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ID:
2025-03-20-conversation-with-tom-cassidy
Participants:

Conversation with Tom Cassidy: Business Journey and Retirement Perspectives

Date: March 20, 2025 Location: The Villages, FL Participants: Gary, Tom Cassidy

Summary​

This extensive conversation with Tom Cassidy covered his career building a seafood distribution business in Memphis, his side ventures in ice carving and wine collection, and his perspectives on retirement and technology. Tom shared insights about entrepreneurship, building relationships in business, and his views on how AI and automation will transform industries in the coming decade.

Key Topics​

Building a Seafood Business​

  • Started American Seafood (later Cassidy Foods) with a partner, bringing in fresh seafood to Memphis restaurants
  • His wife Mary Lyn joined to handle accounting and business operations
  • Grew from delivering in personal vehicles to a company with dozens of employees
  • Had to convince Memphis restaurants that customers would appreciate fresh fish
  • Eventually merged with Off The Dock food and was later sold to a larger company
  • All three sons worked in the business before pursuing their own careers

Ice Carving Business​

  • Identified opportunity to produce clear ice blocks for sculptures
  • Explained the technical process of keeping water moving during freezing to create clear ice
  • Sponsored a team that competed in international ice carving competitions
  • One of his partners, Joe Rhymer, now runs a successful ice carving business in Florida that serves Disney

Food & Wine Expertise​

  • Served on the board of a prestigious international food and wine organization
  • Helped plan high-end dining events at luxury venues across the country
  • Collected fine wine as both a passion and investment
  • Noted that fine wine has been one of the best-appreciating assets over the past 25 years

Business Philosophy​

  • Emphasized the importance of relationships with customers and suppliers
  • Demonstrated innovative approach to market education (bringing fish to restaurants)
  • Shared approach to managing and developing employees
  • Discussed the value of integrity in business relationships

Retirement and Life in The Villages​

  • Sold the business and worked remotely as a consultant for several years
  • Learned to play golf after retirement
  • Questions the need for expensive vacations when already living in a vacation destination
  • Focuses on maintaining health through walking and golf
  • Appreciates the social connections in The Villages

Views on Technology and the Future​

  • Believes AI will dramatically change many industries in the next decade
  • Predicts automation in food service, particularly for routine tasks
  • Sees continued value in high-end, service-oriented establishments with skilled staff
  • Discusses "longevity escape velocity" concept and how technology might extend lifespans
  • Interested in technology that could simplify financial management for his wife

Notable Quotes​

  • "Nothing moves until a salesman sells it."
  • "The biggest gamble in the world is being an entrepreneur."
  • "I don't mind those people's views - if they don't bug me, I won't bug them."
  • "Americans are so competitive - they look around at what others are doing and learn fast."
  • "With AI, you never know - the way these things are changing now, you never know."

Follow-up Opportunities​

  • Tom expressed interest in finding technology to simplify his wife's financial management tasks
  • He has extensive food industry connections that might be valuable for business insights
  • His perspectives on automation in the service industry align with potential technology opportunities
  • His exceptional communication skills and voice quality were noted (he mentioned brief experience in radio)