Palm Beach North Podcast Network

por Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce

Building a Community of Opportunity | People Behind Progress with Keith James

In this episode of People Behind Progress, Noel Martinez sits down with community leader Keith James for a conversation about leadership, public service, and the future of West Palm Beach. From his upbringing in Kansas to his journey into public service, Keith shares the personal experiences and values that have shaped his approach to leadership. He reflects on West Palm Beach's transformation, the importance of creating opportunities for all, and the responsibility of ensuring that growth benefits the entire community. The conversation also explores some of the most pressing issues facing Florida residents, including housing affordability, proposed property tax changes, and the potential impact on essential local services. Keith offers his perspective on balancing financial relief with public safety, infrastructure, and quality of life, while emphasizing the importance of local decision-making. Together, they discuss what it means to lead with purpose, support small businesses, and build a community where future generations have the opportunity to thrive. Topics Covered: 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Community Leader Keith James 01:01 – Early Life, Education & the Values That Shaped His Leadership 03:42 – The Journey from Law to Public Service 07:31 – A Day in the Life of a Community Leader 09:22 – Building a Community of Opportunity for All 12:11 – West Palm Beach's Growth & Transformation 14:28 – Addressing Affordability & Expanding Housing Opportunities 19:57 – Understanding Amendment 3 & Proposed Property Tax Changes 24:14 – The Potential Impact on Public Safety & Essential Services 29:14 – Local Government, Home Rule & Community Decision-Making 32:54 – Finding Solutions to Florida's Affordability Challenges 35:26 – What Residents Should Know About Property Tax Reform 38:06 – The Future of West Palm Beach & Supporting Small Businesses 40:38 – Leadership, Legacy & Creating Opportunities for Future Generations Whether you're a business leader, community advocate, entrepreneur, or resident interested in the future of our region, this conversation offers valuable insight into the decisions shaping our communities and the importance of leadership that puts people first. Subscribe to our channel for future episodes of People Behind Progress, highlighting the leaders, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of Palm Beach North and beyond. Connect with us on social media: Facebook: @PalmBeachNorthChamber Instagram: @pbnchamber LinkedIn: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce City of West Palm Beach: Instagram: @thecityofwpb Facebook: The City of West Palm Beach LinkedIn: City of West Palm Beach To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com To learn more about the City of West Palm Beach, visit: https://www.wpb.org #PeopleBehindProgress #Leadership #WestPalmBeach #PalmBeachNorth #CommunityLeadership

16 oct 2026

44:55

Powering the Future | People Behind Progress with Brian Matthews

In this episode of People Behind Progress, Noel Martinez sits down with Brian Matthews, Founder + CEO of AMPERA, to discuss the future of energy and the technology being developed right here in Palm Beach Gardens to help meet the world's rapidly growing demand for reliable, abundant power. From the rise of AI and data centers to advanced nuclear technology, Brian shares why he believes energy is fundamental to economic growth and prosperity and how AMPERA is working to rethink the way energy is generated, deployed and consumed. He breaks down the company's "Power Now. Nuclear Next." strategy, the potential for subcritical thorium-based nuclear systems, and how AMPERA is approaching safety, scalability and innovation. Brian also shares his journey as an entrepreneur and engineer, the culture he's building at AMPERA, why integrity is one of his most important leadership principles, and why Palm Beach Gardens was the right place to build the company's global headquarters. Together, they explore what the future of energy could look like and why science, technology, curiosity and bold thinking will play an important role in shaping what's next. Topics Covered 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Brian Matthews & AMPERA 03:00 – Entrepreneurship, Mentors & Building Technology Companies 07:33 – Why Energy Is Fundamental to Progress 09:40 – What Is AMPERA? 12:04 – “Power Now. Nuclear Next.” & the Future of Energy 16:10 – AI, Data Centers, Defense & Maritime Applications 19:46 – Nuclear Energy: Misconceptions, Technology & Safety 26:36 – Building AMPERA: Culture, Bold Thinking & Integrity 32:41 – Why Palm Beach Gardens & the Future of the Region 37:55 – AMPERA’s Vision for the Future & What Progress Means Whether you're a business leader, entrepreneur, engineer, technology professional, or simply interested in how innovation is shaping the future of energy, this conversation offers a fascinating look at the people and ideas working to solve one of the biggest challenges facing our growing economy. To watch previous episodes of People Behind Progress, visit our Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce YouTube channel. Subscribe here for future episodes of People Behind Progress, highlighting the leaders, ideas and innovations shaping the future of Palm Beach North and beyond. Connect with us on social media: Facebook: @PalmBeachNorthChamber Instagram: @pbnchamber LinkedIn: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com To learn more about AMPERA, visit www.amperaglobal.com AMPERA LinkedIn: AMPERA Facebook: AMPERA Instagram: AMPERA Brian Matthews LinkedIn: Brian Matthews #PeopleBehindProgress #EnergyInnovation #NuclearEnergy #CleanEnergy #PalmBeachNorth #AMPERA

