neighborhood in Tallahassee.
Learn more about Kyndra at www.rethinkconstruction.com.
In January 2021, the Tallahassee Chamber launched The Community Scorecard as a data-driven approach to measure our progress in the Tallahassee-Leon County area. This monthly report focuses on twelve key factors that have demonstrated proof in driving regional economies and success in other communities including jobs, industry diversification, poverty and crime rates, kindergarten readiness, third-grade reading scores, and post-secondary attainment rate.
On this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by The Health Network, we are joined by the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Director of Research Dave Sobush, CEcD, who is the expert behind the statewide Scorecard - the model which ours follows. Dave shares the importance of the data as well as key trends and the factors critical for a vibrant community.
Learn more about the Florida Scorecard at thefloridascorecard.org.
“Voting is the most important expression of our collective wisdom.”
2022 is a big election year in the Capital City and there are many divisive reports about the voting process. On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by The Health Network, Leon County Supervisor of Elections, Mark Earley joins us to address the misconceptions.
Mark walks us through the voting process and explains why it’s important you participate in both the primary and general elections. With more than eight local seats on the ballot, your vote makes a difference in the direction of our community.
Learn more about your voting rights at leonvotes.gov.
June 1 marked the beginning of hurricane season. According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predictions, we’re facing an “above-average” 2022 Atlantic hurricane season with 14 to 21 named storms, including three to six major hurricanes. Are you prepared? Is your business?
On this special episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, sponsored by The Health Network, local business owner, Tom Derzypolski who serves as Chair of the Capital Area Red Cross joins us with Executive Director Sharon Carraway to share best practices when preparing your business for an emergency.
Think your business is ready? The Red Cross launched the American Red Cross Ready Rating™ program as a complete 123-point self-assessment of your preparedness and reveals areas for improvement. For more information on the Red Cross and to access the Preparation Checklist, visit www.redcross.org.
They call it the "Great Resignation" or the "Big Quit". With statistics showing two jobs to every applicant, employers are having to get creative with employee recruitment and retention.
When the City of Tallahassee reached out to the Tallahassee Chamber team about getting the word out about job openings, we knew our TalentHub platform would be the perfect tool to host a Virtual Hiring Event.
On this week's episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by The Health Network, Tammy Edwards, City of Tallahassee Human Resources Consultant joins our very own Corrie Melton to talk about the upcoming job fair taking place on June 9.
These virtual hiring events will take place every other month exclusively on TalentHub. Employers looking to hire are encouraged to participate and connect with a number of jobseekers live online.
For employers looking to join the virtual hiring event, e-mail Katie Harwood at kharwood@talchamber.com for more information. Job seekers can create their profiles ahead of time and join the event live directly on www.TalentHub2030.com.
When we met Calvin Ford, Owner of Tremont Concrete Services (and many other ventures), he was a true testament to the fact that Tallahassee is open for business and there is a lot of opportunity in the Capital City.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by The Health Network Sue sits down with the new friend of the Chamber as they discuss the amount of growth happening within the region and how small businesses like Tremont are expanding their footprint through local connections.
The Tallahassee International Airport has been a busy place lately. Last month, TLH released statistics showing the demand for air travel has significantly increased, nearing record-breaking numbers marked in 2019. Through the first quarter of 2022, passenger traffic at Tallahassee International Airport is up 93.9% compared to the first quarter of 2021. So, what does this mean for travelers?
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by The Health Network, we are joined by Airport Director, David Pollard who addresses the latest challenges at the airport, including the recent news about longer security lines and flight times. We encourage you to tune into this episode to hear directly from David about how he and his team are investing in improvements to enhance passenger travel while helping to establish Tallahassee as a competitive and sustainable place to do business.
Learn more about what's happening at the TLH Airport at https://www.talgov.com/airport/airport.aspx.
Tallahassee roots run deep – especially in the capital city’s Southside neighborhoods. Something that needs to be remembered and honored. This is why the Soul of Southside Festival was created back in 2021 and has already grown into a weeklong celebration with more than 12 events.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by The Health Network, community advocate Christic Henry joins us to talk about the rich and diverse history of Tallahassee’s Southside neighborhoods and the importance of this festival in the capital city. Christic and a team of volunteers have been hard at work over the past 12 months to accommodate the tremendous growth and put together a jam-packed schedule of events.
For more information on this year's Soul of Southside Festival, visit https://sosfesttlh.com/.
You’ve heard the name at the beginning of every Tallahassee Business Podcast episode, but what exactly is The Health Network?
Dustin Rivest, the Founder of THN joins us for a special sponsor highlight this week as he talks about the history of the tech company and where it’s headed next. Dustin and The Health Network team have worked closely with a number of local healthcare practices to change the patient experience while helping local businesses advertise on a unique platform.
Learn more about The Health Network at www.thnadvertising.com.
This year’s legislative session ended with the largest budget passed in state history of $112B with a surprisingly low number of bills filed. What is even more interesting is what passed (and what didn’t).
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by The Health Network, Sachs Media Partner, Herbie Thiele joins Sue to discuss some of the major items that landed on the Governor’s desk including COVID liability laws, hometown heroes program, gas tax and more. Tune in to learn more about what these bills mean for you and your business.
On March 23, the Tallahassee tech industry will finally have something many have been waiting for. Launch Tally is a hub for resources, opportunities and talent where tech folks can discover the best news, events, programs and jobs from across the community. Tech companies will now have a one-stop-shop to post jobs, share wins and connect with fellow tech peers.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by The Health Network, Launch Tally leader, Eddie Gonzalez-Loumiet talks with Corrie Melton about the official liftoff of the community resource. The LaunchPad is already up and running, loaded with information and even merchandise to get you ready for the big day.
It’s always a competition between Leadership Tallahassee classes as to who truly is the #BestClassEver. The LT experience is so much more than a leadership program and with the 40th anniversary upon us, this year’s LT class might truly be the best class ever.
In this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by The Health Network, Leadership Tallahassee Class 38 member Dionte Gavin joins Sue to share his experience within the LT program and what potential applicants can look forward to in Class 40. Dionte is this year’s Recruitment Chair and he is ready to break records. Tune in to learn more about the application process and tips on how you can stand out.
CESC, Inc. is a local non-profit organization that not only provides emergency shelter and immediate services to those experiencing homelessness but programs to help individuals get back on their feet and lead a self-sufficient life.
On this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by The Health Network, CESC Executive Director, Samantha Vance, and the local businessman who brought the project to life, Rick Kearney join Sue to talk about the critical services they provide to combat homelessness. The COVID pandemic has presented an entirely new set of challenges for the homeless population but through the support of the community, they see a promising future.
Learn more about how you can help at www.cesctlh.org.
On February 2, 20 local college students will embark on a half-day to visit six area tech companies that are looking for interns and employees from our local universities. Unbeknownst to many students (and residents), Tallahassee is home to more than 60 tech-based companies and the industry is responsible for creating 13,000+ local jobs. In 2016, Access Tallahassee decided it was time to take students out of the campus bubble.
In this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by The Health Network, Ebe Randeree, Associate Dean of FSU’s College of Communication & Information joins Access Tallahassee Manager, Katie Harwood to talk about the unique opportunity that was created to help attract and retain talent. Ebe has been a major advocate for the tech community and shares the impact the Job Hop has on his students and their careers.
For more information on the Tally Job Hop, visit www.tallyjobhop.com.
When Ashley Guy moved to Tallahassee from Seattle, she had a vision that no one else saw. She wanted to be the first one to bring CBD to the capital city and she did just that. Tallulah CBD + Juicebar opened in the Market District in September 2019, and it’s grown quicker than even Ashley could have expected.
In this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by The Health Network, Ashley talks about how she’s embraced a new community, networked and cultivated a major following in a unique industry.
It’s the final farewell. On the last episode of the year, it was fitting to have our 2021 Board Chair, Jay Smith join us on the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by The Health Network. Even in some of the most uncertain times, Tallahassee’s private sector has shined. The Chamber Board along with the team have worked tirelessly over the past 12 months to support our member businesses through innovative programming and strategic partnerships within the community.
We hope you’ll take a few minutes to tune in, learn more about some of the great things that came from the Chamber this year and hear what’s ahead in 2022.
Chamber partner and community hospital, Capital Regional Medical Center has an exciting year ahead. Throughout their 40 years in Tallahassee, they have invested in students interested in the healthcare industry. Next year will be even bigger.
In this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by The Health Network, CRMC CEO, Alan Keesee joins us to talk about new programs being launched and a major partnership with Florida A&M University. Capital Regional Medical Center affiliate, HCA Healthcare has partnered with HBCUs all over the country to foster a new generation of healthcare professionals. This opportunity will help advance diversity, support scholarships and make the road to a lifelong career in healthcare more feasible for individuals at any age.
Learn more about Capital Regional Medical Center and HCA Healthcare at www.capitalregionalmedicalcenter.com.
This year’s Black Friday and Small Business Saturday will look a little different. Sales began running weeks in advance, encouraging shoppers to make their purchases ahead of the big weekend. Scott Shalley, President/CEO of the Florida Retail Federation says his 3,000+ retailers have been preparing months in advance for the holiday madness.
