Podcasts about florida chamber

Wednesday – Should prisons still have conjugal visitation? We talk to Mount Dora Mayor Homich to discuss what might be the smell plaguing Mount Dora. Animal House with Darryl Payne from Pawfection Dog Training. Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell on “Freekill” in Florida and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Plus, JCS News, JCS Trivia & You Heard it Here First.

Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell on the state of the citrus industry in Florida, Florida's “free kill” law — a bizarre law that exists only in Florida, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, host Tom Kindred speaks with Jason Mozo, Senior Vice President, and Konrad Sikora, Senior Safety Manager of the Florida Chamber Safety Council. Together, they discuss the Council's mission to make Florida the safest, healthiest, and most sustainable state in America by 2030. Jason and Konrad share their personal journeys into the field of workplace safety and highlight the various services offered by the Council, including safety training, mock OSHA inspections, and risk evaluations. They emphasize how investing in safety training not only reduces workplace accidents but also improves overall business profitability. The conversation also covers the Council's membership program, which provides small and medium-sized businesses with essential safety resources. Additionally, they discuss their commitment to community outreach through free onsite toolbox talks and career day participation at local high schools, ensuring a safer future for Florida's workforce. This podcast episode was recorded live at the 2024 Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress in Orlando, Florida. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital. Connect with Our Guest: Learn more about the Florida Chamber Safety Council

Wednesday – Rauce drops in to talk about his podcast and recapping his Fringe experience. Sargeant Jay, Rob and Drago from K-9s United are in for Animal House. Orlando Sentinel columnist Scott Maxwell on remembering the Pulse tragedy, how Glen Gilzean was being paid by more than one public agency, and how the Florida Chamber of Commerce worked to prevent heat protection laws for workers. Plus, WOKE News, JCS Trivia & You Heard it Here First.

Florida Politics Publisher Peter Schorsch breaks down new 2024 election polling from the Florida Chamber. ABC News Correspondent Jordana Miller checks in live from Israel with the latest on the situation in Gaza and an incident involving humanitarian aid in the West Bank.

Welcome to this week's episode, where we explore the intersection of mental health and workplace safety with guest Amanda Hudye, founder of Sleepwell Consulting Inc. A certified psychological health advisor and sleep consultant, Amanda discusses her work in the mining sector, focusing on fatigue, substance impairment, and their impact on safety and efficiency. She also shares her proactive training methods for managing mental health and maintaining safety in heavy industries. Additionally, Amanda previews her upcoming speech at the Florida Chamber of Commerce Mental Health Summit in May, highlighting shifts in corporate mental health practices and providing advice for individual safety in and out of the workplace. Join us for insights on fostering safer, healthier work environments.

I want to start by being clear: This is a topic I've covered before. I'm covering it again because, based on the resumes that come to me for consults, ya'll haven't gotten the message yet.  In addition to touching on this topic in several episodes, I specifically covered job duties and achievements in episode #174. I'm going to expand on the content from that episode in this one.  What I seeLet's start with what I see on almost every resume that comes my way: either there isn't an achievement in sight, or the few achievements that are there are mixed in with bulleted job duties – and they are poorly written.  This creates what we resume writers call “death by bullets.” A looooong laundry list of job duties and maybe a few achievements that don't impress the reader and causes them to lose interest fast.  Job duties are important, because this is your opportunity to tell the reader what you did on a day-to-day basis. This is particularly helpful when you have had job duties outside what someone with that job title would normally have.  Job duties tell the employer WHAT you did. There is an assumption that everyone with XXX job title does approximately the same thing on a daily basis.  Achievements, on the other hand, tell an employer HOW WELL you did your job. This is your opportunity to show how much money you made or saved, how you improved efficiency, increased retention…whatever is appropriate for your job function.  Think of it this way. If you were a Nike athletic shoe, your job description might read:Made of rubber. Come in a variety of color combinations. Includes shoelaces and an insert. Can be spot-washed by hand. Can be worn for athletic or casual wear – by men and women.  Here are your achievement bullets: Shaved 7.8 seconds off Sue Smith's running performance in the mile. Received prime placement in athletic shoe stores including… Played key role in Jonathan Jones' 15th-place finish in the Boston Marathon.  Generated $1.2 gazillion dollars top-line revenue.   Now, let's break down the specifics of job descriptions and achievements.  Job descriptionsThis should be a 2-to-3-line paragraph of the daily job duties you performed – either most frequently, those that are most applicable to the specific position you are applying for, or those not normally performed by someone with your job function (but only if you want to continue to perform those duties).   There's no room for fluffy words or extra verbiage in this paragraph. Stick with the most important, most relevant, and/or most differentiating tasks.  Here's an example: Aligned marketing plans and GTM tactics to drive audience awareness and growth for $12M international entertainment product. Drove branding, design, website, video production, customer journey, social media, billboards, subway ads, taxi tops, paid ads, customer experience improvements, celebrity and influencer partnerships, and content creation.  Here's another example: Drove all management and operational components including reporting functions, scheduling, hiring, onboarding, training, policies / procedures, compliance, and strategic planning. Collaborated with marketing director to promote and grow all offices. Managed P&L including net profitability, net revenue per visit, and net cost per visit.  Note that these are paragraphs – not bullets. Bullets should be reserved for achievements ONLY.   AchievementsYour achievements are what market you on your resume. When you mix your job duties with your achievements, you dilute the effectiveness of your achievements.  Ideally, you will have progressively more achievements with more recent jobs. At most, 5 achievements per role.  What makes an achievement impactful? -Is specific-Starts with an action verb (parallel structure)-Leads with results-Leaves the reader wanting more (2 lines max)  Example #1: Instead of  Grew customer base This high-impact achievement bullet:  Catapulted customer base 400% and revenue 700% by launching a comprehensive social media campaign.   Example #2:  Instead of  Managed new-hire in-processing This high-impact achievement bullet:  Processed 140 new employees in just 30 days including all paperwork, orientation, security clearances, and computer access.   Example #3:  Instead of  Managed IT installation project This high-impact achievement bullet:  Spearheaded 1200-unit IT installation project including beta testing, identifying and training superusers, and troubleshooting. How do you know what to include as an achievement? Here are some guidelines: -Choose achievements that, in combination, present you as well-rounded and competent for the role you are applying for.  -Focus on achievements that demonstrate the skills you want to use moving forward. If, for example, you're really good at managing budgets but hate them, and they aren't an essential part of the job you're applying for, don't focus an achievement on your budgeting magic.  Two more things: With some clients, I will separate out a 1-to-2- line statement about the scope of their work. Doing this makes it easy for the reader to see things such as size of budgets managed, number of direct reports, reporting structure, size of sales territory, etc.  Here's an example:  Directly supervised 5; total team of 14 | Hired, developed, and managed marketers, vendors, and agencies | $3.8M Marketing budget Finally, I am increasingly beginning each of my clients' bullets with an introductory phrase. This serves two purposes: It allows the reader to quickly scan the resume and determine the “buckets” of achievements this candidate has had, and it further packs the resume with keywords that will increase its score in the ATS.  I determine what phrases to use based on two things: The content of the achievement (what is it really about) and the keywords I find in the job descriptions the client gives me.  Examples: Stakeholder Advocacy & Education: Developed and managed Regional Advocate Program, which delivered grassroots, legislative, political, and investor development support and resources to Florida Chamber, local chambers of commerce, legislators, candidates, and business advocacy partners across 6 regions of Florida.  Efficiency Enhancements: Achieved annual cost reduction of 30%, enhanced financial reporting processes, and increased productivity through strategic technology implementations including dashboarding and cloud solutions.  Latinx Community Leadership: Recognized with Hispanic Heritage Foundation Award — for courage and commitment to elevating Latinx culture in all its expressions.   Are you in the wrong job that chips away at you every day? The document and coaching programs offered by Exclusive Career Coaching will help you find a job that uses your zone of genius, recognizes your value, and pays you what you're worth.  If you're ready to take your job search to the next level by working with a highly experienced professional with a track record of client success, schedule a complimentary consult to learn more:  https://calendly.com/lesaedwards/zoom-meetings2        

Join us for an engaging episode of Small Biz Florida, recorded at the 2023 Florida Chamber Annual Future of Florida Forum. Host Tom Kindred sits down with Suzy Teele, Chief Strategy Officer at the ARM Institute, to uncover the impact of advanced robotics on Florida's manufacturing landscape. Suzy Teele, a recent Florida transplant from Pittsburgh, shares her passion for advancing U.S. manufacturing through technology. The ARM Institute, headquartered in Pittsburgh with an office in St. Petersburg, aims to bridge the gap for small manufacturers, offering resources and funding to tackle challenges. Explore RoboticsCareer.org, a platform connecting individuals with training programs in manufacturing involving robotics or AI. Suzy envisions creating a network of Robotics Manufacturing Hubs across Florida, fostering collaboration with organizations like FloridaMakes to address production challenges. In this episode, Suzy challenges the misconception of job losses in manufacturing due to technology, emphasizing lifelong learning and opportunities within the evolving industry. Tom and Suzy discuss the importance of building an ecosystem to support advanced manufacturing, connecting education, manufacturers, and STEM-focused individuals. Recorded live at the Florida Chamber's "Future of Florida Forum," from Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando near Florida's Disney World. Special thanks to the Florida Chamber for hosting this momentous event and providing a platform for innovative discussions.

Embark on an enlightening journey with host Tom Kindred in this riveting episode of Small Biz Florida, recorded live at the 2023 Future of Florida Forum. Join the insightful conversation with Eddie Gonzalez Loumiet, the visionary CEO of Ruvos, a trailblazer in public health informatics and health information technology since 2004. Eddie shares his inspiring journey, from roots in Miami to leading Ruvos in Tallahassee. With expertise in computer science and finance, Eddie's career took a turn overseeing technology for an international private bank in Antigua and Barbuda. In 2008, he embraced the challenge of maturing a startup, marking the birth of Ruvos. Discover the significance of Ruvos' name, symbolizing the flow of data in healthcare technology. Eddie sheds light on Ruvos' critical role during the COVID-19 pandemic, moving over 2.5 billion test results nationwide. Reflecting on the intersection of FinTech and healthcare tech, Eddie emphasizes the importance of embracing technology and demystifies concepts like artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. Eddie's entrepreneurial spirit shines as he shares how Ruvos collaborates with major entities, proving that small businesses can make a substantial impact. The episode takes a compelling turn as Eddie delves into Ruvos' commitment to addressing the childcare crisis, advocating for the role of technology in enhancing early childhood education. Explore Eddie's engaging insights from the Future of Florida Forum, emphasizing Ruvos' dedication to improving healthcare infrastructure, cybersecurity initiatives, and contributing to the state's technology ecosystem. Join Tom and Eddie in this illuminating conversation that transcends healthcare and technology, showcasing Ruvos as a force for positive change in Florida and beyond. Recorded live at the Florida Chamber's "Future of Florida Forum," from Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando near Florida's Disney World. Special thanks to the Florida Chamber for hosting this momentous event and providing a platform for innovative discussions.

