It's Happenin' In the Haven

In this week's episode entitled The Lost September, Chamber President Katie Worthington Decker shares her personal experience of COVID-19 hitting her family over the last month. We also have a small business spotlight with Joy Kerr, owner of Smoothie Squad , a hip and modern restaurant that serves smoothies, smoothie bowls, wraps, flatbreads, quinoa bowls, salads, vegan and gluten-free options. Th...

In this best of highlight compilation episode, we share segments from interviews with Nikki Smith with ASAP Prints , Dr. Martha Santiago, County Commissioner , and Hiep Nguyen, Smart City Officer at the City of Winter Haven . This podcast is recorded at Dolphin Image Studios and made possible through sponsorships from Fred Simons Insurance Agency – Farmers Insurance , Meeks Real Estate LLC and Adv...

In this best of highlight compilation episode, we share segments from interviews with Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti of Polk State College, Fred Koehler, children's' book author and illustrator, and Brad Dantzler, Mayor of the City of Winter Haven. This podcast is recorded at Dolphin Image Studios and made possible through sponsorships from Fred Simons Insurance Agency – Farmers Insurance , Meeks Re...

In Episode 32 - Standing Ovation we speak to Dan Chesnicka and Sara Catherine Barnes with Theatre Winter Haven to introduce their new Ovation Institute , an alternative learning environment for students who have selected distance learning. We also have a small business spotlight featuring Susan Denis, owner of Ba Dah Bling Paparazzi Accessories & More retail jewelry store in downtown Winter Ha...

In Episode 32 - Decision 2020 we hear the full interview with Andrew Wiggins, Senior Director of Political Affairs and Coalition Advocacy with the Florida Chamber of Commerce about the political landscape in Florida, what lessons were learned from the August 18 primary and what we could expect to see on November 3rd. We also have a healthcare segment with Dr. Chad Lamoreaux of AdventHealth about l...

In Episode 31 -  Gray's Anatomy  we speak to Dr. Nathan Falk, Founding Program Director for the new Florida State University College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency at Winter Haven Hospital . We also learn more about the state constitutional amendments you'll be asked to decide on your November 3rd ballot from Andrew Wiggins, Senior Director of Political Affairs and Coalition Advoc...

In Episode 30 -  Stronger Together  Christine Samuel, the newly appointed Director of Diversity and Inclusivity with the City of Winter Haven, shares her experiences that prepared her to take on this role, the purpose and goals of this role at the City and the importance of this focus in the context of the national conversation on inequality and opportunity. In our health segment, D...

In Episode 29 -   Our Product is Hope & Love we welcome Steve Giordano of the Boys and Girls Club to the podcast! Steve joins us to speak about the mission of their nonprofit and the services they provide. Next, we will hear a medical segment from General Surgeon, Dr. Buck Scott of AdventHealth Medical Group.

In Episode 28 -   Servant Leader we are beyond honored to welcome Sheriff Grady Judd to our podcast. Listen in to hear about the path Sheriff Judd traveled to becoming the Sheriff of Polk County and why he believes cultivating strong community relationships is important. Sheriff Judd also shares some of those crazy criminal stories that we love so much.

In Episode 27 - Hiep & Smart Hiep Nguyen, Smart City Officer of the City of Winter Haven joins us to speak about some of the projects the City is implementing and the steps they are taking to convert Winter Haven into a "smart city." Next, we hear about the atrial fibrillation and the importance of recognizing the symptoms, with Dr. Giancarlo Speziani of AdventHealth Heart of Florida .

In Episode 26 - Keeping Tradition Alive We are joined by former skier, show director, and 2017 Banker's Cup Citizen of the Year winner, Mark Voisard of the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team . Mark joins us to speak about the legacy of the ski team and its world-class show. Next, we will hear a "How I Got Here" segment from Talitha Bean, Leadership Director of Polk Vision , about her journey that brou...

In Episode 25 - Advocating for Education we are joined by Deputy Superintendent John Hill with Polk County Public Schools about the reopening plan for schools this fall and about his passion for our educational system and students. We also hear a non-profit segment from Sara Chase, Development Director of LifeChoice Pregnancy Center about the services they provide to our community and the options...

In Episode 24 - Achieve Your Highest Potential Dr. Michelle Henne of Relevé Sports Medicine joins us to speak about her background and experience as a woman in the sports medicine field. Next, we will hear a non-profit segment from Susan Eldridge, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels about the wonderful services they provide to our community. This podcast is sponsored by Dolphin Image Studios , t...