In this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by The Health Network, Scott shares some insight into how his retailers are getting creative to combat supply chain issues and staffing shortages. He says although many consumers have turned to the web during the pandemic, 80% of purchases are still being made in brick and mortar.
To learn more about the work of the Florida Retail Federation, visit http://www.frf.org/.
Christic Henry is not only a well-known real estate broker in the area, but she is a powerful and passionate advocate for the Tallahassee community and southside neighborhoods. Thanks to the leadership of Christic, Ron Sachs and community partners, the Friday after Thanksgiving is now known as Family Day.
Tallahassee-Leon County is the first community in Florida to recognize Family Day, a holiday that celebrates the importance of family togetherness, support and love. On this day, you’re encouraged to spend time with those you love while supporting local retailers, businesses, culture, arts, and outdoor locations county-wide.
This year’s event at Railroad Square will feature free family portraits, entertainment and activities for community members of all ages. More than 50 businesses and organizations are involved in this year’s Family Day with the support of the City of Tallahassee, Leon County and generous sponsors.
To learn more about Family Day, visit www.FloridaFamilyDay.com.
The Tallahassee Business Podcast is presented by The Health Network.
Every now and then, we are asked the question “What does a Chamber of Commerce do?” While every Chamber has a different mission statement, we all have one goal in mind: to support local businesses. When resources and funding became available for organizations struggling during the pandemic, it was clear to all three Chambers that the best way to support our members was to work together, bringing our strengths to the table and do whatever we could to help our business community survive.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by The Health Network, the Capital City Chamber of Commerce President, Katrina Tuggerson sits down with Sue Dick to talk about the importance of community collaboration and the great things that have come out of partnerships. Next week during Tallahassee Startup Week, the Capital City Chamber along with Domi Station and Women Wednesdays will host their annual Advantage Conference. The collaborative conference focuses on harnessing the talents, tools and opportunities of an inclusive business community for everyone’s advantage.
The needs of a business are never universal and are continuously changing throughout every phase of the business life cycle. The Small Business Development Center at Florida A&M University (Florida SBDC) works with existing and startup small businesses to help them grow and compete in today’s global economy. Whether you’re looking to create a business plan, analyze your financials, or need help navigating an HR issue, the experts with the FAMU SBDC offer customized consulting at no cost to you. Keith Bowers, Regional Director of the SBDC joins this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by The Health Network, and dives deeper into the resources available to help business owners make more informed decisions. Keith also shares some exciting news for minority and women-owned businesses through the help of Wells Fargo. Learn more about how the FAMU Small Business Development Center can help you at http://sbdcfamu.org/
When you walk into a store, you’re starting to see more empty shelves, your online orders are taking weeks longer to be delivered, your options are limited. Every industry has been feeling the effects of what they’re calling a global “bottleneck recession” and Tracey Shrine, Owner of Full Press Apparel says it will be months before things are back to normal.
On this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by The Health Network, Tracey talks about this new reality and how she’s managing the internal stresses while maintaining a positive experience for both consumers and employees.
This week, we celebrate National Minority Business Development Week with the timely theme of “Reimagining Opportunity: Building Back Better, Together!” This week on the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by The Health Network, we’re joined by Erica Woods, State Policy Manager of Facebook.
This week was the perfect opportunity to have Erica share the various resources the social media platform provides for small businesses. “Small businesses really are the backbone of Facebook.” Erica discusses how the pandemic has encouraged businesses to strengthen their social media presence and the unique ways you can utilize Facebook to reach your target audience.
Tune in to hear from Erica and learn more about free trainings and offerings for minority-owned and small businesses.
If you haven’t yet had the full Leadership Tallahassee experience, we HIGHLY recommend you take advantage of the intensive, one-day version called Opportunity Tallahassee (OT).
This year’s Opportunity Tallahassee event, sponsored by AMWAT Moving, Warehousing and Storage and Centennial Bank is right around the corner, coming up on October 28. On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by Event Owl, OT Chair, Tracey Cohen joins our very own Dana Noles as they reflect on their experiences in Opportunity Tallahassee.
The agenda is packed full of activities and conversations centered around the physical, social, economic, and educational structure of Tallahassee. As an OT participant, you will have the chance to connect with many of our area’s stakeholders and business leaders and finish the day re-energized about our community potential.
Learn more about Opportunity Tallahassee and apply at https://www.leadershiptallahassee.com/events/opportunity-tallahassee-2/
Aaron Milner, President of Johnson + Milner Engineering Firm is a first-year Chamber Board member and was a first-time conference attendee. On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by Event Owl, Aaron reflects on his involvement with the Chamber community, the connections he’s made and offers insight on the importance of small businesses having a voice in the community.
When you think about human trafficking, you don’t think about how it can be affecting your neighbors, your customers, and your community. On this week's episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by Event Owl, Robin Hassler Thompson, Executive Director of the Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center (STAC), joins us to share why it's important to be vocal and find our role as the business community to help combat human trafficking. Since the onset of the pandemic caseloads at STAC have tripled, and half of those have been labor trafficking. Robin encourages business owners and employees to attend one of STAC’s monthly trainings to learn about the red flags to look for in human trafficking.
If you think you have witnessed any signs of human trafficking, please call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888.
It is no secret that the local residential real estate market has been booming since COVID-19 struck the area. But when will the bubble burst? Will it?
2nd generation Realtor/Broker and Tallahassee Board of Realtors President, Joy Blomeley joins this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by Event Owl to share the latest market trends and some explanation behind the sticker shock we are experiencing in residential real estate.
Joy is also a major advocate for affordable housing opportunities. Local efforts are being made by the Tallahassee Board of Realtors (TBR) to protect the Sadoswki Fund – a statewide trust fund that provides down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, repairs of older homes, and construction of affordable houses. Learn more about TBR and the work they’re doing with the Affordable Housing Trust Fund at www.tbrnet.org.
Operating an environmentally friendly workplace can oftentimes fall to the bottom of the priority list, but small changes can make a big impact. Sustainabiz, Leon County’s Sustainable Business Recognition Program, acknowledges local businesses and organizations that have made substantial efforts in implementing sustainability practices in areas like energy, water, waste, community and employee engagement, and local economy.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by Event Owl, Sustainability Programs Coordinator, Tobias Raether joins us to share the numerous ways businesses can do their part to protect our beloved Tallahassee. With an easy online checklist, local businesses can conserve energy, reduce waste, and cut down operating costs in the process.
For more information on how you can be an official Sustainabiz, visit www.growinggreen.org/sustainabiz.
Since Sammie Dixon opened the doors to Prime Meridian Bank, he has been deeply invested in Tallahassee’s growth. Our Chamber Chair-Elect joins this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by Event Owl to share his sentiments on how we can move the community forward together.
Through Prime Meridian Bank’s investment in the Annual Community Conference as presenting sponsor, Sammie believes that the weekend event is a place to start the process of change by bringing the business community together, identifying challenges, and coming up with solutions. Sammie notes that it is crucial that everyone finds a common ground to speak with the same voice, and looks forward to this year's conference as we move towards the future.
In 2017, Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil’s administration began formulating a plan to reduce crime and launched the “ALL In Leon” initiative. LCSO focused on strategic partnerships and has made it a community goal to reduce crime.
Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil and Assistant Sheriff Steve Harrelson join this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by Event Owl to share innovative ways they are addressing crime prevention and reincarceration. With a focus on mental health, vocational training, and partnerships with local businesses, LCSO is working to improve individuals, and offer better options than to commit crime, all while maintaining the integrity of the justice system.
Learn more at www.leoncountyso.com
If COVID-19 taught business owners anything, it was that any risk is possible, even a global pandemic.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, sponsored by Event Owl, HUB International Senior Risk Consultant, Brian Schnese shares the important areas that businesses need to focus on as they recover and re-open normal business operations. “The pandemic along with other areas of disruption showed us the level of resiliency needed”. Brian says that now is the optimal time for businesses to implement more creative and formal frameworks within the organization. Creating or re-evaluating your crisis management plan and business continuity plan is crucial going forward.
Learn more about HUB International at www.hubinternational.com.
When we as a Chamber identified our new priority areas, we made sure that our local youth were at the forefront of our work. Our Community & Prosperity committee, chaired by Chamber Board Member, Sha’Ron James has been collaborating with many state and local partners to ensure that our business community is making a serious investment into our future workforce.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by Event Owl, the Children’s Movement of Florida President, Madeleine Thakur talks about the important work they do to support children and families, along with programs we can adopt as business leaders to do the same.
Learn more about the great work being done by the Children's Movement of Florida at https://www.childrensmovementflorida.org/
There was no time better than during the current real estate market, to bring a new, innovative, boutique title experience to the capital city.
On this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by Event Owl, Danielle Andrews, Co-Owner of Capital Hills Title Services shares how she and her business partner, Tamara Tedder have created a better way to do title business in Tallahassee and across the Sunshine State. Tune in to learn more about how the two real estate professionals are using technology to make every transaction easy and informative.