Join host Tom Kindred in an inspiring episode of Small Biz Florida, recorded live at the 2023 Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum. In this compelling conversation, Tom engages with Keyna Cory, the Executive Director of the Florida Goodwill Association, shedding light on Goodwill's transformative efforts to create an inclusive and empowered workforce across Florida. Explore the heart and soul of Goodwill's mission, extending beyond retail, as Keyna reveals how the organization provides employment, comprehensive training, and career assistance to individuals facing barriers to meaningful work. Discover the impact of every dollar earned in Goodwill stores, with 90 cents reinvested into programs and services benefiting those in need. Dive into the diverse services offered by Goodwill, including job skills training, GED assistance, and specialized programs for individuals with disabilities. The episode unfolds success stories from Goodwill's initiatives, spanning housing projects, homeless shelters, and innovative micro-entrepreneurship training programs, fostering not just employment but also purpose and dignity. Keyna emphasizes Goodwill's collaborative spirit, where nine independent territories exchange ideas, share best practices, and collectively innovate. The commitment to sustainability is evident in Goodwill's effort to divert over 182 million pounds of materials from landfills. As Keyna shares her journey in association management and her role as the Executive Director of the Florida Goodwill Association, listeners gain insights into the organization's entrepreneurial spirit and its partnerships with businesses like Publix and Bells. Connect with Goodwill through their website, where you can explore regions and access contact information tailored to your location. This episode serves as a reminder that Goodwill transcends retail—it's a catalyst for positive change, an advocate for environmental sustainability, and a driving force behind the creation of a thriving and inclusive workforce in Florida. Recorded live at the Florida Chamber's "Future of Florida Forum," from Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando near Florida's Disney World. Special thanks to the Florida Chamber for hosting this momentous event and providing a platform for innovative discussions.

In this impactful episode of Small Biz Florida, recorded live at the 2023 Florida Chamber Foundation's Future of Florida Forum, host Tom Kindred delves into the transformative work of Better Together with Executive Director Jeff Bell. Discover how Better Together is committed to keeping families united, preventing children from entering foster care, and providing meaningful employment opportunities. Jeff Bell shares his journey to leading Better Together and the organization's innovative approach to addressing family crises. Explore the collaborative efforts with faith-based communities, employers, and social sectors that form a comprehensive solution to challenges faced by families. Gain insights into how Better Together acts as a liaison connecting employers, job seekers, and communities, building a stronger and more supportive workforce. Explore the impact of job fairs and training programs, Better Together's statewide reach, partnerships, and plans for future expansion. Discover the unique 100% privately funded business model of Better Together and its alignment with the Florida Chamber's commitment to addressing children in poverty and workforce development. Learn about ways to engage with Better Together and contribute to their impactful initiatives. Tune in to this enlightening conversation to understand how Better Together is creating positive change in Florida's workforce and fostering stronger, more resilient families. Recorded live at the Florida Chamber's "Future of Florida Forum," from Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando near Florida's Disney World. Special thanks to the Florida Chamber for hosting this momentous event and providing a platform for innovative discussions.

Join host Tom Kindred in an insightful episode of Small Biz Florida, recorded live at the Future of Florida Forum. In this engaging conversation, Madeleine Thakur, President and CEO of the Children's Movement of Florida, takes center stage, unraveling the crucial role businesses play in shaping Florida's future and the profound impact of early childhood development on the state's workforce. Amidst an assembly of leaders from business, education, and government, the podcast explores initiatives propelling Florida towards 2030. Affectionately known as Ms. Thakur, she shares her unexpected journey from international affairs to leading a non-profit dedicated to early childhood advocacy, emphasizing the local impact and the importance of education. Discover the purpose and mission of the Children's Movement of Florida as the state's foremost advocate for early childhood issues. Gain insights into the pivotal first three years of a child's life and how early education influences future success. Ms. Thakur highlights the role of businesses in supporting families, unlocking potential, and addressing workforce challenges. Delve into the collaboration between the Children's Movement of Florida and the Florida Chamber, focusing on the "Bosses for Babies" initiative. Learn how businesses can contribute to ensuring 100% kindergarten readiness and supporting working parents. Uncover practical strategies, policies, and benefits for creating family-friendly workplaces. For more information, visit www.childrensmovement.org and www.bossesforbabies.com to access valuable resources and the guide to family-friendly workplaces in Florida. Recorded live at the Florida Chamber's "Future of Florida Forum," from Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando near Florida's Disney World. Special thanks to the Florida Chamber for hosting this momentous event and providing a platform for innovative discussions.

Welcome to Small Biz Florida, the podcast dedicated to Florida's small business community, presented by the Florida SBDC Network. Today, we're live from the Florida Chamber's "Future of Florida Forum," exploring innovative solutions. Joining us is Maria Darby, COO at Dwyer Workforce Development, making a significant impact on healthcare workforce development. Maria shares Dwyer's threefold vision: empowering underserved populations, enhancing seniors' lives, and addressing the healthcare staffing crisis. Dwyer not only trains individuals as Certified Nursing Assistants but also provides wrap-around support services for their entire journey, from certification to career advancement. Discover how Dwyer's successful model from Baltimore and Texas has expanded to Florida, with a focus on the state's unique demographic challenges. Maria emphasizes the flexibility of Dwyer's eligibility, targeting underserved communities without strict requirements. The episode delves into Dwyer's funding model, highlighting Jack Dwyer's visionary investment and strategic partnerships. Recorded live at the Florida Chamber's "Future of Florida Forum," from Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando near Florida's Disney World. Special thanks to the Florida Chamber for hosting this momentous event and providing a platform for innovative discussions.

Fasten your seatbelts as our host, Tom Kindred, engages in a profound conversation with Mr. Jamal Sowell, President of Business Solutions at Indelible Solutions. From deep-rooted sixth-generation Floridian ties to Marine Corps service, and from being the former Florida Secretary of Commerce to CEO of Enterprise Florida, Jamal brings a wealth of experience and insights to our discussion. Together, they delve into the challenges confronting Florida's businesses, the transformative impact of technology integration, the nuances of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, and the pivotal role played by Indelible Solutions in shaping the economic future of the state. This dynamic discussion covers a spectrum of topics, from broadband expansion to the evolving dynamics of work post-COVID. This podcast isn't just a listening experience; it's your front-row ticket to the epicenter of Florida's business revolution. Small Biz Florida is set to take you on a thrilling ride through the corridors of economic development, business solutions, and the incredible future that lies ahead for the Sunshine State. Recorded live at the Florida Chamber's "Future of Florida Forum," from Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando near Florida's Disney World. Special thanks to the Florida Chamber for hosting this momentous event and providing a platform for innovative discussions.

Join us for a special on-site episode at the 2023 Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum, where Tom Kindred engages in a captivating conversation with Sheri Cheney Jones, the distinguished CEO and Founder of SureImpact. In this exclusive interview, Sheri, armed with a background in industrial and organizational psychology, shares her fascinating journey from aiding individuals with mental illness to revolutionizing the way nonprofits utilize data for social good. Discover the impetus behind Sheri's entrepreneurial ventures, including Measurement Resources and SureImpact, as she unveils how these entities empower mission-driven organizations. Sheri sheds light on the pivotal role of data in steering social change, drawing from her extensive experience evaluating programs in juvenile courts and the state of Ohio. The dialogue delves into the essence of SureImpact, a cutting-edge Impact Management software designed to elevate case management and demonstrate the effectiveness of services. From the flexibility of user-defined metrics to the scalability of the cloud-based platform, Sheri articulates how SureImpact caters to diverse organizations nationwide. The discussion pivots to the nonprofit sector, exploring the common challenge of time constraints and the reluctance to embrace technology. Sheri provides insights into overcoming these barriers and highlights the significance of SureImpact in providing mission metrics for nonprofit boards of directors. By fostering transparency and demonstrating social return on investment, Sheri advocates for a paradigm shift in how nonprofits communicate their impact. Tom and Sheri also touch upon the evolving landscape of data tools, ranging from off-the-shelf CRM software to specialized solutions like SureImpact. Sheri demystifies the misconception that data is solely for financial metrics, underlining the importance of tailoring tools for mission-driven organizations. As the episode concludes, Sheri shares her motivation for attending the Future of Florida Forum and expresses her support for the Florida Chamber of Commerce's visionary 2030 blueprint. With an inspiring blend of expertise and passion, Sheri Cheney Jones leaves listeners with a deeper understanding of the transformative power of data in steering social impact and propelling organizations toward success. Tune in to Small Biz Florida for this enriching dialogue, where business meets social change, and explore the boundless potential of navigating the data-driven landscape! Recorded live at the Florida Chamber's "Future of Florida Forum," from Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando near Florida's Disney World. Special thanks to the Florida Chamber for hosting this momentous event and providing a platform for innovative discussions.

Dive into the dynamic world of education and workforce development in this special episode of Small Biz Florida, recorded live at the 2023 Florida Chamber Foundation's Annual Future of Florida Forum. Join Tom Kindred as he engages in a revelatory conversation with the inspiring Lorri Benjamin, Director of Adult and Community Education for Brevard Public Schools. Setting the stage for the conversation, Tom captures the essence of the Future of Florida Forum—a combination of business, education, and government leaders focused on steering Florida towards growth in 2030. Lorri, a seasoned educator, takes center stage, sharing insights from her remarkable journey in Brevard Public Schools. As the dialogue unfolds, Lorri reveals the groundbreaking Adult and Community Education program, challenging norms by integrating adult education into the K-12 public school system. Tom navigates the intricacies, unraveling the seamless pathway from high school to career certification that defines this innovative program. The episode provides a front-row seat to Lorri's passionate advocacy for equity in education and alternative pathways to success. Tom delves into program specifics, extracting insights into affordability, eligibility criteria, and the pivotal role of wraparound services, emphasizing how the team tailors programs to community needs. Recorded live at the Florida Chamber's "Future of Florida Forum," from Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando near Florida's Disney World. Special thanks to the Florida Chamber for hosting this momentous event and providing a platform for innovative discussions.

Today, we're at the forefront of innovation at the Florida Chamber's "Future of Florida Forum" in Orlando, exploring groundbreaking solutions. Joining us is Jim Marggraff, the CEO and Founder of Kibeam Learning. Jim takes us on a captivating journey through his entrepreneurial career, starting with the creation of LeapFrog's iconic LeapPad. Fast forward to today, and Jim introduces us to Kibeam, a revolutionary tool designed to make learning to read fun and accessible for kids aged 2 to 8. With a live demonstration, Jim showcases the Kibeam wand—a compact device that transforms any existing paper book into an interactive learning experience. This innovative approach to literacy aims to tackle the alarming statistics of kids below grade level in reading, emphasizing accessibility and engagement. In a special announcement, Jim reveals Kibeam's collaboration with the University of Florida's Lastinger Center for Learning, bringing this technology to families in Florida. The initiative includes a program offering free books to children, with the first 10,000 families receiving a complimentary Kibeam wand. Join us on this episode of Small Biz Florida for a front-row seat to the Future of Florida Forum and the unveiling of Kibeam Learning.  Recorded live at the Florida Chamber's "Future of Florida Forum," from Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando near Florida's Disney World. Special thanks to the Florida Chamber for hosting this momentous event and providing a platform for innovative discussions.

Join us for a thrilling episode of Small Biz Florida, recorded live at the 2023 Florida Chamber Annual Future of Florida Forum in Orlando. Host Tom Kindred sits down with Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, for an insightful exploration of Florida's economic future. In this dynamic conversation, Tom and Mark dissect key themes from the forum, revealing the secrets behind Florida's economic success. From impressive startup stats to strategic initiatives, Mark provides a behind-the-scenes look at the Florida Chamber's role in securing the state's future. Discover the story behind FloridaScorecard.org and FloridaGapmap.org, powerful tools empowering small businesses. Mark's expertise and Tom's engaging questions make this episode a must-listen for those intrigued by the economic journey of the Sunshine State. Tune in for a quick yet enlightening dive into the "Race to 2030," where Mark shares the strategic blueprint and highlights critical issues shaping Florida's trajectory. Whether you're an entrepreneur or just curious about Florida's economic landscape, this episode promises an insider's perspective on the Sunshine State's exciting race to 2030. Recorded live at the Florida Chamber's "Future of Florida Forum," from Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando near Florida's Disney World. Special thanks to the Florida Chamber for hosting this momentous event and providing a platform for innovative discussions.

