marketing and sales

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH CAROLYN KELLER AT:

Website: https://www.curio412.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/curio412

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/curio412

enJune 30, 2022

See Your Idea All the Way Through | Jordan Schulz, Co-Owner of Lifeside Studios

When Jordan Schulz was introduced to Zach Miller in 2019, little did they know that their collaboration would take them far beyond the performance stages of Pittsburgh. At the time, Jordan was looking for a guitarist to complement his vocals, and Zach was open to trying out a few gigs with someone new. Their musical styles, instincts, and preferences were similar, and they quickly hit it off. But it was when they began to spend more time together off stage that they realized just how much their skill sets were a match. Jordan’s marketing, design, and media background combined with Zach’s audio engineering and production knowledge culminated in the creation of Lifeside Studios.

Jordan and Zach share a passion to help aspiring and established musicians bring their music to life. With Lifeside Studios, they are able to assist artists in a number of ways including marketing, promotions, website creation, social media strategy, song development, music videos, audio engineering, production, and music recording. They also have the ability to operate as a mobile studio by bringing their equipment with them to record on location in a wide variety of venues. Although their partnership started with a mutual love for discovering Pittsburgh musicians, that vision has now expanded following Zach’s move to the West Coast. Today, the duo continues to write and record new music as well as perform at locations all around the country.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH JORDAN SCHULZ AT:

Website: https://www.lifesidestudios.com

Website: https://www.jordanschulzonline.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeside_studios

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifesidestudio

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordansschulz

enJune 25, 2022

Be Tenacious and Committed to Your Idea | Elisabeth Leach, Co-Founder of The Women's Collective PGH

When Elisabeth Leach met Andrea Belen-Sandhorst in late 2019, they started a conversation about what they valued most in a networking group. Both were developing their own businesses and careers, and they were interested in meeting new people. Although there were other industry-specific and leadership groups available to them, they felt that the Pittsburgh market really needed an organization that catered to the unique needs of women entrepreneurs and corporate professionals in all industries and career stages. In early 2020, they launched The Women’s Collective Pittsburgh in order to fulfill their goal of creating a welcoming and powerful community for professional women in our region.

They were only three months into the launch of their networking group when the pandemic shutdown occurred in March 2020, but Elisabeth and Andrea were determined to keep their dream alive. 2020 and 2021 consisted of outdoor events, keeping their attendance levels low, and wearing masks as needed, all in order to adhere to safety protocols while continuing to give their members a reason to come out, socialize, and learn from each other. When their membership base exploded in the spring of 2021, they knew that their new organization could be a full-time business. Today, Elisabeth sets the strategic direction and runs the day-to-day operations as the CEO of The Women’s Collective Pittsburgh.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH ELISABETH LEACH AT:

Website: https://www.jointwc.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_womens_collective_pgh

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/twc-pittsburgh

enJune 12, 2022

You Have to Do the Work | Emily Bezak, Owner of Emily Bezak Writes

Emily Bezak’s love for writing began at a young age with journaling and storytelling. She created and maintained a freelance writing business, while she developed her corporate career as a marketer and communications professional. In 2020, Emily wrote a blog post announcing that she would soon leave her job to work full time in her own business. Early that same year, she launched Emily Bezak Writes to offer a suite of social media, copywriting, content creation, and marketing services to both established and startup organizations and businesses.

In this episode, Emily talks about the many gigs, jobs, and corporate positions that she’s held over the years and the role they have played in shaping her marketing philosophy and writing style. We also discuss the impact that working at Sephora had in highlighting her natural gifts in the areas of customer service and communications. Today, Emily is realizing her dream of teaching the next generation of business professionals as an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH EMILY BEZAK AT:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilyjbezak

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emily.bezak

Twitter: https://twitter.com/EmilyBezak

enJune 03, 2022

We Manifest Our Own Reality | Jan Receski, Owner of OnPar Now

After a successful 30-year career at prominent local company, Jan Receski was ready for a new challenge, not an early retirement. As she was contemplating her next move, inspiration struck following a poor golf club fitting experience. Selecting and trying out new equipment should be a fun and exciting time for any golfer, yet Jan left feeling underserved, misunderstood, and slightly offended. She quickly realized that the local market was lacking in golf establishments that catered to the needs of an increasing base of female players and enthusiasts.

