In this episode of I Am Lakeland, host Don Burns sits down with Cyle Rickner, a native Floridian, Army veteran, and the owner of Rickner Smart Solutions, a Lakeland-based security company. Cyle shares his fascinating journey, from growing up in Fort Myers and serving as a wheeled vehicle mechanic in the Army to his transition into the private sector. He recounts several humorous and unexpected stories about his move to Lakeland in 2023, including his initial struggle with a poorly managed apartment complex and a chance encounter with Mayor Bill Mutz that led to fixing a long-standing traffic light issue near South Florida Avenue.

The conversation dives deep into Cyle’s career path, which saw him transition from retail sales at LensCrafters to the solar industry, and eventually into corporate security with ADT. Cyle reflects on the frustrati ...