Palm Beach North Podcast Network

In this episode of People Behind Progress, Noel Martinez sits down with community leader Keith James for a conversation about leadership, public service, and the future of West Palm Beach.

From his upbringing in Kansas to his journey into public service, Keith shares the personal experiences and values that have shaped his approach to leadership. He reflects on West Palm Beach's transformation, the importance of creating opportunities for all, and the responsibility of ensuring that growth benefits the entire community.

The conversation also explores some of the most pressing issues facing Florida residents, including housing affordability, proposed property tax changes, and the potential impact on essential local services. Keith offers his perspective on balancing financial relief with public safety, infrastructure, and quality of life, while emphasizing the importance of local decision-making.

Together, they discuss what it means to lead with purpose, support small businesses, and build a community where future generations have the opportunity to thrive.

Topics Covered:

00:00 – Introduction: Meet Community Leader Keith James

01:01 – Early Life, Education & the Values That Shaped His Leadership

03:42 – The Journey from Law to Public Service

07:31 – A Day in the Life of a Community Leader

09:22 – Building a Community of Opportunity for All

12:11 – West Palm Beach's Growth & Transformation

14:28 – Addressing Affordability & Expanding Housing Opportunities

19:57 – Understanding Amendment 3 & Proposed Property Tax Changes

24:14 – The Potential Impact on Public Safety & Essential Services

29:14 – Local Government, Home Rule & Community Decision-Making

32:54 – Finding Solutions to Florida's Affordability Challenges

35:26 – What Residents Should Know About Property Tax Reform

38:06 – The Future of West Palm Beach & Supporting Small Businesses

40:38 – Leadership, Legacy & Creating Opportunities for Future Generations

Whether you're a business leader, community advocate, entrepreneur, or resident interested in the future of our region, this conversation offers valuable insight into the decisions shaping our communities and the importance of leadership that puts people first.

Subscribe to our channel for future episodes of People Behind Progress, highlighting the leaders, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of Palm Beach North and beyond.

Connect with us on social media:

Facebook: @PalmBeachNorthChamber

Instagram: @pbnchamber

LinkedIn: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce

City of West Palm Beach:

Instagram: @thecityofwpb

Facebook: The City of West Palm Beach

LinkedIn: City of West Palm Beach

To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com

To learn more about the City of West Palm Beach, visit: https://www.wpb.org

#PeopleBehindProgress #Leadership #WestPalmBeach #PalmBeachNorth #CommunityLeadership

In this episode of People Behind Progress, Noel Martinez sits down with Brian Matthews, Founder + CEO of AMPERA, to discuss the future of energy and the technology being developed right here in Palm Beach Gardens to help meet the world's rapidly growing demand for reliable, abundant power.

From the rise of AI and data centers to advanced nuclear technology, Brian shares why he believes energy is fundamental to economic growth and prosperity and how AMPERA is working to rethink the way energy is generated, deployed and consumed. He breaks down the company's "Power Now. Nuclear Next." strategy, the potential for subcritical thorium-based nuclear systems, and how AMPERA is approaching safety, scalability and innovation.

Brian also shares his journey as an entrepreneur and engineer, the culture he's building at AMPERA, why integrity is one of his most important leadership principles, and why Palm Beach Gardens was the right place to build the company's global headquarters.

Together, they explore what the future of energy could look like and why science, technology, curiosity and bold thinking will play an important role in shaping what's next.

Topics Covered

00:00 – Introduction: Meet Brian Matthews & AMPERA

03:00 – Entrepreneurship, Mentors & Building Technology Companies

07:33 – Why Energy Is Fundamental to Progress

09:40 – What Is AMPERA?

12:04 – “Power Now. Nuclear Next.” & the Future of Energy

16:10 – AI, Data Centers, Defense & Maritime Applications

19:46 – Nuclear Energy: Misconceptions, Technology & Safety

26:36 – Building AMPERA: Culture, Bold Thinking & Integrity

32:41 – Why Palm Beach Gardens & the Future of the Region

37:55 – AMPERA’s Vision for the Future & What Progress Means

Whether you're a business leader, entrepreneur, engineer, technology professional, or simply interested in how innovation is shaping the future of energy, this conversation offers a fascinating look at the people and ideas working to solve one of the biggest challenges facing our growing economy.

