In this episode of The Innovation Mindset, powered by the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, host Mark McNees welcomes Jennifer Kovach, director of the South Florida region for the Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship at Florida State. Jennifer shares her journey from social work to supporting entrepreneurs, her approach to fostering entrepreneurship, and the services provided by JMI in South Florida. Join us as we explore the various programs Jennifer has spearheaded, such as the...
Aug 07, 2024•31 min•Ep. 44
In this episode of the Innovation Mindset, hosted by Mark McNees from the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, special guest Jay Revell of Revell Media shares his extensive experience in the business community of Tallahassee. Jay, a seasoned leader and storyteller, dives into his career path, starting from his college days at Florida State University to founding his successful marketing company, Revell Media. They discuss Jay's notable accomplishments, approach to corporate storytelling, and p...
Jul 29, 2024•58 min•Ep. 43
In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast, student host Rose Walters interviews Bennett Spooner, co-founder of Player Wallet. Bennett shares the motivations behind starting Player Wallet, aiming to support overlooked student-athletes in their recruitment process. The company focuses on nurturing athletes' development in sports, academics, and community service from an early age to improve their recruitable prospects. Bennett highlights the difference between Player Wallet and their ma...
Jul 16, 2024•16 min•Ep. 42
In this episode of the inNOLEvation® Mindset podcast, host Gabriel Mustaciuolo interviews Dr. Susana Santos, a new faculty member with a rich background in teaching entrepreneurship. Dr. Santos shares her journey from Portugal to the U.S., her experiences in academia, and her passion for researching and teaching entrepreneurship, particularly in contexts of adversity and poverty. The conversation delves into the teachability of entrepreneurship, the importance of experiential learning, and Dr. S...
Jul 09, 2024•34 min•Ep. 41
In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast, student host Liana from Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship welcomes Christie Hand, a faculty member at FSU since 2016, initially part of the Human Sciences Department and now involved in developing a retail program. Christie shares her journey from working in retail with Banana Republic to becoming a passionate educator, emphasizing the importance of adapting to changes in both retail and educational landscapes. She discusses the transitio...
Jul 01, 2024•25 min•Ep. 40
In this episode of the InNOLEvation Mindset® podcast, host Totu Seitieva talks with entrepreneur Kimasia Ayers about her journey into entrepreneurship, her challenges, and how her Hoodoo practice influences her businesses, Soulfully Organic and The Ultimate Muse. Kimasia shares her personal experiences with Hoodoo, a religion of enslaved Africans, and discusses how it has shaped her ventures into creating products and services that blend spirituality, beauty, and wellness. She also touches on to...
Jun 24, 2024•42 min•Ep. 39
In this episode of the Innovation Mindset Podcast, Mark McNees hosts Adam Hall, founder of So Flo Steals, a booming shoe-flipping business. Adam shares his entrepreneurial journey, from his high school days, navigating COVID challenges, to growing his venture into a six-figure business. He discusses his business model, marketing strategies, and plans post-graduation from the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship. Adam also talks about his family's pool company, his future expansion plans, and va...
Jun 19, 2024•20 min•Ep. 38
In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast, powered by the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, student host Rosella Cruz turns the tables on the usual host, Dr. Mark McNees, to shed light on his entrepreneurial journey beginning from his childhood. Dr. McNees shares his first business experience at the age of 10, renting out video games to friends, and discusses various ventures leading up to and including his impactful venture, RedEye Coffee, which focuses on sustainability and eth...
Jun 10, 2024•29 min•Ep. 37
In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast, hosted by Mark McNees and powered by the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, we explore the groundbreaking work of Zachary Asarnow and Ava Polly from the FSU iGEM team, Esperance. Discover how this team is developing a cell-based therapeutic to address Fish Odor Syndrome (TMAU), a rare genetic disorder. Learn about the impact of TMAU on patients' lives, the team's innovative approach using FDA-approved E. coli bacteria, and their journey t...
Jun 03, 2024•30 min•Ep. 36
In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset podcast, hosted by spotlight student host Totu Seitieva from the podcast class at the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, Tara Hackett, a seasoned faculty member with a rich background in retail and children's wear, shares her journey. Mrs. Hackett discusses transitioning from corporate retail to academia, the impact of having an entrepreneurial mindset, and the importance of connections and experiences in shaping one's career. She provides insight...
