April 21, 2021 • 28 mins
Today I have the pleasure of interviewing Jessica Del Vecchio the Economic Development Manager for the City of Boca Raton on #SoooBoca Stories. She shares the allure of our beautiful community to companies and corporations from all over the globe that are moving their headquarters and themselves, their employees and their families to Boca Raton.
In April 2015, Jessica Del Vecchio joined the City of Boca Raton as its first economic development manager and was tasked with leading the newly established Economic Development Division. Since its inception, the Office of Economic Development has successfully facilitated over a dozen corporate relocation and expansion projects; including one of the largest corporate deals in Palm Beach County, which committed to creating 838 new jobs in Boca Raton.
Prior to accepting the role, Jess spent 15 years in the finance industry. Attaining FINRA Series 3, 7, 63, 65 and Florida’s Life, Health and Variable Annuity licenses, she spent 8 years at Smith Barney and 7 years at Haar Capital, both based in Boca Raton.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Hey everyone.
It's Michelle Baldessari.
Your host is so bogus stories inconjunction with so boca.com and
at so Boca on Instagram.
So glad you're here today.
This podcast is all about BocaRaton and being local.
I love interviewing localbusiness owners, folks that are
involved with the nonprofits,things that are happening around
(00:22):
town, places to go and things tosee.
So I'm so happy you're heretoday.
I hope you enjoy this week'sepisode and if you're so
inclined, please make sure tosubscribe to the podcast.
I so appreciate it.
And if you would like to beinterviewed for the show, just
reach out to me.
Everything is in the show notes.
Have a great day.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
This episode of soba stories podcast is brought to
you by Michelle, sorry withBelser group powered by real
broker, LLC.
If you have a referral, pleasethink of me, Michelle B.
I'd love to help you with yourreal estate transaction.
I love listing and working withhires and I know all the best
realtors all over the world.
(01:05):
So if you need a referral, nomatter where you live, please
feel free to reach out to me.
Michelle,
Speaker 3 (01:12):
I'm so happy that you can join us today and, um, on
the sobaka stories podcast,which we stream live.
And, um, if you guys don't know,Jessica is fantastic.
It's just going to evacuate.
She is the economic developmentmanager for the city of Boca
Raton and has been doing someamazing things, uh, the last few
(01:33):
years, uh, for our city and is awealth of knowledge.
So I thought this would bereally great if we could have
Jessica on and, um, talk alittle bit about what's going on
around book Raton.
So welcome, Jessica.
Thank you.
Yeah.
So I've been the, uh, economicdevelopment manager for the city
(01:53):
of Boca Raton for six years now.
Uh, just this month with my sixyear anniversary.
So it's kind of exciting.
We've worked on a lot ofprojects, um, Kelly Kennedy, and
I run the office ourselves, youknow, through city hall,
obviously.
Um, and through COVID, we'vebeen busier than ever.
So this is good timing to besitting here with you.
And isn't that the biggestsurprise?
I think that we've all hadbecause as a realtor, I thought,
(02:16):
you know, the real estate marketwas going to be kind of a
problematic, right?
And then to know that that, thatbecame huge during this time.
And then the other piece of thepie is that, you know, so many
companies and corporations wantto come here.
And so, um, you know, one of thethings I had done is I reached
(02:37):
out to Jessica a couple of weeksago because I had someone reach
out to me about moving theirtech company, uh, to south
Florida.
And so Jessica being the wealthof knowledge that she is about,
what's going on finger on thepulse and Boca Palm beach
county, and south Florida.
We were talking a little bitabout that.
And I said, come on the show andlet's talk about businesses and
(02:58):
why they are really, reallyenthralled with our beautiful
city.
Yeah.
So, like you said, throughCOVID, it's been a year now,
we've all been working from homeor for sub capacity.
Some people are working hybridmode, you know, um, and from
what we've tracked, 11 companieshave come to Boca Raton we've
(03:18):
assisted on those, thosetransfers and those relocations,
uh, technology is something thatwe're seeing a lot of.
In fact, the city hired anoffice of innovation just to
cover the technology sector thatwe're seeing an influx of people
coming in to Boca.
Uh, we talked about the realestate market.
You reached out to me a fewweeks ago to talk about a tech
company.
I get that all the time fromresidential realtors used to be
(03:39):
out here, mostly from acommercial realtors, but lately
I'm hearing more from theresidential side of things
because people are moving theirfamilies here first and then
looking for corporate space,which is for us, it's a little
bit backwards.
So we're, we're kind of seeing a, a shift like everyone else has
had to pivot our team has had topivot.
And like when I say we're busy,I mean, productive, not just,
(04:00):
you know, not just busy assomeone coming in this week out
of New York, uh, we're showingsome, some, uh, parcels, we're
showing those some, some parcelsof what we have to offer your
own book.
And we're told you're flying inyou're vaccinated the whole nine
yards to executives coming in.
Um, and we'll be driving aroundin separate cars, used to be, we
used sometimes to take the samecar.
(04:20):
So this protocols we'refollowing now, but everything
that, um, that we're telling youthat we're seeing is that you're
reading in the wall streetjournal and the New York times
and your posts, we're actuallystaying in here on the ground.
So your call to me was, wasgreat, but we're getting a lot
of calls like that.
So we're happy to, to kind ofpartner with you guys, uh, being
the guys from the real realestate here.
(04:40):
Right?
Right.
Exactly.
And so vocal loves to have afinger on the pulse, um, just in
general, to be able to shareinformation as to what is going
on here and why people arecoming here.
And, and it's so interestingbecause, you know, when I moved
here, back in the lateseventies, it was a much smaller
community, much smaller town,however, a very thriving
(05:02):
community and fast forward now,you know, we are super global
and, you know, a world renownedcity that is knowing wherever
you go in the world, you know,when you say Raton, you just
say, Boca people know, uh, ourcommunity, what do you, what are
you finding?
The people that are interestedin coming here, the corporations
(05:25):
and the CEOs and whatnot, whatare their like top two or three
things that is driving them tocoming to our area?
Sure.
So one of the main things forexecutives is the techs is
there's tax benefits of beingbased in Boca Raton, but these
tax benefits have been in thestate forever.
Um, so it's not that I don'tthink that personally, I don't
(05:47):
think that was the catalyst.
I think the catalyst has beenCOVID people that have been
cooped up in, even if you have abeautiful place in Manhattan,
you're still in lockdown.
And, you know, they went aterrible time with the weather
and, and locked down and norestaurants.
And then they come, some, mostof them have some sort of access
to south Florida.
They come down for the weekendor they come down for the second
(06:07):
home.
Um, so they were realizing, wow,why, why are we going back
again?
So we're seeing that the peoplethat either have always thought
about coming down when theyretired.
So another thing we probablywant to touch upon is how we're
aging younger.
Like you moved here in theseventies, I moved here in 91.
Sure.
I've seen a thousand things thathave changed.
You probably have obviously seenmore because you came here
(06:28):
sooner.
Um, but, um, we're still seeingthat trajectory that change, no,
you see our downtown getting allthose luxury rentals and luxury
condos that are for sale, thatcondo that went for sale.
Um, the penthouse for$10million.
I mean, that's something, if youtell me a nation 91, that it was
going to be a$10 million fund.
So across from the Boca resort,I'm not so sure I would believe
(06:51):
you, but now, as you see how wehave, we have a huge assets here
with the airport and obviouslythe university's work talent
from a work perspective.
When the executives come here,they want to know where to get
their workforce.
Uh, so that's important forthem.
And I think too, we're seeingsome very interesting, uh,
things happening in ourdowntown.
Obviously we have MandarinOriental, uh, which we are all
(07:14):
watching very closely and withexcitement.
Um, my daughter, Allie, and Iwere just talking about the fact
that it's going to be a verycool addition, not just to the
downtown, but to the city and toour complete area.
Um, from a couple ofstandpoints, one, they're going
to have some amenities that aregoing to be open to the public,
which is going to be great.
Um, the location is fantastic.
(07:35):
And so couple that with ourbeautiful book Raton airport and
the customs facility, there,it's a real win-win for us.
And I think, um, the other thingis we're starting to see some
changes at Meisner parkhappening, which I I think is
going to be great.
Yes, it'd be great.
(07:56):
Um, so from that perspective, wehave a couple of things.
So the Mandarin Oriental that'llbe downtown from a local
perspective for us, that thatbrand is a game changer.
There's only the one in Miamiand all of that.
But as you come up from Browardcounty where we're the first
city outside of Broward, you'regonna hit that street, um,
community out, excuse me.
(08:17):
And you're going to see theMandarin Oriental, which is
obviously a brand in and ofitself.
There's other residential online, um, Alina residency's tower, a
1 55.
And those types of projects thatare attracting, not just
Northeastern, but that$10million condo.
I mentioned as a local thatbrought that book or Tony, if
you could even say that.
Um, so what we're seeing alsofrom you mentioned the airport,
(08:40):
so the airport is a huge assetto ours and we've been doing
through COVID, we've been, we'vebeen able to market our city, uh
, in inserts, in the wall streetjournal.
We had an insert in the sub, uh,San Francisco Chronicle.
We had an insert in ChicagoTribune, just hitting markets
that were going through winterstorms that were going through.
COVID just like we were, butours was a little bit better.
(09:00):
Uh, and now with the airportwe've partnered with, uh, we
didn't unveil it yet.
So we'll be in Valliant next,probably in about three or four
weeks.
But we partnered with signature,a signature Atlantic and pride
era.
They're the two FPOS and thenprivate area has been a partner
there.
They just, they just know how towork the community.
Um, they are very welcoming toeveryone.
We'll be putting up big posters,advertising our city, make it a
(09:23):
one-way trip, beautiful jetphoto, make it a one way trip
for people that are coming offthese jets.
And they say to themselves, whatare we doing?
Leaving, you know, coming hereon a Friday and getting leaving
on Sunday night.
So we're just trying to tap intothat market.
That's here, that's coming hereevery weekend.
You know, I live in the flighttat and I see those jets.
I mean, they're beautiful.
Jack's come through our city.
We want to tap great.
(09:44):
Cause occasionally I'm in thejet path too, which by the way
is no big deal.
Um, and I see these beautifulplanes.
I'm fascinated by it.
I literally be in my pool and belike, whoa.
When the football, when thefootball conference is here,
they have like on their, ontheir, I don't fly private.
So I don't know what that thingis called on their tail.
It'll have the name of the team.
And I'm like, Ooh, no, that's alot of fun.
(10:06):
It's amazing what comes up,Constable.
I agree with you.
And that's so funny because whenI'm out in my yard and I see
when, or I'm over off ofHighland beach, because my
girlfriend's got a place thereand I I'll see on a Sunday when
they're come, they're leaving.
And I'm like, oh wait.
And you know, these new iPhonesnow are fantastic because you
can really zoom in.
And I'm like, that's a greatshot.
(10:27):
You know, they're there, I'mfascinated too.
And as a kid, uh, my dad used totake me to the airport and we
watched planes take off the land.
So I'm like you so fascinated.
And we were very fortunate tohave this airport here, that
convenience factor and thecustoms facility, uh, is just
such a win-win and, andeverything that, uh, the city is
(10:49):
providing and doing isfantastic.
Um, are you finding that there'sany specific industry that
you're seeing more of cominghere or is it just right across
the board?
Well, so pre COVID, we primarilyfocused on corporate relocation.
Corporations are theories basedhere.
(11:11):
I have a slide I can show you,maybe send you if anyone who's
watching wants to see just ofall the logos.
It's two slides of logos, of bignames that are here, uh, that a
lot of people know, office Depotand ADT, because they're kind of
on the outskirts of the pocketbroken sound, they're within the
park, but they're on your mind.
You know, you see those, thoseHQ's, um, but that's a 700 April
car.
So there's a lot of HQs inthere.
(11:33):
Um, big name, HQ, small namesprivately held publicly traded.
So it was up to us to identifythat, uh, through COVID what we
have seen the influx of theattraction is financial firms.
So you're making a great point.
So we're seeing a shift from thecorporate we're still, we still
had colony capital as acorporate HQ that we load from
LA.
Um, but they're in the estateinvestment, their rate.
(11:55):
So they're also in theinvestment side of things.
And we've seen a number offinancial firms moving here
because of the wealth and theluxury here.
I mean, I don't, that's not me.
I worked for the city, butthere's definitely a market for
those types of firms that areflying private.
You know, people talk aboutflying private into city of Boca
Raton and what an asset.
It is, the economic impact ofthat airport is incredible.
(12:15):
People get here.
They sh they go for dinner, theyhit them all, you know, that
money to spending in our citycould go anywhere.
So having it here, you know, ithelps all of them.
It absolutely does.
And I think, um, touching on theshopping aspect here, the, um,
parks and rec here, theinfrastructure that we have,
some of the things that arestarting to happen.
(12:36):
I know in my neighborhood, I'mgetting underground F P and L
lines.
I am so happy.
I'm like one day Michelle Bwent, oh my God, it's like a
hive of worker bees right now.
It was the craziest thing I'veever seen.
These guys were justunbelievable.
Incredible.
I mean, they just were very,very focused on how they were
(12:59):
doing this from, I mean, mywhole street, I must've had 50
trucks literally on my street,but that's the sort of stuff
that we love to see because it'sso proactive and it shares.
And you know, of course wealways get questions about,
well, what about hurricaneseason?
You know, my stock answer is,well, the good news is we can
prepare for it and you don'thave to stay.
(13:21):
You can always leave, you know,it's, to me, it's, it's, um,
it's always something we thinkabout, but it's something that
is, um, you know, there'sworkarounds with it, regardless,
prepping your home and, and thecontractors show that you can
talk to, to help you go throughthat or ease you through any
(13:42):
concerns that you have, youknow, like this city is so
well-prepared, it'sunbelievable, but we're very
fortunate.
And we also have, you know,corporations, that's a concern
coming out of a state thatdoesn't have that.
Um, but like you said, there's apreparation period.
It's not like a tornado hit,wow.
Came out of nowhere or you havea few minutes, the alarm, my
(14:03):
husband grew up in Indiana.
So the alarm goes off, you runit down, down underground,
basically I'm oversimplifyingthat.
But one thing to consider whenyou're a corporate HQ is the
Boca Raton innovation campus.
So the innovation campus has thepower literally to run for 13
days after if they were to losepower or they could still run
for 13 days.
(14:23):
So if you have, um, you know,some sort of technology that has
to be up and running or you're,you know, because you're
servicing people in other partsof the states, we do have those
redundancy plans and privateownership like profit partners
has that too, which settlespeople's nerves.
It does.
It absolutely does.
And again, um, with all of theactivity that's happening, I
(14:43):
don't know about you, but I amfeeling that we're not really
slowing down and it's probablynot going to slow down for quite
some time, because althoughFlorida's always been amazing
south Florida, fantastic.
Now people have really narrowedinto where they want to be in
Palm beach county in particular.
And they can, um, you know,Homebase here, they can have
(15:09):
their companies here and thenthey have access to Palm beach,
Miami Fort Lauderdale, yourshort John, over to Naples, you
can fly to The Bahamas for theweekend.
It is just so well located forcompanies, corporations, CEOs,
families, everyone.
We're very lucky.
And we're very lucky that you'rehere.
(15:31):
Totally.
I get to sell the best thing inthe world.
Surely like you just mentioned amillion things and there's a
million more behind it.
The school system we have here,uh, the fact that we are, I keep
driving this home aging youngerit's because it's a message I
want to put out there becausepeople don't realize that our
median age now is 47.
Uh, maybe it's 47.5 based oncensus, you know, census
numbers.
(15:51):
But I think in a few months oryears, when those new numbers
come out, it'll be even younger.
You know, we're seeing people,all my calls lately are based
around relocation.
They've already purchased their,for their residential property,
which I told you before.
It was something we had neverreally dealt with before, but
now they want to know about theschools.
So we have a great reputationfor our school system.
You mentioned all the travel andyou know, not everyone flies
(16:12):
private, we're equal distancebetween Fort Lauderdale and west
Palm international airport.
So we have that going for us.
And we're an hour from Miamisoon.
That'll be even quicker when wehave bright lines.
So we truly are a great city.
Like I know I have compounds forBoca, but it's real.
I love it.
Love it here.
And just going, I'vecollaborated on things before,
(16:34):
because we have golf.
We have so much going on hereand speaking of bright line, do
you want to touch on that alittle bit?
Because obviously everything gota little delayed with, um, COVID
and, um, we are getting astation here by the way, guys,
uh, over by the library.
So if you want to touch on thata little bit, that'd be great.
(16:55):
Well, other than the delay therehasn't been, as far as I know
any changes, they're stillmoving forward with their
project.
Um, we do get inquiries on thatenough.
I won't say a lot, but nothingas far as I know has changed in
the game plans, they are movingforward.
I think they also are lookingfurther up north to extend the
track even further, which wouldonly benefit us who want to go
(17:17):
to Orlando and go further up thestate and in a nice confined
wifi savvy, um, train.
I don't know if you've been onthe train before pre COVID.
I was able to get on and in westPalm and the station, is it
resembles a smaller, cleaner,um, I would compare it more to
(17:37):
an airport.
I come from New York, so I knowPenn station.
That's like to me, you know,that's how I grew up.
You would Penn station as fastas you could.
This is a totally different,you're going to stop.
You're going to get a snack.
You're gonna grab a water or acoffee.
Then you're going to go ontoyour traits.
It's really the way we should betraveling, you know, for safety
and convenience.
I think as far as what I thinkis, and any, and I did not get a
(18:02):
chance to get on there.
I was planning on it in 2020,but that didn't happen.
Um, right.
Look what happened.
But, um, one of the cool things,yeah.
As, as a Lilly Pulitzer lover,they had a whole thing that they
were doing with Lilly Pulitzer,which listen, that just was
like, that was it for me.
Um, so I'm excited, you know,what's funny talking about
(18:25):
trending younger because my kidsare 25 and 31.
And so, um, for many years I wason the downtown advisory
committee for the city.
And one of my, um, goals wasalways to put out there that I
wanted my kids to want to comeback to Boca when they
(18:47):
graduated.
Uh, they went to Florida, Gulfcoast, university over in Fort
Myers Estero area, but we haveFAU here.
We have Lynn university here.
We have, uh, Palm beach, statecollege here.
We've got so much here.
It's crazy.
Um, but my big thing was alwayslike, listen, you know, I want
(19:07):
the younger people to want tocome back here.
And if they're graduating fromany of these schools, I want
them to stay here.
What can we do for them?
And we're starting to see moreand more things starting to
happen.
And so having bright line, Ithink is going to be huge one
because I love going to Miami.
I don't always want to Uber downthere and I don't always want to
(19:28):
drive, but I'll take bright linebecause I love win-win.
I love south beach.
I love, um, art, Basel.
I love going to heat games.
So this is the sort of thingthen on top of everything else,
Justin has Sharon with us today.
And what is happening here isgoing to just be like the cherry
on top of this great Bocaovertone cupcake, right?
(19:51):
Yeah.
Like the bright line will openus up to, from my perspective,
when people come in, it's theworkforce.
So now we can pull workforcefrom Miami and they can pull
workforce from us.
And it just makes it a littlebit more competitive.
And there's nothing better thana little healthy competition for
people that raises wages.
You know what I mean?
Like you're going up for a joband you have this and someone
else, it just the healthy way toincrease the, uh, the wages of
(20:15):
everyone in our, ourneighborhoods being Florida,
Fort Lauderdale, obviously.
But you mentioned aging youngI've mentioned aging, young
drivers because of Seinfeld.
I want to tell them with theDell Boca Vista, I can't, I
can't get past that.
Like when I cold call New York,they were like, oh, it's about
community.
And it is, we're also a tourismcommunity.
(20:35):
We're also a corporatecommunity.
Like we do have it all.
So it's a barrier that I like todrive this point home.
But you know, I talk aboutanecdotal evidence.
Like you like my friends whohave children that are going to
went to college and now they'recoming back.
And I applaud that because wedon't want, it's called brain
drinks.
We don't want these smart brainsto go elsewhere when they could
be so utilized here.
(20:57):
Um, but something that's allanecdotal what we're seeing, you
know?
Uh, but we actually have somehard data this year, which we've
never had before that.
I forget the analytical firm.
We work with Kelly and I workwith a lot of analytical firms
that gave us these data.
We provide our census data andthey kind of analyze it.
So all those cool places thatare going in, there's the
strikes, which is, um, the, thebowling and entertainment.
(21:19):
Now, clearly we're not there yetwith COVID, but we're, we all
see kinda like, you know, it'schanging, we're getting better
at the vaccinations and peopleare getting more inclined
slowly, but surely to safelysoon start heading out again.
But I hope that some reallyhope, I think knowing that they
can go to the beach on aSaturday all day, you know,
(21:40):
these gen Z's and then comehome, take a quick shower, go to
Maya, the car.
That's how you keep them becausethey want things to do.
We were all that age and thingsto do, and it would be, it
would, you know, when no, andwhen city council and, uh,
whatnot get together, they gotto really, really look at who
the demographics are.
(22:01):
And, and even like, I know we'regetting, uh, working on getting
this beautiful cultural centerat my smart park.
And one of the conversations Ihad with them was that's great.
Get some young people on yourboard because it cannot continue
to be the same people all thetime.
I hear you.
I think the younger brains, thevision is with, with that age
(22:22):
group, for sure.
Um, I'm, I'm talking to Allie alittle bit more about it.
Kylie's not here as much becauseshe's a flight attendant she's
out of the state right now, butyeah, definitely.
So I know your time is valuable.
I have, um, two quick funquestions to ask you one best
business advice, worst businessadvice you ever had.
(22:42):
Okay.
So I've been lucky, very luckyto work for some great people.
So I worked at Smith Barney foreight years when I first started
as a part-time deal.
Clerk worked my way up to brokergreat advice there.
And then I worked for StanleyCarr at Hart capital, uh, who
was a local hedge fund, uh,portfolio manager here in Boca
Raton.
I worked there eight yearsbefore coming to the city, and I
(23:02):
think I've learned a lot overthe years, but I think my
biggest thing is, uh, twothings.
One is fail fast, fail forward.
Like just move on, get it overwith, and then always take a
little time to take a victorylap.
You know, I love that.
Hold on, let me, there you go.
You got to do that.
(23:25):
Exactly, exactly.
That's that's awesome.
Um, the other question I had andI asked all my guests just cause
I have in the high with MichelleB, which is my real estate
podcast.
And, um, I asked anyone whocomes on that show the same
thing.
So I've started to do it here.
Um, if you could break breadwith famous, dead or alive, what
(23:49):
would it be?
And, um, would you do it at homeor would you do it at a
restaurant?
And the restaurant can beanywhere you want.
Okay.
If I could break bread withanybody famous, who would it be
dead or not the biggest, huh?
It could be dead or alive, deador alive.
(24:13):
Um, I'm not sure who I wouldhave dinner with.
If I said Warren Buffett, I knowhe drinks, diet Coke and eats
like Fritos.
So I can't say him, althoughhe's in so intelligent, I love
him.
You could say him and just say,you'd bring your own little box
lunch, which he would probablyhighly appreciate.
(24:33):
Okay.
Maybe I'll stick with him.
And I think I would, um, that'sa tough question because there's
so many people I would like tosit down with, but I think I'd
have dinner at home.
My husband's a great cook and hecan have his Fritos and dietary
Cola and I can have my big bowlof something Italian.
There you go.
See that's, you know, I alwayssay, and I've said this forever,
(24:54):
but now I'm really saying it.
If I could do that, I would sitdown with the queen just because
you know, can only, why not?
Um, Jessica, thank you.
Thank you so much for coming ontoday.
I'm so glad your dogs areburning don't mind cause they
(25:17):
normally lose their minds.
Um, where can everyone find you?
And if anyone is interested inone, moving a company here, how
can they find you?
Uh, best is to reach out throughour economic
development@myboca.us, it's ouremail address, but certainly go
to my open at U S economicdevelopment for, um, for the
(25:39):
resources that we can provide.
We can provide a lot of things,not just financial incentives.
We do expedite permitting andthings of that nature.
Uh, and we also just to put itout there, we still have our
small business recovery reliefgrant program open up to$5,000
for small businesses thatqualify obviously have to be in
the city of upward town, uh,open for a couple, you'll see
the criteria on our website, butthat's something I should've
mentioned earlier, especially toyour audience.
(26:00):
So thanks for giving me thatchance, the description and the
caption on the post.
So no worries there, if you wantto, um, send that to me in an
email, that would be great.
And then I can just put it inthere.
Um, so make sure you'refollowing them here on
Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn,uh, Jessica's team has some
(26:23):
really good articles that theypost, especially I see on
LinkedIn and, uh, that's a goodplace to be by the way, people
don't discount LinkedIn.
It's a great place to be.
They have triple video now andthings like that.
Yeah.
You know, I'm just going to justmy first Instagram story.
So thanks for putting up with myshenanigans.
I'm learning as I go old newtricks, but LinkedIn, I post to
(26:47):
LinkedIn and people out of NewYork and Chicago, like really,
you know, we were saying bestplace to raise a family in Palm
beach county, all thoseaccolades.
They don't realize it.
So it's been very valuable tous.
Yeah.
LinkedIn is actually like kindof a secret weapon and I'm not
for nothing.
I'm on clubhouse and I've beenon that app since December and,
(27:07):
um, I've already gotten realestate referrals from it, uh,
anyway, but I'm on there andit's a great way for me to talk
about the city and likelifestyle here and things like
that, but the networking that'shappening between clubhouse and
we're learning more about reallyhow to leverage LinkedIn guys.
Uh, so just a little socialmedia tip there for any business
(27:28):
owners that are watching, getyourself on LinkedIn and start
understanding how to leveragethat and connect with people
because it really is fantasticalong with here with the gram.
So Jessica, thank you.
Thank you so much.
I appreciate it.
And I hope to see you soon.
Absolutely.
Thank you.
Bye bye.
(27:49):
Bye Michelle.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Thanks again for joining me today with this
week's episode of soul bogusstories, if you would like to be
considered for an interview orwould like to sponsor the show
and blog, please feel free toreach out to me.
The link is in the show notes.
I hope you have an amazing week.
Hey everyone.
It's Michelle Baldessari.
Your host is so bogus stories inconjunction with so boca.com and
at so Boca on Instagram.
So glad you're here today.
This podcast is all about BocaRaton and being local.
I love interviewing localbusiness owners, folks that are
involved with the nonprofits,things that are happening around
(00:22):
town, places to go and things tosee.
So I'm so happy you're heretoday.
I hope you enjoy this week'sepisode and if you're so
inclined, please make sure tosubscribe to the podcast.
I so appreciate it.
And if you would like to beinterviewed for the show, just
reach out to me.
Everything is in the show notes.
Have a great day.
Speaker 2 (00:44):
This episode of soba stories podcast is brought to
you by Michelle, sorry withBelser group powered by real
broker, LLC.
If you have a referral, pleasethink of me, Michelle B.
I'd love to help you with yourreal estate transaction.
I love listing and working withhires and I know all the best
realtors all over the world.
(01:05):
So if you need a referral, nomatter where you live, please
feel free to reach out to me.
Michelle,
Speaker 3 (01:12):
I'm so happy that you can join us today and, um, on
the sobaka stories podcast,which we stream live.
And, um, if you guys don't know,Jessica is fantastic.
It's just going to evacuate.
She is the economic developmentmanager for the city of Boca
Raton and has been doing someamazing things, uh, the last few
(01:33):
years, uh, for our city and is awealth of knowledge.
So I thought this would bereally great if we could have
Jessica on and, um, talk alittle bit about what's going on
around book Raton.
So welcome, Jessica.
Thank you.
Yeah.
So I've been the, uh, economicdevelopment manager for the city
(01:53):
of Boca Raton for six years now.
Uh, just this month with my sixyear anniversary.
So it's kind of exciting.
We've worked on a lot ofprojects, um, Kelly Kennedy, and
I run the office ourselves, youknow, through city hall,
obviously.
Um, and through COVID, we'vebeen busier than ever.
So this is good timing to besitting here with you.
And isn't that the biggestsurprise?
I think that we've all hadbecause as a realtor, I thought,
(02:16):
you know, the real estate marketwas going to be kind of a
problematic, right?
And then to know that that, thatbecame huge during this time.
And then the other piece of thepie is that, you know, so many
companies and corporations wantto come here.
And so, um, you know, one of thethings I had done is I reached
(02:37):
out to Jessica a couple of weeksago because I had someone reach
out to me about moving theirtech company, uh, to south
Florida.
And so Jessica being the wealthof knowledge that she is about,
what's going on finger on thepulse and Boca Palm beach
county, and south Florida.
We were talking a little bitabout that.
And I said, come on the show andlet's talk about businesses and
(02:58):
why they are really, reallyenthralled with our beautiful
city.
Yeah.
So, like you said, throughCOVID, it's been a year now,
we've all been working from homeor for sub capacity.
Some people are working hybridmode, you know, um, and from
what we've tracked, 11 companieshave come to Boca Raton we've
(03:18):
assisted on those, thosetransfers and those relocations,
uh, technology is something thatwe're seeing a lot of.
In fact, the city hired anoffice of innovation just to
cover the technology sector thatwe're seeing an influx of people
coming in to Boca.
Uh, we talked about the realestate market.
You reached out to me a fewweeks ago to talk about a tech
company.
I get that all the time fromresidential realtors used to be
(03:39):
out here, mostly from acommercial realtors, but lately
I'm hearing more from theresidential side of things
because people are moving theirfamilies here first and then
looking for corporate space,which is for us, it's a little
bit backwards.
So we're, we're kind of seeing a, a shift like everyone else has
had to pivot our team has had topivot.
And like when I say we're busy,I mean, productive, not just,
(04:00):
you know, not just busy assomeone coming in this week out
of New York, uh, we're showingsome, some, uh, parcels, we're
showing those some, some parcelsof what we have to offer your
own book.
And we're told you're flying inyou're vaccinated the whole nine
yards to executives coming in.
Um, and we'll be driving aroundin separate cars, used to be, we
used sometimes to take the samecar.
(04:20):
So this protocols we'refollowing now, but everything
that, um, that we're telling youthat we're seeing is that you're
reading in the wall streetjournal and the New York times
and your posts, we're actuallystaying in here on the ground.
So your call to me was, wasgreat, but we're getting a lot
of calls like that.
So we're happy to, to kind ofpartner with you guys, uh, being
the guys from the real realestate here.
(04:40):
Right?
Right.
Exactly.
And so vocal loves to have afinger on the pulse, um, just in
general, to be able to shareinformation as to what is going
on here and why people arecoming here.
And, and it's so interestingbecause, you know, when I moved
here, back in the lateseventies, it was a much smaller
community, much smaller town,however, a very thriving
(05:02):
community and fast forward now,you know, we are super global
and, you know, a world renownedcity that is knowing wherever
you go in the world, you know,when you say Raton, you just
say, Boca people know, uh, ourcommunity, what do you, what are
you finding?
The people that are interestedin coming here, the corporations
(05:25):
and the CEOs and whatnot, whatare their like top two or three
things that is driving them tocoming to our area?
Sure.
So one of the main things forexecutives is the techs is
there's tax benefits of beingbased in Boca Raton, but these
tax benefits have been in thestate forever.
Um, so it's not that I don'tthink that personally, I don't
(05:47):
think that was the catalyst.
I think the catalyst has beenCOVID people that have been
cooped up in, even if you have abeautiful place in Manhattan,
you're still in lockdown.
And, you know, they went aterrible time with the weather
and, and locked down and norestaurants.
And then they come, some, mostof them have some sort of access
to south Florida.
They come down for the weekendor they come down for the second
(06:07):
home.
Um, so they were realizing, wow,why, why are we going back
again?
So we're seeing that the peoplethat either have always thought
about coming down when theyretired.
So another thing we probablywant to touch upon is how we're
aging younger.
Like you moved here in theseventies, I moved here in 91.
Sure.
I've seen a thousand things thathave changed.
You probably have obviously seenmore because you came here
(06:28):
sooner.
