Month: March 2020

“In honor of Women’s History Month, I asked six clients who are women owned businesses to answer two questions about their success in business and one piece of advice and encouragement they would offer to other professional women. Each of these six women come from different industries and in most cases are trailblazers and trendsetters. Here are three of the women I highlighted. I highly recommend you read the advice and encouragement of the other three women too by clicking here.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to have worked with each of these women in identifying the right commercial real estate solution in Tampa Bay. I believe business is more than a transaction and I love working with companies who have an aligned mission. I can confidently say each of these women practice what they are sharing. Check out their website to learn more about their companies. If you have the opportunity to work with any of these women below, you could not be in better hands. Here’s to Tampa Bay, our business women leading the charge, shattering glass ceiling, making room at the table, spear heading initiatives and driving the heartbeat of our economy!” – Chelsea Drinkard.

Carrie Charles

BROADSTAFF

About Carrie:

Carrie Charles is the CEO of BROADSTAFF, a Technology Staffing Firm, named a 2019 Tampa Bay Fast 50 company. Carrie is the host of 5G Talent Talk Podcast and has been a featured expert on NBC, HSN and Clear Channel networks. Carrie is a thought leader on workforce development, diversity and is a keynote speaker at national conferences. She is a 2019 Businesswoman of the Year Honoree in Tampa Bay.

Carrie is a member of the Board of Advisors of Cable Runner,  a member of the Board of Advisors of NEDAS Technology Association, the Executive Director of Industry Relations for the Women’s Wireless Leadership Forum and is a sits on the Board of Directors of the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation.Carrie has a diverse background as a lifelong entrepreneur,

Certified Financial Planner, Master Certified Executive/Business Coach and the United States Marine Corps.

Best piece of advice for women in business:

“Build a personal brand and a strong network.  Leverage your network to build your business.  Be persistent in sales, sometimes it takes months or years to close big accounts. Do not take no for an answer EVER. Find another way.”

Key ingredient to your company’s growth:

“Hire the best people, even if they are more expensive. Nurture your business relationships by giving first, always give before you ask. Outwork everyone, including your team.  Have mentors and ask for advice from those who have succeeded in your field.”

Casey Corwin

Corwin Design and Graphics

 About Casey:

Casey has led an impressive career as a business owner and hands-on graphic designer in her thirty-five years working in the print marketing industry. In 2012, Corwin was named Business of the Year by the City of Tampa. Corwin has also been featured in several well-known industry publications and associations, including the Tampa Bay Business Journal, LinkedIn, the Florida Health Care Association and the National Association of Activity Professionals.

Serving as the CEO at Corwin Design & Graphics Corporation, Casey plays a major role in the day to day operations and mentoring her staff. Through her commitment to this role, she has helped Corwin retain valuable team members who have been with the company for over twenty years.

Before starting the Corwin team, she was the “hands on” Business Partner at The Sharper Edge from 1989-1993 where she was a printing press operator and graphic designer.

Best piece of advice for women in business:

“My biggest advice is to follow your passion and stay on track with your goals – they don’t have to line up perfectly, they just have to be followed. When the going gets tough, that’s when you’re in your jam; keep going.”

Key ingredient to your company’s growth:

“Honesty and respect to my team and our clients. Laughter and great music (it’s my day too so we all enjoy it).”

Angie Speller

CEO and Lead Clinician at Enso Behavioral Healthcare

About Angie:

Angie is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Board-Certified Counselor. She received her Master of Arts from the prestigious Rollins College. Aside from her training in Mental Health Counseling, Angie received specialized training in Dream Interpretation, Mindfulness Meditation, and Hypnosis. Her experience in the substance abuse treatment field as a clinical director for over five years, and eleven years additional experience in the field, indicates her dedication to the recovery population and community.

To say that Enso Behavioral Healthcare provides professional, ethical, and effective mental health services is true. That’s the essence of what we do but hardly tells the whole story. Our practice aspires to be a luxury beacon of holistic services, treating the mind, body, and spirit. We believe that we will be successful if our clients are successful.

Best piece of advice for women in business:

“One piece of advice that I would say to women in business is ‘don’t ever forget who you are’. It’s so important that you are represented in everything that you do. Your passion, your voice, and your vision are reflected in your work. No one, absolutely no one, is you and your business needs you.”

Key ingredient to your company’s growth:

“The key ingredient to my company’s growth is God and integrity. If I don’t enlist the support of powers greater than myself to come to my aid then I am lost. I believe there is value in investing in marketing, networking, or web designs but nothing can out measure God and asking for what I want. If I don’t ask God, the universe, or others for what I need and what my dreams consist of then I will never attract it to me. Keeping that a secret will not surprise others into viewing my success it will isolate me and keep me stuck doing it all myself. However, if I enlist the power of others support and help then they will look forward to my success and encourage my growth. Lastly integrity is paramount. I have to do what is right for people and not just myself. Selfishness and ego have never encouraged anyone to support someone. You don’t think about that selfish person and say, ‘I really want to help them succeed and do well in life’. We think this for the people who are genuine and kind and full of integrity. We want them to win at life. I want you to win at life. Be a person worth cheering on.”

