Podcasts about rochester business journal

This bonus episode "Go Friend Me," was inspired by Leadership Rochester's Thrive Project, where participants select a local nonprofit to support in advancing its mission. Co-Host Nick Koziol alongside fellow LR 2025 cohort members Tiera Proctor, Danielle Novara, Jaime Ciccone, Pat Rojas, and Rhonda Morien chose Compeer Rochester to create a volunteer drive called "Go Friend Me" encouraging people to sign up to be mentors for Compeer Rochester. In this Bonus TST in the 585 Epsiode, Nick and Christine sit down with Sara Passamonte to spotlight this initiative and dive into all things Compeer. Sara, a previous guest on the TST goes deeper and shares her personal journey with the organization. This episode shines a light on how personal relationships, community partnerships, and dedicated volunteerism are reducing stigma and building a healthier, more connected Rochester.About Sara Passamonte, CEO Compeer RochesterEmail: spassamonte@compeerrochester.orgLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sara-passamonteSara Passamonte was born and raised in Rochester, NY within a family of musicians. She obtained a bachelor's in psychology from Nazareth College in 2005, having completed a summer internship at Compeer Rochester. After being employed in multiple roles at Compeer post-graduation, Sara became the Director of Programs in 2014 and assumed the role of President in January 2020. In this first year, Sara led the organization through the challenges of COVID-19 and the social justice movement, taking every opportunity to keep mental health in the spotlight. Sara was honored as a member of Rochester Business Journal's “Forty under 40” in 2021. Sara previously served on the Monroe County Youth Bureau Board, serves on the advisory board of Crossroads of Caring, and maintains ongoing collaborative efforts with other nonprofits in the area. Sara is trained in Critical Incident Management, Advancing Youth Development, and Trauma-Informed Care. She is a long-time Compeer volunteer.Connect and Follow Compeer Rochester:Website: www.compeerrochester.orgLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/compeerrochesterInstagram: www.instagram.com/compeerrochesterFacebook: www.facebook.com/compeerrochesterYoutube: www.youtube.com/compeerrochester6598During her long rehabilitation from a near-fatal automobile accident in 1975, Rochesterian Bernice “Bunny” Skirboll discovered the healing power of friendship and vowed to make a difference in others' lives. She got involved in the Mental Health Association's Adopt-A-Patient Program and soon transformed it into the community-based Compeer model, serving as Executive Director from its inception through 2006.Under Skirboll's leadership, Compeer grew from a small program in Rochester to an internationally recognized mental wellness model and organization — one that has demonstrated solid results and been replicated around the globe.More About That Sounds Terrific in the 585 – Hosts Nick Koziol & Christine GreenFor more information on That Sounds Terrific in the 585, visit our website at That Sounds Terrific and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you or someone you know is doing something terrific in the 585 area and should be featured on our show, email us at thatsoundsterrific@gmail.com.Special Thanks To Our Key Supporters585 Magazine and their team for their support with the That Sounds Terrific in the 585 podcast. Be sure to become a subscriber of this terrific magazine - learn more at https://585mag.comThank you to Morgan Brown and Meadow Viscuso, our terrific intern duo from SUNY Fredonia for all their hard work and for lending their voices and music to the Intro and Outro of the That Sounds Terrific in the 585!

Bob talks to U.S. Marshall Jeremy Meraro and Monroe County Sheriff Trevor Ott on the arrest in Uganda of a fugitive from a 2019 major crime, Bob talks to Caurie Putnam of the Brockport Blog and the Rochester Business Journal about the fire at the Morgan-Manning House in Brockport.

Having a diverse background is sometimes better than specializing in one thing. Today's guest, Lori Van Dusen, is the author of Running with Grace. Notice how she didn't say running with the fastest speed or endurance. It's about style, being a good sport, and thinking about things in the long term. Lori Van Dusen, welcome to the Better Call Daddy show. I am so excited that David Hirsch connected us. In this heartfelt episode, Lori shares her journey from Wall Street trainee to successful financial advisor, emphasizing the importance of holistic client care. She delves into her personal life, discussing the sudden loss of her husband, the challenges of being a present mother while managing a demanding career, and the therapeutic process of writing her book. This episode is a powerful exploration of resilience, adaptability, and the importance of building meaningful relationships. Tune in to hear Lori's inspiring story and the wisdom she's gained along the way.   Lori Van Dusen, CIMA®, is the Founder and CEO of LVW Advisors, a registered investment advisory firm that serves both wealthy families and individuals, as well as nonprofit institutions throughout the United States.  An advocate of client-focused strategies for more than 25 years, she has become the voice of reason in providing unbiased and integrated solutions in a fragmented financial services industry. Lori is passionate about numerous philanthropic causes, serving on several boards focused on urban education, health and wellness, and the fine arts. Lori began her investment advisory career in 1987 with Shearson Lehman Brothers, which was later acquired by Citigroup Smith Barney. By 2004, she had achieved the title of Managing Director with Citigroup Smith Barney. She founded LVW Advisors, a registered investment advisory firm, in 2011, leading a team of investment professionals. A recipient of numerous accolades, in 2019 Lori was named to Barron's Financial Advisor Hall of Fame, which recognizes advisors who have appeared in more than 10 of Barron's annual Top Financial Advisor rankings. Additionally, Lori was ranked #1 in New York - NY State on Forbes' 2023 and 2022 Best-In-State Wealth Advisors lists and has been ranked for five consecutive years on both Forbes' America's Top Wealth Advisors list and Forbes' America's Top Women Advisors lists.  In recognition of her involvement in the Rochester community, Lori was recognized in the Rochester Business Journal's 2023, 2022, and 2021 Power 100 list and received the 2020 Women of Excellence distinction with the Circle of Excellence honor. The Circle of Excellence recognizes a small group of women each year with longstanding, notable success in the community who are leading the way for other women. Additionally, Lori was inducted into the 2019 Rochester Business Hall of Fame and joins a prestigious list of Rochester business leaders who have been previously inducted. Lori has also been recognized by the Girl Scouts of Western New York as one of the 2019 Women of Distinction. In 2017, Lori was featured on the J.P. Morgan Asset Management and Dow Jones panel discussion, “Let's Talk: The Changing Face of Advice,” where she and Dr. David Kelly, Chief Global Strategist of J.P. Morgan Asset Management, discussed the investment and wealth management needs of today's client and the client of the future. This inaugural production was widely promoted in both Barron's and The Wall Street Journal. In addition, in light of her astute business acumen and numerous philanthropic endeavors, Lori is a highly sought out speaker and is frequently featured in premier investment publications, such as Barron's and Forbes. In 2018, Lori was awarded the Alice Holloway Young Award for Distinguished Service by a Retired Trustee, presented by the New York Community College Trustees. This prestigious award recognized Lori for her fervent advocacy, leadership and on-going support of student success at Monroe Community College, where she retired as Chair of the Board of Trustees in 2008. Key Takeaways - The importance of holistic client care and listening to truly understand their needs. - The challenges and rewards of balancing career and family life. - The therapeutic power of writing and sharing personal stories. - The value of building a supportive team and mentoring the next generation. Connect with Lori Van Dusen - Book: Running with Grace Connect with Reena - Website: bettercalldaddy.com - LinkedIn: Reena Friedman Watts - Twitter: @reenareena - Instagram: @reenafriedmanwatts - Instagram Podcast: @bettercalldaddypodcast We love hearing your feedback. Leave us a review, share your thoughts, and spread the word about this enriching episode. Share it with someone who appreciates resilience and the importance of self-worth. - (00:00) Reena Friedman Watts welcomes back Wayne Friedman for the better call daddy show - (01:58) Lori Van Dusen: David and I go way back - (08:54) When you have a traumatic event, your soul leaves your body - (14:00) Your music producer son helps you edit your book - (16:46) I just want to say that I love how personal your book is - (21:54) What is your most gratifying experience with philanthropy - (27:35) Cole weighed five pounds when he was born - (28:00) You met your husband on his birthday, and you got married quickly - (31:40) You've sold two homes and are in the process of listing another one - (35:29) After Ron, my husband, died, I dealt with grief through meditation - (42:01) I have kept things from my college days or my early twenties - (43:08) You didn't really know your dad until you were 24 - (47:04) You write about how your family has incredible history in New York - (49:49) When you started at Lehman Brothers, there were 300 people - (54:25) You developed a recurring revenue business model to help grow your firm - (57:12) I'm curious how opera singing fits in to your next book - (01:02:33) I'd love to hear your dad's advice to young parents - (01:04:15) You've heard from my mom. Now let's switch it over to grandpa Show notes created by https://headliner.app

