Les McCurdy wasn’t born funny. But he’s learned a lot about the business of being funny in nearly 40 years of running a comedy club. McCurdy’s, in downtown Sarasota, draws acts and standup comedians from across the world and, despite being in a mid-size market, has national notoriety for being a top tier comedy club. On this episode Les talks about his origin story and how he has been successful in a cutthroat, tight-margin. (The key: inventory management.) He also talked about overcoming setbacks (bombs while performing) and who his favorite comedians are.

3 Takeaways:

1. (13:40) Stick with it and good things will happen
2. (25:00) Inventory control is key
3. (27:00) Small changes lead to big changes

Timestamps:

(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!

(00:25) Introducing Les McCurdy, Founder of McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre

(02:20) Rapid fire questions

(05:15) How Les got into the comedy business

(08:20) Discovering comedy in Boulder

(12:05) Moving to Tampa to become a comic

(17:15) Opening McCurdy’s Comedy Theatre

(20:10) Overcoming setbacks

(25:20) Learning to be a more efficient business owner

(30:30) What is happening in 2025?

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

For nearly two decades, many in the region have known Sharon Hillstrom as a go-to leader for economic development and business prosperity in Manatee County. She does that locally, nationally and even abroad.

On this episode Sharon talks about some key lessons she has learned while working with all these entities. Some examples: consistency is essential; company culture is as well; and a leader’s energy can be contagious throughout the organization. Listen too for the music and podcasts Sharon uses to get ready for the day and get down to work.

3 Takeaways:

1. (10:40) Great businesses help their community
2. (12:55) Own your decisions and area of focus
3. (17:40) Setbacks allow you to identify a new way forward

Timestamps:

(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!

(00:30) Introducing Sharon Hillstrom, President & CEO of the Bradenton Area EDC

(01:45) Rapid Fire questions

(04:15) How did you get to the Bradenton Area EDC?

(08:10) What does the Bradenton Area EDC do?

(09:50) What have you learned from the businesses you work with?

(11:25) What do you look for in leaders?

(13:45) Allowing employees freedom

(14:30) Mentors and inspiration

(17:00) Learning from setbacks

(18:20) Bradenton Area EDC in 2025

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

IMG Academy CEO Brent Richard joined the school and athletic campus — known worldwide and one of Manatee County’s largest private employers — in 2020, after a career working for one legendary company on Wall Street and one in Hollywood. On this episode Brent talks about the lessons he learned from his mentors — business is a contact sport is one; fail fast is another — and what he has learned about resilience from IMG’s student-athletes. And listen for a story about two meaningful days on the golf course.

3 Takeaways:

1. (08:15) Details matter
2. (09:35) Profits and purpose is the way to win at life
3. (11:30) Business is a contact sport

Timestamps:

(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!

(00:25) Introducing Brent Richard, CEO of IMG Academy

(01:25) Rapid fire questions

(06:35) Brent’s Career and what his mentors taught him

(14:35) What did you learn from Ari Emanuel?

(18:20) What do you look for in leaders?

(22:15) Overcoming from setbacks

(25:30) What can we look for in 2025 at IMG Academy?

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

Marlene Spalten has overseen a major era of growth in her decade at the helm of one of the largest community foundations in Florida: the Community Foundation Tampa Bay now has more than $750 million in assets and donor-advised funds. On this episode, Marlene talks about her collaborative leadership style and how the foundation, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year, has such high employee engagement and low employee turnover. Marlene also talks about the remarkable significance Valentine’s Day has played in her life.

3 Takeaways:

1. (13:10) Be bold, you know more than you think you do
2. (13:50) Being able to recognize talent in others is a key leadership trait
3. (19:00) Make sure the right people are in the room

Timestamps:

(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!

(00:30) Introducing Marlene Spalten, President and CEO of Community Foundation Tampa Bay

(10:45) Becoming CEO of CFTB

(12:45) What have you learned from mentors?

(14:55) What do you look for in leaders?

(18:05) Setbacks you learned from

(20:45) What is coming for CFTB in 2025?

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar President Sheilina Henry wears her leadership style — authentically focused, mission-driven and people-centric — on her sleeve. And with a sense of humility. (The first entry on her LinkedIn profile says Girl Mom.) On this episode Sheilina talks about her restaurant career start (old-school Pizza Hut in Chicago) and how she found her way and climbed the career ladder at Tampa-based restaurant giant Bloomin’ Brands. She also talks about her mentors, what motivates her to lead people and overcoming mistakes and setbacks.