17 sept 2026

47:09

The Culture That Drives Success | People Behind Progress with Patti Hamilton & Travis Hitchcock

In this episode of People Behind Progress, Noel Martinez sits down with Patti Hamilton, Vice President of Brand & Culture, and Travis Hitchcock, Chief Operating Officer, of Coastal Waste & Recycling to discuss the leadership, culture, and values behind one of the fastest-growing waste and recycling companies in the Southeast. Beyond the blue trucks seen throughout the community, Patti and Travis share how a people-first culture, servant leadership, and a commitment to developing employees have become the foundation of Coastal's success. They also discuss the role sustainability, innovation, and accountability play in building a company that serves both its customers and its communities. Together, they explore what it takes to create an organization where employees are empowered to grow, leadership is built from within, and a strong culture drives lasting impact. Topics Covered 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Coastal Waste & Recycling 02:18 – Leadership Journeys & Careers in Waste and Recycling 05:53 – What Coastal Waste & Recycling Does 07:05 – The People Behind Coastal's Rapid Growth 10:39 – Building a People-First Culture 14:24 – Leadership, Accountability & Developing Great Teams 21:17 – The Core Values That Drive Coastal 24:11 – Palm Beach County's Growth & Economic Development 29:07 – Recycling, Sustainability & Innovation 33:10 – The Future of Coastal Waste & Recycling 35:22 – What Progress and Legacy Really Mean Whether you're a business leader, entrepreneur, people manager, or someone interested in leadership and organizational culture, this conversation offers valuable insight into how purpose-driven leadership creates lasting success. Subscribe for future episodes of People Behind Progress, highlighting the leaders, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of Palm Beach North and beyond. Connect with us on social media: Facebook: @PalmBeachNorthChamber Instagram: @pbnchamber LinkedIn: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com To learn more about Coastal Waste & Recycling, visit www.coastalwasteinc.com Coastal Waste & Recycling LinkedIn: Coastal Waste & Recycling, Inc Facebook: @CoastalWasteInc Instagram: @coastalwasteinc Patti Hamilton LinkedIn: Patti W. Hamilton Travis Hitchcock LinkedIn: Travis Hitchcock #PeopleBehindProgress #Leadership #CompanyCulture #PalmBeachNorth #CoastalWaste

31 jul 2026

46:28

From Foster Care to Changing Florida | People Behind Progress with Heather Cogar

In this episode of People Behind Progress, Noel Martinez sits down with Heather Cogar, Statewide Director of Community Engagement for the Florida Chamber Foundation's Florida Prosperity Initiative, for an inspiring conversation about resilience, leadership, and the fight to end childhood poverty in Florida. Drawing from her own journey through foster care, homelessness, and adversity, Heather shares how the support of caring mentors and community leaders transformed her life and ultimately led her to a career dedicated to creating opportunity for others. Together, Noel and Heather explore the Florida Prosperity Initiative, the role of the business community in addressing poverty, and why collaboration is the key to building stronger, more prosperous communities. Topics Covered 00:00 – Introduction & Meet Heather Cogar 01:34 – Heather's Journey Through Foster Care and Adversity 03:04 – The Program That Changed Her Life 05:26 – Returning to School and Finding a New Path 08:14 – From Law Enforcement to Purpose-Driven Leadership 12:21 – How the Florida Chamber Helped Make Her Dream a Reality 14:00 – The Mission Behind the Florida Prosperity Initiative 17:07 – Tackling Childhood Poverty Through Community Collaboration 22:04 – Why Palm Beach County Is Leading by Example 39:32 – What Gives Heather Hope for Florida's Future Whether you're a business leader, educator, nonprofit professional, or someone passionate about strengthening communities, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that lasting progress begins when people come together around a shared purpose. Subscribe for future episodes of People Behind Progress, highlighting the leaders, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of Palm Beach North and beyond. Connect with us on social media: Facebook: @PalmBeachNorthChamber Instagram: @pbnchamber LinkedIn: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com. To learn more about Heather Cogar and Florida Chamber Foundation's Florida Prosperity Initiative, visit https://www.flchamber.com/flprosperityinitiative/ #Peoplebehindprogress #PalmBeachNorth #FloridaChamber #Leadership #CommunityLeadership

