Florida Business Minds

Affordable housing is a hot button issue in many cities across America, but particularly in South Florida where land is scarce and demand is high. In this episode, SFBJ Editor-in-Chief Mel Melendez calls on Falcone Group COO Alfonso Costa, Jr. to share his expertise and approach to addressing the issue.

When your product is caught half way around the world, processed in foreign countries and the deal is done three months in advance, even a small hiccup can cause big-time issues while operating on razor thin margins. In this revealing conversation, BSF Executive VP Mark Frisch shares the challenges and opportunities his company faces with JBJ Editor-in-Chief James Cannon.

Miami native Mary Usategui rose to the top of South Florida’s banking industry during a period of rapid mergers and acquisitions, an evolution that reshaped the finance landscape and created an opportunity to reaffirm the value of relationship-driven banking. Inspired to build on that tradition, she founded the area’s first new bank established from the ground up since 2008, with a strong focus on personal, one-on-one connections.

Business leaders and executives can acquire an MBA, but the mental aspect of leadership is often learned the hard way, by mistake, or through experiencing trial and error. In this download, TBBJ Editor Alexis Muellner invites Dr. Naakesh Dewan, Vice President of Behavioral Health at GuideWell and Florida Blue, to guide us through this important, yet often overlooked aspect in business success.

In a business that's dominated by men, Kristi Beaudoin has earned her way into the C-Suite, leading acquisitions while integrating AI and technology at Coastal Waste & Recycling. In this episode, SFBJ Editor-in-Chief Mel Melendez invites Beaudoin to share insight on her industry.

Collaboration and cooperation inspire innovation, and that's what's happening for tech and business startups at The Link in the heart of Nocatee Town Center. In this episode, JBJ Reporter Matt Denis connects with The Link Co-Founder Raghu Misra and CSO Randall Thomas to learn more about the culture inspiring growth.

Without air conditioning, it's safe to safe that Florida would still be just a winter retreat. Now, technology is transforming AC, led by the vision of Blue Frontier CEO Daniel Betts. In this download, SFBJ Editor-in-Chief Mel Melendez invites the AC entrepreneur to share advances that could save money and the environment.

Long before Disney, Universal and SeaWorld were attracting millions of visitors, the St. Augustine Alligator Farm was THE place for adventure. For 130 years, families have ventured to Florida's First Coast to see the closest living relatives of dinosaurs. In this episode, JBJ Managing Editor Stuart Korfhage invites Director John Brueggen to share how the Alligator Farm Zoological Park keeps attracting an audience.

There's no shortage of exceptional dining options across the state, and Florida's hospitality industry is next level. V&E Hospitality CEO Matias Pesce and his team are leading the industry with a wide variety of successful concepts they've parlayed into Vegas. In this download, SFBJ Editor-in-Chief Mel Melendez invites Pesce to share his passion for excellence, and how judo plays a role in his success.

Ants, termites and rodents are facing extermination efforts across the Sunshine State as Turner Pest Control continues to expand from the company's war room in Jacksonville. In this episode, JBJ Editor-in-Chief James Cannon gets an update from President Kevin Poland.

'Iconic" might be an understatement for Pier Sixty-Six, known as THE destination for generations of South Floridians and guests from around the world. In this episode, SFBJ Editor-in-Chief Mel Melendez calls on Club GM John Myers to share the story of this reimagined resort offering something for everyone.

Access to capital is often a major obstacle for small business owners and entrepreneurs growing their business. In this episode, JBJ Reporter Carter Mudgett invites Mona Co-Founder Andrew Leon Hanna to share what he and his team are doing to not only make it easier to access funding, but also add clarity to the process.

South Florida's commercial real estate crunch is forcing developers to get creative. In this download, SFBJ Editor-in-Chief Mel Melendez invites Andrew Zidar, VP of Acquisitions and Development for RK Centers, to share his company's winning formula as consumer demand continues for convenient retail options.