THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INFOCUS.

COMING UP.

IS YOUR JOB THREATENED BY AI?

WE TALKED TO AN EXPERT IN THE FIELD ABOUT THREATS TO ENTRY LEVEL JOBS AND HOW AI IS ALSO OPENING NEW OPPORTUNITIES OF EMPLOYMENT.

NOW, THE EMPLOYMENT MARKET HAS BECOME A MINEFIELD TO NAVIGATE FOR YOUNGER APPLICANTS.

WE'RE GIVING YOU A SNEAK PEEK AT AN EVERGLADES PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION AND A TASTE OF THE THEATER.

YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS WEEKEND.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

ECONOMISTS HAVE CHARACTERIZED THE LABOR MARKET HAS NO HIGHER, NO FIRE FOR THE PAST YEAR.

NO HIGHER, NO FIRE DESCRIBING STAGNANT HIRING RATE.

THIS LOCKS MANY YOUNG APPLICANTS OUT OF THE JOB MARKET MOST ESPECIALLY THOSE LOOKING FOR ENTRY LEVEL WORK AI AND ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY ARE 2 MAIN REASONS.

COMPANIES MIGHT HOLD ON TO THEIR STAFF AND DO NOT HIRE NEW TALENT.

GOOGLE CLOUD, HEAD OF AI PLATFORM SERVICES.

CHERRY CUNNINGHAM SPOKE WITH WGCU NEWS HOST AND PRODUCER MIKE KINIRY ABOUT HOW AI IS IMPACTING THE JOB MARKET?

YOU MAY KNOW LIKE FROM RADIO PROGRAMMING LIKE GULF COAST LIFE AND 3 SONGS STORIES WHICH HE IS A CO-CREATOR OF.

>> SO FOR STARTERS, TELL US JUST A BIT ABOUT YOURSELF AND YOUR BACKGROUND.

>> SURE.

SO I LIVE LOCALLY HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN NAPLES WITH MY HUSBAND AND MY 2 YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AS WELL AS DOG AND MY BACKGROUND.

I STUDIED ECONOMICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE AT PRINCETON UNIVERSITY AND THEN ALSO GOT MY MBA FROM CURRENTLY GETTING MY MASTERS AND DATA SCIENCE FROM HARVARD'S EXTENSION SCHOOL.

AND I'VE HAD OTHER JOBS PRIOR TO GOOGLE HAS WORKING AT THE FEDERAL RESERVE BANK WITH IN NEW YORK ON THEIR QUANTITATIVE EASING DESK AFTER THE MOST RECENT FINANCIAL CRISIS ON THE TRADING DESK AS WELL AS AT AN AD TECH COMPANY FOUNDED BY GOOGLE'S AD TECH PLATFORM.

FOUNDER THAT WAS BEEN HELPED BY A TNT AND NOW NAMA COUPLE.

>> WHEN DID YOU FIRST PLAY AROUND WITH WHAT WE NOW THINK OF AS A GENERATIVE AI MODEL LIKE WHAT CHATGPT CAME OUT WITH 3 FOR 4 YEARS AGO.

WHATEVER.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST HAVE YOUR HANDS ON ONE OF THOSE KINDS OF MODERN VERSION TOOLS?

>> YEAH, I WANT IT FIRST BECAME POPULAR AROUND 3, 4, YEARS AGO.

I STARTED PLAYING WITH IT.

GOOGLE VERY QUICKLY CAME OUT WITH THEIR VERSION, WHICH WAS, I BELIEVE, CALLED BARD AT THE TIME SOUTH ABOUT THAT TIME.

>> WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS?

>> I THOUGHT IT WAS INCREDIBLE.

WHAT IT COULD ACHIEVE.

A LOT OF MY TIME WAS ACTUALLY SPENT WHEN IT BECAME POPULAR IS ASKED BY THE VP OF MY MY GROUP FOR CONSULTING AND GOOGLE TO LEAD OUR INITIATIVE TO HANDLE HOW WE DEAL WITH THE INCOMING FLUX OF GENERATIVE AI.

SO THOSE THINGS LIKE WHAT ARE WE OFFER?

OUR CUSTOMERS?

HOW DO WE MANAGE THE PIPELINE?

HOW DO WE ACTUALLY DRIVE SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY?

SOS VERY QUICKLY IN THE THICK OF USING JENNY, I WORK.

BUT THE THE PERSON ON THE SIDE TOOLING WAS WAS INTERESTING AS WELL AT THIS POINT IN YOUR CAREER AND LIFE.

DO YOU USE ANY OF THESE TOOLS YOURSELF EITHER FOR WORK OR FOR YOUR PERSONAL?

>> USE?

>> YES, ALL THE ABOVE.

AND VERY OFTEN.

