Mike Quillen is the president of three independent restaurant groups that include 15 locations in Florida and North Carolina, with some 800 employees. The list includes Gecko’s Grill & Pub, which opened its flagship restaurant in Sarasota in 1992. On this episode Mike talks about his early start in hospitality — it includes parking cars for a Siesta Key valet company while in high school. He also talks about overcoming challenges both big and small in the industry, the characteristics of the ideal restaurant manager and why being hands on is the right leadership approach for him.

3 Takeaways:

(07:00) Controlled growth is a benefit

(09:50) Hospitality quotient - Does someone truly enjoy what they do?

(20:30) You need to be obsessed with your products and services

Timestamps:

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

(00:30) Introducing Mike Quillen, President, Gecko’s Hospitalty Group and Watershed Hospitalty Concepts

(03:50) Origin story of Mike and Mike, first business venture

(06:30) Early days of Gecko’s

(09:05) Mike’s hiring philosophy

(10:20) The State of hiring in hospitality

(12:15) Changing the culture of a restaurant

(13:15) Why have you decided to support the community?

(14:20) Mentors

(16:40) Dealing with setbacks

(18:50) What is coming in 2025?

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John Couris is one of the most recognized health care leaders in the Sunshine State, having run the Florida Health Sciences Center, parent entity of Tampa General Hospital, since 2017. On this episode, John Couris talks about how he leads one of the biggest medical and health care organizations in Florida. One key: constantly and consistently focusing on culture. Listen, too, for how he overcomes setbacks and failures.

3 Takeaways:

(11:00) Don’t go along to get along

(16:00) I work on culture by working on authenticity, empathy, transparency, and vulnerability

(21:30) Leaders have the responsibility to create an environment where people are psychologically safe

Timestamps:

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

(00:30) Introducing John Couris, President and CEO, Florida Health Sciences Center

(06:00) Getting started in healthcare administration and career path

(09:00) Mentors and leadership advice

(14:30) How do you maintain the culture?

(19:30) Examples of vulnerability

(23:00) Good leadership characteristics

(29:35) Florida Health Sciences Center in 2025

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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

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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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

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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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?

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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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

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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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.

Visit businessobserverfl.com for more.