From the Corner Office

Kaitlyn Perez launched her own business, KPC Strategies, in January 2024. Prior to that she was senior director of communications and marketing with the National Policing Institute and community affairs director for the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office for nearly seven years. On this episode Kaitlyn and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talk about her career change, in going from top l...

Chris Cunningham, owner of a True-Value hardware store in Tampa and a commercial real estate investor, started his career in lending and financial services. But he soon learned he wanted to do his own thing, and has spent the past 15 years building and buying complementary businesses. On this episode Chris and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talk about his mentors and how he learned...

Helene Lotman has been in the nonprofit human services space for 40 years, and is currently CEO of JFCS of the Suncoast, which works with people in need in a variety of demographics in a non-dominational setting. Helene has worked in Kansas City, Palm Beach and other spots, in addition to an earlier stint in Sarasota. On this episode Helene and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talk ab...

Justin Papadakis has spent his career in real estate development and soccer, with his most recent position being a bit of both: deputy CEO and chief real estate officer of the United Soccer League, based in Tampa. On this episode Justin and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talk about what he learned about leadership from playing soccer — he was a goalie — and the steps the USL is taki...

Longtime Pinellas County resident Kevin Harrington has a stellar resume. Among the highlights: inventor of the infomercial, shark on the first year of the TV show “Shark Tank,” Fortune 100 investor, philanthropist and author. Kevin has launched over 1,000 products in 100 countries, creating some $6 billion in sales. On this episode Kevin and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talk about...

Joe Dodd’s restaurant and hospitality career has taken a lot of twists and turns, overcoming some missteps, in locations and partnerships, among others. But now his award-winning King of the Coop, specializing in Nashville hot chicken, is a hit in Tampa’s Seminole Heights neighborhood. On this episode Joe and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon chatted about the keys to building a strong...

Ashley has been in the nonprofit sector in Florida for a decade or so, working for the United Way Suncoast and the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, among other entities. She was named president and CEO of the Florida Philanthropic Network, which works with foundations statewide in research, education and public policy, in 2020. On this episode Ashley talks about how she got into nonprofits, wh...

Jamie founded Growing Your Team in 2018 after working for a decade or so in the marketing field. Growing Your Team helps other companies, mostly small businesses, not only hire the right people but find the right position for that new employee.  On this episode Jamie talks about the challenges — and freedom — in starting Growing Your Team  (with a pivot after she founded a different company) and h...

Brandon has been in banking in Southwest Florida for 15 years, joining Orlando-based Cogent in 2020. He started his career in his native Louisiana, working for IberiaBank in Baton Rouge and since coming to the Naples-Fort Myers market he’s become a go-to leader in the business and civic community.  On this episode Brandon talks about the lessons he learned from navigating the 2008-09 recession as...

Mike Quillen is the president of three independent restaurant groups that include 15 locations in Florida and North Carolina, with some 800 employees. The list includes Gecko’s Grill & Pub, which opened its flagship restaurant in Sarasota in 1992. On this episode Mike talks about his early start in hospitality — it includes parking cars for a Siesta Key valet company while in high school. He a...

John Couris is one of the most recognized health care leaders in the Sunshine State, having run the Florida Health Sciences Center, parent entity of Tampa General Hospital, since 2017. On this episode, John Couris talks about how he leads one of the biggest medical and health care organizations in Florida. One key: constantly and consistently focusing on culture. Listen, too, for how he overcomes...

Lilah (pronounced like Layla) has overseen the supply chain for east Manatee County-based First Watch since 2017. She’s been in food service supply and logistics for some 30 years, working for Bloomin’ Brands and Benihana, among other entities. On this episode Lilah talks about her early lessons in hospitality, including why details matter and why no task in a customer service field is insignifica...

A nonprofit executive, Sarah has been with the University Area CDC since 2010 and executive director and CEO since 2015. The University Area CDC is a nonprofit public/private partnership supporting residents and neighborhoods in the University area, surrounding University of South Florida's Tampa campus. On this episode, Sarah talks about what she learned about leadership from growing up and worki...