Thomas L. Oyler, founder and senior partner of Oyler Consulting Services, LLC, is a successful entrepreneur, real estate developer, franchise executive, business development specialist, and service contractor. These credentials are among the many qualifying him as a business innovator and thinker. Today, Mr. Oyler is actively involved in a number of highly successful organizations he either founded or co-founded. Present business involvements: Oyler Consulting Services specializes in business assessment strategies and solutions for sustained growth and profitability. Energy One America, a South Carolina-based spray foam insulation, mold prevention, cool roof systems, and crawl space system installer that ranks as the largest privately owned and operated in the South East/ Mid West United States, America Protective Coating Group, advanced coatings manufacturing company Treasure Coast Marina & The Old Fish House, a full-service old Florida marina, bar and restaurant on the east coast of Florida Oyler Development, develops retail, industrial, and flexible-use properties in Florida Treasure Coast Getaways, owns and operates unique vacation and long-term waterfront rental properties on Central Florida's East Coast The Draft Academy ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE + REHABILITATION, specializing in enhancing the physical and mental performance of competitive, high-level athletes Early in his career, Tom realized a passion for service industries and founded and presided over Oyler Bros. Company, a Florida-based service and specialty construction company providing landscape construction and maintenance, interior and exterior pest management, and recreational & sports facility construction & maintenance. Past accomplishments: Founded Sunshine States Cypress, sold to St. Joe Company, Florida's largest specialty lumber manufacturer focusing on Cypress Lumber production. Founded and sold (Rentokil Corporation) – United Hospitality Group specializing in interior pest management to the hospitality trade. Founded and sold Oyler Bros. Company and two other organizations to Valley Crest Landscapes (Bright View), including the industry's first landscape maintenance Franchise Company, U.S. Lawns. Three-time International Franchisee of the Year Award Nominee 1987 Business Excellence Award Winner – Orlando, Florida Chamber of Commerce From the early days of founding Oyler Bros. Company, a recognized leader in the Southeast U.S. market, to the inception of first franchise maintenance company, which grew to encompass a franchise network reaching from coast-to-coast, and finally today as a respected business owner and mentor, Oyler's blend of vision, entrepreneurial experience and ability to forecast and communicate market demand gives him a unique perspective to understand the issues facing today's business owners and the challenges of operating and growing a successful business.  His passion for building value innovative companies created the exceptional framework of coherent principles and practical concepts that are the foundation of his blueprint for best business practices. Tom's journey is not just a testament to his business acumen but also reflects his deep commitment to community and philanthropy, symbolizing the synergy of success and benevolence.

Metropolitan Ministries' latest effort can be summed up in two words: Come Together. MetMin's NeighborHope Project focuses on zip codes disproportionately suffering from childhood poverty. The Florida Chamber's Prosperity Project identified the zip codes and MetMin has identified ways to help, including collaborating with United Way Suncoast and other organizations. Listen up as the nonprofit's JaLem Robinson and Caleb Bates detail the collaborative work happening in Pinellas County.

President & CEO Mark Wilson of the Florida Chamber of Commerce joined VERONICA LIVE to discuss his work securing Florida's future. He discussed the Florida 2030 Blueprint Plan as Florida prepares to be the 3rd most populous state in the Union. Mark also talked about tourism, lawsuit abuse and so much more. Hear what this Florida leader is doing on behalf of Floridians.

President & CEO Mark Wilson of the Florida Chamber of Commerce joined VERONICA LIVE to discuss his work securing Florida's future. He discussed the Florida 2030 Blueprint Plan as Florida prepares to be the 3rd most populous state in the Union. Mark also talked about tourism, lawsuit abuse and so much more. Hear what this Florida leader is doing on behalf of Floridians. Former Florida Supreme Court Justice Alan Lawson joined VERONICA LIVE to discuss his path to becoming a Supreme Court Justice. He recently retired and has joined the new law firm Lawson Huck Gonzales. This week Justice Lawson now on the other side of the bench, won his first case in 22 years on behalf of the Department of Education fighting to keep pornography out of the classroom. Check out what this Florida legal eagle had to say. Asheesh Agarwal of the American Edge Project joined VERONICA LIVE to discuss the important work this nonprofit is working to ensure America wins the tech race against China. Asheesh discussed how we can safeguard America's technological edge, Artificial Intelligence, how China is setting up shop in Cuba and why the internet needs to remain free. Super interesting interview. Gary Handler, owner of the Curate 30A Gallery in Rosemary Beach on 30A and artist Simon Kenevan joined VERONICA LIVE in studio to discuss everything art. Gary shared how he got into the art business, how he chooses artists for his three galleries and the relationships he forms with his clients. Simon who is from the United Kingdom, shared his path from designing greeting cards to becoming an artist of some of the most beautiful seascapes you will ever see. Simon is also multitalented and is a professional harmonica player. He gave us a lovely impromptu performance. Curate 30A Gallery is hosting “Walking on Sunshine” a summer series featuring several artists painting original paintings live in the gallery. Such a fun interview with art lovers. Special thanks to my Co-Host Attorney Jason Gonzalez.

On tonight's program: Under fire from Florida's governor, a North Florida school superintendent is getting support from lots of folks in his district; Conscientious objection to certain treatments or care by health professionals is now enshrined in Florida law; A new military unit under the control of the Florida governor is raising some eyebrows as well as concerns. Although supporters say it's needed; The head of the Florida Chamber of Commerce isn't worried about any possible chilling effect on business recruitment because of the governor's fight with a corporation called Disney. Even when help is available to make housing more affordable, it seems some folks have trouble using it; A famous Florida coastal community struggles to protect itself from the next devastating hurricane; And a longtime assumption that opinions about climate change are political may be changing.

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.

Program Notes Being a woman of European decent, I always look forward to and value the opportunity to speak with women who are leaders in DE&I for the chance to discover more of my own unconscious bias that was trained from birth. The privilege of having Dr. Sacha Joseph-Mathews as a guest was a powerful experience in this direction. Her wisdom about how common it is to overlook the oppressions of those around us served to heighted my own awareness of oppressive nuances I might have previously overlooked. Combining this with her clear reminder to be mindful of the oppressions that are not external, but rather radiate from within is a call to each of us to listen internally with as much attention as we pay to the outer environment. I am still contemplating her invitation to learn what being our authentic self is, and to notice how some relationships are not healthy for maintaining authenticity. I invite you to tune in to discover how the powerful illuminations of this powerful and generous woman can enhance your own life and perceptions.   BIO: Dr. Sacha Joseph-Mathews is the Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and a Marketing Professor in the Eberhardt School of Business at the University of the Pacific. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications from the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, a Masters of Science degree in Tourism and Hospitality Management, and a PhD in Business Administration with a specialization in marketing. She obtained both her Masters and PhD degrees from Florida State University. Professor Joseph-Mathews has been working and teaching in undergraduate, graduate and executive education for over 10 years. Dr. Joseph-Mathews has taught classes in the United States, the Caribbean Asia and Africa in international marketing, international business, marketing management, services marketing, advertising and promotions, hospitality and services management, entrepreneurial marketing, customer service, diversity management and event planning. She has presented and published articles in tourism, marketing, advertising, ethical consumption, diversity and inclusion, green consumerism, supply chain management and international trade. As a professor Dr. Mathews has been actively involved in community outreach which has led her to work with social entrepreneurs across the world teaching them marketing fundamentals. She is particularly passionate about working with female social entrepreneurs. In addition to being an academic, Professor Joseph-Mathews has worked as a researcher and DEI consultant for many non-profit and for-profit organizations, across the globe. These organizations including the State of Florida, Ashoka Arab World, FLIP Uganda, Unreasonable Institute, The Lodi Police Department, San Joaquin Sheriffs, Unreasonable East Africa, Bay Area Rapid Transit, Metro LA, Access Transit, Lodi Unified School District, Arthur Lok Jack School of Graduate Studies, the University of the West Indies and the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Her work as a DEI consultant has led her to do DEI strategic planning with boards, train senior managers and C suite executives and facilitate listening tours and unconscious bias workshops with large and small organizations alike. Prof. Mathews is an avid traveller and has visited almost 50 countries. She and her husband Noren live in Elk Grove with their two girls; Naeomi and Lailoni.     Links Website: https://business.pacific.edu/campus-directory/sacha-joseph-mathews Preferred contact information: sjoseph@pacific.edu LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sacha-joseph-mathews-phd-b6b420b/  

Moffitt is dedicated to one lifesaving mission: to contribute to the prevention and cure of cancer. The Tampa-based facility is one of only 53 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt's scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education. Moffitt's expert nursing staff is recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center with Magnet® status, its highest distinction. With more than 7,800 team members, Moffitt has an economic impact in the state of $2.4 billion.    Ellen Navarro Anderson, a proud Chilean American, has dedicated her career to health care advocacy, starting her legislative path as a health policy aide in the Florida House of Representatives and then the Florida Senate. She has served as Vice President of State Advocacy for the FHA (2012-15), spearheading hospital payment policy and lobbying to move from volume-based to value-based payment methodologies. In 2015, she was recruited to create and implement a government relations program for Community Health Systems' Florida hospitals and held the position of Director of Government Relations for the FL Division for five years. Currently, she serves as the Director of State Legislative Affairs for Moffitt Cancer Center.    Listen to this episode to learn more about the importance of continuity of care, the growth and future of the medical industry in Florida, and the Pasco County Moffitt Expansion that is in progress.    – Check out the Department of Economic Opportunity:   For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year's annual Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. – To learn more about The Florida Chamber, visit their website here.

Bill "Roto" Reuter is a former Navy Captain, pilot, test pilot, and Commanding Officer. Upon his retirement in June 2012 after 28 years of Naval service, Roto founded RotoSpeaks, a full-spectrum consulting firm specializing in leadership, executive coaching, high-performing team development, and overall organizational health.    Leveraging his partnerships with world-renowned authors and speakers such as John Maxwell and Patrick Lencioni, Roto and his team have worked with organizations in the fields of leadership, execution, and organizational health serving clients in both small and large businesses in defense, federal and commercial sectors.    Learn more about Roto's story, his journey to finding RotoSpeaks, and his involvement at this year's Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum in Orlando.  – Check out RotoSpeaks: https://rotospeaks.com/  For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year's annual Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. – To learn more about The Florida Chamber, visit their website here.

