Children aren’t just our future – they’re also our present. That’s why SMPR President Heidi Otway sat down to talk with Children’s Forum President and CEO Erin Smeltzer, an advocate for quality early childhood education for young students across the country. Inspired by her mother’s impact as the first female first responder in her county, Erin kne…

To mark Mental Health Awareness Month, SMPR CEO and Founder April Salter sat down with Florida Behavioral Health Association CEO and President Melanie Brown-Woofter to discuss her work in the mental health space. Growing up in the tight-knit community of Wakulla County, caring for others was a way of life that seamlessly translated into her early c…

In recognition of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, SMPR President Heidi Otway sat down with Survive and Thrive Advocacy Center’s Executive Director Robin Hassler Thompson to discuss her journey through politics and navigating her life as a human rights activist. Thompson’s political passion was ignited as a high school senior while volunteering for …

The 100th episode of the Fluent in Floridian podcast features none other than SalterMitchell PR CEO and Founder April Salter. From her idyllic upbringing in Key West to her dynamic career as an entrepreneur and PR professional, April's story is a testament to her love of the Sunshine State. Tune into this special 100th episode as April discusses he…

Josie Tamayo has never been afraid to be “the first.” Inspired by her mother’s legal career in Cuba, Tamayo grew up in rural Georgia to become the only Hispanic woman to graduate from her law school class. Tamayo’s passion for helping others drew her to a career in public service, where she charted a course from state attorneys' offices to the Seco…

As social media emerged in the early 2000s, many top corporate executives and business leaders wrote it off as a passing trend. Frustrated by crisis management professionals’ hesitancy to embrace digital communications, Melissa Agnes saw an opportunity to serve a developing industry. Nearly 15 years later. Agnes is a leading voice on all things cri…

Fluent in Floridian is going on summer break! So far this year, the podcast has featured some fascinating Floridians, from high-profile politicos to pro athletes. Use this time to catch up on episodes you may have missed, and stay tuned for the new season to begin later this summer.

When Kamaiu Johnson was spotted swinging a tree branch at golf balls that rolled astray near his grandmother’s house, onlookers could see that the teen was a natural talent. Many masterful strokes later, Johnson is now one of the few black golfers at the professional level, and he’s committed to making golf look “more like America.” Tune in as prof…

From hurricanes to pandemics to refugee crises, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) has led the state’s response to countless disasters. FDEM Director Kevin Guthrie joins SalterMitchell PR CEO + Founder April Salter to share stories from the emergency operations center, and discuss his career trajectory from local law enforcement to…

Yolanda Cash Jackson may be Florida Trend’s latest Floridian of the Year, but the self-described “girl from Liberty City” has been making her mark as a lobbyist for over two decades. In her compelling conversation with SalterMitchell PR President and Partner Heidi Otway, Jackson shares her story of growing up in South Florida and pivoting to a lobb…

Harris Rosen has made a name for himself as Florida’s largest independent hotelier. A self-made millionaire and savvy businessman, Rosen is president and COO of Rosen Hotels & Resorts. But, he would have never pursued a career in hospitality had it not been for a chance encounter with Marilyn Monroe as a child. In this fascinating conversation with…

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor joins SalterMitchell PR CEO April Salter to share how growing up in Tampa in the era of Title IX led her to become Tampa police chief and the first openly gay woman to serve as the city’s mayor. Tune in to their conversation to hear Mayor Castor’s perspective on what makes Tampa a world class city, the challenges it faces, a…

Florida Lottery Secretary John Davis joins SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway to discuss his journey from top-ranked high school recruit and star safety for the Florida State Seminoles to his current position leading the Florida Lottery. Tune in to their conversation to hear Secretary Davis share stories of leadership from both on and off the …

Former Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn was elected to lead the City of Tampa out of the Great Recession. His vision has helped transform the city into a place where people want to live, work, play and invest. Buckhorn joins SalterMitchell PR CEO and Founder April Salter to discuss the roots of his political DNA, his storied career in Tampa, and why he bel…

Miami-Dade College President Madeline Pumariega has had a courtside seat to the growth of the country’s largest public college. Listen to her conversation with SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway about the importance of basketball in her life, her journey to become a statewide leader in education, her former role as Chancellor of the Florida Co…

In our newest episode of Fluent in Floridian, author and outdoorsman Jim McClellan joins SalterMitchell PR CEO April Salter to discuss his book, "Life Along the Apalachicola River," which depicts the Northwest Florida way of life he experienced growing up in the Apalachicola River Valley. Tune in as Jim and April recount the stories that shaped Jim…

Poynter Institute President Neil Brown joins SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway to discuss the evolving role of media in our society, how Brown is helping to shape the next generation of journalists, and some of the head-scratching Florida stories that Brown has broken.

SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway is joined by award-winning agricultural and human rights activist Greg Asbed to discuss his work combatting forced labor in Florida’s agriculture industry and around the globe.

SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway is joined by Florida Trend 500 Most Influential Leader and 2019-2021 Chair of the Florida Chamber of Commerce Charles “Charley” Caulkins. They discuss his childhood, his transition to Florida, his work as a nationally-recognized labor and employment lawyer, and the Sunshine State’s business boom amidst the CO…

Orlando City Soccer Club Founder Kay Rawlins joins SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway to discuss her journey from U.K. bank clerk and daycare owner to female leader paving the way in the American soccer industry.

Sean Snaith, PhD joins Heidi Otway in a conversation that travels the globe. From Cairo, Egypt, to Kingston, Jamaica and other stops in between, Dr. Snaith studied economies and taught across the U.S. and in foreign countries before calling the University of Central Florida home. Tune in as he takes us through his journey from humble beginnings in …

SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway discusses all things energy with Florida Municipal Power Agency General Manager and CEO Jacob Williams, who leads FMPA’s efforts in advancing and improving the utilities industry. His agency serves more than 2 million residents and 10 percent of Florida’s power. In a state dubbed the Sunshine State, that is n…

SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway speaks with Florida Secretary of Commerce Jamal Sowell, a sixth-generation Floridian. During their conversation, he explains how his faith, family, and overseas military experience prepared him to serve as the state’s Florida Secretary of Commerce.

SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway speaks with Dr. Cheryl Holder on her family’s journey from Jamaica to New York, her decision to become a doctor and activist, and her current roles at the FlU College of Medicine, the Florida Clinicians for Climate Action and the Florida State Medical Association.…

In our 80th episode of #FluentinFloridian, SalterMitchell PR CEO April Salter and Lieutenant Governor Nuñez discuss her South Florida upbringing, her education at Florida International University, and life outside of the office. Nuñez’s love for the Sunshine State and its people display what it truly means to be fluent in Floridian.…

Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida President and CEO Dave Krepcho wasn’t always in the food banking business. The native Canadian was formerly in advertising before moving to South Florida. Krepcho got involved as a volunteer at a local food bank in Miami and found his calling. His previous work for Feed America led him to his position wit…

New Yorker turned Floridian, Council for Educational Change Executive Director Dr. Elaine Liftin got her start as a singer on Broadway. While attending Hunter College, she became intrigued by the challenge of education and, upon graduating, began her teaching career in South Florida. Dr. Liftin has dedicated her career to education advocacy and bel…

An Orlando resident since she was eight years old, League of Women Voters Florida President Patti Brigham began her career as a public servant working in suicide prevention and crisis intervention. After graduating from the University of Central Florida, Patti went on to become a radio DJ, journalist, thespian, and eventually, a member of the Leagu…

The Children’s Movement of Florida Chairman David Lawrence Jr. is a lifelong advocate of children’s education and has proven to be an outstanding ally to kids across Florida. In his conversation with SalterMitchell PR President Heidi Otway, Lawrence discusses racism and discrimination in education and how we can confront them. He also discusses the…

Florida Nonprofit Alliance Executive Director Sabeen Perwaiz has dedicated her life to helping others. In addition to her work in the nonprofit sector, she is also the founder and executive producer of TEDxJacksonville, where she’s amplifying the voices of other Floridians and positively impacting others.…

In this episode, Florida Society of Association Executives (FSAE) President and CEO Frank Rudd discusses how FSAE is continuing to support its members during COVID-19. With more than 25 years of experience in the association industry, it’s no surprise Rudd was selected to lead FSAE. Since 2014, Rudd has helped teach other associations how to better…

Ed Moore spent 16 years shaping higher education in Florida as president of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida (ICUF). Moore recently retired from the position with a lasting impact. In his conversation with SalterMitchell PR Founder + CEO April Salter, Moore details the changes ICUF made early on to expand online courses for coll…

As Florida House Executive Director, Diana Beckmann and her team have worked tirelessly to help the nation’s only state embassy reach its fullest potential. By elevating the space and collaborating with partners on visitor and staff experience, Beckmann is bringing a true sense of rejuvenation to this historic building on Capitol Hill while staying…

Dr. Jeffrey Sharkey is a serial entrepreneur, visionary, and director of a wide variety of organizations and associations. He’s now a leader in Florida’s growing medical cannabis industry and guiding the expansion of legislative policy as the founder of the Medical Marijuana Business Association. He has worked to position himself and this associati…