Who better to name Executive Director of Domi Station, than one who went through the program themselves? Tallahassee entrepreneur Bill Lickson joins this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by Event Owl, and shares the latest to come out of the incubation hub as well as his new role with North Florida Innovation Labs.
In 2023, the capital city will be home to the Southeast’s technology incubator serving hard science, high-impact companies in the region. North Florida Innovation Labs will be a groundbreaking resource for entrepreneurs and the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory. Tune in to learn more.
It’s safe to say that this school year has looked like no other. Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna calls it the toughest challenge of his career and a defining moment for our community.
Rocky joins us on the latest episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by Event Owl, to reflect on the past year and share what Leon County Schools’ will look like in the future. Tune in to learn more about what to expect and how the business community is partnering with the school district in their efforts to make sure no student is left behind.
CareerSource Capital Region has been a longtime partner of the Chamber, helping local businesses find qualified, skilled talent and job seekers with employment and career development opportunities. Their efforts help us in achieving our goal to become the talent capital of Florida by 2030.
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by Event Owl, CareerSource Capital Region CEO, Jim McShane joins Sue to talk about the numerous services that go beyond just job seeking, at little to no cost. Most recently, CareerSource partnered with Leon County Sheriff's Office on their 1,000 Jobs for 1,000 Youth initiative. Their goal is to help youth not enrolled in school obtain the skills and training they need to find employment. Keeping our youth safe and giving them a sense of responsibility helps the overall community and economy. Learn more about CareerSource Capital Region HERE.
The project we have all been waiting for is nearing completion. Shawn McIntyre and his team from North American Properties (NAP) saw an opportunity in Tallahassee in 2012 and has since invested more than $220 million into the local economy in construction.
Shawn joins the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by Event Owl, to talk about their biggest project, Cascades Park. Cascades brings the 18-hour city lifestyle of “live-work-play-stay” to Tallahassee with apartments, offices, retail and event space, a boutique hotel, and a community-envisioned historical plaza. Shawn talks with Sue about the development process and what to look forward to.
Millstream at Cascades is the newest luxury multifamily community to come to Downtown and they have already signed 16 leases before completion. Shawn invites listeners to check out the amenities online and those interested are offered a month free when they sign a lease.
There is a strong correlation between the quality of life and a strong business community. This is why the Chamber is committed to strengthening the prosperity, livability, and safety of our residents. On this week's episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by Event Owl, Board member, and local legislative advocate, Sha'Ron James shares her passion for making Tallahassee more collaborative to improve the community in which we live. Sha'Ron chairs the Chamber's Community and Prosperity committee where they are focused on carving out a role for the business community to develop solutions for the success of the entire region. Tune in to hear more about the important tasks they're working on including the launch of Prosperity Leon, a more diverse Chamber membership, and collaboration efforts with local partners. Learn more about the Chamber's Community & Prosperity committee at talchamber.com.
As your Chamber, representing 1,200+ businesses, we are focused on advancing policies that promote job growth and we work closely with our partners to attract new businesses, creating a competitive business climate.
On this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by Event Owl, Richard Darabi of Moore Bass Consulting and Chair of the Chamber’s Economic Competitiveness and Business Climate committee joins Sue to discuss the strategic steps the committee is taking to position Tallahassee as a business destination.
Richard also shares some background on his career path, why he chose to advance his career in Tallahassee and what he sees for the future.
Jay Smith, a respected leader in Tallahassee and Vice President of Ajax Building Company recently took on a new title as Chair of the Chamber Board of Directors. In this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by Event Owl, he and Sue discuss what the community can expect to see from the Chamber in 2021, including the recently refreshed strategic priorities of the Chamber: Talent, Workforce & Education; Economic Competitiveness & Business Climate; and Community & Prosperity. Smith elaborates on why these priorities matter to the business community and how they will work together to create a future where the entire community thrives.
On this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by Event Owl, Sue Dick, President/CEO of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce speaks with Alan Hanstein, Director of Business Development for Event Owl.
Hanstein explains how the pandemic helped shape their work with clients across the country, moving large-scale events to the virtual landscape. He also shares some insight into the ways a virtual event platform can help non-profits and corporations elevate virtual events, engage attendees, and track metrics.
For more information on Event Owl, visit www.eventowl.com.
On this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by 223 Agency, Sue Dick welcomes Rodney Lewis, AIA. Lewis is Principal and Founding Partner for Architects Lewis + Whitlock, a local Architecture firm celebrating its 20 year anniversary this year.
Lewis takes listeners back to his beginnings, working on group projects for classes at FAMU, all the way through current and future projects that have helped shape Tallahassee's landscape. He shares his take on company culture, COVID-19 impacts, and advice he has for aspiring business owners.
To learn more about Architects Lewis & Whitlock, visit http://www.think3d.net/
In this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, Sue Dick welcomes Laura Johnson, Founding Artist, and CEO of Coton Colors.
Laura and Sue talk about what it is like operating a national brand through the COVID-19 pandemic, the recent grand opening of a flagship store in Tampa for their sister brand Happy Everything, and what the future looks like for this well-known and well-loved brand.
For more information on Coton Colors, or to jump-start your holiday shopping, visit www.Coton-colors.com or www.happy-everything.com.
On this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, Sue Dick invites Doug Wheeler, President, and CEO of the Florida Ports Council to the show.
Wheeler explains the impact Florida's Port system has sustained through the COVID-19 pandemic, along with his insights on the expected recovery and re-growth of the cruise industry. Wheeler shares his perspective on the roadmap to future growth opportunities for the North Florida economy in relation to its access to many of Florida's Ports.
For more information on the Florida Ports Council, visit https://flaports.org/
On this week’s episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, we chat with Curt Bender, a community leader that wears many hats. By day, Curt is an attorney with the Florida Department of Business Regulation and after hours, he spends much of his time lending his knowledge and legal advice to local entrepreneurs.
Monday, November 16 kicks off Tallahassee Startup Week. This is a six-day event, jam-packed with resources, workshops, and celebrations including a legal seminar being led by Curt and Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship’s annual “7 Under 30”. Curt shares his own journey as an entrepreneur and shares how other startups can take advantage of Tallahassee Startup Week.
For a full list of events, visit www.tallahasseestartupweek.com.
On this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, brought to you by 223 Agency, Sue Dick speaks with Scott Balog, Executive Director for the TCC Center for Innovation.
The entire month of November is celebrated as National Entrepreneurship Month, but the Week beginning on November 16th has special emphasis as Global Entrepreneurship Week, an international movement beginning in 2008 that now has more than 10 million participants worldwide.
Balog shares more about Tallahassee residents can get involved in a virtual conference for Global Entrepreneurship Week and highlights what some local organizations are doing to support Entrepreneurs and startups year-round.
For more information about the Conference, visit https://converge.synapsefl.com/
On this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by 223 Agency, Sue Dick speaks with Katrina Tuggerson, President of the Capital Capital City Chamber of Commerce.
Tuggerson talks about her career path, involvement in the community, and how it has shaped the work she does at the Capital City Chamber of Commerce. On October 20, the Capital City Chamber hosted its annual Advantage Conference that featured a series of local business leaders to discuss resources available for local businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the announcement of their new resource hub "Startup Space App". Learn more about the Capital City Chamber HERE.
On this Episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, Tallahassee Chamber President Sue Dick highlights another Women-Owned business for National Women's Small Business Month.
Bonnie Davenport is the President and Founder of BKJ Architecture and a Tallahassee Native. She talks about what it's like to be a leader in the male-dominated field, the impacts an architecture firm has on the community it serves and the potential ways the COVID-19 pandemic may affect the future of workspace design.
In this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by the 223 Agency, Christic Henry joins Sue Dick for a discussion on National Women's Small Business Month.
As a small business owner herself, Henry champions the U.S. Small Business Administration for declaring October the month to celebrate and support Women-Owned Small Business. Henry is heavily involved in the Tallahassee community and advocates for members of the business community to play an active role in making Tallahassee the best it can be.
Christic and her Husband, Karlus, own Kingdom First Realty in Tallahassee.
In this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, Sue Dick talks with JH Leale, one of the founders of Tallahassee Foodies, a community made up of residents focused on "Celebrating Local Flavor". Leale explains that the group was originally created by his wife, Jennifer, to connect with some work friends who loved to discuss and try local restaurants, but it quickly became a popular resource for the entire community. Now with over 48,000 highly engaged members and a well-known name in the community, Tallahassee Foodies is leading a charge to help local restaurants recover from COVID-19 that they call the “Tallahassee Restaurant Blitz”. For more information about how to get involved in the Tallahassee Restaurant Blitz, visit www.tallahasseefoodies.com.
In this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by 223 Agency, Jay Smith, Vice President of Ajax Building Company joins Chamber President, Sue Dick for a candid conversation on the construction industry, talent needs, and upcoming projects.
Smith shares the history of Ajax and a variety of projects they are working on in the community, including the upcoming Tallahassee Police Department project. Ajax, along with several community partners, is using the Chamber’s TalentHub platform to create a deeper community impact with this project while recruiting and training disadvantaged workers, externship, and apprenticeship participants.