Over the past couple of years, Ruben has worked with academics, organizers, politicians, and union leaders at Hustle, Honor, and AltSchool focused on improving their personalized outreach, healthcare, and education.  Ruben began his technology career working in Partnerships and Sales after writing a viral blog post called Breaking Into Startups about how he moved to San Francisco without a job and landed a position 3 weeks later.  After receiving thousands of e-mails asking how to break into tech, Ruben Co-Founded the Breaking Into Startups Podcast to demystify the process, resulting in a social media reach of ~3 million people, 200,000+ downloads, 10,000+ website visits per month, over 100+ reviews on iTunes, a Facebook Community of 10,000+ people, and invitations to be a Contributor for TechCrunch and Black Enterprise.  Prior to working in tech, Ruben worked as an Investment Banker focused on Food, Consumer, and Retail companies in Chicago and Atlanta. As a member of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, he recruited others to focus on issues related to food security, climate change, and agriculture. In 2010, Ruben worked on operational improvements for Senior Living Communities after completing a double major in Business Administration and Music.  During college, Ruben organized 50+ events for non-profits, athletes, and celebrities including Tyrese, Kim Kardashian, and Jay-Z. Ruben has been playing the cello for ~25 years, taught music, performed in venues all over the world - including Carnegie Hall, and landed placements from Def Jam. He is also an active member of the NAACP. Learn more about how Ruben got Career Karma started, his incredible story, and his panel at this year's Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum.  – Check out Career Karma: https://careerkarma.com/  For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year's annual Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. – To learn more about The Florida Chamber, visit their website here.

Step Up for Students is a state-approved non-profit scholarship-funding organization. Scholarships administered by Step Up For Students support Florida families by allowing them to personalize their children's K-12 education experience.    Alexis Laroe is the Assistant Director of Legislative Affairs at Step Up. She joins host, Tom Kindred on another special segment of Small Biz Florida to discuss this important program. Alexis explains basic eligibility for the 4 different programs that exist. Listen to this episode to learn more about eligibility requirements to get access to these benefits.  – Check out Step Up:https://www.stepupforstudents.org/    For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year's annual Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. – To learn more about The Florida Chamber, visit their website here.

Film Florida is a statewide not-for-profit entertainment production trade association run by volunteer members of the industry. The organization provides a leadership role in Florida's film, television, production & digital media/tech industry by representing a coalition of interests, including private industry, local film commissions, industry associations, educational institutions, students, and labor organizations. Its purpose is to offer businesses and individuals the benefits of a statewide trade association to promote the creation of jobs in the film and entertainment production industries and to promote economic development and tourism.    The vast majority of Florida's film, television, and digital media production industry is individuals and small businesses. The industry is a multi-billion dollar industry for Florida and touches many other industries with jobs and spending.    Learn more about Film Florida's role in the Florida Small Business industry and see how you can get involved with this organization.    – Check out Film Florida: https://filmflorida.org/ For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year's annual Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. – To learn more about The Florida Chamber, visit their website here.

FloridaMakes is a service designed to strengthen Florida's high-wage manufacturing sector. We understand the unique needs facing manufacturing firms. Companies can access a wealth of assets to support their business through the network of Regional Manufacturer's Associations – from plant tours, networking, and educational events, to regional manufacturing awards and manufacturing advocacy efforts. Zoraida Velasco who serves as Executive Vice President sits down with host, Tom Kindred to talk about upcoming plans and news about the aftermath of the recent FloridaMakes MakeMore Summit that happened in October.  Learn more about this organization and Zoraida's pathway to working closely to support manufacturing throughout Florida.  – Check out FloridaMakes: https://www.floridamakes.com/home   For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year's annual Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. – To learn more about The Florida Chamber, visit their website here.

John Koufos helps companies optimize second-chance hiring and mitigate risk. He started his career in New Jersey before moving to Washington, D.C., to work on national second-chance hiring, healthcare, and criminal justice issues. He works extensively in Florida. John's work has helped thousands of people with criminal records secure jobs. He is a nationally recognized criminal justice advocate with deep experience building and leading criminal justice organizations and campaigns. He has worked with multiple Presidential Administrations, dozens of Governors and Cabinet members, and countless businesses and nonprofits. John wrote and hosted an upcoming Second Chance Hiring and Retention documentary/training that will be released in late 2022 called Retaining Talent. Retaining Talent was filmed all across Florida and Washington, D.C., with businesses that hire people with criminal records, government officials, law enforcement, corporate and banking leaders, and at Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Learn more about Cottage Four and Owner John Koufos as he discusses his views on second-chance hiring and the importance of tapping into this workforce. – Check out Cottage Four: https://cottagefour.com/  For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year's annual Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. – To learn more about The Florida Chamber, visit their website here.

Dr. Timothy Moore isn't your stereotypical college president who rose through the ranks of academia. Instead, Indian River State College's new president spent the first seven years of his career on active duty in the Army. He later worked as a research scientist in the public and private sectors before joining institutions such as Auburn University, Kansas State, and Florida A&M. Today's episode features, Tom Kindred leading a discussion with Indian River State College President Dr. Timothy Moore. Their conversation centers around, IRSC serving as Presenting Sponsor at the Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum for the first time, the successful launch of the Promise Program at IRSC, and the benefits of partnering with IRSC for the business community.  – Check out Indian River State College: https://irsc.edu/    For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year's annual Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. – To learn more about The Florida Chamber, visit their website here.

Michael DiNapoli is the Director of Small and Minority Business Capital for the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), where he oversees key business lending programs, venture capital, and small and minority business programs. In this special recording from this year's Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum, Tom Kindred sits down with Michael DiNapoli to discuss the State Small Business Credit Initiative. They discuss how it works, what is the process going to look like, and other information that you need to know if you want to take advantage of this program.  – Check out the Department of Economic Opportunity: https://www.floridajobs.org/   For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year's annual Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. – To learn more about The Florida Chamber, visit their website here.

Paul Sohl is CEO of the Florida High Tech Corridor, an economic development initiative of the University of Central Florida, the University of South Florida, and the University of Florida, to attract, retain and grow high tech industry and innovation – and the workforce to support it – in a 23-county region. As CEO, he facilitates collaboration between the universities and their partners in economic development and oversees The Corridor Council's portfolio of programs, including its Matching Grants Research Program, K-12 educational resource, stemCONNECT, and most recently Cenfluence, a clustering initiative in partnership with Orange County Government. Sohl holds a bachelor's degree in aeronautical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a master's degree in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Stanford University. Additionally, he is a graduate and former Commanding Officer of the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School, Patuxent River, Maryland.    The Florida High Tech Corridor is more than an initiative or facilitator; it's a force multiplier. The 23-county region that spans Central Florida and defines The Corridor is anchored by three of the country's largest research institutions: the University of Central Florida (UCF), the University of South Florida (USF), and the University of Florida (UF). Powered by an ethos of collaboration, we align opportunities and resources in academia, industry, and economic development to unleash our region's exponential potential.    Learn more about Paul Sohl and the Florida High Tech Corridor on this special recording from the Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum.  – Check out the Florida High Tech Corridor: https://floridahightech.com/   For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year's annual Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. – To learn more about The Florida Chamber, visit their website here.

TJ Villamil is the Sr. Vice President of the International Trade and Development unit at Enterprise Florida, Inc. The International Trade and Development (ITD) unit is headquartered in Miami and maintains offices/representation in six Florida cities as well as twenty cities around the world. EFI's ITD division is widely considered one of the best statewide international economic development organizations in the United States. EFI's ITD program focuses on 1) assisting Florida companies (most of which are manufacturers) in export sales and export promotion, 2) recruiting international companies to invest and grow in Florida (Foreign Direct Investment), and 3) supporting the Executive Office of the Governor of Florida on international business mission trips. TJ is a proud double graduate from the University of Florida with an undergraduate degree in communications and a master's degree in Entrepreneurship from the business school. Tune in to this episode from the Future of Florida Forum to hear all about the importance of Florida when it comes to international trade, everything you need to know about the STEP program, and an overview of services that you can access through the international trade office at Enterprise Florida.  – Check out Enterprise Florida:  https://www.enterpriseflorida.com/  For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year's annual Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. – To learn more about The Florida Chamber, visit their website here.

Advancing health has always been at the center of Florida Blue. From the critical coverage that delivers peace of mind to the full breadth of health solutions that care for every aspect of your well-being, rest assured that Florida Blue is always looking out for you, your family and your community as we have done for more than 75 years.  Listen to this episode all about the outlook of healthcare and Florida Blue's work over the past few years to make healthcare more affordable for Small Business. This episode features Vice President of Local Commercial Markets Nick Tant. Nick Tant has over 24 years of leadership experience and has continuously grown in his roles and responsibility during his last 16 years with Florida Blue. He previously worked in the cellular wireless retail industry. Nick graduated from the University of North Carolina Wilmington with a bachelor of science in Finance and later attended the Columbia Business School.   – Check out Florida Blue: https://www.floridablue.com/    For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year's annual Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at the Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. – To learn more about The Florida Chamber, visit their website here.

The primary purpose of Small Biz Florida is to highlight and create awareness for all of Florida's small business assistance and resource programs. One of the most effective ways to learn about, gather and share information on these resources is to attend and work at Florida's top small business and economic development conferences. One of these important business events was the recent Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at the Disney's Coronado Springs Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Small Biz Florida was on the scene during the conference, recording and producing segments.  We would like to thank The Florida Chamber Team and Event Organizers for allowing the podcast to be part of the recent conference. The next 11 segments of Small Biz Florida were all produced and recorded at the conference-hopefully the segments will provide our listeners with valuable and beneficial information. Please like, rate, and share our show to continue supporting the podcast with your networks, family, and friends. To stay connected and up to date on our latest releases, follow our Instagram @SmallBizFlorida! We are so thankful for the growing and overwhelming support of our listeners. We hope our work is inspiring and helping all business owners in Florida and Nationwide!

Florida's story is just beginning and the Florida Chamber's leadership is just getting started. While agriculture, tourism, and construction continue to serve as the foundation of Florida's economy, our increasingly global economy is setting the stage for a more diversified economy through life sciences and biotech, energy, international trade, advanced manufacturing, and space technologies.  By 2030, Florida is expected to be home to more than four million new residents. Nearly five million new drivers will commute on our roads and cars will drive themselves. More than 150,000 million visitors will travel our roads and many on high-speed trains. And Florida will need to create and fill nearly two million new jobs.    Together Tom and Ivette Faulkner who serves as Executive Vice President of Strategic Communication and Marketing for the Florida Chamber, address what Florida in 2030 will look like. Listen to this episode to learn more about the Future of Work, Manufacturing Matters, and the intersection of education and business to create a stronger future workforce for Florida.       – Check out the Florida Chamber: https://www.flchamber.com/    For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year's annual FloridaMakes MakeMore Summit hosted at the GuideWell Innovation Center Orlando, Florida. – To learn more about FloridaMakes, visit their website here.

At United Way Suncoast, we root our work in research. We dive into data points to determine best practices, and we dig up numbers to support our advocacy; but don't mistake our mathematical machinations for a lack of passion.On this episode of the Freedom to Rise Podcast, Bronwyn invites Kyle Baltuch to discuss the Florida Chamber Foundation's Florida Equality of Opportunity Initiative.  The initiative includes three components - the Prosperity Project, the Business Alliance for Early Learning, and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Project. All of which are critical components to the 2030 Blueprint and ensuring Florida is the 10th largest economy in the world by 2030. Kyle also discusses how he ended up in economic opportunity and what inspires the Foundation to be so ambitious in its approach. 

