John Medina Discusses Small Business, a Global Economy and More
“Free enterprise is not like playing a board game with a six year old,
where it seems like the rules change after every turn.”
– JOHN MEDINA
Vice President of Business, Insurance, and Investment Services, First Commerce Credit Union
Florida Chamber Tallahassee Regional Board Chair
According to Chief Executive Magazine’s recently released 2016 Best & Worst States For Business, Florida ranks second best in business climate, right behind Texas.
On the Florida Chamber’s recent Series on Free Enterprise, John Medina, Vice President of Business, Insurance, and Investment Services, First Commerce Credit Union and Florida Chamber Tallahassee Regional Board Chair comments on the recent ranking.
“That is not a surprise at all,” said Medina. “And it’s because of obviously, the high standards and high quality of living that we have in the state but it also has to do with the business environment that we have. Now, while it’s good that we are number two in the nation, we are really a global economy. Florida is a global economy that needs to be competitive in a much larger marketplace. It’s because of organizations like the Florida Chamber that constantly advocate for a competitive business climate that we are able to create jobs and help provide opportunities for businesses to be successful in this state. Florida is very well positioned to be a highly competitive state, both nationally and globally.”
Florida’s business climate is home to many small businesses. In fact, two out of every three jobs in Florida are created by small businesses. Issues like resources and overall workforce development continue to remain on the forefront of the Florida Chamber’s mission to help Florida continue in the right direction.
“Small businesses have a challenge understanding what the resources are in their community that can help them,” said Medina. “The other opportunity I think, is in the workforce development. I don’t know that a lot of folks realize that again, between FAMU, FSU, TCC, Flagler, Keiser, Lively, Pat Thomas, we have a plethora of educational resources located right here in our back yard. In particular I’m excited about the trade and certifications that we provide for employees for the labor markets in this community. A college education is great, and I encourage everyone to consider it, but the bottom line is we need folks that have trade skills and certification, that can do most of the things that small business requires us to do.”
From incubators to programs at the many higher education institutes in Tallahassee, “this is a great location and a great region to be actively engaged in small business and entrepreneurship.”
For Medina, free enterprise is a lot of things but must, above all, be consistent in order for our economy to thrive.
“Free enterprise is not like playing a board game with a six year old, where it seems like the rules change after every turn- basically at the end of the day the six year old is going to win every single time,” said Medina. “I think our small businesses are looking for a dynamic marketplace that is competitive, that has capitalism… but I think they are looking for a marketplace that has a modicum of predictability. Regulations, waivers, taxes- it’s extremely difficult for a small business owner to compete in this kind of marketplace without knowing what the rules of the game are and without having some level of predictability that those rules are going to remain in place or improve.”
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