Advertise on podcast: ElevatePolk

What happens when education, business, and opportunity truly connect? In this episode of Elevate Polk, Chrissanne Long and Dan Thumberg sit down with Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Fred Heid to talk about the future of education and workforce development in Polk County. The conversation explores how PCPS is creating stronger connections between students and the real world through career and technical education, workforce partnerships, 3DE, mentorship, entrepreneurship, and exposure to opportunities beyond the traditional college pathway. Fred also shares why partnerships with local businesses matter, how employers can play a role in preparing the next generation, and why helping students understand the opportunities available right here in Polk County is critical to our community’s future. We talk about: ✔ Workforce development and career readiness ✔ Career and technical education and skilled trades ✔ 3DE and real-world learning experiences ✔ Business mentorship and community partnerships ✔ Entrepreneurship as a pathway for students ✔ Connecting education, business, and economic opportunity in Polk County If Polk County wants to become a true land of opportunity, it starts with making sure the next generation can see the possibilities — and has a pathway to reach them. 🎙️ ElevatePolk is hosted by Chrissanne Long and Dan Thumberg and explores the people, ideas, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of Polk County, Florida.

The Central Florida Business Expo is more than a trade show—it’s a chance to see just how much business opportunity already exists right here in Polk County and throughout Central Florida. In this episode of ElevatePolk, Chrissanne takes Dan inside the vision for the 2026 Central Florida Business Expo and answers the question every business owner is really asking: What’s in it for me? They talk about why Polk County deserves the kind of large-scale business experience we often travel to Tampa, Orlando or other major markets to find—and how the Expo is creating a place where business owners, professionals, entrepreneurs and community leaders can discover new resources, build strategic relationships and invest in what’s next. Chrissanne and Dan also dig into the realities of networking—especially for people who don’t naturally love walking into a room full of strangers—and why approaching the Expo with intention can turn one day into meaningful conversations and opportunities long after the event is over. Plus, there’s a lot more happening than booths and business cards: ✓ A large-scale Expo Hall filled with businesses and resource partners ✓ Main stage speakers and breakout sessions ✓ A unique speed networking experience ✓ Taste of Central Florida, featuring samples from local restaurants ✓ The Squeeze Play Parade and a reminder that adults deserve opportunities to play, too ✓ Live art and creative activations ✓ Junior Achievement and Polk County Public Schools students getting hands-on exposure to business, networking, media and culinary careers At its heart, the Expo is about putting a flag in the ground and saying: Look at what already exists here. Look at who we are in Polk County, We are the Heart of Central Florida. The 2026 Central Florida Business Expo takes place September 30 at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland, with a VIP, sponsor and exhibitor Welcome Reception on September 29. Learn more, get tickets and explore ways to participate at https://CFLBE.com

Are you working toward progress—or quietly standing in your own way? In Episode 11 of the Elevate Polk Podcast, Chrissanne Long and Dan Thumberg get honest about perfectionism, analysis paralysis and the hidden cost of refusing to “ship” something until it feels flawless. They explore how business owners become their own bottleneck by fixating on details that may never change the outcome, continuing to carry water in a leaky bucket and spending valuable time perfecting work that was already good enough to serve a customer. In this episode: ✔️ Why fear often disguises itself as preparation, refinement or another reasonable excuse ✔️ How to identify the work that actually moves your business forward ✔️ Why you cannot build Version 2 until you release Version 1 ✔️ The connection between the 80/20 principle and Chrissanne’s emerging 4% Growth System ✔️ How clear goals and measurable outcomes help define “good enough” ✔️ Why outside perspective can help you see the bottlenecks you have normalized ✔️ A practical way to improve your visibility in AI-generated search results Your challenge: ➜ Identify three to five questions customers repeatedly ask about your business. Answer them clearly on your website, publish the page and let the real-world response guide your next version. Perfection isn’t progress if it keeps you standing still. Define the goal, complete the work, ship it—and improve it with evidence. Subscribe to the ElevatePolk Podcast on YouTube, follow Elevate Polk on Facebook and listen wherever you get your podcasts.

