The Bay Builds Podcast

Santiago Corrada was 13 years old when his family visited Tampa from New Jersey and he told his parents they were not going back. Decades later, he runs the organization responsible for putting Tampa Bay on the map for the rest of the world -- and he will tell you plainly: the greatest days are not coming. They are already here.In this episode of The Bay Builds, Santiago Corrada, President and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay, sits down with Tracie Domino to trace a career that began in fast food, moved through inner-city education, city government, and the mayor's office, and landed in one of the most visible leadership roles in the region. Santiago breaks down what destination marketing actually is, why Tampa was a blank slate when he arrived, and how Visit Tampa Bay transformed a city that people in Mumbai thought was a neighborhood in Miami into a destination that Time Magazine named one of the 50 greatest places on Earth.This conversation covers the Bollywood Academy Awards, Brentford Bees, pet influencers on the Riverwalk, the bed tax most Tampanians don't know they benefit from, and a destination development plan that is already reshaping how developers invest in Hillsborough County. Santiago also gets candid about what keeps him up at night: transportation, housing, and the very real risk that prosperity can disappear faster than it arrives.If you love Tampa Bay, work in hospitality, lead a public-private organization, or want to understand how a city builds a brand that actually sticks, this is the episode for you.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts and follow The Bay Builds on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube.00:00 Miami Growing Pains00:41 Meet Visit Tampa Bay CEO02:31 Roots and Early Hustle03:47 From Education to City Hall05:18 Leading Visit Tampa Bay06:52 Leadership Lessons Tested09:16 Building Tampa's Brand12:21 What DMOs Actually Do15:58 Tourism Powers the Economy17:27 Post Pandemic Marketing Shift21:11 Big Events Without Dependence23:16 How Bed Tax Funding Works26:11 What Excites Him Next26:46 Rethinking Strategy27:30 Destination Development Roadmap30:11 Luxury Gaps and Smart Placement30:40 Leadership Misconceptions32:24 Why Tampa Feels Like Home34:08 Tampa in 10 Years37:57 What Young Pros Need39:25 The People Make Tampa41:30 Legacy and Handing Off44:36 Lightning Round Favorites48:23 Closing Thanks and Wrap

In 1926, 22 women sat down together in Tampa and decided to do something about the unmet needs of women and children in their community. They did not have cell phones, fax machines, or the internet. They had a mission statement that was, by any measure, ahead of its time: to foster interest in the social, economic, educational, and civic conditions of the community and to make volunteer service efficient. One hundred years later, The Junior League of Tampa has 1,900 members logging 50,000 volunteer hours a year, has launched permanent nonprofit institutions into the Tampa Bay community, and is still asking the same question those 22 women asked in 1926 - where is the gap, and how do we fill it?In this episode, Tracie Domino sits down with Katie Crowe, President of The Junior League of Tampa, during the organization's centennial year. Katie pulls back the curtain on how a volunteer-led organization sustains a coherent long-term strategy through rotating leadership, what it actually takes to spin a project out into a self-sustaining nonprofit, and why a third of what has been built in Tampa Bay traces back to women who never collected a paycheck for the work. She also talks about the stereotype the League has spent decades dismantling, the hiring of the organization's first ever Chief Operating Officer, and what keeps leadership up at night as they look toward the next 100 years.This is a conversation about legacy, leadership, and what it looks like when women decide to build something that outlasts them.00:00 League Strengths00:53 Century Legacy02:51 Founding Vision05:36 How It Works07:10 Diaper Bank Impact10:00 Centennial Projects13:53 Learning From Leagues15:37 Projects That Last17:09 Strategy With Turnover19:28 Breaking Stereotypes22:05 Recruiting Next Gen24:08 Evolving The Model25:44 Next 100 Years28:37 Tampa Storytelling32:14 Gala Highlights34:10 Bicentennial Hopes35:24 Lightning Round37:20 Closing Call To Action

