MESSAGE 20: GLENN REESE

Glenn Reese

Co-Founder, Atlis Motor Vehicles; and, Partner, BroaderVentures

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: While it’s scary to be uncertain about the future, the most important thing to do is focus on the things you can control, so that you’re prepared to adapt to the ones you can’t.

Actively devoting time to care for your mental, physical, and emotional health is paramount to face any challenges that come next with clear focus and purpose.

Sometimes life presents the opportunity for us to slow down and consider what’s important: to ourselves, our families, our communities.

Reflect, self-care, and work to become an active participant toward the changes you want to see in the world.

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Glenn is a technology executive, investor, and serial entrepreneur. He is a Co-Founder of Atlis Motor Vehicles, an electric vehicle company, Partner at BroaderVentures, a start-up studio venture firm, and an active mentor to early-stage companies.

He holds a B.S. in Finance from Xavier University and an MBA from Cornell Tech, holding roles at GE Energy, GE Oil & Gas, and GE Ventures prior to finding his calling in entrepreneurship. He is passionate about a future dominated by alternative energy and believes expanding access to electrification technology is key to that realization.

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For more information about COVID-19 digital mental health resources, please click HERE and HERE.

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Photo: Courtesy Glenn Reese

MESSAGE 19: TIFFANY ST. BERNARD

Tiffany St. Bernard

CEO, Lidiom; and, Cornell University ABD Ph.D.

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: These are crazy times and it is completely justifiable to be scared. It seems as if COVID-19 came out of nowhere. To add insult to injury, the economy appears to be very unpredictable for many.

Though it may feel overwhelming, I try to keep in mind that as history has demonstrated time and time again, Americans are resilient and will emerge from this stronger than ever before.

Mental health is crucial during these uncertain times. Take the time to talk through how you feel with those close to you or virtually connect with others. We are highly social organisms meaning during quarantine or after coming home from being on the front lines as an essential worker, it is important to find solace in others. We must unite and work together to overcome these trying times.

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Tiffany is a Cornell University ABD Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, tech entrepreneur, mentor, and Chief Executive Officer at Lidiom. Lidiom is a multilingual messaging platform, translating in real-time to enable seamless communication with anyone in any language. As globalization becomes ubiquitous, the need for businesses to connect on a global scale continues to grow. Lidiom not only empowers businesses but allows individuals to find and connect with others around the world without language barriers. In a COVID-19 world, Lidiom is providing small chat groups for people globally to join and find support in these trying times. Lidiom was founded to connect people while eliminating language barriers.

In her spare time, Tiffany enjoys mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs and helping them realize their dreams.

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For more information about COVID-19 digital mental health resources, please click HERE and HERE.

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Photo: Courtesy Tiffany St. Bernard

MESSAGE 18: JON HARTLEY

Jon Hartley

Economics Researcher, Writer and Policy Advisor

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: Optimism. Things will get better. There have been many disasters in history, including many pandemics. Every time these rare disasters occur, societies recover and grow stronger.

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Jon Hartley is an economics writer and researcher with interests in macroeconomics, finance, and sports analytics.  Jon has been a regular economics contributor for Forbes and The Huffington Post and has had other writings appear in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Financial Times, and USA Today among many other outlets.

Jon has also appeared on CNBC, Fox Business, Fox News, Bloomberg, and NBC. He was named to the 2017 Forbes 30 Under 30 Law & Policy list, the 2017 Wharton 40 Under 40 list and is a World Economic Forum Global Shaper.

Jon has previously worked at Goldman Sachs Asset Management as a Fixed Income Portfolio Construction and Risk Management Associate and as a Quantitative Investment Strategies Client Portfolio Management Senior Analyst, as a Dallas Cowboys Statistical Analyst and in various policy roles at the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation, U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee, Federal Reserve Bank of New York, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Jon graduated from University of Chicago with a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics with Honors and from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania with an M.B.A. specializing in finance and business economics in addition to being a M.P.P. candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School. 

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Photo: Courtesy Jon Hartley

MESSAGE 17: KAREN BOWLING

Karen Bowling

Director, Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of North Florida

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: While I can’t recall a time like this in our history,  I am reminded of a quote by author Vivian Greene, “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning how to dance in the rain.”

My spirits have been lifted by the stories of so many people who have learned to dance in the rain.  I have been inspired seeing families figuring out how to check on their loves ones in nursing homes, from home-made signs to forklifts to see those patients on the high floors.  I’ve loved seeing teachers having drive-by parades to see their students and parents holding drive-by birthday parties so their children can see their friends and have some sense of normalcy.  