At the height of the pandemic in early 2021, Jan opened OnPar Now, an inclusive and welcoming indoor golf facility that is especially sensitive to the growing numbers of women players. In this episode, Jan talks about how she cashed out her 401(k) and literally put it all on the line to make her dream a reality. She discusses how she navigated a new world of entrepreneurship by fully immersing herself in every aspect of the development of her business. With each meeting and decision made, she grew more confident throughout the process. And today, she continues to live up to her mantra that “failure is not an option.”

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH JAN RECESKI AT:

Website: https://onparnow.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onparnow

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OnParNow

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onpar-now

enMay 14, 2022

Get Out of Your Own Way | James Mauler, Founder of Cadnetics

James Mauler was still early in his career when he decided to leave college and take a more hands-on approach with his education. Instead of completing a five-year degree in architecture, Jim realized that he could achieve his professional and financial goals by putting his drafting skills to work on the job. As an example, when computer-aided design (CAD) software was still in its infancy, he was the first person in his firm to volunteer to learn how to use it. This made him a go-to resource in the company, and it gave him the confidence he needed to know that he was on the right track.

In the early 1990s, Jim was terminated from the company that he was working for at the time. He describes this as a blessing in disguise because it gave him a compelling reason to start his own company the very next day. Jim has been at the helm of Cadnetics for nearly 30 years, and his business has undergone tremendous growth and transformation during that time. The firm, which is headquartered in Pittsburgh, also has a presence in four other major markets throughout the country. Jim is currently realizing his vision of expanding to 10 cities in 10 years, and you can tell from our conversation that he is having a lot of fun in the process.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH JAMES MAULER AT:

Website: https://www.cadnetics.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cadnetics-inc

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cadnetics

enMay 08, 2022

Start With Why | Patrick Colletti, Refounder of Net Health

In the beginning of his career at Net Health, Patrick Colletti was faced with an unexpected opportunity and a steep hill to climb. It was the early 2000s and the company was teetering on the edge of collapse when board members asked him and another colleague if they wanted one last shot at turning it around. With a lack of job prospects in the wake of 9/11, Patrick felt that he had nothing to lose in giving it a try. The first few years were rough, but their newly organized team eventually got the business on solid ground. Today, Net Health is a leading electronic employee health records, software, and analytics company with an impressive roster of customers which includes over 95% of the country’s largest health care systems.

A few years ago, Patrick stepped down from his position as Net Health’s president, and this transition has placed him in a new role as the company’s advisor and refounder. In 2021, he published his book, which tells the story of his journey and the company’s reinvention and explosive growth over the last twenty years. The book is aptly titled – "Refounder: how transformational leaders take what’s broken and make it better." In our conversation, Patrick discusses the “refounding principles” that served him well in the early days of the turnaround. He also shares the importance of cultivating team and creating culture in building an organization that can stand the test of time.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH PATRICK COLLETTI AT:

Website: https://refounder.com

Website: https://www.nethealth.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-colletti

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/patrick_colletti

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nethealthfits

enMay 01, 2022

Be as Real as Possible | Jess Iacullo, Founder of Hungry Jess Big City

Jess Iacullo started her brand, Hungry Jess Big City, as a passion project. It also served to give her a leg up on internship opportunities while she was a student at the University of Pittsburgh. Little did she know at the time but in a few short years her Instagram page would explode to over 35,000 followers. After working with a number of noteworthy media companies, such as Forbes, Business Insider, Food Network, and Discovery Plus, Jess realized that her increasing online popularity may be an avenue for her to explore entrepreneurship.

