Basil Iwanyk is a Jersey Shore native and the founder of Thunder Road Films, most known for producing the John Wick Franchise, Sicario, The Town, Greenland and MANY more blockbusters. Basil was a standout basketball player for Christian Brothers Academy before heading to Villanova, where he would lay the groundwork for a career in law, but ultimately decided to pursue a career in film. After interning and working entry level positions, his big break came when a top producer approached him in The...
Jun 29, 2022•1 hr
Early release for the AM grinders! YouTube link drops in the afternoon. Mike Timpani is the owner and operator of the Timpani Home Inspection Group, based out of Monmouth County, New Jersey. Mike is a hustler with a heart of gold who left his lucrative-but-suffocating job on the turnpike to build a life that would allow him more time with family. He swung by the pit to discuss dropping out of college, building a construction company with his brother, and gave a TON of insightful nuggets along th...
Jun 22, 2022•1 hr 13 min
Giana Zabriski is the owner of Cella Gold, a "live + lounge" clothing boutique based out of Toms River, New Jersey. Giana is a savvy entrepreneur who leveraged a personal finance blog she built in the early 2010's for the launch of Cella Gold, which has grown to six-figure revenues in just a few short years. Her realness and embrace of failure is refreshing in a world of faking it until you make it. We dug into her backstory, a mutual disgust for the public school system during Covid and found s...
Jun 15, 2022•56 min
Bill Duerr is the president and second-generation operator of Jersey Shore-based Hatteras, a world class printing company with clients Calvin Klein, BMW, Armani L’Oreal, Verizon and more. We visited their sprawling Tinton Falls complex prior to recording for a tour of operations and met a few of the 300+ employees along the way, including Bill’s father Charlie, who founded Hatteras in 1983. Bill has an inspiring story, great family who also runs one of the biggest club lacrosse programs in the n...
Jun 08, 2022•51 min
Emma Lipnicky is the President and CEO of Liv Like A Unicorn, a registered 501(c)3 non-profit organization founded by and in memory of her daughter, Olivia, who courageously battled stage 4 cancer and brought to life a movement that supports families and children, while funding a cure for cancer. When Olivia was diagnosed with cancer, her first concern was helping other kids affected by the same disease. During her last summer she organized the first “Liv like a Unicorn” clothing drive, which ra...
Jun 01, 2022•57 min
Tom White is the founder and owner of Talent Plus Staffing, a leading recruitment firm that provides staffing and administrative solutions for skilled trades. Tom joined me at The Pit on a beautiful spring night to discuss bootstrapping your startup, the importance of a strong network, “starting from zero” each month and balancing both business and quality of life. Oh, and THE BIGGEST news in Fireside history drops about halfway through 🧐
May 18, 2022•53 min
Mike and Dave Manzo are the founders of Atlantic Physical Therapy, a New Jersey-based practice with more than 20 locations, who provides unparalleled care to individuals seeking to recover from injury, restore function and maximize their performance. They swung by The Pit for a high-level conversation that touched on how they financed the early days of the business, plans to take things to the next level, past acquisition discussions and how they ensure the success of every employee grows with t...
May 11, 2022•1 hr 20 min
Trevor West is an up-and-coming real estate entrepreneur, with a powerful story that he is hell bent on not being defined by. Trevor grew up in the trucking industry and grew up fast, navigating an [at times] absent father and financial instability within the family. He was the beta test for my local mentorship program two years ago, and quickly turned his side hustle (real estate) into his main hustle, nearly tripling his income since jumping all in. Trevor is a salt of the Earth guy whom I hav...
May 04, 2022•59 min
Joe Crescenzo is the third generation owner of Jersey State Controls, a highly successful HVAC and electric company servicing schools, hospitals and other large scale facilities. He swung by The Pit to discuss how working out first thing in the morning gets him going, how life will change with the arrival of his baby daughter in June, and how he plans to take Jersey State Controls from $15M in revenue to $50M and beyond. Awesome chat with a great local dude who crushes it on every vertical of li...
Apr 27, 2022•57 min
Katie Santangelo is the founder and operator of The Monmouth Moms, a resource website for busy parents in Monmouth County that provides instant access to local events, activities, resources, introductions to talented moms, and more. Kate absolutely loves the Jersey Shore community, and is passionate about helping moms find the best Monmouth County schools, pediatricians, shops, and everything in between. She swung by The Pit to share her journey as a young, single mom hell bent on not being anot...
