Small Biz Florida

Ep. 195 | Behind the Scenes: Taking A Look at the History of the JMI Small Business Leadership Conference

Step into the bustling hallways of the Small Business Leadership Conference, where small business owners and entrepreneurs gather to network, learn, and be inspired. In this episode, we have the pleasure of interviewing Melissa Roberts, the Managing Director of the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at Florida State University. Melissa shares her journey and the Institute's mission to cultivate, train, and inspire entrepreneurial leaders. Discover the flagship programs offered by the Institute, including the Small Business Executive Program, Non-Profit Executive Program, and the Entrepreneurship Bootcamp for Veterans and Families. Dive into the origins of the conference and its expansion, bringing together local business owners, veterans, and participants from across the nation to connect, learn, and share best practices. Join us for an engaging conversation filled with valuable insights and stories of entrepreneurial success.
 
– Learn more about the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship: https://jimmoraninstitute.fsu.edu/ 
For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual JMI Small Business Leadership Conference hosted at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort.

Ep. 194 | Behind the Scenes: Insights from the event coordinators behind the 12th Annual JMI Small Business Leadership Conference

Join us at the 12th annual JMI Small Business Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, as we dive into a power-packed event filled with inspiring speakers, informative presentations, and an audience brimming with small business owners and operators. In this episode, we sit down with Amy Karimipour, President of AK Consulting Group of America, Inc., the meeting planners behind this extraordinary conference. Amy shares her entrepreneurial journey, the importance of creating the right environment for success, and the incredible diversity of clients and events AK Consulting has worked with over the past 15 years. Tune in to gain valuable insights and discover the secrets behind hosting successful conferences and meetings.
 
– Learn more about AK Consulting Group of America, Inc.:https://akconsultinggroup.org/ 
For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual JMI Small Business Leadership Conference hosted at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort.

Ep. 193 | Setting the Stage: A Comprehensive Preview of the Florida SBDC Network Small Business Success Summit

Picture this: a gathering of passionate business owners, top-notch speakers, and a wealth of knowledge-sharing opportunities. Last year's Florida SBDC Small Business Success Summit in Tampa was a roaring success, and this year, we're heading to the vibrant city of Fort Lauderdale in August to celebrate small business all over again! Tune in for all the details…
Welcome back to Small Biz Florida, where we connect small business owners and entrepreneurial individuals to invaluable resources across the Sunshine State. In this episode, we're thrilled to dive into one of the most anticipated business events of the year: the Florida SBDC Small Business Success Summit. Our special guest, Bridget LaCoste, Events and Stakeholder Relationships Manager at the Florida SBDC Network, will be our guide as we explore the ins and outs of this incredible summit.
Follow along as we discuss: 
Bridget will walk us through the event's agenda, providing a comprehensive overview of the day's activities and how to get registered.
Discover the extraordinary keynote speaker, Kristen Hadid, who brings 15 years of experience working with high-performing leaders worldwide. Her captivating entrepreneurial journey and wealth of knowledge are sure to resonate with our audience.
The summit's theme for this year is "Trade, Technology, and Transformation." Explore how these key elements impact small businesses and drive success.
Learn more about the Success Summit here: https://floridasbdc.org/success_summit/  
 

Ep. 192 | Empowering Second-Stage Businesses: Insights from Ruth Buchanan, Vice President of Economic Development at GrowFL

Join Small Biz Florida as Ruth Buchanan, Vice President of Economic Development at GrowFL, shares her inspiring professional background that starts with her journey from the Philippines to the United States. 
Discover how GrowFL, as the state's sole agency dedicated to helping second-stage businesses grow, focuses its resources and passion on CEOs and their specific needs and pain points. Ruth Explains how their business programs are designed to cater to CEOs, providing valuable assistance to overcome challenges and achieve growth. 
Ruth takes us through GrowFL's impactful "Florida Companies to Watch" program, a prestigious recognition for growing second-stage companies headquartered in Florida. This program honors companies that demonstrate high performance in the marketplace through innovative strategies and processes. 
– Learn more about GrowFL: https://growfl.com/ 
For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual Florida Economic Development Council Conference hosted at Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort

Ep. 191 | WonderFL: Attracting Talent and Enhancing Lives in Florida with Wes Hudgens, Lead Project Manager of Economic Development at FPL

