In this episode of Small Biz Florida, recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit in Tampa, host Tom Kindred welcomes Secretary Kelly, Secretary of Florida Commerce. With a background in education and economic development, Secretary Kelly shares how Florida Commerce is driving forward statewide initiatives that support small business owners—from Main Street to rural communities.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit hosted at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guest:

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit in Tampa, host Tom Kindred is joined by Michelle Partridge, founder of Pear Tree Consulting. Michelle shares her journey from owning an appliance repair business in Raleigh to launching a consulting firm in Tallahassee that focuses on helping service industry entrepreneurs streamline operations and reclaim their time. Drawing on real-world experience, she dives into the most common challenges faced by owner-operated businesses—from inefficient route planning to uncertainty around hiring and financial planning. Michelle’s hands-on, personalized approach helps business owners shift from working in the business to working on it. Whether you're looking to scale, optimize your systems, or finally figure out your break-even point, this episode delivers strategies you can put into action today.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit hosted at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guest:

Live from the 2025 Small Business Success Summit in Tampa, this episode of Small Biz Florida features a powerful conversation with Dr. Wendy Norfleet, founder of Norfleet Integrated Solutions. Drawing from her experience managing multi-billion-dollar departments and her passion for empowering small businesses, Dr. Norfleet shares critical insights on what it truly takes to grow a business successfully. She breaks down the importance of strategic readiness assessments, understanding your financials, and knowing when and how-to scale. The discussion also highlights cash flow challenges, how to access capital for large contracts, and why business owners must shift from working in their business to working on their business. Whether you're thinking about expansion or already facing growing pains, this episode delivers clear, actionable strategies for sustainable success.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit hosted at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guest:

Live from the 2025 Small Business Success Summit in Tampa, host Tom Kindred welcomes Secretary Griffin of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) to discuss how the state is making it easier for entrepreneurs to launch and grow their businesses. With over 1.7 million licensees across more than 30 industries, the DBPR plays a critical role in regulating and supporting Florida’s diverse business ecosystem. Drawing on her own experience as a former small business owner and business attorney, Secretary Griffin shares key insights into how the department is cutting red tape, improving customer service, and launching innovative tools, such as the Open My Florida Business platform—a multi-agency resource designed to guide entrepreneurs through licensing and regulatory requirements. Whether you're starting a barbershop, architecture firm, or even a boxing gym, this episode has valuable takeaways for anyone navigating Florida’s business landscape.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit hosted at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guest:

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, recorded live from the 2025 Small Business Success Summit in Tampa, host Tom Kindred sits down with Richard Greco, founder of Money Matters University. With over 30 years of experience in accounting and financial literacy, Richard shares why understanding financial statements, KPIs, and revenue streams is essential for business owners ready to grow. From building a leadership-driven company culture to avoiding burnout, Richard explains how business owners can scale their operations smartly—utilizing technology, financial expertise, and a mindset shift from merely surviving to thriving. This episode is packed with practical strategies, alternative scaling solutions, and real-world insights for entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit hosted at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guest:

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit in Tampa, host Tom Kindred speaks with Mimi Damm, Digital Media Expert and Media Sales Manager at Gray Media. With more than 20 years of experience in media sales—from print to digital—Mimi shares how small businesses can harness the power of omnichannel marketing to engage customers across platforms like Facebook, YouTube, Hulu, and podcasts. Mimi offers practical advice on setting clear digital goals, managing platform overload, and investing wisely—recommending that businesses dedicate about 5% of annual gross sales to marketing. From real-world success stories to tips on where to start, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help entrepreneurs build brand awareness, increase sales, and eliminate the guesswork from digital strategy.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit hosted at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guest:

Live from the 2025 Small Business Success Summit in Tampa, Small Biz Florida host Tom Kindred welcomes Jonathan Katz of Lendistry, a FinTech company focused on providing fast, flexible, and technology-driven lending solutions for small business owners. With a background as a former Wall Street analyst and investor, Jonathan shares how he transitioned from large financial institutions to empowering Main Street businesses with accessible capital. In this episode, he breaks down how FinTech is reshaping small business lending through streamlined applications, SBA and non-SBA loans, and transparent partnerships. Jonathan also warns business owners about the risks of predatory lending and provides actionable advice on navigating online financing responsibly. If you're looking to understand how modern FinTech can support your business growth, this episode delivers the insight and guidance you need.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit hosted at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guest:

In this episode of Small Biz Florida, recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit in Tampa, host Tom Kindred sits down with Larry Carnell, Vice President of Strategic Development at Benetrends. A former Entrepreneur of the Year with deep expertise in finance, franchising, and funding, Larry shares powerful insights on how aspiring and existing business owners can fund their ventures using the ROBS (Rollovers as Business Startups) program. Learn how entrepreneurs can tap into their retirement savings—tax-advantaged and penalty-free—to start, buy, or grow a business. Larry also introduces the ROBS Plus strategy, offering even greater tax benefits and flexibility. Whether you're seeking capital, a way to minimize taxes, or looking to scale your business, this episode offers clear strategies to move from dream to ownership—with expert guidance and proven results.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit hosted at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guest:

Live from the 2025 Small Business Success Summit at the Grand Hyatt in Tampa, host Tom Kindred sits down with Jason Mahone, Deputy Secretary for Florida Commerce, Economic Development, and Chief Manufacturing Officer. A Florida native and former emergency management official, Jason brings a wealth of experience to his current role championing Florida’s small manufacturing businesses. In this episode, he discusses the explosive growth of the state’s manufacturing sector—doubling its GDP contribution in the past decade—and outlines Florida's goal of becoming a top-five manufacturing state. Jason also breaks down how the state is helping small manufacturers expand globally through programs like Select Florida and trade missions to events such as the Paris Air Show. Additionally, listeners will hear about key support resources like the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI), which is helping deliver nearly a billion dollars in loans to small businesses. Whether you’re a maker, exporter, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with insights into how Florida is building a more resilient and opportunity-rich economy.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit hosted at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guest:

Recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit in Tampa, this episode of Small Biz Florida features Haley Evans, founder of Strategies That Stick. Haley shares her inspiring journey from single motherhood to earning an MBA and launching a successful business—completely debt-free. She introduces her signature EPIC framework (Engage, Persuade, Inspire, Close), designed to help small businesses use AI tools to craft emotionally resonant storytelling that drives results. From leveraging email marketing with a 4200% ROI to building lead magnets that convert, Haley offers clear, actionable strategies for growth. Tune in to learn why storytelling—not social media—is your most powerful marketing asset, and how to transform your message into a movement.

This podcast episode was recorded live at the 2025 Small Business Success Summit hosted at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay. This podcast is made possible by the Florida SBDC Network and sponsored by Florida First Capital.

Connect with Our Guest: