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>> THIS ORIGINAL WSRE
PRESENTATION IS MADE POSSIBLE BY
VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
>> ESTABLISHED LEADERS HELPING
LAUNCH YOUNG NEVERS.
FRED LEVIN AND AARON BALL ON
THIS EDITION OF CONVERSATIONS.
>> FRED LEVIN IS ONE OF THE TOP
TRIAL LAWYERS IN THE NATION.
THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA LAW
SCHOOL BEARS HIS NAME.
BUT HE'S ALSO PROVED TO BE QUITE
AN ASTUTE INVESTOR IN STARTUPS.
WHEN THE CABLE TELEVISION
INDUSTRY WAS IN ITS INFANCY,
LEVIN STARTED HIS OWN NICHE
CABLE CHANNEL.
RECENT YEARS AS THE TECHNOLOGY
LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED, LEVIN
AGAIN SAW OPPORTUNITY AND MAIM A
MAJOR INVESTOR IN A SOFTWARE
COMPANY THAT AIDS LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND PUBLISH SAFETY
AGENCIES.
NOW HE'S AT IT AGAIN, TEAMING
ONE A YOUNG GENERATION OF
ENTREPRENEURS AS A BUSINESS
PARTNER AND MENTOR.
AARON BALL IS THE CEO AND
FOUNDER OF BALLPOINT
COMMUNICATIONS GROUP.
WHICH IS IN THE BUSINESS OF
DEVELOPING AND MAXIMIZING
BRANDS.
HIS AREA OF FOCUS INCLUDE LAW,
TOURISM, HEALTHCARE, AND HIGHER
EDUCATION.
HE WORKS WITH CLIENTS TO BRING
TOGETHER BRANDING CAMPAIGNS FOR
BOTH TRADITIONAL AND DIGITAL
MEDIA.
AS THE FOUNDER OF THRIVE
PENSACOLA, BALL IS WORKING TO
CONNECT YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS WITH
LEGACY LEADERS.
THE GOAL IS TO SHARE KNOWLEDGE
AND BUILD A BETTER COMMUNITY.
WE WELCOME FRED LEVIN AND AARON
BALL TO THIS EDITION OF
CONVERSATIONS.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING.
>> HI, JEFF.
>> HOW DID YOU TWO COME
TOGETHER?
>> I'LL LEAVE THAT UP TO AARON
TO EXPLAIN.
>> YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S A GREAT
STORY.
I HAVE A TRANSPLANT TO
PENSACOLA, I MOVED HER AFTER
HAVING TRAVELED QUITE A BIT AND
I PICKED PENSACOLA MY
GRANDFATHER LIVES HERE, HE
HAZELS MER'S, THERE WASN'T A --
ALZHEIMER'S, IT WASN'T A
BUSINESS REASON, I FELL IN LOVE
WITH THIS PLACE.
I HAVE BEEN HEARING FRED LEVIN
WILL TAKE YOUR CALL, HE'LL
ANSWER ANYBODY'S PHONE.
AND LUCK WOULD HAVE IT, THAT'S
VERY TRUE.
AND I GAVE HIM A CALL ONE DAY, I
KNEW HE WAS TRYING TO DO SOME
VERY INNOVATIVE THINGS WITH BLAB
TV.
WE HAD A CONVERSATION IN HIS
OFFICE.
A YEAR AND A HALF LATER SITTING
HERE WITH YOU.
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> FRED, YOU DON'T REALLY NEED
-- YOU EAR ONE OF THE MOST
SUCCESSFUL ATTORNEYS IN THE
NATION.
YOU DON'T NEED TO TALK TO A
YOUNG GUY, WHY DO IT?
>> WELL, FOR THE LAST -- I HAVE
BEEN PRACTICING LAW 52 YEARS AND
I ANSWER MY TELEPHONE.
I RETURN MY CALLS.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN THAT WAY.
SO THE FACT THAT HE'S YOUNG OR
-- I MEAN, I CAN TELL YOU CALLS
I TAKE FROM THE LAKEVIEW CENTER,
PEOPLE THAT ARE CRAZY AND THEY
CALL ME AND TALK ABOUT -- BUT I
DON'T REALLY HAVE MUCH ELSE TO
DO.
SO I TALK TO THEM.
>> YOUNG GUY, BRIGHT BUSINESS
MIND, I'M ASSUMING.
WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT YOU IS
MOST PEOPLE ARE WELL AWARE OF
THE SUCCESS THAT YOU HAVE HAD AS
A TRIAL LAWYER.
BUT YOU ALSO HAVE A FASCINATING
BUSINESS CAREER AND I MENTIONED
IN THE OPEN ABOUT YOU STARTING
YOUR OWN CABLE TELEVISION
CHANNEL IN THE EARLY YEARS.
TELL ME ABOUT THAT. HOW DID
THAT COME AGENT?
>> I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN SORT OF A
CLOSET ENTREPRENEUR.
I MEAN, I HAVE BEEN IN THE
LADIES APPAREL BUSINESS,
NIGHTCLUBS, RESTAURANTS, AND
EVENTUALLY IN THE '70s, LEGAL
ADVERTISING CAME ABOARD AND THE
LAW FIRM I WAS IN CAME -- I MEAN
THE GOVERNOR OF FLORIDA CAME OUT
OF THERE, FEDERAL JUDGES, ALL OF
THIS, NOBODY WANTED ADVERTISE.
SO I CAME UP WITH WHAT I THOUGHT
WAS A UNIQUE IDEA, THAT IS A
CALL IN TALK TELEVISION CABLE
CHANNEL.
AND AT THAT TIME CABLE HAD JUST
COME TO PENSACOLA.
I THINK THERE WERE 13 CHANNELS.
THERE WAS ABC, CBS, NBC AND A
COUPLE OF OTHERS -- CHURCH
CHANNELS AND CHANNEL 6 WAS OPEN.
AND I TALKED TO PEOPLE AT THE
CABLE COMPANY, THEY WERE ANXIOUS
TO GET ANY KIND OF THINGS ON THE
AIR.
SO WE STARTED BLAB TV LAW LINE
AND WE DID IT FOUR, FIVE NIGHT
AS WEEK FOR AN HOUR AN PEOPLE
WOULD CALL IN.
IT WAS -- DID WONDERS FOR US AND
FOR ME.
I MEAN, IT GOT TO A POINT WHERE
WHEN YOU REALIZE THERE WERE ONLY
12 OR 13 CHANNELS AND -- SO WE
HAD A NICE SHARE OF THE MARKET.
SO I GOT TO BE PRETTY WELL
KNOWN.
FROM THERE WE STARTED -- IT WAS
ALL LIVE.
WE HAD A -- ADDED A SPORTS SHOW
THEN A CALL IN, JUST GENERAL
TALK TYPE THINGS THAT YOU'RE
DOING EXCEPT IT WAS LIVE.
AND MEDICAL, PRETTY SOON IT GOT
TO BE WHERE WE WERE ACTUALLY
DOING MORE LIVE TELEVISION THAN
ANY TV STATION IN THE COUNTRY.
SO EVENTUALLY IT WENT SEVEN DAYS
A WEEK, 24 HOURS A DAY.
>> DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA IN THE
BEGINNING THAT IT WOULD GROW TO
THIS?
>> NO.
NO.
AS THINGS WOULD HAVE IT, IT'S
BEEN ALMOST 30 YEARS AND IT'S
STILL GOING WELL.
AND WE'RE GETTING IN TO SOME NEW
THINGS THROUGH AARON, THIS THING
CALLED BLAB'S LIST.
WHICH IS A REAL INTERESTING
CONCEPT.
YOU WILL SEE MORE OF IT OVER THE
NEXT SEVERAL MONTHS.
>> TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT
THAT, WHAT IS THAT, HOW IS THAT
DIFFERENT THAN THE TELEVISION
STATION?
>> WELL, JEFF, WHEN YOU LOOK AT
ALL MEDIA ONLINE, EVERYBODY IS
USING iPAD THESE DAYS OR YOUR
SPINNING AT YOUR OFFICE, YOU'RE
WATCHING YOUTUBE VIDEOS.
IF YOU ASK PEOPLE HOW MANY
VIDEOS DID YOU WATCH TODAY
ONLINE?
THEY CAN'T TELL YOU.
