The Money Market Podcast

Cybersecurity expert Gary Brickhouse, chief information and security officer at GuidePoint security, sits down with host Owen LaFave for a conversation relevant to anyone who's ever repeated the same login password or opened a suspicious email. Gary reveals the common and increasingly sophisticated threats of phishing scams, data breaches, AI-driven cyber attacks, and the rise of nation-state acto...

Meghan O'Keeffe, Executive Director of Tampa Bay Tech, sits down with host Owen LaFave to imagine what the regional tech scene will look like in the next 5-10 years. Tampa Bay is attracting more startups, especially those seeking an affordable alternative to Silicon Valley, Austin, or New York. But while access to venture capital has improved–causing unprecedented growth in the local tech ecosyste...

Lisa Chandler–a key player in Clearwater Beach's transformation from tourist hot spot to year-round, family-friendly destination–joins host Owen LaFave for a lively discussion on all things sand. A Clearwater native, Lisa's entrepreneurial journey began when she and her husband opened a 1950s-style diner that evolved into Pier 60 concessions. Inspired by a sand museum in South Africa, Lisa launche...

Mike Calta, Tampa Bay's award-winning radio personality and host of The Mike Calta Show on 102.5 The Bone, has kept Tampa residents entertained during their morning commutes for years. Today the tables are turned as Mike keeps it real with host Owen LaFave in a conversation about the secrets behind his high ratings. From his early days in radio where he gained valuable hands-on experience as an in...

Award-winning entrepreneur and author Gary Hartfield shares his inspiring and deeply personal story with host Owen LaFave. Gary describes his unconventional career path and humble beginnings in small-town Florida, revealing how his parents' aspirations shaped his choices and gave him a strong work ethic and passion for leadership. Despite earning an engineering degree and an MBA, Gary felt unfulfi...

Michelle Detweiler, President and CEO of Parc Center for Disabilities, reveals her secrets to sustaining a nonprofit organization for over seven decades. In this inspiring conversation with host Owen LaFave, Michelle discusses challenges many nonprofits face: balancing financial constraints with the need to expand essential services, modernizing aging facilities, and ensuring a high-quality enviro...

Andrew Wright, CEO of Franklin Street, joins Owen LaFave to discuss how the growth of his business led to the evolution of his leadership style. Andrew started Franklin Street at age 26 and expanded from mortgage banking into insurance once he recognized its critical role in real estate transactions. Today, Franklin Street continues focusing on strategic growth while maintaining cultural alignment...

David Habib, founder of Yo Mama Foods, shares his entrepreneurial journey with host Owen LeFave, revealing the secret to creating a clean product and premium food brand that refuses to sacrifice quality–all while scaling a successful business. Raised on his grandmother's homemade recipes in a family that immigrated from Egypt to France and eventually to the U.S., David launched Yo Mama Foods with...

Nicholas Smith, managing partner of Smith Fence – a third-generation, family-owned Florida business – covers a lot of ground with host Owen LeFave in this conversation that explores how a company can innovate successfully in a competitive industry, all while staying true to its roots. Nicholas shares the origin story of Smith Fence, tracing the business back to his grandfather, who entered the fen...

Kyle Robinson, President of the Plant City Strawberry Festival, sits down with host Owen LeFave to discuss his career journey and lifelong connection to an annual event that has seen its own evolution. Kyle managed security for the Strawberry Festival during many of the 27 years he spent working with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. He became president of the festival in 2022. Since its 1...

Roger Germann, President and CEO of The Florida Aquarium, sits down with Owen LaFave to discuss why turning Tampa Bay into a cultural gem of Florida is a worthwhile investment. Having reached the milestone of serving over 1 million visitors per year for the past two years, The Florida Aquarium – rated among the top 10 aquariums in the nation – is a prime example of how an attraction can engage the...

Phil Esposito, an NHL Hall of Famer instrumental in expanding the sport of hockey in Florida, gives Owen LaFave the inside scoop on what it takes to build a long-lasting career in a specific industry–even an industry as competitive as professional sports. Ever candid, Esposito describes how he pivoted from being a record-breaking NHL player in the 1970s and 80s to building a hockey franchise in Ta...