To watch previous episodes of People Behind Progress, visit our Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce YouTube channel.

Subscribe here for future episodes of People Behind Progress, highlighting the leaders, ideas and innovations shaping the future of Palm Beach North and beyond.

Connect with us on social media:

Facebook: @PalmBeachNorthChamber

Instagram: @pbnchamber

LinkedIn: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce

To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com

To learn more about AMPERA, visit www.amperaglobal.com

AMPERA

LinkedIn: AMPERA

Facebook: AMPERA

Instagram: AMPERA

Brian Matthews

LinkedIn: Brian Matthews

#PeopleBehindProgress #EnergyInnovation #NuclearEnergy #CleanEnergy #PalmBeachNorth #AMPERA

In this episode of People Behind Progress, Noel Martinez sits down with Patti Hamilton, Vice President of Brand & Culture, and Travis Hitchcock, Chief Operating Officer, of Coastal Waste & Recycling to discuss the leadership, culture, and values behind one of the fastest-growing waste and recycling companies in the Southeast.

Beyond the blue trucks seen throughout the community, Patti and Travis share how a people-first culture, servant leadership, and a commitment to developing employees have become the foundation of Coastal's success. They also discuss the role sustainability, innovation, and accountability play in building a company that serves both its customers and its communities.

Together, they explore what it takes to create an organization where employees are empowered to grow, leadership is built from within, and a strong culture drives lasting impact.

Topics Covered

00:00 – Introduction: Meet Coastal Waste & Recycling

02:18 – Leadership Journeys & Careers in Waste and Recycling

05:53 – What Coastal Waste & Recycling Does

07:05 – The People Behind Coastal's Rapid Growth

10:39 – Building a People-First Culture

14:24 – Leadership, Accountability & Developing Great Teams

21:17 – The Core Values That Drive Coastal

24:11 – Palm Beach County's Growth & Economic Development

29:07 – Recycling, Sustainability & Innovation

33:10 – The Future of Coastal Waste & Recycling

35:22 – What Progress and Legacy Really Mean

Whether you're a business leader, entrepreneur, people manager, or someone interested in leadership and organizational culture, this conversation offers valuable insight into how purpose-driven leadership creates lasting success.

Subscribe for future episodes of People Behind Progress, highlighting the leaders, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of Palm Beach North and beyond.

Connect with us on social media:

Facebook: @PalmBeachNorthChamber

Instagram: @pbnchamber

LinkedIn: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce

To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com

To learn more about Coastal Waste & Recycling, visit www.coastalwasteinc.com

Coastal Waste & Recycling

LinkedIn: Coastal Waste & Recycling, Inc

Facebook: @CoastalWasteInc

Instagram: @coastalwasteinc

Patti Hamilton

LinkedIn: Patti W. Hamilton

Travis Hitchcock

LinkedIn: Travis Hitchcock

#PeopleBehindProgress #Leadership #CompanyCulture #PalmBeachNorth #CoastalWaste

In this episode of People Behind Progress, Noel Martinez sits down with Heather Cogar, Statewide Director of Community Engagement for the Florida Chamber Foundation's Florida Prosperity Initiative, for an inspiring conversation about resilience, leadership, and the fight to end childhood poverty in Florida.

Drawing from her own journey through foster care, homelessness, and adversity, Heather shares how the support of caring mentors and community leaders transformed her life and ultimately led her to a career dedicated to creating opportunity for others. Together, Noel and Heather explore the Florida Prosperity Initiative, the role of the business community in addressing poverty, and why collaboration is the key to building stronger, more prosperous communities.