Join Small Biz Florida as Tom Kindred interviews Wes Hudgens, Lead Project Manager of Economic Development at Florida Power and Light (FPL), to discuss the exciting WonderFL campaign. Discover how FPL, a significant contributor to Florida's growth, is partnering with communities and businesses to support talent attraction efforts across the state. 
With 12 years of experience at FPL, Wes shares his journey from customer service to community relations and now economic development, He expresses his enthusiasm for his new role, which allows him to continue supporting communities and customers in making lives better in Florida. 
Explore the WonderFL initiative, a statewide talent attraction campaign designed to complement ongoing efforts in recruiting the necessary talent for business success. 
Wes gives us an overview of the user-friendly website, WonderFL.com, which serves as a funnel starting at the statewide level and guiding users to explore specific regions. Visitors can discover the unique quality of life, resources, assets, cost of living, and demographics of each area, helping them envision their future in Florida. 
– Learn more about WonderFL https://wonderfl.com/ 
For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual Florida Economic Development Council Conference hosted at Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort

Ep. 190 | Revolutionizing Economic Development Data Management with Matthew Francis Head of Sale at REsimplifi

In this episode of Small Biz Florida host, Tom Kindred welcomes Matthew Francis back for an update episode on REsimplifi. 
Discover how REsimplifi's platform streamlines the collection and management of property data for economic development websites, freeing up valuable time for more specialized work. Matt highlights the importance of embracing technology in Economic Development and how Florida leads the way in adopting advanced tools and solutions.
Explore REsimplifi's strategic partnerships with GIS planning, GIS web tech, marketing companies, and CRM platforms, enabling seamless integration and enhanced efficiency for economic development agencies.
– Learn more about REsimplifi: https://resimplifi.com/ 
For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual Florida Economic Development Council Conference hosted at Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort

Ep. 189 | Building Relationships: The Importance of Economic Development Marketing with Dave Petr

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, Tom Kindred interviews Dave Petr, CEO of Marketing Alliance, about his pathway to economic development marketing and the niche his company operates in. Dave explains how economic development marketing is shifting from a government entity to a marketing function and emphasizes the importance of building relationships and trust with organizations and talent pools in order to attract the right people to regions.
Listen in as Dave shares his insights on the top 5 reasons or compelling selling points for Florida, from its diverse economy and workforce to its business-friendly climate and quality of life. As a practitioner in economic development for over 10 years, Dave provides valuable expertise on the unique storytelling approach required to promote Florida's cities and regions for economic development.
– Learn more about Marketing Alliance: https://www.marketingallianceinc.com/ 
For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual Florida Economic Development Council Conference hosted at Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort

Ep. 188 | Empowering Economic Developers: Unleashing the Potential of Localintel with Dave Parsell, Founder and CEO

Tune into Small Biz Florida as host Tom Kindred sits down with Dave Parsell, the Founder, and CEO of Localintel, an award-winning government technology company. Explore the groundbreaking tools and solutions that Localintel provides to hundreds of Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) and Economic Development Corporations (EDCs), enabling them to showcase their community's advantages and drive economic growth. 
During this episode, we dive into Dave's professional background, which spans senior roles in consulting and local government with a specialization in economic development. Dave also has experience in the banking sector and military service.
Join us as we discover how a simple idea became a thriving business that has helped hundreds of communities and businesses grow.  
– Learn more about Localintel:  https://www.ecdev.org/ 
For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual Florida Economic Development Council Conference hosted at Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort
 
 

Ep. 187 | Nurturing Small Rural Businesses: Exploring USDA Programs with Catrina Southall

Join host Tom Kindred in an informative episode of Small Biz Florida as he sits down with Catrina Southall, Deputy State Director for the USDA in Florida. 
Get ready to gain valuable insights into how the USDA supports and engages with Small Business owners in rural communities across the state. Learn how USDA is unlocking a world of opportunities for growth and success within these regions. 
Explore the USDA's programs tailored specifically for small business owners and operators. Uncover eligibility criteria and learn how to access and navigate the user-friendly map on the USDA website.  
Don't miss this enlightening episode as Catrina Southall shares her expertise and uncovers the ways in which the USDA is dedicated to fostering the growth and success of small businesses, paving the way for a resilient economic landscape. 
– Learn more about USDA Small Business: https://www.usda.gov/smallbiz 
For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual Florida Economic Development Council Conference hosted at Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort

Ep. 186 | Powering Economic Growth: Unleashing the Potential of GIS Planning with Alissa Sklar and Jerry Starnes

Tom Kindred hosts an enlightening episode of Small Biz Florida as he sits down with GIS Planning's Alissa Sklar, Vice President of Marketing, and Jerry Starnes, Director of New Business Sector Development. 
Discover how GIS Planning simplifies complex geographic data for non-GIS users, providing valuable insights to organizations such as Florida Power and Light and Economic Development Groups. Explore the vast array of data points, including demographics, consumer spending, business sectors, broadband coverage, transportation networks, and incentives.
– Learn more about GIS Planning: https://www.gisplanning.com/ 
For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments were recorded at this year’s annual Florida Economic Development Council Conference hosted at Sheraton Orlando Lake Buena Vista Resort