Shows / From the Corner Office
From the Corner Office
Join us every week on From the Corner Office by the Business Observer for exclusive interviews with accomplished business leaders, where we delve into their unique experiences and insights. Gain valuable lessons from their expertise that you can apply to your own business.
Episodes
From the Corner OfficeRunning the Organization that runs the roads with Tampa Highway Honcho Greg Slater
Greg Slater has had a 30-year career in highways and transportation, the last three or so in Tampa as CEO of the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority…
From the Corner OfficeBanking and the constant improvement process to be a better boss with Synovus Bank’s Kevin Gillen
Kevin Gillen has been a market president for Synovus Bank in Florida since 2020, covering the Tampa Bay and Sarasota-Manatee markets, among other regions. He…
From the Corner OfficeBuilding cool spaces and leading an architectural revival with Jerel McCants
Jerel McCants is a leading architect in the Tampa Bay market, having built his own firm from scratch with a focus on how people use spaces. He founded the…
From the Corner OfficeBoosting the Lakewood Ranch community to new heights with Brittany Lamont
Brittany Lamont was named president and CEO of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance in 2021. Prior to that Lamont, a vocal advocate for the local business and…
From the Corner OfficeHow to Lead with Grace and Grit with Michael Corley
Michael Corley worked in health care and human resources for some 10 years before starting his own leadership consulting business, The Corley Co., in 2009. The…
From the Corner OfficeFrom the financial services C-Suite to leading a national school choice movement with Erika Donalds
Erika Donalds was a COO and CFO for financial services firms before shifting gears to education, first as a mom and later as an elected Collier County School…
From the Corner OfficeHow to navigate a crisis — calmly and coolly with Kaitlyn Perez
Kaitlyn Perez launched her own business, KPC Strategies, in January 2024. Prior to that she was senior director of communications and marketing with the…
From the Corner OfficeHe bought the whole block and other gutty business success stories with Chris Cunningham
Chris Cunningham, owner of a True-Value hardware store in Tampa and a commercial real estate investor, started his career in lending and financial services…
From the Corner OfficeDoing good, in the community and in leadership, with Helene Lotman
Helene Lotman has been in the nonprofit human services space for 40 years, and is currently CEO of JFCS of the Suncoast, which works with people in need in a…
From the Corner OfficeBuilding a business around the beautiful game with Justin Papadakis
Justin Papadakis has spent his career in real estate development and soccer, with his most recent position being a bit of both: deputy CEO and chief real…
From the Corner OfficeFail Fast, Fail Cheap, & Other Advice from Kevin Harrington, Original Shark on “Shark Tank”
Longtime Pinellas County resident Kevin Harrington has a stellar resume. Among the highlights: inventor of the infomercial, shark on the first year of the TV…
From the Corner OfficeA cool strategy to selling hot chicken with King of the Coop’s Joe Dodd
Joe Dodd’s restaurant and hospitality career has taken a lot of twists and turns, overcoming some missteps, in locations and partnerships, among others. But…
From the Corner OfficeFrom Sydney, Australia to strengthening nonprofits across Florida with Ashley Dietz
Ashley has been in the nonprofit sector in Florida for a decade or so, working for the United Way Suncoast and the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida, among…
From the Corner OfficeGrowing your leadership skillset with Growing Your Team founder Jamie Van Cuyk
Jamie founded Growing Your Team in 2018 after working for a decade or so in the marketing field. Growing Your Team helps other companies, mostly small…
From the Corner OfficeFrom banking in the Bayou to being a Southwest Florida community leader with Brandon Box
Brandon has been in banking in Southwest Florida for 15 years, joining Orlando-based Cogent in 2020. He started his career in his native Louisiana, working for…
From the Corner OfficeRunning an 800-employee restaurant enterprise with Mike Quillen
Mike Quillen is the president of three independent restaurant groups that include 15 locations in Florida and North Carolina, with some 800 employees. The list…
From the Corner OfficeThe future of health care leadership with Tampa General’s John Couris
John Couris is one of the most recognized health care leaders in the Sunshine State, having run the Florida Health Sciences Center, parent entity of Tampa…
From the Corner OfficeJuice, eggs and cooking up the next generation of leaders with First Watch’s Lilah Taha-Rippett
Lilah (pronounced like Layla) has overseen the supply chain for east Manatee County-based First Watch since 2017. She’s been in food service supply and…