Media Roundtable; new Florida Chamber Music Project; JME DJ Sessions

Andy and Jessica welcome you to another episode of The Deal Board Podcast. This time, they are discussing a very current question: Are we in a recession? They agree that regardless of whether it is a recession or the U.S. is transiting, the critical matter today is that macroeconomics has a considerable impact on the business sale market, due to its influence over the valuations. Listen to this episode and hear everything you need to know about the macroeconomic indicators affecting businesses' realities today. Listings of the week:Bill Roland (Saint Louis West) is selling a furniture store listed for $1.1 million, with over $750,000 in nets. This store has no competition within a 70-mile radius. Call Bill at (636) 345-3426 or email him at broland@tworld.com.Doug Milana (Philadelphia) is selling a pet boarding care, that boards 50 to 60 dogs a day and is open 7 days a week. The business has an in-ground pool. Listed at $700,000. SDE: $300,000. Email dmilana@tworld.com or call (484) 832-7539. Key takeaways:[3:30] There hasn't been a downturn in business sales; Andy and Jessica explain why.[4:23] There is still a lot of money in the marketplace.[5:19] Banks drive a big portion of the lending environment for business acquisitions.[5:40] Jessica talks about the effect of interest rates rising.[8:31] What is promoting valuation increases?[12:14] How is inflation affecting small businesses?[14:55] Andy and Jessica talk about the Seller Tsunami.[17:55] Right now is a great time to sell.[19:31] Listing of the week: Bill Roland (Saint Louis West) is selling a furniture store listed for $1.1 million, with over $750,000 in nets. This store has no competition within a 70-mile radius.[21:08] Dr. Ben Tabatabaei, chief economist of the Florida Chamber, joins the conversation about the impact of macroeconomics on the U.S. economy.[21:53] Dr. Ben answers the question: Are we in a recession?[23:23] Dr. Ben doesn't think this will be a prolonged recession.[24:15] Dr. Ben talks about how different states' economies reflect their decisions regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.[26:49] Dr. Ben shares the difference between the current recession and the one in 2009.[32:02] What lead the economy to the current situation?[33:20] Dr. Ben explains how the economy will recover with the measures that are being taken now.[37:18] Dr. Ben, as chief economist of the Florida Chamber, explains what Florida is doing regarding the current economy.[41:31] Supply chain issues are getting better.[42:53] Dr. Ben talks about one of the challenges in the energy sector.[45:11] Deal of the week: Joshua Sagman (West Palm) sold a business called “Body Human Exhibit,” an exhibit where mummified bodies are used to show their different characteristics. This business was listed for two years and was finally bought by an entrepreneur who is building a dinosaur park in Florida and decided to complement his business with the Body Human Exhibit.[47:14] Lynn Ozer, President of MultiFunding, talks about SBA lending right now.[55:10] Lynn speaks of small businesses that are facing changing variations of their collateral.[59:00] Listing of the week: Doug Milana (Philadelphia) is selling a pet boarding care, that boards 50 to 60 dogs a day and is open 7 days a week. The business has an in-ground pool. Listed at $700,000. SDE: $300,000. Mentioned in this Episode:The Deal Board PodcastSubscribe to The Deal Board Podcast YouTube ChannelUnited Franchise GroupTransworld Business AdvisorsTransworld on LinkedinTransworld on FacebookCall us — 1-888-719-9098Email us thedealboard@tworld.com Florida ChamberFollow The Florida Chamber on TwitterCall Bill Roland at (636) 345-3426 or email him at broland@tworld.comEmail Joshua Sagman at joshuasagman@tworld.com or call (561) 340-3048Email Doug Milana at dmilana@tworld.com or call (484) 832-7539

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.

Mark Wilson From The Florida Chamber Of Commerce discusses the Trade & Logistics 2030 study.

SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway is joined by Florida Trend 500 Most Influential Leader and 2019-2021 Chair of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Charles “Charley” Caulkins. They discuss his childhood, his transition to Florida, his work as a nationally-recognized labor and employment lawyer, and the Sunshine State's business boom amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist says Florida's New Surgeon General needs to go. Also on today's Sunrise: — What about Joe Ladapo's sterling credentials? Other doctors weigh in. — Senate President Wilton Simpson outlines what is to come at the Florida Chamber's Future of Florida Forum. — After 70 years, the families of the Black men known as the Groveland Four could see their wrongful rape convictions dropped. — Today's Sunrise Interview is with Gilbert King, author of “Devil in the Grove,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning account of the Groveland Four story. He talks about racial injustice in America — and Groveland.

On this episode of Small Biz Florida, Tom interviews Kevin Carr the CEO at Florida Makes, a statewide, industry-led public-private partnership with the sole mission of strengthening and advancing Florida's economy by improving the productivity and technological performance of its manufacturing sector, with an emphasis on small-and medium-sized firms. It accomplishes this by providing services focused on three principle value streams: technology adoption, talent development, and business growth. MakeMore is a leadership-focused initiative  originally developed by FloridaMakes in partnership with Associated Industries of Florida, CareerSource Florida, Inc., Enterprise Florida, and the Florida Chamber of Commerce with the collective goal of elevating the state's manufacturing industry and demonstrating its impact on the economy. These organizations recognized the importance of diversifying our economy and prioritizing the growth of an industry that provides high-wage, high-value jobs which can ultimately improve Florida's quality of life.

Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce *Follow the group on Twitter: @FlChamber. Are Fla businesses making a comeback?

Ryan talks to Florida Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mark Wilson about how businesses across the state are doing in this latest phase of the pandemic, as more and more Floridians are resuming a normal life.

Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce *Follow the group on Twitter: @FlChamber. Businesses, especially in hospitality, are having a hard time hiring employees.

