Season 1

It's Happenin' In the Haven Podcast

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All Episodes Season 1 (from newest to oldest)

On Episode 40 - How Will We Grow, we speak to Bruce Lyon, President of the Winter Haven Economic Development Council about the results of his new strategic planning process and what types of development activity are dominating the Winter Haven landscape right now

On Episode 39 - Starlight Nights we speak to Anita Strang, Executive Director of Main Street Winter Haven, about how her organization has had to pivot through the pandemic into two new endeavors - a new holiday event called Starlight Nights (Nov. 25- January 6) and taking over programming and management at The Ritz Theatre.

On Episode 38 - The Bond That Ties Us, we speak to Dr. Panagiotis Iakovidis, CEO of Bond Clinic P.A. While we chat about Bond Clinic and his career as a thoracic surgeon, this interview is part of a series of interviews focused on getting to know local physicians around the community outside of their medical career. Dr. Iakovidis is a lifelong entrepreneur owning multiple businesses in Winter Haven as well as ownership in the Florida Tropics. We also have a legacy business spotlight on Chamber member Bartow Ford with their President Benny Robles Jr.

On Episode 37 - Pursuit of Excellence we speak to Mike Herr, City Manager for the City of Winter Haven on how his journey led him to our City, what it is like to manage in a council-manager form of government and how the team at the City are constantly focused on improving the citizen's experience. We also speak to Dr. Paul Williams, surgical oncologist for AdventHealth on the importance of getting your mammogram annually after the age of 40 and what women of any age should be doing for their breast health.

In this week's episode entitled The Lost September, Chamber President Katie Worthington Decker shares her personal experience of COVID-19 hitting her family over the last month. We also have a small business spotlight with Joy Kerr, owner of Smoothie Squad, a hip and modern restaurant that serves smoothies, smoothie bowls, wraps, flatbreads, quinoa bowls, salads, vegan and gluten-free options.

In this best of highlight compilation episode, we share segments from interviews with Nikki Smith with ASAP Prints, Dr. Martha Santiago, County Commissioner, and Hiep Nguyen, Smart City Officer at the City of Winter Haven.

In this best of highlight compilation episode, 7-Year Overnight Success, we share segments from interviews with Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti of Polk State College, Fred Koehler, children's' book author and illustrator, and Brad Dantzler, Mayor of the City of Winter Haven

In Episode 32 - Standing Ovation we speak to Dan Chesnicka and Sara Catherine Barnes with Theatre Winter Haven to introduce their new Ovation Institute, an alternative learning environment for students who have selected distance learning. We also have a small business spotlight featuring Susan Denis, owner of Ba Dah Bling Paparazzi Accessories & More retail jewelry store in downtown Winter Haven

In Episode 32 - Decision 2020 we hear the full interview with Andrew Wiggins, Senior Director of Political Affairs and Coalition Advocacy with the Florida Chamber of Commerce about the political landscape in Florida, what lessons were learned from the August 18 primary and what we could expect to see on November 3rd. We also have a healthcare segment with Dr. Chad Lamoreaux of AdventHealth about living with arthritis.

In Episode 31 - Gray's Anatomy we speak to Dr. Nathan Falk, Founding Program Director for the new Florida State University College of Medicine Family Medicine Residency at Winter Haven Hospital. We also learn more about the state constitutional amendments you'll be asked to decide on your November 3rd ballot from Andrew Wiggins, Senior Director of Political Affairs and Coalition Advocacy for the Florida Chamber of Commerce.

In Episode 30 - Stronger Together Christine Samuel, the newly appointed Director of Diversity and Inclusivity with the City of Winter Haven, shares her experiences that prepared her to take on this role, the purpose and goals of this role at the City and the importance of this focus in the context of the national conversation on inequality and opportunity. In our health segment, Dr. Shiva Seetahal of AdventHealth Heart of Florida shares his advice on exercise and the impact on our overall health.

In Episode 29 - Our Product is Hope & Love we welcome Steve Giordano of the Boys and Girls Club to the podcast! Steve joins us to speak about the mission of their nonprofit and the services they provide. Next, we will hear a medical segment from General Surgeon, Dr. Buck Scott of AdventHealth Medical Group.