Raphael Perrier, co-founder of Kahwa Coffee Roasters, reveals to host, Owen LaFave, why a business' brand is its most vital asset–even if building a brand customers recognize is far from easy. Hear how Raphael and his wife Sarah launched Kahwa in a humble 3,000 square-foot warehouse and now operate out of a 20,000 square-foot facility, growing their retail locations and franchise to become the lar...

Veronica Cintron, Vice President of Communications at Tampa International Airport (TPA), sits down with Owen LaFave to discuss the $11 billion economic impact this award-winning airport has on the Tampa Bay region annually. Veronica shares her story of transitioning from a successful journalism career as a battle-tested news anchor to leading an aviation team during the 2020 pandemic when crisis c...

Jeff Wherry, Vice President and Group Manager of Healthcare at JE Dunn Construction, joins host Owen LaFave to explore why the fast-growing Tampa Bay market is even bigger than we tend to think–and what this means for business leaders seeking to build bridges across the region. Jeff served in the U.S. Army where he disposed of explosives that destroyed buildings; now, he constructs buildings that...

Ashley Watters, President of the Westshore Alliance and Commercial Relationship Manager for The Bank of Tampa, talks shop with Owen LaFave about the exciting future of the Westshore District, one of Tampa's most prolific areas. Ashley shares a brief history of the Alliance and the leadership that has solidified its position as the leading business district, not just in Tampa Bay, but all of Florid...

Scott Smith, President of St. Anthony's Hospital, joins host Owen LaFave to explore the hospital's rich history and its deep roots in the St. Petersburg community. Founded in 1921 as Faith Hospital and acquired by the Franciscan Sisters of Alleghany in 1931, this 448-bed facility became part of BayCare in 1997, the largest hospital network in West Central Florida with 16 hospitals. Scott reflects...

Oscar Horton, Sun State International's President and Chief Executive Officer, and one of Tampa Bay's Most Admired CEOs of the Year, as deemed by the Tampa Bay Business Journal, joins host, Owen LaFave, to share his "secret sauce" to running his award-winning family-owned commercial truck and trailer business. Learn how his experience in the niche harvesting equipment industry led to a move to Tam...

Jennifer Rominiecki, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, sits down with host Owen LaFave and shares the 50-year history of this award-winning 45-acre, two-campus, sanctuary located on Sarasota Bay. Jennifer tells the story of how she, a born and bred New Yorker, with an impressive fine arts resume, made her way to Sarasota and the Marie Selby Botanical Garde...

Legendary Florida land use attorney, Ronald Weaver, sits down to explore his remarkable 50-year career. Known for his pivotal role in shaping Tampa Bay and Florida's growth, Ron shares stories from his journey, offering insight into the explosive development that has transformed the region. From Tampa's rich historical roots to the essential role of infrastructure in its future, he sheds light on...

Todd Cordell, Trust Director at The Bank of Tampa, joins us to dive into the essentials of estate planning. Todd shares his expertise on the five key documents needed to secure your legacy and highlights how an effective estate plan provides peace of mind. With stories from his daily work, Todd offers a unique look into a trust officer's world and reveals the compassion his team brings to each cli...

Lee & Associates Tampa Bay President, Julia Silvia, sits down to walk us through her journey to leading and launching one of the regions fastest-growing commercial real estate brokerage firms. Julia shares her insights on what it takes to start and scale a business in a competitive market, her approach to building and leading a successful team, and the leadership lessons she's learned along the wa...

Camelot Community Cares President and CEO, Mike DiBrizzi, joins us to discuss the incredible work the organization does to transform the lives of children in need. From offering essential services to vulnerable children and families, to sharing heartwarming success stories, we explore how Camelot Community Cares makes a lasting positive impact throughout the Tampa Bay area. We also discuss how the...

Clearwater Mayor, Bruce Rector, sits down to dive into his vision for Clearwater's future, exploring his platform and his ambitious economic development plan. Touching on the importance of diversifying Clearwater's tourism industry and on how transportation improvements in the Tampa Bay area will positively impact Clearwater's growth, the Mayor joins us for a forward-looking discussion on leadersh...

BT Wealth Advisors' Managing Director, Stacey Pittman, shares her expertise on a range of topics including wealth management strategies, the future of interest rates, and asset protection. Discover how BT Wealth Advisors grew from $200 million to over $1.4 billion in assets, and learn Stacey's insights on college planning, the impact of market volatility and the role of gold in today's economy. St...