PB + Jax

Connor Miller is a third-generation freight broker. His grandmother and his dad both brokered freight, and he spent more than a decade doing the job himself before building Freight Scout, the company that won the Jacksonville Venture Competition.

Freight Scout runs AI agents that handle the busy work inside a freight brokerage, from calling carriers and tracking loads to billing customers and paying carriers. Brokers keep the relationships, which Connor says will stay the backbone of freight no matter how good the tech gets. He built it for his own brokerage first and is now selling to mid-market brokers, the ones CH Robinson will never sell its in-house AI to.

We also get into the web app he vibe coded in two months and then threw out because of security holes, and why he tells new founders to go get punched in the mouth early.

Connor isn’t raising money. He wants introductions to freight brokers, and Freight Scout pays affiliates for them. Find him on LinkedIn under Connor Miller or Freight Scout.

jax-preneur is PB & Jax’s weekly spotlight on Jacksonville startup founders.

#Jacksonville #jaxpreneur #PBandJax #Startups #FreightBrokerage #Logistics #AI

Mike Tumolo was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s last September at the age of 47, after his grandmother and his mother both had the disease. On November 7, he’ll stand on stage at Riverfront Plaza holding the blue flower for the first time.This special installment of PB & Jax was recorded in purple for a reason. Carly, director of the Alzheimer’s Association in Jacksonville, and Mike, a member of the walk’s executive leadership team, sat down with Randall to talk about the disease, the research, and the 2026 Jacksonville Walk to End Alzheimer’s.In this episode:-Alzheimer’s vs. dementia and why the two get confused-Why the number of Americans living with Alzheimer’s is projected to double by 2040-Mike’s path to a diagnosis, including the doctor who first chalked it up to work stress-What treatment looks like today, from biweekly infusions at Mayo Clinic to a fight with insurance over coverage-Why Florida has the second highest prevalence rate in the country-The Promise Garden ceremony and what each flower color means-Where the money raised actually goesWalk to End Alzheimer’s, JacksonvilleSaturday, November 7Doors at 9 AM, ceremony at 10 AM, walk starts at 10:15 AMRiverfront Plaza, 2 W Independent Dr. (former Landing site)1.58 mile route along Water Street and the RiverwalkFree to attend. No fundraising required. Wearing purple is encouraged.If you’re a caregiver, recently diagnosed, or still unsure about coming, Mike’s advice is to just show up. You don’t have to say a word to anyone.Register, donate, or find local support groups: alz.org/cnfl24/7 Helpline: 800-272-3900Randall is walking on Kevin Waugaman’s team this year. Come find us downtown.#Alzheimers #WalkToEndAlzheimers #Jacksonville #JaxEvents #Dementia #Caregivers #EarlyOnsetAlzheimers #PBandJax #DuvalCounty #ENDALZ

Ambiorix was a king and one of the few leaders who stood up to Julius Caesar and got away with it. Alphaeus Hanson named his company after him because he’s building something that usually only the biggest players on Wall Street can afford.On this rendition of the jax-preneur series, Alphaeus explains how Ambiorix automates quantitative investment strategies for small asset managers and family offices. Firms like Jane Street and Citadel build this kind of proprietary work in-house. Alphaeus built Ambiorix to cover the small and mid-cap frontier tech stocks. Most of these stocks don't have revenue or earnings yet, so traditional cash-flow models can’t price them. Instead of forcing a valuation, Ambiorix studies how the stocks behave and builds strategies from those patterns.We talk about his path from tech consulting and deep tech VC to launching the company in December 2025. We delve into why he’s bullish on building Ambiorix here in Jacksonville, where he says the region’s public-markets expertise gets underrated.Alphaeus is raising $500,000 and looking for asset managers and family offices to join a free pilot. If this is you, reach out to him.jax-preneur is PB & Jax’s weekly spotlight on Jacksonville startup founders. We hope you enjoy the conversation.#Jacksonville #jaxpreneur #PBandJax #Startups #FinTech #QuantInvesting #FamilyOffice