AI is everywhere — but is it actually helping your business, or just creating more noise? In this episode of the Elevate Polk Podcast, Chrissanne Long and Dan Thumberg dive into the real-world use of AI for business owners, leaders, and operators who are trying to figure out what’s useful, what’s hype, and what needs a serious “trust but verify” approach. From ChatGPT and Claude to AI hallucinations, deterministic workflows, business bottlenecks, and the rise of “AI slop,” this conversation is not about guru buzzwords or magic-button promises. It’s about how to think more clearly, use AI more intentionally, and avoid handing your business over to a machine that still needs context, direction, and quality control. In this episode, we talk about: Why AI is a thought partner, not a magic show How business owners accidentally become the bottleneck Why “trust but verify” matters more than ever The difference between tactical AI use and strategic AI use ChatGPT, Claude, Codex, Claude Code, and practical business applications Why AI needs context before it can give useful output How to avoid sending out lazy, unreviewed “AI slop” Why AI can help refine your systems — but it can’t fix unclear thinking If you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, marketer, or leader trying to make sense of AI without falling for the hype, this episode is for you. Chapters: 00:00 Intro 01:46 AI hallucinations and “trust but verify” 02:49 Business owners as the bottleneck 07:46 AI is a thought partner, not a magic show 13:02 ChatGPT, Codex, Claude, and Claude Code 17:15 Deterministic workflows and repeatable tasks 23:37 Tactical AI use in business 32:49 Why tactical AI can only take you so far 34:27 Machines don’t understand you — they process inputs 50:48 AI still needs human thinking 57:28 Don’t send out AI slop Subscribe to Elevate Polk for more conversations about business, leadership, community, technology, and what it really takes to grow in Polk County and beyond. Brought to you by:  It’s 3PM | https://Its3PM.io  Central Florida Business Expo | https://CFLBE.com #ElevatePolk #ArtificialIntelligence #AIForBusiness #BusinessGrowth #SmallBusinessLeadership #ChatGPT #ClaudeAI #BusinessStrategy #PolkCounty #LakelandFL

What happens when a community suddenly wakes up to a public process that has technically been available all along? In this episode of ElevatePolk, Chrissanne Long and Dan Thumberg unpack the conversation surrounding proposed data centers in Lakeland and Polk County, but this episode is not really about data centers. It is about engagement. It is about how local government works, why public process can feel hidden even when it is technically public, and what happens when citizens only become engaged after a headline, a controversy, or a crisis grabs their attention. Chrissanne and Dan talk through civic apathy, public trust, social contracts, economic development, private investment, community responsibility, and the tension between “I didn’t know” and “the information was available.” They also explore how artificial intelligence, public communication, social media, and local leadership are changing the way people receive, process, and respond to information. This is a real, off-the-cuff conversation about what it means to stay engaged before the machine is already moving. In this episode: ✔️ Why public process matters, even before a project becomes “real” ✔️ The difference between being informed and being reactive ✔️ How communities can become more civically engaged ✔️ Why local government communication is harder than it looks ✔️ The responsibility citizens have to pay attention ✔️ How data centers became the spark for a much larger conversation ✔️ Why "Trust, but verify" and civil discourse matter now more than ever Watch, listen, and join the conversation. What would help you feel more informed and engaged in local decisions before they become hot-button issues? Subscribe to Elevate Polk for conversations about small business, entrepreneurship, economic development, and the future of Polk County. Follow Elevate Polk: Facebook:   https://facebook.com/elevatepolk   Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Brought to you by: It’s 3PM | https://Its3PM.io Central Florida Business Expo | https://CFLBE.com #ElevatePolk #LakelandFL #PolkCountyFL #CityOfLakeland #EconomicDevelopment #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #LakelandBusiness #PolkCountyBusiness #CentralFloridaBusiness #Infrastructure #LocalGovernment #CommunityDevelopment