Animal Planet Considers Us for a Show If you haven't seen The Secret it is in the E Center and it is responsible for us being right on track with our 2006 Vision of having our own local series and a series on the Animal Planet show.   Locally, our pro bono CPA is on the board of the Community Network Television channels 19 and 22.  They are going to train Jamie in video production and then make her an Associate Producer for the station which gives her use of all of their equipment from cameras to editing and then she can air all of her work on their stations.  This is all being done for free.  AND…   Our pro-bono attorney Russ Alba just got the following email:  Subject: Television Series   Dear Mr. Alba,  Thanks for your time.  To reiterate...what we'd like to propose to Animal Planet (Discovery Communications Inc.) is a "fly on the wall" series with "Big Cat Rescue" as our venue.  This would entail some considerable shooting over a period of time, giving the audience (hopefully world-wide) a "through the keyhole" look at the sanctuary, the animals and the people who devote themselves to this truly noble cause.  The series would ultimately be personality driven, the drama, melodrama, comedic and triumphant moments being drawn from the staff, the volunteers...and of course, the animals.   While we have proposed the concept to Animal Planet, we have not been specific with venue and style.  The final proposal would be based on our having knowledge of what and with whom we're dealing.  If this is of interest to you, let's arrange to meet.  As I told you, we have a place on Sand Key...and I'm eager to get a bit of Florida summer in my veins.  (How's that for madness!!). Looking forward to hearing from you,  Best, Ron Lyon   For a bit more about us, I refer you to our web site, www.wizardsofweird.com or check IMDb.com.   Their credits include:   Lyon produced and directed some thirty 90-minute specials for ABC, including “Organized Crime in America”, “Manson”, “Hitler” “In Search of Howard Hughes” and “Assassinations: An American Nightmare” from which came numerous awards.   Included among his many television films are the highly rated “City in Fear”, starring David Jannsen and Mickey Rourke, “Love's Savage Fury”, starring Jennifer O'Neill, Raymond Burr and Perry King, “Sins of the Father” starring James Coburn as well as director Jan Kadar's award-winning film, “The Other Side of Hell” which starred Alan Arkin.   As President of Ray Stark's television company, “Rastar” a division of Columbia Pictures, Lyon acquired the vast collection of Robert Ripley's “Believe It or Not!” facts and oddities. In 1981 under the banner of Haley/Lyon/Rastar, Lyon created, produced and directed the Ripley's pilot which spawned the long-running series on ABC starring Jack Palance with Lyon based in Paris as Executive Producer.   Subsequent to “Believe It or Not” Lyon's special “Exploring Psychic Powers” hosted by Bill Bixby featuring James Randi and Uri Geller was a huge international success. After a stint at both Universal TV and Kings Road (as President, Kings Road Television) he and his partner Jenny Paschall launched the Nickelodeon series “Beyond Belief!!” which appeared in dozens of countries and was later the basis of a best selling book written by Paschall, published by Random House. Jenny Paschall went on to write 3 more “weird” trivia books: Hatches, Matches and Dispatches, Odd Laws and Brain in a Box.   Lyon and Paschall's Discovery series “Would You Believe It??” began as a one-hour special/pilot which received spectacular ratings on its June ‘95 premiere on the Discovery Channel. Produced by Lyon and Paschall, directed by Lyon, and written by Paschall this intrepid team's work continued to run on Discovery through 2004. It can be seen in over 60 countries world wide.   Based on the success of “Would You Believe It??”, Lyon and Paschall crafted “Simply Unbelievable” a series which debuted on the Travel Channel in 2001. In addition he and Paschall have created many specials for both Discovery and Travel including “Strangest Remains”, ‘Most Haunted in America” “The Best Places To Find UFOs” and “Most Haunted Journeys.”   Today, Lyon continues to produce and direct for cable and television networks worldwide. Paschall co-produces with Lyon, and writes the shows. She is also a regular feature writer for the English paper, The Express on Sunday, specializing in trivia and ghost articles, and she has a regular food column in a New Jersey newspaper. Showtime's Ace Award winner Christmas perennial “Daisies in December” is based on a short story by Paschall. Both Lyon and Paschall, as “experts” in the world of the bizarre and the paranormal, lecture throughout the United States as “The Wizards of Weird”. In addition both continue to conduct seminars on producing, directing and writing at both colleges and high schools. http://www.wizardsofweird.com/bios.php   The entire 2006 Vision:   2006: Exotic cats may no longer be sold or traded into canned hunts.   Action: Meet with legislators in our area, specifically Mike Bilirakis and Senator Bob Young (head of the appropriations committee) and gather the support of non animal groups, such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Big Cat Rescue will become better educated about the legislative process and teach classes on ethics and legislation. We will contact HSUS to find out how the best way to do this will be and to see what training they provide. Big Cat Rescue will train members in ways to gather the information needed to end the cruel trade in exotic cats by demonstrating that so small a percentage of the public approves canned hunts or is supported by canned hunts that the legislation really does represent the majority.   The Big Cat Picture will be narrated by a celebrity, widely distributed via sales, public and private showings and the website. We will edit the clips to load faster and play better or switch to streaming media for maximum effect.  Big cats will have protection under state laws in all states in that they may not be owned as pets.   Action: Big Cat Rescue will provide better state, county and city level resources to educate and enable our expanded supporter base to create laws that better protect the exotic cats. In part this will be on Big Cat Rescue's own Animal Planet program called Big Cat Rescue which will showcase big cat rescues by accredited sanctuaries. These weekly segments will include discussion of all of the issues that exotic cats face, expose the perpetrators and the effect that each person makes with their choices and will be a means by which to broadly spread the message that no exotic cat should be kept as a pet or in a cage. We will film anything and everything that could make for an interesting 30 minute television documentary. Big Cat Rescue will solicit video from other accredited sanctuaries for use in exposing the big cat issues. We will find someone in the film editing industry to help us turn these segments into something saleable to Animal Planet.   By suggesting permits, permit fees and substantial fines for non compliance we can insure that the laws have the funding needed to make them effective. Once game farms are no longer licensed to keep exotic cats the exotic cat pet owners who circumvent the pet laws by keeping exotic cats under the guise of a game farm will be unable to renew their permits. This decreases the number of buyers for their offspring significantly. The Sanctuary Standards and Exotic Cat Standards will be accepted as the guidelines for exotic animal care and used as a model for the new laws. Big Cat Rescue will introduce a federal bill to prevent the trade in all exotic cats across state lines as pets.   Big Cat Rescue will continue to encourage implementation of the federal bill The Captive Wildlife Safety Act signed Dec. 19, 2003 that makes it illegal to breed, buy, sell or donate a big cat as a pet across state lines. We will continue to research and work on making the breeding, buying and selling of exotic cats at a state level illegal. We will research ways to close the USDA permit loopholes that allow private pet owners to pay $40.00 to call themselves a commercial enterprise in order to circumvent the law.   Animal Planet Considers Us for a Show If you haven't seen The Secret it is in the E Center and it is responsible for us being right on track with our 2006 Vision of having our own local series and a series on the Animal Planet show.   Locally, our pro bono CPA is on the board of the Community Network Television channels 19 and 22.  They are going to train Jamie in video production and then make her an Associate Producer for the station which gives her use of all of their equipment from cameras to editing and then she can air all of her work on their stations.  This is all being done for free.  AND…   Our pro-bono attorney Russ Alba just got the following email:  Subject: Television Series   Dear Mr. Alba,  Thanks for your time.  To reiterate...what we'd like to propose to Animal Planet (Discovery Communications Inc.) is a "fly on the wall" series with "Big Cat Rescue" as our venue.  This would entail some considerable shooting over a period of time, giving the audience (hopefully world-wide) a "through the keyhole" look at the sanctuary, the animals and the people who devote themselves to this truly noble cause.  The series would ultimately be personality driven, the drama, melodrama, comedic and triumphant moments being drawn from the staff, the volunteers...and of course, the animals.   While we have proposed the concept to Animal Planet, we have not been specific with venue and style.  The final proposal would be based on our having knowledge of what and with whom we're dealing.  If this is of interest to you, let's arrange to meet.  As I told you, we have a place on Sand Key...and I'm eager to get a bit of Florida summer in my veins.  (How's that for madness!!). Looking forward to hearing from you,  Best, Ron Lyon   For a bit more about us, I refer you to our web site, www.wizardsofweird.com or check IMDb.com.   Their credits include:   Lyon produced and directed some thirty 90-minute specials for ABC, including “Organized Crime in America”, “Manson”, “Hitler” “In Search of Howard Hughes” and “Assassinations: An American Nightmare” from which came numerous awards.   Included among his many television films are the highly rated “City in Fear”, starring David Jannsen and Mickey Rourke, “Love's Savage Fury”, starring Jennifer O'Neill, Raymond Burr and Perry King, “Sins of the Father” starring James Coburn as well as director Jan Kadar's award-winning film, “The Other Side of Hell” which starred Alan Arkin.   As President of Ray Stark's television company, “Rastar” a division of Columbia Pictures, Lyon acquired the vast collection of Robert Ripley's “Believe It or Not!” facts and oddities. In 1981 under the banner of Haley/Lyon/Rastar, Lyon created, produced and directed the Ripley's pilot which spawned the long-running series on ABC starring Jack Palance with Lyon based in Paris as Executive Producer.   Subsequent to “Believe It or Not” Lyon's special “Exploring Psychic Powers” hosted by Bill Bixby featuring James Randi and Uri Geller was a huge international success. After a stint at both Universal TV and Kings Road (as President, Kings Road Television) he and his partner Jenny Paschall launched the Nickelodeon series “Beyond Belief!!” which appeared in dozens of countries and was later the basis of a best selling book written by Paschall, published by Random House. Jenny Paschall went on to write 3 more “weird” trivia books: Hatches, Matches and Dispatches, Odd Laws and Brain in a Box.   Lyon and Paschall's Discovery series “Would You Believe It??” began as a one-hour special/pilot which received spectacular ratings on its June ‘95 premiere on the Discovery Channel. Produced by Lyon and Paschall, directed by Lyon, and written by Paschall this intrepid team's work continued to run on Discovery through 2004. It can be seen in over 60 countries world wide.   Based on the success of “Would You Believe It??”, Lyon and Paschall crafted “Simply Unbelievable” a series which debuted on the Travel Channel in 2001. In addition he and Paschall have created many specials for both Discovery and Travel including “Strangest Remains”, ‘Most Haunted in America” “The Best Places To Find UFOs” and “Most Haunted Journeys.”   Today, Lyon continues to produce and direct for cable and television networks worldwide. Paschall co-produces with Lyon, and writes the shows. She is also a regular feature writer for the English paper, The Express on Sunday, specializing in trivia and ghost articles, and she has a regular food column in a New Jersey newspaper. Showtime's Ace Award winner Christmas perennial “Daisies in December” is based on a short story by Paschall. Both Lyon and Paschall, as “experts” in the world of the bizarre and the paranormal, lecture throughout the United States as “The Wizards of Weird”. In addition both continue to conduct seminars on producing, directing and writing at both colleges and high schools. http://www.wizardsofweird.com/bios.php   The entire 2006 Vision:   2006: Exotic cats may no longer be sold or traded into canned hunts.   Action: Meet with legislators in our area, specifically Mike Bilirakis and Senator Bob Young (head of the appropriations committee) and gather the support of non animal groups, such as the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Big Cat Rescue will become better educated about the legislative process and teach classes on ethics and legislation. We will contact HSUS to find out how the best way to do this will be and to see what training they provide. Big Cat Rescue will train members in ways to gather the information needed to end the cruel trade in exotic cats by demonstrating that so small a percentage of the public approves canned hunts or is supported by canned hunts that the legislation really does represent the majority.   The Big Cat Picture will be narrated by a celebrity, widely distributed via sales, public and private showings and the website. We will edit the clips to load faster and play better or switch to streaming media for maximum effect.  Big cats will have protection under state laws in all states in that they may not be owned as pets.   Action: Big Cat Rescue will provide better state, county and city level resources to educate and enable our expanded supporter base to create laws that better protect the exotic cats. In part this will be on Big Cat Rescue's own Animal Planet program called Big Cat Rescue which will showcase big cat rescues by accredited sanctuaries. These weekly segments will include discussion of all of the issues that exotic cats face, expose the perpetrators and the effect that each person makes with their choices and will be a means by which to broadly spread the message that no exotic cat should be kept as a pet or in a cage. We will film anything and everything that could make for an interesting 30 minute television documentary. Big Cat Rescue will solicit video from other accredited sanctuaries for use in exposing the big cat issues. We will find someone in the film editing industry to help us turn these segments into something saleable to Animal Planet.   By suggesting permits, permit fees and substantial fines for non compliance we can insure that the laws have the funding needed to make them effective. Once game farms are no longer licensed to keep exotic cats the exotic cat pet owners who circumvent the pet laws by keeping exotic cats under the guise of a game farm will be unable to renew their permits. This decreases the number of buyers for their offspring significantly. The Sanctuary Standards and Exotic Cat Standards will be accepted as the guidelines for exotic animal care and used as a model for the new laws. Big Cat Rescue will introduce a federal bill to prevent the trade in all exotic cats across state lines as pets.   Big Cat Rescue will continue to encourage implementation of the federal bill The Captive Wildlife Safety Act signed Dec. 19, 2003 that makes it illegal to breed, buy, sell or donate a big cat as a pet across state lines. We will continue to research and work on making the breeding, buying and selling of exotic cats at a state level illegal. We will research ways to close the USDA permit loopholes that allow private pet owners to pay $40.00 to call themselves a commercial enterprise in order to circumvent the law.

Dr. Jerry Parrish, Chief Economist and Director of Research, Florida Chamber Foundation joins Grayson Brulte on The Road To Autonomy Podcast to discuss the diverse and growing economy of Florida.The conversation begins with Dr. Parrish discussing the current state of the Florida economy and The Florida Scorecard. Expanding upon the conversation about the economy, Dr. Parrish talks about The Florida 2030 Blueprint and what the Florida Chamber is doing to prepare for the continued growth of the Florida population.Before COVID, Florida since 2015 was creating 1 out of every 11 jobs in this county. – Dr. Jerry ParrishToday 800 net new individuals a day are moving to Florida.Because of COVID, you will see more and more people move to Florida. – Dr. Jerry ParrishIndividuals are moving to Florida for the quality of life, job opportunities, and the #1 Higher Education System in the United States.The State also has a vast hospitality and tourism industry that employs hundreds of thousands of individuals in the State.Our tourism industry has been the trainer of people for all industries in the State of Florida and has been for a long time. – Dr. Jerry ParrishIndividuals working in these jobs understand people skills and how to deal with conflicts without escalating the situation. This is an incredible skill that is tremendously valuable for any industry. Dr. Parrish goes onto discuss why these skills are so important.The Space Coast is back and operating at full capacity once again with the average manufacturing job in Brevard County paying $90,000 a year.Over the past few years, Florida has been growing manufacturing jobs at 3 times the U.S. rate. – Dr. Jerry ParrishFlorida also has a thriving agricultural business with over 47,000 commercial farms and ranches using over 9.45 million acres in the States to farm and raise livestock.Palm Beach County is the #1 agricultural county in the State of Florida. – Dr. Jerry ParrishThe agricultural industry in Florida employs over a million individuals and contributes more than $131 billion to the state's economy each year.With an influx of tech companies relocating to Florida and creating new high-paying jobs, Grayson asks Dr. Parrish what new businesses might be founded in Florida over the next 10 years.Florida has a booming autonomous vehicle industry with Argo AI operating and expanding in Miami-Dade County. With the signing of HB 311 by Governor DeSantis, Florida became the most AV-friendly State in the country. With great weather, an incredible talent pool and some of the best universities in the world, the future of the autonomous vehicle industry is being developed in Florida.With the Florida 2030 Blueprint, we are setting the stage for by 2030, we can have an economy that nobody will want to leave. There won't be any reason why somebody wouldn't want to come to Florida to do business.Florida will be a business-friendly State. We will have the technology that we need. We will have the talent that we need. Talent is the key to economic development. – Dr. Jerry ParrishWrapping up the conversation, Grayson and Dr. Parrish discuss Mayor Suarez‘s savvy use of Twitter to recruit tech companies to Miami and what Florida's economy will look like in the future.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Dr. Jerry Parrish is Chief Economist and Director of Research for the Florida Chamber of Commerce Foundation *Follow him on Twitter: @DrJerryParrish, on why Florida's unemployment rate continues to decline, even though it went up for some reason in South Florida.

