Bonita Business Podcast with Coach Darcy

It's been an unusual end to our third season as we all adapt to worldwide changes due to the pandemic. So as we wrap up this season, I checked in with a few of our past guests to get an update on what’s been happening with their business here in Bonita. In this episode, you'll hear April 2020 updates from: Shelley Anderson, Blush Salon Adam Botana, Bay Water Boat Club Debi Brandle, Bonita Boarding Kennel & Pet Camp, and Fred Fung, Bonita Bay Club So as we wrap up season three, let me say thank you. Thank you of course to our amazing sponsor, Spotlight News magazine, your local news that shines a light on the people of Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero. Spotlight hasn’t missed a beat through all of the chaos, and continues to land in our mailboxes with its’ gorgeous covers and interesting coverage of local people. Please join me in supporting the businesses who advertise in its pages—it matters. Also, of course, a big thank you to you, our listener. You may be someone who’s lost your job, or is now on an uncertain furlough, or have taken a pay cut in order to preserve other jobs. Or, you may be one of our retired residents, your activity in our community cut back and the isolation setting in. No matter who you are, we see you, and you’re not alone. When you need someone to talk to, or if you need more specific help, don’t hesitate to start with me. I’m at Darcy@RedCapeRevolution.com and if I can’t get you what you need, I’m honored to know enough people in our community who can. Also, if it’s useful, I’ve developed an audio series you can get each day in your inbox, designed to give you a quick boost of encouragement for your business and career. It’s free for you when you sign up at RedCapeCareer.com.

As we came closer to the end of this third season of our local podcast, the world changed--fast. In this bonus episode, I catch up on the changes with tech leader Alex Allen of Two39 Group, co-owner of the year-old Bonita co-working space Two39 Work.  Alex and I talked not only about disruption to his business due to the worldwide virus pandemic, but we looked at how this new world will likely change the tech community in Southwest Florida and as well as other companies relying on local technology talent. Thanks again to our sponsor, Spotlight News Magazine, local news that shines a light on the people of Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero. Read the Spotlight at swspotlight.com. Now, let’s listen to this bonus conversation with Alex Allen of Two39 Group.

My next guest tells me that One good day on the water is worth a thousand words. Well, if you’re listening to this episode right when it comes out in April 2020, you know that we’re all ready for one and hopefully many more good days soon, when the threat of the coronavirus is vanquished for good. When that will be? We don’t know. But it will happen—I know it. This conversation with my guest Adam Botana was recorded prior to this stunning shift in our lifestyles and economy here in Southwest Florida, and of course our state’s stay-at-home orders are impacting his family’s company, Bay Water Boat Club, as they are yours, mine and so many others. Adam’s also running for Florida state representative, which at present is still scheduled for a primary election in August. In this conversation, we talk about the other crisis that drove him into the campaign—that red tide/blue green algae nightmare of a few years ago. Remember them? They seem tame right now, but they were devastating to so many businesses in our area. But  I’m remembering how those businesses bounced back, and it gives me a dose of hope right now. I also get hope and great local info when I read the work of our sponsor, Spotlight News Magazine, local news that shines a light on the people of Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero. Read the Spotlight at swspotlight.com. Also, since you might need some new books to listen to right now, remember our friends at Audible, who’ll will give you a free audiobook when you sign up for a new 30-day trial membership. Just go to AudibleTrial.com/CoachDarcy, and you’ll get started today. Enjoy the interview and come over to Bonita Business Podcast for more!

One of the reasons I started this podcast is to tell the story about how our area was becoming more than just a gorgeous vacation or retirement community. I had started to see how many interesting and different businesses were thriving here, and I wanted to go behind the scenes to tell more of those stories. My next guest and I share this goal of wanting to spread the word about the tech and entrepreneurial opportunities in Southwest Florida--and don't let the current economic environment fool you--there WILL be opportunities. He’s Alex Allen, who’s the co-founder of the Two39 Group, a tech startup hub that owns Two39 Work, a co-working and connection space for tech companies and entrepreneurs. At the time of this interview, the coworking space just celebrated its first year, home to several tech professionals and entire entrepreneurial companies. As you’ll hear, Alex has an entrepreneur’s passion with a heart for our local community—after all, the company’s called 2-3-9—ring a bell? But beyond the coworking space, he’s focused on creating opportunities to connect, engage support and even fund the sometimes hidden tech talent we have here in Southwest Florida –and there’s a lot more of that than you might think. I know you’ll enjoy my interview with Alex. But first, would you help me thank our sponsor,  the Spotlight News Magazine. It’s local news that shines a light on the people of Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero. Read the Spotlight at swspotlight.com. Also, we’re grateful for the support of Audible, which offers our listeners a free audiobook when you sign up for a new 30-day trial membership. Just go to AudibleTrial.com/CoachDarcy, and you’ll get started today.

My guest Greg DeWitt became Bonita Springs' fire chief in January 2020, but brings years of Bonita history as well as a vision for Bonita's future.  In this second part of my two-part interview, we talk more about the future of Bonita Fire and the city itself, balancing all the needs our growth entails.  If you haven't listened to the first interview yet, do that soon--in that episode, Chief DeWitt shares more about the current state of Bonita Fire Thanks to our sponsor, the Spotlight News Magazine: local news that shines a light on the people of Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero. Read the Spotlight at swspotlight.com. Also, we’re grateful for the support of Audible, which offers our listeners a free audiobook when you sign up for a new 30-day trial membership. Just go to AudibleTrial.com/CoachDarcy, and you’ll get started today. Be sure to visit BonitaBusinessPodcast.com for all our episodes, plus show notes. Now, let’s listen to the second part of my conversation with Chief Greg Dewitt of Bonita Fire.

