From the Corner Office

Taking 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 to hustle and get along with just about anyone while growing up in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. He’s now CEO of Red Apple Group, a conglomerate that includes oil refining, the Gristedes grocery chain in New York City and, notably, The Residences at 400 Central, a luxury condo project in downtown St. Petersburg. On this episode, Catsimatidis, with his sometimes brash and frank approach, talks about his origin story, his mentors and his key lessons in business — and life. 
 
3 Takeaways:
(09:50) Have fun working through challenges
(10:40) We are all lions in our own den
(11:15) Hire people that are smarter than you
Timestamps:
(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(00:30) Introducing John Catsimatidis, CEO of Red Apple Group
(02:45) Growing up in NYC
(04:10) Getting into the grocery business and owning grocery stores
(08:05) Discovering St. Pete
(08:50) Residences at 400 Central
(10:25) Common mistakes of start up companies
(11:15) What makes a good leader?
(12:00) Mentors
(14:25) Recovering from setbacks
(15:20) Other projects in Florida
Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.
Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

Building 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 master-planned community in south Sarasota County. And his passion for building communities is high-level. On this episode, Rick talks about what he believes makes a good work culture, his strategy for growing a community at the right pace, his mentors and how he leads through transparency and accountability. And listen for how he spends some of his time commuting to and from work.  
3 Takeaways:
(07:00) Set a clear vision
(12:15) Assume the best
(16:50) Pivot quickly
Timestamps:
(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(00:30) Introducing Rick Severance, President of Wellen Park
(05:20) Getting into Land Development
(06:35) Leadership Lessons
(08:00) Lessons from Babcock Ranch
(09:10) What is Wellen Park?
(11:20) How do you manage all the stakeholders?
(13:45) What do you look for in other leaders?
(15:18) Leadership advice
(16:45) Dealing with setbacks
(18:15) Wellen Park in 2025
Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.
Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

Nothing 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 million in his tenure, and attendance has surpassed 1 million guests. Germann has also significantly raised the profile of the Florida Aquarium, signing partnership agreements with entities like Tampa General Hospital, Feeding Tampa Bay and Junior Achievement. On this episode, Roger talks about his uniquely winding career that led him to Tampa, the characteristics he values in leaders and his tips for building a top-tier team.  
3 Takeaways:
(08:45) Connect with your community
(09:30) Develop a “stop doing” list
(13:30) As a leader, bite your lip and listen
Timestamps:
(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(00:30) Introducing Roger Germann, President & CEO of the Florida Aquarium
(03:10) Pre-aquarium career
(06:20) What did you do as a leader to help grow the Florida Aquarium?
(08:15) Dealing with COVID
(10:50) What do you look for in leaders?
(13:20) Leadership advice
(15:15) Overcoming setbacks
(17:45) Florida Aquarium in 2025
Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.
Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

I’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 Sarasota, draws acts and standup comedians from across the world and, despite being in a mid-size market, has national notoriety for being a top tier comedy club. On this episode Les talks about his origin story and how he has been successful in a cutthroat, tight-margin. (The key: inventory management.) He also talked about overcoming setbacks (bombs while performing) and who his favorite comedians are. 
3 Takeaways:
(13:40) Stick with it and good things will happen
(25:00) Inventory control is key
(27:00) Small changes lead to big changes
Timestamps:
(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(00:25) Introducing Les McCurdy, Founder of McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre
(02:20) Rapid fire questions
(05:15) How Les got into the comedy business
(08:20) Discovering comedy in Boulder
(12:05) Moving to Tampa to become a comic
(17:15) Opening McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre
(20:10) Overcoming setbacks
(25:20) Learning to be a more efficient business owner
(30:30) What is happening in 2025?
Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.
Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

High 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. She does that locally, nationally and even abroad.
On this episode Sharon talks about some key lessons she has learned while working with all these entities. Some examples: consistency is essential; company culture is as well; and a leader’s energy can be contagious throughout the organization. Listen too for the music and podcasts Sharon uses to get ready for the day and get down to work.
3 Takeaways:
(10:40) Great businesses help their community
(12:55) Own your decisions and area of focus
(17:40) Setbacks allow you to identify a new way forward
Timestamps:
(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(00:30) Introducing Sharon Hillstrom, President & CEO of the Bradenton Area EDC
(01:45) Rapid Fire questions
(04:15) How did you get to the Bradenton Area EDC?
(08:10) What does the Bradenton Area EDC do?
(09:50) What have you learned from the businesses you work with?
(11:25) What do you look for in leaders?
(13:45) Allowing employees freedom
(14:30) Mentors and inspiration
(17:00) Learning from setbacks
(18:20) Bradenton Area EDC in 2025
Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.
Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

Budding 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 career working for one legendary company on Wall Street and one in Hollywood. On this episode Brent talks about the lessons he learned from his mentors — business is a contact sport is one; fail fast is another — and what he has learned about resilience from IMG’s student-athletes. And listen for a story about two meaningful days on the golf course.    
3 Takeaways:
(08:15) Details matter
(09:35) Profits and purpose is the way to win at life
(11:30) Business is a contact sport
Timestamps:
(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(00:25) Introducing Brent Richard, CEO of IMG Academy
(01:25) Rapid fire questions
(06:35) Brent’s Career and what his mentors taught him
(14:35) What did you learn from Ari Emanuel?
(18:20) What do you look for in leaders?
(22:15) Overcoming from setbacks
(25:30) What can we look for in 2025 at IMG Academy?
Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.
Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

The 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 Tampa Bay now has more than $750 million in assets and donor-advised funds. On this episode, Marlene talks about her collaborative leadership style and how the foundation, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, has such high employee engagement and low employee turnover. Marlene also talks about the remarkable significance Valentine’s Day has played in her life. 
3 Takeaways:
(13:10) Be bold, you know more than you think you do
(13:50) Being able to recognize talent in others is a key leadership trait
(19:00) Make sure the right people are in the room
Timestamps:
(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(00:30) Introducing Marlene Spalten, President and CEO of Community Foundation Tampa Bay
(10:45) Becoming CEO of CFTB
(12:45) What have you learned from mentors?
(14:55) What do you look for in leaders?
(18:05) Setbacks you learned from
(20:45) What is coming for CFTB in 2025?
Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.
Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

Well 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 sleeve. And with a sense of humility. (The first entry on her LinkedIn profile says Girl Mom.) On this episode Sheilina talks about her restaurant career start (old-school Pizza Hut in Chicago) and how she found her way and climbed the career ladder at Tampa-based restaurant giant Bloomin’ Brands. She also talks about her mentors, what motivates her to lead people and overcoming mistakes and setbacks.
3 Takeaways:
(03:10) Without a customer, you have nothing, treat them well
(09:35) I am looking for leaders who make it through adversity
(17:30) Keep fighting
Timestamps:
(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(01:15) Introducing Sheilina Henry, president Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar
(03:10) What grew your passion in the restaurant industry?
(05:10) What led you to Bloomin Brands?
(07:45) What do you look for in leaders?
(10:35) Overcoming setbacks
(13:45) Mentors
(17:45) Developing relationships within Bloomin Brands
(20:50) Fleming’s in 2025

Leading 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 Florida, keeping families intact and out of the state system. And it’s helped nearly 40,000 people, many in ‘second-chance’ life situations, find employment across 24 states. On the episode, Better Together CEO Megan Rose talks about the importance of failing fast and failing forward, while not losing your innovative edge in nonprofit work. Megan also talks about her childhood, and how others in her community helped her family overcome some difficult circumstances. 
3 Takeaways:
(14:40) There is no fear of failure, but you must learn from it
(15:05) Focus on 3 things at a time
(20:00) Self-discipline is a must-have
Timestamps:
(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(01:00) Introducing Megan Rose and rapid fire questions
(02:35) Tell us about Better Together
(05:10) How Better Together helps people find employment
(08:40) What led you to this career path?
(13:40) Leadership advice
(17:20) What do you look for in leaders?
(21:25) Examples of failure you learned from
(27:15) What can we look forward to in 2025?
Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.
Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

Freddy 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 youth-focused nonprofit in Pinellas County. And now he’s at the helm of a Boys & Girls Club operation that stretches through Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties. On this episode Freddie chats with Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon about his first summer at a Boys & Girls Club — it wasn’t necessarily voluntary; his five pillars of intentional leadership; and why Denzel Washington is the one person, dead or alive, he’d love to have dinner with.    
3 Takeaways:
(14:45) A strong moral compass and a spirit of continuous improvement are key leadership characteristics
(16:50) A board is powerful if you can tap into their expertise
(17:30) Never ask someone to do something you aren’t willing to do yourself
Timestamps:
(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(00:25) Introducing Freddy Williams, CEO of Boy & Girls Clubs of The Suncoast and Tampa Bay
(01:30) Rapid Fire Questions
(05:05) How did you discover the Boys & Girls Clubs?
(07:40) Kids hold on to your every word
(08:40) Freddy’s leadership style
(10:05) What does Boys & Girls Clubs do?
(11:20) Strategic Merger
(14:45) What do you look for in leaders?
(16:10) Becoming a CEO at 27
(17:20) Leadership advice
(19:25) How do you manage leading as a CEO and being involved in the programs
(21:25) What is coming up in 2025?
Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.
Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.