“In honor of Women’s History Month, I asked six clients who are women owned businesses to answer two questions about their success in business and one piece of advice and encouragement they would offer to other professional women. Each of these six women come from different industries and in most cases are trailblazers and trendsetters. Here are three of the women I highlighted. I highly recommend you read the advice and encouragement of the other three women too by clicking here.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to have worked with each of these women in identifying the right commercial real estate solution in Tampa Bay. I believe business is more than a transaction and I love working with companies who have an aligned mission. I can confidently say each of these women practice what they are sharing. Check out their website to learn more about their companies. If you have the opportunity to work with any of these women below, you could not be in better hands. Here’s to Tampa Bay, our business women leading the charge, shattering glass ceiling, making room at the table, spear heading initiatives and driving the heartbeat of our economy!” – Chelsea Drinkard

Arlene DiBenigno

Managing Partner Conversa & President & CEO of Women’s Conference of Florida

About Arlene:

Arlene has been a trusted adviser on political campaigns, policy development, grassroots outreach and ballot initiatives for more than two decades. She has conducted public outreach for three separate Florida governors and their administrations and has influenced presidential, gubernatorial, and congressional campaigns within Florida, Michigan, Puerto Rico, Texas, and Washington, D.C.

In early 2014, Arlene and her business partner, Kelsey Lehtomaa Frouge, founded Conversa, a full-service communications firm with a concentration in crisis communications, public relations, web and graphic design, digital marketing, community engagement and special events. Conversa has worked with numerous national, statewide and local clients including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and HART.

Arlene has consistently witnessed women at a standstill and wary of their own ability to make a difference. As a result, Women’s Conference of Florida was formed.

Best piece of advice for women in business:

“Throughout the years I have met so many women who have come to me for advice and one of the things I hear most often is how unhappy they are with their jobs because they aren’t getting what they think they deserve.  This of course leads me to, ‘Well, did you ask?’ I would say about 95% of the time I am met with a look of surprise and resounding, ‘I can’t do that!’ If you can’t advocate for what you want then who is going to do it for you? 

Which leads me to the best piece of advice I can offer women in business, be confident, not confrontational, in asking for what you want and deserve. Whether it’s a pay raise, opportunity to lead a project or a promotion. Do your research, including the value add you bring to the table and ASK. In every industry women bring different perspectives which are extremely valuable to their companies/organizations and walking in your self-value with confidence, not arrogance or fear, is extremely powerful.

Key ingredient to your company’s growth:

The key ingredient to Conversa’s growth is ensuring that the person I chose as my business partner shared my same values, business mission and was steadfast in her principles. There will be many days when the outcome wasn’t what you expected or tough decisions need to be made regarding client projects, business investments or hiring/firing of employees and if you don’t share the same philosophy the damage can be irreparable.  Similar to a marriage, tough conversations need to be had on the front end; ‘what is the makeup of the clients we want to represent? Financially what can we say yes/no to? What type of employees do we want representing our company? Are we willing to walk away from clients/projects that cease to align with our values?’ Growth is the result of good decisions and good decisions are the result of strong communication so communicate often and honestly.”

Lindsey Smith

Founder and Director of All That Dance

About Lindsey:

Lindsey Smith began dancing at three and specialized in acrobatics and tumbling at the age of eight.  She studied at All American Dance Factory in Tampa, FL under the direction of Terri Howell for eleven years.   Lindsey taught at All American Dance Factory for ten years and learned the ins and outs of running a dance studio.

Lindsey started All That Dance when she was living in Boynton Beach, FL.  Five years later, Lindsey and her family moved back to the Tampa area. In 2014, Lindsey opened their first Tampa dance studio. This is the fifth year of All That Dance in Tampa and has grown the studio to three dance rooms and over four hundred students.

Best piece of advice for women in business:

“I would say that my one advice to women in business is to love what you do and be your best at it.  I feel proud and accomplished everyday knowing that I get to provide for my family doing what I love and also what I was trained to do.  I am proud of my college degrees but I am so happy that I can go to work each day doing something that comes natural to me and that brings a smile to my face.”

Key ingredient to your company’s growth:

“I believe that ATD has been successful because I have a positive attitude and gain satisfaction from the studio.  Every day I am reminded that I am making a positive influence in children and parent’s lives by providing them a service such as dance.  It is such an amazing feeling watching the dancers perform and gain confidence as performers.”

Margarita De Le Rosa

CEO of Well-Being Community Center

About Margarita:

Margarita was born in Havana, Cuba and moved to the United States in 2004.  In 2016, Margarita received a Masters in Mental Health. Margarita is very proud to say that besides her career and entrepreneurial journey, she is a wife and mother of her beautiful three-year-old daughter.

Well-Being Community Center is committed to carrying out an effective and efficient management of Health Services and striving to be a leader in the medical field. Well-Being focuses on emerging health priorities, collaborating with Federal agencies and partners. Our daily focus is educating the public, providing support and innovative health programs geared specifically to the community needs.

Best piece of advice for women in business:

“I believe that being mission focused, helping people and giving others the opportunity to do the same. We’ve experienced rapid growth in our Miami office and is reflected by our client’s satisfaction and heath improvement. We are grateful for the community impact we’ve made in Miami and look forward to reflecting the same if not more, here in Tampa for years to come.”

Key ingredient to your company’s growth:

“I believe having all the necessary tools to provide a high-quality service to clients. For us, focusing on achieving our clients’ wellbeing goals is at the forefront. Having a multidisciplinary structure, with well trained personnel in the medical field with maximum respect and professionalism through our devoted and committed staff has been a key to our success.”