When you think of local businesses, you’re probably not thinking about one very big, very important local business. In fact, this business had a budget last year of $38 million, and if you pay taxes in Bonita, about 70% of that was funded by you and me. I’m talking about the Bonita Springs Fire Control & Rescue district, and today’s guest is Greg DeWitt, who became the CEO—better known as the fire chief—in January of 2020. We dive into the business of the department, and surprisingly, it’s more than just putting out fires. As you might expect, it’s a capital-intensive business, with a lot of physical properties to maintain—not just the trucks we think of, but firehouses themselves and all the speciality equipment that goes on a rig, and even a boat—which makes sense for our water-centric community, right? But you might not expect that Bonita Fire is debt free, with careful planning ahead to be able to buy properties or replace equipment to support our town’s growth. As a new chief but with a lot of history, we had a lot to talk about. So I’ve broken this interview into two separate episodes. At a high level, in this, the first part, we talk about the past and the present of the fire department; in the second, we talk more about the future. That episode will be released next, so watch for it! Better yet, subscribe on your favorite podcast app, and that way you’ll never miss an episode. I know you’ll enjoy my interview with Chief DeWitt. But first, would you help me thank our sponsor,  the Spotlight News Magazine. It’s local news that shines a light on the people of Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero. Read the Spotlight at swspotlight.com. Also, we’re grateful for the support of Audible, which offers our listeners a free audiobook when you sign up for a new 30-day trial membership. Just go to AudibleTrial.com/CoachDarcy, and you’ll get started today.

One of the things I love about living and working in Southwest Florida is that no matter where I am, if I look up and pay attention, I’m surrounded by wildlife. From the ibis and egret overhead, to the teeny geckos at my feet or  the bright green anole lizard who stares me down outside my office window—well, our animals are everywhere. For the most part, that’s a good thing. But when it’s a problem—when an animal gets caught where it shouldn’t be, or when an invasive animal gets out of control, that’s when it’s time to call my next guest. He’s Butch Smith, and he’s the founder of Southern Trappers Nuisance Wildlife Removal, based right here in Bonita Springs. I met Butch through a friend whose community hired Southern Trappers specifically to handle the cane toad infestation we’ve all been hearing so much about in the past few years. And while at one time, his business was more like an advanced version of pest control, in recent years, the work as become a critical part of helping us managing our environment and protect the wildlife populations that are getting overtaken by species such as the cane toads, igauana and pythons. Before we dive in, your Bonita Business Podcast is supported by the Spotlight News Magazine, local news that shines a light on the people of Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero. Read the Spotlight at swspotlight.com. Also, we’re grateful for the support of Audible, which offers our listeners a free audiobook when you sign up for a new 30-day trial membership. Just go to AudibleTrial.com/CoachDarcy, and you’ll get started today. Now, let’s listen to my conversation with Butch Smith of Southern Trappers, based here in beautiful Bonita Springs, Florida. Get the show notes with pictures at BonitaBusinessPodcast.com.

You probably know that starting a new retail service business can be hard. But how would it be if you were starting it with your mom? Or if you’re a mom who’s retired from a successful career in the buttoned up world finance, would you be willing to dive into a new creatively-driven business with your daughter? Well, in this interview, we meet two women who are taking on that challenge. Shelley Anderson and Sarah Thompson are the mother-daughter team behind Blush Salon, a full-service salon located next to Bonefish right here in Bonita Springs. Blush just celebrated its first year in business, and in this interview, we have an honest talk about their lessons learned in that year, their struggles and surprises, and their vision for a one-stop salon—a model that’s not as common in the beauty industry these days. Whether or not you’ve ever been to a salon, I think you’ll find the conversation interesting and useful as you think about your own career and business. Oh, and a special note: not long after this interview, Shelley announced that she’ll be running for Bonita Springs City Council in the March 17 2020 special election, filling the seat that was open after Greg DeWitt resigned to become the fire chief. By the way, look for my interview with Greg on the podcast, too! Shelley’s district is roughly Old Bonita, an area she’s lived in and raised her family, including her now business-partner daughter Sarah. So we don’t talk about the election or City Council on this interview, just in case you were wondering. But if you’re curious about that part of her world, you can go to Facebook.com/ShelleyforBonita. My thanks to our sponsor,  Spotlight News Magazine, local news that shines a light on the people of Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero. Read the Spotlight at swspotlight.com.  Plus, thanks to my friends at  Audible, who offer you a free audiobook when you sign up for a new 30-day trial membership. Just go to AudibleTrial.com/CoachDarcy. Remember, you can get the show notes and other links & info at BonitaBusinessPodcast.com. While you’re there,  click on the big red button and sign up to get my weekly behind the scenes emails—that’s where I share stories I don’t share anywhere else. Enjoy this interview with mother/daughter owners of Blush Salon, Shelley Anderson and Sarah Thompson.