>> LIKE FOR WHAT INSTANCE, IF YOU COULD GIVE US AN EXAMPLE.

>> I WOULD EVEN SAY FOR THE MOST RECENT ONE WAS THIS TALK THAT I'M GIVING IT FGCU.

YOU USE IT IN THE DEVELOPMENT IN CREATION OF NEW SLIDE.

THERE AND MORE TAILORED SLIDE WHERE?

>> SO YOU.

>> FEED OF A BUNCH OF INFORMATION ABOUT THINGS THAT YOU'RE WANTING TO MAYBE TALK ABOUT AND THEN IT KIND OF HONES IT DOWN FOR YOU.

>> YES, AND THEN IT COULD ACTUALLY BUILD THE SLIDES AS WELL.

SAY BE TIME FROM CREATING A BUNCH OF BOXES AND TWEAKING.

>> SO EXPLAIN.

THEN THE THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN EMPOWER A BUSINESS TO USE AN AI AGENT IN A WAY THAT WOULDN'T HAVE RISK.

IT'S A FAIR QUESTION.

>> IT'S IT'S A FAIR QUESTION OF THE DIFFICULT QUESTION.

THAT REALLY STARTS WITH WHAT DOES THE COMPANY WANT TO ACHIEVE?

WHAT ARE THE STANDARD RISKS THAT YOU SEE?

WHERE IS THE AGENT COMING IN AND TAKING STEPS AND THEN HOW DO YOU DO RISK IN PRESSURE?

TEST THOSE STEPS?

AND SOMETIMES IT'S IN THE RECIPE BUILDING, FOR EXAMPLE, SAY YOU HAVE A COST OPTIMIZATION AGENT THAT YOU'RE TELLING.

GO OUT AND FIND VENDORS AT THE CHEAPEST PRICE POSSIBLE.

BUT IF YOUR SAY AND AIRLINE MANUFACTURER.

THE AGENT COULD GO OUT AND BUY A PARK THAT'S RISKY FOR THE ORGANIZATION.

SO THEN YOU JUST HAVE TO THINK ABOUT HOW TO PUT CONTROLS IN PLACE TO NOT SACRIFICE SAFETY FOR IT FOR THE RISK, THOSE CONTROLS CAN BE DONE UP FRONT IN THE RECIPES THAT YOU TELL THE AGENT WANT TO DO IN THERE, QUOTE, JOB DESCRIPTION OR CAN BE DONE AFTER THE FACT THERE'S ESSENTIALLY RED TEAM TESTING WHERE YOU CAN PRESSURE TEST AGENCY COULD ASK YOUR COSTA OPTIMIZATION AGENT TO PURCHASE SOMETHING THAT'S YOU KNOW, NOT COMMERCIAL GRADE FOR THE AIRLINE AND JUST MAKE SURE IT SHUT DOWN THE SORTS OF THINGS.

SO.

>> AND WOULD GOOGLE BE?

GIVING COMPANIES AGENTS WITH THOSE CONFIGURATIONS OR WOULD COMPANIES BE GETTING AN AGENT NETWORK SYSTEM OR WHATEVER THE RIGHT TERM IS FROM GOOGLE AND THEN HAVE ITS PEOPLE BUILD LIKE WHERE ON WHICH END IS THE CONFIGURATION HAPPEN?

WE'RE BOTH MAYBE I DON'T KNOW.

>> YEAH, GOOD QUESTION.

IT'S BOTH SO GOOGLE CLOUD'S PLATFORM IS BASICALLY OPEN TO LINK TO ALLOW ANYBODY TO CREATE FROM SCRATCH THEIR AGENTS AND DO IT QUICKLY.

EVEN BUSINESS UNITS COULD CAN CREATE AGENTS.

BUT WE ALSO HAVE WHAT'S CALLED PRE BUILT AGENT TEMPLATE THAT IF YOU WANT TO SO YOU'RE AT E-COMMERCE WEBSITE.

IF YOU WANT TO BUILD AN AGENT TO BE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SALES YEAR SHOPPERS AND YOUR WEBSITE WE HAVE PRE BUILT.

YOU CAN TAKE OUT OF THE BOX AND THEN JUST TAYLOR FOR YOUR OWN USE CASE PRETTY QUICKLY AND GET LIVE TO VALUE FAST.

WE CAN IMAGINE SOMEBODY WHOSE JOB IS TO BE IN A I.

>> AGENT ORCHESTRATION PERSON WHO IS SITTING AT THEIR DESK, WHO HAS SOME SORT OF AN INTERFACE THAT SHOWS WHICH AGENTS ARE BEING USED WITHIN THAT COMPANY SYSTEMS.

AND THEY ARE DIRECTING THOSE AGENTS LIKE.

THE KEYBOARD, I GUESS.

