Small Biz Florida

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

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!