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Waves of Impact
Join Dr. Alison Green, your podcast host, for Waves of Impact from the University of West Florida's Hospitality and Tourism Management program. Take a listen to industry leaders, career insights, and hospitality education. From Gulf Coast beaches to global destinations, discover how tourism drives economies, cultural exchange, and leadership development. Each episode delivers expert interviews, industry trends, and practical leadership advice for hospitality professionals, students, and travel enthusiasts exploring careers in hotel management, restaurant operations, and tourism development.
Waves of Impact
Hospitality Roundtable | 5 Years Later - From Crisis to Prosperity | Entire Session
Hospitality Roundtable: 5 Years Later - From Crisis to Prosperity
Five years ago, we gathered at Timeless Tanglewood for what began as a discussion about our local hospitality industry. Then, the whole world shut down. The Hospitality Roundtable quickly evolved into a vital gathering where local leaders helped each other navigate unprecedented challenges. Representatives from FRLA, hotels, restaurants, and tourism all came together to document what was happening in real-time.
The original conversations can be found here: https://navigating-hospitality.blubrry.net/2020/03/19/march-192020/
Now, 5 years later, we find a different story. Bustling businesses and plentiful travel to the area have replaced uncertainty. Some faces around the table have changed, while others remain the same.
On April 4, 2025, we reunited at Trader Jon's inside the Pensacola History Museum—a fitting location as the first bar in Pensacola—to discuss hospitality 5 years after the crisis that brought us together.
Featured Participants:
- Rick West - President, VooDoo Franchising; Franchisee/Owner at VooDoo BBQ & Grill.
- Nicole Stacey - Vice President of Destination Development, Visit Pensacola
- Dr. Scott Keller - Interim Dean, Professor, Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business
- Dr. Alison Green - Professor, Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business, GH&TM
- Dr. Richard R. Hawkins - Professor, Lewis Bear Jr. College of Business
YouTube video can be found here: https://youtu.be/T0LIHT3DO4E?si=Y5i716QhVtTSY2a5
Filmed at Trader Jon's Located in the Pensacola Museum of History 330 S Jefferson St, Pensacola, FL 32502 Special
Thank you to the UWF Historic Trust Robert Overton, Jr. Executive Director Alli Frank Event Coordinator
Thank you to our sponsor, UWF Historic Trust for allowing us to record the session at Trader Jon's.
Trader Jon's
Martin "Trader Jon" Weissman, owner and namesake of Trader Jon's Bar, was well known for his personal eccentricities such as his famously mismatched socks and "Tradernomics" as well as his eclectic establishment. One of Pensacola's top tourist destinations for decades, Trader Jon's, decorated with photos and memorabilia, some traded for drinks, was a safe haven where young flight students, military personnel, astronauts and movie stars rubbed shoulders with local politicians, characters and the occasional ne'er-do-well. Trained as a U. S. paratrooper in WWII, Trader's lifelong love of naval aviation and his livelihood were inseparable. There was truly nothing like it on Earth! Step inside and experience the legend that was Trader Jon's.
The Trader Jon Exhibit is housed in the Pensacola Museum of History. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00-4:00 and Noon-4:00 on Sunday