Topics Covered

00:00 – Introduction & Meet Heather Cogar

01:34 – Heather's Journey Through Foster Care and Adversity

03:04 – The Program That Changed Her Life

05:26 – Returning to School and Finding a New Path

08:14 – From Law Enforcement to Purpose-Driven Leadership

12:21 – How the Florida Chamber Helped Make Her Dream a Reality

14:00 – The Mission Behind the Florida Prosperity Initiative

17:07 – Tackling Childhood Poverty Through Community Collaboration

22:04 – Why Palm Beach County Is Leading by Example

39:32 – What Gives Heather Hope for Florida's Future

Whether you're a business leader, educator, nonprofit professional, or someone passionate about strengthening communities, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that lasting progress begins when people come together around a shared purpose.

Subscribe for future episodes of People Behind Progress, highlighting the leaders, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of Palm Beach North and beyond.

Connect with us on social media:

Facebook: @PalmBeachNorthChamber

Instagram: @pbnchamber

LinkedIn: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce

To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com.

To learn more about Heather Cogar and Florida Chamber Foundation's Florida Prosperity Initiative, visit https://www.flchamber.com/flprosperityinitiative/

#Peoplebehindprogress #PalmBeachNorth #FloridaChamber #Leadership #CommunityLeadership

In the debut episode of People Behind Progress, Noel Martinez sits down with Sheree Anne Kelly, President & CEO of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), for a conversation about leadership, economic development, and the evolving role of chambers of commerce in shaping strong communities.

Drawing on her experience working with chamber leaders across the country, Sheree Anne shares why the most successful chambers serve as futurists, conveners, and catalysts for regional prosperity. The discussion explores ACCE's Horizon 2035 initiative, the challenges facing today's leaders, the importance of resilience, and why she remains optimistic about the next generation of changemakers.

Topics Covered

00:00 – Introduction & Meet Sheree Anne Kelly

03:12 – The Role of ACCE and the Future of Chambers

05:18 – Why Chambers Must Be Futurists for Their Regions

07:13 – Are Businesses Underutilizing Chambers?

08:20 – Horizon 2035: Preparing for the Future

10:04 – Chambers as Unifiers and Community Conveners

15:41 – Leadership Challenges Facing Chamber CEOs

18:10 – Building Strong CEO and Board Relationships

24:05 – The Leadership Traits Needed for 2035

25:49 – Why Sheree Anne Kelly Is Optimistic About the Future

Whether you're a business owner, community leader, or someone interested in the future of your region, this conversation offers valuable insights on leadership, collaboration, and creating lasting community impact.

Subscribe for future episodes of People Behind Progress, highlighting the leaders, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of Palm Beach North and beyond.

Connect with us on social media:

Facebook: @PalmBeachNorthChamber

Instagram: @pbnchamber

LinkedIn: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce

YouTube: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce

To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com.

To learn more about Sheree Anne Kelly and the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), visit www.acce.org.

#PeopleBehindProgress #PalmBeachNorth #Leadership #BusinessLeadership #CommunityImpact

On the latest episode of the ArtiGras Podcast, we sit down with Jessica Ransom, Director of Artist Services at the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County. From an unexpected career pivot into the arts to shaping opportunities for hundreds of local creatives, Jessica shares a behind-the-scenes look at what it really takes to support and grow a thriving arts community in Palm Beach County.

This conversation explores the realities of the art market, the role of curators in shaping meaningful exhibitions, and how the Cultural Council is creating pathways for artists at every stage of their careers. From major exhibitions to grant programs and artist resources, Jessica offers insight into how collaboration, accessibility, and community continue to drive the region’s creative momentum.

Topics Covered:

• (2:15) Jessica’s journey from education and government into the arts

• (6:26) What it means to be Director of Artist Services and the many roles involved

• (7:36) Breaking into the art market and challenges for artists in smaller regions

• (11:34) The connection between art, wellness, and community impact

• (15:31) How exhibitions are conceptualized, curated, and brought to life

• (37:42) Resources, grants, and opportunities available for artists in Palm Beach County

Artists and Creative Professionals! For free resources and more insight into Palm Beach County’s arts scene, visit our sponsor’s site: https://www.palmbeachculture.com

Do not forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more inspiring stories from the art world!

