Tommy's ToolboxWelcome to the Construction Sight

What does it take to become “the first” when the path was never built for you? Dr. Sandra Braham’s story begins with challenges most people never see. Raised by a mother with schizophrenia. Moved through the foster care system. Forced to understand resilience long before she had the language for it. Today, she is the President and CEO of Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, a $60 milli...

Tampa City Council member Bill Carlson says the arts aren't a nice-to-have for a city — they're economic infrastructure. He sits down with Tommy Whitehead to talk city culture, the $300 million museum Tampa almost lost to St. Pete, and what he learned building consultancies across Asia. Bill Carlson represents District 4 on Tampa City Council. He's CEO of Tucker Hall, co-founder of Caf...

Habitat for Humanity does not give houses away. That is the biggest myth Mike Sutton has spent the last 12 years correcting. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Mike Sutton, President of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay, for a conversation about housing, leadership, nonprofit culture, and w...

Florida's oldest restaurant shouldn't still be here — andthat's exactly why it is. Casey Gonzmart is the 5th generation to lead ColumbiaRestaurant in Ybor City — a 120-year Tampa institution that started as the Columbia Saloon in 1903. Most family businesses die by generation three. The Columbias survived the Depression, Prohibition, two World Wars, urban renewal, and COVID. What's...

What happens to a city when the people telling its stories disappear? In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Ray Roa, part-owner of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay , for a conversation about local journalism, Tampa’s identity, and why human storytelling still matters in an AI-driven world. Ray’s...

What if the biggest mistake in selling your business happens before you ever meet a buyer? Most business owners spend years building value. But when it comes time to sell, many try to navigate the process alone, without realizing how much strategy, timing, positioning, and deal structure can shape the outcome. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo S...

It looks like resilience. It looks like visibility. It looks like business owners, advocates, nonprofit leaders, and community pioneers building something that lasts. In this special supercut episode of Tommy’s Toolbox , in collaboration with Building Success Productions , you’ll hear directly from the people shaping Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ business community. Recorded live at the Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber...

What do you do when the old way of leading no longer works? For Amanda Payne, the answer was simple: rebuild. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Amanda Payne, CEO of Amplify Clearwater and founder of Premier Anesthesia Care, for a conversation about leadership, reinvention, and what it t...

What do you do when your business looks like it might be over… and then one phone call changes everything? Clay Keel of Keel Farms in Plant City, Florida knows what that moment feels like. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Clay to unpack how a 45-year-old blueberry farm became one of Florida’s most unique...

In Part 2 of this conversation on Tommy’s Toolbox , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , continues his sit-down with former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn for a deeper look at the issues shaping Tampa’s future. This episode moves beyond the personal origin story from Part 1 and gets into the real work of city leadership: infrastructure, transportation, permitting, h...

Before Bob Buckhorn became the mayor of Tampa, he arrived in the city at 22 years old with $300, a 15-year-old Dodge Dart with no air conditioning, and no clear path forward. Decades later, he was leading a $2 billion city. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn for a raw convers...

What if the contract you’re relying on is the very thing that puts you at risk? Most business owners are trying to move fast. Some are moving too fast… and skipping the steps that actually protect them. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with attorney Matt DePasquale of Porter Wright to break down the legal mist...

Why do strong candidates still get passed over… even when they look perfect on paper? Most job seekers think they know what matters in the hiring process. Most are wrong. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Tamara Galla of PDI Connection, a top recruiter known for her no-nonsense approach to hiring, to break...

Most professionals focus on what they say. Very few think about how they show up physically. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Christi Slaven of Professor Posture to unpack a hidden factor that impacts confidence, credibility, and performance more than most people realize. Posture isn’t just about standing...

Most entrepreneurs don’t have a time problem. They have a workflow problem. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Patty Vaillancourt, owner of Computer Coach 4U, to break down a tool that’s quietly transforming how business owners work, communicate, and scale their time. And it’s probably not what you think. P...

Is your chamber membership actually working for you… or just sitting there? Most people join a chamber expecting results. Very few know how to actually get them. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Kelly Flannery, CEO of the South Tampa Chamber of Commerce, to break down what most business owners misundersta...

In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Johnny Farris, Mentorship and Outreach Coordinator at Safe and Sound Hillsborough, to unpack what’s really missing for at-risk youth and why mentorship isn’t optional… it’s everything. Johnny spent 20 years in the military as a logistics planner, traveling the world from a...

What happens when foster teens turn 18… and suddenly have to survive on their own? Most people never see what comes next. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Effie Santos, Founder and President of Madi’s Movement, to unpack a reality that’s both uncomfortable and urgent. Every year, teens age out of the fost...

Host Tommy Whitehead sits down with Century 21 realtor Dale Nabors to unpack what’s really going on in the housing market and how you can gain a competitive edge. Learn why home prices and inventory are shifting, the common mistakes buyers and sellers make, and how interest rates, timing and negotiation tactics affect today’s deals. Whether you’re buying, selling or just curious, this episode deli...

Host Tommy Whitehead talks with Dan Hughes—former U.S. Marine and founder of Coastal Primary Care & Wellness—about why healthcare costs are rising and how concierge primary care can make hormone therapies and peptides affordable. They pull back the curtain on medication markups, explain wholesale pricing, and share how Coastal offers free consultations and lab reviews across Florida. Learn mor...

Travel smarter with Heather Aycock of Catalyst Travel Design. She and host Tommy Whitehead unpack booking secrets, trending destinations, and why working with a travel pro saves time, money and stress. You’ll learn insider tips on when to book flights & cruises, how to plan trips that match your personality, and why DIY planning isn’t always a bargain. Follow Tommy’s Toolbox for more practical...

In today’s episode of Tommy’s Toolbox, our host, Tommy Whitehead, a seasoned construction expert from TomCo Solutions, sits down with Aakash Patel, Founder and President of Elevate Inc., a strategic business consulting firm that provides public relations, community relations, targeted networking, and social media services to over 300 companies.  In this insightful conversation, they talk about the...

In today’s episode of Tommy’s Toolbox, our host, Tommy Whitehead, a seasoned construction expert from TomCo Solutions,  chats with Brad Owens, Business Consultant at the Florida Small Business Development Center at the University of South Florida. With over 30 years of experience in the banking industry, Brad offers invaluable insights and practical advice for small business owners in the Tampa Ba...

In today’s episode of Tommy’s Toolbox, our host, Tommy Whitehead, a seasoned construction expert from TomCo Solutions,  sits down with Anthony Mason, the Manager of Philanthropic Giving at the Florida Aquarium. In this episode, they delve into the aquarium's latest updates, from groundbreaking research to exciting new exhibits. Listen in as Tommy and Anthony talk about how the Florida Aquarium is...

In today’s episode of Tommy’s Toolbox, our host, Tommy Whitehead, a seasoned construction expert from TomCo Solutions, chats with Dr. Michael Tomor, Executive Director of the Tampa Museum of Art. In this insightful conversation, they delve into the world of art, culture, and construction. Listen in as Tommy and Michael discuss how the rapid growth of Tampa has influenced the city's cultural landsc...