May 27, 2024•50 min•Ep. 35
In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast, host Mark McNees sits down with Robert Walker, co-founder of the app Gas Money, discussing his entrepreneurial journey and the development of Gas Money. Walker explains how Gas Money, a freelance platform for high school and college students to perform simple tasks for homeowners, was conceived during high school and grown into a business with over 2,500 jobs. The podcast covers Walker's background, the challenges of starting and scaling a te...
May 20, 2024•32 min•Ep. 34
In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast, student host Kailee Gordon talks with three staff members from the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship: Lisha Stafford, the mapping coordinator; Erin Jones, an academic advisor for freshmen and sophomores; and Wil Joiner, the advisor for juniors and seniors. They discuss their roles in guiding students through their academic journeys, from selecting the right courses and majors to graduate certification. The guests also shared their paths t...
May 13, 2024•20 min•Ep. 33
In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast, host Mark McNees speaks with Dr. Meredith McQuerry, Carol E. Avery associate professor at the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, about her groundbreaking research in textile science, particularly focusing on enhancing the design, comfort, and safety of personal protective equipment (PPE) for female firefighters. McQuerry discusses her journey in academia and research, detailing her contributions to developing market-ready prototypes for w...
May 06, 2024•35 min•Ep. 32
In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast by Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, host Jamie Cantone interviews Totu Sativa, a finalist in the InNOLEvation® Challenge. Totu discusses her startup, Highlighter Cosmetics, emphasizing its focus on high-quality neon makeup for niche markets like the rave and music festival communities. She shares her journey through the InNOLEvation® Challenge, from initial application spurred by a friend’s encouragement to becoming a finalist and winnin...
Apr 29, 2024•17 min•Ep. 31
In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast, host Mark McNees welcomed Dr. Eric Liguori, Associate Dean of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship at FSU, to discuss entrepreneurship education, research, and practical experiences. Eric shared his academic journey, his role in enhancing entrepreneurship education through his previous position as the president of USASBE, and his research focus on entrepreneurship pedagogy, ecosystems, and public policy. He also talked about the unique s...
Apr 22, 2024•27 min•Ep. 30
In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast, hosted by Mark McNees from the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, entrepreneur Jeannie Castro shares the story behind her business, Wild Hippie Cosmetics. Founded in March 2023, Wild Hippie Cosmetics offers a range of all-organic, locally-made beauty products, including candles, bath salts, soaps, and a popular stretch mark oil. Jeannie discusses the origins of her business name, her business model, her experience selling in various marke...
Apr 15, 2024•18 min•Ep. 29
In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast, hosted by Mark McNees from the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, we dive into the inspiring world of Student Made. This organization supports student entrepreneurs by providing a platform for them to sell their products and organize pop-up events. Co-managers Kara Artz and Natalie Medina share their experiences of launching and managing the organization at Florida State University, detailing their challenges and successes. From assisting...
Apr 08, 2024•33 min•Ep. 28
In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset Podcast, student host Jamie Cantone interviews Shelly Griffin, a seasoned entrepreneur, and educator at the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship. Shelly shares her entrepreneurial journey, starting with her first business, Wolf Tan, which she co-owned with her former husband. She discusses the business's challenges and rewards, including legislative hurdles, operational responsibilities, and the decision against franchising. Additionally, Shelly talk...
Apr 01, 2024•21 min•Ep. 27
This episode of the InNOLEvation® Mindset podcast, hosted by Mark McNees from the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, features Johanna Rubin, a finalist in the innovation challenge and the founder of Hand Me Dorm. Hand Me Dorm is an online marketplace designed for college students to buy and sell used dormitory items, aiming to reduce waste and make the move-out process more affordable and efficient. Johanna discusses the inspiration behind her business, stemming from her personal experiences...
Mar 26, 2024•19 min•Ep. 26
In this episode of the Innovation Mindset Podcast, hosted by Mark McNees from the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, the spotlight shines on Chris Cyrille, the CEO and founder of Aqua Insights. Fresh from winning one of the InNOLEvation Challenge awards, the Growler Country's Most Scalable Business award Chris discusses the journey of his AI-powered brand strategy software, which originated from a need to understand fashion trends for his menswear styling business. By integrating AI, Aqua In...
