Palm Beach North Podcast Network

Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce

Welcome to the Palm Beach North Podcast Network— the official home of the Palm Beach North Podcast and the People Behind Progress Podcast, produced by the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce. Through conversations with influential business leaders, entrepreneurs, elected officials, and community change makers, we explore the people, businesses, and ideas shaping Florida's Prosperity Coast. Whether you're listening to the Palm Beach North Podcast for conversations on economic development and regional issues, or watching People Behind Progress for behind-the-scenes stories from the leaders and organizations making a difference, you'll gain insight into what makes Palm Beach North thrive. 🎧 New episodes released regularly. Subscribe for conversations about: • Business & economic development • Leadership & entrepreneurship • Community impact & civic engagement • Innovation & workforce development • Regional collaboration • The people & organizations moving Palm Beach North forward

  1. 2d ago

    Powering the Future | People Behind Progress with Brian Matthews

    In this episode of People Behind Progress, Noel Martinez sits down with Brian Matthews, Founder + CEO of AMPERA, to discuss the future of energy and the technology being developed right here in Palm Beach Gardens to help meet the world's rapidly growing demand for reliable, abundant power. From the rise of AI and data centers to advanced nuclear technology, Brian shares why he believes energy is fundamental to economic growth and prosperity and how AMPERA is working to rethink the way energy is generated, deployed and consumed. He breaks down the company's "Power Now. Nuclear Next." strategy, the potential for subcritical thorium-based nuclear systems, and how AMPERA is approaching safety, scalability and innovation. Brian also shares his journey as an entrepreneur and engineer, the culture he's building at AMPERA, why integrity is one of his most important leadership principles, and why Palm Beach Gardens was the right place to build the company's global headquarters. Together, they explore what the future of energy could look like and why science, technology, curiosity and bold thinking will play an important role in shaping what's next. Topics Covered 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Brian Matthews & AMPERA 03:00 – Entrepreneurship, Mentors & Building Technology Companies 07:33 – Why Energy Is Fundamental to Progress 09:40 – What Is AMPERA? 12:04 – “Power Now. Nuclear Next.” & the Future of Energy 16:10 – AI, Data Centers, Defense & Maritime Applications 19:46 – Nuclear Energy: Misconceptions, Technology & Safety 26:36 – Building AMPERA: Culture, Bold Thinking & Integrity 32:41 – Why Palm Beach Gardens & the Future of the Region 37:55 – AMPERA’s Vision for the Future & What Progress Means Whether you're a business leader, entrepreneur, engineer, technology professional, or simply interested in how innovation is shaping the future of energy, this conversation offers a fascinating look at the people and ideas working to solve one of the biggest challenges facing our growing economy. To watch previous episodes of People Behind Progress, visit our Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce YouTube channel. Subscribe here for future episodes of People Behind Progress, highlighting the leaders, ideas and innovations shaping the future of Palm Beach North and beyond. Connect with us on social media: Facebook: @PalmBeachNorthChamber Instagram: @pbnchamber LinkedIn: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com To learn more about AMPERA, visit www.amperaglobal.com AMPERA LinkedIn: AMPERA Facebook: AMPERA Instagram: AMPERA Brian Matthews LinkedIn: Brian Matthews #PeopleBehindProgress #EnergyInnovation #NuclearEnergy #CleanEnergy #PalmBeachNorth #AMPERA

    Powering the Future | People Behind Progress with Brian Matthews
  2. Jul 31

    The Culture That Drives Success | People Behind Progress with Patti Hamilton & Travis Hitchcock