To create your employer profile, visit www.talenthub2030.com.
https://www.ajaxbuilding.com/
In this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by 223 Agency, we are joined by Kim Moore, Vice President of Workforce Innovation at Tallahassee Community College (TCC).
Since COVID-19 caused the institution to make some quick pivots and switch to online learning since March, Moore and her fellow colleagues have been working to ensure the "whole student" is taken care of and has the tools to succeed, while also planning for the return to the classroom for the Fall term, whether that is virtual, in-person or a mix of the two.
Moore joins the podcast to share the new realities students on campus are facing, the plans to keep them engaged in the community this semester, as well as the differences & similarities in the realm of workforce development for local employers in the pandemic environment.
In this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by 223 Agency, we are joined by two guests to talk about the Chamber's new Talent 2030 initiative. Terrie Ard is President and COO of Moore and chairs the Chamber's talent committee. Corrie Melton is the Chamber's Vice President for Membership & Talent Development and is staffing the new Talent 2030 initiative. Working closely for the past year, Ard and Melton have been instrumental in building out the Chamber's program of work that relates to solving Tallahassee's workforce and talent needs. With the recent launch of Talent 2030, the Chamber has announced a variety of important new programs that are aimed at connecting employers with job seekers. As Ard and Melton both point out, the key to success in this endeavor lies in the collaboration taking place with stakeholders such as CareerSource Capital Region, Tallahassee Community College, Lively Technical College, Leon County Schools, and the Tallahassee/Leon County Office of Economic Vitality. Tune in to hear more from Ard and Melton about the concept of Talent Pipeline Management and how businesses can get engaged bridging the talent gap through participating in a new database system called TalentHub. Talent2030 is workforce reimagined.
For more information on Talent2030 please visit https://www.talchamber.com/talent2030/
To set up your free profile on TalentHub please visit https://www.talenthub2030.com/home
In this episode, we are joined by Matthew Kobach, Director of Content for Fast and the former Manager of Digital and Social Media for the New York Stock Exchange. Through his career as a social media marketer, Matt has created quite the personal brand for himself – Adweek recently named him one of the "Top 100 Most Inspiring Minds in Marketing, Media, and Culture". Matt may be best known for his everyday Twitter posts that feature his guidance, wit, and creativity on display. It’s safe to say that he has developed a certain mastery of using Twitter and other channels to advance a message. Recently, we brought Kobach to Tallahassee (virtually) to talk with members of Access Tallahassee about building a personal brand, developing a career through community building, and utilizing social media to do both.
For more from Matt Kobach, be sure to follow him on Twitter at @mkobach.
To find out more about how Fast is changing the way we buy on the internet, please visit https://www.fast.co/.
In this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by 223 Agency, we are joined by Chris Dudley of The Southern Group. As a lobbyist, Dudley has a hand in shaping outcomes at the Capitol and also stays engaged in the Tallahassee community through service as Chair of the Tallahassee Downtown Improvement Authority and as a former Board member of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce. The Southern Group is one of the most sought after lobbying and government affairs firms in the Southeast and during our discussion Dudley shares various insights on that industry. Dudley was inspired to pursue a career in government affairs by his father who spent many years serving in the Florida Legislature. After serving as Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Jeb Bush, Dudley made the leap into lobbying by joining the Southern Group while the firm was still in its infancy. 20 years later, The Southern Group has become a major force in the Florida government. In this week's show, Dudley shines some light on what the lobbying world is really like, how things have changed in that industry over the past two decades, and why their firm continues to invest in a better downtown for Florida's Capital City.
In this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by 223 Agency, we are joined by Leon County Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley. Earley has spent his entire career working in the elections process both in the public and private sectors. He was elected to his position in 2016 and was re-elected without opposition earlier this year. In our conversation, Earley shares his perspective on Leon County's stellar elections reputation, how his team is handling an election during a pandemic, and the multiple options available for our citizens to cast their vote safely and securely this year.
For more information on the 2020 election and how you can cast your ballot please visit www.leonvotes.org.
This week on the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by 223 Agency, we are joined by Jason Ghazvini of Premier Fine Homes. The Ghazvini family has built a multi-generational line of businesses in our community that are centered around growth and development. At Premier Fine Homes, the company is focused on delivering a range of housing options across Tallahassee and Leon County. From Southwood to Canopy, Premier has home products that range in amenities and price points. During our discussion, Jason discusses the approach they take to building new housing communities, what home buyers are looking for today, and what the future of development looks like in the Tallahassee area.
For more information on the communities being offered by Premier Fine Homes please visit www.homesbypremier.com/communities
On this week's episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, we are joined by Dr. JR Harding. Dr. Harding is a recognized disability leader with over 37 years of personal and professional experience within the disability community. He is a two-time U.S. Presidential appointee, seven-time Florida gubernatorial appointee, and has made significant contributions to national, state, and community public policy, advancing the independence and self-sufficiency of persons with disabilities. Dr. Harding is a published author, renowned speaker, and faculty member at Florida State University. He is also the first person with severe disabilities to graduate from Leadership Tallahassee and Leadership Florida. During our conversation, Dr. Harding reflects on the 30 year anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and how businesses can help to create more access, awareness, and opportunity for the disability community. Dr. Harding also shares his tips on how people who are passionate about important causes can become better advocates.
On this week's episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, we are joined by Andrew Gay of Grimsley and Company CPA's, PA to talk about the 2020 tax season. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service postponed the deadline for personal filings from April 15 to July 15. Because of the deadline change and other pandemic related client scenarios, this year has been particularly busy for accountants and consultants. During our discussion, Gay shines some light on those challenges for CPA's and also speaks to how the IRS is handling the added traffic from taxpayers. Additionally, we dive into how Grimsley and Company is advising business clients during this trying time.
Between navigating the financial impacts for businesses caused by a nationwide economic pause and helping individuals implement smart tax strategies during tough times, Gay somehow manages to balance being a father, husband, and treasurer for the Chamber Board of Directors. We cover all that in more in a great conversation that will prove valuable for anyone seeking to better understand their relationship with the IRS and their CPA firm.
Learn more about Grimsley and Company CPA's, PA at https://www.grimsleycpa.com/home
In this episode, Michael Campbell joins the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, to discuss the work he does as Director of North Florida Operations at the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship. As an entrepreneur and former business owner with decades of experience, Campbell offers expertise and guidance to companies across the region under the banner of the Jim Moran Institute. Thanks to the support of Jan Moran and the Jim Moran Foundation, JMI offers cost-free services for existing businesses including the popular Small Business Executive Program. As part of Florida State University, the Jim Moran Institute has long been an important learning outlet for business leaders looking to take their companies to the next level. During our discussion, Campbell reflects on the legacy of Jim Moran and shares some valuable insights into the work being done at the Institute.
For more information, visit https://jimmoraninstitute.fsu.edu/offices/tallahassee
On this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast presented by 223 Agency, our guest is Sha'Ron James. She is a Shareholder at Berger Singerman Law Firm and just this week has ascended to the role of Board Chair for Leadership Tallahassee. In our discussion, James spoke about her career in the legal profession as well as the many reasons why Leadership Tallahassee continues to be an important bridge between businesses and the many diverse leaders in our community. She also shares her personal and career experiences as a Black woman in Tallahassee and how that has shaped her approach to leadership. With an insistence on being intentional, Sha'ron is someone that has been a steady force in Tallahassee for many years. If our conversation is any indication, she is certainly someone that all of Tallahassee will be hearing more about in the future.
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, features conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insight to help our members in this trying time.
In this episode, Dr. Sue Ebbers - Founder of Change By Design joins the show to discuss the rapid rise in e-learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With over 20 years of experience as a performance consultant, Dr. Ebbers specializes in workforce training and organizational improvement solutions. Her expertise in instructional systems makes her the perfect guest to discuss the massive shifts happening in workforce education and training as more and more companies move those efforts online. Dr. Ebbers provides our listeners with a unique perspective on how companies can take advantage of emerging e-learning trends to better prepare team members for success.
To learn more, visit www.Changebydesign.us
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, features conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insight to help our members in this trying time.
This week, we are joined by Cristina Paredes - Director of the Tallahassee-Leon County Office of Economic Vitality. Cristina has been serving our community through various roles in local government since attending Florida State University and earning a Master's in Public Administration. Her career includes staffing the Leon County Sales Tax Committee which shaped the successful passage of the Blueprint 2020 referendum. As part of that sales tax funding, the Office of Economic Vitality was founded to be the official economic development entity for Tallahassee and Leon County. Since becoming Director, Paredes has helped reshape local business recruitment and retention efforts through a sharp focus on targeted industries, minority and women business development, and expansive use of data. In recent months, her team has helped to provide grants to local businesses suffering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and are now working to guide our community through a plan to reopen the economy. In this episode, Cristina shares valuable insights on the work that is happening to make our community Florida's capital for business.
For more information on the Office of Economic Development and important local business resources please visit www.oevforbusiness.com.
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, features conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insight to help our members in this trying time.