Lakeland is growing, and the decisions being made today will shape what it feels like to live, work, build, and do business here for years to come. In this episode of Elevate Polk,  @ChrissanneLong   and Dan @thumberg  sit down with Shawn Sherrouse, City Manager for the City of Lakeland, for a deeper conversation about the 2026 State of the City, Lakeland’s strategic priorities, and how city planning connects to small business, infrastructure, public safety, quality of life, and economic development. Shawn walks through the realities of managing a growing city, including aging water and wastewater infrastructure, major road and corridor projects, public safety investments, community survey results, city services, and the balancing act between keeping costs competitive and preparing for future growth. The conversation also shifts into the economic development lens: how local businesses can engage with the city, why city purchasing matters, how events like the Central Florida Business Expo support business connection, and why Lakeland’s cost of doing business may be one of its most important untold stories. This episode is a candid look at the work happening behind the scenes in Lakeland — and why business owners, entrepreneurs, and community leaders should be paying attention. In this episode: ✔️ What a city manager actually does ✔️ Why Lakeland’s growth is putting pressure on infrastructure ✔️ How community input shapes city priorities ✔️ The five strategic focus areas from the State of the City ✔️ Why public safety, parks, and quality of life matter to business growth ✔️ How FDOT, the city, and other agencies work together on major road projects ✔️ Why local vendor opportunities and city purchasing matter ✔️ The role of events like the Central Florida Business Expo in economic development ✔️ How Lakeland’s utility rates, millage, and cost structure impact competitiveness ✔️ What Lakeland still needs to get right as it continues to grow Lakeland’s future is being shaped right now. This conversation helps connect the dots between city government, local business, infrastructure, and the broader economic future of Polk County. Subscribe to Elevate Polk for conversations about small business, entrepreneurship, economic development, and the future of Polk County. Follow Elevate Polk: Facebook: https://facebook.com/ElevatePolk Available on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever you listen to podcasts. Brought to you by:  It’s 3PM | https://Its3PM.io  Central Florida Business Expo | https://CFLBE.com

In this episode of Elevate Polk,  ⁨Chrissanne Long⁩  and Dan Thumberg⁩ sit down with Omar Arroyo, a Polk County entrepreneur, construction business owner, Haines City public servant, husband, and father whose story reaches far beyond a title. Omar shares his journey from Mexico to Texas and eventually to Haines City, where what began as a short-term work opportunity became the place he chose to build his life. From learning the trades and starting his own crew without speaking English, to building a business with his brothers and stepping into local leadership, Omar’s story is one of work ethic, resilience, humility, and purpose. This conversation explores the power of skilled trades, the barriers that can exist for first-generation and minority entrepreneurs, the importance of relationships and networking, and why opening doors for the next generation matters. Omar also reflects on representation, becoming the first Hispanic elected commissioner in Haines City, and how personal experiences, including his family’s journey navigating autism resources, have shaped the way he sees service and community. This is not a campaign interview. It is a story about building a life, building a business, and helping shape a Polk County where more people can find the path, the support, and the opportunity they need to move forward. In this episode, we talk about: ✔️ Omar’s journey from Mexico to Haines City ✔️ Learning English while building a career in construction ✔️ The trades as a pathway to opportunity ✔️ Starting and growing a family business ✔️ Barriers facing minority and first-generation entrepreneurs ✔️ Representation and civic leadership ✔️ Why relationships open doors ✔️ Creating clearer pathways for students, families, and future business owners ✔️ How stories help shape the culture of a community Like, subscribe, and follow ElevatePolk for more honest conversations about business, leadership, economic development, and the future of Polk County. Follow ElevatePolk: Facebook: https://facebook.com/ElevatePolk Podcast: Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify Brought to you by: It’s 3PM | https://Its3PM.io Central Florida Business Expo | https://CFLBE.com