Send us a textMeet Porschia Parker-Griffin, Founder & CEO of Fly High CoachingPorschia Parker-Griffin is the visionary behind Fly High Coaching, where she empowers ambitious professionals and executives to elevate their careers.  As a Professional Certified Coach, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Master Practitioner, and Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner, Porschia brings a wealth of expertise to her clients.  With a background as a director and business consultant in the financial industry, she has helped companies unlock millions of dollars in hidden potential.Porschia holds a master's degree in industrial and organizational psychology from Eastern Kentucky University and a B.S. in psychology from the University of Georgia.  Her experience extends to serving as an Associate Training Coach for the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching.  She has also been recognized as a Top Voice and Career Expert by LinkedIn and has contributed to platforms such as BioSpace, FlexJobs, Levo, iOFFICE, and the Rochester Business Journal.  Now, she brings her insights to a broader audience as the host of the Career 101 Podcast.In our discussion, we explored vital strategies for navigating the  interviewing process, including:Common Pitfalls: Porschia shared her observations on common challenges faced by candidates, such as overconfidence, lack of preparation, and difficulty answering tough questions.  She offered actionable solutions to overcome these obstacles.Behavioral-Based Interviews: With hiring managers increasingly using behavioral-based questions, Porschia discussed how candidates can effectively demonstrate their past experiences to predict future success.Handling Tough Questions: Porschia provided tips on how to "buy time" when faced with difficult questions and strategies for recovering from an answer that might not have been ideal.Nonverbal Communication: We delved into the importance of nonverbal cues, emphasizing how candidates can project confidence, approachability, and self-assuredness during interviews.Building Rapport: Porschia advised on the importance of researching the hiring manager to identify commonalities that can help build rapport during the interview.STAR Examples: We discussed the value of having 3-5 STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) examples ready to use in responses, ensuring candidates are well-prepared for behavioral questions.Follow-Up Strategies: Porschia emphasized the impact of following up with hiring managers both electronically and in hard copy, a tactic that places candidates in the top 10%.Porschia shared an abundance of real-world examples and invaluable advice during our conversation.  Her insights are sure to transform your job search strategy and deliver tangible results. Sites Porschia can be reached at include: https://www.linkedin.com/in/porschiaparker/ www.fly-highcoaching.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/company/64512733/ https://www.facebook.com/FlyHighCoaching https://www.youtube.com/@flyhighcoaching382 

A reading of Articles and Features from the August 9th issue of the Rochester Business Journal

Laquanda M. Fields is the Fabulous Librarian – mom of two amazing daughters & three classy felines, and Ms. L to her students. Becoming a librarian was Laquanda's childhood dream and she took a leap of faith to follow that dream three years ago. She joined Dr. Charles T. Lunsford School #19 in 2022. In just under two school years, Laquanda has earned School Library of the Year from the Rochester Regional Library Council, was named Community Partner of the Year by the Rochester Imagination Library, and a 2023 Forty Under 40 honoree by the Rochester Business Journal. In addition to fashionably spreading the love of reading, Laquanda is actively involved in her community. She's Co-Chair of the Strong's Play Makers Leadership Council, a graduate of the 2024 class of Leadership Rochester, and a member of the Corn Hill Arts Festival Planning Committee. She serves on the boards of the Rochester Imagination Library and the Junior League of Rochester.

Send us a Text Message.In this episode:In today's episode of the Career Change Maker podcast, I'm joined by guest expert,  Founder and CEO of Fly High Coaching, Porschia Parker-Griffin, as she shares her wealth of knowledge on career advancement. With a focus on practical advice and personal experience, Porschia provides listeners with actionable tips to help you land your next promotion faster.Tune in to learn from Porschia's personal story as she divulges the strategies that propelled her career forward and shares the best practices for positioning yourself to take advantage of career opportunities.Summary:What you will learn in this episode:The steps to take to achieve your career goals - a roadmap to setting and accomplishing your professional objectives.How you can get that promotion - insider tips on what it takes to be seen as the ideal candidate for advancement.The importance of investing in yourself - understanding how self-improvement and skill development are key to supporting your career progression.Episode Notes:As an award-winning certified executive and career coach, TEDx speaker, podcast host and former lawyer, I have seen way too many female professionals under selling themselves and settling for less in their careers. I am committed to equipping high achieving women with the tools and support to create careers that are both meaningful and impactful.About Porschia Parker-GriffinPorschia Parker-Griffin, Founder and CEO of Fly High Coaching, empowers ambitious professionals and motivated executives to add $15K (on average) to their salaries. She has experience as a director and business consultant in the financial industry, helping companies unlock millions of dollars in potential hiding in their organisations. Porschia attained her master's degree in Industrial and Organisational Psychology and has a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Georgia. She has been recognised as a Career Expert by LinkedIn, served as a Career Contributor for BioSpace, and has been featured in FlexJobs, Levo, iOFFICE, LinkedIn News, and the Rochester Business Journal. Porschia currently hosts the Career 101 Podcast.Connect with Porschia on LinkedIn.Resources:Join our exclusive weekly email series for career tips and strategies here.Book a call with me here to discuss career coaching.If you are looking for support with finding career clarity so you can relaunch your career with confidence, join the Career Clarity Accelerator.Support the showJoin the Elevate program and get the support and guidance you need to take your career to the next level. Book a fitting call here.