Um, but, um, we're still seeingthat trajectory that change, no,
you see our downtown getting allthose luxury rentals and luxury
condos that are for sale, thatcondo that went for sale.
Um, the penthouse for$10million.
I mean, that's something, if youtell me a nation 91, that it was
going to be a$10 million fund.
So across from the Boca resort,I'm not so sure I would believe
(06:51):
you, but now, as you see how wehave, we have a huge assets here
with the airport and obviouslythe university's work talent
from a work perspective.
When the executives come here,they want to know where to get
their workforce.
Uh, so that's important forthem.
And I think too, we're seeingsome very interesting, uh,
things happening in ourdowntown.
Obviously we have MandarinOriental, uh, which we are all
(07:14):
watching very closely and withexcitement.
Um, my daughter, Allie, and Iwere just talking about the fact
that it's going to be a verycool addition, not just to the
downtown, but to the city and toour complete area.
Um, from a couple ofstandpoints, one, they're going
to have some amenities that aregoing to be open to the public,
which is going to be great.
Um, the location is fantastic.
(07:35):
And so couple that with ourbeautiful book Raton airport and
the customs facility, there,it's a real win-win for us.
And I think, um, the other thingis we're starting to see some
changes at Meisner parkhappening, which I I think is
going to be great.
Yes, it'd be great.
(07:56):
Um, so from that perspective, wehave a couple of things.
So the Mandarin Oriental that'llbe downtown from a local
perspective for us, that thatbrand is a game changer.
There's only the one in Miamiand all of that.
But as you come up from Browardcounty where we're the first
city outside of Broward, you'regonna hit that street, um,
community out, excuse me.
(08:17):
And you're going to see theMandarin Oriental, which is
obviously a brand in and ofitself.
There's other residential online, um, Alina residency's tower, a
1 55.
And those types of projects thatare attracting, not just
Northeastern, but that$10million condo.
I mentioned as a local thatbrought that book or Tony, if
you could even say that.
Um, so what we're seeing alsofrom you mentioned the airport,
(08:40):
so the airport is a huge assetto ours and we've been doing
through COVID, we've been, we'vebeen able to market our city, uh
, in inserts, in the wall streetjournal.
We had an insert in the sub, uh,San Francisco Chronicle.
We had an insert in ChicagoTribune, just hitting markets
that were going through winterstorms that were going through.
COVID just like we were, butours was a little bit better.
(09:00):
Uh, and now with the airportwe've partnered with, uh, we
didn't unveil it yet.
So we'll be in Valliant next,probably in about three or four
weeks.
But we partnered with signature,a signature Atlantic and pride
era.
They're the two FPOS and thenprivate area has been a partner
there.
They just, they just know how towork the community.
Um, they are very welcoming toeveryone.
We'll be putting up big posters,advertising our city, make it a
(09:23):
one-way trip, beautiful jetphoto, make it a one way trip
for people that are coming offthese jets.
And they say to themselves, whatare we doing?
Leaving, you know, coming hereon a Friday and getting leaving
on Sunday night.
So we're just trying to tap intothat market.
That's here, that's coming hereevery weekend.
You know, I live in the flighttat and I see those jets.
I mean, they're beautiful.
Jack's come through our city.
We want to tap great.
(09:44):
Cause occasionally I'm in thejet path too, which by the way
is no big deal.
Um, and I see these beautifulplanes.
I'm fascinated by it.
I literally be in my pool and belike, whoa.
When the football, when thefootball conference is here,
they have like on their, ontheir, I don't fly private.
So I don't know what that thingis called on their tail.
It'll have the name of the team.
And I'm like, Ooh, no, that's alot of fun.
(10:06):
It's amazing what comes up,Constable.
I agree with you.
And that's so funny because whenI'm out in my yard and I see
when, or I'm over off ofHighland beach, because my
girlfriend's got a place thereand I I'll see on a Sunday when
they're come, they're leaving.
And I'm like, oh wait.
And you know, these new iPhonesnow are fantastic because you
can really zoom in.
And I'm like, that's a greatshot.
(10:27):
You know, they're there, I'mfascinated too.
And as a kid, uh, my dad used totake me to the airport and we
watched planes take off the land.
So I'm like you so fascinated.
And we were very fortunate tohave this airport here, that
convenience factor and thecustoms facility, uh, is just
such a win-win and, andeverything that, uh, the city is
(10:49):
providing and doing isfantastic.
Um, are you finding that there'sany specific industry that
you're seeing more of cominghere or is it just right across
the board?
Well, so pre COVID, we primarilyfocused on corporate relocation.
Corporations are theories basedhere.
(11:11):
I have a slide I can show you,maybe send you if anyone who's
watching wants to see just ofall the logos.
It's two slides of logos, of bignames that are here, uh, that a
lot of people know, office Depotand ADT, because they're kind of
on the outskirts of the pocketbroken sound, they're within the
park, but they're on your mind.
You know, you see those, thoseHQ's, um, but that's a 700 April
car.
So there's a lot of HQs inthere.
(11:33):
Um, big name, HQ, small namesprivately held publicly traded.
So it was up to us to identifythat, uh, through COVID what we
have seen the influx of theattraction is financial firms.
So you're making a great point.
So we're seeing a shift from thecorporate we're still, we still
had colony capital as acorporate HQ that we load from
LA.
Um, but they're in the estateinvestment, their rate.
(11:55):
So they're also in theinvestment side of things.
And we've seen a number offinancial firms moving here
because of the wealth and theluxury here.
I mean, I don't, that's not me.
I worked for the city, butthere's definitely a market for
those types of firms that areflying private.
You know, people talk aboutflying private into city of Boca
Raton and what an asset.
It is, the economic impact ofthat airport is incredible.
(12:15):
People get here.
They sh they go for dinner, theyhit them all, you know, that
money to spending in our citycould go anywhere.
So having it here, you know, ithelps all of them.
It absolutely does.
And I think, um, touching on theshopping aspect here, the, um,
parks and rec here, theinfrastructure that we have,
some of the things that arestarting to happen.
(12:36):
I know in my neighborhood, I'mgetting underground F P and L
lines.
I am so happy.
I'm like one day Michelle Bwent, oh my God, it's like a
hive of worker bees right now.
It was the craziest thing I'veever seen.
These guys were justunbelievable.
Incredible.
I mean, they just were very,very focused on how they were
(12:59):
doing this from, I mean, mywhole street, I must've had 50
trucks literally on my street,but that's the sort of stuff
that we love to see because it'sso proactive and it shares.
And you know, of course wealways get questions about,
well, what about hurricaneseason?
You know, my stock answer is,well, the good news is we can
prepare for it and you don'thave to stay.