BLAB'S LIST IS THE LOCAL ANSWER
TO VIDEO.
IT'S BETWEEN ANGIE'S LIST AND
CRAIG'S LIST, THEY HAVE BLAB'S
LIST RIGHT THERE INFORMATION ON
VIDEO.
SO IT'S JUST A NATURAL EXTENSION
OF THE UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL
INFORMATION ABOUT LOCAL
PERSONALITIES AND BUSINESSES AND
INFORMATION THAT BLAB TV HAS
BEEN FOR DECADES BUT IT'S TAKING
IT INTO A COMPLETELY INNOVATIVE
NEW APPROACH ONLINE.
>> BECAUSE THERE IS A HUGE
DISRUPTION GOING ON IN THE MEDIA
BUSINESS.
THROW THIS OUT TO BOTH OF YOU.
WHERE DOES THIS THING END UP
EVENTUALLY?
>> THIS IS STRICTLY DIGITAL.
I MEAN, YOU HAVE GOT THE REAL
REALIZE I JUST GOT A COMPUTER
MAYBE THREE YEARS AGO SO THIS IS
SO FOREIGN TO ME, BUT WE
STARTEDDED LOOKING AT THE
CLIENTS THAT CAME INTO THE FIRM.
I ALWAYS THOUGHT, WELL, THEY
WOULD COME IN THROUGH THE TV AD,
THROUGH WORD OF MOUTH.
OVER 50% OF THE CLIENTS THAT WE
GET IN THE FIRM ARE AS A RESULT
OF THE WEB.
IT JUST ABSOLUTELY BLEW MY MIND
THAT EVERYTHING -- AND IT'S
CLIMBING.
IT'S GOING JUST STRAIGHT UP.
AND SO AARON CAME IN ON
SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT AND
HE'S DIGITAL GENIUS AND SO HE'S
NOW DOING THE DIGITAL FOR OUR
LAW FIRM, WHICH HOW MANY
DIFFERENT PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED IN
THAT?
THERE'S SEVERAL AT THE OFFICE.
>> ANYTIMELY.
>> THAT ARE INVOLVED IN THAT.
HE'S INVOLVEDDED IN THIS THING
CALLED MASS TORT MADE PERFECT
WHICH IS A NATIONAL THING THAT
OUR LAW FIRM DOES TWICE A YEAR
AND LAS VEGAS.
HE'S INVOLVED WITH BLAB'S LIST,
JUST -- AND SMART COP WHICH IS
THE SOFTWARE COMPANY.
SO OBVIOUSLY HAVE A LOT OF
CONFIDENCE IN AARON AS A RESULT
OF I ANSWERED HIS TELEPHONE
CALL.
OTHERWISE I THINK HE WOULD BE --
>> MOVING ON SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE I WOULD BE.
BUT TO YOUR POINT JEFF WHEN YOU
ASK THE DISRUPTION OF MEDIA, IT
TAKES A COHESIVE STRATEGY TO
CONNECT WITH YOUR TARGET
AUDIENCES THESE DAYS.
YOU HAVE GOT SOCIAL MEDIA, YOU
HAVE GOT WEBSITES, YOU HAVE GOT
YOUTUBE AND NOW IT'S PINTEREST
AND INSTAGRAM AND THE MOST USED
SOCIAL NETWORKS ARE TWITTER AND
THE YOUNG GENERATION.
SO THE QUESTION IS, HOW DO WE
CONNECT YOUR MESSAGE WITH PEOPLE
IN THERE, THE MOST COMFORTABLE,
WHERE THEY WANT TO HEAR ABOUT
YOU, YOU KNOW?
SO IT'S -- YOUR POINT IS EXACTLY
YOU CAN'T JUST DO ONE THING, YOU
HAVE TO LOOKED THE WHOLE
SPECTRUM AND THAT'S WHAT FRED
HAS BEEN SO SMART TO DO.