Brendan Lammond spent nine months talking to fractional executives before writing a line of code. What came out of it is Proof Sites, a platform that turns the results of complex professional work into verifiable evidence that AI can't fake. Then, it makes that evidence searchable so clients can find the people who have already solved their problem.On episode two of Jax-preneur, Brendan walks through how Proof Sites spun off from his first company, SiloD, who the beta users are, and what his vision is long-term He also previews Jacksonville's first Build Week, kicking off October 19 at 5:30 PM in Jacksonville Beach.Interested in beta access or investing? Reach out to Brendan Lammond directly on LinkedIn or through the Proof Sites website.0:00 Welcome to Jax-preneur0:47 What Proof Sites does2:33 How the idea came out of SiloD4:04 Where the build stands today5:08 Who the beta users are6:02 How it helps a new fractional CFO7:55 How Proof Sites differs from Claude9:21 The business model9:50 Turning ideas into something people pay for11:13 Co-founders, advisors, and support12:49 Is Jacksonville an advantage for founders?13:37 The 30 second pitch and the ask16:05 Jacksonville Build Week, October 19Jax-preneur is a series from PB & Jax spotlighting the people building startups in Jacksonville, Florida.Learn more at https://pbjax.com#Jacksonville #Startups #Entrepreneur

A Jacksonville city councilman publicly said he can't wait to get rid of "this cultural council nonsense." So, we sat down with the woman running it and asked her to make the case with numbers.Diana Donovan is President & CEO of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, the nonprofit that turns roughly $6 million in city funding into $143 million in economic impact. They achieve this by matching public dollars with private ones to fund over 30 local arts and culture nonprofits. In this episode, she breaks down exactly how that math works, what really happens to your money when you go out for a night downtown (spoiler: it's not just the ticket price), and why she believes arts and sports are "the trifecta" that makes a city worth visiting.We also get into:1. How COVID nearly wiped out Jacksonville's cultural sector, and what saved it.2. Why Jacksonville's city budget process works the way it does (and where your tax dollars actually go)3. Diana's path from Philadelphia → Vermont → Jacksonville University → the Mayor's Office → running a $6M nonprofit4. The leadership lesson from Jacksonville University's first female president that changed how Diana leads5. A rapid-fire round: her favorite hidden public art in Jacksonville, who she'd commission for a city art project, and the most underrated spot in townIf you've ever wondered whether "the arts" actually matter to a city's bottom line, or you just want to understand where your city's budget fights really come from, this is the conversation.00:47 – Who is Diana Donovan? From Philadelphia to falling in love with Jacksonville 03:26 – Why she studied psychology (and how it shaped her leadership) 04:39 – Her first job: inside the Mayor's Office 09:56 – The 3 types of leadership power — and which one actually works 12:03 – "Everyone has a sign around their neck that says I want to feel seen" 17:14 – How Diana ended up running the Cultural Council in the middle of a pandemic 21:26 – The stat that changes everything: $87 spent for every $1 admission ticket 25:16 – How arts and culture kept Jacksonville sane during COVID39:43 – Inside Jacksonville's city budget process, step by step 49:44 – The councilman's tweet, and her on-camera response 59:17 – Public art you're walking past every day (and don't know it)61:06 – Rapid fire: coffee order, favorite hidden art, who she'd commission 68:38 – Where to find the Cultural Council and how to get involvedFollow PB & Jax (Pioneers and Builders in Jacksonville): Host: Randall Thomas Instagram: @randytomx | @pbjackspodcast LinkedIn: The PB and Jax Podcast#Jacksonville #nonprofit #PBandJax #DuvalCounty #EconomicDevelopment #CityCouncil #PublicArt

