The CEO of Mega Service Solutions leads from the heart, on all fronts
He’s a man of many layers. You might see John Mejia at a community event, or hosting an impressive tailgate at a sporting event, his charming and beautiful wife Samantha, by his side. Together, they are the epitome of fun. There are deep currents in his story. His memories from his military service days bring … Read more
Kelly Boyd-Rivera started a dental lab in Tampa with a goal of global expansion
How did the St Pauli girl become a chief executive officer for a dental prosthetics company? Now that we have your attention, the real question is, how did a young single mother graduate from Purdue University, with a double major, and rise to the notoriety of being one of the only women led dental prosthetics … Read more
Rob Elder’s offroad adventure wasn’t a bumpy one, but he made it his own
In a suburb of Detroit, Michigan, is where Robert “Rob” Elder’s story begins. With car dealerships being where his family made a name for itself, in the professional world, the location is fitting. He, his brother Tony and sister Stephanie run the Elder Automotive empire today. Elder as president and chief executive officer of the … Read more
Micha Seal makes waves through swim school growth in Tampa Bay
Quirky, ambitious, tenacious, sweet. If Micha Seal had a Webster’s Dictionary entry, these are the adjectives that would be used for her. Her riverfront home, in New Port Richey, is decorated immaculately with flairs of her personality and a unique homage to her business. She even has a lap pool in her front yard, obscured … Read more
The founders of BKS Partners are empowering the next generation to take hold
Laura Sherman, Lowry Baldwin and Elizabeth Krystyn never thought they’d end up in the insurance industry, yet their unique paths brought them together to co-found Baldwin, Krystyn, Sherman (BKS) Partners, an agency that works outside the box cultivating long-haul relationships and partnerships with regional and national insurance companies, to ensure the best possible experience for … Read more
The Story of McKibbon: A father and son open up about their family ties
In 1926, a man named John “Jack” McKibbon Jr., along with his brother Marvin, teamed up and opened a franchise location of Piggly Wiggly in Gainesville, Georgia. This was the start of the McKibbon enterprise, the springboard for McKibbon Hospitality, based in Tampa. John McKibbon III is currently chair of the board of McKibbon and … Read more
The making of a good boss: Paula Woodring’s business love story
While most young people were preparing for their senior prom, Paula Woodring was preparing to buy her first home. She says she didn’t know what she wanted to do when she grew up, and yet, this could have been a solid clue. “I was just graduating high school when I, kind of, fell into what … Read more
Fred Lay built a full life from scratch, which has come full circle
There’s a unique quality to the story of Fred Lay. Often, the building blocks lead back to the beginning of his life. His outlook, his grit, his giving heart, the way he behaves as a father…nearly every step he takes, on any given day, is paved by a slab that was poured for him before … Read more
Joe Lopano prepares to leave his legacy at TPA for his next great journey
It’s 8 a.m. on a Friday, at Tampa International Airport. It’s sunny and the weather is slowly warming up, hour by hour. It started out about 40 degrees, this February morning, and will hit almost 80 degrees later in the day. It’s one of those perfect Tampa Bay days that would have made Joe Lopano … Read more