3 Takeaways:

1. (03:10) Without a customer, you have nothing, treat them well
2. (09:35) I am looking for leaders who make it through adversity
3. (17:30) Keep fighting

Timestamps:

(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!

(01:15) Introducing Sheilina Henry, president Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar

(03:10) What grew your passion in the restaurant industry?

(05:10) What led you to Bloomin Brands?

(07:45) What do you look for in leaders?

(10:35) Overcoming setbacks

(13:45) Mentors

(17:45) Developing relationships within Bloomin Brands

(20:50) Fleming’s in 2025

This week, we speak with Megan Rose, president and CEO of Better Together. Better Together, based in Fort Myers, has served more than 10,000 children across Florida, keeping families intact and out of the state system. And it’s helped nearly 40,000 people, many in ‘second-chance’ life situations, find employment across 24 states. On the episode, Better Together CEO Megan Rose talks about the importance of failing fast and failing forward, while not losing your innovative edge in nonprofit work. Megan also talks about her childhood, and how others in her community helped her family overcome some difficult circumstances.

3 Takeaways:

(14:40) There is no fear of failure, but you must learn from it

(15:05) Focus on 3 things at a time

(20:00) Self-discipline is a must-have

Timestamps:

(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!

(01:00) Introducing Megan Rose and rapid fire questions

(02:35) Tell us about Better Together

(05:10) How Better Together helps people find employment

(08:40) What led you to this career path?

(13:40) Leadership advice

(17:20) What do you look for in leaders?

(21:25) Examples of failure you learned from

(27:15) What can we look forward to in 2025?

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

Freddy Williams was named CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lake and Sumter County in 2012, when he was 28-years-old. Four years later he was CEO of the youth-focused nonprofit in Pinellas County. And now he’s at the helm of a Boys & Girls Club operation that stretches through Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties. On this episode Freddie chats with Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon about his first summer at a Boys & Girls Club — it wasn’t necessarily voluntary; his five pillars of intentional leadership; and why Denzel Washington is the one person, dead or alive, he’d love to have dinner with.

3 Takeaways:

(14:45) A strong moral compass and a spirit of continuous improvement are key leadership characteristics

(16:50) A board is powerful if you can tap into their expertise

(17:30) Never ask someone to do something you aren’t willing to do yourself

Timestamps:

(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!

(00:25) Introducing Freddy Williams, CEO of Boy & Girls Clubs of The Suncoast and Tampa Bay

(01:30) Rapid Fire Questions

(05:05) How did you discover the Boys & Girls Clubs?

(07:40) Kids hold on to your every word

(08:40) Freddy’s leadership style

(10:05) What does Boys & Girls Clubs do?

(11:20) Strategic Merger

(14:45) What do you look for in leaders?

(16:10) Becoming a CEO at 27

(17:20) Leadership advice

(19:25) How do you manage leading as a CEO and being involved in the programs

(21:25) What is coming up in 2025?

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.

Chris founded Aginto, a digital and marketing firm, in 2011. Clients include small and midsize companies in health care, law, industrial sectors and home services. Chris’ amazing never-quit backstory, before Aginto, includes a major life turnaround: He was unemployed, living alone, first in his car, then in a run-down motel in Sarasota with sticky floors. Desperate, he started his business while working an overnight shift at a Goodwill donation center in Sarasota. Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Chris talked about how he was able to get through that time — which includes having an infant daughter. One key, says Chris, is he was grateful for what he had, no matter how little that was, while also never being content.

3 Takeaways:

1. (11:40) Don’t misconstrue gratefulness with content
2. (14:50) Leadership is about serving those who you are leading
3. (15:50) The 1 on 1 is a powerful leadership tool

Timestamps:

(00:00) This episode is sponsored by Kerkering Barberio!

(00:30) Introducing Chris Williams, Managing Director of Aginto

(01:30) Rapid fire questions

(04:15) What is Aginto?

(07:00) Starting a business from 0

(11:30) Keeping a positive mindset

(14:25) Characteristics of a good leader

(16:30) Leadership advice

(19:30) Involvement with Salvation Army

(21:20) What is happening in 2025 for Aginto?

Join us every week as we interview business leaders to learn what makes them great, what they look for in growing leaders, and much more.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.