From the Corner Office

From Being Fired to a Globally-Known TEDx Speaker with Heather Monahan

Heather, a former top executive with Naples-based Beasley Broadcast Group, is now a keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, podcast host and two-time best-selling author. 
Together, we speak about her career trajectory, where she went from being a hard-charging Type A sales executive to helping other woman leaders both create confidence and overcome their villains. Along with this we discuss betting on yourself and the keys to creating confidence.
Heather's Website
Creating Confidence Podcast with Heather Monahan
3 Takeaways:
(09:50) Through belief, action, and knowledge, you can overcome anything
(17:35) Negativity will never drive a positive outcome
(20:09) Never break a promise to yourself
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introducing Heather Monahan
(01:30) Heather’s childhood
(04:10) How did you get involved with Gallo Wine?
(05:50) Keys to success in the radio industry
(07:40) What does it mean to bet on yourself?
(09:40) Overcome your villains
(11:30) Tell us about your TEDx experience
(15:10) Following a speaker who the crowd turned on
(19:15) How do your clients create confidence?
(21:20) What are you doing now?
(22:50) Hot seat questions
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.
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Building a blueprint for a sustainable company culture with Amanda Parrish

This week we are speaking with Amanda Parrish, Partner and COO of Fawley-Bryant Architecture. Together, we discuss moving from the marketing world to architecture, creating a great working culture, and lessons learned from serving as the Chair of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance Board of Directors.
3 Takeaways:
(08:50) Your core values should be what you “ooze”.
(15:50) Fail fast
(18:00) Sometimes the middle ground does not move the ball forward
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introducing Amanda Parrish
(03:30) How did you handle coming in as someone who is not an architect?
(06:20) What makes Fawley-Bryant such a great work environment?
(09:40) Day 1 for a Fawley-Bryant employee
(12:45) What did you learn from serving on the LWRBA Board?
(15:20) Can you share a learning experience?
(18:40) What is next for Fawley-Bryant?
(20:10) Hot seat questions
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.
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Being a Visible Leader with Sarasota Memorial Hospital CEO David Verinder

This week, we are speaking with David Verinder, President and CEO of Sarasota Memorial Health Care System. David has been CEO since 2014, leading one of the largest public health systems in the U.S, with some 1.5 million patient visits a year and more than 10,000 employees.  
Together, we speak about the power of leading by example, especially during the pandemic, growing and maintaining high-performing teams and the significant growth at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.  
3 Takeaways:
(07:10) Empower people to do their best and collaborate
(07:20) As a leader during hard times, you need to be visible
(10:15) Lead by example
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introducing David Verinder and how he got to SMH
(02:00) Pre-COVID, what were some of the biggest challenges?
(05:00) How did you help morale during COVID?
(08:30) As a leader, how did you deal with the stress during COVID?
(11:10) What does the future hold for SMH?
(13:55) What have you learned from your mentors?
(16:00) What do you look for in up and coming leaders?
(17:40) What drew you to be in healthcare?
(20:55) What continues to motivate you?
(24:00) Hot seat questions
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.
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How a mom’s priority was the spark for a 60-employee public relations firm with Teri Hansen

This week, we are speaking with Teri Hansen of Priority Marketing. Priority Marketing started as a way for Teri to spend time with her newborn and has turned into a 60-person marketing machine. Teri shares with us the importance of hiring people with shared values, how Priority Marketing’s diverse portfolio of clients helped weather the recent economic storms, and developing your leadership team. 
3 Takeaways:
(02:50) It is important to always have your priorities in front of you
(07:25) Having a diversity in clientele is what made it possible to weather the tough economic situations
(11:00) Our employees have to have shared values first
Timestamps:
(00:00) Tell us about how you started Priority Marketing
(03:45) What was it like as a new entrepreneur?
(06:10) Diversifying your client list
(09:00) What defines Priority Marketing today?
(10:35) What do you do to hire and retain great people?
(12:35) What stands out as a learning experience?
(14:00) What do you do to develop leaders?
(16:40) Who are some of your mentors?
(18:26) What is next for Priority Marketing
(20:12) Hot Seat Questions
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.
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Meet the dynamic mother-son duo behind Michael Saunders & Co.

This week, we are speaking with Sarasota legends, Michael and Drayton Saunders. Together, they run Michael Saunders and Company. We speak about how Michael got started in real estate, Drayton’s time in Chile, the importance of company values, and the future of Michael Saunders and Company. 
3 Takeaways:
(01:28) If you dream it, believe it, and you never give up, you can do it
(06:50) In any market, at any time, there are buyers and sellers
(12:05) If you don't make mistakes, you are not pushing far enough
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introducing Michael Saunders and Company
(02:20) Key tipping points?
(04:10) Drayton Saunders background
(06:10) What are some keys to a successful real estate business?
(10:05) Mistakes or lessons learned
(12:45) Big wins for Michael Saunders and Company
(15:55) What stands out as good leadership characteristics?
(17:55) What is the state of Michael Saunders and Company?
(21:30) Why are you still passionate about real estate?
(23:23) Hot seat questions
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.
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Lessons on good growth and good leadership with John Neal

