ElevatePolk

AI is everywhere, but for business owners, the real question is whether it is actually helping — or just creating more noise. In this episode of the Elevate Polk Podcast, Chrissanne Long and Dan Thumberg talk through the practical side of using AI in business. From ChatGPT and Claude to hallucinations, workflows, bottlenecks, and “AI slop,” this conversation cuts through the hype and focuses on how leaders can use AI more intentionally. The big takeaway: AI is a thought partner, not a magic show. It can help you think, organize, refine, and improve repeatable work — but it still needs context, direction, strategy, and human quality control. If you are a business owner, entrepreneur, marketer, or leader trying to figure out how to use AI without getting swept up in the buzzwords, this episode offers a grounded, practical conversation about what AI can do, what it cannot do, and why “trust but verify” matters more than ever.

Hello Polk County! On this episode of Elevate Polk, Chrissanne and Nate talk about the importance of understanding when it is (or isn’t) time to scale your business. No matter how big or small your business starts, the ultimate goal is to grow your business as far as you want it to. But in order to do so, you have to figure out the processes that must be built on the backend of your business in order to have a better workflow. That way, as your business grows and you want to add to it, it doesn't break. Chrissanne and Nate highlight the best approach to selecting the right tools that are equipped to scale WITH your business, and discuss the benefits of setting expectations a bit lower at first to see how the market responds, and then adapting based on the response. The point of entrepreneurship and innovation is doing things that may not work correctly, so you've got to take that risk - but take a mitigated risk. By being self aware of the nuances and challenges of growing a business, you can learn to be proud of small milestones and appreciate all the successes, both big and small, to come!

On this episode of Elevate Polk, Chrissanne and Nate talk about the importance of content! Chrissanne and Nate explain that a customer’s first impression of your content will determine whether or not they are going to keep coming back. Therefore, delivering consistently unique and quality content is crucial for every business’s success. Content comes in a lot of different variations. And Chrissanne and Nate break it down for you so you can start building your business with a solid content strategy, no matter what type of business you have! Thinking about your business from the consumer's perspective is a powerful way to build a strategy. We've grabbed the links to some of the exciting content that the hosts are creating on their Websites or Facebook. Nate and Mike and Mike’s will be at the next Buena Market and Chrissanne has a new video series on Strategic growth! Visit the show notes for more information!

This week on the Elevate Polk podcast, Chrissanne and Nate chat with one of "the coolest cats in Polk County!" He's a serial entrepreneur, born in China and learned from his hardworking parents what it takes to create and maintain a successful business, then he took what he learned and created 2 more of his own! If you haven't already guessed who this week's guest is, you will definitely want to listen in to this show! Jian Zhang, or "Jay" as he is best known in Lakeland is the man behind Jade Fox Lounge and a newly launched business Concrete Technology of Lakeland. He also assists his parents with the operations of their business, China 1. Jay shares some sage advice about running multiple businesses. Chrissanne, Nate, and Jian relate to the need for confidence and success as a business owner and talk through the process of gaining wisdom and courage as a seasoned entrepreneur. Find Jian Zhang’s three businesses on Facebook and then go out and visit him in the Lakeland Highlands Plaza off Edgewood Drive!

On this episode of Elevate Polk, Chrissanne and Nate sit across the podcast table from a power couple named Eddie and Tia Crockett who run Authentic You Empowerment! They aim to reach people where they are and encourage them to not be anyone else. Everyone has a role to play in this world and Eddie and Tia believe that you are a product of your environment. They all dive into the beginnings of their entrepreneurial journey filled with fear, doubt, and the pressure they put on themselves to be successful. Everyone agreed that entrepreneurs must not be embarrassed about mixing their personal and professional life because their business is their passion! It's okay to ask for help! Starting a business is one of the most difficult dreams to accomplish and that is why Elevate Polk is cultivating a safe ecosystem of entrepreneurs that will give people that help. Check out Authentic You Empowerment for more resources on business strategy, finance advice, and creating the lifestyle that allows you to be authentic and successful!

This episode is all heart. Join Nate and Chrissanne in a conversation about barley, hops water, and yeast, better known as beer! Polk County is adding Florida-grown breweries to its list of amenities and Dan Thumberg, the owner of Swan Brewing, is part of that growing movement. In this episode, Dan talks about where things started and how they have evolved from homebrews and t-shirts to a well-known local brewery. He emphasizes seeking out mentors that will give you sound advice even when you do not want to hear it. He also shares his key secrets for how he became one of Polk County’s most beloved breweries and how he continues to build his business with the support of his amazing wife, and the community he's chosen to invest in!