Before Mike Griffin knew what commercial real estate was, he was walking up and down the sun-baked stands of Tampa Stadium selling Cokes and peanuts to a crowd of strangers. That early lesson in showing up, working hard, and earning something stuck. So did Tampa.Mike Griffin is Vice Chair and Co-Head of the Florida Region of Savills, responsible for more than 13 million square feet of transactions across 18 states and 15 countries. He brokered the first Fortune 500 relocation in Tampa's history and signed the first lease in Water Street. He became the youngest chairman in the 135-year history of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce. He was appointed to the Tampa Port Authority by the governor. He serves today as Vice Chair of the USF Board of Trustees and Chair of the Finance Committee, where he has been a central architect of the new on-campus football stadium. And he did all of it from the same city where he grew up, choosing to double down on Tampa before most people believed it was worth the bet.In this conversation with host Tracie Domino, Mike talks about what it means to invest in a place before the world catches up, how his mentor Ann Duncan hired him as her first employee straight out of USF and changed the trajectory of his life, why trust is the only thing he is actually selling, and what it cost him personally to build a city-level reputation over two decades. He also gets into the global lens he brings to Tampa deals, why life sciences is the city's next North Star, and what it took to get a $400 million on-campus football stadium across the finish line at USF.This one is for the builders. The ones who stayed. The ones who are still deciding whether to stay. And the ones who just need someone to remind them that the best time to bet on something is always before everyone else figures out it's worth it.Find Mike at savillsus.com and follow what's happening at USF at usf.edu.ChaptersBetting on Tampa Before Anyone Else DidSelling Cokes and Learning EverythingThe Publix Years and the Standard of ExcellenceAnn Duncan and the Job That Changed His LifeWhat He Is Actually SellingThe First Fortune 500 and the First Lease in Water StreetTelling Tampa's Story to the WorldWhy Life Sciences Is Tampa's Next North StarThe $400 Million Bet on USF FootballLegacy Versus LeverageWhat Building a City-Level Reputation Actually CostsA Message to the Next GenerationWhat Makes Tampa Still SpecialLightning Round

There is a moment Mike DiBlasi does not forget. It is 2008, the market has collapsed, every broker around him is either making excuses or making an exit, and he is beyond broke. Not almost broke. Beyond it. His dad is telling him he should have stayed in accounting. His friends are leaving the business. And Mike is standing there thinking: at this point, I can't get any more broke. Might as well keep going.That decision to stay when everything said leave is the thread that runs through everything Mike DiBlasi has built.A former closer on the FSU baseball team that went to the College World Series three times alongside future MLB players Kevin Cash and Matt Diaz, Mike came out of school with a CPA he did not love and a plan that fell apart fast. He cold-called every major Tampa brokerage looking for a shot. Most did not call back. He found his way in anyway. What followed was nearly two decades of grinding through commercial real estate at Cushman and Wakefield, Liberty Property Trust, and Feldman Equities before landing at CBRE, where he now serves as Senior Managing Director and North Florida Market Leader overseeing Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville.Nearly 650 transactions. More than 9 million square feet. Four consecutive years on the Tampa Bay Business Journal Power 100 List. And a 125-person office he has helped build into the number one commercial real estate operation in the market.In this episode, Tracie Domino sits down with a guy she has known since the late 1990s at Florida State, and the conversation goes everywhere. How losing a lead in the College World Series semi-final taught him more than any win ever did. Why locker room culture is the non-negotiable he never compromises on. What he looks for in people that goes way beyond a GPA. How AI is reshaping demand for commercial space across North Florida. And what he tells every young professional who reaches out to him still grinding and wondering if it is ever going to turn.This one is for anyone who has ever been told to go back to the safe path and chose to keep going instead.Visit cbre.com to find Mike DiBlasi and his team across Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville.00:00 Beyond Broke Beginnings00:51 Podcast Intro Mike Delos02:41 Closer Mindset Under Pressure03:25 Pivot After Baseball Ends04:27 CPA To Brokerage Hustle06:23 Early CRE Lessons And 200808:08 From Producer To Leader10:31 Building Team Culture13:26 North Florida Market Trends14:58 Failing Forward Like Sports17:01 People Skills And Hiring20:38 Legacy Vision And Growth21:44 Advice For Next Generation25:02 Lightning Round Fun26:16 Closing Thoughts

Mindy Murphy did not plan to run a domestic violence center. She had been out of the workforce for 13 years raising her son, was not looking for a job, and had never worked in domestic violence. Then she had a dream, called back the board member who had been quietly recruiting her, and interviewed in the back room of a Cracker Barrel. A week later she was giving a speech about an organization she barely knew.That was 2012. Since then she has grown the Spring of Tampa Bay from a three and a half million dollar organization to nearly ten million, added the largest domestic violence law firm in the state of Florida, built a licensed therapy division, launched a sleepaway camp program, opened a new survivor services center in an 85-year-old World War II building in Drew Park, and maintained the only accredited onsite school for resident children in the United States.In this conversation with host Tracie Domino, Mindy talks about what most people get completely wrong about domestic violence, why the most dangerous moment for a survivor is when they decide to leave, the societal habit of blaming victims instead of holding abusers accountable, and what it looks like to run a nearly ten million dollar organization with 90 employees across a law firm, a therapy practice, a shelter, a thrift store, transitional housing, a childcare center, and a sleepaway camp. All through one lens. All in service of one mission.She also talks about the phone call she took yesterday. And why fourteen years in, the disclosures still stop her cold.The Spring of Tampa Bay has provided sanctuary and services to more than 60,000 adults and children since 1977. If you or someone you know needs help, call the Spring at 813-247-SAFE.

