Florida Business Minds

Tourism drives our economy and the cruise industry plays a major role. In this episode, South Florida Business Journal Editor-in-Chief Mel Melendez checks in with Celebrity Cruises President & CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo. She shares cruising's comeback story, and how she's leveled the deck in diversity, equity and inclusion onboard her ships.

The pandemic forced change in many industries, with the healthcare sector leading that innovation. Tampa General Hospital President & CEO John Couris and his team were well-positioned prior to the pandemic. In this episode, Editor Alexis Muellner connects with Couris to learn how Tampa General's entrepreneurial approach forged new relationships and sparked innovation that will benefit pat...

Few professionals in Florida have the market-to-market connections and street level feedback that BDO Managing Director Jim White does. With offices across the state and 30+ years in the accounting profession, White has granular insight. So how is Florida's economy doing? It depends who you talk to, as White shares with JBJ Editor-in-Chief Tim Gibbons.

In spite of inflation, consumers are traveling and that's good for business in Central Florida. What's the outlook for the rest of this year, and how are small businesses doing as we recover from the pandemic? In this episode, Orlando Business Journal Editor Cindy Barth invites Fountainhead Commercial Capital Founder & CEO Chris Hurn to offer insight and perspective from the front li...

Inflation and rising rates have potential home buyers tapping the brakes in many US markets. But that's not the case in South Florida, as global influences and financial considerations continue to attract buyers from around the world. In this episode, SFBJ Editor-in-Chief Mel Melendez welcomes OneWorld Properties CEO Peggy Olin, who points to the factors influencing buyers to move their money...

On the eve of his team's return to the Stanley Cup Finals, with an opportunity for a rare three-peat on ice, business leader, philanthropist and Lightning owner Jeff Vinik joins us. In this episode hosted by TBBJ Real Estate Editor Ashley Gurbal Kritzer, Vinik provides an update on his real estate developments and tells us why Tampa Bay will weather an economic downturn better than most citie...

Few Florida executives experienced, managed and navigated the pandemic and  the influx of growth like GuideWell and Florida Blue President & CEO Pat Geraghty.  In this episode, Jacksonville Business Journal Editor in Chief Tim Gibbons connects with Garaghty to take the temperature on the health insurance industry and learn how Florida Blue is growing to better serve a diverse, and aging popula...

When EPCOT opened 40 years ago, Walt Disney's Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow envisioned a variety of transportation modes connecting communities. That vision is now a reality, as the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority connects a new airport terminal, a vertiport air taxi service, and high speed rail in a multimodal transportation hub. In this episode, OBJ Editor Cindy Barth invi...

Born & raised in Miami, Eddy Arriola has witnessed Florida's exponential growth first-hand. The Founder, Chairman & CEO of Apollo Bank has helped transform the state  from a focus on travel & retirement, to a worldwide hub for business, real estate and technology. In this episode, SFBJ Editor-in-Chief Mel Melendez  invites Arriola to offer insight, perspective and an outlook on th...

As we open our podcast series presented by The Florida Business Journals, Tampa Bay Market President and Publisher Ian Anderson welcomes TECO Peoples Gas President Helen Wesley to share her inspiring story.  A Canadian transplant, Wesley joined Peoples Gas as COO in 2020, then was tabbed as CEO in September of 2021. She offers a unique perspective on Florida's growth, energy future, and how t...