Shep has been CEO of the Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee since 2021. He previously worked for Federations in Pittsburgh and Cincinnati; in Ohio he was CEO of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati for 16 years. Prior to Federations, Shep, an attorney, worked for a Washington, D.C. law firm that worked for nonprofit clients. On this episode Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon and Shep talked about building community consensus even when it seems super-difficult, hiring good people and not micromanaging and leading with a clear vision.

3 Takeaways:

1. (07:45) Create a compelling vision and give people the experience they are looking for
2. (11:45) If you have made up your mind, move forward
3. (15:45) Attach your ego to the whole organization

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Shep Englender, CEO, Jewish Federation of Sarasota-Manatee

(06:10) Growth and turnaround in Cincinnati

(08:10) How do you get people on the same page?

(09:20) Who are your mentors?

(11:30) The importance of clarity

(13:40) Leadership advice

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

(16:45) Overcoming setbacks

(18:00) 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.

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Ian Schmoyer has helped lead the homebuilding company he founded eight years ago, Christopher Alan Homes, to become both one of the largest privately-owned homebuilding firms in Lee County and a top 100 firm nationwide. The company, with a focus on amenable and affordable homes, builds in Charlotte and Lee counties in Southwest Florida and Palm Bay on Florida's East Coast. On this episode Ian and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talk about the genesis of Ian’s core hiring rule: never hire jerks. They also talk about his mentors, like his dad, and his views on a hot button issue: housing affordability in Florida.

3 Takeaways:

1. (09:10) Culture is the most needed thing in business today
2. (11:40) Your word is gold
3. (14:40) A lot of successful people kept it simple

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Ian Schmoyer, Chairman, President & CEO, Christopher Alan Homes

(06:25) Why did you get into obtainable housing?

(08:00) What defines Christopher Alan Homes' culture?

(10:10) What leadership characteristics are important to you?

(11:30) Leadership advice

(12:20) Ian’s mentors

(14:00) Book recommendations

(15:05) Overcoming setbacks

(16:30) Magic Wand solution to affordable housing

(17:45) Christopher Alan Homes 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.

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Greg Slater has had a 30-year career in highways and transportation, the last three or so in Tampa as CEO of the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority. Before that he was the Maryland Secretary of Transportation. His current organization, THEA, recently approved a $752 million work plan, which will include projects for safer streets and congestion relief. On this episode Greg and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talked about one of his key advice nuggets for young people: say yes to every opportunity and create your own luck. They also talked about his mentors and what he looks for in leaders.

3 Takeaways:

1. (12:30) Always be a student
2. (20:00) Be a force multiplier, someone who makes everyone else better
3. (23:30) The path forward is never a straight line

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Greg Slater, CEO, Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority

(05:00) What is the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority?

(06:25) About Greg’s career, becoming Secretary of Transportation of Maryland

(12:15) A little luck and taking on roles others will not

(14:15) Attacking a job with a large leadership role

(16:45) Mentors

(19:10) What do you look for in leaders?

(20:55) Dealing with setbacks

(24:10) 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.

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Kevin Gillen has been a market president for Synovus Bank in Florida since 2020, covering the Tampa Bay and Sarasota-Manatee markets, among other regions. He previously held banking leadership positions for financial institutions in New Jersey and the Washington, D.C. area. On this episode Kevin and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talk about the winding path of Kevin’s career and what has driven him to be a better leader at each bank and organization he has worked for. They also talked about what he looks for in hiring and promoting leaders.

3 Takeaways:

1. (10:00) Passion and a people-first mindset are crucial for leadership
2. (12:15) Great leaders cannot bring their ego into decisions
3. (14:50) Sometimes it is better to sleep on a decision

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Kevin Gillen, Market President, Synovus Bank

(03:00) How Kevin got into banking

(05:20) Getting to Synovus Bank and about Synovus Bank

(09:45) Learning about leadership from his clients

(12:05) What do you look for in leaders?

(13:25) Working with an open door policy

(14:35) Great leadership advice

(15:40) Overcoming setbacks as a banker

(18:20) Mentors over Kevin’s career

(22:00) Synovus Bank 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.