Before she was dressing Water Street in large-scale art installations and producing seven-figure destination weddings, Anna Richardson was a project manager in real estate development with a company called Exceptional Events and no real plan. On this episode, she sits down with Tracie Domino to talk about what it actually takes to build a boutique luxury brand in a market people used to underestimate, why she turned down Miami, how growing up in construction taught her more about running a business than any MBA would have, and the midnight phone call that ended with a grand piano in a Ritz-Carlton presidential suite. Anna is the founder of Anna Lucia Events, a global boutique brand known for sensory-driven weddings, high-end social celebrations, and major art activations across Tampa Bay and beyond. This one is for anyone who has ever bet on themselves in a city no one was watching yet.00:00 Guest List Magic00:58 Podcast Intro and Guest02:14 Naming the Brand04:48 Grit and Early Lessons07:03 Being Underestimated08:27 Why Tampa Won13:20 Raising the Local Bar16:59 Designing Emotion21:50 Surprise and Delight26:26 Multi Day Wedding Flow28:39 Art Activations Leap32:03 Big Art Activations34:04 Making Art Accessible37:07 Weatherproof Event Planning38:56 Hurricane Venue Pivot45:35 Permits Gone Wrong49:52 Bridezilla Stories55:06 Red Flags and Fit58:23 Press and Success Shift59:16 Publications Matter Less01:01:19 Top Planner Lists Critique01:02:19 Referrals And Legacy Clients01:03:14 Client First Publishing Ethics01:04:48 Founder Stress And Cashflow01:07:50 Sales Cycles And Budget Talks01:11:16 Behind The Scenes Reality01:15:46 Sacrifices And Boundaries01:20:55 Lightning Round Fun01:24:34 Final Thanks And Wrap

Scott Price did not plan to start a company. He had a spreadsheet with his entire career mapped out and Arthur Andersen was part of every line of it.Then Enron happened.At 26, he signed voluntary termination papers, walked to the Hilton, had lunch, had a beer, and by Monday had delivered his first contract with his name signed as president.Twenty-four years later, A-LIGN is one of the top three cybersecurity and compliance firms in the world. Two of the top three were founded in Tampa Bay. Scott built his from a clearance speakerphone, a $29-a-night hotel room, and 10 holiday seasons in Baton Rouge that no one was watching.In this conversation he talks about the failures nobody saw, the sacrifices that shaped everything, what servant leadership actually looks like across 770 employees on multiple continents, and why success now means watching other people succeed.When someone needs him at 2 AM, Scott Price shows up. With a gun or a shovel. Every time. This is that story.00:00 Laid Off At 2601:55 First Customer Rush03:51 Enron Changed Everything04:57 Spotting The Market Gap06:42 Scrappy Early Sacrifices09:24 Tampa And Private Equity10:15 Florida State Mindset12:03 Servant Leadership Culture15:28 Life Moments With Employees17:25 Values Hiring And Retention20:47 Staying Grounded In Growth24:01 Success Redefined26:58 Client Chaos Stories30:07 When Align Became Brand32:33 Starting Today With AI34:18 Proudest Culture Moments37:51 Legacy In 25 Years40:16 Lightning Round43:18 Final Thanks