Join host Nick Koziol on That Sounds Terrific as he explores the terrific work of Compeer Rochester with CEO Sarah Passamante. Discover how Compeer's non-clinical model emphasizes the power of intentional friendship, pairing individuals aged five and up with compassionate volunteers from the community. Through shared experiences and activities, these matches form bonds that transcend traditional therapy settings, providing much-needed companionship and support. Sarah shares Compeer's journey, from its roots in 1973 to its vital role today. Through personal stories, Sarah illustrates the lasting impact of Compeer's connections. Tune in to That Sounds Terrific to discover how you can involved to support the magic of Compeer Rochester. About Sara Passamonte, CEO Compeer Rochester Email: spassamonte@compeerrochester.org LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/sara-passamonte Sara Passamonte was born and raised in Rochester, NY within a family of musicians.  She obtained a bachelor's in psychology from Nazareth College in 2005, having completed a summer internship at Compeer Rochester. After being employed in multiple roles at Compeer post-graduation, Sara became the Director of Programs in 2014 and assumed the role of President in January 2020. In this first year, Sara led the organization through the challenges of COVID-19 and the social justice movement, taking every opportunity to keep mental health in the spotlight. Sara was honored as a member of Rochester Business Journal's “Forty under 40” in 2021. Sara previously served on the Monroe County Youth Bureau Board, serves on the advisory board of Crossroads of Caring, and maintains ongoing collaborative efforts with other nonprofits in the area. Sara is trained in Critical Incident Management, Advancing Youth Development, and Trauma-Informed Care. She is a long-time Compeer volunteer. Connect and Follow Compeer Rochester: Website: www.compeerrochester.org LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/compeerrochester Instagram: www.instagram.com/compeerrochester Facebook: www.facebook.com/compeerrochester Youtube: www.youtube.com/compeerrochester6598 During her long rehabilitation from a near-fatal automobile accident in 1975, Rochesterian Bernice “Bunny” Skirboll discovered the healing power of friendship and vowed to make a difference in others' lives. She got involved in the Mental Health Association's Adopt-A-Patient Program and soon transformed it into the community-based Compeer model, serving as Executive Director from its inception through 2006. Under Skirboll's leadership, Compeer grew from a small program in Rochester to an internationally recognized mental wellness model and organization — one that has demonstrated solid results and been replicated around the globe. Today, the Compeer Rochester team carries forward our founder's vision and mission to provide healing friendship to community members living with mental health challenges — and to shatter the stigma surrounding mental health conditions. The Compeer Model has been replicated throughout the US and Australia, with additional affiliates in Canada and the United Kingdom. More About That Sounds Terrific - Host Nick Koziol For more information on our Podcast, That Sounds Terrific visit our website at www.thatsoundsterrific.com  and be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. If you or someone you know are doing some terrific things that should be featured by our show then be sure to reach out by emailing us at thatsoundsterrfic@gmail.com. Special Thank You to Our Sponsors & Key Supporters: Chris Jones of Chris Jones Media for the Introduction and Outro recordings for That Sounds Terrific.  Intro and Outro animation created in collaboration with Ben Albert of Balbert Marketing, LLC. Boost your business popularity, traffic, and conversions online!   --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thatsoundsterrific/support

Lori Sussle Bonanni is the founder of elssus, LLC, a multi-disciplined communications consultancy. Lori builds and grows companies' reputations thereby increasing awareness, business results and credibility. Think of her as a nontraditional publicist working with companies as early as funded startups and as established as Global 500s. She partners with her clients to help them raise their next round of funding, hire and retain top talent and be noticed by potential and existing customers. Her work spans communications including public and media relations, strategic, internal and crisis communications, integrated marketing, advisory and more. Lori speaks and writes about effective and mindful communication, visibility and reputation management. Lori's most requested talks are ‘Attention is Earned, Not Given: Getting Your Business Media Attention' and ‘Mindful Communication: Who are you Unknowingly Excluding?' Lori gives generously with her time. She opens office hours to mentor startup founders through Almaworks (Columbia University's startup accelerator), Black Ambition (supporting Black and Latinx founders founded by Pharrell Williams) and Mentor Makers (via the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center). She speaks with marketing and advertising students at universities through a partnership with the Advertising Education Foundation. Lori also hosts monthly Ask Me Anything sessions to answer questions from founders and operators about how to best communicate a funding round before, during and after the announcement. Prior to launching elssus, Lori held senior-level marketing, communication and business development roles at world-class organizations including Verizon, World 50, NBCUniversal and DDB. Her writing has been featured in prestigious media outlets such as U.S. News and World Report, Huffington Post and The Muse. Lori earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications with a Specialization in Advertising and Public Relations from Rowan University. After graduation, she participated in BUNAC's International Work Exchange Program in London, England. Lori also earned multiple continuing education certificates for Advertising Copywriting from the School of Visual Arts. In 2021, she earned both a Certificate in Women's Entrepreneurship from Cornell University and a Certificate in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Workplace from the University of South Florida. In 2023, Lori was recognized as a Woman of Excellence by the Rochester Business Journal. Key Moments [00:05:44] Random jobs in London, publishing firm followed. [00:07:58] Found it, booked it, went big, loved it. [00:12:11] Temporary remote work led to permanent company. [00:13:40] Flexibility, diversity, adventure - thriving in work. [00:17:18] Jersey Shore, different country, reference for Philadelphians. Find Lori Online https://www.elssus.com/series-a-funding-announcement-pr https://www.elssus.com/ask-me-anything https://www.elssus.com/services https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorisusslebonanni/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/elssus If you're enjoying Entrepreneur's Enigma, please give us a review on the podcast directory of your choice. We're on all of them and these reviews really help others find the show. **GoodPods: https://gmwd.us/goodpods iTunes: https://gmwd.us/itunes Podchaser: https://gmwd.us/podchaser** **Also, if you're getting value from the show and want to buy me a coffee, go to the show notes to get the link to get me a coffee to keep me awake, while I work on bringing you more great episodes to your ears. →  https://gmwd.us/buy-me-a-coffee** Follow Seth Online: Seth | Digital Marketer (@s3th.me) • Instagram: Instagram.com/s3th.me Seth Goldstein | LinkedIn: LinkedIn.com/in/sethmgoldstein Seth on Mastodon: https://masto.ai/@phillycodehound MarketingJunto.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With all the focus on the primary personal statement, we often overlook the importance of supplemental essays in the college application. Amy and Mike invited IEC Jodi Rosenshein Atkin to explain the best ways to answer the matched questions, “Why this college, why this major?” What are five things you will learn in this episode? 1. Why are supplemental essays so important in college applications? 2. Why is the "Why this college?" supplemental important? 3. Why is the "Why this major?" supplemental important? 4. What kind of research should applicants do for these supplements? 5. What extra follow-up really makes them stand out? MEET OUR GUEST Jodi Rosenshein Atkin is an independent educational consultant in private practice. She holds a BA and MA from the University of Rochester in Psychology, and has over 20 years of experience in educational and clinical settings. Her first career focused on working with individuals and families living with learning challenges. She is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, as well as a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, New York State Association of College Admissions Counselors, and Higher Education Consultants Association. Her practice is entering its seventh season. During that time, she has visited almost 200 college campuses in 15 different states! Jodi is committed to finding a “best fit” school for every student, considering academic, financial, social and cultural factors.  It's about more than the mascot and the sweatshirt; it's about finding the places that each student can thrive and grow, making the most of their higher education investment. Finding the right school is a journey, not a race to some imaginary finish line. Jodi is a frequent guest speaker at libraries, schools, podcasts and webinars. Her insights have been featured in publications nationally, including the Wall Street Journal, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Teen Vogue, Rochester Business Journal, and The Deseret News (Utah). She has also presented to professional groups, including the NYS Association of College Admissions Counselors. She and her husband, Louis, have four adult children and live in Rochester, NY with their golden doodle, Dustin.  Jodi has appeared on this podcast in episode 32 to discuss Making the Most of College Visits and in episode 160 to discuss Demonstrating Interest During Virtual College Tours. Find Jodi at www.jodiratkin.com. LINKS Why This College Essay Guide + Examples RELATED EPISODES WHY OPTIONAL STATEMENTS AREN'T OPTIONAL STRATEGIES FOR SELECTING A COLLEGE MAJOR ON TIME DO COLLEGE MAJORS MATTER? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.  

