From the Corner Office

Jason Cropper has been in sales and technology for some two decades, and started his own consulting business in 2024. He specializes in helping companies find and tackle one big problem that will lead to a sustainable solution and long-term growth. On this episode of From the Corner Office he talks about holding people accountable without fear, building a high-performing team and more. 

3 Takeaways:

1. (09:10) Misdiagnosis m...

Emily Adams can say she has literally chased her dreams, down to bolting from her Amish family and community when she was 17. She has since developed into a leader in manufacturing and technology, behind several entities in Tampa Bay, including Tampa Bay Tech Week. On this episode of From the Corner Office, Emily talks about finding her way in life, the qualities that make a good leader and more. 

3 Takeaways:

1. (09:40) Fam...

A U.S. Army helicopter pilot, Mike flew more than 60 combat missions in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He started working with the Wounded Veterans Relief Fund in 2014 as liaison and was voted on to the board in 2015. Now as executive director of the organization — which operates statewide, including a large presence in Tampa  — he helps to provide guidance and essential relief to Florida’s disabled veterans on a...

Robert Brown has been in the construction industry for nearly 40 years, leading GCM Contracting since 1988. With a focus on tilt-up construction, he has overseen some 1,000 projects. He is also on the frontlines of technology in the industry, launching and growing another company, with a niche in automated boat storage. On this episode Robert and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talked about his lessons in hiring and h...

Bemetra’s first career, in banking and finance, set her up well for her second act, in nonprofit leadership. Through her role at the Tampa Bay Partnership, Bemetra is a champion of regional cooperation and problem-solving based on issues and needs, not geographical boundaries. On this episode, Bemetra and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon had a wide-ranging conversation on her background in youth and college sport...

The CEO of FourThought Private Wealth in Venice, Scott is a philosophical and forward-thinking wealth management entrepreneur. On this episode, Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Scott talked about why Yoda is a world-class leader, the difference between the Midas Touch and the Midas Curse and his must-read leadership books.

3 Takeaways:

1. (02:00) Your story is how you differentiate yourself
2. (16:55) Every leader n...

Brian Henriquez has been in the electrical and power generation industry for more than two decades and now runs Suncoast Power Solutions which delivers top-tier generator installation, maintenance and repair services across the Tampa Bay region. On this episode, Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Brian talked about how he helps grow and train leaders, what a strong company culture means to him, his biggest challenges...

An engineer by training and education, Karen has held multiple leadership roles at The Mosaic Co. since joining the business in 2004 as a director of operations strategy. On this episode, Karen and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talked about leading with purpose and clarity during challenging times and some of the steps she took to rise in her career with one of the largest publicly-traded companies in Florida. ...

Kourtney Sanchez was named CEO of United Way Suncoast in June, after a national search for a new leader. Prior to the United Way CEO role, Kourtney was the chief impact officer for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where she was also executive director of the Glazer Family Foundation and the Glazer Vision Foundation. Kourtney and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon, on this episode, talk about her first five weeks as leader of on...

Kelly and his father, Roland Caldwell, founded Caldwell Trust Co. in 1993, and Kelly became CEO in 2007. Today the company manages more than $2 billion in assets, has more than 50 employees and offices in Sarasota, Venice and Vero Beach. On this episode, Kelly tells Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon about what he looks for in aspiring leaders, how he has refined his leadership style over the years and his future growth ...

Jennie was named the first-ever firmwide managing partner for Shumaker last year. A Sarasota native and well-known civic leader in town, Jennie leads the strategy and direction for Shumaker, a top 200 law firm in the country. On this fast-paced episode, Jennie and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talked about her career, striving for big goals and how she handles the pressure of her high-impact work. 

3 Takeaways:

Fintech CEO Tad Phelps, even at the helm of a 400-employee financial technology company, is something of a man of the people. He holds CEO sessions open only to non-management employees. He has a CEO Council of future leaders. And he loves to quote University of Georgia football coach Kirby Smart. Hear his leadership strategies in this conversation with Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon. 

3 Takeaways:

1. (05:20) ...

Forbes Riley, author of Pitch Secrets A to Z: How to Increase Your Influence, Impact, and Income, lays out the keys to making a great pitch: It’s not about the sale. And it’s not really about the product, either. She joins Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon for a rollicking conversation about all things pitch. 

3 Takeaways:

1. (08:00) Get to ‘yes’
2. (15:50) There’s no such thing as a pe...

Cheryl Kunkle was named CEO of youth financial literacy nonprofit Junior Achievement in Fort Myers in January. Prior to this role, she held leadership positions for health care and medical nonprofits, including the ALS Association and the Muscular Dystrophy Association. And prior to getting into nonprofit work, Cheryl was a teacher. On this episode of From the Corner Office, Cheryl and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon ...

Kevin Gillen has been in the banking industry for some 40 years, and a Tampa Bay and Sarasota executive for Synovus Bank since 2020. On this episode of From the Corner Office, Kevin and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talked about the power — and perils — of AI in banking and other sectors, and some of the trendlines Kevin sees in the region’s economy the rest of 2026. They also talked about Synovus ...

Rebecca is an ADHD and executive function coach, and founder of Mindful Communication. Based in Sarasota, Rebecca is a speech language pathologist and author of the book, “The Zen of Listening: Mindful Communication in the Age of Distraction.” She has been studying listening behaviors and activities for more than 25 years. On this episode of From the Corner Office, Rebecca and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gord...

Dev Iglesias has been with FPL for nearly a decade, working her way up from a marketing and communications role. Well-known in the Sarasota-Bradenton community for being one of the faces of FPL’s storm and outage response teams, Dev got into this field after initially chasing a career in sports communications and marketing. On this episode of From the Corner Office, Dev and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talked...

Naomi Kent has been working helping senior executives and leaders find the right company boards to sit on, and then be engaged and productive board members while there. She’s worked overseas and in New York and Chicago, and is now based in Naples. On this episode of From the Corner Office, Naomi and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talked about the themes and patterns she has seen in working with top executives a...

Owen LaFave has been with The Bank of Tampa for 13 years and in the banking industry for more than 20 years. He also hosts The Bank of Tampa’s The Money Market Podcast. On this episode, Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Owen talked about how he got into banking, his key leadership lessons — they revolve around the three Hs: humor, humility and honesty — and why being a dependable leader matters to ...