From creative Facebook Live sales and candle deliveries during shutdowns to building a people-first retail experience, this episode is packed with insights for entrepreneurs, community leaders, and anyone who believes in supporting local business.

𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁:

- Small business ownership

- Women entrepreneurs

- Historic downtown revitalization

- Shop local movements

- Community-driven growth

…𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

🔍 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 ✅What makes Downtown DeLand a “Model Main Street” ✅The impact of MainStreet DeLand’s 40-year legacy ✅The realities of owning a boutique retail store ✅Why social media is essential for small business owners ✅Creative pivots during the 2020 shutdown ✅Supporting other local businesses (and keeping money in the community) ✅Renting vs. owning commercial property downtown ✅Growing a retail brand without losing personal connection ✅Advice for aspiring shop owners

⏱️ 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀

00:00 – Why shopping local truly matters

00:35 – Introduction to Tracey Word

01:27 – Owner of Pretty Little Things (14 years in business)

02:07 – Serving as President of MainStreet DeLand

03:10 – DeLand as Florida’s oldest continuous Main Street

04:21 – What makes Downtown DeLand special

05:27 – Hiring a new Executive Director after loss

06:20 – 40th Anniversary Block Party

07:13 – How to get involved with MainStreet DeLand

08:38 – Tracey’s unexpected journey into retail

10:42 – Creating a boutique shopping experience

11:57 – The real meaning of “Shop Local”

13:52 – The 2020 shutdown & getting creative

15:00 – Facebook Lives, deliveries & selling through crisis

17:00 – How 2020 changed business forever

19:45 – Renting vs. owning in downtown DeLand

22:23 – Considering a second location

23:54 – Advice for opening a retail shop

25:19 – Why social media isn’t optional

26:14 – The romantic idea vs. reality of small business

29:16 – Rating Downtown DeLand

30:12 – Lightning round: favorite candy

30:50 – Final thoughts

Donnie shares how he unintentionally stepped into real estate, built a boutique brokerage known for its white-glove experience, and mastered serving high-net-worth clients through trust, hustle, and extraordinary customer care. From blank-check offers to hurricane response, Donnie reveals what true concierge-level real estate looks like.

They also dive deep into the shifting Florida real estate market, the rise of technology and AI, industry-wide legal changes, and why personal connection still matters more than ever.

If you're in real estate, luxury sales, customer experience, or curious about Fisher Island’s exclusive market, this is a must-watch episode.

🔍 Topics Covered ✅ Donnie Pingaro’s journey into real estate

✅ What makes Fisher Island unlike any other community

✅ How to deliver true boutique, white-glove service

✅ Building long-term relationships with luxury clients

✅ “Blank check deals” & ultra-high-end negotiations

✅ Hurricane response + going above & beyond for clients

✅ Real estate cycles and Florida market predictions

✅ AI, technology overload & how agents can adapt

✅ Boutique brokerage culture and leadership

✅ Why personal connection beats automation

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – “Empty the tank” philosophy & intro banter

00:20 – Welcome to Let’s Bee Real with Donnie Pingaro

00:47 – Donnie’s background & moving to Florida

01:17 – How he fell into real estate by accident

02:15 – Working on Fisher Island & discovering opportunity

03:11 – From MBA to hospitality to real estate

03:51 – First impressions of Fisher Island

04:13 – Transitioning into luxury real estate

04:47 – What makes Fisher Island so unique

06:02 – Lifestyle, exclusivity & international residents

07:04 – How Donnie earned trust as a young agent

07:50 – Serving 3rd–5th home luxury clients

08:24 – The boutique service mindset

09:13 – Delivering high-end customer experiences

10:06 – Hurricane response: being “first on the ferry”

10:51 – Blank check deals explained

12:26 – Why trust is everything in luxury real estate

13:32 – Going above & beyond for clients

14:25 – Relational vs. transactional business

15:06 – Why customer experience matters more than ever

15:53 – Responsiveness & communication standards

16:36 – Technology overwhelm in real estate

17:53 – The role of AI + recent industry litigation

19:45 – Florida market cycles & future predictions

21:12 – Micro-markets across Florida

22:23 – Insurance challenges & overbuilding concerns

23:52 – Why honesty and integrity guide the best agents

25:08 – Stability, growth & post-COVID shifts

26:20 – What buyers should watch for in new developments

27:40 – The importance of trusted advisors

29:21 – Handling market chaos & staying inspired

30:33 – “Never waste a good crisis”

31:40 – Lightning Round (candy bars, dream home must-haves, books & more)

34:02 – Final thoughts & episode wrap-up

Megan shares powerful stories—from high school float-building that brought 65+ students together, to service projects that sparked confidence and belonging in unexpected kids. She also opens up about her family’s deep roots in DeLand, her husband’s journey to becoming mayor, and how their household’s commitment to service has shaped countless young lives.

If you care about youth empowerment, community building, leadership development, DeLand involvement, or fostering opportunities for teens, this is an episode you won’t forget.