>> YES, IT ESSENTIALLY OVERSEEING THOSE AGENTS AND THEY WOULDN'T NECESSARILY AT IT.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HEAR ABOUT SOME PEOPLE OPEN CLAW, THEY SEE THERE.

AGENTS THAT LOOK LIKE HUMANS ON THE SCREEN RUNNING AROUND AND FIT LOOKS LIKE THE SIMS.

BUT WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT ORCHESTRATING IN LOOKING AT A AT A COMPUTER, IT'S REALLY AUDITING THE LOGIC.

YOU CAN GET TRACES OF WHAT THE AGENT DID STEPS THAT IT TOOK A NEW IS THE HUMAN SAY, YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

NO, THAT'S NOT THAN AT IT, TOO.

NO PERFORM AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

THE ACTIONS THAT YOU WANT AS WE KIND OF ALLUDED TO WHEN WE WERE CHATTING BEFORE THE SHOW, LANGUAGE MODELS CAN HALLUCINATE.

>> IT'S NOT SUCH A BIG DEAL.

IF YOU'RE JUST WRITING OR YOU'RE DOING RESEARCH OR WHATEVER.

YOU KNOW, IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE JEN TICK AI THAT IS IN ACTING ON YOUR BEHALF ARE YOU ABLE TO PREVENT THOSE KINDS OF SYSTEMS FROM DOING THINGS UNEXPECTEDLY?

THAT MAY HAVE GREATER CONSEQUENCES IF ITS BUSINESS.

>> THERE ARE CERTAINLY WAYS TO DO THAT.

IT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT GIVING AGENTS THEIR CREDIT CARD INFORMATION.

I THINK WE'RE HEADED AT LEAST IN THE SHORT TO MEDIUM TERM IS HUMANS BEING THE END DECIDER.

SO INSTEAD OF HAVING AN AGENT GO OUT AND PURCHASE, YOU KNOW.

SHOES THAT YOU LIKE.

IT'S HAVING THE AGENT SEND YOU AN EMAIL TO SAY HERE ARE 3 OPTIONS OF SHOES.

I THINK YOU SHOULD PICK OPTION NUMBER ONE.

AND HERE'S WHY.

CLICK YES TO PURCHASE.

SO REALLY ONE OF THE BEST CONTROLS IN THE SHORT TERM IS HAVING THE HUMAN MAKE THE INDECISION AND SEE, YOU KNOW, THE THOUGHT PROCESS OF THE AGENTS.

I DID A SHOW LAST WEEK OR THIS WEEK.

>> ONE OF THE 2 WITH WHAT'S CALLED SOUTHWEST FLORIDA TECH PULSE.

THEY DID A REPORT ON THE TECH INDUSTRY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA AND IT GREW 38% FROM 9, 2019 TO 2024, WHICH WAS LIKE WAY FASTER THAN ALL OTHER TECH SECTOR.

SO EVEN HERE IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, WE'RE SEEING A GROWTH IN THE TECH INDUSTRY AND A LOT OF THAT'S BEING DRIVEN BY THE STUFF THAT YEAR.

AND YOUR TEAM WERE TALKING ABOUT.

>> THAT'S IMPRESSIVE.

AND ANY FINAL THOUGHTS?

>> NO, I APPRECIATE YOUR TIME TODAY AND JUST HOPE AND ENCOURAGE EVERYBODY USE AI THAT AT THEIR FINGERTIPS TO MAKE THEIR LIVES EASIER AND MORE ACCESSIBLE.

>> FOR MY KYRIE'S FULL INTERVIEW WITH CHERI CUNNINGHAM.

YOU CAN LOG ONTO WGCU DOT ORG ACROSS THE GULF.

WE'RE TAKING A CLOSER LOOK TONIGHT AT RELATIONS BETWEEN THE U.S.

AND CUBA.

CUBA HAS BEEN STRUGGLING WITH BLACKOUT.

GASOLINE SHORTAGES AND BEEN AN ECONOMIC CRISIS FOR YEARS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS PLACED AN OIL BLOCKADE ON THE NATION LEAVING CUBANS WITHOUT A VITAL SOURCE FOR TRANSPORTATION AND POWER.

CUBA RECEIVED ITS FIRST SHIPMENT OF OIL SINCE JANUARY AND THAT SHIPMENT CAME FROM RUSSIA.

2 DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS HOPE THEIR RECENT VISIT TO THE ISLAND PAVED THE WAY FOR BETTER COMMUNICATION AND BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS.

ILLINOIS CONGRESSMAN JONATHAN JACKSON EMPHASIZES THE NEED TO LESSEN RESTRICTIONS.

>> MOST ASIAN OR OVER IT.

IT USED TO BEING OVER OF OUR AIR.

NOW THERE IS YOUR MONITORS SYSTEM THAT THIS COUNTRY DOES TAKEN SO THEY CAN DO LOCAL TREE.