1. Paypal Unlikely to Buy Bitcoin: CNBC2. First Gold-Denominated Bond in 87 Years3. KPMG Chair Resigns Over Meeting Comments4. Childcare Cost to Rise with $15 Min Wage, Says Study5. Florida Chamber: We're Doing Things Right

1. Paypal Unlikely to Buy Bitcoin: CNBC2. First Gold-Denominated Bond in 87 Years3. KPMG Chair Resigns Over Meeting Comments4. Childcare Cost to Rise with $15 Min Wage, Says Study5. Florida Chamber: We're Doing Things Right

Doug Wheeler serves as the President and CEO of the Florida Ports Council (FPC), a nonprofit corporation that serves as the professional association for Florida’s 15 public deepwater seaports and their management. The FPC provides leadership, advocacy and information on seaport-related issues before the Legislative and Executive Branches of State and Federal Government. Wheeler has more than 20 years of governmental affairs and association leadership at both the state and federal levels where he previously held positions with the Associated Builders and Contractors, and more recently, the Florida Chamber of Commerce where he served as Vice President of Grassroots Advocacy and Political Action Development. Under Wheeler’s leadership and management of Florida’s largest federation of businesses, associations, and local chambers of commerce – encompassing more than 139,000 grassroots members – the Chamber worked aggressively and effectively to represent the interests of business in Florida Florida Ports Council |  Office  850.222.8028  |   502 East Jefferson Street  | Tallahassee, FL 32301 www.flaports.org

Doug Wheeler serves as the President and CEO of the Florida Ports Council (FPC), a nonprofit corporation that serves as the professional association for Florida’s 15 public deepwater seaports and their management. The FPC provides leadership, advocacy and information on seaport-related issues before the Legislative and Executive Branches of State and Federal Government. Wheeler has more than 20 years of governmental affairs and association leadership at both the state and federal levels where he previously held positions with the Associated Builders and Contractors, and more recently, the Florida Chamber of Commerce where he served as Vice President of Grassroots Advocacy and Political Action Development. Under Wheeler’s leadership and management of Florida’s largest federation of businesses, associations, and local chambers of commerce – encompassing more than 139,000 grassroots members – the Chamber worked aggressively and effectively to represent the interests of business in Florida Florida Ports Council |  Office  850.222.8028  |   502 East Jefferson Street  | Tallahassee, FL 32301 www.flaports.org  

Gov. Ron DeSantis is declaring war on the tech giants: Twitter, Facebook, Amazon, Google and Apple. House Speaker Chris Sprowls and Senate President Wilton Simpson joined in saying the tech companies are run by a bunch of liberal oligarchs. Also, on today’s Sunrise: — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is calling the Governor’s proposal disingenuous, using the same word DeSantis used to criticize the White House. — Fried has been hopping along with a brace on one leg. But that didn’t stop Fried from holding a news conference to announce a new partnership with the White House called “Keep Florida and America Growing.” — The Department of Health is reporting more than 10,000 cases of COVID-19 and 140 additional fatalities. Florida’s death toll is now 27,269. — The Florida Chamber of Commerce releases its wish list for the upcoming session, including immunity from COVID-19 lawsuits and a sales tax for online purchases. — The Chamber believes Florida should also invest more money for infrastructure, workforce development and tourism promotion. — And finally, a Florida Man told officers that’s not heroin — it's a laxative.

The Agents of Innovation podcast features conversations with entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and artists, hosted by Francisco Gonzalez. Episode 85 (November 2020) features an interview with John Rivers, ceo & founder of 4 Rivers Smokehouse and the 4R Foundation. You can find more information about them at: https://www.4r-foundation.org Episode 84 also features the song "The Party" by Houston Keen, a musician based in Florida, who previously was interviewed on Episodes 20 and 81. You can find his music at: www.houstonkeen.com. Please consider supporting this podcast and joining the Agents of Innovation community on Patreon at: patreon.com/agentsofinnovation. Thanks to our sponsor: Frank and Geraldine Gonzalez; and thanks to our newest Patreon member: Sean Gross. And special thanks to Michael Williams at the Florida Chamber of Commerce for helping to make this interview happen.

Just a reminder: The state government is closed in honor of Veterans Day. Also, on today’s Sunrise: — Speaking of veterans, Florida lawmakers have done everything they can in recent years to try to make this the most veteran-friendly state in the country and help people who leave the service make the transition to the civilian workforce. — Florida needs those veterans because there’s a shortage of skilled labor in the Sunshine State. — Mark Wilson and the Florida Chamber of Commerce have an ambitious goal of creating one-and-a-half million new jobs by the end of the decade … but thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, they actually need to create about 2 million jobs to make up for the ones that disappeared. — As for COVID, the state reported more than 4,000 new cases Tuesday, with 69 additional fatalities. That makes the positivity rate the highest it’s been since the beginning of August. — The Miami Herald has one hell of a story about the Governor’s latest hire to analyze COVID-19 data …  a sports blogger and Uber driver from Ohio whose only relevant experience is spreading conspiracy theories online about COVID-19. Sounds like a perfect match. — Sen. Rick Scott has been selected to lead the National Republican Senatorial Committee. His first test will be in Georgia where there are two run-offs and control of the U.S. Senate is up for grabs. — And finally, a Florida Woman was caught masturbating by a dumpster… and she’s a repeat offender.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce is taking aim at the constitutional amendment seeking to raise the minimum wage in the Sunshine State. Also, on today’s Sunrise: — And the Chamber president says it’s not just a trick, Amendment 2 is downright un-American. — Panhandle residents are still recovering from Hurricane Sally, and now there’s warnings to prepare for the arrival of a new storm — Beta — by the end of the week. — Donald Trump is out of the hospital and back in the White House after treatment for COVID-19. — Republican consultant Anthony Pedicini talks about the impact of the President’s illness on the campaign. — While Trump was preparing to leave Walter Reed Medical Center, Joe Biden was in Miami visiting the Little Haiti Cultural Center. — And finally, checking-in with a Florida Man who assaulted deputies with a Bible.

In Episode 32 - Decision 2020 we hear the full interview with Andrew Wiggins, Senior Director of Political Affairs and Coalition Advocacy with the Florida Chamber of Commerce about the political landscape in Florida, what lessons were learned from the August 18 primary and what we could expect to see on November 3rd. We also have a healthcare segment with Dr. Chad Lamoreaux of AdventHealth about living with arthritis. This podcast is recorded at Dolphin Image Studios and made possible through sponsorships from Fred Simons Insurance Agency – Farmers Insurance, Meeks Real Estate LLC and AdventHealth Heart of Florida.

Orlando, Florida is not only where Wagner Live is located but it is also a growing market. It has been called one of North America's up-and-coming tech markets. In a recent study of the leading large, mid-size, and small metros throughout the country, Orlando ranked #9 out of 299 metros studied and #2 in the Southeast. The study evaluated such things as economic strength, prime workforces, year-over-year growth, and mid-term (5-Year) growth.In this episode, we discuss how a city that has been mostly associated with Walt Disney World, has been reshaping its identity and economic future. And despite previous plans for the city, what's changed as a result of the pandemic and its economic impact. To help with this discussion is Tim Giuliani, President & CEO at the Orlando Economic Partnership.Tim's passion to provoke community impact started at an early age when he helped launch the “Truth Campaign” as a high school student - the most successful youth tobacco prevention effort in U.S. history. Tim is a Certified Chamber Executive (CCE). Nationally, he serves on the executive committee for the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and is an active participant of the US Chamber Committee of 100. While at the Florida Chamber of Commerce he played a critical role in the passage of legislation that created the $750 million Florida Growth Fund.

In Episode 31 - Gray's Anatomy we speak to Dr. Nathan Falk, Founding Program Director for the new Florida State University College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency at Winter Haven Hospital. We also learn more about the state constitutional amendments you'll be asked to decide on your November 3rd ballot from Andrew Wiggins, Senior Director of Political Affairs and Coalition Advocacy for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. This podcast is sponsored by Dolphin Image Studios, the Fred Simons Insurance Agency – Farmers Insurance, Meeks Real Estate LLC and AdventHealth Heart of Florida.

KRYSTAL PARKER, founder of "Intent and Impact" and the new president of the Central Florida Christian Chamber is Mike's guest, talking about the call of God on our lives to represent Him in the marketplace. Krystal rose up the corporate ladder in America's heartland, becoming an executive working in the gas and oil industry. Her master's degree includes studies at the Harvard Business School, and she is an expert in developing leaders and leadership capabilities.

Number crunchers at the Florida Department of Health keep cranking out dismal news: The state set a record for coronavirus cases Friday, then we broke that record Saturday. And it was almost as bad Sunday. Also, on today’s Sunrise: — Over the past three days, the state reported more than 27,000 new cases of COVID-19. For context, consider this: Almost 20% of all the cases reported in Florida over the past three months took place over the last three days. But Gov. Ron DeSantis says it’s not because Florida reopened too soon. — The state reported 258 new deaths in the past week … bringing the total number of Florida fatalities to 3,518. — Time is running out for the Governor to sign the new state budget and the coronavirus is making his job a lot tougher. State tax collections dropped by almost $800 million in May alone. — Things are getting nasty in the GOP primary for Senate District 27. The Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee has begun campaigning against a fellow Republican because they think she’s been playing footsie with the Democrats. — Florida Chamber of Commerce President Mark Wilson says business leaders need to embrace the calls for change coming from the Black Lives Matter movement. Wilson believes this the perfect chance to make a difference in Florida’s poorest communities. — What better time to have a baby than the middle of a campaign for Congress amid a public health crisis. Congratulations to Rep. Dane Eagle and his wife Brooke on the birth of their son Ronin. —Checking-in with a Florida Man accused of trying to steal an airplane for a cross-country visit to his girlfriend.

Mike Sheely is the Field Senior Vice President of Allstate Insurance Co., Florida Region; celebrating 37 years with Allstate in October 2020. He is responsible for over $2BB in Allstate P&L, and $1.5BB Brokerage, and is the President and CEO of Castle Key Insurance Company. Mike began his career as a Supervisor Trainee in Charlotte, NC in 1983. He has worked in Operations, Human Resources, Finance, Underwriting, Marketing and Sales. He received his Bachelor of Science degrees in Marine Science and Geology from the University of SC, and had dreams of being the next Jacques Cousteau - yet somehow ended up in insurance. Mike serves on the Board of Directors for the Florida Chamber of Commerce, he's a member of the First United Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, and is a life longer learner from books and podcasts. Mike's married way over his head to Susan Pasky Sheely, and his identical twin sons currently living in Destin Florida & Atlanta Georgia. Mike Sheely is an optimist by nature and servant leader by choice. This is his story.

Mark Wilson, President and CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce *Follow the group on Twitter: @FlChamber. How bad had this lockdown hurt our state’s economy and especially our small businesses?

It sounds as if Gov. Ron DeSantis is taking a victory lap. No, COVID-19 has not gone away, but DeSantis says it’s nowhere near as bad in Florida as people had feared it might be. Also, on today’s Sunrise: — VISIT FLORIDA CEO Dana Young says the COVID-19 pandemic is the largest crisis the global tourism industry has ever faced, but they’re coming up with a four-stage plan to bring people back to the Sunshine State. — Democrats in the state Legislature are calling on DeSantis to offer more bridge loans to struggling businesses. The state initially had $50 million, but large companies snapped it up, leaving mom and pop operations with nothing. — Florida Chamber of Commerce CEO Mark Wilson talks about being a key player in the Governor’s Re-Open Florida Task Force and says he’ll be doing the same thing for the national Chamber. — Officers in Putnam County say a Florida Man tried to avoid arrest by claiming he was infected with the coronavirus.

