The folks from Leadership Tampa stopped by WUSF today, and instead of taking them on the usual tour, we decided to hand the microphones over to them.
Several volunteers agreed to “fill in” for usual Florida Matters host Carson Cooper, and interview another member of Leadership Tampa. Other participants became producers and helped conduct and engineer the interviews.
Interviewees talked about everything from online safety to elephants. Here are their interviews:
Emily Rogers interviewed Keith Skorewicz about online safety for kids. Skorewicz is shareholder with Bush Ross, P.A., and Rogers is president of First Source Consulting, LLC. The producer was Lara Tibbals, shareholder, Hill, Ward & Henderson, PA.
His advice? “Be careful. You need to know what they’re looking at,” Skorewicz said.
“My one piece of advice would be -- and I’m cheap -- to pay for the game or the app,” he added, “because there’s no advertisements, which is less of a chance they’ll end up on the Internet.”
Jimmy St. Louis of Advanced Healthcare Partners interviewed Maria Baltar of The Association to Advance Collegiate Business Schools. The AACSB helps schools achieve accreditation.
“In 1916, very few individuals had a business degree. It was a new market. So, 16 schools got together to monitor themselves and to benchmark,” she said.
“Right now we have 1,300 member schools, 655 of which are accredited. I work with those schools so they can maintain their accreditation," she said.
Baltar talked about a conference her organization is holding for deans of business schools from throughout the world. St. Louis asked what the "uniform" is for a business school dean.
"It involves khaki pants, white button down shirts, and blue blazers," Baltar said.
Making a powerful business presentation is the focus of an interview William Sadlowski, chief financial officer of Franklin Street Financial Partners, LLC, conducted with Debbie Lundberg, the principal of Debbie Lundberg Life and Business Coaching. The piece was produced by Amy Carrasco, senior human resources recruiter for Tampa General Hospital, and Michael Weeks, associate professor of management at the University of Tampa.
Lundberg said many people are not aware they’re already successful at presenting.
“A lot of people have a fear of presenting, but they do it each day,” Lundberg told her Leadership Tampa class. “When you answer the phone, when you answer the door, you don’t know who is there. So, you are presenting impromptu. So, remember that you’re good at it."
Did you know baby elephants don’t know how to use their trunks when first born?
Elizabeth Hennig, CFO of Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo, shares details about the animals and mission at the zoo with interviewer Sharon Price, senior vice president, Central Hillsborough area manager, SunTrust Bank. Nathan Carney, shareholder, Trenam Kemker, produced the piece.
Hennig shares a story about the baby elephant born two days before Christmas 2012 and the predicament she got into because the muscles in her trunk weren’t developed.
“Our little female elephant somehow got her trunk in her mouth. Thought it was pretty neat, played with it for a little while but then couldn’t figure out how to get it out,” Hennig said.
As chairman of Vistage Florida, Rolfe Arnhym’s job is to help CEOs worldwide become better leaders. Charlotte Diggs, assistant county attorney, Hillsborough County, talks with Arnhym about the vision of his international organization. Rod Grabowski, senior associate vice president and campaign director for University of South Florida, produced the interview.
“The biggest issue is leading in an organization that is multi-generational,” Arnhym said. “Each generation has its own set of values. Each generation thinks differently. They communicate differently.”
How will the Tampa Bay Rays play after losing center fielder B. J. Upton and stalwart pitcher James Shields?
Richard Reeves, director of corporate partnerships, Tampa Bay Rays, shares insights into the 2013 season with David Bode, vice president of human resources, Busch Gardens and Adventure Island. Their interview was produced by John Unger, vice president at Bank of Tampa.
“We’ve got a lot of changes in the bullpen. We may pull some people up. We just lost J.P. Howell,” Reeves said. “There are going to be a lot of pitching changes, but still the Rays it’s all about pitching.”
Jimmy Ulrich, vice president of Jones Lang LaSalle interviewed Chip Coberly, vice president of member investments and insurance services, GTE Federal Credit Union, about mortgages and refinancing. Andrew Fruit, partner, Shutts and Bowen LLP, produced the segment.
Coberly said it was a great time to get a mortgage or refinance.
"Rates are down at around 3 percent, and we’re doing all sorts of programs for people who are upside down on their mortgages or owe more than their houses are worth, there’s a great government program we’re part of that we can refinance your home for you," he said.
Amanda Uliano, attorney, Law Office of Amanda M. Uliano, P.A. interviewed Elizabeth Zabak, chief marketing officer, Carlton Fields, P.A., about Carlton Fields. The segment was produced by Adrian Martinez, managing partner, EKS Group, LLC.
"We’ve been around for over 100 years. We cover a wide range of practice areas," Zabak said.
"One way we do differentiate ourselves is through client service. We really are focused on the client, providing them with resources they may need."