In this episode of the ElevatePolk Podcast Dan Thumberg and Chrissanne Long dig into a difficult but important question for Polk County’s business and civic community: Are we building relationships that are truly mutually beneficial, or have too many small businesses been pulled into a “pay to play” culture where visibility, access, and opportunity come with unclear expectations and little real reciprocity? What starts with a conversation about generosity, collaboration, and small business involvement turns into a deeper discussion about extraction, innovation, community leadership, and why entrepreneurs often feel invited into the room but not always valued once they get there. Dan and Chrissanne explore the tension between giving back and being drained, the difference between true collaboration and one-sided participation, and why small businesses should be seen not just as sponsors, volunteers, or donors, but as essential innovators in the local economy. This episode is an honest conversation about what it will take to build a healthier, more collaborative business ecosystem in Polk County — one where the goal is not just a win-win, but a win-win-win: good for the organization, good for the business, and good for the community.   In this episode: ✔️ Why “mutually beneficial, not extractive” hit so hard ✔️ The hidden cost of asking small businesses to keep giving without clear value in return ✔️ How small businesses drive innovation, jobs, and community growth ✔️ The difference between collaboration and simply being “included” ✔️ Why entrepreneurs opt out when the pathway is unclear ✔️ How Polk County can create a more connected, solutions-focused ecosystem ✔️ Why "feeding the whole network" matters more than protecting individual silos Small businesses matter. Entrepreneurs matter. And if Polk County wants to grow in a healthy, sustainable way, the people who are building, solving, risking, and innovating every day need to be part of the conversation. Like, subscribe, and follow ElevatePolk for more honest conversations about business, leadership, economic development, and the future of Polk County. Follow Elevate Polk: Facebook: Elevate Polk Podcast: Available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify   Brought to you by: It’s 3PM | https://Its3PM.io Central Florida Business Expo | https://CFLBE.com

Episode Notes: Episode 5, “The Bill Comes Due” What does public transit have to do with economic development, workforce access, infrastructure, local government budgets, and the future of Polk County? More than most people realize. In this episode of Elevate Polk, Dan Thumberg and Chrissanne Long sit down with Tom Phillips, CEO of Citrus Connection, for a candid conversation about the role public transportation plays in helping people get to work, supporting local businesses, and connecting communities across Polk County. Tom breaks down how Citrus Connection is funded, why transit is more than “just buses,” and what happens when public services are expected to grow while funding stays flat or disappears altogether. The conversation also tackles a much bigger issue: the potential elimination of homesteaded property taxes in Florida. While the idea may sound appealing on the surface, Tom helps explain what property taxes actually fund and what communities may have to give up if replacement revenue is not clearly defined. From Skittles to chicken nuggets, this episode uses real-world analogies to make complicated funding and infrastructure conversations easier to understand. This episode is about more than transit. It is about the bill that eventually comes due when communities want growth, quality of life, mobility, public safety, parks, infrastructure, and economic opportunity, but are not always willing to talk honestly about how those things are paid for.   In this episode: ✔️ What Citrus Connection does across Polk County ✔️ Why public transportation matters to the workforce ✔️ How transit funding actually works ✔️ The connection between transportation and economic development ✔️ Why service cuts have real consequences ✔️ What property taxes currently fund in local government ✔️ The potential impact of eliminating homesteaded property taxes ✔️ Why the business community needs to pay attention and show up   Learn more about Citrus Connection | https://ridecitrus.com Listen to "Another One Rides the Bus" Episode 17 | https://elevatepolk.com/episodes/another-one-rides-the-bus Follow Elevate Polk on Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/ElevatePolk Learn more about our sponsors: Central Florida Business Expo | https://cflbe.com It's 3PM | https://its3pm.io