I find great comfort and hope in all the acts of kindness I have seen recently.  I hope we don’t lose that when we get back to the “new normal.”

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Karen began her role as the first Director of the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the University of North Florida in January of 2019.

She started her career in television news in Jacksonville after graduating from the University of North Florida.

She transitioned to a career in healthcare marketing and management, before catching the entrepreneurial bug, and co-founded Solantic, a walk-in urgent care company now operating under the name CareSpot.  After serving as CEO for ten years, she joined Mayor Alvin Brown as the Chief Administrative Officer with the City of Jacksonville.

In addition to her entrepreneurial career, Karen has been on many notable boards.  She serves on the 4th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission, is the immediate past chair of the Florida State College District Board of Trustees, and serves on the Board of Security Devices International, a Boston based less-lethal weapons company.

Karen is a graduate of both Leadership Jacksonville and Leadership Florida.

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Photo: Courtesy Karen Bowling

MESSAGE 16: CHRISTINE CONCEPCIÓN

Christine

Concepción

Founder and CEO, xipi

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: Depending on where you are in the country, you may have already been home for weeks by now. You’ve exhausted all of Netflix’s content, you may have attended dozens and dozens of Zoom meetings and, assuredly, you received e-mails from CEO’s saying that these are challenging times. I hate to be another one to say the same thing. But they are.

The truth is that none of us know how to pandemic perfectly. This is uncharted waters for everyone. Some of you may be concerned about keeping your family safe and being able to provide for them. I know some of you have lost your jobs or know someone who has. And all of these things are frightening.

I will offer this - there has not yet, in the history of time, been a time where we did not overcome. You are watching this now likely on a device, a device that thousands of years ago could not even been thought of.

Great companies are built in turmoil and you would be surprised what opportunities make themselves available in hard times.

I am asking you for tenacity. I am asking you for some grit. And I am promising you sunnier days ahead.

I want to say thank you to all of our essential workers. Say thank you to them when you see them. Our drivers - our grocery store workers - of course our health care workers. And I want to say thank you to Anthony and Justin for giving us this opportunity to speak to a wider audience.

Love from New York.

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Christine Concepción is the Founder and CEO of xipi, a fun, easy, no bull, financial literacy gaming and media engine for millennials and gen Z.

Christine is a first generation New York native from the South Bronx, passionate about democratizing accessible education for all. Christine spent years working in entertainment and media creating world wide viral content for Grammy award winning recording artists before pivoting to financial services including, investment banking, consulting and alternative asset classes.

Christine holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a B.A. in Film and Media Studies from Columbia University in the City of New York, Magna Cum Laude.  Christine is also a graduate of Founder Gym, where she was named ‘Best in Cohort’ for Cohort 12, and Y Combinator Startup School.

When Christine isn’t working she enjoys time with her dachshund, fitness, and devoting energy to philanthropic endeavors that are focused on sustainability and human rights. 

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Video and Photo: Courtesy Christine Concepción

MESSAGE 15: JOSHUA T. HIGGINS

Joshua T. Higgins

Partner & Business Unit Leader, Kelley Kronenberg

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: It’s okay to be afraid, as this is an unprecedented event that has altered almost every aspect of daily life.  However, approach this as an opportunity for growth, not an impediment to success.  Treat each day as an opportunity to learn and better yourself, and in so doing, you can come out of this incredibly difficult time as a progressed, better version of yourself, rather than a regressed, worse version.

My father often told my brother Justin and I that “effort is controllable,” a mantra which he and I have bound ourselves to during childhood and into adulthood, to the present day.  While situations and circumstances cannot always be controlled—such as COVID-19—your attitude and the effort you put in to maximizing your potential is always controllable.

With maximizing effort on a daily basis, and approaching this situation as an opportunity for growth, you can succeed on both a micro and macro level and emerge from this momentous event as a better version of yourself.

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Joshua T. Higgins is a Partner and Business Unit Leader in Kelley Kronenberg’s Fort Lauderdale, Florida office. Kelley Kronenberg is a full-service law firm comprised of 11 offices in Florida and Illinois with more than 150 attorneys. Joshua manages a workers’ compensation defense unit of 11 people, and has additional experience in police professional litigation, correctional healthcare claims, and OSHA.

Prior to joining the firm, Joshua worked as an Assistant State Attorney at the State Attorney’s Office, 17th Judicial Circuit, in both the felony trial unit and county court division.  While there, Joshua tried more than 30 bench trials and 22 jury trials, with one trial featured on the local Fox News.

