From the Corner Office

Growing 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 National Trust Company of Florida. The Florida division is based in Sarasota. On this episode Sam talks about how he got into banking — and why he stayed in the field. He also talks about mentorship — both his mentors and mentees — and the elements in his career that motivate him to be a better leader everyday.  
3 Takeaways:
(13:15) Set aside time each week to work ON the business
(16:00) Let your mentors know that you are thankful
(17:20) In a time of change, everyone is somewhere on the “Emotional Change Curve”
Timestamps:
(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(00:30) Introducing Sam Guerrieri, Executive Vice President, Canandaigua National Trust, Florida
(04:40) Why did Sam get into banking?
(06:30) Why is Canandaigua coming into Florida and Sarasota?
(08:05) How has the Florida market grown?
(10:15) What do you look for in leaders?
(12:45) Working on the business, not on the business
(14:00) Mentors
(16:20) Resilience
(20:00) What should we expect 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.

Building 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 more counties — Pasco and Hernando — and is closing in on house No. 1,000. On this episode, Mike talks about his why and how he connects that to his day-to-day role at Habitat. He also talks about how he holds the team accountable and what he looks for in leaders.   
 
3 Takeaways:
(10:40) Promoting from inside is extremely valuable
(12:20) Culture fit is the most important value
(14:00) Hire slow, fire fast
Timestamps:
(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(00:30) Introducing Mike Sutton, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside 
(04:00) How Mike got into nonprofits, starting at YMCA
(05:40) What is the mission of Habitat for Humanity? 
(07:00) Day to day for Mike
(08:20) Tipping points for scaling the organization, growing for 11 straight years
(12:00) What do you look for in leaders?
(15:00) Personal learning lessons as the CEO
(16:45) Handling difficult conversations
(18:40) Lessons from mentors
(20:30) The experience of being at a Home Dedication
(24:15) Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside 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.

Succession & 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 visible, foundations in the region. The foundation, with some $500 million in assets, works with donors and nonprofits in everything from the environment to affordable housing to economic development. On this episode, Phillip talks about the challenges and opportunities in taking over leadership of a prominent organization, and how he set priorities. And listen for his passions outside of work, including football — and his beloved Cincinnati Bengals.  
3 Takeaways:
(12:25) The best leaders are humble, hungry, and smart
(14:10) Not everyone is going to like you
(17:15) Look at a situation from a curious perspective
Timestamps:
(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(00:30) Introducing Phillip Lanham, President & CEO, Gulf Coast Community Foundation
(04:30) Growing up in Cincinnati and getting into nonprofits
(05:55) What does the Gulf Coast Community Foundation do?
(07:05) What was your mindset when you stepped into this role?
(07:55) Accomplishments
(11:45) What do you look for in leaders?
(13:15) What have you learned from your mentors?
(15:25) StrengthFinder 
(16:40) How do you overcome setbacks?
(18:25) 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.

Manifesting 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 2004. She later worked for CBS News in Boston and wrote about taxes for several publications in Washington, D.C. She joined EY in branding, marketing and communications in 2016. On this episode Jen talks about a recent LinkedIn post she wrote that garnered a lot of attention — a deeply personal look at how she overcame a career stumble: she failed a professional accreditation test, even with a decade of experience in her industry. Jen talks about how she reframed, refocused and overcame negative internal dialogue. 
3 Takeaways:
(17:30) Surrender to the process
(18:45) Sacrifice short term comfort for long term success
(20:00) Eliminate negative self thought
Timestamps:
(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!
(00:30) Introducing Jennifer Hemmerdinger, Associate Director, EY US Public Relations Leader
(09:40) Jen’s Linkedin post and overcoming setbacks
(14:30) Dealing with the failure of the exam
(17:00) How Jennifer changed and developed new habits
(22:20) Sharing the experience on Linkedin
(24:30) Leadership characteristics
(27:30) What’s 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.

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.