In this episode of Waves of Impact, host Ali Green sits down with Erin Connor, Marketing and PR Coordinator at Six String Southern Productions, a concert promotion company based in Athens, Georgia. Six String Southern Productions works across the Southeast—from Virginia to Florida—bringing diverse entertainment experiences to communities, with a particular focus on country music and unique touring productions like MasterChef All Stars Live. Erin shares insights into the behind-the-scenes world of event promotion, exploring how entertainment, hospitality, and tourism intersect to create economic impact in local markets like Pensacola. The conversation delves into the grassroots marketing strategies that connect venues, artists, and communities, the evolving role of social media in event promotion, and the people-first approach that makes live experiences meaningful. From coordinating with local restaurants and cooking enthusiasts for culinary events to ensuring three-hundred-sixty-degree positive experiences for artists, venues, and fans alike, Erin reveals how the concert promotion industry serves as a powerful connector that brings vibrancy, community, and economic vitality to cities across the region.

ERIN CONNER

MARKETING / PR COORDINATOR

During her time at the University of Georgia, Erin began interning with Aubrey Entertainment, where she first gained real-world experience in music promotion. Through that experience, Erin pursued other opportunities in the Athens music scene by booking bands at Roadhouse, curating social media content for bands, and utilizing her photography skills at live events. Her passion and drive led her to Six String Southern Productions, where she will combine her knowledge of public relations, marketing, and the music industry. Erin is excited to join the SSSP team and looks forward to continuing to work in the industry.

Join me in exploring the remarkable 25-year hospitality journey of Rhiannon Reynolds, Vice President of Operations for Innisfree Hotels, whose leadership philosophy centers on a fundamental truth, this business is entirely about people. Reynolds exemplifies the perfect blend of industry expertise and academic excellence, serving as an adjunct professor at Northwest Florida State College where she brings invaluable real-world experience to hospitality theory. Her students are fortunate to learn from a leader who has climbed every rung of the hospitality ladder while never losing sight of the human element that drives successful operations. 

In this episode of "Ask the Professor," discover how authentic people-centered leadership creates both operational excellence and meaningful community impact in today's hospitality landscape. 

Bio

A graduate of the University of South Florida with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, Reynolds says her communications background has enabled her to solve problems “quickly, calmly, and efficiently” in the hospitality business. She is known at Innisfree for her ability to uncover new revenue sources as well as to build relationships with a range of people.

“Innisfree’s commitment to our people and the planet creates an environment of support and collaboration that makes me feel motivated and fulfilled at work,” said Reynolds. “I am grateful for this opportunity to put my skills to use on a broader scale for the company.”

Reynolds shares her skills with the next generation of hospitality professionals and hoteliers as an adjunct professor at Northwest Florida State College. She is passionate about providing employment opportunities for disabled adults and helped the Hilton Garden Inn in Fort Walton Beach win an Exceptional Employer award last year and be the first partner site for Project SEARCH in Okaloosa County. In addition, Reynolds volunteers with One Hopeful Place, which provides services to those facing homelessness in Okaloosa County, and she is an avid supporter of libraries.

When she’s not working or volunteering, Reynolds enjoys spending time with family, friends, and her two teenage children outdoors, on the beach, and watching movies.

Listen to an amazing conversation with my friend, Dr. Peter Ricci, Hospitality & Tourism Management Director and Professor at Florida Atlantic University. With over 30 years of experience in the hospitality and tourism industry and academia, he is passionate about advancing the knowledge and practice of the dynamic and diverse field. As a clinical professor and director of the Hospitality and Tourism Management program at Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Dr. Ricci leads a team of dedicated faculty and staff who provide high-quality education and research to our students and stakeholders.

Peter's mission is to prepare the next generation of hospitality and tourism professionals with the skills, competencies, and values they need to succeed in a competitive and globalized market. He also strives to foster strong industry partnerships and collaborations that enhance the relevance and impact of the program. Dr. Ricci has authored or co-authored multiple publications, book chapters, and conference proceedings on various topics related to hospitality and tourism management, and holds several professional certifications in this field. He has received multiple awards and recognition for my teaching, leadership, and service to the hospitality and tourism community.

