Working Lunch

We are at the kids table chatting with the Director of Foster Care at Berkshire Farm Center and Services For Youth, Gloria Moran. It’s no secret there is a growing need for foster parents here in the United States. But did you know that you could make a difference in a child’s life, even if it’s for a short time? Yes, you! Today Gloria dispels some of the common myths & stereotypes about becoming a foster parent, and ways you could provide needed support to foster families & children.

If you love food and photos of food, then you are in for a real TREAT. Stephanie Gravalese is a content creator, freelance writer & storyteller of all things food, beverage and culture. We recorded this interview before the Covid-19 pandemic, but Stephanie’s advice about diversifying your work could not have come at a timelier event in history. Today she shares how her passion for food, paired with hard work & multiple streams of income, is the secret to her success. She also shares her top favorite places to eat and drink in the Capital Region at the end!

Miranda has led multiple teams to success in technology, higher education, sales & HR. Her nearly 15 years experience in corporate, led Miranda to her current path in coaching, masterminding and motivational speaking. Did we mention she’s also a member of the Forbes Coaching Counsel? If you’re in a season of job loss or fear of the future, you NEED to listen to Miranda’s advice on how to move forward. Don’t miss her LinkedIn success tips toward the end!

Tiffany’s dream of speaking to millions of young women all over the world has come to fruition with over 3.5 million views on YouTube and counting. Her honest advice on dating, marriage, sex and healthy relationships is what keeps her 10’s of thousands of subscribers coming back for more each week. Join us her home for some girl talk as we discuss how she built her audience, and practical advice for starting your own YouTube channel.

After living in Portland for 9 years, Cassie moved to the Albany area and started Olive & June Floral Co bringing her west coast aesthetic to the industry here. Today she shares how she built her brand & reputation and grew her business with an amazing team of women. One of my favorite takeaways from our conversation was how she manages her workflow and client’s expectations. Oh, and don’t miss our rapid fire flower Q&A toward the end.

Sara McCarthy, owner of Ink Revival: a full service bespoke invitations, fine art, design and calligraphy for weddings, events and brands worldwide. Sara’s resume includes Goop, Martha Stewart, Net-a-Porter & Oscar de la Renta. Her work has been featured locally & nationally by brands such as Elario Photography, and Ruffled, Style Me Pretty, & Refinery 29. Sara’s work ethic and clear boundaries has led to her accomplishments and today she shares with us her success story.

If you’re getting married soon, then you don’t want to miss our conversation! We're chatting with wedding officiant Jessica Pelton, owner of Carissa Ceremonies.  Since 2009, Jessica has performed over hundreds of weddings, to the tune of 30-50 ceremonies a year. She talks with us about everything from handling differing opinions, to tips on if you are writing your own vows. Jessica also shares a failure she had in the beginning of her wedding career and didn’t allow it to UNHITCH her business.  

Chief Coach + Founder of Mission Accomplished Transition Services: Carmen Duncan. After experiencing the kindness during hardship, Carmen made a commitment to pay it forward by creating Mission Accomplished. Her passion to motivate teens & young adults unlock their potential and find their place in the professional world through career education and coaching has been a launching pad to many other achievements. Carmen’s story is truly inspiring, and she is the epitome of practicing what she preaches.

Kelly Strong is a full-service, premier destination wedding & event planner who was recently featured on Martha Stewart. It doesn’t matter if your big day is local or overseas, Kelly will guide you throughout the process with carefully curated design and flawless execution. Not to mention, she has a beautiful Instagram feed filled inspiration. Join us at her home on her cozy sofa in this week’s episode as we sip on prosecco and talk business and branding.

Leni’s career in health and fitness started in the medical field as a Registered Nurse but took a frightening turn when she was admitted to rehab for an eating disorder. Fast forward to now, Leni talks to us today about her past as a bodybuilding champion, how the gym saved her life, and why she is so passionate about helping her clients transform theirs.

Raised by an architect and an interior designer, Lee remembers from a young age drawing floor plans for fun in her spare time. Lee began her career after graduating from Syracuse University working for a commercial architect firm, while earning the prestigious National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) In 2011 Lee founded Lee Owens Design, a one stop shop Interior Design company. Lee talks to us today about personal branding, her thoughts on the numbers game on social media, and going all in & starting a business.

Anna’s love of horseback riding brought her to the Capital Region, but it was a family friend that inspired her to start her career in the mortgage industry. Anna shares how she went from not knowing anybody when she moved to Saratoga to leading one of the most successful mortgage teams in just 2 ½ years. There is so much to take away from today’s episode including some of the systems that Anna uses to stay organized, keep her pending files straight and bring value to her referral partners. Hope you’re taking notes because this episode if full of insight!