27 jul 2026

43:40

How Great Communities Are Built | People Behind Progress with Sheree Anne Kelly, ACCE

In the debut episode of People Behind Progress, Noel Martinez sits down with Sheree Anne Kelly, President & CEO of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), for a conversation about leadership, economic development, and the evolving role of chambers of commerce in shaping strong communities. Drawing on her experience working with chamber leaders across the country, Sheree Anne shares why the most successful chambers serve as futurists, conveners, and catalysts for regional prosperity. The discussion explores ACCE's Horizon 2035 initiative, the challenges facing today's leaders, the importance of resilience, and why she remains optimistic about the next generation of changemakers. Topics Covered 00:00 – Introduction & Meet Sheree Anne Kelly 03:12 – The Role of ACCE and the Future of Chambers 05:18 – Why Chambers Must Be Futurists for Their Regions 07:13 – Are Businesses Underutilizing Chambers? 08:20 – Horizon 2035: Preparing for the Future 10:04 – Chambers as Unifiers and Community Conveners 15:41 – Leadership Challenges Facing Chamber CEOs 18:10 – Building Strong CEO and Board Relationships 24:05 – The Leadership Traits Needed for 2035 25:49 – Why Sheree Anne Kelly Is Optimistic About the Future Whether you're a business owner, community leader, or someone interested in the future of your region, this conversation offers valuable insights on leadership, collaboration, and creating lasting community impact. Subscribe for future episodes of People Behind Progress, highlighting the leaders, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of Palm Beach North and beyond. Connect with us on social media: Facebook: @PalmBeachNorthChamber Instagram: @pbnchamber LinkedIn: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce YouTube: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com. To learn more about Sheree Anne Kelly and the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), visit www.acce.org. #PeopleBehindProgress #PalmBeachNorth #Leadership #BusinessLeadership #CommunityImpact

27 jul 2026

31:57

Temporada 5

Inside Palm Beach County Elections with Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link

Running secure, accurate, and transparent elections for more than 900,000 registered voters in Palm Beach County is no small task. Behind every election is a year-round operation focused on security, accessibility, and ensuring every eligible vote is counted. In this episode, Wendy Sartory Link, Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, returns to the Palm Beach North Podcast to discuss the upcoming election cycle, key voting dates, and the processes in place to protect the integrity of elections. She also shares insight into how the elections office operates behind the scenes—from verifying vote-by-mail ballots to recruiting thousands of poll workers who help ensure the process runs smoothly. Later in the episode, she also discusses how ballots are verified, the technology used to audit results, and how community members can get involved in the election process. T opics Covered: 00:48 Running elections for more than 900,000 registered voters in Palm Beach County 04:30 Key election dates including municipal, special, primary, and general elections 05:40 Florida’s closed primary system and why party registration deadlines matter 07:18 Voting options: vote-by-mail, early voting, and Election Day voting 09:35 Renewing your driver’s license and why updating your voter information matters 13:09 How vote-by-mail signatures are verified and the safeguards in place Subscribe to the Palm Beach North Podcast to stay connected with Palm Beach County’s business community and the leaders shaping its future! 🎨 Love the arts? Explore our sister series, the ArtiGras Podcast celebrating the creative culture that powers the Palm Beach North community. Check us out on social media! Instagram: Palm Beach North: @palmbeachnorth Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: @pbnchamber ArtiGras: @artigras Facebook: Palm Beach North: /palmbeachnorth Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: /pbnchamber ArtiGras: /artigrasfineartsfestival LinkedIn: Palm Beach North: /palmbeachnorth Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: /pbnchamber Websites: To learn more about Palm Beach North Podcast, visit: https://www.palmbeachnorthpodcast.com To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit: https://www.pbnchamber.com To learn more about ArtiGras Podcast, visit: https://www.artigraspodcast.com #PalmBeachNorthPodcast#PalmBeachCounty#CivicEngagement#ElectionInformation#VotePalmBeach