ALSO HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED FALL SEEKING TO WILL TROLL IN EVERY COULD YOU EVER MEET OUR GOVERNMENT INSPIRING TOO.

MAKE SURE THE STATE OF OUR HOMES CASES OF 3, 4 OR AROUND THE WORLD.

WE WALKED FOR HUMANITARIAN REASONS SHE FLOOR FUEL FOOD, ENERGY.

NOT ONLY THIS YEAR, BUT YOU KNOW, A A WE'VE BEEN FOCUSED ON THE FACT THAT WE NEEDED.

HE WILL SERVE U.S.

SENATE A TANKER.

WE CAN SPECULATE ON WHY UNITED STATES LAW THAT TAPER.

BUT SHORTLY AFTER THAT CAME THROUGH, PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID IN HIS OWN PROBABLE IT WELCOMING TO CUBA, SOLD OUT.

I THINK THAT'S A SIGN PAPERS.

DO AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE MORE COUNTRIES IN LATIN AMERICA COMES THROUGH MICHIGAN TO COMMIT MURDER IN A AND OIL.

WE JUST HAVE TO BE CLEAR.

THESE ARE TEMPORARY OR CRITICAL SOLUTIONS FOR RIGHT NOW TO ADDRESS THE CRISIS, WHICH IS AN INMATE IN A MANAGER, SAYS.

>> WASHINGTON DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN PRAMILA JAYAPAL SAYS DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CUBA IS ONGOING AND THE LAWMAKERS PLAN TO REPORT ON THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS COMING UP NEXT, A SNAPSHOT OF THE INCREDIBLE ARTISTIC OFFERINGS IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

STAY TUNED FOR THE ART SHOWS AND THEATER PRODUCTIONS.

YOU SHOULD ADD TO YOUR TO DO LIST.

>> WE ARE NOW JOINED BY WGCU ARTS REPORTER TOM HALL.

>> AND TOM, YOU TOLD US LAST WEEK THAT THERE IS A BRAND-NEW PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

TELL US ABOUT THE FORT MYERS PHILHARMONIC.

>> WELL, THEY HAVE A VERY INTERESTING BUSINESS PLAN.

JENNIFER.

WHILE THEY'RE GOING TO PERFORM SEVERAL CONCERTS AT THE BARBARA B MANN PERFORMING ARTS HALL.

THE FORT MYERS FILM WILL BE TAKING MUSIC TO THE PUBLIC AND VENUES SUCH AS THE ARTS BONITA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, FLORIDA REPERTORY THEATER, THE TRIBUTE ARTS CENTER AT SHELL POINT, THE MILITARY HERITAGE MUSEUM IN GORDA AND THE COUPLE OF CHURCHES INCLUDING FAITH PRESBYTERIAN, A CAPE CORAL AND SANIBEL CONGREGATIONAL.

BOARD CHAIR CAROL ROBINSON AND MUSIC DIRECTOR AND CONDUCTOR.

PAUL NADER TOLD ME ON MONDAY THAT WHETHER PEOPLE OF CLASSICAL MUSIC OR PREFER POPS, THEY REALLY WANT THEIR PATRONS TO FEEL LIKE THE FILM IS THERE OR CURSED OR >> EXCITED ABOUT IS THAT WE'RE COMING TO YOU.

WE'RE GOING TO BE OUT IN THE COMMUNITY NOT FAR AWAY FROM ANYBODY.

SO IT'S EASY FOR PEOPLE ATTEMPT AT CONCERTS.

WE WILL BE IN THE BIG CALL, BUT MOST OF ARKANSAS WILL BE IN THE SMALLER AREAS.

THAT ARE MORE PERSONAL.

AND THE MUSICIANS HAVE AGREED AFTER THE CONCERTS TO COME OUT AND MEET THE AUDIENCE.

>> AND I JUST VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT.

>> PRESENTING THESE WONDERFUL PROGRAMS.

INCREDIBLE MUSIC TO THE FOR BUYERS IN SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES.

IT'S ALWAYS A DREAM TO MAKE MUSIC AND MUSIC IS THE HEARTBEAT OF WHAT WE DO.

SO I'M VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD TO MEETING EVERYBODY AT THE CONCERTS.

>> THE TOM, I UNDERSTAND YOU HAD THE CHANCE TO SPEND THE DAY AT MARCO ISLAND RECENTLY.

WHERE DID YOU GO AND WHAT DID YOU SEE?

I DID.

I WAS AT THE MARCO ISLAND HISTORICAL MUSEUM.

>> FOR THE OPENING OF THEIR EXHIBITION CALLED AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL.

THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBIT.