Here's something I see happen all the time when I'm coaching leaders and up-and-coming professionals. They’ve mastered their current role, and they’re hungry to grow. But, the next logical spot for them is one that’s already filled—often, by their boss, and at the time, it doesn’t seem like that boss is going anywhere. So, that ambitious person leaves to get the growth and opportunities they need. But if you do the work to be a great company in your industry, something interesting happens. Those employees boomerang back, and rejoin your organization down the road. And that’s exactly what happened to Fred Fung, who in late 2019 re-joined the Bonita Bay Club after a couple years away, but this time in the top job of general manager. Fred shares what’s happening behind the scenes in this company of 350 full-time employees serving a membership of 3600 people at one of the country’s top five clubs in terms of size. And that size includes not only five golf clubs and 18 tennis courses, but the ownership & operation of the 3-story, 60,00 square foot office building next to the promenade that not only houses the club’s fitness center and spa, but is home to offices not connected to the club, including Finemark, Hotwire, and several doctors and specialists. So they’re in the real estate business, too. We also get in to the future of the club business as populations age, and hiring gets harder, and as environmental pressures grow. Before we dive in, your Bonita Business Podcast is supported by the Spotlight News Magazine, local news that shines a light on the people of Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero. Read the Spotlight at swspotlight.com. Also, we’re grateful for the support of Audible, which will give you a free audiobook when you sign up for a new 30-day trial membership. Just go to AudibleTrial.com/CoachDarcy, and you’ll get started today. And a quick reminder that after the show, come over to BonitaBusinessPodcast.com. There you’ll find show notes with more resources, photos, and other tools related to the episode you’re listening to right now. You can also sign up to get regular email updates from me as new podcasts come out—that’s where I share the dish that doesn’t make it into the podcast. You won’t want to miss what’s ahead, so be sure to visit BonitaBusinessPodcast.com today.  

It’s no surprise to anyone who’s trying to make a left hand turn off US 41 our local population is growing—even in the summer. But you might not realize that 70% of each new family who moves here, full or part-time, will have a pet. That’s good news for those in the pet care business, like our next guest, Debi Braendle, owner of the Bonita Boarding Kennel and Pet Camp, off Bernwood near Shaw Development and the Bonita Springs Charter School. Debi and her family own and operate the day care and overnight boarding service which has been in business for over 10 years. In this interview, Debi tells us about the real work of a business like this—and it’s so much more than just loving on our four-legged friends. Before we dive in, your Bonita Business Podcast is supported by the Spotlight News Magazine, local news that shines a light on the people of Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero. Read the Spotlight at swspotlight.com. Also, we’re grateful for the support of Audible, which will give you a free audiobook when you sign up for a new 30-day trial membership. Just go to AudibleTrial.com/CoachDarcy, and you’ll get started today. Now, let’s listen to my conversation with Debi Brandle, owner of the Bonita Boarding Kennel and Pet Camp, here in beautiful Bonita Springs, Florida.

Okay, a little confession. Making this podcast isn’t always easy. Sure, there’s a recipe—pick good guests, coordinate with their schedules, record a good conversation, write and record opening and closing snippets like this, then mix it all together with all the behind-the-scenes tech that brings a finished episode to your ears. But the recipe doesn’t work without great ingredients, and that’s what I’ve got here today for you with this interview with Chef Allen Fisher of Harvest & Wisdom. Harvest & Wisdom opened in 2019 in the historic Shangri-la Springs property, which, if you’ve lived here for a while, know has been coming back to life slowly but surely, and the restaurant is just further proof of that. But what’s unique about the place is that it sources 80% of its menu from the organic gardens right on the property, tucked away behind the original springs that give our town its name. In the interview, Chef Allen explains the process of planning and preparing a garden-driven menu, which adds a layer of complexity you might not realize. That’s not to say he’s not able to cook on the fly, a talent Allen demonstrated in a stint on the Food Network’s Chopped. Plus, how do you talk to a chef without also having a little snack? Chef Allen shared some yummies with me, and so my apologies for the occasional slurp—it’s all in the name of bringing you the real deal behind the scenes. Plus, at the end of this podcast, you can hear him describe the dishes I got to taste—and you’ll want to check out the pictures over at the show notes page at BonitaBusinessPodcast.com. Before we dive in, let’s thank our sponsor, Spotlight News Magazine, Spotlight is the local news that shines a light on the people of Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero. You can read the Spotlight at swspotlight.com. Now, on to my lunch—uh, I mean interview-- with Chef Allen Fisher of Harvest & Wisdom, located right in the heart of Old Bonita at the Shangri-la Springs.  Enjoy, cause, as you’ll hear, I did.

