The Money Market Podcast

Craig Richard, President and CEO of the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council (EDC), joins Owen LaFave to discuss Tampa Bay’s strength as the fourth most diverse economy in the United States, a reality that helped it recover quickly from the COVID-19 pandemic. The EDC’s mission is to build a thriving local economy that attracts and retains businesses from a variety of industries. To accomplish these goal...

Bridgette Bello, CEO and Publisher of Tampa Bay Business & Wealth (TBBW) magazine, joins Owen Lafave for an honest conversation about taking risks in storytelling and in business. Bridgette has had a dynamic career as a media entrepreneur, which began with journalism studies at the University of Florida, continued with stints in radio and newspaper publishing, and eventually landed her on the business sid...

Stephanie Lieb, a business attorney based in Tampa at Trenam Law, sits down with host Owen LaFave to explore all aspects of bankruptcy. The conversation starts by examining the sharp rise in bankruptcy filings in recent years, especially among small businesses in Florida, as well as the reasons behind this significant increase. Stephanie highlights how industries like freight, logistics, and restaurants a...

Greg Celestan, CEO of Celestar Corporation, joins Owen LaFave for a fascinating conversation on the latest trends in the intelligence industry. Spoiler: It isn’t everything you see in spy movies. Greg explains that intelligence work is often slow, complex, and not nearly as glamorous or action-packed as media portrayals, since real operatives are meant to blend in and avoid attention. The intelligence fie...

Bill Eshenbaugh, a veteran land broker in Tampa Bay known as “The Dirt Dog,” speaks with host Owen LaFave about the thousands of acres of land he’s sold over his 40+-year career, resulting in his induction into multiple industry halls of fame. Bill shares the origins of his nickname, based on his tenacity and extensive experience selling distressed properties. The conversation turns to trends in the housi...

Alison Barlow, Executive Director of the St. Petersburg Innovation District, joins Owen LaFave to answer the common questions: What exactly is this district and why does it exist? The Innovation District is a geographical area along the waterfront in downtown St. Petersburg that brings together anchor institutions like USF, John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, and Bayfront Health to foster collaboration ...

Whit Blanton, executive director of Forward Pinellas, joins Owen LaFave for an in-depth conversation on all things transportation in Tampa Bay. Forward Pinellas is a unique organization in Florida, combining transportation and land use planning to coordinate efforts across 24 municipalities–each with its own specific needs. As Pinellas County continues to grow and closes in on a population of 1 million, w...

Brian Butler, President and CEO of Vistra Communications, lets host Owen LaFave in on a little secret: how the skill of active listening can benefit leaders in any business, and why it’s at the core of his own business–a strategic communications agency. After retiring from the US Army as a decorated career officer, Brian put his leadership skills to good use in the private sector. Learn how Brian grew his...

Jake Holehouse, CEO of HH Insurance Group, joins host Owen LaFave for a deep dive into a topic relevant to every Floridian: the cost of insurance in our wonderful but weather-prone state. Yes, Florida has experienced insurance challenges in recent years–especially when it comes to property, auto, flood, and marine insurance–but as Jake says, “It doesn’t have to be expensive in Florida.” This informative d...

Cybersecurity expert Gary Brickhouse, chief information and security officer at GuidePoint security, sits down with host Owen LaFave for a conversation relevant to anyone who’s ever repeated the same login password or opened a suspicious email. Gary reveals the common and increasingly sophisticated threats of phishing scams, data breaches, AI-driven cyber attacks, and the rise of nation-state actors. The ...

Meghan O’Keeffe, Executive Director of Tampa Bay Tech, sits down with host Owen LaFave to imagine what the regional tech scene will look like in the next 5-10 years. Tampa Bay is attracting more startups, especially those seeking an affordable alternative to Silicon Valley, Austin, or New York. But while access to venture capital has improved–causing unprecedented growth in the local tech ecosystem–the re...

Lisa Chandler–a key player in Clearwater Beach’s transformation from tourist hot spot to year-round, family-friendly destination–joins host Owen LaFave for a lively discussion on all things sand. A Clearwater native, Lisa’s entrepreneurial journey began when she and her husband opened a 1950s-style diner that evolved into Pier 60 concessions. Inspired by a sand museum in South Africa, Lisa launched the Pi...

Mike Calta, Tampa Bay’s award-winning radio personality and host of The Mike Calta Show on 102.5 The Bone, has kept Tampa residents entertained during their morning commutes for years. Today the tables are turned as Mike keeps it real with host Owen LaFave in a conversation about the secrets behind his high ratings. From his early days in radio where he gained valuable hands-on experience as an intern to ...

Award-winning entrepreneur and author Gary Hartfield shares his inspiring and deeply personal story with host Owen LaFave. Gary describes his unconventional career path and humble beginnings in small-town Florida, revealing how his parents’ aspirations shaped his choices and gave him a strong work ethic and passion for leadership. Despite earning an engineering degree and an MBA, Gary felt unfulfilled in ...

Michelle Detweiler, President and CEO of Parc Center for Disabilities, reveals her secrets to sustaining a nonprofit organization for over seven decades. In this inspiring conversation with host Owen LaFave, Michelle discusses challenges many nonprofits face: balancing financial constraints with the need to expand essential services, modernizing aging facilities, and ensuring a high-quality environment fo...

Andrew Wright, CEO of Franklin Street, joins Owen LaFave to discuss how the growth of his business led to the evolution of his leadership style. Andrew started Franklin Street at age 26 and expanded from mortgage banking into insurance once he recognized its critical role in real estate transactions. Today, Franklin Street continues focusing on strategic growth while maintaining cultural alignment. Andrew...

David Habib, founder of Yo Mama Foods, shares his entrepreneurial journey with host Owen LeFave, revealing the secret to creating a clean product and premium food brand that refuses to sacrifice quality–all while scaling a successful business. Raised on his grandmother’s homemade recipes in a family that immigrated from Egypt to France and eventually to the U.S., David launched Yo Mama Foods with a simple...

Nicholas Smith, managing partner of Smith Fence – a third-generation, family-owned Florida business – covers a lot of ground with host Owen LeFave in this conversation that explores how a company can innovate successfully in a competitive industry, all while staying true to its roots. Nicholas shares the origin story of Smith Fence, tracing the business back to his grandfather, who entered the fence indus...

Kyle Robinson, President of the Plant City Strawberry Festival, sits down with host Owen LeFave to discuss his career journey and lifelong connection to an annual event that has seen its own evolution. Kyle managed security for the Strawberry Festival during many of the 27 years he spent working with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office. He became president of the festival in 2022. Since its 1930 ince...