36, LARGE FORMAT, BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN BY CLYDE BUTCHER TO CELEBRATE AMERICA 2.50 THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE BREATHTAKING, BUT MORE THEY REMIND US THAT BEING AN AMERICAN IS NOT JUST ABOUT OUR HISTORY.

IT'S ALSO ABOUT OUR CONNECTION TO THE PLACE THAT WE GREW UP AND THE PANORAMIC VISTAS THAT WE'VE HAVE THE GOOD FORTUNE TO SEE AS WE TRAVEL FROM COAST TO COAST.

NOW I SPOKE TO THE NEW MUSEUM'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PAT RUN LEDGE AND IT'S A CURATOR OF COLLECTIONS.

HEATHER, OTIS AND I'LL LET THEM TELL YOU WHY THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS AMERICA.

2.50, EXHIBITION.

>> THE EXHIBIT AMERICA, THE BEAUTIFUL IS AND AMAZING EXAMPLE OF WHAT THIS COUNTRY IT'S CELEBRATING WITH THIS MILESTONE OF AMERICA.

2.50, THESE PHOTOGRAPHS ARE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE SCOPE AND THE MAJESTY OF THIS COUNTRY.

AND THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE ARE CELEBRATING SO PROUDLY THIS YEAR.

>> AND I'M PERSONALLY EXCITED FOR YOU TO COME IN AND EXPERIENCE ALL BY 2 PIECES IN FOR A SON.

I COOKED THAT YOU'RE ABLE TO FIND A DEEPER CONNECTION WITH WHAT MAKES AMERICAN BEAUTIFUL LET MEANS YOU AMERICAN PERSONALLY.

THANKS.

COME VISIT US.

>> AND TOP YOU ALSO SAW A PLAY AT THE ARTS CENTER THEATER THAT'S CALLED.

YOU'VE GOT HATE MAIL.

WHAT'S BATTLE ABOUT?

>> SO, >> JENNIFER, WE'VE ALL HEARD STORIES ABOUT PEOPLE SENDING AN EMAIL TO THE WRONG PERSON.

>> FOR HITTING REPLY ALL BUTTON WHEN THE E-MAIL IS INTENDED FOR JUST ONE PERSON WELL, IN THIS BUILDING, VAN ZANDT, BROADBAND COMEDY, A PHILANDERING HUSBAND SENT HIS WIFE A SAUCY EMAIL INTENDED FOR HIS MISTRESS, AS YOU CAN GUESS, THINGS GO RAPIDLY DOWNHILL FROM THERE.

BUT WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS PLACE THAT ALL 5 ACT OR SAT ON STAGE BEHIND LAPTOPS FURIOUSLY SENDING E-MAILS BACK AND FORTH TO ONE ANOTHER.

TAKE A LOOK AT YOU DOING STEPHANIE.

THIS IS SERIOUS.

>> THE 10 YEARS TOGETHER COUNT FOR ANYTHING.

>> US STOCKS.

>> IF YOUR PENSION NICE THAT.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, TOM, FOR JOINING US TODAY AND SHARING WITH US ALL THESE WONDERFUL EXHIBITS AND SHOWS THAT ARE IN OUR AREA FOR THIS WEEKEND WAS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU, JENNA.

>> WITH THE RISING COST OF HEALTH CARE AND THE INCREASES FAMILIES ARE PAYING FOR HEALTH INSURANCE.

>> IT MIGHT BE TOUGH FOR FAMILIES TO WANT TO EVEN SCHEDULE A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT.

THE KEY TO THAT COULD BE STAYING OUT OF THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE AS DIET AND EXERCISE COMBINED TO HELP US LIVE HEALTHIER LIVES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW WE CAN MAKE OUR LIVES BETTER BY PERSONAL CHOICES WE MAKE AT THE GROCERY STORE AND FITTING IN EXERCISE IT TO OUR ROUTINE.

WE ARE NOW JOINED BY KAREN HOWARD.

SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF THE ORGANIC AND NATURAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

KAREN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.

>> IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> CAN YOU FIRST EXPLAIN WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND?

>> I CAME HERE A LONG TIME AGO AS A CONGRESSIONAL STAFFER FOR A COMMITTEE CALLED THE POST OFFICE AND CIVIL SERVICE COMMITTEE, WHICH IS BEEN REARRANGED IN MY NAME SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN.

AND I NEVER LEFT.

SO I'VE BEEN IN HEALTHCARE POLICY ALL THESE YEARS.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN ABOUT THE ASSOCIATION THAT YOU ARE CEO OF WHAT IS ITS MISSION?

>> SO WHERE THEY ORGANIC AND NATURAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION.

AND WHAT THAT MEANS FOR US IS THAT WE REPRESENT THE ENTIRETY OF THE DIETARY SUPPLEMENT, CHANGED EVERYTHING FROM RAW INGREDIENTS ALL THE WAY TO THE FINISHED PRODUCTS.