This week, our guest is local retailer Scott Maphis. Maphis owns and operates two retail stores in Tallahassee including Trail and Ski and Cadence Running. During this episode, Maphis recalls his journey from a career in the grocery business to pursuing his passion for the outdoors and buying the long-standing Trail and Ski store and then opening a second business. He also discusses how his companies have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and what strategies are driving their future.
For more information on the great stores owned and operated by Scott Maphis, please visit both https://www.trailandski.com/
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, features conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insight to help our members in this trying time.
This week our guest is Sharon Council Tyler, Executive Director of the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. Sharon and her team oversee Red Cross services across a twelve county area that stretches across North Florida. Powered by volunteers and driven by the support of donors and business contributors, the Capital Area Chapter of the Red Cross is charged with providing a myriad of disaster response services to those in need. This includes but is not limited to emergency shelter, hot meals, and financial support to those who are without due to a disaster. During our discussion, Sharon spoke to the impacts COVID-19 has had on their organization and what actions our community should be taking as hurricane season begins in Florida.
For more information on the Capital Area Chapter of the American Red Cross please visit https://www.redcross.org/local/florida/north-florida.html
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, features conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insight to help our members in this trying time.
This week, we are joined by Bo Schmitz, Senior General Manager of the Hyatt House Capitol-University and the Hampton Inn Capitol-University. Schmitz is a longtime leader in the Tallahassee hotel industry and currently serves as the Chair of the Leon County Tourist Development Council. The hotel properties under his management have become major drivers for the reconnaissance of the Gaines Street and Railroad Avenue corridors. In this episode, Schmitz discusses the impacts of COVID-19 on our local tourism industry, how his team is slowly working back up to full speed, and the many reasons why people should consider visiting Tallahassee once they feel ready to travel again.
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, features conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insight to help our members in this trying time.
This week, we are joined by Wayne Mayo, Founder, and President of Southern Standard Construction. Mayo has spent his career in the construction industry working with various companies in the Tallahassee community and in 2017 founded his own firm. This year, Mayo serves as the Chair of the Florida Associated Builders and Contractors, the largest construction association in the state. In this episode, Mayo discusses his experience in the construction industry, what it was like to launch his own firm, and how companies like his are responding to the COVID-19 crisis across Florida.
To learn more about Southern Standard Construction, visit their website at https://www.southernstandard.cc/
To discover how the Associated Builders and Contractors are advocating for their industry, visit their website at http://www.abcflorida.com/
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, features conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insight to help our members in this trying time.
On this week's episode, we are joined by Congressman Al Lawson. Lawson is in his second term as a member of the United States House of Representatives serving Florida's 5th congressional district. With a district that stretches from Tallahassee to Jacksonville, Lawson serves one of the largest geographical constituencies of Florida's delegation to Washington. Before being elected to Congress, Lawson served the Tallahassee area in both the Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives. He has also been a small business owner and operator for over 40 years. Lawson's background in both business and legislative service is of great value to the communities he represents.
Through a ranging conversation, Congressman Lawson shares his thoughts on the federal COVID-19 response, how Congress is working to help small businesses, and how companies should be looking to take advantage of programs available through the government.
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, features conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insight to help our members in this trying time.
This week, local restaurateur Sam Osborne joins the show to discuss the impacts of COVID-19 on the foodservice industry. Osborne is a homegrown Tallahassee entrepreneur who has owned and operated restaurants in the area for 22 years. After serving our country in the Air Force and the Desert Storm conflict, Osborne returned home to study at FSU with hopes of becoming a civil engineer. Fortunately for the many people he has served and employed through his restaurants these past two decades, Osborne was compelled to try his hand at business instead. Beginning with an upstart concept called Tropical Smoothie, Osborne has gone on to own and operate a number of establishments including the highly popular Island Wing Company. Osborne employs over 120 people and with a new concept called Rock-N-Roll Sushi now in development for the Market Square District, he has many valuable insights on how the Tallahassee restaurant industry is adapting and evolving through this pandemic.
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, features conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insight to help our members in this trying time.
In this episode, we are joined by Bob Hudson, Vice President and Operating Partner at Tallahassee Ford. He joins the show to discuss the state of the automotive industry during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hudson and his team have made quick adjustments to create a safe environment for both sales and service customers. Like many businesses that have risen to the occasion, Tallahassee Ford has adapted to the changing norms of this moment.
With over 100 employees, Hudson's dealership is a good window into the state of the local economy. Auto sales account for the largest share of sales tax revenue for both the State of Florida and Leon County. With services being impacted, Hudson paints the picture for what the midterm effects of stay at home orders will have on sales, services, and employees. Tallahassee Ford has been providing auto sales and service to the Capital City since 1926 and Hudson is committed to continuing that tradition, even in difficult times.
www.tallahasseeford.com
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, features conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insight to help our members in this trying time.
This week, we are joined by Steven Louchheim, CEO of the Tallahassee Board of Realtors. The Tallahassee Board of Realtors is the voice for real estate in the greater Tallahassee area, providing programs, services, continuing education, research, and legislative representation to its over 1,400 members in the region.
During our discussion, Louchheim shares the latest insights and trends in Tallahassee's residential real estate market. He also goes on to describe how the process of buying and selling homes has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic. With residential real estate being such a critical component of the local economy, the Tallahassee Board of Realtors is an important resource for both members and the broader business community.
Tallahassee Board of Realtors Website
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, features conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insight to help our members in this trying time.
This week, we are joined by Mark Wilson, President & CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Mark and his team have been on the leading edge of navigating the business response to Covid19 in the Sunshine State. Since the beginning of the Covid19 pandemic, the Florida Chamber has played a critical role in helping businesses survive the initial shock of an economic pause as well as helping them plan for the future. As part of their efforts, the Florida Chamber has held weekly briefings for local Chambers to both gather information and share valuable insights about how and when the Florida economy can start to re-open. Mark Wilson is widely regarded as one of the most influential business leaders in Florida and during our discussion, he shares his thoughts on how local businesses and the chambers that represent them will play a key role in the recovery.
For more information on Mark and the great work being done by his team at the Florida Chamber please visit their website at https://www.flchamber.com/
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, features conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insight to help our members in this trying time.
In this week's episode, we are joined by two local employment law experts from the Ausley McMullen Law Firm to discuss the changes to federal employment law related to COVID-19. As part of the federal government response to the ongoing pandemic, Congress passed the Family First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) which includes a temporary expansion to both the Emergency Family and Medical Leave Act (EFMLA) and Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act (EPSLA). Attorneys Deborah Minnis and Ruth Vafek have spent numerous hours dissecting these new laws and provide listeners with a thorough breakdown of what the changes mean for both businesses and employees.
Deborah Minnis covers the intro/general overview of the FFCRA, the ‘medical provider’ definition for purposes of the potential exemption, the exemption options for employers of fewer than 50 employees and some of the interaction between FFCRA leave and traditional FMLA and employer-provided PTO/sick leave.
Ruth Vafek covers which employees are eligible for what leave, the qualifying reasons for FFCRA leave (both EFMLA and EPSLA) and what those mean practically speaking, the payment amounts for each and the documentation needed/permitted for each per the DOL regulations.
Along with a variety of helpful tips and information, Attorneys Minnis and Vafek provide valuable insight into employment law that every business owner should be educating themselves on during this unique time.
For more information on Ausley McMullen, visit https://www.ausley.com/
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, features conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insight to help our members in this trying time.
In this episode, we are joined by United States Attorney Larry Keefe. U.S. Attorney Keefe is the 41st United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Keefe was nominated by President Donald Trump and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on January 2, 2019. Keefe is the Chief Federal Law Enforcement Officer for the 23 counties in northern Florida, from Escambia in the west to Alachua in the east. The district is headquartered in Tallahassee and has offices in Pensacola, Panama City, and Gainesville.
U.S. Attorney Keefe joins us on this episode of the Tallahassee Business Podcast to discuss measures being taken by his office and the U.S. Department of Justice to curb, prevent and punish fraud during the COVID19 pandemic. As part of those efforts, U.S. Attorney Keefe appointed Assistant U.S. Attorney Justin Keen to the post of Coronavirus Fraud Coordinator for the Northern District of Florida. Along with U.S. Attorney Keefe, we are also joined by Assistant U.S. Attorney Keen to discuss the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to protect both citizens and businesses from harmful criminal activity during this global pandemic.
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast, presented by 223 Agency, features conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insight to help our members in this trying time.
In this episode, we explore the effects of anxiety, stress and other mental health issues that may arise for business leaders and employees during these difficult times. Michelle Bouthillier is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Tallahassee Therapy Associates. She joins the show to offer listeners a series of exercises and resources that can help to navigate the challenges of this moment.
In addition to Michelle's calming presence and useful techniques discussed on the show, she has also shared an online guide to help listeners work through the problems they may be currently facing.
Psychology Today - Michelle Bouthillier
Guidelines to Maintain Wellness and Shift Your Mindset
Coping Tools and Things to Consider
As part of the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce's ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tallahassee Business Podcast will be featuring conversations with a variety of guests who can share valuable insights to help our members in this trying time. To start this special series, we are joined by Ron Sachs, founder, and CEO of Sachs Media Group. Ron is well known for his expertise in crisis communications and during our discussion he touched on a range of helpful tips for businesses and other organizations to consider as we settle into the new norms associated with combatting the COVID-19 virus. Beyond his acumen for business communication, Ron also shared his thoughts on why he believes Tallahassee and our nation will emerge from these challenging times more resilient than ever.