Welcome to a sneak peak of Season Three of the Bonita Business Podcast! We’re continuing our journey to bring you behind-the-scenes insights and unexpected ideas that are creating business and career success right here in my chosen hometown of Bonita Springs, Florida. Maybe this is your first time here—if so, hi! I’m Darcy Eikenberg, and I’m the founder of the leadership & career development firm Red Cape Revolution and author of Bring Your Superpowers to Work: Your Guide to More Clarity, Confidence & Control. While I have the great honor to be hired to coach and teach business professionals all over the world, I made the decision about five years ago to move my company and my life to Bonita Springs, Florida. While I’ve been here, I’ve discovered a secret. I’ve discovered is that while Bonita means beautiful, it also means business. This is no longer just a sleepy little retirement or vacation region—great work is happening all around us, and my goal with this podcast is to bring some of those stories to you. To those of you who’ve been listening since we started, a huge thank you. If you haven’t caught up on Seasons One and Two yet, now’s a great time! And coming up this season, I’ll introduce you to even more business professionals making a difference right here, right now, in our Southwest Florida town. People like Chef Allen Fisher of the Shangri-la Springs organic restaurant Harvest & Wisdom; Debi Braendle, owner at Bonita Boarding Kennel and Pet Camp; and Fred Fung, the new general manager at the Bonita Bay Club Also, while we’re not a political show, it is an election year and Bonita business people are at the heart of Bonita’s local government. So, I’ll have interviews with Bay Water Boat club’s Adam Botana, who’s running for state representative, and Shelley Anderson, who with her daughter and business partner Sarah Thompson owns Blush Salon, and while we didn’t know it at the time of our interview, Shelley is running for Bonita City Council. And also this season, we’ll talk to new Bonita fire chief Greg Dewitt, who had previously served on the city council. Bonita business people are making an impact everywhere, and so you won’t want to miss any of these conversations. So, do me a favor--hit subscribe on the podcast service you’re using right now so that new episodes come to you automagically on your favorite digital device. Plus, here’s a secret. When each episode is released, I also send a short email with other info or behind-the-scenes details you only get from me. To get those, though, you have to sign up, all for free, of course.  Just go to BonitaBusinessPodcast.com and you’ll see the red button to sign up there. One plus about connecting with me through email is that you can always write me back, too—and I love to hear from you. The Bonita Business Podcast is supported by the Spotlight News Magazine, local news that shines a light on the people of Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero. Read the Spotlight at swspotlight.com. Also, we’re grateful for the support of Audible, which will give you a free audiobook when you sign up for a new 30-day trial membership. Just go to AudibleTrial.com/CoachDarcy, and you’ll get started today. So, if you live in, work in, or just plain care about business in Bonita Springs, Florida, let’s get started with season three of the Bonita Business Podcast. Again, I’m your host Bonita Business Coach Darcy Eikenberg, and remember, Bonita may mean beautiful, but it also means business.  Enjoy the shows!

Wow—I can’t believe we’re at the close of our second season. When I launched the Bonita Business Podcast, my goals were simple. I wanted to take you behind the scenes to meet some of the companies and business leaders right here in my chosen hometown of Bonita Springs, Florida. I wanted to hear what’s happening in their companies and careers, and I wanted to get their insights on what’s happening in our local business community overall. Well, if you’ve listened to our interviews this season, you know we did just that. In this second season, we continued talking to leaders in companies who shared great stories about their own career journeys and their work today right here in Southwest Florida. If you haven’t caught up on all of the episodes to date, find them all on BonitaBusinessPodcast.com, or on wherever you’re listening to the podcast right now! Plus, you can also catch up with our season one episodes there, too—those chats are still really useful and insightful. This season, I started off talking to leaders at three different healthcare organizations currently serving our community—Alex Greenwood at Lee Heatlh Coconut Point. Sara McCallum at the Bonita Commuity Health Center, and Wendell McClurg of NCH Bonita. I was super curious to get behind the scenes in the two new facilities built by both Lee and NCH –and, to hear how that’s affected a property both companies share—the Bonita Community Health Center. If yu’re interested in the state of healthcare services in our area, you’ll definitely want to listen to all three interviews. Plus, I also talked to dentist Victoria Renando, and while we were focusing on the lessons she’s learned starting up a new business in Bonita Springs, I did learn a little about the medical side of dentistry, too. What else did I learn this season? Well, a couple of our interviews had to do with critical services that come directly into your house. First, there’s water, here with Bonita Springs utilities executive director John Jenkins. And also coming into your house is internet service, including tv and phone service, and we met Theresa Fletcher., executive VP of Hotwire Communiations to talk about that. The winner for most interesting company name—and maybe coolest company—came from my interview with Jameson Yingling of Sugarshack. Okay, a few final thoughts as we wrap up our second season. The biggest one is that I’m grateful. I’m grateful to every single person who took time out of their schedules to sit down with me and tell me their story so I could bring them to you. I’m grateful to Peter O’Flinn, publisher of the Spotlight News magazine—the local news that shines a light on the people of Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero. Peter went out of his way after our first season to encourage this work to continue, and this year you may have seen the podcast inside the pages of the Spotlight. We’re grateful to their sponsorship, and encourage you to go read the Spotlight at SWSpotlight.com. I’m grateful to audiobook giant Audible, who’s committed to helping smaller podcaster s like me by offering a free audiobook to our listeners who sign up for a free 30-day trial at AudibleTrial.com/CoachDarcy. Most of all, thank YOU for listening and for telling your friends. This work doesn’t mean anything if it isn’t useful to you. If you haven’t yet left us a rating and a review, it really does matter, even for a local podcast like this. If you like what you’ve heard this season, please click the stars or write a few words in a review. We’d like to bring you even more great interviews and ideas from our own backyard. So tell me this—who would YOU like to hear from? I’d love to have your suggestions and introductions. You can hit the green “suggest a guest” button on BonitaBusinessPodcast.com, or just email me at Darcy@RedCapeRevolution.com. In the meantime, don’t forget -- Bonita may mean beautiful, but it also means business.  I’m Bonita Business Coach Darcy Eikenberg, and thanks for being here with me on the Bonita Business Podcast.