SO THAT INCLUDES THE MANUFACTURER AND THEN THE CONSUMER ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROMOTE AND SUPPORT DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS AND GROUPS OF INDIVIDUALS ARE COME COME ALONG IN THE THROUGH OUR EDUCATION CAMPAIGN.

SO WE REALLY DO HAVE A COMMITMENT TO THE INTEGRITY OF WHAT GOES INTO THE MARKETPLACE AND THE EDUCATION OF CONSUMERS TO BE ABLE TO UTILIZE THESE PRODUCTS SUCCESSFULLY WHITE.

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT'S IT'S VERY KEY COMPONENT TO HOW TO LIVE A GOOD HEALTHY LIFE.

AND THAT WE'VE WE'VE ALWAYS RELIED ON FOOD FOR THAT.

AND DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS ARE REGULATED AS THE SECOND MOST REGULATED OF FOODS.

AND THAT IS A REALLY KEY INDICATOR THAT, YOU KNOW, WE NEED THESE SUPPLEMENTS BECAUSE OUR FOOD SUPPLY CHAIN HAS KIND OF STRIPPED OUT NUTRIENTS FROM WHAT WE EAT.

EVEN IF WE'RE EATING ALL ORGANIC AND DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY.

IF YOU MEASURE YOUR LEVELS, YOU'LL FIND THAT.

I THINK IT'S 90% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DEFICIENT IN VITAMIN D 98% OF PEOPLE ARE DEFICIENT IN THEIR LEVELS OF OMEGA 3.

FOR THAT.

YOU GET FROM FISH AND ANYWHERE FROM 50 TO 80% OF AMERICANS ARE DEFICIENT IN MAGNESIUM.

SO THAT'S GOING TO HAVE A LONG-TERM IMPACT ON YOUR HEALTH.

>> CAN YOU EXPLAIN FOR OUR AUDIENCE?

WHAT IS ORGANIC?

THERE IS SOME CONFUSION OVER WHAT THAT TERM MEANS.

>> THERE IS SOME CONFUSION ON ORGANIC IS AN ACTUAL TERM OF ART THAT HAS BEEN DEFINED BY CONGRESS.

SO LEGISLATOR, EXCUSE ME, I'M A CULTURAL PRACTICES ARE SPECIFICALLY USED THAT FALLEN TO THE ORGANIC CATEGORY.

YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED TO USE THE PESTICIDES THAT MAKE US SICK AND YOU ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE CERTAIN INPUTS INTO THE SOIL AND THE WHOLE GOAL OF ARE GETTING US TO BE ABLE TO REGENERATE THE SOIL SO YOU DON'T NEED TO PUT ALL THE AMENDMENTS AND THAT GO INTO CONVENTIONAL AGRICULTURE.

SO THEY'RE NOT SPRING CROPS TO GET RID OF BOX.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN PEOPLE HAVE THEIR OWN HOME GARDENS, WHICH I'M SURE YOU GUYS DO A LOT OF WHERE YOU ARE, YOU DON'T USE THE KINDS OF CONTAMINANTS AND PESTICIDES THAT CONVENTIONAL FOOD PRODUCERS WHOSE SO THAT'S THE PART.

THAT'S WHY IT HAS ITS OWN LOGO.

USDA ORGANIC.

IT'S BROWN AND IT'S ROUND AND HAS USDA ON THE BOTTOM.

AND THAT'S A REALLY GOOD START TO JUST BEGIN TO SELECT FOODS AND SUPPLEMENTS WHO HAVE DECLARED THEMSELVES ORGANIC AND MEET THAT STANDARD.

>> CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH WHY THESE SUPPLEMENTS ARE SO IMPORTANT?

AND WE ALSO KNOW THAT THEY TEND TO BE EXPENSIVE AND EXPLAIN HOW ONE CAN BALANCE THAT IN PURCHASES.

YOU KNOW THAT THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND MORE ON SUPPLEMENTS IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH.

>> WELL, YOU CAN EAT YOUR WAY TO GOOD LEVELS IF YOU CAN.

IF YOU CAN FIGURE IT OUT SET FOR VITAMIN D AND PEOPLE ARE VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT BEING OUT IN THE SENATE AND IT NEEDS TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

SO VITAMIN D IS A GREAT WAY TO START BECAUSE IT'S NOT EXPENSIVE AND IT'S PRETTY CONSISTENT IN QUALITY ACROSS THE MARKETPLACE.

WITHOUT VITAMIN D YOUR HEALTH HAZARDS ARE SO HIGH, WHETHER IT'S JUST HYPERTENSION, WHETHER YOU'RE HAVING A BABY LIKE 40 TO 60% OF PRE-TERM BIRTHS CAN BE COMPLETELY ELIMINATED.