Mar 12, 2024•26 min•Ep. 25
In this episode of the Innovation Mindset podcast, student host Jamie Cantone invites three students from the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, Gabriel Mustaciuolo, Liana Ocampo, and Francisco Villa to share their recent internship experiences. The trio discusses their roles at companies including Chanel, Macy's, and Zing Drones and discusses the importance of networking and applying entrepreneurial skills professionally. They also highlight the value of their college's internship prep cour...
Feb 27, 2024•22 min•Ep. 24
Summary: In this episode of The InNOLEvation® Mindset, host Mark McNees catches up with Mcluckie, the co-founder of Pourhouse Tally Mobile Bar project. Carson shares how the idea for a mobile bar business was born out of a family wedding plan and how undergoing a horrifying house fire incident shaped his life and the future roadmap of his start-up. He also discusses different aspects of managing his business, from target markets to marketing strategies, highlighting the importance of digital mar...
Jan 09, 2024•19 min•Ep. 23
In this episode, host Mark McNees welcomes Brad Buckenheimer, Founder and CEO of Canopy Road Cafe, to discuss his entrepreneurial journey. Born out of a shared college experience at Florida State University, Canopy Road Cafe thrives in multiple locations. Brad shares his experiences growing from a single location to franchising and how he managed bumps along the way. This engaging conversation covers topics from initial funding to overcoming operational hurdles and offers insight into the trials...
Dec 05, 2023•38 min•Ep. 21
In this engaging episode of the Innovation Podcast, host Mark McNees, a faculty member at the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, introduces a new segment, 'Meet the Faculty.' His first guest is the esteemed faculty member John Breed. They discuss the Podcast's journey, the college's evolution, and the challenges and rewards of teaching entrepreneurship. John articulates the importance of experiential learning, deals with the perception of entrepreneurship education, and emphasizes the value ...
Dec 05, 2023•40 min•Ep. 20
In this episode of The InNOLEvation® Mindset, Mark McNees welcomes top dog entrepreneur Hunter Sharp to yap about his journey co-founding DogConnectors. Hunter shares the origin story of his startup as a young pup at JMC, where he first had the idea to connect Instagram influencers with dog treats and toy companies. He discusses the early days when DogConnectors was still teething and struggling with growth and scale issues. Hunter reflects on pivoting from helping social media dogs to more dire...
Nov 28, 2023•23 min•Ep. 19
In this episode of the InNOLEvation® Podcast, hosted by Mark McNees of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship, we interview Michael Markie, the founder and CEO of Campus Waffles. Michael discusses his journey of turning his love for waffles into a promising food startup while being a college student. The session houses experiences from his initial setbacks name change challenge, to becoming a regular vendor at Crunch and an accomplished seller at numerous events. The podcast also delves into ...
Nov 20, 2023•18 min•Ep. 18
InNOLEvation® Podcast: Season 5 Episode 1: Raide Website: raideapp.com Instagram: @raideapp Mark McNees sits down with the founders of RAIDE, Noah Romo and Kennedy Joy Forstall. RAIDE is a mobile app designed to serve as a marketplace for college students to rent out and borrow clothing, aiming to provide a financially sustainable and eco-friendly solution to event-specific attire requirements. The guests shed light on the inspiration, development, and evolution of RAIDE, describing how it fits ...
Nov 11, 2023•28 min•Season 5Ep. 1
In this episode, we welcome back listeners to The InNOLEvation® Mindset podcast. Today's special guest is Morgan Rodgers, a successful entrepreneur who owns a luxury pajama brand called 'Morgan Madonna.' Morgan shares her business journey from starting as a women's apparel and custom gowns maker to transitioning into a pajama line because of the pandemic. She discusses her brand's inspiration, pivots through the pandemic, and marketing strategies. She also discusses her undergraduate and graduat...
May 20, 2022•22 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Gerard LaMothe has created a brand that is associated with excellence in service and results. Gerard earned an FSU degree in Psychology class of 1998, Leadership Tallahassee Class 28. President of Superior Painting 1998-present. I started a painting business with a classmate at FSU during my junior year. Upon graduating I separated from my partner and asked my father to move up from New Port Richey and be my partner. We started Superior Painting in June of 1998. I am responsible for the day to d...
Mar 17, 2021•28 min•Ep. 17
Summer Griffith opened Drip Drop Fitness in May 2017 after seeing a need a place where women could enjoy fun, high energy group workouts in Tallahassee. Three years and one pandemic later and she’s still going strong.
Mar 17, 2021•33 min•Ep. 16