Episode Notes: Episode 4, “No Man’s Land” In this episode of Elevate Polk, Chrissanne Long and Dan Thumberg dig into the phrase “No Man’s Land” and what it reveals about Polk County’s identity, reputation, and small business ecosystem. The conversation begins with a personal reflection on growing up in Polk County and the assumptions people have carried about the area for decades. From outdated stereotypes to the way Polk is often described as being “between Tampa and Orlando,” Chrissanne and Dan explore how those perceptions still influence the way people outside the county view our talent, businesses, and opportunities. The episode then shifts into the real issue: Polk County is not lacking resources, talent, ambition, or entrepreneurial energy. The problem is that those resources can be difficult to find, difficult to navigate, and not always organized in a way that helps business owners know where to turn next. Chrissanne and Dan discuss how surrounding communities have created more unified access points for entrepreneurs, while Polk often sits in the middle of larger regional systems. That can leave local business owners unsure whether they belong in the Tampa Bay resource network, the Central Florida resource network, or somewhere else entirely. A major theme of the episode is the need to move beyond accidental connections. Business owners should not have to rely on luck, networking events, or being in the right room at the right time to find the support they need. Polk County has an opportunity to build a more intentional, visible, and connected entrepreneurial ecosystem. The episode also references the 2023 resource mapping work done in Lakeland with SourceLink and local entrepreneurial resource partners. That process revealed that entrepreneurs are not the only ones struggling with visibility. Resource organizations themselves often face the same challenges around funding, labor, awareness, and connection. Ultimately, this episode is a call to stop accepting “No Man’s Land” as Polk County’s identity. Instead, Chrissanne and Dan challenge listeners to think about what it would take to create a clearer front door for entrepreneurs, stronger collaboration among resource providers, and a countywide system that helps small businesses find their way. Topics Discussed Polk County’s outdated reputation and how outside perceptions still shape opportunity Why “between Tampa and Orlando” can sometimes feel like an advantage and sometimes feel like a gap The difference between having resources and having resources that are easy to find Why small business owners often struggle to know where to turn for help How surrounding communities have organized business resources more clearly The role of Entrepreneurial Support Organizations (ESOs) The challenge of visibility for both entrepreneurs and resource providers What “Beyond Collisions” means and why chance connections are not enough The 2023 Lakeland resource mapping project with SourceLink How ecosystem building can create stronger pathways for entrepreneurs The importance of creating a more systematic approach to small business support in Polk County Central Florida Business Expo as a place where business owners, resource partners, and regional leaders can connect Resources Mentioned in the Episode You can link to these in the show notes: It’s 3PM Episode sponsor and resource mentioned at the beginning of the show. Link: its3pm.io It’s 3PM / MySpace Mentioned during the opening conversation. Link: its3pm.io/myspace Central Florida Business Expo Mentioned as part of the broader effort to connect business owners, exhibitors, sponsors, and resource partners across the I-4 Corridor. Link: CFLBE.com Beyond Collisions: How to Build Your Entrepreneurial Infrastructure The book Chrissanne references when discussing the need to move beyond accidental connections and toward a more intentional entrepreneurial ecosystem. Author referenced in the episode: Maria Meyers https://www.joinsourcelink.com/explore/beyond-collisions-book/ 2023 Lakeland Entrepreneurial Ecosystem / Resource Mapping Report Referenced as the report that came out of the Lakeland-focused resource mapping conversations with local entrepreneurial support organizations.REPORT: https://resources.polkbizhub.com/entreprereneurial-asset-mapping-reportSOURCEFINDER - Matrix/Graphic  https://resources.polkbizhub.com/2023-lakeland-sourcefinder

In this episode of the ElevatePolk Podcast, we sit down with Shauna Dykes of Junior Achievement of Polk County to explore how students are being prepared for the real world through hands-on learning, business exposure, mentorship, and entrepreneurial thinking. Shauna shares how Junior Achievement is helping bridge the gap between the classroom and the workforce by giving young people practical experiences that build confidence, vision, and readiness for the future. We also discuss the impact of the new JA Discovery Center at Tenoroc High School, the importance of local business involvement, and why investing in students today is a meaningful investment in Polk County’s long-term future. This episode also ties directly into the Central Florida Business Expo, where Junior Achievement is the beneficiary, 20% of proceeds will support JA locally, and student-run businesses will be featured at the event. In this episode, we discuss: The mission of Junior Achievement of Polk County How JA helps students build skills in financial literacy, career readiness, and entrepreneurship The vision and impact of the JA Discovery Center Why business leaders matter as mentors, volunteers, and supporters How exposing students to opportunity helps shape Polk’s future The connection between Junior Achievement and the Central Florida Business Expo Why featuring student businesses at the Expo matters Episode Links:  JA Polk website: japolk.org Instagram: instagram.com/JA_Polk Follow along with Dan's new project: its3pm.io Join the conversation and learn more about the Central Florida Business Expo: cflbe.com | instagram.com/cflbe | facebook.com/cflbe