From the Corner OfficeFrom farming in Colorado to growing leaders in the community w/ University Area CDC’s Sarah Combs
A nonprofit executive, Sarah has been with the University Area CDC since 2010 and executive director and CEO since 2015. The University Area CDC is a nonprofit…
From the Corner OfficeGrowing a bank in a crowded market while leading for the long term with Sam Guerrieri
Sam Guerrieri is an executive vice president with the Canandaigua National Trust Co., where, among other units, he oversees CNB Wealth Management, Canandaigua…
From the Corner OfficeBuilding a mission-driven nonprofit quickly w/ Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside’s Mike Sutton
Mike Sutton was named CEO of the Tampa Bay Gulfside unit a decade ago, when it had just finished house No. 280 and was only in Pinellas County. Now it’s in two…
From the Corner OfficeSuccession & sustainability with Gulf Coast Community Foundation President & CEO Phillip Lanham
Phillip Lanham is approaching his two-year anniversary of being named president and CEO of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, one of the largest, and most…
From the Corner OfficeManifesting success and jettisoning self-doubt with Jen Hemmerdinger
Jennifer Hemmerdinger has been in the media and public relations business for some two decades, going back to when she was a DJ on FM radio in New Hampshire in…
From the Corner OfficeTaking chances, selling groceries and building luxury condo towers with billionaire John Catsimatidis
John Catsimatidis has garnered a net worth of $4.5 billion through grit, guts and guile. Raised in a tight-knit Greek-American family, Catsimatidis learned how…
From the Corner OfficeBuilding communities where people want to live with Wellen Park’s Rick Severance
Rick Severance has worked for some of the largest development communities in Florida, leading up to his current post, as president of Wellen Park, a…
From the Corner OfficeNothing fishy about it: Overseeing one of the largest aquariums in Florida with Roger Germann
Roger Germann has overseen a major growth spurt and expansion at the Florida Aquarium in the past five-plus years. The budget has grown from $21 million to $42…
From the Corner OfficeI’ll be here all week: Les McCurdy and the business of comedy
Les McCurdy wasn’t born funny. But he’s learned a lot about the business of being funny in nearly 40 years of running a comedy club. McCurdy’s, in downtown…
From the Corner OfficeHigh energy leadership and why consistency matters with Bradenton EDC’s Sharon Hillstrom
For nearly two decades, many in the region have known Sharon Hillstrom as a go-to leader for economic development and business prosperity in Manatee County…
From the Corner OfficeBudding sports stars and lifelong leadership lessons with IMG Academy CEO Brent Richard
IMG Academy CEO Brent Richard joined the school and athletic campus — known worldwide and one of Manatee County’s largest private employers — in 2020, after a…
From the Corner OfficeThe business of philanthropy and kindness with Community Foundation Tampa Bay CEO Marlene Spalten
Marlene Spalten has overseen a major era of growth in her decade at the helm of one of the largest community foundations in Florida: the Community Foundation…
From the Corner OfficeWell done: Life and leadership lessons from Bloomin’ Brands executive Sheilina Henry
Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar President Sheilina Henry wears her leadership style — authentically focused, mission-driven and people-centric — on her…
From the Corner OfficeLeading with heart — the story of Better Together CEO Megan Rose
This week, we speak with Megan Rose, president and CEO of Better Together. Better Together, based in Fort Myers, has served more than 10,000 children across…
From the Corner OfficeFreddy Williams: Boys & Girls Clubs Alum, now CEO of one of the largest clubs in the country
Freddy Williams was named CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter County in 2012, when he was 28-years-old. Four years later he was CEO of the…
From the Corner OfficeFrom living in your car to living your entrepreneurial dreams with tech founder Chris Williams
Chris founded Aginto, a digital and marketing firm, in 2011. Clients include small and midsize companies in health care, law, industrial sectors and home…
From the Corner OfficeResilience, leadership and the hot commercial real estate market with LaShawn Bates
LaShawn has been the market leader in Tampa for JLL since 2019. Her territory covers Tampa Bay and Central Florida and she oversees more than 40 brokers. A…
From the Corner OfficeGreat stories and lots of gratitude with Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon
Mark Gordon is the Managing Editor of the Business Observer. He has been with the Business Observer since 2005, where he’s written about companies…
From the Corner OfficeAll in one - Leadership lessons and Insurance needs with Patrick Del Medico
Patrick has worked in sales, marketing, training and product development for more than 30 years. He has also been a leader in building teams and creating a…