If you’ve listened to the Bonita Business Podcast a while, it’s clear that in many corners, Bonita Springs is booming. But as companies grow, there’s always a risk that bad behaviors grow too, like discrimination and illegal employment practices.   In an age of Me Too and other public movements, I was curious about how discrimination issues were emerging in the local marketplace. So I turned to Kim Hastings. Kim’s a local independent employment and business lawyer, and she counsels and litigates issues of discrimination faced by her small business clients. We dive into the difference between what’s illegal, and what’s just plain bad business behavior. Spoiler alert—there’s a lot less that’s illegal than you may think.  If you want to help your business stay healthy and out of court—whether that be a real court, or the court of public opinion—you’ll definitely want to listen to this interview with Kim.  Find more resources at BonitaBusinessPodcast.com.

How often do YOU think about what goes on behind the scenes to bring TV or internet service into your home? Maybe not a lot. But if you live in one of our local communities whose homeowners associations have recently fired the traditional providers and hired tech upstart Hotwire, you’re likely learning a lot, fast. In this interview, I talk with Hotwire Communication's new executive vice president and general manager Theresa Fletcher. Theresa recently moved here from the east coast of Florida, and she’s helping how Hotwire’s lay down roots in Southwest Florida while it’s laying down miles of fiber optic cable. The company’s negotiated and won contracts to be the technology service provider for all their residents at communiteis at Pelican Landing, Bonita Bay, Shadowwood among others. And these contracts are often for ten years or more, and so I was curious how they planned to stay current, be profitable, and most of all, continue to serve the residents of these communites well into the future. Whether you live inside one of these communities or not, you won’t want to miss this conversation that’s not just about technology, but also about trust, building relationships, and building a team. Find the show notes and more at BonitaBusinessPodcast.com. Plus, know a Bonita Springs businessperson with a great story to tell? Suggest a guest at BonitaBusinessPodcast.com, too.

What happens when you notice you’re starting to outgrow your current professional path? Maybe you’ve been pretty successful, but you start to feel like you want more—and not just great work, but a great life, too?  Well, in Dr. Victoria Renando’s case, she followed her 6th sense. In fact, she named her fast-growing Bonita Springs practice 6th sense dental, which just celebrated its fourth year in business. In this interview, Victoria gives me an inside look at why she decided to leave the partner track for a large Chicago dentistry firm in exchange for starting from scratch in Southwest Florida. We talk about the ups, downs, lessons learned and what it really takes for a professional today to be a successful owner, no matter what their business in Southwest Florida. If you’ve ever thought about starting on your own—or you wondered what it might take to grow in a competitive field—you won’t want to miss this interview. Get show notes and more at BonitaBusinessPodcast.com.

If you’ve ever thought, well “no one REALLY makes money by putting content online,” think again. There’s a company right here in Bonita Springs that’s making an impact online by building a digital brand –and it’s generating revenue as well as raves. Meet Sugarshack, and my guest today, Jameson Yingling. In addition to being an executive producer and writer, Jameson’s one of the partners at this digital media production company. While the team works all over the country creating content for concerts and events, they’re also known for their prominent YouTube music channel, the Sugarshack sessions. Find out more at www.BonitaBusinessPodcast.com.

Lately in business circles, the conventional wisdom has been that the shopping mall is done, dead, deleted by the ease of quick click buying and to-your-door delivery. Well, hold up a minute. Here in Bonita Springs, retail keeps moving forward at Coconut Point Mall, led by general manager Jamie Grofik. I caught up with Jamie in her offices on one of the outdoor mall’s side streets. Jamie’s led Coconut Point for ten years, and has been in retail a total of 30 years with Coconut Point’s owner, the worldwide Simon Property Group. She manages the 102 acre property with over 140 store tenants—and, her job comes with a golf cart. What’s not to like? If you’ve been curious about the future of retail in Southwest Florida, you’ll definitely want to listen to my interview with Jamie right now, and find show notes and other resources at BonitaBusinessPodcast.com.

With all the talk about water surrounding us in Southwest Florida, I realized I didn't know much about the water that comes into our homes each day. So, I sat down to learn more with John Jenkins, executive director of Bonita Springs Utilities.  BSU's the not-for-profit cooperative with 130+ people who work to keep our local water clean, safe, and affordable. More at BonitaBusinessPodcast.com.

In this interview, meet Wendell McClurg, the system director of operations at NCH responsible for emergency services at the new NCH Bonita, located –yes, you guessed it, near the corner of US 41 and Coconut Road. While the Naples-based NCH has been anchored in our neighbors to the south for a while, they’ve added outpatient locations over the past several years and the new facility is home to a free-standing emergency room. Wendell’s a former Army guy who got into nursing and emergency medicine to feel like he was continuing to do something that’s meaningful. And for all of us in Bonita who’ve had to drive 20-30 minutes to emergency rooms in the past, knowing that we can now go to not one but two great ERs, well that means a lot to our area.

Here’s a brain tickler for you. Let’s say you’re equally owned by two competing companies in the same industry –let’s call them North and South. You’re Central. When you got started 20 years ago, neither North or South wanted to be where you were—central. But over the years, Central’s become the place to be. Recently, both North and South built and opened their own locations—one at your backdoor, and one at your front. What do you do then? Well, if you're CEO Sara McCallum of Bonita Community Health Center, you get really, really clear on who you are and what your mission is—and you stay focused on that. Sara’s a nurse with an MBA who’s been leading this multi-disciplined health care center for over seven years. The center is equally owned by Lee Health and NCH—both of whom built stand-alone facilities including much-needed emergency rooms in 2018. I was curious to learn how those expansions have impacted her team and the work they do there, and I know you’ll be interested to hear her thoughts, too.

