Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, is joined by Fred Karlinsky, Shareholder & Chair of Greenberg Traurig's Global Insurance Regulatory & Transactions Practice Group, to talk about navigating challenges like AI and the pace of change, staying available for clients, and the firm's commitment to community service. Fred is a Cornerstone Class 36 Lifetime Member from the Gold Coast Region.

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, is joined by Bert de Armas, SVP of First Horizon Bank, and Mario Trueba, Chairman, South Florida with First Horizon Bank to talk about the importance of investing in their communities, building relationships with clients, and the advancement of technology in the industry.   Bert is a member of Cornerstone Class 25. Mario is member of Cornerstone Class 19 and a past Leadership Florida Board Chair. They are both Lifetime Members in the Southeast Region.

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, is joined by Tal Siddique, County Commissioner of Manatee County, to talk about their brand-new Bradenton Area Convention Center, focusing on economic development, and tourism as a pillar of the economy. Tal is a Connect Class 14 Member from the Calusa Region.

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, is joined by Adriene McCoy, SVP & Chief People Officer of Baptist Health South Florida, to talk about AI in the healthcare industry, maintaining company culture during growth, and investing in communities. Adriene is a Cornerstone Class 36 Member from the Southeast Region.

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, is joined Stephanie Smith, VP, State & Regional Affairs with TECO Energy, to talk about powering progress, anticipating and investing in community needs, and the responsibility of serving their customers. Stephanie is a Cornerstone Class 41 Member from the West Central Region.

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, is joined by Maggie Hightower, Assistant VP, Philanthropy with Nemours Children's Health, to talk about their mission to ensure all children grow up happy and healthy regardless of financial status, the challenge of keeping pace with the complexities of children and families, and investing in the healthcare workforce and community partnerships. Maggie is a Connect Class 3 Member from the Northeast Region.

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, is joined by Jody Brooks, Chief Administrative Officer of JEA, to talk about data centers and industry trends, meeting customer needs while keeping costs low, and the company's Water First project. Jody is a Cornerstone Class 40 Member from the Northeast Region.

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, is joined by Amy Mangan, Executive Director, AdventHealth Ocala Foundation and Kristen McCall, President of AdventHealth West Florida Foundation, to talk about focusing on increasing the healthcare workforce, the company's global reach, and the top-down company culture. Amy is a Cornerstone Class 37 Member from the East Central Region. She is also a past Board Chair.

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, is joined by Stacy Baier, Ph.D, SVP, FL Community Engagement, Operations & Strategic Partnerships for Helios Education Foundation, to talk about ensuring and supporting student success, increasing college enrollment, and research-driven education strategies. Stacy is a Lifetime Leadership Florida Member from the West Central Region.

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, is joined by Kurt Gehring, National Practice Leader Public Entities and John Muller, VP, Strategy & Growth at Risk Strategies, to talk about their company's scope, trending industry topics, and integrating AI. They are both Lifetime Members in the Gulfstream Region. Kurt is from Executive Class 11 and John is from Cornerstone Class 40.

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, is joined by Pam Rauch, VP, External Affairs and Economic Development of Florida Power & Light, to talk about growing data centers, servicing customers after weather disasters, and community engagement. Pam is a Lifetime Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class 27 Member from the Gulfstream Region.

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, is joined by Maria Brous, Director of Communications for Publix, to talk about company growth and culture, leadership, and giving back. Maria is a Lifetime Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class 40 Member from the West Central Region.

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, is joined by Didier Menard, Vice President of Jacobs, to talk about sustainability, AI advancements, and company culture. Didier is a Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class 21 member from the East Central Region.

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, is joined by Michael Wynn, President of Sunshine Ace Hardware, to talk about prioritizing customers, running a family business, and connecting with communities. Michael is a Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class 30 Member from the Southwest Region and the Leadership Florida 2025-2026 Board Chair.

In this episode of Leadership Florida: The Leadership Exchange, host Wendy Spencer, President & CEO of Leadership Florida, sits down with Susan Towler, Executive Director of Corporate Social Responsibility and the Florida Blue Foundation, to discuss leadership, impact, and connection. Susan is a Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class 22 member.