For further reading on how firms like Sachs Media Group are working together through a rapidly changing business climate, please see their piece on how to keep motivated while working from home. Working From Home? 7 Effective Ways to Stay Focused and Productive
For more on the survey results mentioned in the episode, check out the information included in this Coronavirus Briefing from haymarket. Coronavirus Briefing Email
Berneice Cox has long been a Tallahassee community champion. Known for serving in various volunteer leadership roles as well as a successful career in public affairs, Cox has recently assumed a new position of critical importance for the future of our region. As the new CEO of the United Way of the Big Bend, she is on the front lines of battling the effects of poverty in an eight-county area that includes Tallahassee and neighboring communities. Cox previously had served as both the Chair of the United Way Board and eventually as Interim CEO, before being hired to lead the organization full time. Under her leadership, the United Way of the Big Bend is building on its nearly eight decades of high impact work, with a sharp focus on funding programs and initiatives aimed at keeping people from falling into poverty. In this episode, Cox explores the duties associated with being CEO of the United Way, her personal experience living near the poverty line and how she aims to change how our region thinks of charitable giving, and the impact it can make on our neighbors.
Dr. Jerry Parrish joins the Tallahassee Business Podcast to talk about his work in tracking the local, state and national economy as the Chief Economist and Director of Research at the Florida Chamber Foundation. As part of his work, Dr. Parrish and his team produce the Florida Scorecard - a simple to read statistical digest of the Florida economy, which also includes easy tools for understanding local level data. Dr. Parrish is known across Florida as a leading expert on economic trends and regularly works with business and government leaders alike to measure the success of our state and the communities within it. Dr. Parrish was recently the keynote speaker for the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce's 2020 Economic Forecast and his presentation there spurred various discussions on this episode of the podcast.
Eduardo Gonzalez Loumiet, or Eddie as he is known around Tallahassee, is an entrepreneur and CEO whose story is uniquely American. Raised in Miami as part of a Cuban-American family who immigrated to the United States after the Fidel Castro revolution, Eddie was instilled with a strong work ethic from a young age. After beginning a career in the financial sector, he came to Tallahassee to work on a growing technology company that eventually came to be called Ruvos.
In the years since moving to Tallahassee, Eddie has helped build Ruvos into a thriving company. Today, companies like Ruvos have made Tallahassee a national hub for technology firms that work for and with federal and state government agencies across the country. Among those emerging success stories, Ruvos has become an important player at the intersection of healthcare and technology. Specializing in the flow of data and cybersecurity for government clients, Ruvos continues to grow in Tallahassee while also developing a presence in other cities around the country.
Eddie joins the Tallahassee Business Podcast to talk about his story, the continued growth of Ruvos, how they find and retain talent as well as how Tallahassee is making its mark on the national "GovTech" landscape. For more information about Ruvos visit https://www.ruvos.com/ and be sure to get to know Eddie more via his personal website http://gettoknoweduardo.com/
After a career in the public sector, David Faulkenberry took on the role as President and CEO of FMBC, Benefits Management. FBMC, a company that was started locally in Tallahassee, provides comprehensive employee benefits services, including benefits counseling, brokerage of voluntary/core products, enrollment management and more.
Faulkenberry joins the podcast and shares more about the growth he's seen in the industry, the triumphs, challenges and gives his take on what the future might hold for the company. To learn more about Faulkenberry or FBMC, visit www.fbmc.com
Thanks to our sponsor, 223 Agency. We encourage you to visit their website at www.223agency.com. For more episodes of the podcast, visit: TallahasseeBusinessPodcast.com
The Chamber Podcast has a new identity in the New Year. We welcome you to the Tallahassee Business Podcast, Presented by the 223 Agency.
Starting off strong, we welcome Dustin Rivest, Founder & CEO of the 223 Agency to the podcast. 223 Agency, a digital relations firm, is the brainchild of Rivest whose background in digital marketing has shown through in everything he’s done. As a Tallahassee local, Rivest originally started his business as a text message marketing program targeted toward college students. In 2011, Applications were gaining popularity and App Innovators was born. After many years of doing custom Apps and expanding the business to take on more and more in the digital marketing space, App Innovators re-branded as 223 Agency. The full-service digital relations firm still holds on to a sister company, Event Owl, whose focus is on Apps for event and conferences. We share a big word of thanks to Dustin Rivest and his team at 223 Agency for sponsoring the Tallahassee Business Podcast for 2020. We encourage you to visit their website at www.223agency.com. For more episodes of the podcast, visit: TallahasseeBusinessPodcast.com
At the Chamber, our business is Tallahassee and one thing we hear from companies of all sizes is that recruiting and retaining talent is a challenge. While the future workforce of our city has always been a priority of the Chamber, this year we decided to put a renewed focus on Talent & Workforce.
"I'm not sure I talk to any employer who doesn't bring it up at some level, whether they are looking for one professional here or 20 workers there, it’s across the board no matter what industry, no matter what size their business is.. its important," said Corrie Melton, Vice President of Membership and Talent. "They are looking for talent, they are looking for great people and we've got them, we just have to connect them to each other."
A committee of Board Members has just begun studying the topic and doing some strategic planning to determine the right course of action. This committee is led by Committee Chair, Terrie Ard, who is President and COO at Moore and Staff Liaison Corrie Melton.
During this episode of the podcast, Ard and Melton explore the many resources available in our community including the group called ASPIRE Collective Impact that is bringing together key stakeholders from various sectors of the community to build a system that creates a talent ecosystem and will generate a sustainable skilled workforce well into the future.
"We have rich resources that are a feeder to our talent pipeline, (so the question is) how can we better leverage that as a one community to start looking at our solutions," Ard said.
To learn more about the Terrie Ard or Moore visit https://themooreagency.com/
Connect with Corrie Melton via email cmelton@talchamber.com
Find more episodes of the Chamber Podcast HERE
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In this episode of the Chamber Podcast, we highlight two local business owners to encourage you to Shop Small this holiday season.
Jeri Madden, Owner and Chief Love Officer at Jeri’s Midtown Café shares insight on what it’s like owning a new restaurant and the thought process behind the restaurant’s “Love on a Plate” tagline.
Liz Snowden, Owner of Lucky and Charmed and a middle school Language Arts Teacher, shares her story of how teaching and retail combined, while also sharing her take on the importance of shopping local.
We encourage you to consider these local businesses and other Tallahassee-owned businesses when doing your holiday shopping this year. For a full list of Chamber members visit: https://web.talchamber.com/search
Jeri’s Midtown Café
Website Facebook Instagram
Lucky and Charmed
Website Facebook Instagram
As a fourth-year student in Agribusiness and the Student Body President at Florida A&M University, Rochard Moricette works hard to share his passions with fellow students and the Tallahassee community. With his experience in advocacy, business and serving on the statewide Florida Student Association, he is a natural fit to join the Chamber’s Board of Directors as a student representative.
Moricette came to Tallahassee from Ft. Lauderdale, Florida but his family is originally from Haiti. He touts Tallahassee as a great place to be with a culturally diverse, talented student population.
“You have to invest in this city, you have to invest in the resources, you have to invest in this city’s talent pool, because Florida State, Florida A&M University and TCC have one of the best student body populations that you can imagine.”
The student seat on the Chamber Board of Directors was created to honor the late Skip Smith, a Board member and community leader who passed away in 2017. In his memory, the Chamber created an Endowment to celebrate his life and recognize his generous service to the Chamber and Tallahassee community. Additionally, one of Skip's passions was mentorship, so with that in mind, the Chamber Board created a program to add a student representative to the Board from FSU, FAMU or TCC.
The Total Resource Campaign is a revenue-generating effort held every fall, with the goal of raising funds to help support the Chamber’s mission of providing tools, resources and opportunities to its members and enhancing Tallahassee’s overall business climate.
The Total Resource Campaign helps underwrite the Chamber’s program of work in the areas of small business and entrepreneurship, education, workforce attraction, advocacy and member services such as referrals & networking events. This fundraising effort helps not only the Chamber, but its affiliates – Leadership Tallahassee, Youth Leadership Tallahassee, Access Tallahassee and World Class Schools. Every dollar invested in the Campaign is poured back into the community and returned to Chamber members, alumni and investors in the form of initiatives dedicated to advancing economic development and quality of life in Tallahassee.
This all-volunteer campaign consists of nearly 500 available sponsorships. Volunteers assist companies with choosing options best suited to meet that organization’s marketing needs. The campaign is a great way for volunteers to meet the region’s top community leaders and business owners while working directly with many of the Chamber’s most dedicated leadership.
If you're interested in learning more about this year's Total Resource Campaign, e-mail Corrie Melton or Dana Noles.
