Florida Business Minds

She's the first female CEO for BayCare Health System, but Stephanie Conners is also a nurse, and rose to the leadership role with a clinical, patient-focused background. In this download, TBBJ Editor Alexis Muellner invites Conners to share her prescription for leadership success, and her plans to grow BayCare's reach beyond west-central Florida.

With the announcement of an SBA partnership that will focus on Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, Orlando-based non-profit Prospera hopes to help the smallest of small business owners. In this episode, OBJ Editor in Chief Sean McCrory profiles Prospera President & CEO Augusto Sanabria, 

Maybe the hippies were on to something in the 60's?  With mental health and wellbeing top of mind, and existing drug treatment therapies achieving inconsistent results, many are turning to the psychedelic drugs of the counterculture era. In this episode, SFBJ Editor in Chief Mel Melendez invites attorney, advocate and venture capitalist Dustin Robinson to explore the path to legalizing psyche...

With over a thousand people moving to the Sunshine State each day, our continuing infrastructure improvement is critical, and clean energy plays a vital role in powering communities large and small. In this episode, TBBJ Publisher and Market President Ian Anderson connects with Tim O'Connor, VP of Operations, Sustainability and External Affairs at Peoples Gas for an inside look at the utility...

As only he can, well known personal injury attorney John Morgan joins Orlando Business Journal Editor in Chief Sean McCrory to address tort reform and the current, testy business and political climate.  In this colorful download, Morgan also offers his take on the feud between Governor Ron DeSantis and Disney. 

The pandemic crippled the airline industry, but that period was thankfully short-lived. Pent up demand for leisure travel continues, and as the Gateway to Florida, Jacksonville is well positioned with ample aviation options. In this episode, JBJ Editor in Chief Tim Gibbons checks in with Mark VanLoh, President and CEO of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority for an update on Concourse B,  a surprisi...

We've been hearing about a looming recession now for over a year. But in spite of higher interest rates and a volatile stock market, Florida continues to prosper. What's driving this, particularly in the commercial real estate sector? In this download, SFBJ Editor in Chief Mel Melendez explores this topic with one of the region's most influential developers, Malcolm Butters, CEO of...

Florida has made national headlines with a clash between conservative Governor Ron DeSantis and social justice advocates. What has been the impact on Florida businesses, and will the outlook change for businesses looking to relocate here? In this hard hitting download, TBBJ Editor Alexis Muellner welcomes Equality Florida Executive Director Nadine Smith to share her perspective.

A decade ago there were only a handful of craft spirits producers in the state, and those doing business did so under strict guidelines. When St. Augustine Distillery opened, making hand crafted bourbon, rum, gin & vodka was only half the task. Lobbying politicians to slowly loosen the laws was critical to success for the up & coming operation, and the industry. In this episode, JBJ Editor...

Professional sports is a revolving door of players, coaches and executives. But in Orlando, one man has been the face of the NBA's Magic for over 30 years. Alex Martins started in PR and worked his way up to CEO. In this download, OBJ Editor in Chief Sean McCrory invites Martins to reflect on his longtime career, while looking to the exciting future of the franchise with a major project ready...

Born & raised in the Miami-area, Kelley Brown-Murro has a pulse on the local economy and firsthand experience working with the small business owners who make it go. In this episode, SFBJ Editor in Chief Mel Melendez checks in with Brown-Murro for an update and an outlook on the region's economic vitality.

Florida's growth, and the infusion of new residents from a wide ethnic and cultural background is fueling interest in the arts. Tampa Museum of Art Executive Director Michael Tomor is leading growth in attendance, funding, diversity and engagement. In this episode, TBBJ Editor Alexis Muellner leads a insightful conversation. 

With the pandemic behind us, the focus turns to the future of patient care. The Mayo Clinic has long been synonymous with cutting edge treatments. In this episode, Jacksonville Business Journal Editor in Chief Tim Gibbons welcomes Dr. Kent Thielen, CEO of Mayo Clinic in Florida, to share what he and his team are developing, and their bold vision for the decade ahead.