IF YOU HAVE THE RIGHT VITAMIN D LEVEL.

SO THAT TELLS YOU THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT IT MEANS LIKE IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO DRINK WATER.

IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO TAKE VITAMIN D IT'S IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO EAT THE RIGHT FOODS.

AND IF YOU WANT A GOOD OMEGA LEVEL, THAT MEANS YOU'VE GOT TO EAT A LOT OF COLD WATER.

FISH THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE LIKE AND WITHOUT THOSE OMEGA 3 LEVELS, YOU'RE DOING THINGS LIKE DAMAGING YOUR.

I HOW I MEAN, IT COMPOUNDS ITSELF.

MAGNESIUM.

PEOPLE HAVE A HARD TIME SLEEPING.

WE ALL NEED TO BE ABLE TO GET GOOD SLEEP RIGHT NOW TO MAINTAIN HEALTH AND MAGNESIUM IS ONE OF THE SECRET SAUCE INGREDIENTS THAT WILL HELP YOU DO THAT.

JUST BE CAREFUL ABOUT WHAT KIND OF MAGNESIUM IT GETS COMPLICATED.

LOTS OF WOMEN TAKE MAGNESIUM, SIT RATE, WHICH IS GREAT FOR BELMONT.

THAT'S DOES NOTHING FOR ANY OTHER COMPONENT OF YOUR HEALTH.

MY FAVORITE SELFIE.

NICK, COMPLICATED BY NOW.

>> HOW CAN ANY OF THESE SUPPLEMENTS HELP KEEP US OUT OF HAVING TO GO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE?

>> I CAN SPEAK FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT IF YOU BUILD YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM WITH ESPECIALLY EAST 3, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE FEWER COLDS AND FEWER INCIDENTS OF JUST BEING SICK OVERALL.

AND I CAN SAY THAT THE ONE TIME I DID GET COVID I WAS COMPLETELY I HAVE NO SYMPTOMS WHATSOEVER.

I WAS JUST KIND OF BOUNCING AROUND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE FACT THAT I WOULD DIDN'T HAVE TO GO ANYWHERE SO I THINK THAT THERE'S A REAL INNATE ABILITY TO BUILD THAT AND WITH A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE, WHICH INCLUDES EATING THE RIGHT FOODS, GETTING EXERCISE AND CONSUMING AS THE WATER.

THAT'S CORRECT.

AND RIGHT FOR YOU THAT IT MAKES ALL THE SENSE TO COMPOUND THESE THINGS TOGETHER AND IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFESTYLE.

BUT IT IS A COMMITMENT THAT PEOPLE HAVE TO REALLY EMBRACE AS PART OF WHATEVER ELSE THAT THEY EMBRACE FOR THEIR HEALTH.

>> EDUCATION IS SO IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH TODAY FOR SHARING THIS WITH US.

KAREN, AS MY PLEASURE.

THANK YOU.

>> COMING UP NEXT, A MUSIC FESTIVAL FOR ONE OF OUR SMALLER COUNTIES.

THAT'S >> LEAVING A LASTING IMPACT ON THOSE WHO ATTEND AND A HUGE IMPACT ON THE ECONOMY.

THAT'S COMING UP NEXT ON SOUTHWEST FLORIDA.

IN FOCUS.

THE POPULATION OF LITTLE OKEECHOBEE COUNTY DOUBLES IN SIZE FOR A FEW DAYS.

EVERY YEAR IS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF MUSIC LOVERS GATHER FOR THE OKEECHOBEE MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL.

130 ARTIST, 80 HOURS OF MUSIC.

AND FOR A NIGHT OF CAMPING, MAKE FOR A BIG IMPACT IN A RURAL AREA.

WGCU REPORTER EILEEN KELLEY JOINS US NOW TO TELL US MUCH MORE ABOUT THE FESTIVAL AND ITS IMPACT ECONOMICALLY.

HELLO, JENNIFER, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

>> SO I THINK TO RESPECT THE MUSIC FESTIVAL SEEN FOR MANY YEARS, ESPECIALLY AFTER A FRIEND OF MINE ACCOMPANIED HER DAUGHTER ON SOME TRIPS THAT WAS BACK IN 2016.

AND THAT WAS ALSO THE YEAR THAT THE OKEECHOBEE MUSIC FESTIVAL DEBUTED TO A SOLD-OUT CROWD OF MORE THAN 32,000 PEOPLE.

MIND YOU, OKEECHOBEE COUNTY AT THE TIME HAD A POPULATION OF 39,000 PEOPLE.

TODAY'S POPULATION IS NOT MUCH BIGGER.

SO THIS IS A BIG, BIG DEAL FOR A SMALL RURAL COUNTY.

