Lilah (pronounced like Layla) has overseen the supply chain for east Manatee County-based First Watch since 2017. She’s been in food service supply and logistics for some 30 years, working for Bloomin’ Brands and Benihana, among other entities. On this episode Lilah talks about her early lessons in hospitality, including why details matter and why no task in a customer service field is insignificant. She also talked about what brings her joy at work, what she looks for in future leaders and the mission that drives her everyday.

3 Takeaways:

(08:00) Keep risk away and supply in place

(15:50) There is nothing wrong with dissent

(17:20) Don’t take it personally, it’s just business

Timestamps:

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

(00:30) Introducing Lilah Taha-Rippett, Senior Vice President of Supply Chain, First Watch

(03:45) Getting into the food industry

(06:00) Working for Ken Pendery

(07:30) What does your job entail?

(08:40) Dealing with price increases

(10:00) Key mentors

(13:00) What do you look for in leaders?

(15:30) Leadership advice

(17:10) Dealing with setbacks

(19:00) First Watch in 2025

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A nonprofit executive, Sarah has been with the University Area CDC since 2010 and executive director and CEO since 2015. The University Area CDC is a nonprofit public/private partnership supporting residents and neighborhoods in the University area, surrounding University of South Florida's Tampa campus. On this episode, Sarah talks about what she learned about leadership from growing up and working on a farm and how she’s applied it to her current role. Sarah, who recently earned her Ph.D. while working at the University Area CDC, also talks about what she looks for in future leaders and how she’s overcome setbacks and mistakes. And listen for when Sarah chats about her latest gig: working as an assistant professor in the Muma College of Business at the University of South Florida.

3 Takeaways:

1. (06:20) Take your kids to work with you
2. (10:15) Great leaders are committed to growth across the board
3. (10:50) Good leaders make tough decisions and are transparent about them

Timestamps:

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

(00:30) Introducing Dr. Sarah Combs, CEO, University Area Community Development Corp. Inc

(03:00) How did you get to the University Area CDC?

(04:15) Growing up on a farm

(07:00) What is the University Area CDC and why did you join?

(08:55) Teaching at USF Tampa

(10:15) What are good leadership characteristics?

(11:20) What have you learned as a leader?

(12:20) What setbacks have you learned from?

(14:45) Key mentors

(17:15) Leadership advice

(19:10) University Area CDC in 2025

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Sam Guerrieri is an executive vice president with the Canandaigua National Trust Co., where, among other units, he oversees CNB Wealth Management, Canandaigua National Trust Company of Florida. The Florida division is based in Sarasota. On this episode Sam talks about how he got into banking — and why he stayed in the field. He also talks about mentorship — both his mentors and mentees — and the elements in his career that motivate him to be a better leader everyday.

3 Takeaways:

1. (13:15) Set aside time each week to work ON the business
2. (16:00) Let your mentors know that you are thankful
3. (17:20) In a time of change, everyone is somewhere on the “Emotional Change Curve”

Timestamps:

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

(00:30) Introducing Sam Guerrieri, Executive Vice President, Canandaigua National Trust, Florida

(04:40) Why did Sam get into banking?

(06:30) Why is Canandaigua coming into Florida and Sarasota?

(08:05) How has the Florida market grown?

(10:15) What do you look for in leaders?

(12:45) Working on the business, not on the business

(14:00) Mentors

(16:20) Resilience

(20:00) What should we expect in 2025?

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Mike Sutton was named CEO of the Tampa Bay Gulfside unit a decade ago, when it had just finished house No. 280 and was only in Pinellas County. Now it’s in two more counties — Pasco and Hernando — and is closing in on house No. 1,000. On this episode, Mike talks about his why and how he connects that to his day-to-day role at Habitat. He also talks about how he holds the team accountable and what he looks for in leaders.

3 Takeaways:

1. (10:40) Promoting from inside is extremely valuable
2. (12:20) Culture fit is the most important value
3. (14:00) Hire slow, fire fast

Timestamps:

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

(00:30) Introducing Mike Sutton, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside

(04:00) How Mike got into nonprofits, starting at YMCA

(05:40) What is the mission of Habitat for Humanity?

(07:00) Day to day for Mike

(08:20) Tipping points for scaling the organization, growing for 11 straight years

(12:00) What do you look for in leaders?