During law school at Nova Southeastern University - Shepard Broad College of Law, Joshua served as the Chairperson of Administration for the Moot Court Honor Society, a Staff Member for the Inter-American Center for Human Rights, and the Secretary for the National Security and Law Society.  He received a perfect score from the Chief Justice in the first round of the ABA National Appellate Advocacy Competition, and placed in the top eight out of more than 125 students in the Feinrider Moot Court Competition.  Joshua was one of 40 law students selected nationwide as a summer fellow for the Florida Bar Foundation, which resulted in him working at Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida doing foreclosure defense for indigent elderly citizens.

Prior to entering law school, Joshua obtained his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo, graduating magna cum laude, where he was selected for induction into the Phi Beta Kappa Society and was listed in Who’s Who Among American College Students.  Additionally, Joshua was chosen as a Renaissance Scholar, an award bestowed on less than 4% of graduates that year, for those exhibiting scholarly excellence in at least two widely disparate areas of study.

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Photo: Courtesy Joshua T. Higgins

MESSAGE 14: ANTHONY SCARAMUCCI

Anthony Scaramucci

Founder and Co-Managing Partner, SkyBridge

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: I started a series with Justin Higgins, ‘America Will Be Back!, Messages from leaders to Americans experiencing COVID-19 adversity.’

My message is to stay brave, put things in perspective, be resilient, and wake up everyday with a gratitude list. It will help you out a lot.

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Anthony Scaramucci is Founder and Co-Managing Partner of SkyBridge focusing on marketing and business development. Prior to founding SkyBridge in 2005, Mr. Scaramucci co-founded investment partnership Oscar Capital Management, which was sold to Neuberger Berman, LLC in 2001. Earlier, he was a vice president in Private Wealth Management at Goldman Sachs & Co.

In 2016, Mr. Scaramucci was ranked #85 in Worth Magazine’s Power 100: The 100 Most Powerful People in Global Finance. In 2011, he received Ernst & Young’s “Entrepreneur of the Year – New York” Award in the Financial Services category.

Anthony is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), vice chair of the Kennedy Center Corporate Fund Board, a board member of both The Brain Tumor Foundation and Business Executives for National Security (BENS), and a Trustee of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Foundation. He was a member of the New York City Financial Services Advisory Committee from 2007 to 2012.

He is the author of three books: The Little Book of Hedge Funds, Goodbye Gordon Gekko, and Hopping Over the Rabbit Hole, a 2016 Wall Street Journal best seller.

In November 2016, Mr. Scaramucci was named to President-Elect Trump’s 16-person Presidential Transition Team Executive Committee. In June 2017, he was named the Chief Strategy Officer of the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank. He served as the White House Communications Director for a period in July 2017.

Mr. Scaramucci received a B.A. in Economics from Tufts University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

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Video and Photo: Courtesy Anthony Scaramucci

MESSAGE 13: SANTA CLAUS

NOTE: If you have young children (like the Co-Founders of this series) who are curious why they are suddenly being asked to stay inside, or at least six feet away from others, or to constantly wash their hands, etc., the following message from Santa delivers such information in a child-friendly fashion.

Santa Claus

Founder and CEO, Santa’s Workshop

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: Hello, Justin! It’s me, Santa, coming to you live from The North Pole.

First off, I would like all Americans to do what they can do about the Coronavirus individually. Such as staying in place as much as possible. When you are out social distancing stay at least six feet from each other. Wash your hands with bar soap. When you get back home, don’t touch your face. No sweets or desert so that your immune system stays strong. Get plenty of rest so that your body can fight off whatever this virus might throw your way.

Also, I just want to let everyone know, that this too shall pass. Let not your heart be troubled. Things will get better. You will get back to work and it will be better than before.

Justin, do your part, keep washing those hands brother! And Merry Christmas. Ho! Ho! Ho!

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Santa Claus is the Founder and CEO of Santa’s Workshop, the largest and most successful not-for-profit organization in the world, headquartered at The North Pole.

Widely recognized as one of the greatest leaders in history, Santa and his workshop, year in and year out, deliver on time and with unparalleled customer service.

MESSAGE 12: PAUL BERTOZZI

Paul Bertozzi

Founder and CEO, Live Oak Contracting

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: While it is a difficult time right now, I don't believe this economic impact is going to be long-term. We had a robust economy before this pandemic. While some of the fundamentals of the economy have broken down, the overall market is resilient. The federal government has done a great job of producing liquidity into the market, and I think the federal, state and local governments have done an excellent job of trying to keep the market activated with all of the state and local mandates.

