Small Biz Florida
Small Biz FL was designed to highlight issues and promote business assistance resources available throughout the state of Florida.
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Episodes
Monday Apr 25, 2022
Monday Apr 25, 2022
This week, we have a special guest from the Florida SBDC Network joining us to talk about The Small Business Success Summit. The Florida SBDC Network is excited to host the Small Business Success Summit in Tampa, FL, June 27-28, 2022. This event aims to provide small businesses with access to capital, contracts, and connections for growth and success.
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
Thursday Apr 21, 2022
This particular episode features the owner of "A Geek to Go," Miles West. Learn how to protect your business from cyberattacks in this information-packed interview with Miles West!
Locally owned and operated for over 17 years, A Geek to Go offers experienced services in computer repair for both Apple / Mac and Microsoft Windows Operating Systems, so fixing problems such as virus infection or data recovery is much quicker and more reliable than the generic big-box “geek” or “nerd” companies that employ the cheapest labor they can find. Over 25 years of experience from self-taught and professionally trained computer technicians who are licensed, insured, and criminal-checked safe will satisfy any questions about any computer repair or tech support that you may have.
Tuesday Apr 05, 2022
Tuesday Apr 05, 2022
Tom Kindred also sat down for a conversation with Andy Miller who serves as the Senior Vice President for AARP in charge of Product & Innovation. They talk about AARP's innovative way of finding new products by putting together events like Connect & Thrive. Andy talks about what jump-started AARP to move in an innovative direction to create products for a new era of Age-tech. Listen to this episode to hear more about Amy's company and Andy's innovative role.
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Thursday Mar 31, 2022
Small Biz Florida goes to Miami for the AARP Connect & Thrive Pitch Event and was able to sit down and chat with Amy Stapleton CEO of Chatables. Amy has worked in voice and conversational AI since 2016. Her early voice skills on Amazon Alexa won recognition and earned her the coveted distinction of "Alexa Champion" by Amazon. Prior to Chatables, Amy was an IT Manager at NASA with management roles in Enterprise Software Applications. She began her IT career at SAP in Germany while completing a Ph.D. in German Literature and dreaming of becoming a science fiction author.
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Monday Mar 28, 2022
Tom Kindred interviews Charlotte Bireley, who serves as the Director of Tourism and Marketing of St. Lucie County. Tom and Charlotte cover the rebound of tourism St. Lucie County has experience in the years following the COVID-19 Pandemic. They chat about the "Visit St. Lucie" website and share all the information about upcoming events in the area.
Monday Mar 21, 2022
Monday Mar 21, 2022
This episode of Small Biz Florida features a great interview with the Small Business Majority. Small Business Majority is a national small business organization that empowers America's diverse entrepreneurs to build a thriving and equitable economy. We engage our network of more than 85,000 small businesses and 1,500 business and other partner organizations to advocate for public policy solutions and deliver resources to entrepreneurs that promote equitable small business growth.
In this episode, Tom Kindred, who serves as the Regional Director for the Small Business Development Center at Indian River State College and serves as the Host for Small Biz Florida, interviewed V.P of Programs & Research Brian Pifer. He and Host Tom Kindred talk about Starting and Growing a Small Business in 2022. They cover topics such as the "Great Resignation," Side Hustle Culture, and much more. Listen to this episode to learn what you can do today to start building your very own business.
Brian oversees Small Business Majority's Entrepreneurship Program and Venturize platform, which delivers crucial education and resources to entrepreneurs seeking to start and grow their businesses. He builds partnerships with organizations that serve small business owners, manages content development for Small Business Majority's educational programming, and oversees the development of Venturize, the nation's one-stop hub for entrepreneurs, including the website's MatchFinder tool, which connects small business owners to mission-driven lending partners.
Brian also leads the organization's research activities, including ongoing surveys of its vast network of business owners, national opinion polling, small business owner focus groups, and external and economic data analysis. He helps collect and monitor organizational impact data and metrics.
Brian has a journalism background, including writing and editing stories about local small businesses for an award-winning daily newspaper. He also led a regional desk that handles editing and layout for more than a dozen newspapers across Northern California.
Monday Mar 14, 2022
Monday Mar 14, 2022
In celebration of SBDC day at the Capitol, we traveled to Tallahassee, Florida, to support small businesses. Tom sits down with Robin Olin, CEO of Estuary Oysters, To talk about the great purpose behind his small business while at this special event! Listen to this special episode to hear about his business and the innovative ways they’ve built up the Apalachicola Coast with their on-of-a-kind oysters! Robin Olin is a premier example of what the Florida SBDC can do for your business. In this episode, he covers what his process was like going through the SBDC and talks about what he was able to accomplish!
Monday Mar 07, 2022
Monday Mar 07, 2022
In celebration of SBDC day at the Capitol, we traveled to Tallahassee, Florida, to support small businesses. Tom sits down with Chip and Andrew Byers, owners of Rita’s Italian Ice (Lake Buena Vista, FL).
They both go their start going through the Disney College Program in Orlando. After meeting, both Chip and Andrew wanted to start a business after Chip experienced work discrimination for being autistic. Chip knew from the beginning that he wanted to go after a more fulfilling career, and so did Andrew!
Chip talks about his partnership with The Able Trust, an organization that helps people with disabilities get the training and tools they need to get employed. As a partner of The Able Trust, Chip and Andrew play a huge role in hiring people with disabilities.
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Monday Feb 28, 2022
Small Biz Florida comes to you from our new Studio at the Port St. Lucie IRSC Pruitt Campus Enterprise Hub! After being away for almost a month, Tom brings you another great conversation covering the topic of Credit Card Reward Programs with Senior Editor at The Points Guy Nick Ewen. Nick Ewen started his career at The Points Guy as a contributor in 2012.
The Points Guy (TPG) has been publishing hands-on advice to help readers maximize their travel experiences since the site debuted in June 2010. TPG started as a points-and-miles blog by founder and CEO Brian Kelly. They have a staff of more than 100, including an expert team of 40 editors, writers, and reporters.
Listen to this episode if you are interested in learning how you can leverage a business credit card to finance your small business and to learn more about The Points Guy.
Monday Dec 27, 2021
Monday Dec 27, 2021
Dr. Ron Eaglin, chair of DSC’s School of Engineering Technology, and Costa Magoulas, chair of DSC’s Hosseini College of Hospitality Management
Ron Eaglin started as a Mechanical Engineer before joining the Navy and working as a Nuclear Engineer and an Instructor at Naval Nuclear Power School. I continued my education and professional development receiving my MS and Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering and working as a software developer for Haestad Methods. I returned to UCF and began work as an Assistant Dean and then became Chair of Engineering Technology, founding programs in Information Systems and two MS degrees. I am also a technical entrepreneur - and have founded multiple companies and non-profit organizations.