>> THE OTHER THING THAT I
THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING, WHEN
YOU GO TO ANGIE'S LIST OR
CRAIG'S LIST, AND DIFFERENT
PEOPLE INTERACTING, BUT IF I
WERE GOING TO GO TO A DOCTOR AND
I WAS NEW IN TOWN AND I WANT TO
-- I WOULD LIKE TO SEE HIM TALK
NOT SOMEBODY ELSE TALK ABOUT IT,
I WILL LIKE TO SEE THREE, FOUR,
FIVE MINUTES OF HIM TELLING ME
SOMETHING ABOUT HIS BACKGROUND.
IT'S LIKE AS A LAWYER, TRIAL
LAWYER, WHEN I PICK A JURY, I'M
LOOKING AT THAT PERSON, THERE'S
EITHER AN L OR A D.
YOU CAN DO ANYTHING IN THE WORLD
BUT DO I LIKE HIM OR DO I
DISLIKE HIM?
AND THAT'S THE WAY PEOPLE
NORMALLY REACT.
WHEN YOU MEET SOMEBODY AND YOU
LOOK THEM IN THE EYE AND THAT'S
BASICALLY ONE OF THE REASONS FOR
BLAB'S LIST.
>> THAT'S AN INTERESTING
OBSERVATION AND I THINK I HAD
HEARD RESEARCH IN YEARS PAST,
WHEN YOU SEE SOMEBODY, ABOUT 80%
OF WHAT YOU THINK OF THEM, AARON
YOU MAY KNOW BETTER, IT MAYBE
HIGHER IS JUST THE INITIAL WHEN
YOU SEE THEM, THEN THERE'S A
CERTAIN PART OF WHAT THE VOICE
SOUNDS LIKE FOLLOWED BY WHAT
THEY ACTUALLY SAY.
>> IT'S ALL BODY LANGUAGE.
>> YEAH.
SO IT IS KIND OF FASCINATING.
>> SO WHEN YOU GO TO SELECT A
LAWYER OR A DOCTOR AND YOU DON'T
WANT TO GO TO 20 LAWYERS'
OFFICES AND YOU CAN HAVE A
CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE SKY FOR --
THIS GUY FOR THREE OR FOUR
MINUTES HIM TELLING YOU I WENT
TO THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA LAW
SCHOOL AND I WAS A GOOF BALL,
WHATEVER HE MIGHT SAY, AND THIS
IS LIFE.
THIS IS HOW YOU -- YOU GET YOUR
-- FINE YOUR FRIENDS AND SO I
HAVE ALWAYS AS FAR AS TALKING TO
PEOPLE, DOING SMEAR COMMERCIALS
OR IN COURT, -- DOING
COMMERCIALS OR IN COURT IS
TRYING TO BE THEIR FRIEND.
WHERE IS THIS TECHNOLOGY STUFF
GOING, AARON?
YOU'RE YOUNGER THAN ME, YOU'RE
YOUNGER THAN FRED.
YOU'RE THAT MOVING GENERATION.
WHERE IS THAT GOING?
WHERE IS THIS TECHNOLOGY GOING?
>> GREAT QUESTION.
I'M 30 YEARS OLD.
AND EVEN I HAVE TO HAVE PEOPLE
SPECIFICALLY DEDICATED KEEPING
ON READING IT AND CHECKING OUT
BLOGS AND MAKING SURE THAT WE
ARE LEARNING FROM THE BEST.
AND WE SURROUND OURSELVES WITH
EXPERTS AND THE BEST.
FUND MEMBER TALLY THOUGH, JEFF
-- TECHNOLOGY HAS A REMARKABLE
WAY TODAY OF BRINGING PEOPLE
TOGETHER.
THAT'S THE MESSAGE HERE IS THE
ABILITY FOR NOT ONLY BLAB'S LIST
BUT INNOVATIVE TECHNOLOGIES THAT
LEGACY LEADERS LIKE MR. LEVIN
HAVE EMBRACED TO BETTER THE
IMMUNITY AND ALSO TAKE US TO THE
NEXT LEVEL AS PENSACOLA.
PENSACOLA I LOVE IS FULL OF
INNOVATORS.
IT REALLY IS.
I DON'T KNOW EVERYBODY TALKS
ABOUT WHERE ARE THEY?
THEY'RE ALL GONE.
I'M -- I HEAR ABOUT THEM EVERY
DAY, IT'S ALL CENTERED AROUND
HOW DO WE DO THINGS BETTER WITH
TECHNOLOGY.