We have to stay vigilant to eliminate this feeling of uncertainty and know that we have the right protocols in place at this point. We will have to spend time adjusting, and as we make those adjustments, it will cause some industries to suffer. However, the market and the economy will return, and America will continue to be a vibrant nation that will innovate through these troubled times.

We have to look at what the next opportunities are and not look at it as a time where we're not working, but maybe look at it as a time to be creative and to do something different to innovate new ideas of how to operate in the future. Every size business out there started because they felt like they could do something better than their counterparts. In these uncertain times, we have the opportunity to create those innovative ideas. The next entrepreneur and great idea are out there, whether it's another industry or another product, or just another solution to an existing problem.

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Paul Bertozzi is the Founder and CEO of Live Oak Contracting, a third-party general contractor based in downtown Jacksonville, Florida. Over the past six years, Live Oak Contracting has grown from a local contractor to a national industry leader—disrupting several markets along the east coast, stretching from Florida to Maine. Paul worked his way up in the construction industry, where he learned that high standards are crucial to producing success. Paul aspires to build long-term relationships based on integrity by providing the highest standard of service and quality construction to his clients and his community. 

Sustainable growth has always been one of Paul’s goals. Regardless of industry challenges, he creates lasting partnerships with subcontractors, clients, and project teams. He is diligent in choosing which markets to build in, focusing on cultivating relationships in regions with mindful and ethical opportunities. 

Live Oak Contracting has successfully managed projects in an array of industries, including Market Rate, Tax Credit, HUD Multifamily, Mixed Use, Industrial, and Commercial.

Business Development

Live Oak Contracting has experienced exponential growth over recent years. In 2015, the company reported $7.5 million in revenue. Under Paul’s leadership and expertise, revenue in 2016 increased to $63 million. By 2018, that number reached $96 million and $138 million in 2019. These impressive stats have landed Live Oak Contracting on the Jacksonville Business Journal’s Fast 50 List twice, once in 2017 and again in 2019. 

Awards and Recognition

Live Oak Contracting earned several prestigious awards, such as the Jacksonville Business Journal’s Second Fastest Growing Company in Northeast Florida in 2018, Jacksonville Business Journal’s Coolest Office Spaces (Finalist), and one of Jacksonville’s Best Places to Work in Northeast Florida. Greenscape of Jacksonville presented Live Oak Contracting with The Canopy Award in 2019 for donating one thousand trees toward the reforestation of Jacksonville. 

Live Oak was also ranked number 34 on INC 5000’s Fastest-Growing Companies in the Nation and was also recognized by GC Magazine as number four on their Top Contractors List and number six on the Top Tenant Improvement list.

Paul has individually received a variety of personal awards. In 2017, Paul was selected as one of Jacksonville’s 40 Under 40 and, in 2018, was a finalist in Ernst and Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year for the State of Florida. Paul has also been recognized as one of the 100 Most Influential Commercial Real Estate Executives in America and was on the Jacksonville Business Journal’s list of Ultimate CEOs in 2019. 

Community Involvement

As a Jacksonville native, Paul gives back to local charitable organizations and empowers his employees to contribute to their philanthropic passions as well. He has focused his commitments toward supporting the cultivation of protecting, educating, and instilling confidence in children. These philanthropies include the Monique Burr Foundation, Safe Harbor Boys Academy, Jacksonville Children’s Chorus, the Arc and other charities focused on childhood development.

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Photo: Courtesy Katherine Ruttell and Paul Bertozzi

MESSAGE 11: SHERRI PORTER

Sherri Porter

Founder and CEO, Hunger Fight

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: As a nation, we are facing challenges and situations we've never faced before and that can be frightening for everyone. But we've seen every day the resilience of our friends, our neighbors and our communities as they come together to support those who need assistance; people lending a hand where needed, especially to those who cannot help themselves.

It is a tribute to our communities and our nation that we are standing together through times of adversity. 

We continue to see it over and over again in simple acts of kindness by those providing meals for neighbors, raising money to help meet basic needs of strangers and reaching out to those who need support. And because of these acts, I feel we will be stronger as a community and a people because we have come together to respond to the needs of our communities.

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Struck by the numbers of children in North Florida who live daily with hunger, Sherri Porter founded Hunger Fight in 2012 and currently serves as its CEO.

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, Hunger Fight is a 501(C)3 nonprofit agency that produces shelf-stable meals that are flavorful, nutritious, and easy to prepare in boiling water. Delivered in a 4-serving family package that offers serving suggestions in both English and Spanish, the meals are great on their own or can be supplemented with meat, vegetables, chicken or fish.

