In this episode of A Sit Down, TBBW Managing Editor Chuck Merlis sits down with Ashley Butler, owner and franchisor of Ice Cold Air Complete Auto Repair, to talk about what it really means to build wealth from a blue-collar business in Tampa Bay.

Ashley walks through her path from side hustles and telecom sales to running a dry cleaning business, then taking over an auto repair franchise and eventually becoming the franchisor. Along the way, she shares how mentors changed her life and why she now teaches her employees about credit, assets, homeownership and estate planning.

They talk about conscious capitalism, what it takes to turn a $650 paycheck into long-term equity, why listening is her “million dollar secret,” and how she uses her business to create opportunities for the next generation.

If you care about leadership, mentorship, small business and generational wealth in Tampa Bay, this conversation is for you.

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How a Tampa Restaurant Is Adapting to Changing Palates

Tampa diners are changing fast. Lighter drinks, cleaner ingredients and more transparency in the kitchen are shaping where people eat and what they order. In this episode, Chris McVety and Michael Coury from Jacksons share how they are responding in real time.

They talk about cutting seed oils, investing in private label spirits, building vegan sushi that tastes like tuna and rethinking every vendor they use. They also share how Tampa’s downtown crowd has shifted and why the new consumer is more informed and values-driven.

If you want to understand where Tampa dining is heading, this conversation is a sharp look inside one of the city’s busiest waterfront restaurants.

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