In 2018, after moving back to Pittsburgh, Jess started to monetize her brand through client work and brand partnerships. Just when things were going well for her, she got an unexpected “cease and desist” letter in the mail from a California attorney. The explosion of her brand had reached across the country and caught the attention of someone with a similar business name. Jess had to go through the excruciating work of renaming and rebranding her company, which took a year to fully complete. Today, Hungry Jess Big City is a thriving business, and Jess currently works with many local and national clients.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH JESS IACULLO AT:

Website: https://hungryjessbigcity.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hungryjessbigcity

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hungryjessbigcity

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hungry-jess-big-city

enApril 23, 2022

Get Clear With What You Want | Adam Williams, Founder of Rust Belt Business Law

Deep in his heart, Adam Williams always knew that he was an entrepreneur. After a relatively short stint working for others, he decided that it was time to hang his own shingle. At first, like with many startups, Adam launched his business as a side gig. But six months later, he was making more money working for himself than at his regular job, plus he had all of the gratification that came with operating his own business. What first began as the Law Office of Adam Williams has been cleverly rebranded as Rust Belt Business Law.

As you will hear in our conversation, Adam didn’t go from zero to runaway success overnight. It was an evolution to get to where he is today, which is the leader of a law firm that has recently been recognized in the top 50 fastest growing firms in the United States. This is all the more impressive when you consider that this happened from his home base in western Pennsylvania, which has been a region of only modest job growth in recent years. With a blue-collar work ethic and a roll-up-your-sleeves attitude that he attributes to his upbringing, Adam remains committed to helping clients “create jobs, pursue opportunities, and improve our economy.”

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH ADAM WILLIAMS AT:

Website: https://www.rustbeltlegal.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rustbeltbusinesslaw

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/RustBeltLegal

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rustbeltbusinesslaw

enApril 16, 2022

Take It One Step at a Time | Dr. Shayla Cammarata, Owner of Ignite Yoga

An intensive weeklong yoga teacher training in Costa Rica served as a major turning point in Dr. Shayla Cammarata’s relationship to her yoga practice. She was dealing with several very difficult circumstances in her personal and professional life, and this retreat proved to provide the breakthrough that she needed. Upon her return, she embraced yoga wholeheartedly and committed herself to the practice. When her home studio in Wexford closed during the pandemic, Dr. Shayla and many others from that community decided that they had to do something about it.

In 2021, with the support her fellow yoga instructors, Dr. Shayla decided to take the leap and start Ignite Yoga. She has since built a cohesive community where the teachers and students feel a genuine ownership of the studio. In this episode, Dr. Shayla talks about how she balances her work as an emergency room physician with running Ignite Yoga and what it means to work through personal and emotional issues “on the mat” as a daily practice.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH DR. SHAYLA CAMMARATA AT:

Website: https://www.igniteyogapgh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/igniteyoga_pgh

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100069043382937

enApril 02, 2022

Surround Yourself With People Who Share Similar Goals | Sydney Smyers, Co-Owner of The Maverick Co-Working Space

Sydney Smyers is a serial entrepreneur with three businesses under her belt. Her latest venture, The Maverick Co-Working Space, is a modern and comfortable co-working office located in the North Hills of Pittsburgh. She and her husband did the bulk of the renovation work to get the location cleaned up and opened in the fall of 2021. The result is a bright, colorful, and flexible space that inspires creativity and productivity. In this episode, Sydney talks about what it’s like to be a partner in multiple businesses and how the idea for The Maverick came to life.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH SYDNEY SMYERS AT:

Website: https://themaverickpgh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themaverickpgh

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Maverick-Pgh-101764332269737

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sydney-smyers-mba-7968738b

enMarch 27, 2022

Introducing Season 9 | Proprietors of Pittsburgh Podcast

Hey, everyone. Season 9 is here! It’s full of in-depth conversations and inspiring stories that I know you will enjoy.

Sydney Smyers, owner of The Maverick Co-Working Space, talks about the need for co-working locations in the suburbs. Dr. Shayla Cammarata, owner of Ignite Yoga, describes the important role that yoga studios play in the community. Jess Iacullo, founder of Hungry Jess Big City, tells the story of how a college side project exploded into a brand and business with a huge Instagram following. Adam Williams, founder of Rust Belt Business Law, explains why he chose to take a unique path when renaming and rebranding his law firm. And, Patrick Colletti talks about writing his book and how his role as “refounder” helped save Net Health from the brink of bankruptcy.