SMARTER, MORE EFFICIENT.
IT'S REALLY AN EXCITING TIME.
>> YOU DEVELOP THE THRIVE
PENSACOLA.
TELL US ABOUT THAT.
>> I WOKE UP ONE DAY AND A
COUPLE OF MY FRIENDS LEFT THE
AREA.
BRILLIANT SMART GUYS.
AND I WENT WHAT IF WE ALL
UNDERSTOOD THE OPPORTUNITY THAT
IS HERE?
THAT'S OUR SLOGAN.
OPPORTUNITY IS HERE.
AND AND THAT'S THE MESSAGE THAT
I KNOW THAT THE FOLKS THAT HELP
ME FOUND THRIVE PENSACOLA, BARRY
ARNOLD, LORENZO AGULAR, RACHEL
JILL LET, FOLKS UNDERSTAND THAT
AND THE IDEA IS BRIDGING THE GAP
WITH TRULY INNOVATIVE COMMUNITY
PROJECTS AND INVESTABLE BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT VENTURES THAT MAKE A
DIFFERENCE FOR THE IMMUNITY AND
BRING JOBS HERE.
SO IT'S A STEP BY STEP PROCESS
BUT WE HAVE ABOUT 350 PEOPLE ON
FACEBOOK THAT ARE ACTIVELY
INVOLVEDDED IN THE CONVERSATION
AND WE'RE OFFERING STEP BY STEP
SOLUTIONS FOR THE AREA.
THE PENSACOLA WE SEE.
>> FRED, YOU GREW UP HERE.
WHAT DO YOU SEE RIGHT NOW?
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING FROM YOUR
PERSPECTIVE?
HOW DO YOU SEE THIS CITY?
>> IT'S EXCITING.
I THINK THAT IT'S -- ALL YOU
HAVE TO DO IS GO DOWN PALAFOX
STREET AND BEGIN TO REALIZE WHAT
IN THE WORLD IS HAPPENING?
YOU READ THE PAPER AN IT TELLS
YOU THINGS ARE GOING TO HELL,
BUT WHEN YOU -- YOU WALK DOWN
THE STREET AND THEN IT'S JUST SO
MUCH EXCITEMENT THERE, THERE'S
VERY FEW VACANT STORES FROM
GARDEN ALL THE WAY TO THE WATER.
THOSE HAVE COMING SOON ALONG --
IT'S EXCITING.
IT'S YOUNG PEOPLE, I HAVE JUST
SEEN JUST INCREDIBLE THINGS
HAPPEN.
>> I WANT TO ASK YOU THAT.
BECAUSE EVERYBODY WANTS TO TALK
THE NEGATIVE ABOUT THE YOUTH.
WHAT DO YOU SEE?
>> WELL, I CAN TELL YOU ABOUT
ANOTHER VENTURE THAT I GOT INTO
AGAIN, I'M SERIOUS WHEN I TELL
YOU THE MOST I CAN DO ON A
COMPUTER IS GET EMAILS AND SEND
EMAILS.
BUT I'M AN INVESTOR IN A COMPANY
ALONG WITH A GOOD FRIEND OF
MINE, KAY STEPHENSON, FORMER
HEAD COACH OF THE BUFFALO BILLS.
KAY DOESN'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT
COMPUTERS BUT HE KNEW HOW TO BE
A COACH.
AND WE FORMED A COMPANY CALLED
SMART COP.
SMART COP, IT'S ON PALAFOX
STREET, HAS ALMOST 60 EMPLOYEES.
I THINK MORE THAN HALF ARE
GRADUATES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF
WEST FLORIDA, IT JUST RECEIVED A
$30 MILLION CONTRACT WITH THE
STATE OF FLORIDA THAT DOES THE
POLICE SOFTWARE, PUBLIC SAFETY
SOFTWARE FOR EVERY STATE AGENCY.
IF YOU GO IN THERE AND YOU
REALIZE THE EXCITEMENT OF THESE
PEOPLE, IT'S INTERESTING,
THERE'S NO TELEPHONES, NO
TELEPHONES ON THE DESK.
