Join us as we welcome our guest, Tim Giuliani, Vice President of Corporate Outreach & Engagement for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. We will discuss the new Florida Scorecard data just released by the Florida Chamber and how this data is driving business decisions in Florida’s six-pillar communities. Giuliani leads the substantial marketing, grassroots, and small business advocacy efforts of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. The Florida Chamber focuses on creating a business climate that generates prosperity and high-paying jobs, vibrant communities and global competitiveness in the state of Florida by focusing on job creation and the Six Pillars of Florida’s Future Economy: Talent Supply & Education, Innovation & Economic Development, Infrastructure & Growth Leadership, Business Climate & Competiveness, Civic & Governance Systems and Quality of Life & Quality Places. Through his focus on unifying the business community, Giulianicreated the Florida Chamber Small Business Council, which mobilizes the small business community on issues ranging from taxes and streamlining regulations, to increasing exports and access to capital.
This week our focus is education, but not just any education subject. Florida Virtual School (FLVS) serves students and districts all over the US and the World. It is an established leader in developing and providing virtual K-12 education solutions to students all over Florida, the U.S. and the world. A nationally recognized e-Learning model and recipient of numerous awards, FLVS was founded in 1997 and was the country’s first, state-wide Internet-based public high school. Today, FLVS serves students in grades K-12 and provides a variety of custom solutions for schools and districts to meet student needs. Our guest is Star Kraschinsky, Executive Director of Foundation and Community Engagement for Florida Virtual School. Star is responsible for leading Public Relations, Community Relations and Foundation initiatives that offer Florida students in Kindergarten through 12th grade an option for high quality, technology-based education that will help them succeed in the 21st century.
Bay Countyis located in the heart of Florida’s Great Northwest overlooking the beautiful Gulf of Mexico. Along with its world-renowned beaches, Bay County boasts an educated and enthusiastic workforce which creates a wonderful business environment. Our guest, Janet Watermeier, currently serves as the executive director of the Bay County Economic Development Alliance, Bay County’s public-private partnership for economic development. She has been involved in both private and public economic development at the state and local level for over 15 years. Her experience includes serving as the economic development director and community redevelopment director for Lee County (Fort Myers area); as the principal owner of an economic development consulting firm; and as vice president of commercial operations for a publicly traded master planned community developer, Westinghouse Communities, Inc. (WCI). Janet was appointed by Florida’s Governors to serve on Florida’s Transportation Commission, Enterprise Florida, the Regional Planning Council and several statewide task forces. She has served on many local and regional boards including chair of the Southwest Florida International Airport Special Management Committee during its $450 million expansion. Janet graduated magna cum laude from Virginia’s Old Dominion University with a degree in economics, received a graduate fellowship and later attended the State University of Buffalo School of Law.
Our next guest is Dr. Dale Brill, President of the Florida Chamber Foundation, the research and policy development arm of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. Working in partnership with state business leaders, the Foundation advances initiatives that envision a vibrant and sustainable economy in the Sunshine State. Previously, Dale served as the Director of the Governor’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development. His experience also includes tenure as chief marketing officer for VISIT FLORIDA, the state’s official tourism industry marketing corporation, as well as experience in both start-up environments and as a global business leader for General Motors. Dr. Brill holds a doctorate from the University of Tennessee. He was named as one of Fast Company magazine’s inaugural “Fast 50 Innovators” and one of the “Top 25 Most Extraordinary Minds” by the Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International. Dale is still an active baseball player. He throws right, bats right and scouting reports confirm he has trouble with down and away sliders.
