Create A Place

📍 Recorded at Power Design HQ in St. Petersburg, FL What happens to culture when a company grows from hundreds to thousands of employees? In this episode of Create A Place, I sit down with Trent Morano, Senior Vice President at Power Design, to talk about leadership, growth, and what it really takes to scale without losing the people, values, and culture that made the company successful in the fi...

📍 Recorded on site at 311 Park Place Leasing isn’t just about filling space. It’s about shaping how a building performs over time. In this episode of Create A Place, I sit down with Jim Moler, Senior Vice President at JLL. With decades of experience in commercial real estate and a deep understanding of the Tampa Bay market, Jim brings a thoughtful, long-view perspective on what makes buildings no...

📍 Recorded at Hotel Haya, Ybor City In this episode of Create A Place, I sit down with Lauren Campbell, Founder of Archer Group, whose work spans retail leasing, development, and placemaking across Tampa Bay. Lauren is currently leading retail leasing for Gasworx in Ybor City, bringing a perspective shaped by years of studying how people move through space, and how culture is shaped at street lev...

In this episode of Create A Place, Kristina sits down with longtime friend and collaborator Tessa Jennings, founder of Spatial HQ, to explore why the most successful projects—and the healthiest client experiences—are built on intentionally curated teams. With a background spanning architecture, construction, and owner representation, Tessa brings a rare, holistic perspective to commercial real est...

Recorded inside his newly designed Tampa office [by CREATE+CO], this episode features Taylor Ranker—founder of Questmont Virtual Family Office and author of Dead Cats & Wealth Advisors. Kristina and Taylor dive into what it means to create a place that fosters trust, intimacy, and long-term legacy—not just for clients, but for teams and communities. Taylor shares the evolution of Questmont’s b...

📍 Recorded in the custom-designed TBBW office by CREATE+CO Stories Shape Culture. And sometimes, one story can transform an entire company or community. In this episode of Create A Place, Kristina sits down with Bridgette Bello, Publisher of Tampa Bay Business & Wealth Magazine, to explore how storytelling shapes leadership, culture, and connection. From co-founding TBBW with a vision of upli...

📍 Recorded Live at NeoCon/Design Days 2025 What if design wasn’t about fitting in—but about reflecting who we really are? In this episode of Create A Place, Kristina sits down with Oren Sherman—artist, educator and workplace innovator—to explore why the next era of design is rooted in individuality, customization and belonging. They dive into: Why one-size-fits-all workplaces no longer work How s...

📍 Recorded Live at NeoCon/Design Days 2025 Straight out of the MillerKnoll Fulton Market showroom, this episode brings the energy—and a fresh perspective on our evolving relationship with the office. Kristina sits down with Ryan Anderson, VP of Global Research & Insights at MillerKnoll, to unpack the new RTO. Not Return to Office—but Reattach to Office—and why that shift might be the key to r...

📍 Recorded Live at NeoCon 2025 In this episode of Create A Place, Kristina sits down with Amanda Schneider—Founder of ThinkLab, host of Design Nerds Anonymous, and recent TED speaker—to explore how generational shifts, bold research, and a willingness to rewrite the playbook are reshaping the workplace as we know it. From her viral TED Talk to her upcoming book The Hidden Genius of Gen Z at Work,...

What happens when a company chooses not just to include—but to truly see and support every individual exactly as they are? In Part 2 of this powerful conversation, Kristina continues her discussion with Kelly Colón—professor, coach, strategist, and lifelong advocate for the neurodivergent community. Together, they explore the emotional and practical realities of inclusive work—how time blindness,...

Leaders everywhere are being asked to support people in more human-centered ways—but what if the systems we’ve built weren’t designed for how most brains actually work? In this raw and revelatory two-part episode, Kristina sits down with Kelly Colón—professor, coach, strategist, and lifelong advocate for the neurodivergent community. They unpack the lived experience behind the buzzwords and explor...

In this episode of Create A Place podcast, Kristina York sits down with Rita Lowman—a 45-year banking veteran, author, and passionate advocate for mental health and leadership with heart. From decades of shaping institutions, mentoring top talent, and setting a new standard for human-centered leadership, Rita brings a legacy of influence that reaches far beyond banking. One of the few women in the...