Holly Bell, Florida’s first director of cannabis, is focused on leading the state’s new medical marijuana and hemp programs. More than two dozen people applied for the position, however, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Nikki Fried said Bell was the person “to get it right” on implementing a state hemp program. For the past ye…

Fines and Fees Justice Center Florida State Director Ashley Thomas is a trailblazer for change with a passion for policy reform. She’s working hard to advance state and local campaigns to reform the imposition and collection of fines and fees in Florida, specifically dealing with driver’s license suspensions due to unpaid court debt. Tune in to hea…

Dr. Carrie Pettus-Davis devoted most of her career to improving the lives of formerly incarcerated people. Her five key approach prepares them to be job ready and job steady for when they complete their sentences. Pettus-Davis believes that if we want to influence the children of our country, as well as our community, we need to make sure the paren…

Today, more than 22.7% of children in Florida live in “food insecure” homes. No Kid Hungry Florida is working to eradicate this statistic for good by providing innovative hunger solutions to communities across the Sunshine State. The organization recently hired long-time child advocate Sky Beard as its new Florida Director. She’s using her experien…

In 2019, Desmond Meade was featured in TIME magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential list for his leading efforts to empower and civically re-engage local communities in Florida. Meade has seen his fair share of hardship and struggle. He was incarcerated, homeless, but later turned his life around and earned a law degree. Now he’s the President of Flori…

George LeMieux’s passion for politics began at an early age when a pivotal moment made him realize that being a part of public office can be truly impactful. LeMieux went on to lead Charlie Crist’s successful gubernatorial campaign and serve as Chief of Staff to the governor before being appointed as Florida’s 34th Senator in the 111th Congress. In…

Flagler College President Dr. Joseph Joyner is a third-generation educator and his passion for the classroom has been the guiding force of his career. From Florida State University football player to teacher to superintendent of St. Johns County School District, Dr. Joyner’s work and leadership has been recognized many times over for its commitment…

NASCAR fans, this one’s for you. This week on Fluent in Floridian, Daytona International Speedway Corporation & NASCAR Southeastern Region President Frank Kelleher (formerly vice president of sales and marketing) takes the driver’s seat to share what life is like working for one of the largest motorsports corporations in the world. From the high-en…

At the end of every Fluent in Floridian podcast, we ask our guests the same four questions. One of those questions is “Who is a Florida leader that you admire?” In this compilation episode, you’ll hear fascinating answers to this question by Orlando Mayer Buddy Dyer, Florida Sports Foundation President Angela Suggs, U.S Attorney for the Northern Di…

Growing up in Tampa as a young girl, Susan Glickman had a childhood that created a heart for advocacy. As a child, she saw her father open one of the few desegregated dentist offices in Tampa. As a young Jewish woman, she attended Episcopal and Catholic private schools. Early in her career, she helped her brother successfully run for Hillsborough C…

At 75 years young, Dr. Norman E. Thagard is a Floridian whose work has been immortalized in history books. While he jokes about being a foot-note on Sally Ride’s first trip to space, Dr. Thagard has had a long and illustrious career as a doctor, pilot, engineer, astronaut and first American Cosmonaut. A two-time graduate of Florida State University…

Florida Polytechnic University President Dr. Randy Avent embodies what it means to bring application to education. A longtime researcher, Dr. Avent has led the university to go all in on STEM studies. When students aren’t in the classroom or library working hard, they’re likely to find Dr. Avent enjoying the beautiful campus, taking part in ping po…

Albert Einstein famously said, “we cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” Thinking differently has never been a problem for Chris Castro, the Director of Sustainability for the City of Orlando and a self-proclaimed ‘ecopreneur,’ who has made it his mission to catalyze change through organizations such as IDE…

The man who never saw himself in local politics has presided over one of the most vibrant, up-and-coming cities in the Southeast. Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer has seen the city’s rapid growth over the years and has been proactive in finding solutions for some of its most pressing needs. By his own admission, Mayor Dyer feels positive about the work he’…

You’ve never met a legislator like Representative Anna Eskamani. The first Iranian-American to hold public office in Florida ran a campaign rooted in her identity and values, and it paid off when she overwhelmingly won House District 47 in Central Florida. She fights for women, children, immigrants and all of her constituents back home, but she’s a…

The Super Bowl is coming! The Special Olympics are coming! The World Cup is (potentially) coming! Angela Suggs is the Paul Revere of Florida sports. In her role as president of the Florida Sports Foundation, she’s had the privilege of heralding all sorts of good news in Florida’s sports scene. In the latest Fluent in Floridian episode, Angela sits …