THEY'RE ALL COMPUTERS, THEY'RE
ALL -- THEY WANT TO MAKE A CALL,
GET A CALL, THEY HAVE TO GO --
YOU DON'T MESS UP PEOPLE AROUND
YOU.
THERE'S SO MANY THINGS HAPPENING
NOWADAYS.
THAT IS ANOTHER REAL GOOD
EXAMPLE.
BLAB'S LIST, SMART COP.
>> IT'S JUST FASCINATING NOW
THAT PERHAPS BECAUSE OF
TECHNOLOGY IT PUTS NORTHWEST
FLORIDA IN A DIFFERENT POSITION
THAN IT HAS BEEN IN THE PAST
BECAUSE BASICALLY YOU CAN HAVE
HIGH LEVEL TALENT WORK FROM HERE
AN ENJOY THEM THE GREAT
ENVIRONMENT.
>> LOOK AT KEN FORD'S IHMC.
THEY TOLD ME AND I DON'T
UNDERSTAND IT, THAT THEY'RE LIKE
MAYBE 50 OR 100 OF THESE REAL
FELLOWS OF BRILLIANCE AND
SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND ABOUT
SEVEN OR EIGHT OF THEM ARE
ACTUALLY LOCATED IN PENSACOLA.
I HEARD THAT THEY ROBOTICS, THEY
HAD A COMPETITION.
THEY WERE NUMBER ONE.
STANFORD WAS TWO, MIT WAS THREE.
THERE'S THINGS HAPPENING HERE
THAT PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE, WE
HAVE GOT I THINK AN EXCITING
MAYOR THAT'S CREATING, WE GOT
THE NEW BASEBALL TEAM.
SO MANY THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND
I LOVE -- I WISH I WAS A LOT
YOUNGER.
[LAUGHTER]
>> AARON, TELL ME YOUR FEEL.
FRED TALKS ABOUT WHAT HE SEES AS
HE LOOKS DOWN, I KNOW WHAT I SEE
AS I LOOK DOWN.
YOU'RE IN THAT SWEET SPOT, THAT
YOUNG GROUP OF PEOPLE TRYING TO
MAKE A CHANGE.
WHAT ARE YOU SEEING AND FEEL
SOMETHING
>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE THE BENEFIT
AS WELL AS A LITTLE BIT OF THE
CHALLENGE EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE
TO HAVE ONLY BEEN A TRANSPLANT
HERE FOR THREE YEARS.
SO I DIDN'T NECESSARILY SEE ALL
OF THE I HAVEN'T BEEN TO THE
LEGACY BATTLES OF THE PAST AND
THERE'S SO MANY GREAT
INNOVATIONS FOR DECADES.
I SEE THE SNAP SHOT OF WHAT
PENSACOLA IS NOW.
AND I DON'T SEE THE LAST TEN
YEARS.
SO THE FOLKS THAT I SURROUND
MYSELF WITH AND MY PEERS SEEM TO
HAVE A LOT OF THE SAME ENERGY
AND ENTHUSIASM ABOUT THE
INVESTMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE
IN FOR EXAMPLE STEM EDUCATION
AND RESEARCH, SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
ENGINEERING AND MATHFUL WE HAVE
GOT ONE OF THE PREMIER
FACILITIES IN THE WORLD IN THE
NEW NAVAL FLIGHT ACADEMY,
AVIATION MUSEUM HERE AT NAS.
JUST OPENED.
DOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAMS AND EVERY WEEK HAVING
NEW YOUNG KIDS COMING THROUGH
TALKING ABOUT INNOVATION AND
STEM RESEARCH.
IT'S A REMARKABLE TIME TO BE IN
PENSACOLA.
THE FOLKS THAT I'M AROUND AND
THRIVE PENSACOLA AND PYP AND THE
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE
TRULY MAKING A DIFFERENCE --
>> BUT AT THE SAME TIME DON'T
FORGET WE HAVE A FABULOUS
HISTORY HERE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> AND THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.
THEY THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME --
IT WON'T BE IN THE DISTANT
FUTURE, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO
COME ALONG AND TIE THE -- I
MEAN, THE TOURISM, THE BEACH IS
INCREDIBLE.
AND TO BE ABLE THE TAKE THOSE
PEOPLE AND BRING THEM INTO
SHOPPING IN PENSACOLA, TO THE
HISTORICAL ASPECT OF IT.
