Small Biz Florida

Ep. 408 | Robotics, AI & the Future of Florida Manufacturing with EZ Automation Systems (Recorded at Florida Small Business Day at the Capitol 2026)

In this forward-looking episode of Small Biz Florida, host Tom Kindred interviews Ahmed Tawfik, CEO of EZ Automation Systems, to explore how robotics and AI are transforming the manufacturing landscape in Florida. Ahmed Tawfik shares his personal journey from engineer to entrepreneur and explains how his company goes beyond quality control creating smart feedback loops that help manufacturers improve their processes, reduce scrap, and boost efficiency. He also discusses the rapid growth of Florida’s manufacturing sector and the need to educate small businesses on automation’s potential. Wrapping up, Ahmed Tawfik offers key advice for business owners: don’t just work in your business—work on it.

This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guest:
EZ Automation Systems

Ep. 407 | The Advocate You Didn’t Know You Needed: Public Adjusting for Small Business (Recorded at Florida Small Business Day at the Capitol 2026)

In this enlightening episode of Small Biz Florida, host Tom Kindred speaks with Matthew Andress, founder of Mockingbird Public Adjusting, about a lesser-known but critical service for business owners: public adjusting. Matthew shares his unique journey from art and IT to entrepreneurship, eventually launching his own firm to advocate for policyholders navigating complex insurance claims after disasters. He explains how a public adjuster helps take the burden off homeowners and business owners during the stressful post-disaster recovery process by translating insurance policies, documenting damage, and negotiating fair settlements. The conversation is a must-listen for any entrepreneur seeking to better understand their insurance coverage, avoid costly mistakes, and prepare for the unexpected.

This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

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Mockingbird Public Adjusting

Ep. 406 | Inside the SBA's Record-Breaking Year & Bold Plans for 2026 (Recorded at Florida Small Business Day at the Capitol 2026)

In this powerful episode of Small Biz Florida, host Tom Kindred sits down with two of the SBA’s top leaders: Tyler Teresa, Southeast Regional Administrator, and Jonel Hein, North Florida District Director. Together, they break down the SBA’s “Four Cs” Consulting, Credit, Contracting, and Crises, while spotlighting a historic achievement: over $1 billion in capital access delivered to small businesses in North Florida in 2025. The conversation goes beyond the numbers, diving into the SBA's strategic goals for 2026, including nationwide deregulation efforts, support for American manufacturing, and expanded rural outreach. With over three decades of service, Jonel Hein brings firsthand insight into the agency's evolution, while Tyler Teresa outlines a vision for smarter, faster service delivery. Whether you're a startup founder or seasoned business owner, this episode offers a comprehensive look at how the SBA and Florida SBDC Network are working together to support entrepreneurs across the state.

This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guest:
Small Business Administration – SBA.gov

Special Episode | Merging Music and Marketing: How Krystle Martinez Created Luxe Harmony Music

In this special episode of Small Biz Florida, host Tom Kindred sits down with Krystle Martinez, a classically trained violinist and founder of Luxe Harmony Music. Martinez shares her compelling journey from public school music teacher to successful entrepreneur, detailing how her unexpected pivot into sales led to the launch of her own live music business. She explains how Luxe Harmony Music brings elegance and emotion to events through live string performances, offering soloists, duets, trios, and quartets for weddings and private gatherings.

Krystle dives deep into the business side of music, discussing how she found a niche in the events market, tackled early challenges in communicating her vision, and leveraged market research and networking to stand out in a competitive field. She highlights the unique emotional impact of live music, especially in an era dominated by pre-recorded sound and artificial intelligence, and emphasizes the importance of mentorship, particularly through the Florida SBDC Network.

Connect with Our Guest:
https://luxeharmonyllc.com/ 

Ep. 405 | Ag-Tech or Bust: Solving Florida’s Farm Labor Crisis with AI

In this insightful episode recorded live at the 2025 Florida Rural Economic Development Summit, Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred sits down with Dr. Scott Angle, Senior Vice President of UF/IFAS (Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences) at the University of Florida. Dr. Angle shares a powerful message: Florida agriculture is facing a critical labor shortage that threatens its future, and the solution lies in treating farming like a business and embracing advanced technologies, particularly artificial intelligence.