From the Corner OfficeFostering business success with 26 West Entrepreneurship Center Director Kim Richmond
Kim oversees the entrepreneurship center at the State College of Florida, where she works with and guides entrepreneurs, mentors, investors, founders, and…
From the Corner OfficeMentoring young minds while growing your business with Golden Road Advisors principal Kevin Caldwell
A sixth-generation Floridian, Kevin founded Tampa-based Golden Road Advisors, a registered investment advisor firm, in 2021. Prior to Golden Road, Kevin was a…
From the Corner OfficeGuiding teams on a path to success with Education Foundation of Sarasota County CEO Jennifer Vigne
Jennifer has been at the helm of the foundation, which supports and enhances the Sarasota School District’s public education system, since 2015. Prior to…
From the Corner OfficeAce your career advancement with University Park Country Club’s John Fetsick
John is a Philly guy who has taken to loving his new adopted hometown in Manatee County. He worked in accounting and finance for the Philadelphia Phillies…
From the Corner OfficeGrowing, then shrinking, then growing an IT firm w/ CRS Technology Consultants co-owner John Joyce
John started an IT consulting business (now managed service provider, MSP) while a junior at the University of Florida in 2007. He sold that company to CRS in…
From the Corner OfficeFrom farming to framing the Tampa Bay region’s economic future with Yvonne Fry
Yvonne is the founder and CEO of Workforce Development Partners, a nonprofit in the Tampa Bay region that connects high school students with trades and other…
From the Corner OfficeThe power of connections — and wearing a sharp tie with Shumaker Advisors CEO Ron Christaldi
Ron has been a prominent business and health care attorney in Tampa and Florida for more than two decades. He currently oversees Shumaker Advisors, a public…
From the Corner OfficeThe front lines of recruiting and retaining businesses with EDC of Sarasota County CEO Erin Silk
Erin Silk has been at the helm of the EDC since June 2023. She held other titles with the organization before that promotion, including COO and vice president…
From the Corner OfficeFrom a shot at Hollywood glory to a career in medicine with Dr. Seth Forman
Seth is a dermatologist by trade but also has a variety of other pieces to his career: He founded a research practice, CenExcel, and also owns multiple…
From the Corner OfficeLeading LegoLand Florida Resort through empathy, accountability, and discipline w/ Franceen Gonzales
Franceen Gonzales has more than 35 years experience in the amusement park and leisure and entertainment industry. She was named president of Legoland Florida…
- From the Corner Office
The highs and lows of building a 50-year construction business with Josh and Alan Bomstein
This week we speak with Josh and Alan Bomstein. Alan Bomstein is the founder of Clearwater-based Creative Contractors, which he launched, a bit by accident, he…
From the Corner OfficeUrgency breeds action with Bill Daubmann, CEO of My Shower Door
This week, we speak with Bill Daubmann, CEO and founder of MY Shower Door. Bill founded Fort Myers-based MY Shower Door in 2003, and the company has since…
From the Corner OfficeHow to constantly look to do better and be better at work with 3D Cloud CEO Beck Besecker
Beck is the co-founder of 3D Cloud, a virtual reality and augmented reality software firm that works with furniture retailers, kitchen cabinet manufacturers…
From the Corner OfficeFinding the opportunities in any situation with Manatee Community Foundation’s Veronica Thames
Veronica was named executive director of the Manatee Community Foundation in August 2023. Prior to that role she was a senior vice president and COO of the…
From the Corner OfficeBusting the myth of the starving artist w/ Ringling College of Art & Design President Larry Thompson
Dr. Larry R. Thompson became president of Ringling College of Art and Design in July 1999. As the head of this pre-eminent art and design college, he is…
From the Corner OfficeThe pursuit of perfection with Integrity Employee Leasing President and CEO Robert Hensley
Robert Hensley has been president and CEO of Integrity Employee Leasing since 2021. The company handles back-office services for small and mid-sized…
From the Corner OfficeBuilding a strong foundation for leadership at Visit Sarasota County with Erin Duggan
Erin Duggan is president and CEO of Visit Sarasota County, a position she was appointed to after 18 years with the organization. Prior to being named CEO…
From the Corner OfficeFrom an office bombing to a real estate empire with Ian Black
Ian Black has been in the commercial real estate industry for some 60 years, first in his native Northern Ireland and, since 1982, Sarasota. He founded his own…
From the Corner OfficeGet on the right flight path with Florida High Tech Corridor Council CEO Paul Sohl
Paul Sohl is CEO of the Florida High Tech Corridor Council, an economic development initiative of the University of Central Florida, the University of South…