(13:21):
You can always leave, you know,it's, to me, it's, it's, um,
it's always something we thinkabout, but it's something that
is, um, you know, there'sworkarounds with it, regardless,
prepping your home and, and thecontractors show that you can
talk to, to help you go throughthat or ease you through any
(13:42):
concerns that you have, youknow, like this city is so
well-prepared, it'sunbelievable, but we're very
fortunate.
And we also have, you know,corporations, that's a concern
coming out of a state thatdoesn't have that.
Um, but like you said, there's apreparation period.
It's not like a tornado hit,wow.
Came out of nowhere or you havea few minutes, the alarm, my
(14:03):
husband grew up in Indiana.
So the alarm goes off, you runit down, down underground,
basically I'm oversimplifyingthat.
But one thing to consider whenyou're a corporate HQ is the
Boca Raton innovation campus.
So the innovation campus has thepower literally to run for 13
days after if they were to losepower or they could still run
for 13 days.
(14:23):
So if you have, um, you know,some sort of technology that has
to be up and running or you're,you know, because you're
servicing people in other partsof the states, we do have those
redundancy plans and privateownership like profit partners
has that too, which settlespeople's nerves.
It does.
It absolutely does.
And again, um, with all of theactivity that's happening, I
(14:43):
don't know about you, but I amfeeling that we're not really
slowing down and it's probablynot going to slow down for quite
some time, because althoughFlorida's always been amazing
south Florida, fantastic.
Now people have really narrowedinto where they want to be in
Palm beach county in particular.
And they can, um, you know,Homebase here, they can have
(15:09):
their companies here and thenthey have access to Palm beach,
Miami Fort Lauderdale, yourshort John, over to Naples, you
can fly to The Bahamas for theweekend.
It is just so well located forcompanies, corporations, CEOs,
families, everyone.
We're very lucky.
And we're very lucky that you'rehere.
(15:31):
Totally.
I get to sell the best thing inthe world.
Surely like you just mentioned amillion things and there's a
million more behind it.
The school system we have here,uh, the fact that we are, I keep
driving this home aging youngerit's because it's a message I
want to put out there becausepeople don't realize that our
median age now is 47.
Uh, maybe it's 47.5 based oncensus, you know, census
numbers.
(15:51):
But I think in a few months oryears, when those new numbers
come out, it'll be even younger.
You know, we're seeing people,all my calls lately are based
around relocation.
They've already purchased their,for their residential property,
which I told you before.
It was something we had neverreally dealt with before, but
now they want to know about theschools.
So we have a great reputationfor our school system.
You mentioned all the travel andyou know, not everyone flies
(16:12):
private, we're equal distancebetween Fort Lauderdale and west
Palm international airport.
So we have that going for us.
And we're an hour from Miamisoon.
That'll be even quicker when wehave bright lines.
So we truly are a great city.
Like I know I have compounds forBoca, but it's real.
I love it.
Love it here.
And just going, I'vecollaborated on things before,
(16:34):
because we have golf.
We have so much going on hereand speaking of bright line, do
you want to touch on that alittle bit?
Because obviously everything gota little delayed with, um, COVID
and, um, we are getting astation here by the way, guys,
uh, over by the library.
So if you want to touch on thata little bit, that'd be great.
(16:55):
Well, other than the delay therehasn't been, as far as I know
any changes, they're stillmoving forward with their
project.
Um, we do get inquiries on thatenough.
I won't say a lot, but nothingas far as I know has changed in
the game plans, they are movingforward.
I think they also are lookingfurther up north to extend the
track even further, which wouldonly benefit us who want to go
(17:17):
to Orlando and go further up thestate and in a nice confined
wifi savvy, um, train.
I don't know if you've been onthe train before pre COVID.
I was able to get on and in westPalm and the station, is it
resembles a smaller, cleaner,um, I would compare it more to
(17:37):
an airport.
I come from New York, so I knowPenn station.
That's like to me, you know,that's how I grew up.
You would Penn station as fastas you could.
This is a totally different,you're going to stop.
You're going to get a snack.
You're gonna grab a water or acoffee.
Then you're going to go ontoyour traits.
It's really the way we should betraveling, you know, for safety
and convenience.
I think as far as what I thinkis, and any, and I did not get a
(18:02):
chance to get on there.
I was planning on it in 2020,but that didn't happen.
Um, right.
Look what happened.
But, um, one of the cool things,yeah.
As, as a Lilly Pulitzer lover,they had a whole thing that they
were doing with Lilly Pulitzer,which listen, that just was
like, that was it for me.
Um, so I'm excited, you know,what's funny talking about
(18:25):
trending younger because my kidsare 25 and 31.
And so, um, for many years I wason the downtown advisory
committee for the city.
And one of my, um, goals wasalways to put out there that I
wanted my kids to want to comeback to Boca when they
(18:47):
graduated.
Uh, they went to Florida, Gulfcoast, university over in Fort
Myers Estero area, but we haveFAU here.
We have Lynn university here.
We have, uh, Palm beach, statecollege here.
We've got so much here.
It's crazy.
Um, but my big thing was alwayslike, listen, you know, I want
(19:07):
the younger people to want tocome back here.
And if they're graduating fromany of these schools, I want
them to stay here.
What can we do for them?
And we're starting to see moreand more things starting to
happen.
And so having bright line, Ithink is going to be huge one
because I love going to Miami.
I don't always want to Uber downthere and I don't always want to
(19:28):
drive, but I'll take bright linebecause I love win-win.
I love south beach.
I love, um, art, Basel.
I love going to heat games.
So this is the sort of thingthen on top of everything else,
Justin has Sharon with us today.
And what is happening here isgoing to just be like the cherry
on top of this great Bocaovertone cupcake, right?
(19:51):
Yeah.
Like the bright line will openus up to, from my perspective,
when people come in, it's theworkforce.
So now we can pull workforcefrom Miami and they can pull
workforce from us.
And it just makes it a littlebit more competitive.
And there's nothing better thana little healthy competition for
people that raises wages.
You know what I mean?
Like you're going up for a joband you have this and someone
else, it just the healthy way toincrease the, uh, the wages of
(20:15):
everyone in our, ourneighborhoods being Florida,
Fort Lauderdale, obviously.
But you mentioned aging youngI've mentioned aging, young
drivers because of Seinfeld.
I want to tell them with theDell Boca Vista, I can't, I
can't get past that.
Like when I cold call New York,they were like, oh, it's about
community.
And it is, we're also a tourismcommunity.
(20:35):
We're also a corporatecommunity.
Like we do have it all.