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Jerel McCants is a leading architect in the Tampa Bay market, having built his own firm from scratch with a focus on how people use spaces. He founded the company in 2010, and it focuses on commercial and residential builds, with work on the both coasts of Florida. On this episode Jerel and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talk about his philosophy of designing spaces that bring people together and how and why he launched his own company. And listen for the pop culture icons Jerel would love to have dinner with.

3 Takeaways:

1. (08:45) You can find mentors in unexpected places
2. (12:00) Be curious, there is always something you can take from a conversation
3. (15:10) Great leaders take responsibility

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Jerel McCants, founder, Jerel McCants Architecture Tampa

(03:45) What kind of work does Jerel McCants Architecture Tampa do?

(05:10) How did Jerel get into Architecture?

(06:10) Jerel’s role in Tampa Union Station

(08:00) Jerel’s mentors

(12:00) Being a curious leader

(15:00) Leadership characteristics

(17:20) Best leadership advice

(18:50) Favorite project

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.

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Brittany Lamont was named president and CEO of the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance in 2021. Prior to that Lamont, a vocal advocate for the local business and civic communities, was a vice president at the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce. On this episode Brittany and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talk about her career in chambers of commerce and what motivates her. They also talked about what she looks for in leaders, her mentors and how she shapes the work culture at the LWRBA.

3 Takeaways:

1. (07:15) Be a servant leader, support your staff
2. (08:40) When you have a small team, you need to know what makes everyone click
3. (13:00) It is important to have a tribe that support each other

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Brittany Lamont, President & CEO, Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance

(02:50) What is the Lakewood Ranch Business Alliance?

(04:00) Brittany’s career

(05:30) Leadership lessons and being able to learn from so many leaders

(07:05) Characteristics of good leaders

(08:10) What does servant leadership mean to you?

(11:40) Mentors and lessons you have learned

(16:00) Taking your ego out and listening to feedback

(17:45) LWRBA 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.

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Michael Corley worked in health care and human resources for some 10 years before starting his own leadership consulting business, The Corley Co., in 2009. The Corley Co. works with nonprofit and some for-profit leaders, in addition to nonprofit boards on topics like creating engaged board members; bringing clarity to roles and responsibilities; and developing strategic focus areas. On this episode Michael and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talked about how he got into podcasting, the valuable lessons he learned from his father and other mentors and what he learned from getting laid off from a high-level corporate job.

3 Takeaways:

1. (08:30) Leadership is not that different in a for-profit versus nonprofit
2. (12:15) Great leaders have humility, make decisions, and communicate clearly
3. (15:10) Never burn a bridge

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Michael Corley, President of The Corley Company

(03:10) What is The Corley Company?

(05:20) Developing your ability to become a thought-partner

(06:20) About I501(c)You - The Podcast for Nonprofit Board Members

(08:15) What have you learned about leaders from your interviews on I501(c)You?

(10:20) Michael’s Career

(11:55) What are some good leadership characteristics?

(14:00) How do you handle setbacks?

(15:00) Mentors

(16:35) How do you overcome setbacks?

(19:40) The Corley Company 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.

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Erika Donalds was a COO and CFO for financial services firms before shifting gears to education, first as a mom and later as an elected Collier County School Board Member. She’s since led and supported several innovative educational models, including one of the world’s first virtual reality schools, Optima Academy Online. On this episode Erika and Business Observer Managing Editor Mark Gordon talked about the why behind her career change and why she has remained a leader in education transformation. They also talked about her mentors and the characteristics of top-flight leaders.

3 Takeaways:

1. (09:55) Have high expectations for your employees and team
2. (14:30) Decide what success is going to look like alongside your employees
3. (17:30) Look at the big picture when thinking about setbacks

Timestamps:

(00:00) Introducing Erika Donalds, founder and chairman, Optima; education entrepreneur

(05:00) What is Optima Ed?

(06:45) Center for Education Opportunity

(08:00) Starting in Finance and leading to education

(09:30) What Erika learned about being a good leader working in finance

(12:00) How do you lead?

(14:05) What do you look for in leaders?

(16:10) How do you overcome setbacks?

(18:45) What is next for your organizations?

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.