What if removing the ask from your biggest fundraising event actually raised more money? Frann Leppla, President of the Tampa General Hospital Foundation, joins host Tracie Domino to share how TGH Foundation eliminated night-of fundraising from their signature gala and sparked one of the most productive donor engagement periods in the foundation's history.Frann breaks down the psychology behind major gifts, the rise of the investor-donor who wants a real return on their philanthropic investment, and why the hard work of fundraising begins after the check is written, not before. She also addresses the biggest misconception in healthcare philanthropy: that donors receive better care as patients. At Tampa General, the mission is simple. Every human being deserves the best possible healthcare regardless of their ability to pay. Philanthropic dollars make that standard of excellence possible for everyone.This conversation also covers the extraordinary growth of the Tampa General system, what it truly means to be a Level 1 Trauma Center, and why the TGH Foundation has turned down significant gifts in order to protect the integrity of the mission.Whether you lead a nonprofit, work in healthcare, sit on a foundation board, or simply believe in the power of community investment, this episode will change how you think about giving, gratitude, and the brands people choose to believe in.Frann Leppla has served as President of the Tampa General Hospital Foundation for nearly eight years, growing its philanthropic impact year over year and helping position TGH as one of Florida's most trusted healthcare institutions.The Bay Builds Podcast features weekly conversations with the founders and executives behind Tampa Bay's biggest brands, businesses, and boldest ideas.00:00 Why Events Fall Flat01:01 Meet Fran Leppla02:00 No Ask Gala Strategy03:27 Psychology of Giving04:41 Momentum After Events06:13 TGH Growth Vision07:35 Where TGH Operates08:24 Donor Motivations Today09:46 Showing Impact After Gifts11:31 Philanthropy Misconceptions12:47 Major Gifts Shift Works13:57 Proof the Model Worked16:13 Sales to Fundraising19:23 Building Team Culture21:12 Protecting Brand Trust22:51 Academic Care Difference24:18 Trauma Center and NICU25:58 Foundation Goals Ahead27:13 Lightning Round28:53 Closing Reflections

In this episode of “The Bay Builds,” we sit down with Richard Gonzmart, the fourth-generation owner of the Columbia Restaurant Group, to delve into a remarkable 120-year legacy of resilience, family, and community impact. Richard shares profound stories of how his family navigated challenges from the 1903 opening amidst the Wright Brothers' first flight to enduring World Wars, the Spanish flu, and the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining quality, supporting staff, community commitment, and honoring Tampa's rich history. Join us for an intimate conversation that goes beyond the usual interview to explore the deeper essence of what it takes to sustain a historic family business through generations.00:00 The Beginnings of the Columbia Saloon00:18 Challenges Through the Generations00:53 Introducing Richard Smar01:33 Legacy and Resilience01:49 Memories and Stories02:49 The Importance of Human Connection03:25 Family Business Realities06:16 Overcoming Financial Hardships08:35 Commitment to Community and Staff12:50 Preserving History and Legacy23:23 Inspiring Medical Breakthroughs23:57 Personal Impact of Childhood Cancer24:21 Commitment to Cancer Research25:28 Legacy and Education28:00 Family and Business Values29:53 Memories and Lessons from the Past33:26 Living Life to the Fullest36:17 Advice for the Next Generation42:19 Honoring Family and Community44:56 Final Reflections and Legacy

In this inaugural episode of The Bay Builds, host Tracie Domino sits down with Nick Friedman, co-founder of College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk and Moving. Nick shares the incredible journey of how a summer gig with a beat-up cargo van transformed into a national brand with hundreds of franchisees. From unloading deer carcasses to encountering unexpected weapons, Nick recounts some of the wild experiences and pivotal moments that shaped the company's success. Discover how intentional micro habits, company culture, and a commitment to leadership development turned a catchy college idea into a thriving business. Tune in for insights on branding, growth, and the importance of hustle and heart in building a legacy.00:00 From College Van to National Brand01:11 The Birth of College Hunks03:44 Early Challenges and Funny Stories08:47 Building a Legendary Company Culture11:22 Leadership and Employee Development16:06 Crazy Hauling Experiences19:38 Brand Recognition and Future Goals22:28 Lightning Round and Closing Thoughts

The Bay Builds Podcast is a behind-the-scenes look at how real businesses are built, right here in Tampa Bay.Hosted by Tracie Domino, founder of Event Outfitters, the show features candid conversations with entrepreneurs, brand builders, and community leaders shaping the Bay.These aren’t highlight reels. They’re honest stories about growth, setbacks, leadership, culture, and the small habits that lead to big wins.From iconic local brands to hidden gems, each episode explores what it actually takes to build something that lasts, and why Tampa Bay builds differently.New episodes bi-weekly.00:00 Welcome to The Bay Builds Podcast00:23 Meet Your Host: Tracie Domino00:31 Why Tampa Bay Has a Unique Business Energy00:49 Real People, Real Businesses00:56 Tampa Bay’s Inspiring Success Stories01:12 The Power of Community and Branding01:25 Spotlighting Builders and Hidden Gems01:45 Behind the Scenes of Business Success01:56 What Makes the Tampa Bay Spirit Different02:01 What to Expect Each Episode02:09 Lessons from Tampa’s Business Leaders02:25 Fun Segments and Rapid Fire Questions02:39 Progress, Purpose, and Building Something That Lasts02:57 Tracie’s Philosophy on Business and Belief03:13 What Truly Makes Businesses Successful03:28 Join Us on the Journey03:45 Subscribe and Stay Connected