🔍 Topics Covered

✅ Why youth empowerment is essential in every community

✅ How DeLand families can involve kids in leadership

✅ The impact of service projects on confidence & belonging

✅ The role of parents and community leaders in youth development

✅ How extracurricular activities shape identity

✅ The importance of modeling servant leadership

✅ Real stories of teens stepping up in powerful ways

✅ How the Cloudman family’s involvement influences the community

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Community talent & playful intro

00:16 – Welcome to Let’s Bee Real

00:41 – Introducing guest Megan Cloudman

00:59 – How Bee & Megan first met

01:22 – Their long-term connection through school, business & horses

01:43 – Who Megan is: family, passion, roots in DeLand

02:14 – Raising teens in a community-focused environment

02:49 – Life at the Cloudman house: horses, dogs, routines

03:51 – How the family first got involved in DeLand

04:19 – Service dogs & community engagement

05:10 – How Chris Cloudman running for mayor affected their family

05:40 – Youth involvement during the mayoral campaign

06:20 – Megan stepping into philanthropic work

06:46 – Homecoming float-building: a story of unity

07:50 – How over 65 kids got involved

08:13 – Why teens want to be part of something

08:54 – Neighborhood Center toy drive & student involvement

09:50 – The impact of kids handing gifts directly

10:55 – Why leadership opportunities matter

11:16 – How DeLand High’s leadership class works

12:53 – Expanding youth involvement beyond SGA

13:35 – Inviting youth into community organizations

14:34 – Role of family-oriented clubs like Rotary Sunset

15:24 – Teaching kids real community service through hands-on work

16:01 – Why adults must model the behavior we want to see

17:02 – A powerful example: student who engineered the float

18:23 – Watching a teen’s confidence explode

19:20 – Transportation challenges & how adults can help

20:01 – Lightning Round: defining community

20:20 – If DeLand had a mascot…

21:11 – Local spots where Megan feels most connected

22:26 – Dream home in three words

23:23 – Favorite candy bar

23:39 – Closing thoughts on shaping youth + community legacy

In this episode of Let’s Bee Real, Bee Powell sits down with Joshua Hays, founder of New York Ave, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in business: the REAL difference between branding, marketing, and advertising—and why most business owners get it wrong.

Joshua shares his journey from childhood entrepreneur to leading one of Central Florida’s most respected marketing agencies. Together, Bee and Joshua dive into branding values, community impact, AI’s disruption of the marketing industry, and how small businesses can stay connected to their audience in a noisy digital world.

If you're a business owner, marketer, entrepreneur, or local community leader, this conversation is full of practical insights on brand identity, strategy, consistency, and the future of digital marketing.

🔍 Topics Covered

✅ Branding vs. marketing vs. advertising

✅ Why core values matter more than logos

✅ The biggest marketing mistakes business owners make

✅ How AI is transforming the marketing world

✅ Staying creative and inspired in a changing industry

✅ Why local businesses fuel local communities

✅ How consistency builds customer connection

✅ Real-world brand success examples

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 – Favorite colors banter

00:15 – Welcome to Let’s Bee Real

00:22 – Introduction of guest Joshua Hays

00:48 – Josh’s background in entrepreneurship & marketing

01:50 – Why Josh loves building teams

02:51 – Childhood inspirations + core values

03:45 – Integrity in marketing

04:29 – Branding vs. marketing vs. advertising explained

06:17 – Real estate branding and the meaning behind colors

07:07 – Bee’s yellow brand identity

07:48 – Color psychology + brand meaning

08:56 – Biggest marketing mistakes business owners make

10:12 – Why business owners spread themselves too thin

11:03 – What brand success really looks like

12:27 – Building authentic connection with your audience

13:35 – Staying consistent in a noisy digital world

14:17 – The rapid evolution of tech + AI

15:22 – How Josh uses AI for strategy & creativity

16:10 – What keeps Josh creative

17:59 – Supporting the local community through local business

19:16 – Why “shop local” matters

20:11 – Local branding vs national brands

21:11 – Lightning round: fun questions

22:13 – Favorite candy bar (and a surprise!)

22:29 – Marketing pet peeves

22:56 – Dream home vibes

23:25 – The billboard question

23:54 – What business owners misunderstand about branding

24:19 – Finish the sentence: “The best marketing is…”

24:36 – Closing thoughts with Bee Powell

Jim breaks down why the foundation was created, how it operates independently from the city, and what upcoming initiatives—like the Veterans Brick Project and Alexander Island enhancements—mean for residents. If you’re interested in community development, nonprofit leadership, volunteer opportunities, or DeBary’s growth, this conversation gives you insight and inspiration.

Topics Covered

• What the DeBary Foundation does
• How community foundations support local growth
• The vision for DeBary’s future
• Why volunteering matters
• Upcoming projects in DeBary, FL
• Insights from former Navy fighter pilot turned community leader
• How residents can get involved

Timestamps

00:00 – Fun intro + event banter

00:21 – Welcome to the show

00:54 – Jim’s role at the DeBary Foundation

01:07 – Who Jim is beyond the foundation

01:40 – Getting involved through the Citizens Academy

02:44 – Why giving back matters to Jim

03:37 – Jim’s leadership style

04:25 – Independent nonprofit vs. city government

05:36 – What independence means for donors

06:16 – Community-driven decision-making

06:55 – The Veterans Brick Project

07:54 – Veteran partnerships and support

08:52 – Funding, grants, and donations

10:06 – The workload behind the foundation

12:23 – Why communities need volunteers

14:25 – Rotary Clubs & being hands-on

16:08 – What makes vibrant communities valuable

17:08 – Building real connections in a digital age

18:06 – Jim’s vision for the foundation’s legacy

18:54 – Alexander Island plans

19:44 – The cardboard regatta idea

20:23 – Fun questions (roller coasters + wave pools)

22:31 – Authenticity & “being real”

23:57 – Favorite candy bar

24:09 – Closing thoughts