Join us on May 5th as we host Arthur Coddington, Director of Online Programs for Craigslist Foundation and the person behind LikeMinded.org. The site’s purpose is to serve as an aggregate source for community involvement and local action. People can use the service to share stories of successful community projects and as a place to find resources for getting their own project off the ground. Learn how this site is inspiring volunteerism to go viral. According to the site, here’s how you can use it: Discovery: In LikeMinded Beta, you can discover two kinds of information about local issues you care about: Resources: Resources are articles, videos, tools, and audio from around the web related to local community change. It’s information in its original form, available free from the source. Projects: Projects are the story behind community change. What issue was addressed, how did the team do it, and did it work? Projects include visibility for the people and organizations who did the hard work and info about where and when it all happened. They are a great way to get a snapshot into how people addressed issues in their neighborhood. Sharing: Individuals and organizations are sharing local community stories through LikeMinded. The real magic comes when you share your story. What have you or your organization taken on? What cool projects have you read about? Help inspire others by sharing what you know as resources or projects.
Stuart L. Rogel is the President & Chief Executive Officer of the Tampa Bay Partnership. Founded in 1994, the Tampa Bay Partnership is the only entity that provides regional economic development for the entire eight-county, 6,515-square-mile area of west central Florida which includes the metro areas of Tampa/St. Petersburg/Clearwater, Lakeland, and Sarasota/Bradenton/Venice and the counties of Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, and Sarasota. The Partnership is focused on its Model for Prosperity Strategic Plan which concentrates on the four focus areas of a Vision for Regional Prosperity; A Blueprint for Economic Development; A Transportation Strategy to Support Regional Transit; and a Broader Advocacy and Leadership Model. A resident of Florida since 1984, Mr. Rogel was the Regional Director for the Florida office of New Boston Fund Properties, a full-service real estate development, management and investment company. Prior to that, Mr. Rogel served as Assistant City Manager and Economic and Community Development Director for the City of Miami Beach, where he was responsible for guiding that community through its dramatic and successful revitalization and redevelopment. The Tampa Bay Partnership is a regional organization that works with its partners to market the region nationally and internationally, to conduct regional research and to coordinate efforts to influence business and government issues that impact growth and development.
This week’s program will feature Christian Gibbons, Director of Business/Industry Affairs in Littleton, Colorado and co-inventor (along with city manager Jim Woods) of “Economic Gardening,” an entrepreneurial approach to economic development. Mr. Gibbons has run this project for the City of Littleton for 24 years. From the period 1990 to 2009 the number of jobs in Littleton nearly doubled from 15,000 to 30,000 and sales tax revenues more than tripled from $6 to $21 million. The City did not recruit one industry during this period, nor did it offer one cent in incentives or tax rebates. Mr. Gibbons received a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Oklahoma in 1973 and worked for the City of Oklahoma City and San Bernardino County, California before establishing his own consulting firm in 1977. From 1977 to 1987 he consulted on a variety of community and economic development projects in Colorado, Wyoming and California. Mr. Gibbons has been married to his wife Diane for 42 years and they have two adult sons.
Join us at 9am EST on April 28th for a special 90 minute show that will feature a number of guests discussing “Creating Prosperity.” From a super-regional effort with Tampa Bay Partnership's Stu Rogel, to Al Latimer of Enterprise Floridawho will discuss how Florida will move forward to deliver economic development to Chris Gibbons of Littleton, Colorado, who will discuss the national effort to bring Economic Gardening'sentrepreneurial economic development approach to more communities and businesses. At 9am, we will feature Stu Rogel of the Tampa Bay Partnership discussing Tampa Bay's Super Regional Leadership Conference, which starts April 28th through the 29th at the Tampa Convention Center. At 9:30am, we welcome Al Latimer who serves as senior vice president of External Affairs and Investor Relations for Enterprise Florida – the public-private partnership responsible for leading Florida’s statewide economic development efforts. Joining us at 10am will be Chris Gibbons, director of Business and Industry Affairs for the city of Littleton, Colorado and the person who pioneered Economic Gardening, an entrepreneurial alternative to the traditional economic development practice of recruiting industries.
This week’s guest is Jim Moore discussing “Economic Development – A Public Sector Perspective.” As the Director of the Fort Myers Regional Partnership, Lee County’s Economic Development Office, Moore is charged with carrying forward their strategic vision. This includes the continuation of diversifying Lee County’s economic base by attracting new high-wage/high growth industries to the area, as well as providing assistance to existing businesses with expansion plans. Jim is going to talk to us today about some of the exciting initiatives that are underway with their office and the Horizon Council and their new Together, We Mean Business campaign and how our organization can help further this effort.
