Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Decision makers, innovators, game meet the minds behind South Florida's
biggest companies. This is CEOs You Should Know News Radio
six ten WYOT.
Speaker 2 (00:13):
Welcome to our CEOs you Should Know series. Joining us
today is Frankie Ruiz, the CEO of Don't Stop Productions.
Thank you so much for being here. So first, I've
known you for years as the muscle behind the Miami Marathon,
so to speak, but you're also the CEO of Don't
Stop Productions.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Tell me about it in its mission.
Speaker 4 (00:29):
Don't Stop is basically a company dedicated to helping organizations
bring to life their running events, mainly their endurance events.
It's something I've been doing my entire life. And you
have assembled a partnership with Anna Perez and Sultan Polgar
and we kind of have this three headed monster which
(00:50):
are pretty good at at different different areas, and we
help organizations put this complex seemingly simple but complex at
the end, you know, race event together.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
You're also the founder of the Baptist Health Brickell Run Club,
which is the largest weekly free run club in the world.
How do you encourage people to as your motto is,
don't stop not only in running but also in life's challenges.
Speaker 4 (01:18):
I try my hardest never to give people excuses for
not showing up or not being somewhere. I might get
there late here and there, but for the most part,
I want I want to maybe inspire others to always
find a way to show up. And so through the
run Clubs, we never cancel. We'll wait out bad storms,
(01:40):
We'll meet up if there's even a tropical storm warning.
I mean, you name it. I think the only time
we took a break obviously was wast of out of COVID,
that COVID period. But outside of that, we're there fifty
weeks a year. Only two weeks we do take a
break is family time during during the holidays. But we've
done that through the run clubs for years. And I
(02:00):
do it at races, I do it at practice, when
I have it with with my with my teams, and
and yeah, I hope, I hope. Miami kind of, you know,
we had this this uh sort of perception that Miamians
were fickle and we do things and then stop and
do things and commit and only to you know, to convenience.
And I think we've changed as a city. And I'm
(02:22):
glad to be part of that how do you.
Speaker 3 (02:24):
Get that person to keep running?
Speaker 2 (02:25):
Because you know, so many people get started with a Hey,
maybe I'm gonna do this for my New Year's resolution,
and then five weeks and you're like, you know what,
I just can't. How do you get that person to
keep running?
Speaker 4 (02:35):
So? I think one way is to establish uh, and
I don't call it an end goal, but at least
one one one big next milestone for you unintended UH
and something like give my give Miami day five k's
is a perfect, you know goal to train for or
walk for and and and stay committed to and then
(02:56):
pick the next one after that and after that and
and maybe have two or three a year, and and
it keeps you engaged. The other way to to kind
of keep yourself moving is is bring somebody along. You know,
some some folks think they have to do it alone
and then bring somebody along. Why not bring somebody along
from the beginning, someone that that also needs, you know,
needs some help staying on track and moving, because you'll
(03:18):
hold each other accountable.
Speaker 2 (03:20):
What inspired you to take on the role as CEO
of Don't Stop Productions and what has been the most
rewarding part of your journey? So far.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
I mean a few times I've tried to run away
from from the the event industry because it's very stressful,
it's weekends, it's you know, it's it's tough on the
family and so forth. But you can't run away from
from something you're really passionate about, and and and what
what's part of my DNA at this point and something
that I've developed all these years, the skill set and
(03:47):
and the network and so forth. So it just made
made sense to kind of, uh, you know, go all
in as they as they say, as a as a
CEO or a founder of a company. This would be
the third or fourth company I've sort of sold and
moved on from. So yeah, it's just a natural fit.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
In today's business environment that's constantly evolving and changing.
Speaker 3 (04:07):
How do you personally define success?
Speaker 4 (04:09):
I think you got you got to stop every so often,
you know, I don't say it, don't stop, but and
and look around you and and and really yeah, see
if you've you've helped others around you raise their floor
and and I think that that's a good measure of success. Uh.