IF THEY WANT TO GO FOR NIGHT
LIFE.
I MEAN, I DON'T WANT TO SAY
ANYTHING BAD ABOUT MONTGOMERY
BUT I SPENT THREE WEEKS UP THERE
IN TRIAL AND HERE IT IS THE
CAPITOL AND THERE'S -- MAKES YOU
APPRECIATE PENSACOLA SO MUCH.
THE EXCITEMENT DOWNTOWN --
>> BOTTOM LINE THERE WOULDN'T BE
THE ATMOSPHERE THERE IS TODAY
WITHOUT LEGACY LEADERS LIKE FRED
PAVING THE WAY AND CREATING THE
ENVIRONMENT FOR US TO SUCCEED.
IT'S TRUE.
>> AND THAT WAS ONE THING I
WANTED TO ASK YOU.
WHAT RECEPTION HAVE YOU RECEIVED
FROM OTHER LEGACY LEADERS AS YOU
AND OTHER YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE
THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT GO?
BECAUSE IT'S -- SOMETIMES IT'S A
CATCH 22, I HAVE A GREAT IDEA
BUT I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO
START IT.
WHAT KIND OF INTERACTION, WHAT
KIND OF RESPONSE ARE YOU
GETTING?
>> LET ME JUMP IN ON THAT.
WHEN HE FIRST CAME IN, I'M
INVOLVED WITH LEVIN PAPANTONIO.
I INTRODUCED AARON AND I SAID
AARON HAS SOME IDEAS FOR THIS
MASS TORT THING.
WE BRING TOGETHER 500, 600 LAW
FIRMS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY
TWICE A YEAR IN LAS VEGAS.
WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING.
WE DON'T NEED ANY HELP.
FINALLY GOT THEM -- HE GOES FOR
FREE AND HE GOES OUT THERE AND
THEY ARE SAYING WHAT IN THE
WORLD IS THAT GUY DO SOMETHING
AND THEY -- BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN
HE COMES UP WITH IDEAS AND LIGHT
BULB GOES OFF, THE SAME THING
WITH SMART COP.
WE DON'T NEED -- BUT ONCE THEY
GET TO THESE LEADERS, AND THEY
SEE WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO.
IT'S CHANGING.
I WOULDN'T KNOW FACEBOOK, I
WOULDN'T KNOW TWEETER, I DON'T
KNOW ANY OF THIS STUFF.
AND -- BUT THAT'S WHAT EVERYBODY
IS DOING.
>> IT'S KEY THAT YOU'RE OPEN
MINDED ENOUGH TO LISTEN TO THESE
YOUNG GUYS.
WHAT IS YOUR VICE TO LEGACY
ENTREPRENEURS -- ADVICE TO
LEGACY ENTREPRENEURS WHEN A
YOUNG GUY COMES UP?
>> GIVE THEM A CHANCE.
GIVE THEM A CHANCE SHOW YOU WHAT
YOU CAN DO.
AND MOST OF THESE PEOPLE, IT
ISN'T GOING TO COST YOU
ANYTHING.
LET THEM HAVE A SHOT AT IT AND
AWE ALL OF A SUDDEN YOU START TO
LOOK AT WHAT THEY HAVE COME UP
WITH AND I MEAN, WHEN HE CAME
IN, AND HE PRESENTED THESE
THINGS TO ME, BEFORE HE CAME IN,
HE SAID CAN I COME SEE YOU?
I SAID OKAY, COME ON IN.
I WAS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW
DO I TELL THIS YOUNG MAN PUTTING
DOWN -- PUT HIM DOWN EASY, I
DON'T WANT TO DESTROY HIS WHOLE
IDEA HERE, HE COMES TO TOWN.
THEN I HAVE GOT HIM DOING
EVERYTHING WHICH I HAVE ANY TIE
INS TO WHETHER THE LAW FIRM,
BLAB, SMART COP.
ACTUALLY EVEN TO THE STANDPOINT
OF REDOING A HOME AND HE'S
COMING UP WITH ALL OF HIS
KNOWLEDGE.
