Florida Business Minds

It was a different scene in the late-1990's when Tim Petrillo teamed up with Chef Peter Boulukos to found The Restaurant People. Fort Lauderdale's Las Olas Boulevard was a sleepy stretch known for its seasonal wedding shops. 20 years later, it's the epicenter of spectacular cuisine. In this episode, SFBJ Editor-in-Chief Mel Melendez checks in with Petrillo, who shares his journey an...

What began almost 20 years ago when Fred Goldsmith failed to find an inviting, comfortable place to board his Bichon Frise, Samantha, is now a thriving destination resort for dogs & cats in 50 locations across the country.  In this download, JBJ Editor-in-Chief Tim Gibbons welcomes Pet Paradise President & CEO Fernando Acosta-Rua, who shares the company's success story and vision for...

Florida is open for business- all business, thanks in large part to the BBIF or Black Business Investment Fund. Established 35 years ago, the organization funds and supports the creation and expansion of Black and minority small businesses by providing loans, education and training. In this download, OBJ Editor Cindy Barth invites CEO Inez Long to share the impact BBIF is making across the state.

Many factors are driving South Florida's growth, and the tech sector is taking notice. The pandemic-induced remote work allowed tech execs to reset their home base, and many have landed in the Miami-area. In this episode, SFBJ Editor-in-Chief Mel Melendez checks in with eMerge Americas CEO Felice Gorordo for an update, and bold predictions about the future for South Florida's growing tec...

After a successful career in private banking and consulting, Troy Taylor parlayed his expertise and relationships, landing the first Coca-Cola franchise awarded to a new owner in 60 years. In this download, TBBJ Editor Alexis Muellner invites Taylor to share his inspiring story, and how he and his team are investing in local communities across Florida.

He grew up in the Orlando-area and started his career with Disney over 30 years ago. After circling the globe, launching or leading many of Disney's popular parks and attractions, Jeff Vahle returned home to takeover as President of Walt Disney World Resort. In this episode, OBJ Editor Cindy Barth invites Vahle to take us behind the scenes, sharing his journey with Disney, and revealing his f...

When he arrived at EWU, what was then a school had a balance sheet bleeding red and was in need of new ideas to spark growth. Just four years into his tenure, A. Zachary Faison has energized Florida's first Historically Black College, leading growth and achieving status as a university. In this episode JBJ Editor-in-Chief Tim Gibbons connects with Faison for an update, and his vision for cont...

South Florida is a melting pot of people & cultures, so it's safe to assume that DE&I is no brainer--- or is it? In this enlightening episode, SFBJ Editor-in-Chief Mel Melendez invites Urban League of Broward County CEO and DE&I expert Germaine Smith-Baugh to reveal how even an area as diverse as South Florida can improve in this critical area.

It's no secret why the tech sector is attracted to Tampa Bay. The University of South Florida is home to the National Academy of Inventors, and USF faculty, staff, students and alumni collectively hold over 2,400 patents. Enter Rhea Law, who seemed preordained for the role of President. In this episode, TBBJ Editor Alexis Muellner welcomes Law to pause momentarily to outline her ambitious goa...

He's a visionary, yet at the same time a realist. PS27 CEO Jim Stallings invests in companies led by passionate founders with a personal stake- and more importantly, companies that actually make money. In this episode, JBJ Editor-in-Chief Tim Gibbons drills down with Stallings on his past, principles, and where he sees opportunities in a challenging market.

Born & raised in the Orlando-area, developer Craig Ustler has a vested interest in getting it done right. Rather than focusing on a specific property type, he instead takes a neighborhood approach, blending his projects into the fabric of the community. In this episode, OBJ Editor Cindy Barth connects with Ustler to get an update on his projects, and his vision for the future of Orlando's...

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...