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/

Christopher Emmanuel, Director of Infrastructure & Governance Policy and Director of Autonomous Florida, Florida Chamber of Commerce joins Grayson Brulte on The Road To Autonomy Podcast following an afternoon spent at the Henry Morrison Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, FL.On the inaugural episode of The Road To Autonomy, Grayson Brulte sits down with Christopher Emmanuel, Director of Infrastructure & Governance Policy and Director of Autonomous Florida to discuss the innovations that Henry Morrison Flagler developed with The Florida East Coast Railway/Florida East Coast Hotel Companies and the impact that Flagler's legacy has had on Florida.Building on Flagler's Florida legacy (which was mainly focused on hospitality and tourism) the conversation evolves into what many consider the modern-day The Florida East Coast Railway Company - Brightline (Virgin Trains). Concluding their conversation, Grayson and Christopher discuss Disney and the value of the Disney brand as it directly relates to the future of mobility in Florida.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred conducts another interview from the recent Florida Chamber of Commerce 2020 Legislative Fly-in with Dr. Jerry D. Parrish, Chief Economist and the Director of Research for the Florida Chamber Foundation.  The conversation focused on Florida's economic forecast, the state's strategic plan, wealth transfer, and the prospects for launching a small business.In his role, Parrish is responsible for conducting in-depth analyses on the Florida economy and on solutions to help secure Florida’s future.Dr. Parrish previously was the Chief Economist and Director of the Center for Competitive Florida at Florida TaxWatch. Prior to that position, he served as the Associate Director of the Center for Economic Forecasting & Analysis (CEFA) at Florida State University and has many years of experience in the private sector in management roles at international manufacturing companies.Dr. Parrish is currently an Adjunct Instructor in the Masters in Applied Economics Program at Florida State University.  He earned a B.S. in Agricultural Business and Economics from Auburn University, an M.B.A. from Bellarmine University, an M.S. in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and a Ph.D. in Economics from Auburn University. He regularly publishes research reports and articles on the Florida economy and Florida’s competitiveness.

Democrats are gathering in Atlanta for the latest in (what seems like) a never-ending series of presidential debates. The impeachment hearings are sure to be a hot topic. Also, on today’s Sunrise: — Florida’s hepatitis A problem is getting bigger as the number of confirmed cases exceeds 3,000. Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking for more money to deal with the disease. — Earlier this year, DeSantis led the charge earlier this year for a new law allowing Floridians to get their prescription meds from Canada. Nevertheless, that may still take a couple of years. — Congressman Vern Buchanan files a bipartisan bill to ban cosmetic testing on animals. — Michael Williams of the Florida Chamber talks about a new anti-poverty program called the “Florida Prosperity Initiative.” — Florida Man follies: A guy who punched a Little League umpire and an overweight man caught smuggling drugs in the fold of his rather substantial belly.

Episode 222: Chuck talks with Church Mutual President and CEO Rich Poirier about how the commitment to innovation will keep the organization moving forward. Plus, resiliency takes center stage at the Florida Chamber Insurance Summit. And why NAMIC expresses disappointment in the federal government's decision to delay implementation of the NFIP's new pricing formula.

Chair of the Children’s Movement of Florida, Dave Lawrence, joins Alberto Lidji to discuss advocacy, politics and coalitions in support of children in Florida and beyond.   During the episode we speak about Dave’s efforts to drive forward legislative change and mobilise individuals at local and national levels to encourage investments in children’s early years and improve their outcomes.   Dave retired from his role as publisher of the Miami Herald 20 years ago to focus on children’s ‘early years’. He is Chair of the Children’s Movement of Florida which aims to make children the number one priority for investment in Florida – the 3rd biggest state in the US, and the 17th largest global economy, if it were a country.   We hear how there has been much progress in Florida over the past 20 years and how, today, every 4-year old in Florida is entitled to a high quality kindergarten experience. There has been support from voters, the Governor’s office and city mayors across the state; including a successful campaign called #100Mayors for early childhood.   Dave has mobilised resources in Florida and engaged with politicians across the political spectrum at local, state and national level. He has also lectured internationally on the benefits of investing in early years.   In 1996, former Florida governor, Lawton Chiles, asked Dave to join the Governor’s Commission on Education to look at education in the next millennium. Dave led the taskforce on school readiness and, in the process, learned an extraordinary amount about children’s early years – so much so that he decided to retire from his post as publisher of the Miami Herald and work full time on issues focused on early childhood.   On the topic of driving forward legislative change, Dave notes there’s much power at the local level.  Dave wants people to be excited about supporting children and to talk about it often. He notes that numerous US presidents have been vocal in their support for early years, irrespective of their political affiliation, and he notes their power comes in using their presidential platform to be highly vocal about supporting children.   Dave remarks that, yes, just about everybody loves children; but too many don’t understand the practical imperatives about this.   He notes that in the US, despite its position as the world’s leading economy, 3 out of 4 young people aged 17 to 24 cannot enter the US military – they can’t join because of criminal records, substance abuse, academic problems etc. This is an unacceptable state of affairs.   Only real quality in education brings positive outcomes; it’s not about simply having a spot for a child in a classroom – it’s about actually learning something, about being engaged and being exposed to brain-stimulating activities.   The importance of play – and learning through play – should not be underestimated. Play is really important – you learn a lot about getting along with other people. We need to develop the full human being – it’s not about drilling 3-year olds in numbers. Nothing is more important than a nurturing, caring, knowledgeable, loving parent or caregiver.   Ultimately, to improve the reality for children, one needs to push on many fronts; communicating with parents; engaging with the legislative process, connecting with diverse stakeholders.  Dave wants to get the local community involved, including many who would not usually be classed as the usual suspects in the field of early childhood, including the faith community, business actors, the civic community, the political community etc – he wants them all to work on this issue.   Dave notes that a major moment in Florida happened a few years back when the Florida Chamber of Commerce – the principal business organisation in the state – decided that early childhood is a major business imperative, impacting the future of their workforce and talent pool in Florida.    Dave briefly discusses his book — ‘A Dedicated Life: Journalism, Justice and a Chance for Every Child’ – and underscores the point that all proceeds from sales go to support the Children’s Movement of Florida.  The book is partly traditional memoire and partly about what’s happening in the field of early childhood and what else still needs to be done.   Dave’s key takeaway: he notes that within each of us is an ability to make something happen and, ultimately, he shares the sentiment that it would be a shame for one to die before having had won some battle for humanity.  There is so much to be done all over the world and so many ways for people to drive change.  At the end, we ask ourselves, ‘what did your life mean’?... the answer won’t have much to do with accumulating resources. What difference did you make in an individual life and in larger ways? That’s the joy of life. Combine that with lifelong learning and you have a life where you can feel pretty good about yourself.    Visit Lidji.org for guest bios, episode notes and useful links. Please subscribe and share if you’ve enjoyed this podcast – thank you!  

Why is Florida a hotbed for AV testing? Florida Sen. Jeff Brandes and Chris Emmanuel from the Florida Chamber of Commerce joined SAFE Greg and Pete to talk about how The Sunshine State has set itself apart as a hub for AV testing, Florida's recently-enacted AV bill (HB 311), and the future of AVs in Florida. Find Jeff on Twitter: @JeffreyBrandes And find Chris on Twitter: @ChrisEmmanuelFL As always, you can also keep up with the Mobility Podcast on Twitter: @MobilityPodcast, @AVGregR, @SharedMobilityS, @SmarterTranspo.

Is the business community ready to meet the challenge of filling the jobs of the future?  That’s what Florida Chamber Foundation Executive Vice President Tony Carvajal examines every day.  Through the Florida Chamber Foundation’s 2030 Project, On the latest Toddcast, hear how Tony and his team look at the future trends to help businesses evolve with their ever-changing workforce needs.

Florida Chamber of Commerce Chair Syd Kitson is dedicated to creating a better business climate within the sunshine state. As the Chairman and CEO of real estate company Kitson & Partners, he developed Florida's innovative and sustainable “city of the future”: Babcock Ranch. In addition to his revolutionary real estate endeavors and Florida Chamber of Commerce efforts, Kitson also serves on the Board of Directors of the Florida Gulf Coast University Foundation, the Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium, and the Grassy Waters Preserve.

Florida Chamber of Commerce Chair Syd Kitson is dedicated to creating a better business climate within the sunshine state. As the Chairman and CEO of real estate company Kitson & Partners, he developed Florida’s innovative and sustainable “city of the future”: Babcock Ranch. In addition to his revolutionary real estate endeavors and Florida Chamber of […] The post 8. Florida Chamber of Commerce Chair Syd Kitson appeared first on Fluent in Floridian.

This panel, Florida and the Future of Trade Policy, was held on February 4, 2017, at the 2017 Florida Chapters Conference at Disney's BoardWalk Inn at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. -- Featuring: Alice Ancona, Director of Global Outreach for the Florida Chamber of Commerce; Stephen Ezell, Vice President, Global Innovation Policy, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation; Dr. Thomas Palley, Senior Economic Policy Advisor, AFL-CIO; and Bryan Riley, Jay Van Andel Senior Policy Analyst, Trade Policy, The Heritage Foundation. Moderator: Judge Jonathan Gerber, Florida Fourth District Court of Appeal. Introduction: Morgan W. Streetman, Founder and Principal, Streetman Law. Remarks: Daniel Woodring, Principal Attorney, Woodring Law Firm.

This panel was part of the 2016 Annual Florida Chapters Conference at Disney's Boardwalk Inn in Lake Buena Vista, FL on January 22-23, 2016. -- Featuring: Mr. Mark Wilson, President and CEO, Florida Chamber of Commerce. Interviewer: Mr. Jesse Panuccio, Former Executive Director, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity.

State Senator and Republican Gov. Candidate Paula Dockery. http://www.peopleforpaula.com/?skipped=true Senator Paula Dockery has proven to be a champion for the taxpayers of Florida, skillfully marshalling bi-partisan consensus for legislation of significant impact to Floridians. A University of Florida B.A. and M.A. alumna, Senator Dockery worked in the insurance industry before focusing her leadership skills on a career in public service. Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 1996, she served as State Representative for six years in the positions of House Majority Whip, Chair of the Environmental Protection Committee and Chair of General Government Appropriations. Elected to Senate District 15 in 2002 and subsequently re-elected, Senator Dockery has served twice as Senate Majority Whip and is currently in her second assignment as Chair of the Criminal Justice Committee. Senator Dockery’s success in establishing significant environmental policy began in the House, where she was the primary sponsor of the Florida Forever Act, which succeeded Preservation 2000 to become the popular land acquisition program for the preservation of environmentally sensitive lands for this decade. Named Public Official of the Year by Governing Magazine for the creation of the Water Sustainability and Protection Act (SB 444), she showcased her ability to bring diverse groups together to reach a common goal. SB 444 provided model legislation for the country by reaching consensus on critical policy for Florida’s water supply while considering the needs of the environmental and agricultural communities, developers, water management districts, and local governments. Senator Dockery also contributed the solar energy systems incentive component to the Florida Energy Act of 2006 (SB 888). A stalwart defender of law enforcement and public safety, Senator Dockery shepherded to passage the Anti-Murder Act of 2007, which created a system for identifying potentially dangerous probation violators, requiring them to return to jail until the court determines whether they pose a danger to the community. Appointed to serve as the Vice Chair of the National Conference of State Legislatures Transportation Committee for the 2008-2009 Conference year, she worked on research for potential legislation affecting multi-modal transportation, including railroads, air, water and motor vehicles. For the past two years, Senator Dockery has assembled and led a bi-partisan coalition to defeat costly rail liability legislation intended to benefit a corporate special interest at great taxpayer expense. Senator Dockery has received over 70 awards of appreciation during her tenure in both the House and Senate from Environmental groups such as Audubon, Nature Conservancy, Sierra Club, Florida Oceans Alliance and Trust for Public Lands; Agricultural groups such as Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Cattleman’s Association and Florida Forestry Association; Business groups such as Florida Chamber of Commerce, Enterprise Florida, Associated Builders and Contractors and the Florida Ports Council and Governmental groups such as Florida Association of Counties, Florida League of Cities, School District of Osceola County and Florida Parks and Recreation Association. She is a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church and resides in Lakeland with her husband of 20 years, C.C. “Doc” Dockery.