With a staff of 7, Hunger Fight’s success reflects the help it receives from the businesses, foundations, and community groups that host its meal packing events, and the thousands of volunteers who participate. In 2019, over 6,775 volunteers joined Hunger Fight and packaged 1,615,916 meals.

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Photo: Courtesy Suzanne Lamoutte and Sherri Porter

MESSAGE 10: ROBERT HERJAVEC

Robert Herjavec

Founder & CEO, Herjavec Group; Leading ‘Shark’ on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: My advice to all Americans right now is to know that there is light at the end of the tunnel. It may be long, and uncertain but there is light and we will get there.

While we are living in this time of uncertainty, I’m finding a lot of comfort in 3 key words – (1) honesty, (2) resilience and (3) trigger.

First - Be honest with your employees, your landlords, your bank and each other. People want bad news sooner than later and would rather you be transparent about the economic impacts of uncertainty or about your ability to pay certain things like rent. Communicate, be upfront and be honest.

Second - We are incredibility resilient as human beings. Any small business owner knows this time is about survival and you have to do what it takes right now to bounce back. It will take time but have confidence in your ability to rebound.

Lastly, recognize the trigger points in your business when it’s time to pull back, or when it’s time to invest further.

I truly feel a sense of optimism about our ability to rebound from this. Just focus on that light at the end of the tunnel.

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Robert Herjavec is one of North America’s most recognizable business leaders. A dynamic entrepreneur, Robert has built and sold several IT companies including his current enterprise cybersecurity firm – Herjavec Group. Robert’s motivational business advice has received millions of impressions through TV, print, radio and digital media. He shares his expertise with other entrepreneurs each week as a leading Shark on ABC’s Emmy Award-winning hit show, Shark Tank.

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Photo: Lesley Bryce

MESSAGE 9: KEVIN MALONE

Kevin Malone

Head of Business Development, North America, ISI Emerging Markets

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: First and foremost, it's OK to feel fear. I, like just about everyone, have felt a certain level of it over the last few weeks, especially at the onset of this situation. Fear is the first in a series of emotions we inevitably go through when confronting a challenge. However, it's important to remember that fear is generally related to lack of control of the future as opposed to our present situation. What we do have control over is what we are choosing to do with this open-ended time Covid-19 has forced on us. 

The kind of emotional shift we're all going through should propel us to come out of this situation better than how we entered it. A genuine appreciation for life and its fragility, the importance of health and family, and the individual role we each play in determining the quality of the world we live in. As leaders, the same thing applies. Just as we must shift personally, so must business strategies. We must create adjustable paths that move in sync with this new reality and then turn those paths into new ideas.

We will get through this just as we have previous challenges, the key is for everyone to do our part in shaping the outcome and being about something bigger than ourselves. 

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Kevin Malone is the Head of Business Development for North America at ISI Emerging Markets, a firm that provides data and intelligence to global investors.

He co-founded and is a strategic advisor for NorthStar Consulting, a tourism and strategy implementation firm focused on the Caribbean market. He is also an executive member of Revenue Collective, a private membership organization for commercial growth operators.

Prior to this, Kevin worked in the macroeconomic research field as a Director of Business Development at Medley Global Advisors and Roubini Global Economics where he was of charge of new and existing business with hedge funds, asset managers and family offices. 

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Photo: Courtesy Kevin Malone

MESSAGE 8: DAVID ERGISI

David Ergisi

President and CEO, Cross Regions Group

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: These challenging times shall pass. The fundamentals that were there a month ago which made our economy the strongest in the world are still there today.

When this unfortunate event is behind us, we will work our way back to where we were and beyond.

I have a feeling we all will become more humble and gain new appreciation for things that we have taken for granted, like shaking a friends hand, hugging a loved one, enjoying dinner at a restaurant, etc.

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David Ergisi is the President and CEO of Cross Regions Group. Cross Regions Group is a global real estate company with offices in Jacksonville and Boca Raton, Florida as well as Istanbul, Turkey.

Cross Regions Group focuses on ground-up development, brokerage, advisory services, construction, acquisitions and property management. The firm also has international partnerships in technology offerings as well as worldwide distribution of home improvement and gardening products.

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Photo: Courtesy David Ergisi

MESSAGE 7: MICHAEL SCHMIDT

Michael Schmidt

Owner, The Bearded Pig & Tomo Development

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: My message is simply that if we all stick together we will get through this. It seems simple, but at times like this, the simple and straightforward is what people need to hear most.