Topics discussed in this episode: Why the phrase “Our Greatest Export” became the framing for the episode and what it suggests about local talent loss. Polk County’s Innovation Intelligence Index data, including the gap between Human Capital and Economic Well-Being. Peer county comparisons with Pasco, Marion, and Lee. Labor shed and commuter data showing how many Polk residents leave the county for work. The idea that Polk may be operating as a “dormitory county” rather than fully converting its talent into local prosperity. Whether current economic development priorities are creating the right kinds of outcomes for residents. The tension between growth, affordability, commuting, and long-term community well-being. Bigger questions around accountability, local strategy, and what Polk wants its future to look like. Episode notes: This episode is more of a data-driven conversation than a typical broad economic development discussion. It is framed around a core mismatch: the talent is here, but the outcomes are not showing up at the level they should. The discussion moves from instinct, to data, to interpretation, and finally to a broader civic question about whether Polk County is intentionally building the kind of economy that helps more residents get ahead locally. Show Links: Innovation Intelligence Index: statsamerica.org/innovation2 Central Florida Development Council: cfdc.org/continued-growth-in-polk-county-fuels-economic-development-opportunities/ Labor Shed Report: lmsresources.labormarketinfo.com/library/labor_shed/polk.pdf Polk Health Care Plan: polkhealthcareplan.net/polk-healthcare-plan/ This podcast is brought to you by: It’s 3PM | its3pm.io Central Florida Business Expo | cflbe.com

After a long hiatus, ElevatePolk is back. In this relaunch episode, Chrissanne Long and Dan Thumberg pull back the curtain on how the podcast started, why it went quiet, and why now feels like the right time to bring it back. They talk honestly about growth, frustration, big vision, entrepreneurship, and what has changed in Polk County since the original show. This is a real conversation about what it means to build something, lose momentum, and come back with a clearer purpose. If you care about small business, entrepreneurship, economic development, and the future of Polk County, this is where the new chapter begins.Resources Mentioned During this Episode: It's 3PM - Dan's newly launched consultancy Central Florida Business Expo - Taking place on September 29 & 30 at the RP Funding Center

On this episode of Elevate Polk, Chrissanne and Nate talk with the founder of Help(Her), Teresa O’Brien, and enjoy listening to her incredible story. Teresa is a mother of three adopted children, all the same age. She wanted to find the middle-ground between being a stay-at-home mother for her family but wanting to feel fulfilled and impact others. After making the decision to quit her dream job to happily raise her three children, Teresa felt that she needed to dream in a different way! So, she took to creating opportunities for women like her: women who want to stay home still with their kids but have the college degree and skillset to gain some money and help other people. Thus, Help(Her) was born. When you fall in love with the city of Lakeland, the city will fall in love with you right back. Through the support of the community of women like her and connection after connection, Help(Her) has given many opportunities for both the clients and the help(hers)! After listening to this episode, they hope to remind you that you are valued, what you do matters, and it's always okay to ask for help. You are going to LOVE this episode!

On this episode of Elevate Polk, Chrissanne and Nate talk with Clarke Freed about entrepreneurial growth coaching and the aspects of both having a coach and being a coach to others. Clarke, having been Chrissanne’s coach for years, tells listeners his story of how he became a coach to others. Initially working in the Navy and leading young men and women in their day-to-day life, Clarke was encouraged by his wife to pursue coaching. After earning his coach certification, Clarke tells the audience that his goal is to always get better at providing value to his clients, and has his own coach to this day to do so! Chrissanne and Clarke share the heartwarming and valuable experiences they’ve learned working together over the years, while also discussing some of the greatest challenges they’ve come to face and overcome. Who knows, you might be looking for a coach after this episode!