I don’t care where you live in the world—everybody’s talking about healthcare today. We talk about what it can do, what it costs, and where to get the services we need. Well, here in Bonita, that conversation has accelerated recently. I’m recording this for you in the spring of 2019, and so just last year, two major health care properties opened in our town. And the crazy thing is that they’re practically across the street from each other. Okay, that street is Tamiami Trail, otherwise known as US 41, and crossing that street on foot might just land you in one of those new shiny emergency rooms. But truth is, we now have what I’ve been calling a healthcare hub here in Bonita. In these first three episodes of the podcast this season, I’ll introduce you to leaders from all three of these healthcare resources that huddle around Coconut Road and 41. First up is Alex Greenwood, who leads the work Lee Health Coconut Point. In this interview, Alex explains what it was like to plan and build this property from the ground up, and we spend time talking about how when you work to get the people right, you can get the rest of it right. It’s an interview you won’t want to miss. Before we get to that, I want to welcome a new sponsor to the podcast this season—Spotlight News Magazine, Spotlight is the local news that shines a light on the people of Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero. You can read the Spotlight at swspotlight.com. Also, we’re grateful for the continued support of Woods Weidenmiller Michettie & Rudnick, attorneys at law with an office here in Bonita Springs led by Jay Caudill. Find them at LawFirmBonita.com. For show notes plus all of our episodes to date, visit BonitaBusinessPodcast.com. Now, on to my interview with Alex Greenwood of Lee Health Coconut Point. Enjoy!  

Welcome to a sneak peak of Season Two of the Bonita Business Podcast! This season, we’ll continue our journey to bring you behind-the-scenes insights and unexpected ideas that are creating business and career success right here in my chosen hometown of Bonita Springs, Florida. I'm your host, Bonita business coach Darcy Eikenberg. I'm the founder of the leadership & career development firm Red Cape Revolution and author of Bring Your Superpowers to Work: Your Guide to More Clarity, Confidence & Control. While I have the great honor to be hired to coach and teach business professionals all over the world, I made the decision about five years ago to move my company and my life to Bonita Springs, Florida. While I’ve been here, I’ve discovered a secret. I’ve discovered is that while Bonita means beautiful, it also means business. This is no longer just a sleepy little retirement or vacation region—great work is happening all around us, and my goal with this podcast is to bring some of those stories to you. If you haven’t caught up on Season One yet, now’s a great time! And coming up this season, I’ll introduce you to even more business professionals making a difference right here, right now, in our Southwest Florida town. For show notes & more, visit www.BonitaBusinessPodcast.com

We’re busy working on Season Two of the podcast, but as the new year arrived, I asked some business people around town what they wished for Bonita Springs in the new year, and wanted to share their wishes with you in this short BONUS EPISODE. We'll be back in the spring with the second season of the Bonita Business Podcast. Make sure you're on our email list so you'll be in the know. Also, if there’s someone in our community you’d like to hear from, go to BonitaBusinessPodcast.com and suggest a guest right there. Maybe it’s a business you love, a friend, or maybe it’s even YOU. In the meantime, it’s a great time to enjoy Southwest Florida’s winter and catch up on the episodes you’ve missed. No matter when or where you’re listening to this, I’m wishing you and your family a great year ahead! I’m Bonita Business Coach Darcy Eikenberg, and thanks again for being here at the Bonita Business Podcast, and remember, Bonita may mean beautiful, but it also means business. Happy new year!

When I launched the Bonita Business Podcast, my goals were simple. I wanted to take you behind the scenes to meet some of the companies and business leaders right here in my chosen hometown of Bonita Springs, Florida. I wanted to hear what’s happening in their companies and careers, and I wanted to get their insights on what’s happening in our local business community overall. Well, if you’ve listened to our interviews this season, you know I got my wish. In our first, pilot season, we met some awesome people. My thanks to all of our guests who told us their stories and shared ideas about our community. You can find all of the season one episodes on BonitaBusinessPodcast.com, or on wherever you’re listening to the podcast right now. So, after this first season of interviews, a few trends and ideas started popping out for me, and I wanted to share them with you.

You might be surprised to find a 65,000 square feet manufacturing and engineering plant right here in Bonita Springs, Florida. That’s the headquarters for Shaw Development, a global company that employs over 200 people and runs has an additional 25,000 square foot facility off of Bonita Beach Road. And they’re continuing to expand. My guest Nancy O’Hara is part of that growth. She’s a third generation family member who’s helping lead this global engineering business into the future by creating a stronger culture of improvement and connection. In our interview, you’ll hear: What Shaw actually does and how they do it  The kinds of problems they solve with their global customers and how they're building problem-solving skills across functions How they're building a culture of accountability and appreciation internally to connect different employees in new ways; and Why they've invested in daily, standup meetings during a time when so much communication has shifted online; Their plans for aggressive expansion ahead both locally and globally, and the demand for skilled labor (psst. . . they're hiring.) Thanks to our friends at Woods, Weidenmiiller, Michetti & Rudnick, attorneys at law, for sponsoring this episode. Visit their office in Bonita Springs and find out more about them here.  For show notes and more info, visit BonitaBusinessPodcast.com.