After getting his Master’s Degree at FSU, Bennett Napier jumped into the Tallahassee community by accepting a job offer with Bob Harris of Harris Management Group. Soon after, he got the opportunity to open his own firm and Partners in Association Management was born. What started as a one-man operation out of Napier’s home “with a basset hound on his feet” has become a large scale Association Management firm that now has more than 20 clients, many of which on a national level.
Partners In Association Management handles a wide range of local, regional and national clients, covering a variety of sectors. Some mentioned include the Florida Cemetery, Cremation & Funeral Association, various healthcare organizations, fire protection, water-well drillers, etc.
Including various state associations and trade organizations, Napier notes that Tallahassee has the third highest concentration of associations in the country behind Washington DC and Chicago.
Bennett has donated his time and expertise to the Chamber in a volunteer capacity, serving as a Board Member and Chair of the Membership Committee. Entering his second term at the helm of the committee, he is leading the group in discussions on recruitment and retention, but his true focus is increasing engagement among Chamber members of all levels. “Our goal is to provide a mechanism and a vehicle for chamber members to be engaged at whatever level they want to be engaged. They win, we win.”
For more information about Partners in Association Management visit them online at: yoursearchisdone.com
After a career presenting, producing and managing performing arts across the country, Dr. Michael Blachly landed in Tallahassee as the Director of Opening Nights at Florida State University. His prior experience includes similar Performing Arts production roles at places such as the University of Florida, UCLA, University of Hawaii, Colorado State University, University of Tennessee, and the 1982 World’s Fair.
Blachly joins the Chamber podcast to share insight on the behind the scenes facts about the many performances Opening Nights brings to the community each year. In its 22nd season, Opening Nights will feature a variety of performing arts spanning across genres such as musical performance, dance, comedy and a variety of other acts.
A focus for Blachly is to make the arts available and enjoyable for all – a principal he uses to find the talent that comes to community for each show. He notes that he finds many of the acts by being a “sponge” and listening to everyone and anyone that he can find suggestions from, including people in the Tallahassee community.
“I view Opening Nights as sort of the front door to Tallahassee and Leon County, the mechanism whereby people can feel a place within Florida state that’s theirs,” he said.
Blachly explains although Tallahassee’s arts culture is stronger than many similarly sized cities across the country, it’s not exempt from the challenges that face the industry everywhere, including capacity or scheduling challenges and funding for performance facilities. The Opening Nights staff use their platform and connection with artists to provide educational opportunities for K-12 schools, colleges and universities etc.
“We want to be more than drive-by arting, we want them(the artists) to invest in our community, the young people here and make it work so that people say ‘I can do that, I can grow into this if I choose to pursue that as a career.’”
The best place to get more information about any of the work or upcoming performances from Opening Nights is to visit Openingnights.fsu.edu
Find more episodes of the Chamber Podcast HERE
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“People are really hard to hate close up, no matter what your disagreements are on politics,” says Liz Joyner, Founder, and CEO of the Village Square. That mantra is part the founding principals of the Village Square, an organization that touts a mission of “building bridges across the partisan divide and to have wonderful, engaging, real conversations because that’s what democracy should be.”
In this episode of the podcast, Joyner shares insight on how combative debates around a proposed coal-fired power plant sparked her passion to form the Village Square. During the discussion, Joyner spoke on how the organization has since become bigger than politics and more a forum for curated discussions on nationals issues at the local level including many of our country's biggest disputes.
In a world that becomes more polarized by the day, the Village Square model has attracted attention from all over the nation. Joyner has had the opportunity to share insight on the topic of civility to a number of elections officials from various states, national media outlets and has even spoken to group at Harvard Law School. She notes that communities everywhere are all discussing how to appropriately address the societal issues caused by a polarized political climate, issues that the Village Square actively works to solve every day in Tallahassee.
“The civic fabric of a community, the social capital, the relationships, the trust and reciprocity that exists inside of the community, that is the science behind what you do to depolarize people,” she said.
Joyner encourages anyone and everyone to join in on one of the many upcoming events in the works, all of which you can find more information about online at https://tlh.villagesquare.us. A new season of events is just about to begin, the theme for them being “The Year of Living Locally.”
Find more episodes of the Chamber Podcast HERE
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Yuh-Mei Hutt is one of Tallahassee’s most dedicated business leaders. Best known as President of Golden Lighting, her nationally reaching custom lighting company, Hutt also serves as Chair of the Domi Station Board of Directors. Fresh off of hosting a breakout session at the Chamber’s 2019 Annual Community Conference, she joins the podcast to discuss her career and the benefits she has discovered from operating with an exponential mindset.
Beyond business, Hutt has a heart for making the Tallahassee community a place where her young kids will want to live and work someday. She regularly tells others that “All the work we do in Tallahassee is for our kids.” Whether working on her company or on building a better community, Hutt is constantly seeking to implore a growth mentality into all that she does.
In this week’s podcast, Hutt explains how using an exponential mindset has helped grow Golden Lighting to new heights and even discover products to serve her current and future customer base.
“I’m trying to let my front line people manage the day to day, manage the current state (of the business),” she explains as an example of how she empowers decision making, one of the seven tenets of an exponential mindset. “The management team is trying to bring the department or company into a future state and my role as CEO is to consider the multiple futures for the company and to set the overall direction. Once you do that, you free up a lot more bandwidth in the management team to be able to move the company forward.”
A tech conference is where Yuh-Mei first discovered this new method of thinking. Since then, she has incorporated an exponential mindset into her work at Golden Lighting, her involvement at Domi Station and has embarked on a journey to inspire other businesses and community members in Tallahassee to adapt their mindsets to unleash exponential growth and position their business for success in a world full of disruptions.
“If you want to change what you do, you have to change how you think.” she says.
The 7 Tenets of an Exponential Mindset:
- Set Ambitious Goals over Setting Realistic Goals
- Follow the Vision over Following the Plan (11:30)
- Maximize Learning over Minimizing Risk (16:26)
- Personalize over Standardize (22:00)
- Empower Decision Making over Centralizing Decision Making (25:00)
- Expand Influence over Expand Authority
- Grow your Network over Make your Numbers (40:28)
During this episode of the Podcast, Yuh-Mei provides several examples of recognizable companies (Uber, Chipotle, Tesla) that deploy one or more of these tenets to their companies while also using unique analogies to illustrate the importance of each ideal.
To view the full slide deck, click here.
Golden Lighting Domi Station The Domi Awards
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Steve Evans, Retired IBM Executive, Recipient of 2017 Distinguished Leadership Lifetime Achievement Award and mentor to business leaders in Tallahassee joins this episode of the Chamber Podcast.
As an attendee to the recent 2019 Annual Community Conference, Steve shares his insight on the success of the weekend. He also walks us through his career at IBM, his success as a mentor to businesses and shares his take on how important celebrating success is for the longevity of any company or community.
"I've watched lots of companies, we've all watched lots of communities, they die on the backs of negativity," Steve said. "We are always going to have challenges in any organization, in your families, in your communities, you focus on how to fix it but you have got to stop and celebrate. Number one you have to recognize where you have successes and then take the moment to celebrate"
Find more episodes of the Chamber Podcast HERE
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When Blake Dowling attended the Chamber Conference for the first time 14 years ago, he had a much different strategy than he does today. Blake joins this episode of the Chamber Podcast to give newcomers and seasoned attendees alike his top 3 tips for making the most out of your time at the Chamber Conference.
Blake Dowling is the CEO of Aegis Business Technologies in Tallahassee. He shares his unique career story, from starting out working for the band Sister Hazel to climbing the ranks at Aegis, while also giving us key insight on the IT industry in Tallahassee and common tech problems that small companies face.
More about the swag bag collaboration with Big Brothers and Big Sisters here: Get creative to get your message out
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Ending music clip: Sister Hazel - All For You
You’ve heard the name around town, seen a billboard or clicked on a link for a home you are dreaming about, Joe Manausa, of Joe Manausa Real Estate joins the Chamber Podcast to share his insight in the emerging trends in local residential real estate.
Joe Manausa has deep roots in Tallahassee and when he returned to his home town after spending time in the Army, the real estate industry called his name. Since then, he has built a real estate company from the ground up.
Joe shares insight on why his unique business model was right for Tallahassee home buyers and sellers, his thoughts about the up and coming areas for residential real estate in Tallahassee, and how pushing the envelope in digital marketing has led his company to success.
Find Joe online and on social media: Website Facebook Twitter Instagram
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Richard Darabi, Project Manager at Moore Bass Consulting joins the latest episode of the Chamber Podcast. Richard, Chair of the Access Tallahassee Advisory Council talks about his experience as a young professional in Tallahassee and the opportunities and events Access offers for the next generation of local leaders.
Melissa VanSickle, Chair of the Leadership Tallahassee Board of Governors joins this episode of the podcast. As a Tallahassee native, Melissa shares how LT helped her get even more connected to her hometown while also developing a diverse network of friends & colleagues, and gain leadership skills that would propel her through her career and continued community involvement.
"It really just gives so much back to people that participate and stay engaged and so if you are even considering being a part of Leadership Tallahassee I would really encourage you to do so," Melissa said.