What brings him JOY? "As an educator, I have tremendous joy in converting the student who doesn't know what they want to do to something they love."

In Florida, we have many different hospitality programs, and as you can imagine, most of us in hospitality and tourism education love to network with each other across the state. We are all launching highly qualified graduates for our hospitality and tourism workforce.

"Hospitality is a wonderful tool in your career tool belt.  It’s always about how you make people feel."

Amazing gathering that intersects hospitality, tourism, education, and hosts who LOVE all things Pensacola (area).

Special thanks to Jackson's  Steakhouse. Check out this staple in downtown Pensacola. https://jacksonsrestaurant.com/

Brent Lane and his partner Mel won CMA Personality of the Year for 2022. They received the CMA Award at the Show on November 9, 2022.

Brent Lane has been on air in Pensacola on the Cat Pak Morning Show since 2005. Believing in success through service, Brent works to serve Pensacola. He has served as the Master of Ceremonies for the King and Queen of Spain. He leads thousands of people in the Annual Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk. More than just the voice, Brent is actively involved in event planning and execution for these events. He has also actively worked to attract visitors to the Pensacola area through Visit Pensacola and Visit Florida. Brent is the current Vice Chair of the Visit Pensacola Board of Directors. The host of more than 30 Tourism Videos, Brent is a recognizable face of Pensacola locally and nationally. Locally Brent has a soft spot for helping people better themselves. He served as the 2011 President of Manna Food Pantries Board of Directors and is currently in his 3rd term on the Board (12 Years). He is a graduate of Leadership Pensacola (class of 2009) and enjoys helping new LeaP Class members.

Brent and his wife Angela have 3 children… All of whom have worked at the radio station in some capacity. Both Brent and Angela mentor others as Coordinators for the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University Course. Angela is a member of Impact 100 (the largest women’s IMPACT philanthropic group in world) and works as the Team Captain for Making Strides and the American Cancer Society.

When not on the radio, Brent loves Diving, the Blackwater River, and photography on the Gulf Coast. Brent can be heard every morning on the Cat Pak Morning Show.

In this episode of Waves of Impact, Nicole sits down with Warren Sonnen of the family-owned hospitality group behind O'Riley's Irish Pub, Sir Richard's Public House, and Mugs & Jugs. The conversation explores how these long-standing Pensacola establishments have become integral to the local Pensacola vibe. 

 Warren discusses how he became interested in Pensacola's tourism industry through community involvement, board participation, and active engagement with the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA). The discussion highlights the critical relationship between local hospitality businesses and tourism dollars.

Hospitality Roundtable: 5 Years Later - From Crisis to Prosperity

This is part 2 in the Hospitality Roundtable.

Five years ago, we gathered at Timeless Tanglewood for what began as a discussion about our local hospitality industry. Then, the whole world shut down. The Hospitality Roundtable quickly evolved into a vital gathering where local leaders helped each other navigate unprecedented challenges. Representatives from FRLA, hotels, restaurants, and tourism all came together to document what was happening in real-time.

The original conversations can be found here: https://navigating-hospitality.blubrry.net/2020/03/19/march-192020/

Now, 5 years later, we find a different story. Bustling businesses and plentiful travel to the area have replaced uncertainty. Some faces around the table have changed, while others remain the same.

On April 4, 2025, we reunited at Trader Jon's inside the Pensacola History Museum—a fitting location as the first bar in Pensacola—to discuss hospitality 5 years after the crisis that brought us together.

Featured Participants:

• Rick West - President, VooDoo Franchising; Franchisee/Owner at VooDoo BBQ & Grill. 
• Nicole Stacey - Vice President of Destination Development, Visit Pensacola
• Dr. Scott Keller - Interim Dean, Professor, Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business
• Dr. Alison Green - Professor, Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business, GH&TM
• Dr. Richard R. Hawkins - Professor, Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business

YouTube video can be found here: https://youtu.be/T0LIHT3DO4E?si=Y5i716QhVtTSY2a5

Filmed at Trader Jon's Located in the Pensacola Museum of History 330 S Jefferson St, Pensacola, FL 32502 Special 

Thank you to the UWF Historic Trust Robert Overton, Jr. Executive Director Alli Frank Event Coordinator

Thank you to our sponsor, UWF Historic Trust for allowing us to record the session at Trader Jon's. 