We have 55 employees at The Bearded Pig and from the beginning of this we decided to close to ensure the safety of our staff and our guests. Our staff relies on us to lead and we have had a contingency plan in place for a hurricane potentially closing us for the past couple of years. We decided to enact that plan early on during the current crisis to reserve capital so we could ensure that we would be able to weather the storm financially (paying our bills, paying our staff, keeping morale up, etc.).

I am confident that all levels of our government, from City Hall, to the Governor’s Mansion, to the halls of Congress, will come together at this time to see that the millions of small business owners and their employees will be provided assistance that can get us through this mess.

I am hopeful that we will collectively make the call to stay home and flatten the curve. I feel that a few weeks of everything closing down will be easier to overcome economically than a delayed response that allows the virus to spread and could result in much worse economic impact.

In summary: stay home, listen to scientists and the medical community, and stay safe.

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Michael was born in Jacksonville in 1978. He went to elementary school at JCDS and high school at Episcopal. After going to Hampden-Sydney for undergrad Michael moved to Washington, DC. He worked in politics on a national campaign, but left politics to work for a friend’s barbecue restaurant.

Michael found his way back to Jacksonville after September 11th. He worked in real estate, but eventually found his way to architecture school at the University of Florida. Michael received his Master’s of Architecture in 2008 with certificates in Sustainability and Historic Preservation. While he was in graduate school, he got married. After graduate school, Michael and his Wife moved to Boston for his wife to study at MIT.

Michael practiced architecture at Ann Beha Architects, one of the most prestigious architecture firms in the US. While at Ann Beha Architects, he worked on projects ranging from museums, universities, libraries, and residences.

Michael left architecture to open The Bearded Pig catering company in 2011. Eventually he opened a full service restaurant in Union Square, Somerville, MA.

In 2013, Michael moved back to Jacksonville with his Wife and young son and worked in architecture and design. Despite a successful career in architecture and design, the restaurant world called him back and he opened The Bearded Pig in 2016, which has grown to be one of the most popular barbecue restaurants in Jacksonville. The Bearded Pig is in the process of opening a second location in Jacksonville Beach.

Michael is also a real estate developer, through his company Tomo Devleopment, which is currently focused on multi-family. JTB, a 350 unit multi-family project, opened last summer and is almost fully leased and his firm just broke ground on a 377 unit multi-family project in the Jacksonville’s Southside.

For the past several years, Michael served on the board of Greenscape. He currently is on the board of Jacksonville Country Day School. Michael, along with his business partner in The Bearded Pig, and other restaurants, are starting a non-profit to support hospitality workers in emergent need. Michael is a graduate of the 2019 Weaver Philanthropic Initiative class.

Michael and his wife, Mishayla, have two children, Thierry (7), currently a 1st grader at JCDS, and Waylon (16 months), with a little girl on way in May. He enjoys playing golf, cooking, and spending time with his family.

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Photo: Courtesy Michael Schmidt

MESSAGE 6: JAY BLUMENFIELD

Jay Blumenfield

Co-Founder and CEO, The Jay & Tony Show

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: Things are going to suck for a while. The sooner we accept that the better. But we are going to come out of this different, stronger and happier in the long run. The key right now is truth. The key right now is science. And facts.

The key right now is to try to look past differences and understand that we are all in this together.

Hopefully at the end of this we will have a new understanding of how we are all dependent on one another.

The past few years have been more divisive and confusing than any in our lifetime.

The fever from all of that and the virus is going to break at some point. What we do when we collectively wake up in a pool of sweat knowing that the worst is behind us, is up to us.

In the meantime, there are ideas to try out. New paradigms to explore. Many of today’s biggest new companies were started in the recession of 2008.

You can own your destiny, but first we have to be kind, smart, honest and bold.

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Jay Blumenfield has made a career out of taking bold ideas and making them fun, fresh and, most importantly, relatable.

His career really got started when he directed the award-winning documentary Small Town Ecstasy, for HBO films.

His production company THE JAY & TONY SHOW went on to create lots of groundbreaking content and a few duds...here are some of both…Chelsea Handler Show (E!)…Here Comes The Newlyweds (ABC)…The Road To Stardom With Missy Elliot (UPN)…Restaurant Stakeout (Food Network)…Music Behind Bars (VH1)…Dane Cook’s Tourgasm (HBO)…Gigolos (Showtime)...Life On A Wire with Nik Wallenda (Discovery)…RoosterTeeth presents Shark Week Immersion.

Blumenfield was one of the first producers to get short form on mainstream linear television with Surprise Instant Xmas Carol for TBS.

Recently Jay has been executive producing a new series with WWE for short form platform QUIBI. He also just finished the American Influencer Awards show live from the Dolby theater.