    In this episode of People Behind Progress, Noel Martinez sits down with Patti Hamilton, Vice President of Brand & Culture, and Travis Hitchcock, Chief Operating Officer, of Coastal Waste & Recycling to discuss the leadership, culture, and values behind one of the fastest-growing waste and recycling companies in the Southeast. Beyond the blue trucks seen throughout the community, Patti and Travis share how a people-first culture, servant leadership, and a commitment to developing employees have become the foundation of Coastal's success. They also discuss the role sustainability, innovation, and accountability play in building a company that serves both its customers and its communities. Together, they explore what it takes to create an organization where employees are empowered to grow, leadership is built from within, and a strong culture drives lasting impact. Topics Covered 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Coastal Waste & Recycling 02:18 – Leadership Journeys & Careers in Waste and Recycling 05:53 – What Coastal Waste & Recycling Does 07:05 – The People Behind Coastal's Rapid Growth 10:39 – Building a People-First Culture 14:24 – Leadership, Accountability & Developing Great Teams 21:17 – The Core Values That Drive Coastal 24:11 – Palm Beach County's Growth & Economic Development 29:07 – Recycling, Sustainability & Innovation 33:10 – The Future of Coastal Waste & Recycling 35:22 – What Progress and Legacy Really Mean Whether you're a business leader, entrepreneur, people manager, or someone interested in leadership and organizational culture, this conversation offers valuable insight into how purpose-driven leadership creates lasting success. Subscribe for future episodes of People Behind Progress, highlighting the leaders, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of Palm Beach North and beyond. Connect with us on social media: Facebook: @PalmBeachNorthChamber Instagram: @pbnchamber LinkedIn: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com To learn more about Coastal Waste & Recycling, visit www.coastalwasteinc.com Coastal Waste & Recycling LinkedIn: Coastal Waste & Recycling, Inc Facebook: @CoastalWasteInc Instagram: @coastalwasteinc Patti Hamilton LinkedIn: Patti W. Hamilton Travis Hitchcock LinkedIn: Travis Hitchcock #PeopleBehindProgress #Leadership #CompanyCulture #PalmBeachNorth #CoastalWaste

    The Culture That Drives Success | People Behind Progress with Patti Hamilton & Travis Hitchcock
  3. Jul 27

    From Foster Care to Changing Florida | People Behind Progress with Heather Cogar

    In this episode of People Behind Progress, Noel Martinez sits down with Heather Cogar, Statewide Director of Community Engagement for the Florida Chamber Foundation's Florida Prosperity Initiative, for an inspiring conversation about resilience, leadership, and the fight to end childhood poverty in Florida. Drawing from her own journey through foster care, homelessness, and adversity, Heather shares how the support of caring mentors and community leaders transformed her life and ultimately led her to a career dedicated to creating opportunity for others. Together, Noel and Heather explore the Florida Prosperity Initiative, the role of the business community in addressing poverty, and why collaboration is the key to building stronger, more prosperous communities. Topics Covered 00:00 – Introduction & Meet Heather Cogar 01:34 – Heather's Journey Through Foster Care and Adversity 03:04 – The Program That Changed Her Life 05:26 – Returning to School and Finding a New Path 08:14 – From Law Enforcement to Purpose-Driven Leadership 12:21 – How the Florida Chamber Helped Make Her Dream a Reality 14:00 – The Mission Behind the Florida Prosperity Initiative 17:07 – Tackling Childhood Poverty Through Community Collaboration 22:04 – Why Palm Beach County Is Leading by Example 39:32 – What Gives Heather Hope for Florida's Future Whether you're a business leader, educator, nonprofit professional, or someone passionate about strengthening communities, this conversation offers a powerful reminder that lasting progress begins when people come together around a shared purpose. Subscribe for future episodes of People Behind Progress, highlighting the leaders, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of Palm Beach North and beyond. Connect with us on social media: Facebook: @PalmBeachNorthChamber Instagram: @pbnchamber LinkedIn: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com. To learn more about Heather Cogar and Florida Chamber Foundation's Florida Prosperity Initiative, visit https://www.flchamber.com/flprosperityinitiative/ #Peoplebehindprogress #PalmBeachNorth #FloridaChamber #Leadership #CommunityLeadership

    From Foster Care to Changing Florida | People Behind Progress with Heather Cogar
  4. Jul 27

    How Great Communities Are Built | People Behind Progress with Sheree Anne Kelly, ACCE