Join us as we welcome the leadership from the Florida Economic Development Council on the next Economic Development Today Blog Talk Radio Show. We will discuss how economic development is changing in Florida and what to expect as the reshaping of the delivery system for economic development moves forward. Guests: Amy Evancho, President and CEO of the Florida Economic Development Council Deborah Wilkinson, Chair of FEDC Ed Schons, Chair-Elect of FEDC
Our guest this week is Rich Bendis, the founding President and CEO of Innovation America (IA), a Global Innovation Intermediary focused on accelerating the growth of the entrepreneurial innovation economy in America. Mr. Bendis is a distinguished and successful entrepreneur, corporate executive, venture capitalist, investment banker, innovation and technology based economic development leader, international speaker and consultant in Innovation and Economy Building. Mr. Bendis currently serves as the founding President and CEO of Innovation America (IA), a Global Innovation Intermediary focused on accelerating the growth of the entrepreneurial innovation economy in America. IA has a fivefold mission: Global advocate for accelerating awareness of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Early Stage Capital in stimulating Innovation Based Economic Development (IBED). International speaker on Building Innovation and Entrepreneurial Ecosystems (Voted a Top 5 Innovation Speaker by Speakers Platform), International Consulting on IBED Publishing innovationDAILY and WEEKLY, a daily e-newsletter reporting on Global trends on innovation with a circulation of approximately 500,000 unique visitors in over 185 Countries (Voted The 4th Best Innovation Blogger in The World by Blogging Innovation) and Early Stage Capital Fund of Funds Consulting and Formation.
Our guest this week is Fran Korosec, Director of Client Services for the Florida Economic Gardening Institute (GrowFL). Learn how this public/private partnership is helping to support entrepreneurship and create jobs in Florida. Fran Korosec is the Director of Client Services for The Florida Economic Gardening Institute (GrowFL) at the University of Central Florida. Fran oversees all aspects of the GrowFL program, including administration and outreach, technical assistance, CEO forums and roundtables. Fran brings 25 years of experience in management consulting, integration services, technology development, & manufacturing. He is a seasoned executive with a unique combination of business development/sales, program management, and technical expertise. Economic gardening is an entrepreneurial economic development tool that embraces strategies to grow existing businesses in a community, region or state. By assisting entrepreneurs, economic developers are planting the seeds for a stronger economy and supportive environments where companies can thrive and prosper.
Join Beth Kirkland and Kim B. Williams on the next Economic Development Today talk show. Ms. Kirkland is the Executive Director of the Economic Development Council of Tallahassee/Leon County, Inc. and Mr. Williams is Chairman of the EDC Board and President of Marpan Supply among other business ventures. Kim is a lifetime resident of Tallahassee and a successful entrepreneur. He has led the EDC over the past 18 months to build out a very well rounded program of work that touches business at every stage. Learn about Tallahassee’s public/private partnerships that are supporting the area’s economy and helping to create jobs. Beth and Kim and discuss the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center at Tallahassee Community College and how the organization is leveraging a $450,000 US Small Business Administration grant for the EDC’s new Entrepreneurial Excellence Program. In addition, find out how the area is strengthening the Tallahassee Regional Airport in unique ways that will increase new opportunities for businesses in Tallahassee.
Steve Quello is this week's guest on Economic Development Today, brought to you by the Economic Development Foundation. Steve is founder and President of CEO Nexus, a market research firm serving CEOs and related senior management of second-stage businesses. He designs and manages market development programs, including PeerSpectives, a CEO Peer Learning Network delivered to Florida’s businesses through GrowFL, Florida’s Economic Gardening Institute. Economic gardening is an entrepreneurial economic development tool that embraces strategies to grow existing businesses in a community, region or state. By assisting entrepreneurs, economic developers are planting the seeds for a stronger economy and supportive environments where companies can thrive and prosper.