Small Biz Florida

Ep. 185 | Unveiling Economic Opportunities: An Okeechobee County Update with Kaylee King

Join host Tom Kindred in an exciting episode of Small Biz Florida as he welcomes back Kaylee King, the Business Manager of the Okeechobee County Economic Development Corporation.
Discover the transformative power of economic development in Okeechobee County, a region brimming with opportunities. Kaylee's unwavering dedication and passion shine through as she discusses the impact her work has on the local community and businesses.
– Learn more about Okeechobee Economic Development Corporation: https://ocedcorp.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. 184 | Empowering Your Employees: Exploring the Potential of Employee Ownership with Roy Messing

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, host Tom Kindred welcomes back Roy Messing, Director of State Center Operations at the Employee Ownership Expansion Network. Dive into the mission of this national nonprofit organization, which aims to revolutionize the landscape of employee ownership across the United States. 
Don't miss this captivating episode as Roy Messing unravels the potential and benefits of employee ownership, offering a glimpse into a future where businesses thrive, communities prosper, and individuals become active participants in shaping their economic destinies.
– Learn more about Employee Ownership Expansion Network: https://www.eoxnetwork.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. 183 | Solution for Florida’s Workforce Gap: Discover the Power of AMI with Joseph Veranese

Join host Tom Kindred in an engaging discussion as he sits down with Joseph Veranese, the CEO of Advance Manufacturing International (AMI), in this episode of Small Biz Florida recorded at this year's Florida Economic Development Council Conference. Discover how Advance Manufacturing International is making digital transformation of small and medium manufacturers possible. AMI is focused on enabling small to medium-sized manufacturers (SMMs) everywhere to collaborate, innovate and thrive. 
Don't miss this captivating episode as Joseph Veranese takes you on a journey through the world of advanced manufacturing, workforce development, and the exciting future of Florida's manufacturing landscape. Tune in and be inspired by the possibilities that await both businesses and individuals in this ever-evolving industry.
– Learn more about Advanced Manufacturing International, Inc.: https://advmfg.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
 

New Series | Small Biz Florida Attended the 2023 Florida Economic Development Council Conference

The primary purpose of small biz Florida is to highlight and create awareness for all of Florida’s small business assistance and resource programs. One of the most effective ways to learn about, gather and share information on these resources is to attend and work at Florida’s top small business and economic development conferences.
One of these important business events was the recent Florida Economic Development Council’s 2023 Annual Conference held in Orlando, Florida. Small biz Florida was on the scene during the conference, recording and producing segments. The Small Biz Florida crew wants to thank Beth Cicchetti, Jill Blackman, and the entire FEDC team for allowing the podcast to be part of the recent conference.
The next 10 segments of Small Biz Florida were all produced and recorded at the conference-hopefully the segments will provide our listeners with valuable and beneficial information.
Please like, rate, and share our show to continue supporting the podcast with your networks, family, and friends. To stay connected and up to date on our latest releases, follow our Instagram @SmallBizFlorida!
We are so thankful for the growing and overwhelming support of our listeners. We hope our work is inspiring and helping all business owners in Florida and Nationwide! 

Ep. 182 | Brewing a Better Future: How Walking Tree Brewery is Supporting Small Brewers in Florida | FSBDC Day at the Capitol Series

In this episode, we had the pleasure of speaking with Brooke Malone, one of the co-founders of Walking Tree Brewery, a beloved establishment located on the Treasure Coast of Florida.
We start with the background and pathway of Walking Tree Brewery, exploring how the founders' passion for craft beer and community led them to start this unique establishment. From humble beginnings to becoming a well-known fixture in the area, we'll take a closer look at what makes Walking Tree Brewery so special.
During our interview, we also touched on the recent Small Business Day at the Capitol event in Tallahassee, where Walking Tree Brewery and Small Biz Florida crossed paths. We discussed the latest legislative efforts to support craft breweries in Florida, and how it impacts small business owners like Walking Tree.
-Learn more about Walking Tree Brewery - https://www.walkingtreebrewery.com/
If you're interested in hearing more about the inspiring stories of small business owners and entrepreneurs in Florida, be sure to subscribe to Small Biz Florida. You can also follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on new episodes and exclusive content. Thanks for listening!
 

Ep: 181 | Connecting Small Businesses with Capital Through the SBA 504 Loan Program with Florida First Capital | FSBDC Day at the Capitol Series

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, host Tom Kindred broadcasts all things business across the state of Florida from the Capitol building in Tallahassee, where small business owners and operators have gathered to celebrate Small Business Days.
Mark Kruse, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for Florida First Capital joins Tom to discuss access to capital and the role of Florida First Capital in connecting lenders with borrowers through the SBA 504 loan program.
Mark talks about his pathway to Florida First Capital and the SBA 504 loan program, which provides favorable terms for small manufacturers who want to purchase or build a building and purchase long-term machinery and equipment. Mark also explains the structure of the program, where the borrower only has to come up with 10% of the financing, allowing small business owners to keep as much cash as possible to run their business.
-Learn more about Florida First Capital - https://ffcfc.com/
If you're interested in hearing more about the inspiring stories of small business owners and entrepreneurs in Florida, be sure to subscribe to Small Biz Florida. You can also follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on new episodes and exclusive content. Thanks for listening!

