Tommy's Toolbox

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Oct 2026

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Get the latest on the construction industry … and have some fun doing it with the podcast version of the popular newsletter. Tommy’s Toolbox offers high-level information that can be understood and enjoyed by anyone seeking a foundational understanding of construction-related topics. The host, Tommy Whitehead, is the CEO of TomCo Solutions. TomCo is a full-service building, renovation and storm restoration contractor based in Tampa, Florida. Learn more about TomCo's construction services at www.tomcosolutions.com and get to know Tommy Whitehead at www.tommywhitehead.com.

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October 22, 202635 min

Roger Germann: From Hollywood to Leading The Florida Aquarium

He drove to Hollywood in a 1987 Toyota Tercel. Now he leads The Florida Aquarium. What connects a career in television to a shared purpose of saving marine wildlife? For Roger Germann, the answer runs through politics, mentorship, and a lesson about culture that followed him from Chicago to Tampa. In the first on-location episode of Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , joins Roger Germann, President and CEO of The Florida Aquarium, at the Aquarium for a conversation about unconventional career paths, building teams, and leading with purpose. Roger traces his journey from Chicago’s South Side to working on America’s Funniest Home Videos , becoming a political press secretary, and spending more than 16 years at Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium. He shares what brought him to Tampa and why “make no little plans” helped frame his next chapter. But leading an aquarium isn’t just about what visitors see. Beyond the exhibits is a conservation campus in Apollo Beach, coral research, and work to protect marine wildlife. Roger explains how that work connects to the culture of an organization welcoming more than a million guests a year. His starting point isn’t a traditional mission statement. It’s a shared purpose: save marine wildlife. You’ll hear: What a mentor at Shedd taught Roger about culture, and how that lesson shaped his approach to leadership. How aquariums contribute to science, from studying a beluga calf to advancing coral conservation. How Roger connects team culture, organizational growth, and a shared purpose. The vision behind the Sea Change expansion, including plans discussed in the interview for puffins, sea lions, and penguins. Plus, a surprise visit from the dive team, an unexpected conversation about pancake art, and the tool Roger says he brings to the job every day. For business owners, nonprofit leaders, and anyone whose career hasn’t followed a straight line, this episode explores how different experiences can prepare you for a role you never expected. Learn more about The Florida Aquarium: FLAquarium.org Follow Tommy’s Toolbox and explore more Leadership Edition episodes for conversations about earning trust, building teams, and finding purpose in the work you do.

October 15, 202628 min

Ken Wildner: Kicked Out of High School. Now He Runs One.

He was kicked out of high school in his senior year. Now he leads one. What does he understand about disengaged students that other educators might miss? In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Ken Wildner, Head of School at Keystone Prep High School in Odessa, Florida, to explore how you reach teenagers who haven’t found their place in a traditional classroom. Before becoming an educator, Ken served in the Navy and spent 15 years in sales. Today, he says he’s still selling. The difference? He’s asking students to buy into learning. His starting point is a question every educator, parent, and leader can consider: If you can’t explain why something matters, why should someone care enough to learn it? Ken shares how his own difficult experience in high school informs his approach at Keystone Prep, which supports students with learning challenges such as ADHD, dyslexia, anxiety, and executive functioning difficulties. He discusses small classes, student identity, and helping teenagers question their assumptions without letting a diagnosis define their future. You’ll hear: What the Navy and a career in sales taught Ken about leadership, perspective, and earning students’ attention. Why he uses Descartes and The Matrix to challenge students to distinguish belief from knowledge. How Keystone’s multi-track magnet program connects learning with interests through CSI, Mission Control, and Fine Arts. What Ken tells families who feel overlooked by traditional schools, and how Keystone’s admissions process works. The story of a student with severe anxiety who went on to Cambridge. And then there’s the billion-dollar essay: a question about what you’d do with that much money, and why Ken says he would keep teaching. For parents exploring different learning environments, educators trying to engage students, or leaders working to earn buy-in, this conversation offers a different way to think about motivation. Ken’s approach starts not with demanding someone’s attention, but with giving them a reason to care. Learn more about Keystone Prep: KeystonePrep.org Contact the school: (813) 264-4500 Follow Tommy’s Toolbox and explore more Leadership Edition episodes for conversations about unconventional career paths, earning trust, and creating opportunity in Tampa Bay.