I also had incredible conversations with Jim Mauler, founder of Cadnetics, Jan Receski, owner of OnPar Now, Emily Bezak of Emily Bezak Writes, Elisabeth Leach, co-founder of The Women’s Collective Pittsburgh, Jordan Schulz, co-owner of Lifeside Studios, and more.

These interviews are an excellent way for us to get to know our local entrepreneurial community on a much deeper lever. They are a chance to hear their stories and engage with them in their businesses. This is how we build a more vibrant small business community in Pittsburgh.

Thanks for listening and for your support. If you’re enjoying the podcast, tell a friend. Keep spreading the word, and keep supporting our local businesses. As always, feel free to reach out to me using my contact info below. Take care, and talk to you soon.

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

enMarch 19, 2022

Small Business Roundtable Discussion | Kristen Ricupero, Wendy Gilch, and Jessie Tait

Kristen Ricupero, owner of Financial Fitness Coaching, Wendy Gilch, owner of SellingLater.com, and Jessie Tait, owner of Enspra, are my guests for this small business roundtable episode. All three of them have been on the show previously, and each contributes generously to a dynamic, relevant, and entertaining discussion. Some of the many topics we cover include lessons learned from business mistakes, how to recession-proof your business, setting an example for your kids as a mompreneur, and ideas for adapting to the realities of the current labor market. Please enjoy this episode, and keep the ideas coming for guests that you’d like to see back on the podcast.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So, please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

Kristen Ricupero’s original episode: https://proprietorsofpittsburgh.com/episodes/dont-be-afraid-to-ask-for-help-kristen-ricupero-owner-of-financial-fitness-coaching

Wendy Gilch’s original episode: https://proprietorsofpittsburgh.com/episodes/dont-try-to-be-perfect-wendy-gilch-owner-of-sellinglatercom

Jessie Tait’s original episode: https://proprietorsofpittsburgh.com/episodes/do-something-that-adds-value-to-the-market-jessie-tait-owner-of-enspra

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH KRISTEN RICUPERO AT:

Website: https://financialfitnesscoaching.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/financial.fitness.coaching

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/financialfitnesscoach18

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristen-ricupero

YOU CAN REACH WENDY GILCH AT:

Website: https://www.sellinglater.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selling_later

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sellinglater

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendygilch

YOU CAN REACH JESSIE TAIT AT:

Website: https://www.enspra.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Enspra

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessietait

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enspra1

enMarch 12, 2022

Small Business Roundtable Discussion | Matt Marietti, John Vella, and Fiore Moletz

I’m excited to debut a new interview format that I plan to bring you periodically throughout the year. Many of you have reached out to me asking for updates on previous guests. There has also been tremendous interest in hearing from small business owners with respect to current events and topics. So, I decided to sit down with several of our very own podcast alumni to get their take on what’s happening out there.

In this first small business roundtable discussion, Matt Marietti, owner of de Fer Coffee and Tea, Fiore Moletz, co-owner of Burgh’ers Brewing, and John Vella, owner of The John Vella Salon, are back on the show. We talk about what’s going on in their businesses, what they’ve been working on, what their thoughts are on the latest issues facing their industries and the local economy, and much more. Please enjoy this dynamic conversation, and let me know who you’d like to hear from the next time that I do another small business roundtable episode.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So, please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

Matt Marietti’s original episode: https://proprietorsofpittsburgh.com/episodes/make-sure-your-heart-is-in-it-matt-marietti-owner-of-atelier-de-fer

Fiore Moletz’s original episode: https://proprietorsofpittsburgh.com/episodes/surround-yourself-with-excellent-people-fiore-moletz-founder-of-burghers-brewing

John Vella’s original episode: https://proprietorsofpittsburgh.com/episodes/you-have-to-be-good-at-what-you-do-john-vella-owner-of-the-john-vella-salon

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH MATT MARIETTI AT:

Website: https://defer.coffee

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defercoffeeandtea

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/defercoffee

YOU CAN REACH FIORE MOLETZ AT:

Website: https://burgherspgh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burghersbrewingpgh

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BurghersBrewing

YOU CAN REACH JOHN VELLA AT:

Website: https://www.johnvellasalon.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejohnvellasalon

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thejohnvellasalon

enMarch 01, 2022

Darin's Guest Appearance on the Evolution of Brand Podcast

I had an amazing time sharing my story on Evolution of Brand, a podcast created and hosted by Jason Cercone. People often ask me why I created the Proprietors of Pittsburgh Podcast. In fact, it’s one of the most frequently asked questions that I receive from listeners and guests. So, it was incredible to be able to talk with Jason in detail about my ideas and the passion that I have for my work. As you will hear in our conversation, the podcast is a culmination of three things that I love and that inspire me on a daily basis: the people of Pittsburgh, the small business community, and my entrepreneurial mother.

Jason and I also get into depth about content creation, developing a niche in media and business, and the importance of consistency in mastering your craft. We also talked about how and why you need to promote your content, regardless of the medium that you use. In a world where most podcasters rely solely on organic social media posting, I’ve learned firsthand just how powerful paid ads and event promotions can be. Whether you’re a content creator, small business owner, entrepreneur, or if you’re just curious about how shows like this get started, I know you will find tremendous value in this episode.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH JASON CERCONE AT:

Website: https://jasoncercone.com/evolutionofbrand

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolutionofbrand

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/jasoncercone

enFebruary 18, 2022

Keep Moving Until You Find a Way | Corry Smith, Owner of CorEats | LIVE Podcast Event

CorEats, a packaged food company founded by Corry Smith, had its roots in her family’s health journey which began fifteen years ago. What started as a series of strange systems experienced by her eldest daughter turned into major dietary and wellness changes for everyone in the household. Replacing the standard American diet with a whole foods diet turned out to be the difference maker they were searching for. Corry’s dissatisfaction with many of the gluten-free options she found in the supermarket served as inspiration to create her own versions of the comfort foods that her family enjoyed.

As she perfected her recipes and shared them with her community, Corry often received praise and affirmation that she had a culinary gift. After a spiritual fast in 2018, she fully accepted this blessing and decided to share her baking mixes on a much larger scale. It was during this brief period that she finalized and documented seven complete recipes which she debuted with the launch of her newly formed company. Today, CorEats is a vibrant and growing enterprise. Corry has an ever-expanding list of wholesale accounts, and she is currently finalizing arrangements to partner with a co-packer, which will bring her products to new locations throughout the country.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH CORRY SMITH AT:

Website: https://coreatsmixes.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coreatsmixes

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coreatsmixes

enFebruary 10, 2022

Use Your Fear to Motivate Yourself | Edgar Snyder, Founder of Edgar Snyder & Associates

Although Edgar Snyder is a Pittsburgher who needs no introduction, his personal and professional story may surprise you. In his candid conversation with me, Edgar talks about the challenges he went through and the negativity he endured as a result of doing something new and different in the legal profession. With the abundance of legal advertising today, it’s easy for us to forget just how unique this was in the early 1980s when he was starting Edgar Snyder and Associates. A landmark U.S. Supreme Court case in the late 1970s made advertising for lawyers permissible, which opened up new marketing opportunities that very few lawyers dared to take advantage of at that time.

Edgar was a pioneer in those early days, and he experimented with many types of ads across a variety of mediums. During our discussion, he describes the TV commercial that made him famous throughout western Pennsylvania. And in a poll conducted around that time, he even had greater facial recognition across our part of the state than President George H.W. Bush. Eventually, the rest of the industry caught up, and legal ads became the norm. But Edgar will forever be the trailblazer who took risks and set the standard in our region.

Today, Edgar is semi-retired from the law firm he built, and he spends time enjoying life with family and friends. He has remained actively involved in philanthropy by supporting causes and organizations that are near and dear to his heart. In fact, giving back is a core part of the culture that he built into his firm, and it continues to be a driving force in how his associates view their roles in the communities they serve. Edgar is still a spokesman for the law firm, and you can find him on local billboards, internet ads, and television commercials with that signature finger point and slogan that we have come to know and love.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH EDGAR SNYDER AT:

Website: https://www.edgarsnyder.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EdgarSnyderAssociates

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edgarsnyder

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/edgar-snyder-&-associates

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/edgarsnyder

enJanuary 28, 2022

Introducing Season 8 | Proprietors of Pittsburgh Podcast

Hello, Pittsburgh. I’m excited to introduce a brand-new season for you – and it’s jam-packed with unique episodes and bonus content. Season 8 has been an incredible one for me to record and produce, and I can’t wait to share the full episodes with you.