Kevin Oklobzija from Rochester Business Journal discussed The Amerks, Memorable Movie Quotes, Ziebart Zinger with Tools and Bill Pucko joins the show!

John DiTullio & Mike Catalana (for Dale Buda) talk Rochester Amerks advancing to the Division Finals with Rochester Business Journal's Kevin Oklobzija

In this episode, Joe is joined by Army Veteran and Chief Business Officer at Brio Benefit Consulting, Kevin Ritchie. Kevin served in the Army for over 16 years, going from enlisted to officer and on both Active Duty and Reserves. He worked for 18 successful years at Cigna before joining Brio Benefit Consulting. Brio helps employers recruit and retain talent through benefits and ranked as the #2 “Best Small Company to Work for in New York”. Kevin shares his advice for Veterans in transition and why it is important to find a company with a culture that fits your ideals and values. Check out Brio here.    About Our Guest   Kevin Ritchie spent over 16 years in the Army where he rose from an enlisted soldier to eventually commanding a company and reporting to senior staff. After joining the US Army Reserves in 1997, Ritchie simultaneously began working for Cigna Healthcare as a customer representative and scaled his way up to Vice President of Sales. Ritchie is currently the Chief Business Officer at Brio Benefit Consulting based in New York City.  Ritchie credits his professional and personal success to the time he spent in the military. Whether it's a commitment to fitness or understanding the importance of planning, the military has been instrumental in developing an operational mindset devised to achieve the team's goals and in turn his individual goals.  Now, more than ever, employers are seeking loyal, passionate, honest, task-oriented, confident, team-first attitude employees. Ritchie points out that employers don't have to look too far; veterans bring all these valuable qualities to the table, especially in the workplace. When you hire a veteran, you hire a potential future leader.  For Ritchie, the appeal of the ever-changing nature of benefits and insurance lead him to pursue such a profound career. While successfully leading a team of professionals and growing a customer base of over 200,000 over 18 years at Cigna, Ritchie took a giant leap of faith when he decided to join Brio Benefit Consulting. As the industry was evolving, Ritchie was captivated with Brio's approach and strategic direction and believed that they were at the forefront of where the industry was heading so he wanted to be part of shaping that future.  Among many of Brio's achievements, Ritchie is elated to be part of an organization that was recently ranked #2 “Best Small Company to Work for in New York” by Rochester Business Journal in July 2021 while continuing to grow at a pace 3x the industry average. Brio focuses on helping employers attract and retain top talent, and it is committed to delivering solutions that advance the objectives of its clients and its employees. During annual reviews, employees expressed gratitude for how they were able to “survive” and grow as a team during the pandemic.     Join the conversation on Facebook! Check out Veteran on the Move on Facebook to connect with our guests and other listeners. A place where you can network with other like-minded veterans who are transitioning to entrepreneurship and get updates on people, programs and resources to help you in YOUR transition to entrepreneurship.   About Our Sponsors Navy Federal Credit Union  Take on this holiday season with the help of Navy Federal Credit Union. When you use the Navy Federal cashRewards card, you can earn up to 1.75% cash back on all purchases. You can redeem your rewards as soon as you earn them. And using the Navy Federal mobile app makes redeeming easier than ever. Enjoy the rewards of cash back without any annual fee, balance transfer or foreign transaction fees. There are no limitations on rewards, and they never expire while your account is open. Learn how you can get cheer to last all year with the cashRewards card at Navyfederal.org. At Navy Federal, our members are the mission.     American Giant   American Giant creates American-made basics designed to endure.

All of my life my work has focused on providing opportunity to people. I have a thirst to work hard and do good things everyday. I have been given the gift to create beautiful things. Pamela Reese Smith Advocacy. Education. Community Gardening. The Children's Garden.Meet Pamela Reese Smith, an Urban Farmer who raises specialty mints and herbs for tea, organic vegetables, and flowers on her small urban farm in the City of Rochester NY. Pamela s favorite work includes being a member of a team that built the Children s Garden. Pamela is also a member of the Interim Steering Committee for Black Farmers United NYS, a group of more than 60 Black farmers, educators, and food justice advocates from across the state. Pamela Reese Smith is a native of Harlem and current resident of Rochester, New York. She has been engaged in community organizing for over 40 years. She graduated from the University of Rochester in 2007 with the highest distinction in her class. In 2012, she was awarded the Community Champion Award from the Rochester Business Journal for her work in her community. Pamela became the Administrator for the City of Rochester in January 2014. During this time, she received the GRO1000 grant to establish a training, education, and demonstration garden that supports over 100 urban gardeners throughout the city. Black Farmers United NYS is a group of Black farmers, educators, and food justice advocates from across the state. Without serious investment and intervention, Black farmers in New York State will be marginalized out of existence. Our proposal aims to protect the legacy and ensure the future of Black farmers. They hold the power to radically change how black communities control access to safe, healthy food, and build a collective wealth and health in New York State.

