Small Biz Florida

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!

Ep. 176 | Providing Accessible Healthcare: The Story of Aquarian Clinic with Shane Grindle and Traylor Roberts | FSBDC Day at the Capitol Series

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, host, Tom Kindred interviews two guests: Shane Grindle, the founder and owner-operator of Aquarian Clinic, and Traylor Roberts, the chief experience officer of the same clinic. The episode kicks off with a discussion about the Florida Small Business Development Center's Founded in Florida campaign, which recognized Aquarian Clinic as one of the standout small businesses in the state. The guests share their experiences with the campaign and what it means to be part of the small business community in Florida.
The conversation then shifts to the origins of Aquarion Clinic, which was founded during the pandemic to address the growing need for accessible and affordable healthcare. Shane talks about his inspiration for starting the clinic and how he wanted to fix something that he could fix amidst the chaos of the pandemic. Traylor shares his own story of how he became a patient of Aquarian Clinic and was so impressed with the experience that he decided to join the team and help expand the business.
Throughout the episode, both Shane and Traylor emphasize their passion for providing accessible healthcare and their commitment to their mission. They share their backgrounds and pathways to Aquarian Clinic, highlighting their diverse experiences and how they bring unique perspectives to their roles within the company.
Overall, this episode provides an insightful look into the world of small business in Florida and the inspiring stories of entrepreneurs like Shane and Traylor who are making a difference in their communities.
-Learn more about Aquarian Clinic - https://www.aquarianclinic.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. 175 | Unlocking the Power of Business Credit: Maximize Your Business’ Potential with Capital One Credit Business Cards | Capital One Series

We're back with another episode of Small Biz Florida and we are joined by Debra Gilkey, Vice President at Capital One who leads the Business Cards & Payments division here in the Treasure Coast. With nearly 30 years of industry experience, Debra is a trusted advisor to business owners throughout the region. She contributes her success to her passion for working with business owners and the lifelong relationships she has built. During this episode, we'll dive deep into the primary benefits of having a business credit card from Capital One. We'll talk about why business owners should consider banking with Capital One, as well as the best practices for getting the most out of their business credit cards. Finally, we'll discuss the various options available to business owners to help them get the most out of their Capital One business credit cards. So, join us as we explore the benefits of banking with Capital One.
For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments are brought to you through a collaboration between Capital One and Small Biz Florida. We hope to be able to provide valuable information and insight for small business owners who are looking for banking solutions that can help them reach their goals.

Ep. 174 | Making the Most of Your Business Banking with Capital One Business Tools | Capital One Series

On this episode, we talk to Ryan Coughlin. Ryan has 20 years of banking expertise. He joined Capital One Bank in 2016 and serves as the Senior Director for the Business Banking Group in Florida.  Ryan has been charged with leading the statewide expansion strategy. Join the conversation and explore the ways Capital One can help you manage your business finances. We'll discuss the features and benefits of their business banking accounts, as well as the digital tools and services that make it easier to keep track of your finances. We'll also be discussing the latest innovations in the banking industry that make managing your money more efficient than ever. Whether you're just getting started or already have a business up and running, this episode will help you understand the options and make the best decisions for your business. Tune in for the latest and greatest in business banking from Capital One.
For more segments like these, subscribe to Small Biz Florida and Follow the official Small Biz Florida Instagram! This and the following segments are brought to you through a collaboration between Capital One and Small Biz Florida. We hope to be able to provide valuable information and insight for small business owners who are looking for banking solutions that can help them reach their goals.
 

Ep. 173 | All About the Town of Greenville with CEO/CFO, Lee Jones | FREDC 2023 Series

Incorporated 1907. The Town of Greenville’s history dates back to the Civil War when women from a sewing circle gave the town its name as a tribute to Mrs. U.M. Roberts who served as president of the sewing society, and came from Greenville, South Carolina. Today the Town of Greenville is home to 746 people and is the location of Ray Charles’ Childhood Home. 
Lee Jones who serves the town as CEO/CFO sits with us to discuss the growth that the community has experienced over the past few years and where it is headed. Lee also talks about the importance of an event like the Florida Rural Economic Development Conference as it focuses on towns like Greenville that need the resources and support to grow and generate jobs for the people who reside in those communities.
Learn more about the Town of Greenville: https://mygreenvillefl.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 the 2022 Florida Rural Economic Development Conference hosted at the World Golf Village Renaissance St. Augustine Resort
– To learn more about the Florida Rural Economic Development Association, visit their websites here: 
-Opportunity Florida
-Florida Heartland ERO
- North Florida Economic Development Partnership