KENDRICK LAMAR AND MUMFORD AND SONS WITH HEADLINERS IN 2016, THE NEW YORK TIMES CALLED THE FESTIVAL ONE OF THE COUNTRY'S GREATEST.

SO TURNER, OKAY TO TELLS ME THAT IT IS THE GREATEST MUSIC VENUE HE'S EVER EXPERIENCED.

AND I'D LIKE YOU TO HEAR A LITTLE BIT OF THE CONVERSATION I HAD WITH HIM JUST TO SEE WAS GETTING HOME FROM THE FESTIVAL.

>> OKEECHOBEE IS REALLY, REALLY GOOD LIKE CURATING EVERYTHING LIKE THIS PAINSTAKING ATTENTION TO DETAIL AND MAKE EVERYTHING OK, YOU GUYS LIKE I KNOW IT'S LIKE I LOOK AT ALL LIKE IN THE STAGE PRODUCTION AND LIKE, EVERYTHING IS JUST LIKE EVERYTHING.

JUST THAT SO PERFECTLY WITH THE LIGHTING OF THE HEART AND EVERYTHING LIKE IT SO THAT IT'S IT'S IT'S A PASSION PROJECT.

>> KEITA TELLS ME HE'S BEEN GOING TO MUSIC FESTIVALS SINCE 2018.

THE AVERAGE IS ABOUT 5 A YEAR.

HE SAYS THAT THE ONE AT OKEECHOBEE IS THE BEST FESTIVAL IN THE WORLD.

HE SO ENAMORED WITH IT THAT HE NOW EVEN HAS A TATTOO REPRESENT TANT.

>> INCREDIBLE IN ITS BREATHTAKING.

AND THAT SUNSHINE GROVE ITSELF IS JUST LIKE MAGICAL LAND LIKE THINGS JUST HAPPENED THERE.

IT'S CRAZY.

EVERY TIME I GOT A BUNCH OF ITS LIKE THE UNIVERSE IS LIKE CONSPIRING IN YOUR FAVOR.

LIKE WHEN YOU'RE THERE LIKE IT'S JUST LIKE YOU TO SLEEP ON THE STREAM OF LIKE MANIFESTATION LIKE IT'S CRAZY.

WILD AT THAT.

>> THE COOLEST PLACE ON EARTH.

I LOVE THE FESTIVAL.

INTRODUCE KEITA OKEECHOBEE AND ALL OF THE OFFERINGS.

AND THAT ITSELF IS MUSIC TO COUNTY, TOURISM AND COUNTY OFFICIALS.

HERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF MY CONVERSATION WITH JARED CANO.

HE'S A SPOKESMAN FOR OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, OKEECHOBEE OF MUSIC FEST IS A PHENOMENAL.

>> COMMUNITY PARTNER FOR OUR COUNTY.

THE BOOST TO OUR LOCAL ECONOMY.

THE TOURISM PROMOTION AND THE SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

IT WAS JUST OVERWHELMING AND WELL RECEIVED BY ALL BUSINESSES.

>> AND OUR RESIDENTS, EILEEN, THIS MUST BE A HUGE WINDFALL FOR THE BUSINESSES, THE HOTELS AND THE RESTAURANTS.

WHAT'S THE IMPACT OF THIS FESTIVAL ON THE ECONOMY?

THERE?

>> WELL, WELL, RIGHT NOW AND DID NOT HAVE SOLID ECONOMIC IMPACT FIGURES.

I'VE SEEN FIGURES FROM PAST REPORTING ON THE MUSIC FESTIVAL IN OKEECHOBEE COUNTY IN.

IT SAYS THAT OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD, THE SHOW HAD AN ECONOMIC IMPACT OF 48 MILLION DOLLARS.

AGAIN, ALL THOSE PEOPLE, MORE THAN 30,000 COMING YEAR AFTER YEAR TO EXPERIENCE THIS FESTIVAL CERTAINLY IS A HUGE WINDFALL FOR OKEECHOBEE COUNTY.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT EXCITES US THE MOST IS THE OPPORTUNITY IT CREATES FOR TOURISM PROMOTION, YOU KNOW, BY ATTRACTING THESE ATTENDEES FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND COUNTRY.

THE SPECIAL WILL SHOWCASE OKEECHOBEE COUNTY AS A PIRATE DESTINATION AND HOPEFULLY WE CAN GAIN A FUTURE COURSE FROM THE PEOPLE THAT CAME TO THIS MUSIC FESTIVAL.

EILEEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR INSIGHT.

AND ALSO BRINGING US THE IMPORTANCE OF WHAT THIS FESTIVAL MEANS FOR OKEECHOBEE COUNTY.

THANK YOU.

>> I APPRECIATE AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

MAKE SURE YOU HEAD TO WGC YOU DOT ORG WHERE YOU'LL FIND ALL OF OUR STORIES.

HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.

WE'LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.