On today's episode Porschia Parker-Griffin shares the importance of finding common ground between your team's career goals and the goals of your organization. Listen in as Deborah and Porschia discuss the Millennial Mindset, how Gen Z prefers to communicate, and how you can start breaking down generational barriers in your workplace communication.   About Porschia Parker-Griffin:   Porschia Parker-Griffin is Founder and CEO of Fly High Coaching, where she empowers ambitious professionals and motivated executives to add $10K (on average) to their salaries. She is a Professional Certified Coach, a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Master Practitioner, and an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner. Porschia also has experience as a director and business consultant in the financial industry, helping companies unlock millions of dollars in potential hiding in their organizations.Porschia is currently studying for her master's degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and has a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Georgia. She has served as an Associate Training Coach for the Institute of Professional Excellence in Coaching and been recognized as a Career Expert by LinkedIn. Porschia has served as a Career Contributor for BioSpace and has been featured in FlexJobs, Levo, iOFFICE, LinkedIn News, and the Rochester Business Journal. When she is not coaching, Porschia enjoys traveling with her husband, cooking, and working with animals.   You can connect with Porschia in the following ways: Fly High Coaching Website: https://www.fly-highcoaching.com Career 101 Podcast: https://www.fly-highcoaching.com/career-101-podcast/ Case Studies: https://www.millennialpi.com/case-study/   Whether you are a C-Suite Leader of today or tomorrow, take charge of your career with confidence and leverage the insights of The CEO's Compass: Your Guide to Get Back on Track.  To learn more about The CEO's Compass, you can get your copy here: https://amzn.to/3AKiflR See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can purposeful businesses that balance the needs of all their stakeholders compete with profit-driven companies that prioritize their stockholders above all? Conscious Capitalism has proven that they can…and the movement is growing!  In addition to co-founding a local chapter of this worldwide movement, Andrew is the Chief Evolutionary Officer of The XLR8 Team, where he works with leaders to evolve themselves toward realizing their purpose and evolving their company's culture into a competitive advantage.  Using cultural assessment tools, XLR8 takes a democratic approach to cultural transformation that creates shared ownership of the culture and integrates values into every aspect of company processes. XLR8 believes that “leaders have to grow for the organization to grow”, and their EVOLutionary Leadership executive coaching program has enrolled hundreds of leaders, including more than 200 senior leaders at Wegmans Food Markets. After Wegmans was honored as the Best Company to Work For in 2005, Danny Wegman credited this program as “one of the reasons we made it to #1!” This combination of bottom-up and top-down culture change has been proven to transform organizations across industries, sectors and even internationally. Andrew's forthcoming book, For The EVOLution of Business, explores how the principles of evolution reveal a path toward a more “conscious” capitalism and why the only sustainable path to a thriving planet is through inclusive prosperity for all. Andrew holds an undergraduate degree in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University and a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. He was named as a 2017 honoree of the Rochester Business Journal's “40 Under 40” Awards and a Trust Across America 2019 Top Thought Leader in Trust. Links: Privilege Footrace - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4K5fbQ1-zps Savasana - https://www.artofliving.org/in-en/yoga/yoga-poses/shavasana-corpse-pose Marty Seligman & Positive Psychology - https://www.neh.gov/article/martin-seligman-and-rise-positive-psychology UPenn: Applied Positive Psychology - https://lpsonline.sas.upenn.edu/academics/bachelors-degree/baas-course-blocks/applied-positive-psychology Biz Kids - https://www.bizkids.com/ Junior Achievement - https://www.juniorachievement.org/web/programs RIT EMBA - https://emba.rit.edu/executive-mba Humanistic Capitalism - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanistic_capitalism Institute for Cultural Entrepreneurship for Museum Leaders - https://www.schoolandcollegelistings.com/US/Cooperstown/190560077627609/Institute-for-Cultural-Entrepreneurship-for-Museum-Leaders Conscious Capitalism - https://www.consciouscapitalism.org/ XLR8 Companies US - https://www.xlr8companies.us/ Wegmans - https://www.wegmans.com/ Elevate Rochester - https://elevaterochester.org/ Firms of Endearment - http://firmsofendearment.com/ Bentley University - https://www.bentley.edu/ Babson College - https://www.babson.edu/ Pitchfork Economics podcast - https://pitchforkeconomics.com/episodes/ For the Evolution of Business podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/for-the-evolution-of-business/id1437955281   Keywords: podcast, good, do good, amplify, amplify good, business, capitalism, humanism, education, podcasts, book, read, radio, small business, family business, privilege, equity, author

00:00-30:00:Rochester Business Journal's Scott Pitoniak joins the show to chat about the Yanks' recent run and DH win over Boston, Field of Dreams winning in Iowa and why MLB needs to keep the momentum going, MLB playoff races, Syracuse football's 2021 outlook, St. Bonaventure getting a new athletic director and more!

00:00-30:00:00:00-30:00:Rochester Business Journal's Scott Pitoniak joins the show to chat about Josh Allen's contract situation, what the Bills should be looking to accomplish in training camp, 2021 expectations, new stadium talk and more!

Andrew is the Chief EVOLutionary Officer of The XLR8 Team, where he works with leaders to evolve themselves toward realizing their purpose and evolving their company's culture into a competitive advantage. Andrew's forthcoming book, For The EVOLution of Business, explores how the principles of evolution reveal a path toward a more “conscious” capitalism and why the only sustainable path to a thriving planet is through inclusive prosperity for all. He was a 2017 honoree of the Rochester Business Journal's Forty Under 40 Awards and named a 2019 Top Thought Leader in Trust by Trust Across America. He holds a Bachelors in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University and a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. Andrew's podcast is For the EVOLution of Business The XLR8 Team --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/betterthanfine/support

Porschia Parker-Griffin is Founder and CEO of Fly High Coaching and the Millennial Performance Institute. She is a Certified Professional Coach, an Associate Certified Coach, a Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Certified Practitioner, and an Energy Leadership Index Master Practitioner. Porschia also has experience as a Director and Business Consultant in the financial industry, helping companies unlock millions of dollars in potential hiding in their companies.  Porschia has a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Georgia. She also served as an Associate Training Coach for the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching, and has been recognized as a Career Expert by LinkedIn ProFinder. Porschia serves as a Career Contributor for the BioSpace and has been featured in FlexJobs, Levo, iOffice, and the Rochester Business Journal. You can learn more about Fly-High Coaching at their website: https:/fly-highcoaching.com You can connect with Porschia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/porschiaparker/

00:00-30:00:Rochester Business Journal's Scott Pitoniak joins the show to chat about Josh Allen's contract situation, what the Bills should be looking to accomplish in training camp, 2021 expectations, new stadium talk and more!