In Episode 23 - Preserving Our Past & Preparing for the Future we hear from Brian Yates of Citizens Bank and Trust about his career in banking, the PPP program, and what he hopes to accomplish on the commission during his first 4-year term. Next, we will hear from Christina Criser Jackson, President of United Way about the mission of United Way and what our community is doing to help during th...

In Episode 22 - Find A Dream Home we hear from one of our Podcast Presenting Sponsors, Carla Meeks with Meeks Real Estate LLC. Carla speaks about the real estate market in Polk County and what the process of selling or buying a home may look like. Next, we hear a How I Got Here segment from Carissa Hughes, owner of Gourmet Goodies Bake Shop about how her Gourmet Goodies was established and how the...

In Episode 21 -  Protect and Serve  we speak with Charlie Bird, Director of Public Safety for the City of Winter Haven about how he got involved in law enforcement. He also shares some advice to those who are looking to start similar career paths. In our next segment, we get to know one of our Podcast Presenting Sponsors a little better, we chat to Fred Simons with Farmers Insurance, the...

In Episode 20 - Smiles are Contagious Nikki Smith joins us to talk about the evolution of ASAP Prints and what the future has in store for the company she established out of her home in 2001. Next, we hear an update on Citrus Connection with their Director of External Affairs, Erin Killebrew. This podcast is sponsored by Dolphin Image Studios , the Fred Simons Insurance Agency – Farmers Insurance...

In Episode 19 - Chamber Support During COVID Chamber President/CEO Katie Worthington Decker and Chamber Vice President, Amanda Jo Nicholson join us to discuss how the Winter Haven chamber has supported our business community during COVID-19. In our next segment, Juan Pantoja, President of Dolphin Image Studios speaks with us about his background & the new procedures Dolphin Images Studios has...

In Episode 18 - Be a Good Neighbor Jennifer Fasking and Chelsea Groess of State Farm walk us through some of the wonderful initiatives State Farm is implementing and what they have in store for us in the future. In our next segment, we are joined by Kim Long, Director of Polk Vision and Alice Nuttall, Director of Behavioral Health at Lakeland Regional Health and Co-Chair of the Polk Vision Behavio...

In Episode 17 - Around the World & Back , we hear from Stephanie Claytor, Florida Associated Press award-winning multimedia reporter for Spectrum Bay News 9 and an avid traveler and blogger. (Visit her travel blog HERE .) In our next segment, we hear about food insecurities in Polk County from Kim Long, Executive Director of Polk Vision , Jenna Kasczmarski of Polk County Public Schools and Co-...

In Episode 16 - Blue Devil to Board Level we hear from Sara Beth Reynolds, who represents District 4 on the Polk County School Board and is also the Development Director of Theatre Winter Haven .  Sara Beth shares a bit of background information with us about why she decided to run for School Board and what some of her achievements and goals are as the District 4 Rep. In our next segment, we...

On Episode 15 - Conquering Adversity Brandon Giles, Head Basketball Coach at Polk State College joins us to discuss the path he followed that landed him in his coaching career today. In our next political segment, we hear from Ed Smith, Polk State College Government adjunct professor about the impeachment process and the history of impeachment in the United States. *This podcast was recorded befor...

On Episode 14 - Think Differently we speak to Chris & Amy Sexson of Destroyer Media , about their suite of products they have brought to Winter Haven, the journey of how they ended up here, and their vision and goals for our community. In the next segment, we discuss Career Academies in the Polk County School District featuring interviews with Steve Cockran, Senior Director for Workforce Educa...

In Episode 13 - Tiptoe Through the Tulips Part 2 - Mr. Lemuel "Lem" Geathers, Winter Haven's first black Commissioner and Mayor, speaks about his life in civil service to our community and the evolvement of Winter Haven. This man (and his network of relationships he has built over a lifetime) is responsible for so much of what we know of the Winter Haven of today.  This podcast is sponsored b...

In Episode 12 -  Tiptoe Through the Tulips  we hear from 94-year-old Lemuel Geathers, former City commissioner, mayor, teacher, electrical contractor, landlord, grove owner, insurance salesman, hospital board member, congressional aide, and World War II Navy veteran. In part one of a two-part interview with Mr. Geathers, he recalls his former years in World War II and what his...