T5 · E62

6 mar 2026

35:42

Breaking the Poverty Cycle One Student at a Time with Christine Sylvain

Breaking the poverty cycle does not happen all at once. It happens when students are given access, belief, and the support to see a future they can step into. In this episode, Christine Sylvain, Founder and CEO of Path to College, shares her personal journey and the work behind a proven model that helps high potential students overcome systemic barriers, earn scholarships, and access selective universities debt free. She also looks ahead to what’s next for the organization and how education and mentorship create lasting community impact.

T5 · E61

16 dic 2025

46:10

How Julia Dattolo Is Transforming Palm Beach County’s Workforce

How do you build a stronger Palm Beach County workforce? For Julia Dattolo, President and CEO of CareerSource Palm Beach County, it starts with people. A proud U.S. Navy veteran and workforce development leader, she connects talent with opportunity and helps local businesses grow through service and purpose, sharing how community leadership, veterans employment, and workforce innovation are shaping Palm Beach County’s economy and redefining what it means to serve our community.

T5 · E60

11 nov 2025

35:01

Building the Future of Care: Dr. Conor Delaney’s Vision for Cleveland Clinic Florida

In this episode of the Palm Beach North Podcast, Dr. Conor P. Delaney, Executive Vice President of Cleveland Clinic and President of Cleveland Clinic Florida, shares his journey from Ireland to leading one of the nation’s premier healthcare systems in Florida. He talks about how early exposure to medicine, surgical innovation, and a team-first mindset shaped his leadership path from world-class colorectal surgeon to enterprise executive. Dr. Delaney highlights Cleveland Clinic Florida’s mission and momentum: integrated, patient-centered care, exceptional quality outcomes, and innovations like hospital-level care at home. He also discusses Cleveland Clinic’s expansion in Palm Beach County—from outpatient growth to plans for a new hospital—plus community partnerships addressing access, behavioral health, and food insecurity. The episode closes with leadership insights and his optimistic outlook for the future of healthcare in our region.

T5 · E59

21 oct 2025

32:56

From Public Service to Higher Education: Adam Hasner’s Vision for FAU’s Future

In this episode of the Palm Beach North Podcast, Adam Hasner, President of Florida Atlantic University (FAU), shares his journey from Palm Beach County kid to leading one of South Florida’s most dynamic public research universities. He talks about how growing up with educator parents, early experiences in public service, and a high-energy, servant-leadership style shaped his approach to the presidency. President Hasner highlights FAU’s momentum with record applications, competitive incoming classes, and groundbreaking research in neuroscience, ocean engineering, and artificial intelligence. He explains why he sees FAU as the region’s hometown university and outlines his strategic priorities of elevating the brand, strengthening partnerships, expanding opportunities for students, and leading through influence with a vision for the future. Topics Covered: • Roots in Palm Beach County and a path through law, business, and public service • Lessons from public service that prepared him to lead in higher education • FAU’s growth as a research university with record demand and unique strengths • The student experience and the importance of access and affordability • Athletics as a source of school pride and community connection • A vision to elevate FAU’s reputation and impact across the region Follow us on social media! Instagram: Palm Beach North: @palmbeachnorth Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: @pbnchamber FAU: @FloridaAtlanticU Facebook: Palm Beach North: / palmbeachnorth Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: / pbnchamber LinkedIn: Palm Beach North: / palmbeachnorth Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: / pbnchamber FAU: / florida-atlantic-university President Adam Hasner: / adamhasner Check out our websites: To learn more about Palm Beach North Podcast, visit: https://www.palmbeachnorthpodcast.com To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit: https://www.pbnchamber.com To learn more about FAU, visit: https://www.fau.edu/?utm_source=chatgpt.com #PalmBeachNorthPodcast #FAU #HigherEdLeadership #SouthFlorida #CommunityImpact

T5 · E58

16 sept 2025

47:18

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