00:00-30:00:Rochester Business Journal writer and Buffalo Bills expert Scott Pitoniak joins the show to break down all the picks Buffalo made in the NFL Draft and chat about the 2021 schedule.

Not all of us plan on becoming a small business owner in the agency world. Michelle Ashby's story will help demystify the common challenges. Hear insights about: Michelle's journey of becoming a small business owner in marketing and public relations How Michelle started her own communications agency Why Michelle chose to buy out the media division from her employer instead of starting her own shop from scratch What AGI means, and how you can use it to measure the health of your agency The benefits of building a team of coaches and mentors to help you run your agency What agency owners should be doing to grow Becoming a Small Business Owner in Marketing and PR Michelle Ashby is the founder and CEO of Tipping Point Communications, an award-winning data-driven marketing firm dedicated to connecting businesses with their audiences. With twenty-five years of marketing and public relations experience, she is committed to demystifying the ever-evolving changes and emerging communications trends that clients struggle to keep up with. In this episode of the Progressive Agency podcast, Michelle joins us to share her story. She explains how she overcame the common challenges of becoming a small business owner in marketing and public relations. Tipping Point Communications Before becoming a small business owner, Michelle started her agency career in print media. She quickly expanded her reach into every corner of the industry. After stints with a newspaper and various rock radio stations, Michelle landed in the television side of the business. This was the final piece of the puzzle, completing a full-spectrum of media experience that gave her an opportunity to split off and run the media department for an ad agency. Within two years of serving as a department head, Michelle purchased the media division of her agency and built it into the entity now known as Tipping Point Communications. Build Your Tribe When Michelle purchased the media division, she started with a staff and a handful of clients instead of starting from scratch. This was a sound strategic decision because of her expertise, but she had never anticipated becoming a small business owner. Michelle had to learn quickly and navigate many new hurdles. This is where she began to understand the value of building a tribe and surrounding herself with people who could help her excel. She currently works with Drew McLellan as an Industry Coach, Tom Merkel as a business coach, and myself as a tax consultant. You are never in this alone, and working with experts in fields that you do not have time to focus on will free up your time for revenue-generating activities. Additional Resources: FREE COVID Loan Grant Calculator Download Website: www.theprogressivedentist.com Twitter: @CraigC2742 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craigcodycpa How to Connect with Michelle Ashby: Website: https://www.tippingpointcomm.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelleashby/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/tippingpointcommunications/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TippingPointCommunications/ Twitter: @tippingptcomm About Michelle Ashby: Michelle Ashby is the founder and CEO of Tipping Point Communications, an award-winning data-driven marketing firm dedicated to connecting businesses with their audiences. Michelle has over 25 years of online and offline media experience, including content marketing and public relations. She is committed to demystifying the ever-evolving changes and emerging communications trends that clients struggle to keep up with. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University for Advertising Management and Journalism. After 15 years on the media publisher side, Michelle moved into the agency world. Her passion for the industry propelled her desire to create Tipping Point Communications. Tipping Point is a New York State certified WBE and member of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council with locations in Rochester and Buffalo, New York and a remote workforce across the East Coast. Michelle was recognized for outstanding community service and leadership by the Rochester Business Journal as a “Forty Under 40” in 2006 and as Business Person of the Year in 2014. Tipping Point received the “Ethie Award” in 2016 for their commitment to ethics in business. She serves on the board of directors of the Construction Exchange in Buffalo, the CEL Alumni Association for the University of Buffalo, St. Ann's Community, and is on the advisory board for the Roland Williams Champion Academy and marketing committee for the Buffalo chapter of Habitat for Humanity. She has two active sons who are the light and loves of her life.

Nita’s creativity, intelligence, experiences and insights inspire Aria on the daily. She’s been a great friend for a decade and a half, and provides care and goodness that nurtures the people around her.   MansaWear owner and fashion designer Nita Brown was born in Ghana. As the daughter of a diplomat, she left for her first overseas trip at the age of seven, traveling to the Czech Republic. Nita completed her secondary schooling in Ghana, received a B.A. in History from Columbia University and an M.B.A. in International Management from Georgetown University. She speaks Ashanti (Twi) and French.    Brown’s passion for fashion was ignited by her mother. She grew up surrounded by the constant interactions and discussions of her mother and her couturiers about fabric choices and current styles. Her mother’s innate eye for color, quality fabrics and tailored looks influenced MansaWear’s structured pieces, bold colors and varied fabric prints. MansaWear designs and manufactures tailor-made and ready-to-wear clothing using vibrant colors and bold pattern Ghanaian prints that provides maximum versatility, flexibility & economical. It’s about being uniquely you and the art of the mash-up. That is mixing and matching your Ghanaian-inspired MansaWear outfit with items already existing in your closet to create endless styles for daily and special occasions. Her goal is to create an enduring branded clothing line using high-quality Ghanaian fabrics and tailoring sensibilities.    MansaWear is a permanent fixture at Rochester Fashion Week, where Nita debuts each year’s fabric and style collection. MansaWear is sold at Memorial Art Gallery’s museum shop, or at the full-fledged retail site www.mansawear.com or in person at 367 Park Ave, Rochester. MansaWear has been featured in numerous media outlets including, the Rochester Business Journal, The Democrat and Chronic and Chanel 8 CBS’s Be Inspired Show and twice on News 10 NBC’s Spotlight segment.   During her spare time, Ms. Brown runs, raises funds for building and supporting schools for the FST Sisters, a community of nuns based in Ghana. She is active at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church, where she has served on Parish Council and now assists as a lector and communion minister.   Links and Resources MansaWear: https://mansawear.com/, https://www.facebook.com/MansaWear Ghana: https://www.ghana.gov.gh/ Columbia University: https://www.columbia.edu/ Georgetown University: https://www.georgetown.edu/ Rochester Fashion Week: http://www.fashionweekofrochester.org/   Keywords: education, anti-racism, parenthood, parenting, Black History, African American History, business, art, fashion, politics     