Melissa is Partner at Nelson Mullins Broad and Cassel, focusing on Commercial Real Estate Law. Through her position with Leadership Tallahassee, Melissa also sits on the Chamber Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
Find more information online and follow along with Leadership Tallahassee on social media:
www.leadershiptallahassee.com/ Facebook Twitter Instagram
Youth Leadership Tallahassee Facebook
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Skip Foster, Publisher of the Tallahassee Democrat, joins the Chamber podcast for part II of a conversation about his career, the everyday triumphs and tribulations of a news team, life as a newspaper publisher and his take on some of Tallahassee's top issues including crime, economic growth and more.
This conversation with Skip covered so many topics we broke the conversation into two episodes. If you haven't already, check out part I Chamber Podcast
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Skip Foster, Publisher of the Tallahassee Democrat, joins the Chamber podcast to talk through his career, the everyday triumphs and tribulations of a news team, life as a newspaper publisher and his take on some of Tallahassee's top issues including crime, economic growth and more.
“I've got a long fuse in my business, but it gets a little short when I hear people talking about crime hot spots. I think that is a way of trying to diminish the problem," Skip said during the interview. Listen to the rest of his thoughts on crime in Tallahassee in this episode.
If this podcast peaked your curiosity about life behind the scenes at the newspaper, take a look at this My View article, where Skip dives deep to explain how the digital statistics, passionate staff writers and community come together to make a successful newspaper in 2019. Heartbreak, highlights and deadlines.
This conversation with Skip broached so many facets of the community and highlighted many key topics that we decided to break the episode into two parts. Check back next week for part two of the episode, where Skip talks hobbies and interests outside of the newsroom. Chamber Podcast
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On this episode of the Chamber Podcast, Rick Grant and Lee Hinkle. Both guests are members of the Chamber's Local Government and Community Study Committee and they each attended the recent Community Trip to Greenville, South Carolina.
Listen in while Rick, Lee and Chamber VP Jay Revell reflect on the committee's work and how the Greenville Community Trip provided real life examples of some of the recommendations outlined in the committee's final report.
To get a full look at the committee's report click here
Kevin Graham, Executive Director of the FSU Real Estate Foundation joins the podcast to share his take on the future of the Florida State University Campus. Kevin sheds some light on recent and upcoming projects, while also showcasing his unique personal history in the real estate industry and what his family loves about living in the Capital City.
For more information on Florida State University Real Estate Foundation, click here.
This episode of the podcast is an audio walking tour of Downtown Tallahassee. The tour is led by Chamber VP Jay Revell and begins and ends at the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce.
The episode features a short interview with Elizabeth Emmanuel, Chief Executive Officer for the Downtown Improvement Authority.
Slaton Murray, Commercial Advisor for NAI TALCOR and Access Tallahassee Council Member joins the Talchamber podcast. As a Tallahassee local, he shares his story about the factors that drove his decision to start a career in Tallahassee after he graduated from Florida State University.
Slaton shares insight on up-and-coming projects, the real estate trends happening now in Tallahassee, and he also highlights his work with the website UrbanTallahassee.com.
To read the article by Jay Revell that was mentioned in the show, follow this link: The New College Try: How Our City is Reinventing the College Experience to Lure and Retain Talent | Opinion
On this episode, Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey joins Chamber VP and long-time friend Jay Revell on the show to talk through many topics on the minds of Tallahassee residents.
Mayor Dailey, who refers to himself as Tallahassee’s lead Cheerleader, shares his insight on key topics affecting everyday life in Tallahassee. He talks about his main priorities in office, the challenges Tallahassee is currently facing, and his key take-a-ways from the Chamber’s recent Community Leadership Trip to Greenville, South Carolina.
Mayor Knox White joins this episode of the Chamber Podcast to share insight on the past 20+ years of growth, community development and strategic planning in Greenville, SC.
As the Chamber prepares to embark on a Community Leadership Trip to Greenville, sponsored by Moore, Mayor Knox White shares his thoughts and the key ideas he hopes Chamber members will take away from their visit to the city. He also shares his perspective on how the city has managed to create a vibrant, walkable downtown landscape and information on the city's recent uptick in tourism, including similar trips from various Chamber's across the nation.
If you need something to listen to during your travels or you are staying in Tallahassee and want a sneak peek into the Greenville trip, take a listen to the podcast and stay tuned for more from the trip coming soon. Follow along on social media @talchamber.
TLH2GSP
For this episode of the podcast, FSU Masters Student, Joseph Alter joins us to talk about his experience serving as a student representative on the Chamber Board.
Joseph joined the Chamber board in October 2018 as the first student representative. In this episode, he shares insight on what he has learned and the connections he has made through the experience thus far. He also talks about his time in Tallahassee, his passion for business analytics and shares his connection to the late Skip Smith, who the student Board seat was created to honor.
Skip Smith, a long time Chamber Board Member and community leader, passed away in 2017. In his honor, the Chamber created an Endowment to celebrate his life and recognize his generous service to the Chamber and Tallahassee community. Additionally, one of Skip's passions was mentorship, so with that in mind, the Chamber Board created a program to add a student representative to the Board from FSU, FAMU or TCC.
For more information about the endowment visit: https://www.talchamber.com/skipsmithendowment/
Leon County Schools Superintendent Rocky Hanna and School Board Chair Rosanne Wood join this episode of the podcast to share information about the state of our schools in Tallahassee.
Superintendent Hanna shares information about some of the challenges and triumphs the school system faces, while Chair Rosanne Wood sheds some light on the priorities and direction of the School Board. The pair also unwraps key issues like the importance of community partnerships, the push for skilled labor training and the impact that early education and at-home learning can have on a child's future.
If you or someone you know may be interested in volunteering or mentoring with Leon County Schools please visit https://www.leonschools.net/ or call 850-487-7800.
Dominick Ard'is, Founder and CEO of ACT House, joins the podcast to share behind the scenes information on this unique new accelerator that is helping shape the skills of young entrepreneurs in Tallahassee.
Dom gives us the story behind the tagline "One Year. One House. One Startup." and shares his take on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Tallahassee.
act.house
Vince McCormack, President and Jack Mozley, Sales Manager of Perdue Office Interiors join us for a new episode of the podcast. During the discussion, we cover interesting trends in the industry and key points about how office design can impact workplace efficiency.
Vince McCormack also speaks about Perdue's recent Merger with Suddath out of Jacksonville and shares insight about how the two companies will blend to offer the total solution for office furniture and commercial moving.
For more information about Perdue, please visit: https://www.perdueoffice.com/
In this episode, Chamber Podcast hosts Jay Revell and Sarah Solomon shine light on the many accolades and nationwide "Best of" lists that Tallahassee landed on in 2018. If you are interested in hearing some great bragging points about your beloved city- listen up!
To read more about any of the articles mentioned take a look below:
60 Best Place to Live by Livability
Top 20 Most Educated Cities in the US
Tallahassee Designated a #HurricaneStrong City
FSU Mag Lab Awarded Major Grant by the National Science Foundation
Top 100 Best City to Start a Career
Top 20 Cool Cities to Check out Before Everyone Else Does
5 Best Place to Raise a Family
The 25 Most Affordable College Towns
10 Best Places to Get a Fresh Start
Jay Smith, Vice President of Ajax Building Corporation, joins us for an episode of the Chamber Podcast. Jay Smith dedicates his time to the Chamber as an active member of the Chamber Board of Directors and the Chair of the Business Advocacy Committee. He shares some insight on his work and the importance of being an advocate for the business community.
He also shares the story behind his family business, a sneak peak into some ongoing construction projects, and a some insight on what his family enjoys about living in Tallahassee.
For more information about Ajax Building Corporation visit: http://www.ajaxbuildingcorp.com/
The owners of two small businesses in Tallahassee join us for this episode of the Chamber Podcast to share insight on holiday preparations and the impact of shopping locally.
For more information about the businesses featured in our podcast, follow the links below:
Tasty Pastry Bakery
Rebels Boutique
To find more information about more of the great businesses that make up the Chamber, visit talchamber.com and don't forget to follow @talchamber on social media.
Katrina Rolle, President and CEO of the United Way of the Big Bend joins us for an episode of the Chamber Podcast. In the wake of Hurricane Michael, Katrina tells us how the United Way is working to help with disaster relief across the region.
She also shares information about the United Way's recent strategic planning process, upcoming projects for the organization, and a little about her life outside of work.
For more information on the United Way of the Big Bend visit: http://uwbb.org/
Kristy Terry, Executive Director of the Calhoun County Chamber of Commerce joins us for a special edition of the Chamber Podcast. In this episode, Kristy shares information about the impact that Hurricane Michael had on Calhoun County and the ongoing relief efforts within the community.
Ron Sachs, Founder and CEO of Sachs Media Group joins the Chamber Podcast to talk about a new initiative called Rebuild 850. Created by two former Florida Speakers of the House and backed by many community partners from across the region, the program was created to help drive funding, resources and a continued awareness to the areas that were hit hardest by Hurricane Michael.
For more information or to get involved, visit rebuild850.org
David Gardner, Executive Director of the Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce join us for a special edition of the Chamber Podcast to talk about the impact that Hurricane Michael has on Gadsden County and the ongoing relief efforts in the community.