October 1, 202629 min

The CEO Leading a $60M Nonprofit and Changing Crisis Response in Tampa Bay

What does it take to become “the first” when the path was never built for you? Dr. Sandra Braham’s story begins with challenges most people never see. Raised by a mother with schizophrenia. Moved through the foster care system. Forced to understand resilience long before she had the language for it. Today, she is the President and CEO of Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services, a $60 million nonprofit serving nearly 30,000 people a year across Tampa Bay and beyond. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Dr. Sandra Braham for a powerful conversation about mental health, leadership, forgiveness, access, representation, and what it means to become the first Black woman to chair the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce in its 150-year history. This conversation goes far beyond a title. Dr. Braham shares how her childhood shaped her work, why writing her memoir An Angel for Detroit became part of her healing process, and how forgiveness, including forgiving yourself, can become a leadership tool. She also breaks down the work happening at Gulf Coast JFCS, including more than 45 programs across 40 counties, a team of 550+ employees, and the CALL program, which sends social workers instead of police officers to certain 911 calls. The result: 20,000 diverted calls, zero incidents, and a model that is helping reshape how communities respond to people in crisis. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Dr. Braham’s childhood shaped her leadership and commitment to service Why Gulf Coast JFCS is nonsectarian and what that means for the people it serves How writing An Angel for Detroit helped her process her own story Why forgiveness is essential, especially when it includes yourself How she helped grow a 52-year-old nonprofit into a $60 million organization What the CALL program teaches us about mental health, public safety, and crisis response What to say to someone who may be silently struggling What it means to be the first Black woman to chair the St. Pete Chamber Why access, not just opportunity, is often the real barrier How golf, mentorship, and representation all connect to leadership This episode is about more than personal achievement. It is about turning pain into purpose. It is about building systems that meet people where they are. And it is about understanding that leadership is not just what you accomplish, but who gets to see themselves in your story. If you care about mental health, nonprofit leadership, community impact, representation, or building organizations that serve people with dignity, this is a conversation worth hearing. Learn more about Gulf Coast Jewish Family and Community Services: GCJFCS.org Connect with Dr. Sandra Braham on LinkedIn. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by call or text at 988. About the Show: Hosted by Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition features real conversations with the leaders, founders, executives, and changemakers shaping Tampa Bay. Each episode goes beyond surface-level success to explore the decisions, challenges, pivots, and leadership lessons that actually matter. Tommy’s Toolbox is brought to you by TomCo Solutions.

September 29, 202644 min

Bill Carlson: Why Tampa's Arts Scene Is an Economic Strategy

Tampa City Council member Bill Carlson says the arts aren't a nice-to-have for a city — they're economic infrastructure. He sits down with Tommy Whitehead to talk city culture, the $300 million museum Tampa almost lost to St. Pete, and what he learned building consultancies across Asia. Bill Carlson represents District 4 on Tampa City Council. He's CEO of Tucker Hall, co-founder of Café Con Tampa and the Tampa Arts Alliance, and a former international business consultant who worked with clients like Citibank Asia and Singapore Airlines. Tommy's Toolbox features conversations with the entrepreneurs, innovators, and community builders shaping Tampa Bay. New episodes weekly. Learn more about host Tommy Whitehead at tommywhitehead.com and TomCo Solutions at tomcosolutions.com.

