Business Unusual Podcast

005 – Nikki Frezza | Maximizing Life’s Seasons

On this episode I was able to spend time catching up with Nikki Frezza via Zoom. Nikki and I attended the same private school for different periods of our lives and while our paths never lead to us getting to know each other at that stage, we have been able to connect via our shared business interests.

Nikki take life in stride and whether it was moving to Europe or selling her rising nut butter business to focus on her family, has always seemed to adapt and maximize the stage of life she is in.  

I enjoyed hearing the more detailed story behind the success of her business that I watched take off from afar as well as discuss what lead to her launching a Virtual Assistant (VA) coaching business. 

Thank you to Nikki  for your time and let’s do it again soon!

Check her out at her website nikkifrezza.com

Tony Albelo.  The Man. The Myth. The Legend. 

Those of us who experienced it know the early 2000's internet was an era, and time that will NEVER be replicated. It was a moment in internet history that reached a peak prior to social media.  Kids these days probably wonder what we spent all our time on the internet doing pre social media.

For those of us in the South Florida fishing community, the answer was the Florida Sportsman fishing forum. It was a place like no other - the wild west with a couple of moderators trying to hold court.  That’s where I first encountered Tony. Even through the digital realm, I could instantly tell he was a personality and persona like no other.  Loveable and the life of the party, Tony was legendary for the fishing tournaments he ran that become more well known for the event it was and less the fish that were caught. He truly created format of fun that is the envy of tournaments everywhere to this day.  (Hello Bacardi boat wash girls!)

Tony was gracious enough to spend some time with me talking about his early childhood in Miami and how that environment set the stage for him in the future.  He’s the ultimate entrepreneur, always looking for what’s next and truly thrives and loves projects and taking down something most people would call too much work, too big, too complicated.  Too whatever is just right for Tony.  He is the man behind some of South Florida’s most attended and exciting events including Grovetoberfest, the Grove Slam, Coconut Grove Seafood Festival, and most recently ensured Miam’s Big Orange rose at midnight on New Year’s Eve at Bayfront Park.

Today Tony runs EngageLive!, an event production company focused on creating truly engaging experiences that leave people asking “What’s next?”.

Link in Bio

Jon Weislow has come to be someone I call a good friend and colleague. Jon and I crossed paths via our roles with our respective companies in the construction and development industry. Over the years, we have both grown in our career paths and recently had the opportunity to work together on some projects. Jon has an intriguing background and story filled with highs and lows. Through his athletic ability, Jon found himself in Coral Gables playing baseball at the University of Miami for the legendary Coach Jim Morris. His story shows that life has a way of preparing you for the future if you are simply willing to be open to the changes, challenges, and opportunities life presents. From qualifying for the Junior Olympic team to finding himself rehabbing after multiple injuries, Jon seized the moment when it came time to figure out what was next after sports for him.

This has brought Jon to launc his own podcast, The Postgame Podcast, focusing on life after sports. His guest list is impressive and extensive and is worth your time to listen to how some familiar names find success AFTER the final buzzer. 

Thanks again to Jon for his time. Give The Postgame Podcast a follow, you won’t regret it.

On today's episode I spend the morning before the Fort Lauderdale boat show catching up with good friend and expert fish hunter Tom Rowland of Saltwater Experience, a Florida Keys based fishing show.  Saltwater Experience has been on air for over 18 years and I would consider Tom a pioneer of the internet age of outdoor and sportsman television.   Tom and I connected in 2009 via Make- A-Wish and spent a few days fishing his favorite fishing grounds and  have stayed in touch ever since.

We spend some time catching up and discuss his incredible experiences working at Yellowstone, how life comes full circle, how guiding in the Florida Keys led to fishing the tournament circuit and eventually pivoting his career to television and media.  It's an amazing story that makes you come away truly feeling like everything happens for a reason. 

Tom has a get it done mentality coupled with immense self discipline that proves that success can be found outside of how grades and report cards define you in school.  I was thrilled to spend time with him again.

I admire and was inspired by Tom's insatiable thirst for knowledge via his podcast, Tom Rowland Podcast,  which I was honored to be on and we recorded after this session.  Go check that out.

Thrilled to announce the launch of what I hope to be a journey in knowledge and storytelling.

Couldn't think of a better first guest than my friend and fellow Fort Lauderdale businessman and activist Mike Lambrechts

Mike and I crossed paths in an unusual manner and through the years and  different personal journeys, became close friends as we worked towards common goals and different definitions of success.  Mike is managing partner of KL Wealth Advisors, CEO & Principal of Clean Waterways and VP of CCA Florida.  In his spare time you'll find him enjoying the outdoors somewhere in Florida or the Bahamas.

We cover alot of topics and spend time discussing his efforts to help mitigate the damage to and restore Fort Lauderdale's most treasured asset - its waterways.

Thanks again for being the test dummy for this crazy idea.  Hope everyone enjoys and already looking forward to having him back on.