I had the great honor and privilege of interviewing attorney, Edgar Snyder - a person that I admire for the firm he has built, the trail he has blazed, and the philanthropic work he has done in Pittsburgh. I’ve been watching Edgar Snyder on TV since I was a kid, and I’m sure many of you have as well. I know everyone in Pittsburgh knows who Edgar is, but you may not know his personal journey and what he had to go through in order to build his firm. He shares that story plus a whole lot more in his candid interview with me for the podcast.

Just before the holidays, I recorded my first “live audience” podcast with Corry Smith, owner of CorEats. We held the event at Café Conmigo in Wexford. Corry is a thoughtful and energetic business owner with a tremendous origin story, and I had a wonderful time interviewing her for the show. You’ll definitely want to make sure that you catch this debut “live” episode.

It was a real pleasure to have some prior guests come back onto the program for a group discussion, which is a new format that I decided to try for this season. The first group includes Matt Marietti, owner of de Fer Coffee & Tea, Fiore Moletz, co-owner of Burgh’ers Brewing, and John Vella, owner of The John Vella Salon. And the second session features Kristen Ricupero, owner of Financial Fitness Coaching, Wendy Gilch, owner of SellingLater.com, and Jessie Tait, owner of Enspra. In these small business roundtable discussions, we cover the latest developments in their businesses, what’s happened since they were last on the show, dealing with the constantly evolving covid situation, and a variety of other business topics and ideas.

In addition to all of this, I was recently a guest on the “Evolution of Brand” podcast, which is a new show created, produced, and hosted by Jason Cercone. In our conversation, we talked a lot about podcasting, marketing, and creating a niche for your content and business. I plan to drop this interview as a bonus in the feed. So, if you’ve been curious to know more about my reasons for creating the Proprietors of Pittsburgh Podcast and some of the strategy behind it, then you’ll want to check this one out.

I’d like to thank all of you for helping this podcast experience incredible growth in 2021, and I can’t wait to see where things go in 2022. I know we’re starting off right with this blockbuster season.

If you have ideas for the podcast, know someone that would be an excellent guest, or if you just want to share some feedback, please reach out to me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

enJanuary 20, 2022

Honesty Is Always the Best Policy | Matt Dayton, Co-Owner of Pure Air

After working for a number of years in the mold remediation industry, Matt Dayton decided that it was time to start his own company. He saw an opportunity to offer both an affordable and high-quality service to the many low-income households that were being neglected in the Greater Pittsburgh area. He grew up in a low-income household, so he knew that these were the very people that needed this type of service the most.

Matt grew tired of watching underserved families get priced out the market while competitors catered to the high-income end of the price range. So, he invested every last dollar he had and brought in a few partners to get his business off the ground. Four years later, Pure Air is a thriving mold remediation and indoor air quality company, and Matt has plans to expand far beyond our region.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH MATT DAYTON AT:

Website: https://pureairnation.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pureairnation

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pureair412

enDecember 31, 2021

Running a Business Is About More Than Just Following a Passion | Russell Michelson, Owner of Paper Box SEO

After a short stint working in a corporate job, Russell Michelson knew that he wanted to start his own business. He just had to figure out where to focus his energy and skill development. He gravitated to technology, but he quickly realized that website design wasn’t his thing. Instead, search engine optimization offered the opportunity to work in tech and the challenge of using analytical skills in order to master this incredibly complex domain.

When he relocated to Pittsburgh, Russell also created Free Pittsburgh Walking Tours, a name-your-own-price walking tour company that presented a unique business model in our local market. In this episode, Russell talks about selling Free Pittsburgh Walking Tours, as well as many of the lessons he has learned in building Paper Box SEO.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH RUSSELL MICHELSON AT:

Website: https://www.paperboxseo.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paperboxseo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/paper-box-seo