Sam Guerrieri is an executive vice president with the Canandaigua National Trust Co., where, among other units, he oversees CNB Wealth Management, Canandaigua National Trust Company of Florida. The Florida division is based in Sarasota. On this episode Sam talks about how he got into banking — and why he stayed in the field. He also talks about mentorship — both his mentors and mentees — and the e...

Mike Sutton was named CEO of the Tampa Bay Gulfside unit a decade ago, when it had just finished house No. 280 and was only in Pinellas County. Now it’s in two more counties — Pasco and Hernando — and is closing in on house No. 1,000. On this episode, Mike talks about his why and how he connects that to his day-to-day role at Habitat. He also talks about how he holds the team accountable and what...

Phillip Lanham is approaching his two-year anniversary of being named president and CEO of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, one of the largest, and most visible, foundations in the region. The foundation, with some $500 million in assets, works with donors and nonprofits in everything from the environment to affordable housing to economic development. On this episode, Phillip talks about the c...

Jennifer Hemmerdinger has been in the media and public relations business for some two decades, going back to when she was a DJ on FM radio in New Hampshire in 2004. She later worked for CBS News in Boston and wrote about taxes for several publications in Washington, D.C. She joined EY in branding, marketing and communications in 2016. On this episode Jen talks about a recent LinkedIn post she wro...

John Catsimatidis has garnered a net worth of $4.5 billion through grit, guts and guile. Raised in a tight-knit Greek-American family, Catsimatidis learned how to hustle and get along with just about anyone while growing up in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. He’s now CEO of Red Apple Group, a conglomerate that includes oil refining, the Gristedes grocery chain in New York City and, notab...

Rick Severance has worked for some of the largest development communities in Florida, leading up to his current post, as president of Wellen Park, a master-planned community in south Sarasota County. And his passion for building communities is high-level. On this episode, Rick talks about what he believes makes a good work culture, his strategy for growing a community at the right pace, his mentor...

Roger Germann has overseen a major growth spurt and expansion at the Florida Aquarium in the past five-plus years. The budget has grown from $21 million to $42 million in his tenure, and attendance has surpassed 1 million guests. Germann has also significantly raised the profile of the Florida Aquarium, signing partnership agreements with entities like Tampa General Hospital, Feeding Tampa Bay and...

Les McCurdy wasn’t born funny. But he’s learned a lot about the business of being funny in nearly 40 years of running a comedy club. McCurdy’s, in downtown Sarasota, draws acts and standup comedians from across the world and, despite being in a mid-size market, has national notoriety for being a top tier comedy club. On this episode Les talks about his origin story and how he has been successful i...

For nearly two decades, many in the region have known Sharon Hillstrom as a go-to leader for economic development and business prosperity in Manatee County. She does that locally, nationally and even abroad. On this episode Sharon talks about some key lessons she has learned while working with all these entities. Some examples: consistency is essential; company culture is as well; and a leader’s e...

IMG Academy CEO Brent Richard joined the school and athletic campus — known worldwide and one of Manatee County’s largest private employers — in 2020, after a career working for one legendary company on Wall Street and one in Hollywood. On this episode Brent talks about the lessons he learned from his mentors — business is a contact sport is one; fail fast is another — and what he has learned abou...

Marlene Spalten has overseen a major era of growth in her decade at the helm of one of the largest community foundations in Florida: the Community Foundation Tampa Bay now has more than $750 million in assets and donor-advised funds. On this episode, Marlene talks about her collaborative leadership style and how the foundation, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, has such high emp...

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar President Sheilina Henry wears her leadership style — authentically focused, mission-driven and people-centric — on her sleeve. And with a sense of humility. (The first entry on her LinkedIn profile says Girl Mom.) On this episode Sheilina talks about her restaurant career start (old-school Pizza Hut in Chicago) and how she found her way and climbed the care...