September 18, 2026Episode 1922 min

Habitat for Humanity Doesn’t Give Houses Away | Mike Sutton, Habitat Tampa Bay

Habitat for Humanity does not give houses away. That is the biggest myth Mike Sutton has spent the last 12 years correcting. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Mike Sutton, President of Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay, for a conversation about housing, leadership, nonprofit culture, and what it really takes to help families become homeowners. Under Mike’s leadership, Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay has grown from 280 homes to more than 1,050, helping hundreds of families purchase their first home through sweat equity, homebuyer education, and a 0% interest mortgage model. No down payment. No PMI. But plenty of work. Mike breaks down how Habitat’s model actually works, why it is built around ownership instead of handouts, and why the organization’s mission matters more now than ever in a region facing a serious workforce housing challenge. Because when nurses, teachers, firefighters, service workers, and working families cannot afford to live in the communities they serve, the impact reaches far beyond housing. It becomes an economic issue. A workforce issue. A community stability issue. And a leadership issue. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why “Habitat gives houses away” is the biggest misconception about the organization How sweat equity, 38 homebuyer classes, and 0% interest mortgages create a path to ownership How Habitat Tampa Bay grew from 280 homes to more than 1,050 Why Mike says they are a “501c3 by tax status, not business model” How Habitat built a Best Places to Work culture four years in a row Why paying for talent matters, even in nonprofit leadership How the organization kept every employee through COVID Why workforce housing may be one of Tampa Bay’s most urgent challenges How AI, 3D printing, and new building methods could shape what comes next This conversation is about more than affordable housing. It is about building systems that create dignity, stability, and long-term opportunity. It is about leading a nonprofit with business discipline without losing the mission. And it is about what happens when an organization gets everyone rowing in the same direction. Whether you are a business leader, nonprofit executive, builder, policymaker, employer, or Tampa Bay resident trying to understand the housing pressures facing this region, Mike’s perspective will challenge how you think about homeownership, leadership, and community impact. Learn more about Habitat for Humanity Tampa Bay: HabitatTampaBay.org Tommy’s Toolbox is brought to you by TomCo Solutions. About the Show: Hosted by Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition features real conversations with the leaders, builders, founders, executives, and changemakers shaping Tampa Bay. Each episode goes beyond surface-level success to uncover the decisions, challenges, pivots, and leadership lessons that actually matter.

September 10, 2026Episode 1823 min

This 120-Year-Old Restaurant Survived Everything — Here's His Secret Feat. Casey Gonzmart Jr.

Florida's oldest restaurant shouldn't still be here — andthat's exactly why it is. Casey Gonzmart is the 5th generation to lead ColumbiaRestaurant in Ybor City — a 120-year Tampa institution that started as the Columbia Saloon in 1903. Most family businesses die by generation three. The Columbias survived the Depression, Prohibition, two World Wars, urban renewal, and COVID. What's the real secret sauce? In this Leadership Edition of Tommy's Toolbox, Casey revealswhy they call themselves a "community restaurant, not a familyrestaurant," what he learned leaving the family business to work for LevyRestaurants, how they keep scratch-made quality at Tampa International Airport,and what "heavy is the head that wears the crown" actually feels likewhen you're steering a 121-year legacy. Brought to you by TomCo Solutions. 🎧 Guest: Casey Gonzmart | Columbia Restaurant (YborCity & Tampa International Airport) 📍 Filmed in Tampa Bay | Leadership Edition Playlist TIMESTAMPS 00:00 — The 121-year legacy no one planned for 01:49 — 1903 vs 1905: The salad that tells the history 03:20 — Why 5 generations is "exceptionally rare air" 06:18 — "We're a community restaurant, not a family restaurant" 09:40 — The secret sauce beyond the 1905 dressing 10:30 — "You have to live and breathe it" 13:30 — From Ybor to TPA: The last taste of Tampa 17:02 — Heavy is the head that wears the crown 22:00 — Tommy's Toolbox: Parenting in the age of social media 🔗 Learn more about Columbia Restaurant:columbiarestaurant.com 👉 Subscribe for weekly Leadership Edition conversations with the people shaping Tampa Bay.