Trader Jon's

Martin "Trader Jon" Weissman, owner and namesake of Trader Jon's Bar, was well known for his personal eccentricities such as his famously mismatched socks and "Tradernomics" as well as his eclectic establishment. One of Pensacola's top tourist destinations for decades, Trader Jon's, decorated with photos and memorabilia, some traded for drinks, was a safe haven where young flight students, military personnel, astronauts and movie stars rubbed shoulders with local politicians, characters and the occasional ne'er-do-well. Trained as a U. S. paratrooper in WWII, Trader's lifelong love of naval aviation and his livelihood were inseparable. There was truly nothing like it on Earth! Step inside and experience the legend that was Trader Jon's.

The Trader Jon Exhibit is housed in the Pensacola Museum of History. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00-4:00 and Noon-4:00 on Sunday

Hospitality Roundtable: 5 Years Later - From Crisis to Prosperity

Short on time? This is part 1 of the Hospitality Roundtable.

Five years ago, we gathered at Timeless Tanglewood for what began as a discussion about our local hospitality industry. Then, the whole world shut down. The Hospitality Roundtable quickly evolved into a vital gathering where local leaders helped each other navigate unprecedented challenges. Representatives from FRLA, hotels, restaurants, and tourism all came together to document what was happening in real-time.

The original conversations can be found here: https://navigating-hospitality.blubrry.net/2020/03/19/march-192020/

Now, 5 years later, we find a different story. Bustling businesses and plentiful travel to the area have replaced uncertainty. Some faces around the table have changed, while others remain the same.

On April 4, 2025, we reunited at Trader Jon's inside the Pensacola History Museum—a fitting location as the first bar in Pensacola—to discuss hospitality 5 years after the crisis that brought us together.

Featured Participants:

• Rick West - President, VooDoo Franchising; Franchisee/Owner at VooDoo BBQ & Grill. 
• Nicole Stacey - Vice President of Destination Development, Visit Pensacola
• Dr. Scott Keller - Interim Dean, Professor, Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business
• Dr. Alison Green - Professor, Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business, GH&TM
• Dr. Richard R. Hawkins - Professor, Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business

YouTube video can be found here: https://youtu.be/T0LIHT3DO4E?si=Y5i716QhVtTSY2a5

Filmed at Trader Jon's Located in the Pensacola Museum of History 330 S Jefferson St, Pensacola, FL 32502 Special 

Thank you to the UWF Historic Trust Robert Overton, Jr. Executive Director Alli Frank Event Coordinator

Thank you to our sponsor, UWF Historic Trust for allowing us to record the session at Trader Jon's. 

Trader Jon's

Martin "Trader Jon" Weissman, owner and namesake of Trader Jon's Bar, was well known for his personal eccentricities such as his famously mismatched socks and "Tradernomics" as well as his eclectic establishment. One of Pensacola's top tourist destinations for decades, Trader Jon's, decorated with photos and memorabilia, some traded for drinks, was a safe haven where young flight students, military personnel, astronauts and movie stars rubbed shoulders with local politicians, characters and the occasional ne'er-do-well. Trained as a U. S. paratrooper in WWII, Trader's lifelong love of naval aviation and his livelihood were inseparable. There was truly nothing like it on Earth! Step inside and experience the legend that was Trader Jon's.

The Trader Jon Exhibit is housed in the Pensacola Museum of History. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00-4:00 and Noon-4:00 on Sunday

Hospitality Roundtable: 5 Years Later - From Crisis to Prosperity

Five years ago, we gathered at Timeless Tanglewood for what began as a discussion about our local hospitality industry. Then, the whole world shut down. The Hospitality Roundtable quickly evolved into a vital gathering where local leaders helped each other navigate unprecedented challenges. Representatives from FRLA, hotels, restaurants, and tourism all came together to document what was happening in real-time.