On this episode of Pioneers and Builders in Jacksonville (PB & Jax), host Randall Thomas sits down with Jacksonville District 3 City Councilman and Finance Committee Chair Will Lahnen. A fifth-generation Jacksonville resident, Naval Academy grad, and former submarine officer, Will breaks down what it's like to run a $2 billion city budget, why he ran for office in the first place, and what he wants Jacksonville voters to know heading into the March election.We cover his path from the Navy to CSX to leading the Northeast Florida office of Focus CFO, as well as how the city's finances have improved since he took office. He gives a plain-English breakdown of the millage rate and the homestead exemption vote coming up on November 3rd. He opens up about his veteran advocacy work, including the Veteran Entrepreneurship Grant Program, the Jax Heroes Act, and the effort to bring the decommissioned USS Jacksonville submarine home as a permanent memorial.We dig into some of Jacksonville's hottest topics: the new stadium, concerns over JTA's finances and the NAVI autonomous transit program, the Otto Aerospace deal bringing 1,200 jobs to Cecil Field, and whether downtown development is coming at the expense of the rest of the city. It's a wide-ranging, honest conversation about how City Hall actually works, straight from the guy running the numbers.If you're a Jacksonville resident, small business owner, or just want to understand where your tax dollars are going, this is an episode worth your time.Like this episode? Hit subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of PB & Jax.Timestamps00:00 – Welcome back to PB&Jax 00:59 – Meet District 3 Councilman Will Lahnen 01:15 – His Jacksonville roots: five generations, Navy family history 04:34 – Naval Academy, submarine service, and orders to Kings Bay 05:47 – Leaving CSX and deciding to run for City Council in 2022 07:40 – What campaigning was like (knocking on 3,000 doors) 10:09 – What District 3 actually covers 12:07 – The first year in office 13:56 – How council committees work 15:05 – Working across the political aisle 16:02 – Goals going into his first term 18:40 – What hasn't gone as planned 19:46 – Veteran initiatives: Jax Heroes Act & Veterans Entrepreneurship Grant Program 23:51 – Building a pipeline from military bases to local business ownership 25:52 – The most exciting win of his first term: Auto Aerospace at Cecil Field 29:47 – Why a growing budget can actually be a healthy budget 34:16 – What is a millage rate? (plain-English explainer) 38:01 – Pedestrian safety and infrastructure 39:19 – City Council's relationship with the Jax Chamber 40:40 – City Council's relationship with the Downtown Investment Authority 42:31 – Why downtown gets so much attention (and buy-in on other districts) 44:35 – Small business in District 3 45:36 – Favorite projects in and outside his district 48:29 – Making up lost Jaguars game-day revenue during stadium construction 50:02 – Plans for a second term & bringing home the USS Jacksonville submarine sail 52:44 – A Civil War shipwreck under the Buckman Bridge 56:18 – Budget quick hits: the new stadium's price tag 57:18 – JTA finances and the Navi autonomous transit debate 1:00:38 – Will the Holon hydrogen plant still come to Jacksonville? 1:01:21 – Rapid fire round (favorite meal, Gators vs. Seminoles, Army-Navy game, and more) 1:06:38 – What Jacksonville residents should be excited about 1:09:04 – Closing thank-yousAbout the GuestWill Lahnen is the Jacksonville City Councilman for District 3 and current Chair of the City Council Finance Committee. A Naval Academy graduate and former submarine officer, he spent over a decade at CSX before co-founding the Northeast Florida office of Focus CFO. He is running for re-election in the March election.

She spent her first Florida Christmas sewing hurricane screens on a Walmart machine in her living room. Twenty years later, Fenetex is a back-to-back Inc. 5000 manufacturer that is shipping motorized screens across the country. All these years later, they are still proudly based in Jacksonville.In this episode of PB & Jax, host Randall Thomas sits down with Meridith Anzulis, co-founder and CEO of Fenetex, to trace the whole arc: the failed first product, the pivot that saved the company, building through the Great Recession, and the decision to compete on quality instead of price. Meridith also shares how a career in minor and major league baseball (yes, the Charleston RiverDogs and the LA Dodgers) prepared her to run a manufacturing company.Recorded just before Fenetex was named to the 2026 Inc. 5000 for the second straight year — landing at No. 53 in manufacturing (up from No. 89) and No. 1,951 overall.We get into:– Why the name "Fenetex" means you own all the IP (fenestration + textiles)– The MaxForce self-adjusting hurricane track and screens rated for the 185-mph wind zone– "You can't make it beautiful until you make it exist"– Pricing for value, not cost — the lesson they revisit every couple of years– COVID, broken logistics, and why they built their own delivery fleet– What Jacksonville gets right for builders (and where the city dropped the ball)– The real cost of a bad hire– 50 employees, almost all in Jax⏱️ Chapters00:00 – Welcome + about 20 years of Fenetex01:02 – Where the name "Fenetex" came from02:00 – The first product (and why it failed miserably)05:10 – "You can't make it beautiful until you make it exist"06:30 – From the Dodgers to motorized screens: Meridith's baseball years11:00 – Sewing screens on a Walmart machine that first Christmas11:45 – How they landed in Jacksonville13:30 – Building a company through the Great Recession15:20 – Compete on value, not price16:30 – The innovator + the operator: defining roles17:20 – Inside the four screen types (and Kevlar-grade hurricane fabric)20:00 – The new MaxForce self-adjusting hurricane track22:00 – Where to spot Fenetex screens around Jax & St. Augustine24:30 – Engineering as trust, Fenetex Blue, and a lifetime warranty30:00 – The hardest part: learning to live without an income32:00 – The "we made it" moment: making the Inc. 500035:40 – Women of Influence & leading in a male-dominated field41:00 – Scaling through COVID and building their own delivery fleet44:50 – Why Jacksonville — and a message to the city50:30 – Proudest moment & the one thing she'd redo (hiring)55:00 – Rapid fire58:00 – Closing gratitudeConnect with FenetexWeb: https://www.fenetex.comLinkedIn: Meridith Anzulis/Fenetex Motorized ScreensPB & Jax: Pioneers · Builders · JacksonvilleWeb: https://www.pbjax.comHost: Randall ThomasLike, subscribe, and drop a comment with the Jacksonville builder you want to see next.#PBandJax #Jacksonville #Fenetex #Inc5000 #MadeInJacksonville #Entrepreneurship #Manufacturing #SmallBusiness #WomenInBusiness #904 #JaxBusiness #FoundersStory