For the past 4 years, Jay & his partner Tony have recorded The Jay & Tony Show Show, a podcast which has become a television industry must listen.

It’s a podcast that trade publication Reality Blurred called “insightful, candid, and surprisingly honest for people who work in an industry that prides itself on feasting on its own bullshit while insisting it is chocolate-covered caviar.”

Jay is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley.

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Photo: Courtesy Lucy Blumenfield

MESSAGE 5: COREY LEWANDOWSKI

Corey Lewandowski

American political operative and commentator

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: I think every American citizen needs to ask themselves, 'Do you believe in America?', and that sums up my outlook on this entire situation. The President and Vice President have my full confidence in their ability to navigate us out of these very dark waters and I truly believe that America will emerge from this more united, safer and stronger financially than ever before. Our country has been put up against far harsher threats and I know that the leadership we have in place now is doing all they can to make sure that each American is cared for during this crisis. I fully believe in your endeavor here and we will indeed be back.

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Corey Lewandowski is an American political operative and commentator. He was a political commentator for One American News Network, Fox News and CNN, as well as a campaign manager of Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign for President of the United States from January 2015 to June 2016.

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Photo: Courtesy Corey Lewandowski

MESSAGE 4: GEORGE LEONE

George Leone

Co-Founder & COO, Corner Lot Development Group

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: In these unprecedented times it's hard to focus on what's important (definitely not toilet paper).  I remind myself daily to pray, be thankful for my life and family and to always keep working because it takes hard work to move forward toward better days ahead.

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George Leone began his seventeen-year career in real estate after graduating from Florida State University class of 2001. His ambition quickly led him to real estate development where he began his thirteen years at Toll Brothers ending as the Vice President of Land Development. In 2005 George relocated to Jacksonville, FL, where he oversaw development projects amounting in over $500 million in Central and North Florida, South Carolina and North Carolina where he regularly managed over forty different consultants and contractors. In 2016, George started Leone Development to pursue his ambition of creating a leading real estate development company in the southeast United States. Over the years, George has built a great reputation for understanding development constraints, being solution oriented and building great teams for the successful execution of land development projects. The culmination of George’s experience led him to partner with Andy in creating Corner Lot Development Group wherein it's first year sold 220 lots to local and national builders. In his personal life, George enjoys an active role with his wife Irena in raising their three children; Anthony, Jordan, and Isla.

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Photo: Courtesy George Leone

MESSAGE 3: ANDY ALLEN

Andy Allen

Co-Founder & CEO, Corner Lot Development Group

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: Thankfully, Main Street has more emphasis than Wall Street in this generation.  We have seen more people come together during this pandemic to support one another more than anytime in our history.  Initial panic is scary, but we are the home of the brave and the land of the free.  Let's not forget that. It takes bravery to be free.  This same bravery was seen on the shores of Normandy, in the dust of our towers, and everyday fighting for our families.  Finally, WE are one nation under God, we got this!

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A native of Jacksonville, Andy Allen attended Jacksonville University where he earned the President’s Award (Scholar Athlete Award) for the graduating class of 2003. Andy majored in Finance and minored in Marketing and was a Cleveland Golf Academic All-American. Andy has been involved in almost every aspect of the real estate industry throughout the past 15 years. He started Corner Lot Properties in 2009 where he conducted commercial, multi-family and land transactions and quickly became the largest real estate wholesaler in Northeast Florida showing over $1billion of real estate including acquisition, disposition, sales and development. From 2011-2014, Andy's companies facilitated the largest Residential REIT, American Homes 4 Rent, with its acquisition, rehab and management of its Northeast Florida market. This spawned Heritage Holdings, his own residential portfolio of 1,100 SFR houses, in Northeast Florida which is one of the largest in Duval County. Through natural progression, Corner Lot Development Group (CLDG) was formed in 2017 and developed over $15 million in commercial and SFR subdivisions in its first year.  Currently, CLDG is a leader in the marketplace focused on developing lots allowing for affordable priced homes to continue to exist. In 2015, he was included in Jacksonville Business Journal’s 40 under 40. Andy is the best in the business at identifying undervalued assets. Outside of real estate, Andy is one of the top amateur golfers in Jacksonville and enjoys Gator & Jaguar football. He cherishes spending time with his wife Kristen and his two children Ava and Payne.