August 21, 202633 min

What happens to a city when the people telling its stories disappear feat. Ray Roa (Creative Loafing)

What happens to a city when the people telling its stories disappear? In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Ray Roa, part-owner of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay , for a conversation about local journalism, Tampa’s identity, and why human storytelling still matters in an AI-driven world. Ray’s path into media was anything but traditional. He failed out of college. Bartended for eight years. Learned how to listen to people before he ever interviewed them professionally. Then eventually became part-owner of one of Tampa Bay’s most recognized locally owned alt-weekly newspapers. But this conversation is about more than one career path. It is about what local journalism does for a community that national media, algorithms, and AI tools cannot replace. Ray breaks down why Creative Loafing still matters, how print continues to survive when done differently, and what Tampa risks losing as the region grows faster than its culture can sometimes keep up. Because growth is not just about new buildings, new businesses, and new residents. It is also about memory. Accountability. Culture. And who is paying attention when no one else is. In this episode, you’ll hear: How Ray went from HCC dropout to co-owner of Creative Loafing Tampa Bay What bartending taught him about interviewing, listening, and understanding people Why Ray embraces the word “rag” when describing alt-weekly journalism How Creative Loafing returned to local ownership Why print is not dead when the product still has a point of view What Tampa may be losing as it grows and changes The interviews and media moments that shaped Ray’s career Why AI can assist journalism, but can never replace a reporter who knows the community What local media reveals about a city’s soul This episode is built for anyone who cares about Tampa Bay, media, culture, small business, leadership, or the future of storytelling. Because AI can summarize a city. But it cannot walk its streets, know its people, earn their trust, or understand what a story means to the community living inside it. Follow Ray Roa’s work at CreativeLoafing.com. About the Show: Hosted by Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition features real conversations with entrepreneurs, innovators, public figures, and community builders shaping Tampa Bay. Each episode goes beyond surface-level success to explore the decisions, failures, pivots, and lessons that actually matter. Tommy’s Toolbox is brought to you by TomCo Solutions.

August 13, 2026Episode 1627 min

Dara Shareef: What Business Owners Get Wrong When Selling Their Company

What if the biggest mistake in selling your business happens before you ever meet a buyer? Most business owners spend years building value. But when it comes time to sell, many try to navigate the process alone, without realizing how much strategy, timing, positioning, and deal structure can shape the outcome. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Dara Shareef of Benchmark International , a sell-side M&A firm with deal teams involved in more than 250 company sales. Dara has seen business transactions from nearly every angle: buyer, seller, board member, operator, venture capital professional, and now M&A advisor. That perspective matters. Because selling a business is not just about finding someone willing to buy it. It is about understanding what buyers actually value, how deals get structured, what makes a company attractive, and why the language of mergers and acquisitions can feel intentionally confusing to people outside the industry. In this conversation, Dara breaks down what business owners need to understand long before they are ready to exit. You’ll hear: Why trying to sell your business alone can create costly blind spots What buyers really look for when evaluating a company Why a “perfectly clean” business is not always what buyers expect How the right exit strategy can help a deal reach the finish line Why timing matters when deciding whether to sell The meaning behind Dara’s line: “The time to sell your business is when your money is less valuable than your time” Why Benchmark International’s name appears on a major Tampa Bay arena, despite being one of the smaller firms in the space How Dara’s path from venture capital to operator to M&A advisor shaped the way he works with business owners What moving to Tampa taught him about building relationships and doing business in this market This episode is built for founders, owners, executives, and leaders who may not be ready to sell today, but want to make smarter decisions before that moment arrives. Because the best exits are rarely accidental. They are planned, positioned, and prepared for long before the deal starts. Tommy’s Toolbox is brought to you by TomCo Solutions. About the Show: Hosted by Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition features real conversations with business leaders, founders, executives, and changemakers shaping Tampa Bay and beyond. Each episode goes beyond surface-level success to uncover the decisions, risks, pivots, and leadership lessons that actually matter.