You know, how how much are you amplifying your inspiration
(04:30):
with others such as for instance, the Miami Foundation to
me is a perfect amplifier, Like if I can if
I can help them continue to amplify, then that's success.
Uh So, yeah, I guess it's less of a measure
of what you've done, but rather those around you.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
We were talking about South Florida. The perception of us
being fickle, so to speak.
Speaker 4 (04:49):
Back in the days, back in the day is not. Now.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
What role does South Florida play in shaping your organization's mission?
Speaker 4 (04:55):
It's to me, it's everything. I'm a hyper local guy.
I didn't even want to leave, uh you know, for college.
I think I would. I argue with my wife if
we want to leave for too too long of a vacation.
This has been home since was obviously born and raised here.
But part of the reason why I draw inspiration from
South Florida is that I think it's it's helped so
(05:17):
many people make more out of their lives than than
than we even you know, imagine whether immigrants into into
this this country, like like my parents, you know what
they did, what it did for my grandparents, And I
just feel that that in and of itself should be
enough enough inspiration to keep me keep me going for
this community.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Are you currently using AI and how do you think
it might impact your company?
Speaker 4 (05:41):
I obviously, I think we all plug in at least
an email here and there to check for grammar and
so forth. I have not yet figured out how to
use it for the event business or the event world
we're dabbling in, and for coaching. I think there's there's
a there's some place for it. Yet there I'm still
exploring what what exactly it's gonna it's gonna mean for
(06:01):
for my business.
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Let's go a little bit into detail. Why is philanthropy
and community engagement so important?
Speaker 4 (06:09):
I think it it shouldn't be something you do after
you've made it. I feel like successful business owners or
or CEOs and and even successful companies figure out a
way to sort of give away what they're good at
and what others might charge for. And I think philanthropy,
(06:33):
if you find what you're good at and what again
you're passionate about, philanthropy should just be something you run
parallel to to your everyday life, your everyday business. And
you know, is it important? I think it's It's just
as important as as the books inside your you know,
your your profit margins, inside your your own your own house.
(06:53):
It's also important to teach this to your your employees,
which again amplifiers the employees should see, should see the
same generosity coming from and the same passion coming from
its leaders, as as hopefully they should show as well.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
I think it's a perfect segue. You were talking about
give Miami Day, finding your passion, connecting the two. Give
Miami Day, one of Seff Lorda's largest days of philanthropy.
You're getting involved this year with a five K tell
me about it.
Speaker 4 (07:22):
Sure, so give Miami Day. I've got some roots in it,
I know. I know one of the sort of originators
of that idea was Javier Soto, and Yavier Soto being
the predecessor to to Rebecca at at this at the
Miami Foundation, Javier was a big part of the beginnings
of the Lifetime Miami Marathon, and and so anything he'd
(07:43):
ask I'd jumped for because it was it was one
way to get back to him. But at the same
time I knew this, this this guy was doing right,
the right things for Miami and the Miami Foundation. Back
when they started this, and I believe it was twenty twelve,
you know, it started a movement, and movement of concern
(08:03):
and and and care and and and support for organizations
that don't necessarily have a great platform to stand on
to ask for money. And this was a you know,
a remarkable start to it, and and the evolution of
that has turned into almost like a festival. And everyone's
proud to be not just asking for money, but they're
(08:24):
proud to uh to celebrate the fact that everybody's giving
to their causes. So give Miami Day. I think the
natural progression is to jump on something like running that
makes you closer to your city. That day, you'll be
running over the MacArthur Causeway at the five kid itself.
You'll be running over the MacArthur Causeway, looking at the skyline,
(08:46):
looking at the city and so forth. But you're rubbing
elbows with other passionate people that for their given causes
and their city. And that should, uh, you know, that
should inspire everyone. So I think Miami Foundation Give Miami Day.