(15:00) Personal learning lessons as the CEO

(16:45) Handling difficult conversations

(18:40) Lessons from mentors

(20:30) The experience of being at a Home Dedication

(24:15) Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay Gulfside in 2025

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Phillip Lanham is approaching his two-year anniversary of being named president and CEO of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation, one of the largest, and most visible, foundations in the region. The foundation, with some $500 million in assets, works with donors and nonprofits in everything from the environment to affordable housing to economic development. On this episode, Phillip talks about the challenges and opportunities in taking over leadership of a prominent organization, and how he set priorities. And listen for his passions outside of work, including football — and his beloved Cincinnati Bengals.

3 Takeaways:

1. (12:25) The best leaders are humble, hungry, and smart
2. (14:10) Not everyone is going to like you
3. (17:15) Look at a situation from a curious perspective

Timestamps:

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

(00:30) Introducing Phillip Lanham, President & CEO, Gulf Coast Community Foundation

(04:30) Growing up in Cincinnati and getting into nonprofits

(05:55) What does the Gulf Coast Community Foundation do?

(07:05) What was your mindset when you stepped into this role?

(07:55) Accomplishments

(11:45) What do you look for in leaders?

(13:15) What have you learned from your mentors?

(15:25) StrengthFinder

(16:40) How do you overcome setbacks?

(18:25) 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.

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Jennifer Hemmerdinger has been in the media and public relations business for some two decades, going back to when she was a DJ on FM radio in New Hampshire in 2004. She later worked for CBS News in Boston and wrote about taxes for several publications in Washington, D.C. She joined EY in branding, marketing and communications in 2016. On this episode Jen talks about a recent LinkedIn post she wrote that garnered a lot of attention — a deeply personal look at how she overcame a career stumble: she failed a professional accreditation test, even with a decade of experience in her industry. Jen talks about how she reframed, refocused and overcame negative internal dialogue.

3 Takeaways:

1. (17:30) Surrender to the process
2. (18:45) Sacrifice short term comfort for long term success
3. (20:00) Eliminate negative self thought

Timestamps:

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

(00:30) Introducing Jennifer Hemmerdinger, Associate Director, EY US Public Relations Leader

(09:40) Jen’s Linkedin post and overcoming setbacks

(14:30) Dealing with the failure of the exam

(17:00) How Jennifer changed and developed new habits

(22:20) Sharing the experience on Linkedin

(24:30) Leadership characteristics

(27:30) What’s 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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John Catsimatidis has garnered a net worth of $4.5 billion through grit, guts and guile. Raised in a tight-knit Greek-American family, Catsimatidis learned how to hustle and get along with just about anyone while growing up in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City. He’s now CEO of Red Apple Group, a conglomerate that includes oil refining, the Gristedes grocery chain in New York City and, notably, The Residences at 400 Central, a luxury condo project in downtown St. Petersburg. On this episode, Catsimatidis, with his sometimes brash and frank approach, talks about his origin story, his mentors and his key lessons in business — and life.

3 Takeaways:

1. (09:50) Have fun working through challenges
2. (10:40) We are all lions in our own den
3. (11:15) Hire people that are smarter than you

Timestamps:

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

(00:30) Introducing John Catsimatidis, CEO of Red Apple Group

(02:45) Growing up in NYC

(04:10) Getting into the grocery business and owning grocery stores

(08:05) Discovering St. Pete

(08:50) Residences at 400 Central

(10:25) Common mistakes of start up companies

(11:15) What makes a good leader?

(12:00) Mentors

(14:25) Recovering from setbacks

(15:20) Other projects in Florida

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Rick Severance has worked for some of the largest development communities in Florida, leading up to his current post, as president of Wellen Park, a master-planned community in south Sarasota County. And his passion for building communities is high-level. On this episode, Rick talks about what he believes makes a good work culture, his strategy for growing a community at the right pace, his mentors and how he leads through transparency and accountability. And listen for how he spends some of his time commuting to and from work.

3 Takeaways:

1. (07:00) Set a clear vision
2. (12:15) Assume the best
3. (16:50) Pivot quickly

Timestamps:

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

(00:30) Introducing Rick Severance, President of Wellen Park

(05:20) Getting into Land Development

(06:35) Leadership Lessons

(08:00) Lessons from Babcock Ranch

(09:10) What is Wellen Park?

(11:20) How do you manage all the stakeholders?

(13:45) What do you look for in other leaders?

(15:18) Leadership advice

(16:45) Dealing with setbacks

(18:15) Wellen Park 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.