July 9, 2026Episode 1538 min

45 Years of LGBTQ Business in Tampa Bay: The Stories Behind the Movement

It looks like resilience. It looks like visibility. It looks like business owners, advocates, nonprofit leaders, and community pioneers building something that lasts. In this special supercut episode of Tommy’s Toolbox , in collaboration with Building Success Productions , you’ll hear directly from the people shaping Tampa Bay’s LGBTQ business community. Recorded live at the Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber’s 45th Anniversary Membership Luncheon , Shirley Jump of Building Success Productions sat down with leaders across business, media, advocacy, nonprofit work, banking, hospitality, health care, and community development to capture the stories behind a network that has been growing for more than four decades. And the history is bigger than most people realize. From a small meeting in a gay bar in 1996 to a chamber with more than 300 members today. From a laundromat in 1992 to a thriving community health organization celebrating 35 years. From St. Pete Pride’s $67 million economic impact to Winter Pride growing from 57,000 to 85,000 attendees in just two years. This episode is not just about looking back. It is about understanding how community becomes infrastructure. How visibility becomes opportunity. And how business leadership can become a force for belonging, advocacy, and economic impact. In this episode, you’ll hear from voices including: Asa Harris, Marketing Director for Hotel Flor Nicole Waters, Founder of Amplify Women Tampa Bay and Executive Director of the Edge District St. Pete Don Kiciena Jr., Tampa Bay Business Guild veteran in media and advertising John Harris Maurer, General Counsel at Equality Florida Maureen Cacioppo, natural sea salt business owner Ryan Williams-Jent, Editor-in-Chief of Watermark OUT News Sarah Peacock, candidate for Hillsborough County Judge You’ll also hear from representatives connected to CAN Community Health, Enterprise Mobility, Bay First Bank, Winter Pride St. Pete, and more. This special episode highlights what happens when business, advocacy, and community move together with purpose. Whether you are an entrepreneur, ally, community leader, chamber member, or someone who wants to better understand the LGBTQ business landscape in Tampa Bay, this conversation offers a powerful look at the people and partnerships behind the progress. Learn more about the Tampa Bay LGBT Chamber: TampaBayLGBTChamber.org Follow Building Success Productions: BuildingSuccessProductions.com This episode is a collaboration between Tommy’s Toolbox and Building Success Productions . About the Show: Tommy’s Toolbox , led by Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , features real conversations with the entrepreneurs, builders, leaders, and changemakers shaping Tampa Bay. Each episode explores the stories, strategies, pivots, and lessons that define business, leadership, and community impact.

June 25, 2026Episode 1420 min

Amanda Payne: If You’re Not Evolving, You’re Dying

What do you do when the old way of leading no longer works? For Amanda Payne, the answer was simple: rebuild. In this episode of Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition , Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , sits down with Amanda Payne, CEO of Amplify Clearwater and founder of Premier Anesthesia Care, for a conversation about leadership, reinvention, and what it takes to build something stronger when the world forces you to start over. Amanda did not just step into leadership. She stepped into complexity. She helped merge two competing chambers into one unified organization, led through the uncertainty of COVID, built a team culture around trust and accountability, ran for office, and continued leading her own business along the way. But the part most people miss is this: COVID did not just disrupt her organization. It gave her a whiteboard. Amanda shares how that season became an opportunity to question everything, rebuild systems, rethink member value, and create what became Amplify Clearwater. Her leadership philosophy is direct: “If we’re not evolving, we’re dying.” In this episode, you’ll hear: How Amanda helped merge two competing organizations into Amplify Clearwater Why COVID became a reset point instead of just a setback What real leadership looks like when no one is watching How she built a loyal team of working moms Why the old idea of “you only get out what you put in” may no longer be enough How her “seasons” approach changed the way she thinks about work-life balance What Clearwater’s recovery looks like and what may be coming next This conversation is not just about chambers of commerce. It is about adapting before you are forced to. It is about leading through uncertainty. And it is about building organizations that actually serve the people inside them and around them. Whether you are a CEO, entrepreneur, community leader, business owner, or someone trying to navigate your next season of growth, Amanda’s story will challenge how you think about leadership, change, and resilience. Learn more about Amplify Clearwater: AmplifyClearwater.com Tommy’s Toolbox is brought to you by TomCo Solutions. About the Show: Hosted by Tommy Whitehead, CEO of TomCo Solutions and Building Success Productions , Tommy’s Toolbox: Leadership Edition features real conversations with business leaders, founders, public figures, and changemakers shaping Tampa Bay. Each episode goes beyond surface-level success to uncover the decisions, failures, pivots, and leadership lessons that actually matter.