In Episode 28 - Servant Leader we are beyond honored to welcome Sheriff Grady Judd to our podcast. Listen in to hear about the path Sheriff Judd traveled to becoming the Sheriff of Polk County and why he believes cultivating strong community relationships is important. Sheriff Judd also shares some of those crazy criminal stories that we love so much.

In Episode 27 - Hiep & Smart Hiep Nguyen, Smart City Officer of the City of Winter Haven joins us to speak about some of the projects the City is implementing and the steps they are taking to convert Winter Haven into a "smart city." Next, we hear about the atrial fibrillation and the importance of recognizing the symptoms, with Dr. Giancarlo Speziani of AdventHealth Heart of Florida.

In Episode 26 - Keeping Tradition Alive We are joined by former skier, show director, and 2017 Banker's Cup Citizen of the Year winner, Mark Voisard of the Cypress Gardens Water Ski Team. Mark joins us to speak about the legacy of the ski team and its world-class show. Next, we will hear a "How I Got Here" segment from Talitha Bean, Leadership Director of Polk Vision, about her journey that brought her to America from South Africa.

In Episode 25 - Advocating for Education we are joined by Deputy Superintendent John Hill with Polk County Public Schools about the reopening plan for schools this fall and about his passion for our educational system and students. We also hear a non-profit segment from Sara Chase, Development Director of LifeChoice Pregnancy Center about the services they provide to our community and the options that are available to expectant parents.

In Episode 24 - Achieve Your Highest Potential Dr. Michelle Henne of Relvé Sports Medicine joins us to speak about her background and experience as a woman in the sports medicine field. Next, we will hear a non-profit segment from Susan Eldridge, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels about the wonderful services they provide to our community.

In Episode 23 - Preserving Our Past & Preparing for the Future we hear from Brian Yates of Citizens Bank and Trust about his career in banking, the PPP program, and what he hopes to accomplish on the commission during his first 4-year term. Next, we will hear from Christina Criser Jackson, President of United Way about the mission of United Way and what our community is doing to help during this time.

In Episode 22 - Find A Dream Home we hear from one of our Podcast Presenting Sponsors, Carla Meeks with Meeks Real Estate LLC. Carla speaks about the real estate market in Polk County and what the process of selling or buying a home may look like. Next, we hear a How I Got Here segment from Carissa Hughes, owner of Gourmet Goodies Bake Shop about how her Gourmet Goodies was established and how they utilize social media to benefit their business.

In Episode 21 - Protect and Serve we speak with Charlie Bird, Director of Public Safety for the City of Winter Haven about how he got involved in law enforcement. He also shares some advice to those who are looking to start similar career paths. In our next segment, we get to know one of our Podcast Presenting Sponsors a little better, we chat to Fred Simons with Farmers Insurance, the Fred Simons Agency about the coverage his agency offers.

In Episode 20 - Smiles are Contagious Nikki Smith joins us to talk about the evolution of ASAP Prints and what the future has in store for the company she established out of her home in 2001. Next, we hear an update on Citrus Connection with their Director of External Affairs, Erin Killebrew.

In Episode 19 - Chamber Support During COVID Chamber President/CEO Katie Worthington Decker and Chamber Vice President, Amanda Jo Nicholson join us to discuss how the Winter Haven chamber has supported our business community during COVID-19. In our next segment, Juan Pantoja, President of Dolphin Image Studios speaks with us about his background & the new procedures Dolphin Images Studios has implemented to keep the studio as safe as possible during this unprecedented time.

In Episode 18 - Be a Good Neighbor Jennifer Fasking and Chelsea Groess of State Farm walk us through some of the wonderful initiatives State Farm is implementing and what they have in store for us in the future. Be sure to check out this list of organizations and look for ways you can be a "good neighbor." In our next segment, we are joined by Kim Long, Director of Polk Vision and Alice Nuttall, Director of Behavioral Health at Lakeland Regional Health and Co-Chair of the Polk Vision Behavioral Health Team. Alice shares her insight regarding mental health and mental wellness related to COVID-19. Finally, Brian Adams, the CEO of AdventHealth Heart of Florida gives us an update on the reopening of their facilities

In Episode 17 - Around the World & Back, we hear from Stephanie Claytor, Florida Associated Press award-winning multimedia reporter for Spectrum Bay News 9 and an avid traveler and blogger. (Visit her travel blog HERE.) In our next segment, we hear about food insecurities in Polk County from Kim Long, Executive Director of Polk Vision, Jenna Kasczmarski of Polk County Public Schools and Co-Chair of the Polk Vision School Health Team & Rod Crowley of United Way of Central Florida and finally, we hear from Bob Gernert of Museum of Winter Haven History.