    In the debut episode of People Behind Progress, Noel Martinez sits down with Sheree Anne Kelly, President & CEO of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), for a conversation about leadership, economic development, and the evolving role of chambers of commerce in shaping strong communities. Drawing on her experience working with chamber leaders across the country, Sheree Anne shares why the most successful chambers serve as futurists, conveners, and catalysts for regional prosperity. The discussion explores ACCE's Horizon 2035 initiative, the challenges facing today's leaders, the importance of resilience, and why she remains optimistic about the next generation of changemakers. Topics Covered 00:00 – Introduction & Meet Sheree Anne Kelly 03:12 – The Role of ACCE and the Future of Chambers 05:18 – Why Chambers Must Be Futurists for Their Regions 07:13 – Are Businesses Underutilizing Chambers? 08:20 – Horizon 2035: Preparing for the Future 10:04 – Chambers as Unifiers and Community Conveners 15:41 – Leadership Challenges Facing Chamber CEOs 18:10 – Building Strong CEO and Board Relationships 24:05 – The Leadership Traits Needed for 2035 25:49 – Why Sheree Anne Kelly Is Optimistic About the Future Whether you're a business owner, community leader, or someone interested in the future of your region, this conversation offers valuable insights on leadership, collaboration, and creating lasting community impact. Subscribe for future episodes of People Behind Progress, highlighting the leaders, ideas, and innovations shaping the future of Palm Beach North and beyond. Connect with us on social media: Facebook: @PalmBeachNorthChamber Instagram: @pbnchamber LinkedIn: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce YouTube: Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit www.pbnchamber.com. To learn more about Sheree Anne Kelly and the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE), visit www.acce.org. #PeopleBehindProgress #PalmBeachNorth #Leadership #BusinessLeadership #CommunityImpact

    How Great Communities Are Built | People Behind Progress with Sheree Anne Kelly, ACCE
  5. Mar 6

    Inside Palm Beach County Elections with Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link

    Running secure, accurate, and transparent elections for more than 900,000 registered voters in Palm Beach County is no small task. Behind every election is a year-round operation focused on security, accessibility, and ensuring every eligible vote is counted. In this episode, Wendy Sartory Link, Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections, returns to the Palm Beach North Podcast to discuss the upcoming election cycle, key voting dates, and the processes in place to protect the integrity of elections. She also shares insight into how the elections office operates behind the scenes—from verifying vote-by-mail ballots to recruiting thousands of poll workers who help ensure the process runs smoothly. Later in the episode, she also discusses how ballots are verified, the technology used to audit results, and how community members can get involved in the election process. T opics Covered: 00:48 Running elections for more than 900,000 registered voters in Palm Beach County 04:30 Key election dates including municipal, special, primary, and general elections 05:40 Florida’s closed primary system and why party registration deadlines matter 07:18 Voting options: vote-by-mail, early voting, and Election Day voting 09:35 Renewing your driver’s license and why updating your voter information matters 13:09 How vote-by-mail signatures are verified and the safeguards in place Subscribe to the Palm Beach North Podcast to stay connected with Palm Beach County’s business community and the leaders shaping its future! 🎨 Love the arts? Explore our sister series, the ArtiGras Podcast celebrating the creative culture that powers the Palm Beach North community. Check us out on social media! Instagram: Palm Beach North: @palmbeachnorth Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: @pbnchamber ArtiGras: @artigras Facebook: Palm Beach North: /palmbeachnorth Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: /pbnchamber ArtiGras: /artigrasfineartsfestival LinkedIn: Palm Beach North: /palmbeachnorth Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce: /pbnchamber Websites: To learn more about Palm Beach North Podcast, visit: https://www.palmbeachnorthpodcast.com To learn more about the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, visit: https://www.pbnchamber.com To learn more about ArtiGras Podcast, visit: https://www.artigraspodcast.com #PalmBeachNorthPodcast#PalmBeachCounty#CivicEngagement#ElectionInformation#VotePalmBeach

    Inside Palm Beach County Elections with Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

Welcome to the Palm Beach North Podcast Network— the official home of the Palm Beach North Podcast and the People Behind Progress Podcast, produced by the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce. Through conversations with influential business leaders, entrepreneurs, elected officials, and community change makers, we explore the people, businesses, and ideas shaping Florida's Prosperity Coast. Whether you're listening to the Palm Beach North Podcast for conversations on economic development and regional issues, or watching People Behind Progress for behind-the-scenes stories from the leaders and organizations making a difference, you'll gain insight into what makes Palm Beach North thrive. 🎧 New episodes released regularly. Subscribe for conversations about: • Business & economic development • Leadership & entrepreneurship • Community impact & civic engagement • Innovation & workforce development • Regional collaboration • The people & organizations moving Palm Beach North forward