So imagine this situation: You’re the chef and manager of a little waterfront restaurant in beautiful Southwest Florida. But you’re located deep inside one of the largest gated communities in our area, but you’re not associated with the community or its club--you're not guaranteed a customer base. So you’ve got to figure out how to make it on your own in a sea of restaurants--when most of the town doesn’t even know you exist. That’s the situation I talked about with Cory Bass, the executive chef and general manager at Backwater Jack’s. Backwater Jack’s is located inside the gated community of Bonita Bay, but isn’t part of either the Bonita Bay Club or the Bonita Bay Community Association. Cory and I talked about: How a business that's off the beaten path has found ways to survive and grow How he uses email marketing --but with personality!--to drive traffic to the restaurant and build relationships with his customers How he approached a major turnaround in a restaurant Challenges--and lessons learned--about construction & expansion projects The surprising little product that's costing more than you'd think today This episode is sponsored by Audible, who's offering a free audiobook with your 30-day free trial. Get started here.  For show notes & more episodes, visit BonitaBusinessPodcast.com.  

What if you had to lead not just one business, but multiple businesses inside your company? And on top of that, what if you had to make sure they’re running smoothly 24 hours a day, 365 days a year? Well, that’s the job that Brian Kramer does. He’s the general manager of the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point and Spa. Maybe you’ve been there for a meeting or special event, or maybe you’ve had a little staycation in this Bonita Springs jewel. In our interview, Brian describes: All the different work that goes on behind the scenes, and you might be surprised to hear all the various businesses that exist inside this one business. How transportation and housing issues impact the success of businesses in Southwest Florida The department that's hardest to fill with great people How the Hyatt is supporting educational opportunties for students Why increasing the commitment to the local community has accelerated their growth Details behind the billion-dollar sale last year of this Hyatt and two others to Host Hotels One note: Brian and I decided to take our chat outside onto the beautiful Hyatt grounds. In the moment, it was a great decision--gorgeous day in a gorgeous place. Later, though, I realized the sound of the fountains in the background of this interview might be a little distracting. We’ve done what we can do to make it easier on your ears, but maybe you want to picture yourself sitting with us while water flows and the birds chirp outside. I’ll resist the urge to record outside next time, but hey, it’s beautiful Bonita, so I hope you forgive me. This episode is sponsored by our friends at Woods, Weidenmiller. Michetti & Rudnick, and I'll chat with partner Jay Caudill, who leads the firm's Bonita Springs office.  For show notes, to subscribe to updates and find more information, visit www.BonitaBusinessPodcast.com. 

What do trust and emotion have to do with the world of printing and direct mail? Well, according to Westley Weidenmiller at Presstige Printing, a whole lot. In this interview, we talk about how NOT to become a commodity by using customer service as a way to separate you from the competition. We also talk about the emotions of creating—and receiving—a thoughtful, professionally produced communication piece--and how they matter for your business. Today’s show is brought to you by our friends at Audible. Just go to AudibleTrial.com/CoachDarcy, and you’ll get started today. Get show notes and other info at www.BonitaBusinessPodcast.com.

Let's face it--technology is everywhere in our lives, and not just at our fingertips. So how are we using it so that it doesn't use us? In this episode, I talk to Wendi Fowler of ITVantage, formerly the longtime Bonita Springs tech firm The Client Server. Wendi and I talk about the new technologies in our lives, the opportunities it brings, as well as the threats that her firm is seeing—and helping to prevent- in the world of cybersecurity. We also chat about the emerging opportunities for women in technology in Southwest Florida, and how tech roles are no longer just about coding or security. Today’s show is brought to you by our friends at Woods, Weidenmiller, Michetti & Rudnick, attorneys at law. Get the show notes and other information at www.BonitaBusinessPodcast.com.

What if every day, thousands of people turned to you as a resource for recommendations and ideas in your area of expertise? What kind of impact would that make on your business as well as on the lives your customers? Well, that’s what Realtor® Chris Griffith is doing right here in Bonita Springs. In this interview, Chris and I talk about her incredibly active and useful Facebook group. Now, I hear you-- if you’re like some of my business coaching clients, you might be thinking--wait—a Facebook group? Aren’t Facebook’s glory days behind it, and as a business tool, isn’t social media just a massive waste of time? Well, listen to this interview and you may find a way you can use Facebook or another tool to build a community of your potential clients and customers that not only helps them, but helps your business, too. Here’s my interview with Chris Griffith of The Griffith Group at Downing Frye Realty. Find more details and show notes at www.BonitaBusinessPodcast.com.

I don’t know about you, but when I think about how much real estate is bought and sold in Southwest Florida, it’s good to know there’s a group like the Bonita Springs Estero Realtors® we can turn to right here. Meighan Harris is the CEO of the group, moving to the top spot in 2018 after serving as its professional development lead and COO. In this interview, we talk about a wide range of topics, including: Increasing professionalism and maintaining ethical standards in the complex, competitive industry  of real estate (and what happens when ethics are compromised); Managing transitions after a long-time leader retires; What's happening in various young professional groups; Why she and her young family left, but came back, to Southwest Florida. Plus, I love how Meighan schools me on the proper pronunciation of realtor, not real-a-tor. I don’t think I got it right all the time in this interview, but hey Realtors®, I’m trying! Thanks to the attorneys at Woods, Weidenmiller, Michetti & Rudnick for sponsoring this episode. Partner Jay Caudill of the firm's new Bonita Springs office talks about myths about using legal help during this episode.  Enjoy my interview with  Meighan Harris, CEO of the Bonita Springs Estero Realtors®. Get all the show notes and more at BonitaBusinessPodcast.com.