It's a natural fit for any CEO, any organization, whether
you're a nonprofit or not. I think you should you
should support Give Miami Day.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
Your goal for it. Each participant is going to be
raising money.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
They're raising money. It's the most unique five k. I
think in the country, I would imagine I know definitely
in Miami. But the fact that one hundred percent of
the proceeds from each individual's race team goes back to
that organization, that's huge. That's a that's a it's a
big thing. And the fact that the Miami Foundation and
their partners have been able to to fund such an
(09:31):
endeavor is pretty remarkable.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
What do you say to other corporate leaders about why
they should get involved in not only the five k,
but also Give Miami.
Speaker 4 (09:39):
Day any anytime you have an opportunity like this that
it's it's I want to say, it's somewhat convenient, right,
like it's it's set up for you. You've got no
excuse to not not get involved in something like this.
You know, just the name of the of the day
in the race should should get every CEO's attention and say,
wait a minute, what is this Give Miami Day thing?
I got to look into it. And if you truly
(10:01):
do business here, care about this place, and and you
care about your employees and you care about their passions,
this is this is a perfect fit.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
Considering the work you do for our community.
Speaker 2 (10:10):
Name three traits that you believe every leader should.
Speaker 4 (10:12):
Possess I'd like to say, first to be to be
humbly proud. Uh And I say humbly proud because you
definitely have to have the sense of pride in what
you're doing, but to stay humble about it and make
sure it's not about you, but it's it's about about
the work you're doing for others. So I think that
(10:34):
would be one. The second thing. I I mean, I
think that that showing that passion for where your company
is by connecting with the local community. That's a that's
a trait that that might have to be learned a bit,
but it's it's a trait that that most of the
(10:54):
successful CEOs in Miami have have shown me are not
only lead to greater success in your compan but it
just it just creates a better ecosystem for everybody to
to to live and play and work. And you're the
third one I'm gonna say, actually, take care of your body.
You know. I think I think your body is your
business card in a way, right, and the CEO should
(11:15):
should have a business I mean, nowadays I don't if
people use physical business cards, but let's face it, you know,
if you're taking care of your body. It means you're
taking care of of what is first and foremost to you,
and and that should also sort of reflect that you're
taking care of those around you and and onward. And
this five K is a perfect perfect place to show
that you work.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
With kids all the time, so you're working with that
next generation, those who want to aspire to be a CEO.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
What advice do you give to them?
Speaker 4 (11:42):
I think never don't say no, Like I know that.
I'm sure there's a bunch of podcasts out there that
teach try to teach you how to say no. My
wife's always you got to learn and say no. And
I think when you're young, like say yes as much
as you can to, whether it's being invited to an
event or being asked to do something that you may
not be making a whole lot of money from or
making any money from. But I think if you're young,
(12:05):
you know everyone, everyone talks about networking, but I think
it goes a little step further than that. Just just
go do things, Go go experience things, go to go
to run clubs, to go to races, go volunteer at
the Miami Foundation. Just say yes as much as you
can and eventually you'll find yourself never never learning how
(12:26):
to say no, which is fine. You know, you're forty
seven years old. I feel like you feel like I'm
you know, all over the place because I don't say no.
But I think I did that at a very young age.
I saw my dad do that as well as I
could get a call from a friend and it was
never well, maybe I was like, I'll figure it out.
Speaker 3 (12:42):
Any parting message you have for our listeners.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
Well, first, I definitely want to see you at the
start line and the finish line of the Give Miami
Day five k's. I love being a part of a
first year events because I know what they can become,
and I want you to be a part of that first,
that first event, so you can say you're there. I
know I was there at Give Miami Day that first
the first big push they had in twenty twelve, and
(13:07):
this would be another invitation to everyone to be part
of something for the first time at Murray's Ferreer Park
at November sixteenth at seven thirty am. Hopefully get there
on time. I know I will probably be there about
four in the morning, and I'll see you at that
finish line and then the festival after.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
We'll call it the first annual.
Speaker 4 (13:25):
There you go, first annual.
Speaker 2 (13:26):
All right, Frankie, thanks so much for being a part
of our CEOs You Should Know series. That was Frankie Ruiz,
the CEO of Don't Stop Productions.
Speaker 1 (13:34):
Thanks for listening to South Florida's CEOs You Should Know.
News Radio six' Ten doubleduyo d