We are at Storied Coffee speaking with co-owner Christine Sarnacki. You may already know Christine and her husband Rich founded Storied Coffee in 2018, but their story was no instant success. Much like a great cup of coffee, Storied took time to brew from the idea to execution. With the help of the community through their Kickstarter campaign, they successfully raised the remaining funding they needed to open their doors February 2019. Christine joins us today to share about their entrepreneurship journey and what makes Storied Coffee a necessity for your morning cup, no matter what you drink.

We are at the beautiful store front of b.Inspired in the Village of Scotia, NY, owned and operated by Anne Brenner. Back in the 90’s, Anne moved from Scotia to Seattle to pursue a corporate career in Public Health in the field of infectious diseases. When Anne moved back to her hometown in 2016, she changed courses, followed her dream & founded b.Inspired: An innovative and affordable home décor, gift and lifestyle store which opened in 2018. You will truly b. inspired (pun intended) by her incredible story! Website: https://binspiredlifestyle.com/home

We are chatting with Deshaya Williams in a local hospital parking lot where many thriving solopreneurs operate their business: her car! Deshaya is the owner & founder of Renew 360 Coaching. Along with fitness training and life coaching, Deshaya serves women and their partners in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum as a licensed birth Doula. Deshaya explains the importance of advocating for yourself leading up to and during childbirth and why a doula is essential in providing that additional support. Deshaya truly embodies the meaning of the word coach and I’m so happy to have her today as a guest. Show Notes: http://honestlymaggie.com/deshayawilliams/ Deshaya's website: https://renewedyouthny.com/ Birth Resources: https://evidencebasedbirth.com/ http://thedoulanetwork.org/doula/deshaya-williams/

In today’s episode, we are talking to Chrissy Smith. Chrissy is a Financial Wellness Representative, Extreme Networker, Mother, and recipient of the Top 5 Producer award in her field.  We discuss her top financial tips, and we also discuss mental health in today’s work field. Needless to say, she’s a WEALTH of information!

We are talking to the fabulous Crystin Drowlette, Real Estate Broker/Owner at Crystin & Co Realty. After working as a real estate agent for 10 years, Crystin look a leap of faith and started her own brokerage in 2018. Driven by a true passion for helping her clients, Crystin shares her wisdom on how she developed a thick skin in a cut throat industry. She also shares some tips on what to avoid when it comes to renting an apartment.

Today on Working Lunch we are meeting with Becky Daniels; the Executive Director at Discover Schenectady. Becky is one of the key people who plays a major role in marketing Discover Schenectady as the designated Tourism Promotion Agency for Schenectady County. If you’re not familiar with Schenectady, otherwise known as the Electric City, then our next guest will give you the full scoop.

Today on Working Lunch we are chatting with Amanda Zara Triolo, CEO of PMA Comfort Solutions. PMA is an EPA Certified, A-Plus Better Business Bureau rated Heating and Cooling Contractor in Upstate New York. Amanda was gracious enough to give us some of her time to talk about her company in between all the calls, emails and questions by her employees in the short time I was there. She shares some incredible insight on staying ahead of her competition in a male dominated field.

Today's show takes place in a TV Studio with Meteorologist Alyssa Caroprese. Ever since Alyssa was a child, she’s been obsessed with weather. She moved to the capital region in 2014, starting as the weekend meteorologist at CBS 6, making her way to the weekday morning show. Today she talks to us about her passion for weather and gives us a peek into her fascinating job as part of the weekday morning news team.

In today’s episode, Robyn O'Brien gives great advice on how to be a better salesperson- whether or not you are in a sales role at your job. As the Business Development guru at Miranda Real Estate Group, Robyn over 20 years in sales experience from telecommunications, property management and now real estate. She even shares a hilarious story of how she used her sales experience to talk her way out of a speeding ticket.

If you have ever wanted to plan a Disney vacation but don’t know where to start, then Colleen Parisi is your person! Colleen owns "A Walk in the Park With Colleen" and has helped numerous families plan their dream Disney vacation from start to finish. Having been there over 30 times, she knows a thing or two about the parks. She even shares a few tricks of the trade with us today, so without further ado, please join me in welcoming Colleen Parisi.

Today’s episode takes place in a van. Yep! We are talking to the phenomenal entrepreneur and activist Sheilah Sable, owner and founder of Call Sheilah, your personal concierge. No errand too small. No task too large.

Ever wonder if vision boards really work? We are talking to the phenomenal artist, serial entrepreneur and networker, Janet Tanguay. I first met Janet at the Capital Region Chamber where she led an evening class called Entrepreneur Boot Camp. On this week’s episode, we are sitting in Janet’s art studio attic where she tells me all about her two new businesses helping other entrepreneurs.

On our very first episode of Working Lunch, we are talking to Dress Designer, Dressmaker, Seamstress and founder of Abishai, Fatima Bey. I have personally worked with Fatima and she is truly amazing at what she does. A portion of sales from her business go toward fighting human trafficking. Tune in to learn all about her business with a cause.