So it's a barrier that I like todrive this point home.
But you know, I talk aboutanecdotal evidence.
Like you like my friends whohave children that are going to
went to college and now they'recoming back.
And I applaud that because wedon't want, it's called brain
drinks.
We don't want these smart brainsto go elsewhere when they could
be so utilized here.
(20:57):
Um, but something that's allanecdotal what we're seeing, you
know?
Uh, but we actually have somehard data this year, which we've
never had before that.
I forget the analytical firm.
We work with Kelly and I workwith a lot of analytical firms
that gave us these data.
We provide our census data andthey kind of analyze it.
So all those cool places thatare going in, there's the
strikes, which is, um, the, thebowling and entertainment.
(21:19):
Now, clearly we're not there yetwith COVID, but we're, we all
see kinda like, you know, it'schanging, we're getting better
at the vaccinations and peopleare getting more inclined
slowly, but surely to safelysoon start heading out again.
But I hope that some reallyhope, I think knowing that they
can go to the beach on aSaturday all day, you know,
(21:40):
these gen Z's and then comehome, take a quick shower, go to
Maya, the car.
That's how you keep them becausethey want things to do.
We were all that age and thingsto do, and it would be, it
would, you know, when no, andwhen city council and, uh,
whatnot get together, they gotto really, really look at who
the demographics are.
(22:01):
And, and even like, I know we'regetting, uh, working on getting
this beautiful cultural centerat my smart park.
And one of the conversations Ihad with them was that's great.
Get some young people on yourboard because it cannot continue
to be the same people all thetime.
I hear you.
I think the younger brains, thevision is with, with that age
(22:22):
group, for sure.
Um, I'm, I'm talking to Allie alittle bit more about it.
Kylie's not here as much becauseshe's a flight attendant she's
out of the state right now, butyeah, definitely.
So I know your time is valuable.
I have, um, two quick funquestions to ask you one best
business advice, worst businessadvice you ever had.
(22:42):
Okay.
So I've been lucky, very luckyto work for some great people.
So I worked at Smith Barney foreight years when I first started
as a part-time deal.
Clerk worked my way up to brokergreat advice there.
And then I worked for StanleyCarr at Hart capital, uh, who
was a local hedge fund, uh,portfolio manager here in Boca
Raton.
I worked there eight yearsbefore coming to the city, and I
(23:02):
think I've learned a lot overthe years, but I think my
biggest thing is, uh, twothings.
One is fail fast, fail forward.
Like just move on, get it overwith, and then always take a
little time to take a victorylap.
You know, I love that.
Hold on, let me, there you go.
You got to do that.
(23:25):
Exactly, exactly.
That's that's awesome.
Um, the other question I had andI asked all my guests just cause
I have in the high with MichelleB, which is my real estate
podcast.
And, um, I asked anyone whocomes on that show the same
thing.
So I've started to do it here.
Um, if you could break breadwith famous, dead or alive, what
(23:49):
would it be?
And, um, would you do it at homeor would you do it at a
restaurant?
And the restaurant can beanywhere you want.
Okay.
If I could break bread withanybody famous, who would it be
dead or not the biggest, huh?
It could be dead or alive, deador alive.
(24:13):
Um, I'm not sure who I wouldhave dinner with.
If I said Warren Buffett, I knowhe drinks, diet Coke and eats
like Fritos.
So I can't say him, althoughhe's in so intelligent, I love
him.
You could say him and just say,you'd bring your own little box
lunch, which he would probablyhighly appreciate.
(24:33):
Okay.
Maybe I'll stick with him.
And I think I would, um, that'sa tough question because there's
so many people I would like tosit down with, but I think I'd
have dinner at home.
My husband's a great cook and hecan have his Fritos and dietary
Cola and I can have my big bowlof something Italian.
There you go.
See that's, you know, I alwayssay, and I've said this forever,
(24:54):
but now I'm really saying it.
If I could do that, I would sitdown with the queen just because
you know, can only, why not?
Um, Jessica, thank you.
Thank you so much for coming ontoday.
I'm so glad your dogs areburning don't mind cause they
(25:17):
normally lose their minds.
Um, where can everyone find you?
And if anyone is interested inone, moving a company here, how
can they find you?
Uh, best is to reach out throughour economic
development@myboca.us, it's ouremail address, but certainly go
to my open at U S economicdevelopment for, um, for the
(25:39):
resources that we can provide.
We can provide a lot of things,not just financial incentives.
We do expedite permitting andthings of that nature.
Uh, and we also just to put itout there, we still have our
small business recovery reliefgrant program open up to$5,000
for small businesses thatqualify obviously have to be in
the city of upward town, uh,open for a couple, you'll see
the criteria on our website, butthat's something I should've
mentioned earlier, especially toyour audience.
(26:00):
So thanks for giving me thatchance, the description and the
caption on the post.
So no worries there, if you wantto, um, send that to me in an
email, that would be great.
And then I can just put it inthere.
Um, so make sure you'refollowing them here on
Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn,uh, Jessica's team has some
(26:23):
really good articles that theypost, especially I see on
LinkedIn and, uh, that's a goodplace to be by the way, people
don't discount LinkedIn.
It's a great place to be.
They have triple video now andthings like that.
Yeah.
You know, I'm just going to justmy first Instagram story.
So thanks for putting up with myshenanigans.
I'm learning as I go old newtricks, but LinkedIn, I post to
(26:47):
LinkedIn and people out of NewYork and Chicago, like really,
you know, we were saying bestplace to raise a family in Palm
beach county, all thoseaccolades.
They don't realize it.
So it's been very valuable tous.
Yeah.
LinkedIn is actually like kindof a secret weapon and I'm not
for nothing.
I'm on clubhouse and I've beenon that app since December and,
(27:07):
um, I've already gotten realestate referrals from it, uh,
anyway, but I'm on there andit's a great way for me to talk
about the city and likelifestyle here and things like
that, but the networking that'shappening between clubhouse and
we're learning more about reallyhow to leverage LinkedIn guys.
Uh, so just a little socialmedia tip there for any business
(27:28):
owners that are watching, getyourself on LinkedIn and start
understanding how to leveragethat and connect with people
because it really is fantasticalong with here with the gram.
So Jessica, thank you.
Thank you so much.
I appreciate it.
And I hope to see you soon.
Absolutely.
Thank you.
Bye bye.
(27:49):
Bye Michelle.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Thanks again for joining me today with this
week's episode of soul bogusstories, if you would like to be
considered for an interview orwould like to sponsor the show
and blog, please feel free toreach out to me.
The link is in the show notes.
I hope you have an amazing week.
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