>> THE BEAUTY OF THE WAY WE WORK
IN TECHNOLOGY IS IT'S SO MUCH
EASIER TO MEASURE SUCCESS WHEN
YOU'RE USINGING ON LINE
TECHNOLOGIES AND WAYS TO ENGAGE
PEOPLE WITH SMART DEVICES LIKE
PHONES AND THEIR COMPUTERS.
YOU CAN MEASURE EVERYTHING THAT
SOMEBODY IS DOING.
BOIL IT DOWN MY GENERATION WE
RESPOND SO WELL TO LEADERS WHO
ARE -- DO LISTEN.
THERE'S A REASON.
FOR FRED LEVIN, HE LISTENS TO
PEOPLE AROUND HIM AND HAS TAKEN
ACTION WHEN OTHER PEOPLE WON'T.
AND HE ALSO I WOULD HOPE IS A
GOOD JUDGE OF CHARACTER.
[LAUGHTER]
>> I THINK THE OTHER INTERESTING
PART HERE FOR YOUNG
ENTREPRENEURS AND FOR
ENTREPRENEURS IN GENERAL IS
DON'T BE AFRAID TO PICK UP THE
PHONE AND MAKE THE COLD CALL.
>> AGREED.
>> IF YOU WOULDN'T HAVE DONE
THAT PERHAPS TWO OF YOU WOULDN'T
HAVE HOOKED UP.
TELL ME QUICK, AARON, THERE'S
SOMETHING COMING UP DOWN THE
ROAD CALLED START UP WEEKEND.
SUM IT UP IN A MINUTE.
>> IT'S EARLY OCTOBER.
AND IT'S ACTUALLY A REALLY
INNOVATIVE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION
THAT IS -- HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN
TO PENSACOLA BY A COUPLE OF GUYS
WHO STARTED COLLEGE FROG, AND
OTHER DESIGNERS, TECH
PROGRAMMERS AND ENTREPRENEURS.
WHAT IT IS IS 54 HOURS,
EVERYBODY GETS TOGETHER, IT'S A
HACKATHON AND PEOPLE CROW
YEAHTIVE TYPES MIXED WITH TECH
NERDS AND ENTREPRENEURIAL FOLKS
AND CREATE PROJECTS THAT I WOULD
-- I MEAN, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING
THE GOAL IS TO BRING PROJECTS TO
THE MARKET.
INVESTABLE PROJECTS.
IT'S AN EXCITING WAY TO BREAK
DOWN SILOS.
AND CREATIVE BUSINESS AND
TECHNOLOGY, KIND OF HAVE TO GET
PEOPLE TOGETHER BECAUSE WE ALL
STAY IN OUR --
>> STRAIGHT NIGHT DAY EVERYTHING
24 HOURS A DAY.
>> MY GOODNESS.
[LAUGHTER]
>> IT'S COMING UP IN OCTOBER.
>> I'M OUT OF TIME.
WHAT A FASCINATING CONVERSATION.
AGAIN GREAT TO SEE BOTH OF YOU,
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME AND IT'S
REALLY NEAT THE FACT THAT WE GET
A 30-YEAR-OLD AND --
>> I'M 76 YEARS OLD.
>> STILL GOING.
I THINK THAT'S NEAT THAT YOU
HAVE THAT COMING TOGETHER
CONTINUING TO BUILD.
THANKS, APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU FOR ASKING US.
>> YOU CAN WATCH MORE
CONVERSATIONS ONLINE AT
WSRE.ORG.ORG/CONVERSATIONS, I'M
JEFF WEEKS.
HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE BROADCAST.
TAKE GREAT CARE OF YOURSELF.
WE'LL SEE YOU SOON.
>> BE MORE CONNECTED.
FIND US, FOLLOW US, WATCH US.
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>> HI, I'M PAULA KERGER,
PRESIDENT AND CEO OF PBS.
ON BEHALF OF WSRE I WOULD LIKE
THE THANK ALL OF YOU WHO MADE
RECENT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE
STATION.
YOUR DONATION HELPS BRING THE
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INVITE EVERYONE TO EXPERIENCE
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P PBS IS HERE FOR ALL AMERICANS,
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IF YOU HAVEN'T GIVEN A
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♪♪
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