In Episode 16 - Blue Devil to Board Level we hear from Sara Beth Reynolds, who represents District 4 on the Polk County School Board and is also the Development Director of Theatre Winter Haven. Sara Beth shares a bit of background information with us about why she decided to run for School Board and what some of her achievements and goals are as the District 4 Rep. In our next segment, we hear about the digital divide in Polk County and some of the projects that are being implemented to benefit students during this time with Kim Long, Director of Polk Vision, Chairman of the Polk Vision Smart Communities Team, Chad Tagtow of Citizens Bank & Trust & Rachel Pleasant of Polk County Public Schools. Note: The main segment in this podcast was recorded during the very beginning of COVID-19.

On Episode 15 - Conquering Adversity Brandon Giles, Head Basketball Coach at Polk State College joins us to discuss the path he followed that landed him in his coaching career today. In our next political segment, we hear from Ed Smith, Polk State College Government adjunct professor about the impeachment process and the history of impeachment in the United States.

*This podcast was recorded before COVID-19. We hope these episodes continue to uplift you throughout this trying time.

On Episode 14 - Think Differently we speak to Chris & Amy Sexson of Destroyer Media, about their suite of products they have brought to Winter Haven, the journey of how they ended up here, and their vision and goals for our community. In the next segment, we discuss Career Academies in the Polk County School District featuring interviews with Steve Cockran, Senior Director for Workforce Education and Multiple Pathways with Polk County Public Schools, Naomi Boyer - Chair of the Career Academies Advisory Board and Kim Long, Executive Director of Polk Vision. Finally, we get a history lesson from Bob Gernert with the Museum of Winter Haven History on how Winter Haven gained its founding name.

In Episode 13 - Tiptoe Through the Tulips Part 2 - Mr. Lemuel "Lem" Geathers, Winter Haven's first black Commissioner and Mayor, speaks about his life in civil service to our community and the evolvement of Winter Haven. This man (and his network of relationships he has built over a lifetime) is responsible for so much of what we know of the Winter Haven of today.

In Episode 12 - Tiptoe Through the Tulips we hear from 94-year-old Lemuel Geathers, former City commissioner, mayor, teacher, electrical contractor, landlord, grove owner, insurance salesman, hospital board member, congressional aide, and World War II Navy veteran. In part one of a two-part interview with Mr. Geathers, he recalls his former years in World War II and what his civil rights looked like during a time of segregation.

Stay tuned next week for part two with Lemuel Geathers in Episode 13.

In Episode 11 - Scream Test we hear from Ginger Cook, a co-producer and Unit Production Manager for the full-length thriller film, Scream Test, which filmed almost entirely in Winter Haven this spring. Ginger shares information about the film and what their experience has been like recording with Dolphin Image Studios and in Winter Haven. We also learn about the nonprofit Heart for Winter Haven and the housing initiative in Winter Haven to help prevent homelessness with Brad Beatty.

In Episode 10 - Leading through Civil Service we hear from County Commissioner Dr. Martha Santiago about her journey to Polk County, her life in public education and why she decided to run for County Commission. We also learn more about city and county leadership program with Leadership Polk Director Talitha Bean, Leadership Polk Alumnus Orathai Northern and Polk Vision Director Kim Long.

Episode 9 - Little Jumbo is a truly uplifting and motivating episode about hard work, the reality of realizing your dreams and finding the "why" in your life's work. We interview Fred Koehler, nationally-recognized children's book author and illustrator, who in an inspiring and funny interview explains how he went from doodling in a coffee shop to being a published author. We also have our next politics segment with a lesson on the electoral college with Polk State College Government adjunct professor Ed Smith. Thanks go to All Saints Academy for lending us Fred for the episode, their Director of Media and Design!

On Episode 8 - Do You Believe in Magic we speak with the dynamic Shelly Wilkes who worked her way up through the Orlando Magic to be named the President of their professional developmental G-League team, the Lakeland Magic. We also get an important briefing from Kim Long, Executive Director of Polk Vision, on the 2020 Census which will officially kick off on April 1. Learn why getting accurate account of everyone living in Polk County is so important to our community's future.