In this episode of the Create A Place podcast, Kristina talks with Dino Ninassi, founder of Dino+Associates, about why acoustics are no longer an afterthought—they’re foundational to workplace culture, trust and wellbeing. Dino breaks down his simple ABC framework (Absorb, Block, Cover) for assessing and solving acoustic challenges in today’s hybrid spaces and shares why different environments—fro...

Furniture can either drive culture forward—or quietly drive people away. And when it really works, your people do too. In this episode of Create A Place podcast, Kristina York sits down with Gilbert Broco, President of CI Group, to explore the deeper role furniture plays in how people feel, work, and connect. From flexible layouts and mock-ups to early collaboration between architects, designers a...

In this episode of the Create A Place podcast, Kristina talks with Randy Shaw, founder and director of sales at BRYTESIGHT, a technology architecture firm. They explore Randy’s unconventional path from professional soccer to tech consulting (with a stop at med school) and why designing technology to work—for people, culture, and collaboration—is more important than ever. Randy shares stories from...

Think HR is just about payroll, policies, and paperwork? Think again. Human Resources is the secret weapon behind thriving workplaces, strong leadership, and lasting business success—but only when it’s done right. In this episode of Create a Place, Kristina York sits down with Lexi Benner, VP of People & Culture at Living HR, to unpack the true role of HR and why it’s time to rethink how organ...

Design goes beyond aesthetics—it’s about crafting spaces that foster belonging, representation, and inclusion for everyone. In this episode of Create A Place, Kristina York sits down with Maria VanDeman—interior designer, children's book author, and Director of Design Strategy at OFS—to explore the deep connection between design, diversity, and workplace culture. They discuss why representation in...

Can service dogs foster a more inclusive, innovative workplace? In this episode of Create a Place with Kristina York, ReviveK9 founder Coreena Breazeale shares how these highly trained animals empower employees with disabilities, from medical alerts to mobility assistance. Business leaders will gain insights into ADA compliance, workplace accommodations, and common misconceptions that can lead to...

In this episode of Create a Place, co-founders, Kristina York [Alchemist] and Angela Davis [Firestarter] discuss the journey of their architecture and interior design firm, CREATE+CO. They share their origin story, the challenges they faced, and the transformative projects that shaped their design philosophy. The conversation highlights the importance of listening to clients, understanding their n...

In this episode of Create A Place podcast, Kristina York engages in a deep conversation with David Biondolillo, Director and Head of US TD Securities and Retail Business Partnerships at TD Bank, about the evolving landscape of workplace design and culture, especially in the context of post-COVID strategies. They discuss the importance of aligning workplace strategies with organizational culture, t...

In this episode of Create A Place podcast, host Kristina York interviews Kelly Primeau, a marketing expert and business owner. They discuss the challenges small businesses face post-COVID, the shift to remote and hybrid work, and the importance of in-person collaboration. Kelly shares her experiences in navigating these changes, the role of workspace design in productivity, and the potential of po...

In this episode of Create A Place podcast, Kristina York speaks with Joshua Pearson, co-founder of PepRally, Inc. They discuss the evolution of PepRally, the importance of brand identity in hospitality, and the role of diversity and inclusion in creative spaces. The conversation highlights the significance of storytelling in design, celebrating community through art, and creating inclusive spaces...

In this episode of Create A Place podcast, Kristina York resumes her chat with Rex Miller to discuss the intricacies of workplace design, the importance of making choices, and the role of guidance in navigating career opportunities. The conversation delves into leadership dynamics, the significance of relationships, and the concept of post-traumatic growth to build resilience. The episode emphasiz...

In this episode of Create A Place podcast, Kristina York engages with thought leader and modern elder Rex Miller to explore the evolving landscape of workplace design and culture in the aftermath of the pandemic. They discuss the lasting impacts of trauma on organizational culture, the importance of understanding and auditing workplace culture, and the critical role of managers in fostering a supp...

Welcome to the second episode of Create A Place. In this episode of the Create A Place podcast, Kristina York speaks with Dr. Tracy Brower, a VP Workplace Insight at Steelcase, about the evolving landscape of workplace design, leadership, and employee well-being. They discuss the importance of leadership in fostering productivity, the nuanced nature of happiness at work, and the significance of fu...