The original conversations can be found here: https://navigating-hospitality.blubrry.net/2020/03/19/march-192020/

Now, 5 years later, we find a different story. Bustling businesses and plentiful travel to the area have replaced uncertainty. Some faces around the table have changed, while others remain the same.

On April 4, 2025, we reunited at Trader Jon's inside the Pensacola History Museum—a fitting location as the first bar in Pensacola—to discuss hospitality 5 years after the crisis that brought us together.

Featured Participants:

• Rick West - President, VooDoo Franchising; Franchisee/Owner at VooDoo BBQ & Grill. 
• Nicole Stacey - Vice President of Destination Development, Visit Pensacola
• Dr. Scott Keller - Interim Dean, Professor, Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business
• Dr. Alison Green - Professor, Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business, GH&TM
• Dr. Richard R. Hawkins - Professor, Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business

YouTube video can be found here: https://youtu.be/T0LIHT3DO4E?si=Y5i716QhVtTSY2a5

Filmed at Trader Jon's Located in the Pensacola Museum of History 330 S Jefferson St, Pensacola, FL 32502 Special 

Thank you to the UWF Historic Trust Robert Overton, Jr. Executive Director Alli Frank Event Coordinator

Thank you to our sponsor, UWF Historic Trust for allowing us to record the session at Trader Jon's. 

Trader Jon's

Martin "Trader Jon" Weissman, owner and namesake of Trader Jon's Bar, was well known for his personal eccentricities such as his famously mismatched socks and "Tradernomics" as well as his eclectic establishment. One of Pensacola's top tourist destinations for decades, Trader Jon's, decorated with photos and memorabilia, some traded for drinks, was a safe haven where young flight students, military personnel, astronauts and movie stars rubbed shoulders with local politicians, characters and the occasional ne'er-do-well. Trained as a U. S. paratrooper in WWII, Trader's lifelong love of naval aviation and his livelihood were inseparable. There was truly nothing like it on Earth! Step inside and experience the legend that was Trader Jon's.

The Trader Jon Exhibit is housed in the Pensacola Museum of History. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00-4:00 and Noon-4:00 on Sunday

Nicole and Ali talk to Paula Shell, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida.

Paula Shell is the President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida, serving the areas of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay Counties. In this role she ensures the mission, strategy, values, and goals of the organization are achieved by the agency. This includes producing positive outcomes in the following areas: Leadership (agency and staff), vision, fundraising, marketing, client services, community awareness, volunteer relations, and coordinating relations with the Board of Directors.

Shell is committed to driving social impact, fostering community engagement, and advocating for change. She has a proven track record in strategic planning, fundraising, and building partnerships with key stakeholders to drive long-term success.

Under her leadership, Big Brothers Big Sisters has opened two satellite offices, increased the number of children served, developed new innovative programing, established an agency endowment and scholarship program, to name a few.

Shell has worked in Child Services for 39 years. She began her career at Lakeview Center, Inc. managing group homes for adolescent boys and girls and in 1997 she started at Big Brothers Big Sisters where for the past 27 years she has served as the President and CEO. Shell holds an A.A. degree from Pensacola State College and a B.A. degree from the University of West Florida in Criminal Justice and Psychology.

Shell is a graduate of the 2003 Leadership Pensacola Class, a member of IMPACT 100, and serves as the lead staff member to Big Brothers Big Sisters Association of Florida’s legislative direction and currently serves on the State Board.

Shell has served as a Big Sister to three Littles in her time with the agency and was named
Big Sister of the Year for the State of Florida in 2019. She enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and has trained and completed seven marathons through the Joints in Motion program having personally raised over $30,000 for Arthritis research.

Nicole and Ali talk with Dayla Stanely, Assistant Director of Alumni Engagement and Development at UWF. Listen to how Kayla adapts and engages with people in the community.