This week, we chatted with John Neal of Neal Land and Neighborhoods. Together, we discussed how master planned communities begin, leadership lessons from Pat Neal and affordable housing. On top of this, John discusses ideas like a Neal Communities Ice Cream truck, and he gets put on the hot seat to answer the “hot seat questions”.
3 Takeaways:
(09:10) Leadership first
(10:35) People are mostly reacting to change
(13:55) I want my employees to take ownership of their roles
Timestamps:
(00:00) Tell us about Neal Land and Neighborhoods
(02:36) What do you do that is different from other developers?
(06:25) How are homebuilders dealing with the current challenges of the market?
(08:50) What have you learned in leadership from Pat Neal?
(12:00) Creating a positive corporate culture
(13:40) What do you look for in leaders?
(15:30) How do we solve affordable/attainable housing?
(20:45) Hot seat questions
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.
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Chocolate, Baking Competitions and Hospitality: The Sweet Success of Norman Love Confections

Today we are speaking with Norman Love, founder of Norman Love Confections. Together, we discuss Norman’s start at Ritz Carlton, creating the TV Food Network show, “The Challenge” and how Norman created a chocolate company. Norman provides insights into Norman Love Confections’ future growth and the setbacks he’s faced along the way. This is the "sweetest" episode yet, so be sure to listen in!
3 Takeaways:
(11:40) The product and service are the most important aspects of business
(12:50) It is not about a sprint, it is about creating a strong foundation
(17:40) Provide an environment that is conducive to learning and growth
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introducing Norman Love
(00:45) Starting off at Ritz Carlton
(03:20) Captaining the US World Cup Pastry Team
(04:50) Starting “The Challenge” on TV Food Network
(06:20) Beginning to create chocolate and Norman Love Confections
(07:20) Support your family with your own business and working with Godiva
(09:30) What were the tipping points along the way?
(13:20) Growing Norman Love Confections
(16:10) How do you hire leaders?
(18:15) What setbacks have you faced?
(21:00) How much chocolate do you eat?
(22:22) Hot seat questions
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.
 

Go under the couch cushions with DutchCrafters furniture CEO Jim Miller

Today we are speaking with Jim Miller of DutchCrafters. Together, we discuss how DutchCrafters (formerly JMX Brands) found their niche, how Jim looks for leaders inside the company, and handling inconsistent yet exponential periods of growth.
3 Takeaways:
(08:36) Focus on your best sellers
(12:30) An inability to see your employees in leadership positions might be due to a lack of vision
(20:30) The road that got us here is not necessarily the road that will lead us forward
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introducing Jim Miller and Dutchcrafters
(02:00) How did you get into this business?
(06:03) What were some of the tipping points in the business's history?
(10:45) How do you identify leaders in your company?
(15:45) Winston Churchill biography
(18:00) What are you doing to set your business up for the future?
(22:00) Hot seat questions
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.
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Motors, Murals and Museums: The Interesting Life of Liz Dimmitt

Today we are speaking with Liz Dimmitt, CEO of Fairgrounds St. Pete and Managing Partner of Dimmitt Chevrolet. Liz works at the intersection of innovation and tradition. She is the 4th generation of Dimmitt’s to be a dealer with Chevrolet in its 99 year history. She is also taking on the challenge of a start-up business and industry of immersive art with Fairground St. Pete. Together, we talk about leading these two polar opposite businesses, hiring the right people, and the leadership characteristics she emulates.
3 Takeaways:
(08:45) As a leader, demonstrate integrity, transparency, and resilience.
(12:10) Encourage employees to speak up.
(17:20) ‘A’ leaders hire ‘A’ leaders, ‘B’ leaders hire ‘C’ leaders.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introducing Liz Dimmitt and Fairgrounds St. Pete
(03:30) Tell us about Dimmitt Chevrolet
(05:10) What was it like growing up at Dimmitt Chevrolet?
(06:45) What are the biggest challenges you are facing now?
(08:10) As a leader, how do you build and sustain good teams?
(11:05) Where did you learn your leadership skills?
(12:23) What did you do in New York?
(16:58) How do you look for leaders?
(18:40) Where are Fairgrounds and Dimmitt Chevrolet going next?
(22:50) Hot seat questions
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.
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The largest independent coffee roasters in Florida — Kahwa Coffee

This week we are speaking with Kahwa Coffee founders Sarah and Raphael Perrier. Together, we discuss how they got started and challenges they faced as independent roasters. Now that they have established themselves in the market, we chat about the threats they are facing. To end the interview, Kahwa has exciting news of selling 16 franchises in their first year of franchising, when the goal was to sell 5.
3 Takeaways:
(04:30) People need to trust your brand.
(05:35) Having a popular name behind the brand can create recognition in the industry
(08:20) You might have to put effort into defining your culture.
Timestamps:
(00:00) Introducing Kahwa Coffee
(01:30) What led you to start Kahwa Coffee?
(03:30) What were some of the challenges you faced in the beginning?
(06:45) What is your mindset on branding?
(08:05) How do you maintain your culture when growing?
(11:55) How do you use technology to foster better communication?
(15:30) What are the threats you see in the market?
(17:10) Selling more franchises than you expected
(19:20) Hot seat questions
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.