Ep: 180 | Exploring SBA Services, Government Contracting, and International Trade Assistance with Janelle Hein and Thaddeus Hammond | FSBDC Day at the Capitol Series

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, host, Tom welcomes Janelle Hein, District Director for the North Florida district office of the SBA, and Thaddeus Hammond, Supervisory Business Opportunity Specialist with the SBA.
They discuss the services, tools, and resources available through the SBA and the value of the agency's government contracting and international trade assistance. They also provide information on the four socio-economic government contracting programs, including the 8(a) business development program, and discuss the goals for each program and the percentage of government contracting dollars that each program receives. Thaddeus shares his background and pathway to the SBA and emphasizes the importance of government contracting. Janelle talks about her 32 years of experience with the SBA and the passion she has for small businesses.
Learn more about the SBA - https://www.sba.gov/
If you're interested in hearing more about the inspiring stories of small business owners and entrepreneurs in Florida, be sure to subscribe to Small Biz Florida. You can also follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on new episodes and exclusive content. Thanks for listening!

Ep: 179 | Exploring the Importance of Economic Impact Studies with Marielena Villamil and the Washington Economics Group | FSBDC Day at the Capitol Series

In this episode, Small Biz Florida is back at the Florida State Capitol building in Tallahassee to celebrate National SBDC Day. The podcast is covering the Capitol Days event, and Small Biz Florida host, Tom Kindred, interviews Marielena Villamil who serves as President & Chief Executive Officer and advisory board member. Marielena talks about her background and pathway to her organization, the Washington Economics Group, which is a boutique consulting firm that provides economic consulting services.
The firm's clients are mainly large institutions, such as healthcare, education, and sports. The firm conducts economic impact studies for its clients to show the community how important their investments and daily expenditures are and the impact it has on jobs, money, and taxes. This episode discusses how important economic impact studies are for organizations and communities, and how it is vital to share data and information to give credibility to projects.
Learn more about the Washington Economic Group - https://www.weg.com/ 
If you're interested in hearing more about the inspiring stories of small business owners and entrepreneurs in Florida, be sure to subscribe to Small Biz Florida. You can also follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on new episodes and exclusive content. Thanks for listening!

Ep: 178 | Helping Small Businesses Thryv with Pj Mundle and CRM Software | FSBDC Day at the Capitol Series

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, host Tom Kindred interviews PJ Mundle who serves as a business advisor for Thryv, an organization that provides small businesses with software solutions to help manage their online marketing and customer relationships.
They discuss the importance of customer relationship management (CRM) for small business owners, and how Thryv's software can help with scheduling, estimates, payments, and communication through email and text messaging campaigns. They also touch on the decline of traditional advertising methods like Yellow Pages and the benefits of cloud storage for digital records. This episode was recorded during Small Business Days at the Capitol, where small business owners and operators gathered to celebrate and network.
-Learn more about Thryv - https://www.thryv.com/
If you're interested in hearing more about the inspiring stories of small business owners and entrepreneurs in Florida, be sure to subscribe to Small Biz Florida. You can also follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on new episodes and exclusive content. Thanks for listening!

Ep: 177 | Boosting Small Businesses: Exploring the Small Business Credit Initiative with DEO Secretary Ivey | FSBDC Day at the Capitol Series

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, the podcast that covers all things business in the state of Florida, Tom sits with Meredith Ivey, the Secretary of the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), for a discussion on the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) and how it is helping small businesses in Florida. The DEO is a partner of the Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC), and Secretary Ivey explains the mission of the agency and its three major programmatic divisions.
The focus of the episode is on the SSBCI, a program that provides millions of dollars in funds for small business owners in the state of Florida. Secretary Ivey shares details about the program, including the $142 million currently available and the partnerships with lenders and financing institutions. The program offers bridge loans and capital to small businesses, including sole proprietors and entrepreneurs who may have difficulty obtaining traditional loans through federal or commercial programs.
Secretary Ivey also discusses the partnerships with organizations such as SBDC to create awareness of the program and provide technical assistance to small business owners. She highlights the importance of education and outreach in ensuring that eligible small businesses, including minority, veteran, and women-owned businesses, as well as small and rural businesses, are aware of the program and can negotiate loans directly with their local lenders.
Throughout the episode, Tom and Secretary Ivey emphasize the importance of supporting small businesses in Florida, especially during these challenging times. They discuss the DEO's commitment to economic development and the partnerships with organizations like SBDC to help small businesses thrive and grow in the state of Florida.
-Learn more about DEO - https://www.floridajobs.org/ 
If you're interested in hearing more about the inspiring stories of small business owners and entrepreneurs in Florida, be sure to subscribe to Small Biz Florida. You can also follow us on social media to stay up-to-date on new episodes and exclusive content. Thanks for listening!