Pre-COVID, visiting a college campus was an important way to both learn about a school and signal interest. Today and likely going forward, more and more families will conduct that due diligence online, but they have to do it right. Amy and Mike invited educational consultant Jodi Rosenshein Atkin to highlight ways to demonstrate interest during virtual college tours.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? Why is demonstrated interest so important in terms of admissions? What are the different types of virtual tours available and which matter most? In what ways are virtual tours more work than live campus visits?  What are other critical ways to demonstrate interest? What makes regional college representatives so important to connect with? MEET OUR GUEST Jodi Rosenshein Atkin is an independent educational consultant in private practice. She holds a BA and MA from the University of Rochester in Psychology, and has over 20 years of experience in educational and clinical settings.  Her first career focused on working with individuals and families living with learning challenges.  She is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, as well as a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, New York State Association of College Admissions Counselors and Higher Education Consultants Association. Her practice is entering its seventh season. During that time, she has visited almost 200 college campuses in 17 different states and conducted over 60 virtual college tours in 2020 alone! Jodi has also earned the designation of Certified Educational Planner, a certification granted to consultants and counselors who meet stringent requirements, including a Masters degree, specialized training, significant experience and involvement in professional activities and organizations. CEP represents the highest level of distinction in the profession Jodi is committed to finding a “best fit” school for every student, considering academic, financial, social and cultural factors. It’s about more than the mascot and the sweatshirt; it’s about finding the places that each student can thrive and grow, making the most of their higher education investment.  Finding the right school is a journey, not a race to some imaginary finish line. Jodi is a frequent guest speaker at libraries, schools, podcasts and webinars. Her insights have been featured in publications nationally, including the Wall Street Journal, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Teen Vogue, Rochester Business Journal, and The Deseret News (Utah). She has also presented to professional groups, including the NYS Association of College Admissions Counselors. She and her husband, Louis, have four adult children and live in Rochester, NY with their golden doodle, Dustin.  Find Jodi at www.jodiratkin.com. LINKS The First Rule of Successful College Visits RELATED EPISODES MAKING THE MOST OF COLLEGE VISITS VIRTUAL COLLEGE TOURS MAKING THE MOST OF A VIRTUAL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS EVENT ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Scott Pitoniak is the best-selling author of more than 25 books, including five about the Bills, whom he's written about for 34 years. The Syracuse University graduate currently is the Rochester Business Journal sports columnist and has worked as a columnist for Democrat and Chronicle and USA Today, and as a contributor to WROC-TV and ESPN radio. Leo Roth recently retired earlier this year after a long-time career as an award-winning columnist for the Democrat and Chronicle. The Buffalo native's work has been recognized by the Associated Press, the Professional Football Writers of America, Gannett and the Rochester Press-Radio Club and the New York State Publishers Association. Thad Brown has been a sports anchor/reporter for WROC News 8 since August 2000 and took over as the station's sports director three years ago. This is his 20th season covering the Bills. He's co-anchor of the syndicated Buffalo Kickoff Live show.

In this episode Megan interviews Dr. Yvette Conyers, Assistant Professor of Community Health Nursing at St. John Fisher College's Wegmans School of Nursing. Dr. Conyers is a Family Nurse Practitioner who specializes in completing in home risk assessments for Medicare Advantage consumers. She received her associate degree from Monroe Community College, her RN-BS completion degree from the University of Rochester, and her master's in nursing education from Roberts Wesleyan College. Shen then completed her Family Nurse Practitioner certificate and doctorate of nursing practice from St. John Fisher College. Dr. Conyers received the Greater Rochester 40 under 40 African American Leaders award in 2011 and the Health Care Achievement Award from the Rochester Business Journal in 2019. Dr. Conyers is the first president of the Rochester Black Nurses Association, founded in 2018.To learn more, visit: https://www.rocbna.org/Support the show (https://kidsthrive585.org/about/)

Porschia Parker is the founder and CEO of Fly High Coaching and the Millennial Performance Institute. She is a Certified Professional Coach, an Associate Certified Coach, and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Certified Practitioner. Porschia also has experience as a director and business consultant helping companies unlock millions of dollars in potential. Porschia has a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Georgia and she serves as a Career Contributor for BioSpace and has been featured in FlexJobs, Levo, iOFFICE, and the Rochester Business Journal. In this episode, Porschia talks about the main differences between the different generations in the workplace today, what companies can do to help millennials stay longer than the average of three years, the importance understanding the backgrounds of the different generations you’re working with, why you need to listen more than you talk in order to get your ideas heard, what we can likely expect from generation Z employees once they enter the workforce, and so much more!

Everyone knows that school visits are an important and often enjoyable part of the college admissions process. Unfortunately, not everyone knows how to make this process worthwhile. Amy and Mike invited independent educational consultant Jodi Rosenshein Atkin to share serious tips on making the most of college visits.  What are five things you will learn in this episode? What makes school visits important for students in terms of both fit and admissions? What is a “Goldilocks visit” dry run? What should be done before, during, and after to make a school visit effective? Why does the tone of the information session matter? What questions should you ask student tour leaders? MEET OUR GUEST Jodi Rosenshein Atkin is an independent educational consultant in private practice. She holds a BA and MA from the University of Rochester in Psychology, and has over 20 years of experience in educational and clinical settings.  Her first career focused on working with individuals and families living with learning challenges. She is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, as well as a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors, New York State Association of College Admissions Counselors and Higher Education Consultants Association.  Her practice is entering its seventh season. During that time, she has visited almost 200 college campuses in 15 different states! Jodi is committed to finding a “best fit” school for every student, considering academic, financial, social and cultural factors.  It’s about more than the mascot and the sweatshirt; it’s about finding the places that each student can thrive and grow, making the most of their higher education investment.  Finding the right school is a journey, not a race to some imaginary finish line. Jodi is a frequent guest speaker at libraries, schools, podcasts and webinars. Her insights have been featured in publications nationally, including the Wall Street Journal, Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, Teen Vogue, Rochester Business Journal, and The Deseret News (Utah).  She has also presented to professional groups, including the NYS Association of College Admissions Counselors. She and her husband, Louis, have four adult children and live in Rochester, NY with their golden doodle, Dustin.  Find Jodi at www.jodiratkin.com ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.

Abby Reinhard is the owner and president of GP Flooring Solutions, a commercial flooring company headquartered in the Greater Rochester area. Since purchasing her company almost four years ago, Abby has enjoyed growing a team from 9 to 32 employees (and growing!). Her academic background is in leadership and management, with degrees from the University of Michigan and Harvard University, and her prior career background in marketing communications, fundraising and sales. A Rochester-area native, Abby returned to her hometown after living in Ann Arbor, Boston, and New York City. Always on the go with three young children, she also serves on the boards of The Hochstein School of Music and Dance and Blackfriars Theatre. Abby was named one of the Forty Under 40 by Rochester Business Journal in 2016; she was recognized in 2017 by Floor Focus Magazine as one of the top ten leaders in her industry under age 40; and was named the Small Business Council of Rochester's 2018 Business Person of the Year. [1:30] Creating a culture where employees feel safe to stretch outside their comfort zone [4:30] Building trust with a new team and in an unfamiliar industry: Strategy, resources and people [7:15] The leap of faith of buying a business [8:45] The four year journey from new owner to Business Person of the Year [11:00] Making tough decisions to maintain the integrity of core values [14:00] Culture: Balancing the past and the future [15:50] Abby's process for codifying the core values with GP Flooring Solutions [21:45] Sharing stories to reinforce values [23:15] The difficulty of enacting your values and prioritizing your culture - Urgent vs. Important [27:00] The business case for Conscious Culture: "Businesses are people" [30:00] The many layers of the purpose of business [32:00] Recognizing your interconnection and contributing to the business ecosystem [34:15] Abby's evolution as a Conscious Leader "Flooring is my industry and we fulfill a need...AND, for me to feel connected to something bigger than that is really important...if I didn't focus on that, I wouldn't be happy." [37:00] Abby's future and the future of GP Flooring Solutions [40:00] Abby's book recommendations: "Daring to Lead" by Brene Brown, "Best Place to Work" by Ron Friedman, plus the importance of growing spiritually Learn more about GP Flooring Solutions: www.gpflooringsolutions.com Read more about Abby's honor as the Small Business Council's 2018 Business Person of the Year: www.gpflooringsolutions.com/abby-reinhard-wins-business-person-of-the-year/

Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration honoring African identity, heritage and culture. Each of the seven days of Kwanzaa celebrates a different value of African culture that helps to build and reinforce community. During last year's Kwanzaa celebrations in Rochester, Jessica Lewis moderated a panel during the celebration of Ujamaa, which means "Cooperative Economics." Much of the panel discussion centered on themes of encouraging entrepreneurship in the black community, citing research that black-owned businesses account for just 7% of small businesses (despite making up 13% of the population) and the fact that a dollar stays in the black community for just six hours. Jessica also debuted her show "Ujamaa Rising," which profiles black-owned businesses in Rochester, many of which have a distinct Conscious Capitalism ethos of community engagement. Jessica is the Principal Publicist & Owner of LáLew Public Relations and the ROC the Future Communications Specialist at The Children’s Agenda. She is a 2018 ATHENA Award finalist and a Woman to Watch for the Democrat & Chronicle Newspaper. Jessica is a successful entrepreneur, owning the fastest growing, Black-owned public relations firm in Rochester, New York. LáLew Public Relations is a full service PR firm specializing in media relations, marketing, branding, web management, social media and community engagement. LáLew serves a variety of clients and has landed client appearances on WROC News 8, WHEC News 10, WHAM News 13, Spectrum News, Democrat and Chronicle Newspaper, City Newspaper and more. Jessica’s success was recognized by the Rochester Business Journal as a Small Business Feature of the Week. Jessica is also the host of Ujamaa Rising, a television show that features Black-owned businesses and real-life stories of entrepreneurs. Jessica received her Bachelor’s degree from Buffalo State College in Social Studies Education grades 7-12 and a Master’s degree in Teaching and Curriculum from the Margaret Warner Graduate School of Education at the University of Rochester. Jessica holds membership in the Rochester Association of Black Journalists, the Democrat & Chronicle Young Professionals Advisory Council and the Theta Omega Sigma Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Learn more about Ujamaa Rising here: https://www.facebook.com/ujamaarising/ Check out Rochester's 2018 Ujamaa Fesitivities here: https://www.facebook.com/events/277471142914848/ Learn more about Black-Owned Businesses in Rochester here: http://www.bobrochester.com/

Welcome to the RD podcast! It’s that time of year where I like to reflect on what happened over the course of the year and I thought who better to do this with than Bob Merberg. We did this last year and selfishly it was fun.  When Bob and I get together to talk. We talk. A lot. This is a long interview but it didn’t feel that way to me, so hopefully it doesn’t to you. Bob Merberg, Principal Consultant at Jozito LLC has led the way in sustainable, healthy workplaces for more than 20 years.  The Institute for Healthcare Consumerism in 2014 named Bob an IHC Superstar for Employee Empowerment, and in 2017 a team of industry experts convened by the Rochester Business Journal recognized him for creativity and ability to effect measurable improvements, sustainability, and program outcomes. Check out Bob’s full bio below. In this interview, Bob and I discuss our reflections on wellness over the past year, what we’ve learned, anything we have changed our minds about (this is interesting because we slightly disagree on this one) and the directions were headed in 2019. You’re Invited! I want to invite you to a free webinar, “7 Critical Steps to Increase Your Impact and Influence as a Wellness Professional” on December 13 at 2 pm EST. Register HERE. Many health promotion efforts are stuck in an old paradigm, operating on outdated thinking or flawed assumptions. This webinar will separate myth from reality – and jump start your path to confidently bringing your organization into the next generation of worksite wellness. You’ll leave with valuable insights and practical takeaways on the following four topics:  What it means to move from a biomedical approach to an integrated one Shifting the focus of wellness away from healthcare costs and towards its real value The truth about financial incentives How to increase your influence in your organization You can register for the webinar HERE. For links mentioned in today's episode visit https://redesigningwellness.com/ To join the Redesigning Wellness Community, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/rdwellnesscommunity/  

Tim ShortsleeveCPA.CITPLess   “Focus, environment, results.”  Tim Shortsleeve creates high performing organizations with these three words.  Having worked with a diverse range of clients, Tim knows that audit, tax, and planning issues are the easy parts.   Tim digs deep to understand his clients and guide them through the process of building a more efficient, healthy organization.  It’s a collaborative process that yields results, trust, and positive momentum. Tim graduated from the State University of New York at Oswego in 1984, and spent the first decade of his career in the Rochester, NY offices of Price Waterhouse and a Rochester regional accounting firm.  In 1994 he became a partner with the firm Bonn, Shortsleeve & Co., and over the course of 15 years provided tax, audit, accounting and process improvement services to closely held businesses in the areas of manufacturing, construction, not-for-profit, retailing, health care, and high-tech service industries. Tim left the firm in 2010 and joined TYS as a  partner in the Rochester office . Today he uses his in-depth accounting and business process knowledge to help clients focus and achieve alignment in order to reach their goals. Tim speaks frequently across the country on various tax, sales and business efficiency topics, and he’s written articles for numerous publications. Tim was selected to the Rochester Business Journal class of 2000 “40 Under 40” up and coming business professionals. Tim is also the past-president of the Rochester Chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation and was a former hockey coach at the Rochester Institute of Technology and also Monroe Community College.

This week Mike chats with Scott Pitoniak from the Rochester Business Journal. Topics of conversation:-What's next for the Bills/Poyer?-What year do you expect from Stefon Diggs?-Free agents coming up, who ya keeping?-Von Miller usage?-Edmunds underrated?-Do you subscribe to Super Bowl or bust?...and more.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

On this weeks episode of the Pandemonium Podcast, Mike is joined by Rochester Business Journal Bills Reporter and Bills insider Scott Pitoniak. Topics of the show include:-Beane making moves/free agency-McKenzie's impact-the need for Chandler Jones-latest on the new stadium