She's only been on the job for a few short weeks, but Belinda Ortiz Kirkegard is already drafting an aggressive game plan to assist entrepreneurs and small business owners. In this episode, former OBJ Editor Cindy Barth connects with Kirkegard, who shares her past experience and passion for this role.

South Florida saw an influx of tech companies during the pandemic. Now, rising rates and a return to old school business strategy threaten to slow that growth, but only temporarily. In this episode, SFBJ Editor in Chief Mel Melendez calls on Miami native and transaction veteran Jaret Davis, Co-Managing Shareholder at Greenberg Traurig Law Firm for an update.

When the pandemic hit, none of Bloomin' Brands 90,000+ employees got laid off, and the only person who took a pause in pay was CEO David Deno. That investment has paid off big-time for the restaurant group, as Bloomin' Brands, including Outback Steakhouse, have bounced back better than competitors. In this episode, TBBJ's Ashley Gurbal Kritzer invites an enthusiastic Deno to share t...

Rising interest rates have put a damper on development, but the long-term future for the Jacksonville commercial real estate market is strong. In this download, JBJ Editor in Chief Tim Gibbons welcomes JWB Real Estate Capital Co-Founder Gregg Cohen, who offers a wholistic view of the economy and the commercial market, short and long-term.

When Randy Haffner took over as President & CEO of AdventHealth's Central Florida Division almost two years ago, COVID-19 ran rampant. That didn't stop him from an ambitious growth strategy including a partnership with Disney, construction projects, and improving AdventHealth's already world-class care. In this episode, former OBJ Editor Cindy Barth invites Haffner to talk about...

The pandemic made remote work an option, especially for tech companies. What better place to work remote, or relocate your company than South Florida? Now, the question is whether the migration is here to stay? In this download, SFBJ Editor-in-Chief Mel Melendez taps Novo CEO Michael Rangel, a Miami native who moved away to start-up his company, then came home to build a winner.

We open our second season of Florida Business Minds with a check-up on the health of our statewide economy. Few know the state and its business owners better than Nikky Flores, Florida's Head of Middle Market Banking at JPMorgan Chase. A Florida native, Flores has served in key roles in all major statewide markets and offers unique and reassuring perspective.

In the wake of yet another successful Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), South Florida Business Journal Editor-in-Chief Mel Melendez invites Marine Industries Association of South Florida President & CEO Phil Purcell to the podcast. Purcell shares the significant economic impact of the industry on Florida's economy, and why marine-focused trades are attracting the next gener...

Business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals across the state now know what everyone in Tampa realized a long time ago: Melanie Griffin is an inspirational go-getter, and an energetic pro-business leader. In this download, TBBJ Real Estate Editor Ashley Gurbal Kritzer connects with Griffin in the midst of hurricane relief efforts to get her game plan for business success in Florida.

Uncertainty abounds, but when Bank of America's Jacksonville President Mark Bennett takes a look at his dashboard and surveys his clients, he offers a refreshingly optimistic outlook on Florida's economy. In this episode, Bennett reveals to JBJ Editor-in-Chief Tim Gibbons why he's optimistic, and shares how legendary Florida State football coach Bobby Bowden impacted his business ca...

Even seasoned veterans of commercial real estate admit they've never experienced anything like the current, uncertain market conditions. In this episode, OBJ Editor Cindy Barth invites Foundry Commercial CEO Paul Ellis to share his company's game plan during uncertain times. Plus, Ellis offers  an outlook on Florida's unique and often contrary conditions when compared to the nationa...

When he's not leading pioneering research and clinical efforts at Moffitt Cancer Center, Dr. Patrick Hwu and his fellow Moffitt musicians team up to entertain patients and partygoers across Tampa Bay. In this episode, TBBJ Editor Alexis Muellner hosts an informative and entertaining conversation with Dr. Hwu, sharing the latest advancements in cancer treatment and his passion for music.