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Photo: Courtesy Andy Allen

MESSAGE 2: PATRICK KRECHOWSKI

Patrick Krechowski

Partner, Balch & Bingham LLP

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message: Without getting too metaphysical and philosophical, my approach – and the approach I’ve been trying to relay to both my personal family and my work family in this strange and disruptive time – is to focus on the Now.  None of us live in the future.  We cannot control the future or really influence it in any meaningful way.  We can only live in the present moment.  Or, we can “worry” about the future – which is seldom productive.  We can either surrender to certain life situations or do our best to take action to change them.  At home, that means being the most patient and caring parent and husband I can be – while also learning how to be a school teacher.  It means reaching out to friends all over the world to check in on them, to ask them how they are coping and adjusting.  At work, that means staying in contact with my clients and colleagues.  Talking with them about what they are encountering or what they need to gain comfort and confidence in their path forward.  In the past few days, I’ve found that most people just want to talk and interact – even if it has nothing to do with COVID-19 and the curve-ball it has thrown us.  Together we can handle this moment.  And then the next and the next after that.

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Patrick W. Krechowski has over 20 years of experience in real estate, land use, environmental, governmental, administrative litigation, appeals and title insurance law. Patrick is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in City, County and Local Government Law. His practice focuses on all aspects of zoning and land use law, real estate due diligence, environmental permitting (including sovereign submerged lands and riparian rights), environmental remediation, water use permitting and planning, beach nourishment projects, coastal construction and due diligence before local governments and federal/state agencies, including associated administrative and civil litigation.

Patrick has represented various state agency boards and local governments, including serving as the City Attorney for Neptune Beach, Florida. This experience not only allows him to assist local governments with virtually any aspect of their operations, it also gives Patrick a unique insight into how best to navigate challenges that his private clients often encounter in seeking local and state approvals for their real estate projects.

Patrick has extensive public speaking and teaching experience and is a published contributing author to a book focused on international climate change.

Patrick is a member of the Florida Bar. He holds a B.S. from Florida State University; and, a J.D. from Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center.

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Photo: Courtesy Patrick W. Krechowski

MESSAGE 1: JUSTIN M. HIGGINS

Justin M. Higgins

Founder, JM-Higgins Realty & JM-Higgins Law

Question:  As a leader, what is your message to Americans who are frightened about the future due to the Coronavirus?

Message:  My message would be that America and its people have always been, and will always be, the most resilient Earth has ever known.  While the dark clouds of COVID-19 currently cover our country, and have frightened many, including me, I know, and all Americans should know, that the sun will soon shine through again, it always does.  In trying times like these, it is important, if not essential, for the most courageous among us to open their hearts and extend their hands to those in need.  I am already seeing this in my hometown of Jacksonville, Florida, where family members are helping family members, neighbors are helping neighbors, colleagues are helping colleagues, and strangers are helping strangers.  Coronavirus, in all its awfulness, is quickly bringing a divided America together, which to me, is already a sign that things are moving in the right direction.  America will be back again! 

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Justin M. Higgins is the Founder and Managing Member of JM-Higgins Realty (https://www.jm-higginsrealty.com/) and JM-Higgins Law. Prior to founding his own businesses, Mr. Higgins worked for Lendlease, a global real estate development, construction and investment firm, where he held legal, project management and property management roles. Earlier, he was an attorney for Deutsche Bank, a global investment bank, with a focus on servicing the firm’s hedge fund clientele.

In March 2020, he founded a digital questionnaire series called, AMERICA WILL BE BACK!, Messages from leaders to Americans experiencing COVID-19 adversity. The series can be found on Twitter @A_W_B_B.

In 2016, he founded a digital interview series called, The Life Advice Guide, Insights for Young Adults from Stars of Business and Beyond. The series, which can be found at www.justinmhiggins.com, featured: Larry Summers (former Secretary of the Treasury under President Bill Clinton); Robert Herjavec (‘Shark’ on ABC’s Shark Tank); Chris Sacca (billionaire venture capitalist); Anthony Scaramucci (former White House Communications Director under President Donald J. Trump); Arianna Huffington (Founder of The Huffington Post); Robert Wolf (former Chairman and CEO of the American arm of global investment bank UBS); and many more.

In years 2014-2017 and 2019, Mr. Higgins was invited to and attended the invitation-only SkyBridge Alternatives (SALT) Conference (www.salt.org), the leading alternative investment event in the world, as one of its youngest delegates. In 2019, Mr. Higgins participated in the exclusive SALT Young Leaders Circle (SYLC), which was comprised of emerging professionals from around the world, representing the worlds of business, politics, technology and philanthropy.

Mr. Higgins is a former Division I soccer player and holds Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees. He is a licensed Florida real estate broker and attorney.

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Photo: Courtesy Justin M. Higgins