Jacksonville City Council candidate Deborah Wesley sits down with PB & Jax to make her case to voters ahead of the August 18 special election.Deborah is the Republican candidate for City Council At-Large, Group 1. In this conversation she shares her 35 years of service with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, why she decided to run for office for the first time, and what she'd prioritize on council: public safety, infrastructure like sidewalks and street lighting, and standingby the city budget as it's currently proposed. We get into her decision to run, her faith, and what she believes makes her ready to serve on day one.About our guest: Deborah Wesley is a lifelong Jacksonville resident whoretired after 35 years with the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, including decades in executive management and leadership. She's a mother of three and has spent years volunteering with youth sports and community outreach through the Forestview AthleticAssociation.This conversation is part of PB & Jax's coverage of the At-Large Group 1 race. We sat down with all three candidates so Jacksonville can hear each of them in their own words. The special election is August 18, 2026.PB & JAX — Pioneers, Builders & JacksonvilleStories that move our city forward. New conversations every week.Website: https://pbjax.com

Jacksonville City Council candidate Addison Patrick sits down with PB & Jax to make her case to voters ahead of the August 18 special election.Addison is the Libertarian candidate for City Council At-Large, Group 1. In this conversation, she lays out what a libertarian actually believes, why she got into the race, and the issues driving her campaign: housing affordability and smart growth, public safety and safer streets, small business, cutting red tape, as well as creative, private-sector approaches to homelessness. We got into her fight to stay on the ballot, the city budget, the stadium deal, and where she'd steer Jacksonville next.About our guest: Addison Patrick previously chaired the Duval County Libertarian Party and serves as a regional rep for the state party. She's a first-time candidate running an independent, anti-corruption campaign focused on doing more for Jacksonville with less government.This conversation is part of PB & Jax's coverage of the At-Large Group 1 race. We're sitting down with all three candidates so Jacksonville can hear each of them in their own words. The special election is August 18, 2026.CONNECT WITH ADDISON PATRICKWebsite: https://www.addisonlibertypatrick.comAlso on Facebook, Instagram & XPB & JAX — Pioneers, Builders & JacksonvilleStories that move our city forward. New conversations every week.Website: https://pbjax.com

Jacksonville City Council candidate Moné Holder sits down with PB & Jax to make her case to voters ahead of the August 18 special election.About Our Guest: Moné Holder is the Democratic candidate for City Council At-Large, Group 1. She serves as Chief Advocacy & Political Officer at Florida Rising and chairs the Jacksonville Planning Commission, and brings nearly two decades of nonprofit leadership to the race.In this episode, Moné answers the question every candidate has to earn an answer to: why should you vote for me? We get into her "Affordability First" message, her priorities for Jacksonville's neighborhoods, housing, cost of living, smart growth, and public safety, as well as what drove her to run.This conversation is part of PB & Jax's coverage of the At-Large Group 1 race. We're sitting down with all three candidates so Jacksonville can hear each of them in their own words. The special election is August 18, 2026.CONNECT WITH MONÉ HOLDERCampaign: https://www.holderforjax.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moneholderPB & JAX: Pioneers, Builders & JacksonvilleStories that move our city forward. New conversations every week.Website: https://pbjax.com#PBJax #Jacksonville #Jax #DuvalCounty #904 #JaxPolitics #CityCouncil #Election2026