Dr. Angle outlines UF/IFAS’s multi-pronged strategy to modernize agriculture in Florida through cutting-edge research, workforce development partnerships with state colleges, and efforts to recruit ag-tech companies to the state. He also highlights the vital role of the Cooperative Extension Service in connecting university research with real-world applications in Florida’s rural communities. This episode delivers a compelling vision of Florida as a future ag-tech hub and a reminder that innovation is not optional; it’s essential for survival.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the 2025 Florida Rural Economic Development Association (FREDA) Summit hosted at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

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University of Florida IFAS

Ep. 404 | Freight Rail’s Hidden Power: Fueling Rural Florida’s Economy

Recorded live at the 2025 Florida Rural Economic Development Association (FREDA) Summit, this episode of Small Biz Florida features Cassie Dull, Chief Commercial Officer of Pinsly Railroad Company. Cassie joins host Tom Kindred to pull back the curtain on the vital yet often overlooked role of freight rail in supporting small businesses and driving economic growth in rural Florida. She shares that Pinsly Railroad operates eight short-line railroads, including the Florida Gulf and Atlantic Railroad, which spans 400 miles across North Florida and serves as a logistical backbone for industries ranging from construction to food distribution. With over 16 years in the rail industry, Cassie explains how rail can be a cost-effective, efficient alternative to trucking, and how Pinsly partners with counties to attract new industries by building rail infrastructure and educating business owners about the benefits of freight rail.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the 2025 Florida Rural Economic Development Association (FREDA) Summit hosted at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, Florida. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guest:
Pinsly Railroad Company

Special Episode | Unlocking Major Tax Breaks for Manufacturers: What the New OBBBA Law Means for You

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, host Tom Kindred sits down with Andrew Zapf, CPA, Senior Tax Manager at Withum. Andrew shares critical insights into the recently passed legislation known as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" or OBBBA. The conversation explains how this bill reinstates the full expensing of research and experimental (R&E) costs, reintroduces 100% bonus depreciation for machinery, and introduces a powerful new incentive: 100% bonus depreciation for new manufacturing facilities under the Qualified Production Property (QPP) rule. Whether you're a small manufacturer or a large-scale producer, this episode unpacks how the latest tax reforms can fuel expansion, increase cash flow, and support growth across Florida’s booming manufacturing sector. Andrew also emphasizes the complexity of these provisions and why strategic, professional tax planning is crucial to avoid costly mistakes.

 

Connect with Our Guest:
https://www.withum.com

Ep. 403 | Closing Florida’s Talent Gap: How Xello Connects Students with Future Careers

In this forward-looking episode, Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred sits down with Noa Lipton, Territory Manager, and Ralph Aiello, Work-Based Learning Partnership Manager for Xello, live from the 2025 Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum. The conversation explores how Xello, a state-funded career and academic planning platform, is transforming K-12 education by helping students, starting in kindergarten, discover future careers, build academic pathways, and connect with real-world opportunities, such as internships and apprenticeships. Available at no cost to all Florida public and charter schools, Xello is a powerful workforce development tool helping solve the state's talent shortage. Small businesses are encouraged to get involved by creating a free business profile, giving them access to over 2.5 million students eager to explore careers and gain experience. This episode highlights how early exposure, equity, and public-private collaboration are key to preparing Florida’s next-generation workforce.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guests:
https://xello.world/en/

Ep. 402 | Breaking Generational Poverty: Heather Cogar on Florida’s Prosperity Initiative

In this moving episode recorded live at the Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum, Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred speaks with Heather Cogar, Statewide Director of Community Engagement for the Florida Prosperity Initiative. Cogar shares her deeply personal journey from foster care and homelessness to becoming a sheriff’s deputy, successful entrepreneur, and now a statewide leader working to cut childhood poverty in half by 2030. She explains how the initiative uses zip-code-level data to target the areas most in need and mobilizes business leaders as "zip code leaders" to connect existing nonprofits and community resources with families. Rather than creating new programs, the Florida Prosperity Initiative focuses on eliminating silos, driving collaboration, and building self-sufficiency over government dependency, all to secure Florida’s economic future by investing in its children today.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guest:
Florida Prosperity Initiative: https://www.flchamber.com/florida-prosperity-initiative

Ep. 401 | Florida’s Manufacturing Boom: Jason Mahon & Kevin Carr on Economic Growth and Future Industries

Live from the Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum, this milestone Small Biz Florida episode features a powerhouse conversation with Jason Mahon, Florida’s Deputy Secretary of Economic Development and Chief Manufacturing Officer, and Kevin Carr, CEO of FloridaMakes. Together, they break down Florida’s extraordinary economic surge, including a jump in state GDP from $1.1 trillion to $1.7 trillion and the doubling of manufacturing GDP to over $80 billion in just six years. The discussion highlights how Florida has become a national leader in manufacturing productivity, how collaboration between support organizations (like FloridaMakes, SBDC, and Florida Commerce) fuels this momentum, and why future industries such as Ag Tech, shipbuilding, and quantum innovation are in focus. Most importantly, they explain why small businesses are the benchmark of Florida’s success story.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the Florida Chamber Future of Florida Forum hosted at the JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guests:
Florida Department of Commerce: https://www.floridajobs.org
FloridaMakes: https://www.floridamakes.com