Follow us on social media:

Instagram: @artigras

Facebook: @artigras

ArtiGras Fine Arts Festival Website: www.artigras.org

ArtiGras Podcast Website: www.artigraspodcast.com

Follow the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County:

Instagram: @palmbeachculture

Facebook: Cultural Council for Palm Beach County

Cultural Council for Palm Beach County Website: https://www.palmbeachculture.com

#ArtiGrasPodcast#PalmBeachArts#CulturalCouncil#ArtCommunity#SouthFloridaArts

Running secure, accurate, and transparent elections for more than 900,000 registered voters in Palm Beach County is no small task. Behind every election is a year-round operation focused on security, accessibility, and ensuring every eligible vote is counted.

In this episode, Wendy Sartory Link, Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, returns to the Palm Beach North Podcast to discuss the upcoming election cycle, key voting dates, and the processes in place to protect the integrity of elections. She also shares insight into how the elections office operates behind the scenes—from verifying vote-by-mail ballots to recruiting thousands of poll workers who help ensure the process runs smoothly. Later in the episode, she also discusses how ballots are verified, the technology used to audit results, and how community members can get involved in the election process. T

opics Covered:

00:48 Running elections for more than 900,000 registered voters in Palm Beach County

04:30 Key election dates including municipal, special, primary, and general elections

05:40 Florida’s closed primary system and why party registration deadlines matter

07:18 Voting options: vote-by-mail, early voting, and Election Day voting

09:35 Renewing your driver’s license and why updating your voter information matters

13:09 How vote-by-mail signatures are verified and the safeguards in place

Subscribe to the Palm Beach North Podcast to stay connected with Palm Beach County’s business community and the leaders shaping its future! 🎨

Love the arts? Explore our sister series, the ArtiGras Podcast celebrating the creative culture that powers the Palm Beach North community.

Check us out on social media!

Instagram:

Palm Beach North: @palmbeachnorth

Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: @pbnchamber

ArtiGras: @artigras

Facebook:

Palm Beach North: /palmbeachnorth

Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: /pbnchamber

ArtiGras: /artigrasfineartsfestival

LinkedIn:

Palm Beach North: /palmbeachnorth

Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: /pbnchamber

Websites:

To learn more about Palm Beach North Podcast, visit: https://www.palmbeachnorthpodcast.com

To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit: https://www.pbnchamber.com

To learn more about ArtiGras Podcast, visit: https://www.artigraspodcast.com

#PalmBeachNorthPodcast#PalmBeachCounty#CivicEngagement#ElectionInformation#VotePalmBeach

Breaking the poverty cycle does not happen all at once. It happens when students are given access, belief, and the support to see a future they can step into.

In this episode, Christine Sylvain, Founder and CEO of Path to College, shares her personal journey and the work behind a proven model that helps high potential students overcome systemic barriers, earn scholarships, and access selective universities debt free. She also looks ahead to what’s next for the organization and how education and mentorship create lasting community impact.

How do you build a stronger Palm Beach County workforce? For Julia Dattolo, President and CEO of CareerSource Palm Beach County, it starts with people.

A proud U.S. Navy veteran and workforce development leader, she connects talent with opportunity and helps local businesses grow through service and purpose, sharing how community leadership, veterans employment, and workforce innovation are shaping Palm Beach County’s economy and redefining what it means to serve our community.

In this episode of the Palm Beach North Podcast, Dr. Conor P. Delaney, Executive Vice President of Cleveland Clinic and President of Cleveland Clinic Florida, shares his journey from Ireland to leading one of the nation’s premier healthcare systems in Florida. He talks about how early exposure to medicine, surgical innovation, and a team-first mindset shaped his leadership path from world-class colorectal surgeon to enterprise executive.

Dr. Delaney highlights Cleveland Clinic Florida’s mission and momentum: integrated, patient-centered care, exceptional quality outcomes, and innovations like hospital-level care at home. He also discusses Cleveland Clinic’s expansion in Palm Beach County—from outpatient growth to plans for a new hospital—plus community partnerships addressing access, behavioral health, and food insecurity. The episode closes with leadership insights and his optimistic outlook for the future of healthcare in our region.