You know what happens when there’s a piano in the room? If you’re like me, you kind of can’t help yourself from touching the keys. Or if you’re at a party, and another guest sits down and starts playing –it’s like magic. They’re suddenly a rockstar. This is the world my guest Grant Billings helps bring to life. Grant’s the president of the Steinway Piano Gallery in Bonita Springs, the only dedicated piano facility in Southwest Florida. It’s a third generation business and not only do they sell pianos, but they handle all kinds of restorations, including retrofitting your old piano so it can play music on its own directly from your iPad. In this interview, you'll hear: How a career outside of the family business helped prepare him for his role now How the business is a lot more than a love of music Things to keep in mind when you’re new to the area Why “nobody buys pianos anymore” isn’t the full story—and the changing nature of who’s learning to play, and why Why people flock to quality and values, and how we mistakenly think they’re only focused on cost What’s bringing professional Steinway concert pianists right here to Bonita Springs   Finally,  how could I visit Steinway without asking for a little concert? So stay tuned at the end of the show for a musical treat played for me by Steinway’s Paul Nicodemi. Here's my interview with Grant Billings, president of Steinway Piano Gallery in Bonita Springs, Florida. Find show notes at BonitaBusinessPodcast.com

Welcome to this special preview of the Bonita Business Podcast. This season, I’ll be bringing you behind-the-scenes insights and unexpected ideas that are creating business and career success right here in my chosen hometown of Bonita Springs, Florida. I’m the founder of the leadership development firm Red Cape Revolution and author of Bring Your Superpowers to Work: Your Guide to More Clarity, Confidence & Control. While I have the great fortune to coach and teach business leadership skills and strategies to people all over the world, I made the decision a few years ago to move my own company and my life to Bonita Springs, Florida. What I’ve discovered is that while Bonita means beautiful, it also means business. This is no longer just a sleepy little retirement or vacation region—great accomplishments are happening all around us, and I’ve been lucky enough to meet and work with some amazing professionals locally here. I wanted to bring some of their stories to you. So, over the course of this season of our podcast, I’ll introduce you to business professionals making a difference right here, right now, in our Southwest Florida town. I’ve been calling this a pilot season. That means this podcast a bit of an experiment—an experiment to see whether these local stories and ideas are interesting to you, and valuable to you and your business or career. So if something you hear here is useful, I definitely want to hear from you. You can always reach me at BonitaBusinessPodcast.com. Also, please know that I’m not a journalist, nor am I a professional broadcaster. So this podcast won’t compare to the super cool ones you hear produced by NPR or the ones created by fulltime paid podcasters. We’ll do the best we can to create an experience you’ll enjoy, but I know not every interview will be perfect. My goal, though, is that you get something valuable from every single one. My thanks to our sponsors for this season of the Bonita Business Podcast, including Audible, who’s offering a free audio book to our listeners when you sign up for a 30-day trial. Just go to AudibleTrial.com/CoachDarcy. Plus, much appreciation for the generous support of Woods, Weidenmiller, Michetti & Rudnick, attorneys at law. They’ve opened a new office in Bonita Springs, and throughout this season, you’ll hear from their Bonita-basedpartner, Jay Caudill. We appreciate their sponsorship of this new venture. So, if you live in, work in, or just plain care about business in Bonita Springs, Florida, I hope you’ll subscribe to the podcast on iTunes or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Plus, each week, I’ll be sending an email out letting you know the next episode is live. If you’d like to be on that email list, take out your mobile device and text the word BONITA to the number 44222. In other words, enter 44222 as the number, and in the message box, write BONITA. Hit send, then follow the prompts to give me your email address, and you’ll be all set so you don’t miss a thing. You can always go to BonitaBusinessPodcast.com, too, and add yourself to the email list there. Once you’re on the list, you’ll be among the first to know when a new episode is released, and I’ll be sharing other tidbits and insights that you won’t get anywhere else. So let’s dive into pilot season of the Bonita Business Podcast. Again, I’m your host Bonita Business Coach Darcy Eikenberg, and remember, Bonita may mean beautiful, but it also means business. Enjoy the shows!

Flightdocs is one of those booming Bonita businesses you may know nothing about. But you should, because this technology firm that serves the private aviation industry is growing fast. That’s thanks in part to an entrepreneurial mindset, and a $10 million private equity investment that’s rocketing this local company to the top of their industry. In this interview, I talk to Flightdocs chief of staff April Stercula. April and I chat about: What’s happening in this high tech and high touch business; How outside investment is What growth looks like for this high tech firm. Her lessons and experiences which hopefully are helpful to any of you listening who are new here, too. Here's my interview with April Stercula, chief of staff at Flightdocs. (Thanks again to our sponsor for this episode, the attorneys at Woods, Weidenmiller, Michetti & Rudnick, with their new office open in Bonita Springs, Florida. ) Find out more about the podcast at BonitaBusinessPodcast.com.