On Episode 7- Downtown Is Our Stage we speak with Anita Strang, President of Main Street Winter Haven about how she got involved in downtown and all of the amazing things happening on the "stage" that is our community's core! We also hear from Lori Rice and Chris Hazelwood, co-chairs of this year's Relay for Life benefiting the American Cancer Society and cancer research during our "giving back" spotlight. Finally we get a history lesson from Bob Gernert with the Museum of Winter Haven history on one of Winter Haven's founding families, the Inmans.

On Episode 6 - There's No Business Like Show Business we hear from Dan Chesnicka, producing director for Theatre Winter Haven. We also get a lesson in primaries and caucuses from Polk State College Government adjunct professor Ed Smith and we get to know our Chamber VP of Member Services, Amanda Jo Nicholson and why she made the leap to Winter Haven from across the pond. So many best in class people packed into this episode!

On Episode 5 - Unclear Path, we speak to Artie Renee Pobjecky with Pobjecky & Pobjecky, LLP Global Immigration Firm and the Chamber's 2019-2020 Board Chair about her journey to Winter Haven, the period of uncertainly in her life and career and what businesses and individuals need to know about current immigration policies. We also celebrate Heart Health Month with some advice from Shelly Moore, Director of Cardiovascular and Critical Care Services for AdventHealth Heart of Florida. Bruce Lyon, President of the Winter Haven Economic Development Council gives us the 4-1-1 on economic development efforts in Winter Haven and we get an update on the exciting events coming up over the next month in Winter Haven.

On Episode 4 - Soar Eagles, we hear from the dynamic President of Polk State College, Dr. Angela Garcia Falconetti, about her career path to Polk State's presidency and what having Polk State and its dedicated faculty, staff and students in our community does to lift us all up. Then we walk ye plank with some pirate talk from Chloe Boehm, PR Manager from LEGOLAND Florida Resort on what's to come in 2020, or as LEGOLAND is calling it, The Year of the Pirate

Episode 3 – "Say Cheese" includes stories of espionage, acupuncture and dog fighting. Featuring interviews with Mike Potthast and his video team, Joel Faubert and Rick Maldonado, from Potthast Studios, Dr. Mitsie Vargas with Orchid Springs Animal Hospital and Lisa Baker with the Humane Society of Polk County. The Giving Back spotlight interview for this episode is sponsored by Orchid Springs Animal Hospital.

On Episode 2 - Fueling Connections, we hear from Greg Littleton, President of Citizens Bank & Trust and his team members Bonnie Parker and Chad Tagtow about their journeys to community banking and what it's like working for a company that has been family owned for 100 YEARS! We also hear from the enchanting and inspiring sisters behind Amonie Jo's Coffee and we have our moment of zen learning about yoga from Kerry Wilson with Inside Out Yoga.Finally we get a preview of all of the exciting community events coming up this next month in Winter Haven from Chamber Events Coordinator Karen Speer. Our main interview segment this episode is sponsored by Certipay and our health and wellness segment during this episode is presented by Smoothie Squad

In our inaugural Episode 1 - "Head and Heart" we interview Winter Haven Mayor Brad Dantzler who talks about what it was like to grow up in Winter Haven, why he ran for office and what is in store/excites him about Winter Haven's future. We also have a few short segments including a history segment by Bob Gernert, the director of the Museum of Winter Haven History, a "How I Got Here" story from Alex Cam about how he ended up in Winter Haven owning his own catering business, and a little "Coffee Talk" with Dave Tuttle of Richard's Fine Coffees. This podcast is sponsored by Dolphin Image Studios, the Fred Simons Insurance Agency with Farmer's Insurance and AdventHealth. The main interview segment for this episode is sponsored by Straughn Trout Architects.

Welcome to It's Happenin' In the Haven! This podcast is presented by the Greater Winter Haven Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Dolphin Image Studios! Through our partnership with Dolphin Image Studios and our podcast sponsors, we are thrilled to be bringing something new to Winter Haven in 2020. On each episode of It's Happenin' In the Haven, we have the privilege to speak to the amazing people taking Winter Haven and its surrounding Central Florida area to the next level. We are putting a spotlight on our future-focused attitude, celebrating our entrepreneurial history and leveraging it for our bright future ahead. Here, you will find out why Winter Haven is truly the place to stay, play, live and start your business.