Apr 20, 2022•57 min
JD Wilson and Kelly Coulson are founding members of Lead U, a positive group of teaching artists who creatively engage, educate, and empower learners of all ages to find the leaders within themselves. After serving overseas in the United States Air Force from 2006-2010, JD became an elementary school teacher here in New Jersey before deciding to step back from the classroom and build Lead U in 2016. Collaborating with aspiring, current, and former educators Kelly Coulson, Connor Effenberger and ...
Apr 06, 2022•1 hr 5 min
Cinzia Fabrizio Kirby is the founder and owner of La Prima Salon, based out of Brick, New Jersey. A lifelong hair stylist, Cinzia grinded her way from apprentice to shop owner at just 26 years old. Now, she is DOUBLING her capacity with the grand opening of her new location, built with the help of family and friends, including her husband Brian, owner of Bayview Mechanical Services. Cinzia is another long-time friend of mine and local entrepreneur who is crushing it in business and in life. Enjo...
Mar 30, 2022•50 min
Matt Catania is a former attorney turned one of the top franchise owners for Jersey Mike's Subs. He swung by The Pit to share his philosophy on running a $40M business, managing partnerships, helping staff reach their goals and striking a "work-life presence." Tons of great nuggets from a very humble local dude succeeding on the highest level!
Mar 23, 2022•44 min
Pete Reilly is the Vice President of Originations at Dynasty Mortgage Network LLC and owner of Reilly Wrestling Club. He came by The Pit to discuss the sport of wrestling, youth athletics, real estate, and an intervention from friends in his younger years that set him upon his path to success. Enjoy!
Mar 16, 2022•1 hr 3 min
The Mercadante Brothers are 3 of 12 siblings hailing from Toms River, New Jersey, who took over their father's home exterior business, Dura-Plex, Inc., which he started in 1972. They swung by the pit to discuss taking ownership, growing up in a massive blended family, how they delegate responsibility and ultimately what gives them purpose. Three extremely sharp entrepreneurs who have already erased the business debt and doubled revenue! Enjoy!
Feb 23, 2022•1 hr 2 min
Founders of one of the hottest up-and-coming breweries at the Jersey Shore, Nick and Bert are two surfing buddies who grew up in the sticks of south Jersey and made their way to Point Pleasant. They came by the pit to discuss the collective effort it took to open the doors of Last Wave, going into business with friends, how to achieve "flow state" and shout out a few local business owners. Pour yourself a cold one and enjoy an awesome conversation with two great dudes.
Feb 16, 2022•1 hr 18 min
Derek Pitera is the owner of SC Arms in Spotswood, New Jersey. SC Arms offers a suite of customization options, ranging from custom gunsmithing to Cerakote application to performance parts installation, and is a true one-stop-shop. Derek swung by the pit to discuss his entrepreneurial journey, advice for aspiring business owners the future, in which he sees himself at the helm of a brand larger than Bass Pro Shop and Cabela's. Enjoy!
Feb 09, 2022•56 min
Mike Sclafani is a former collegiate baseball player who began his career on Wall Street with Lehman Brothers, before stepping into a kickboxing gym in Hoboken that would change the course of his life. While working his 9-5, Mike dropped 40lbs doing CKO Kickboxing and, in the CEO's own words, was the PERFECT fit for a franchise owner. He soon brought it to Monmouth County, with their first studio in the heart of Freehold. Today, he operates multiple locations for thousands of members, and runs o...
Feb 02, 2022•51 min
Mike Tomei is the owner of Auto Image, New Jersey's premier auto detailing, window tinting and accessory shop. Mike has been in the industry for nearly 20 years and worked at Auto Image from the time he was a teenager, before eventually buying the business from the founder and taking over the reigns. A long-time friend, Mike stopped by the pit on a 15-degree night to talk entrepreneurship, hardships, the future of Auto Image and more. Enjoy!
Jan 19, 2022•33 min
FINS has been bringing TropiCali flavor to the Jersey Shore since 2003, at the hands of two surfing buddies, Pat Cuozzo and Shawn Ryan. Their menu is made fresh to order, with high quality ingredients in a fast-casual, surf-inspired atmosphere, and an eco-friendly mindset. The boys stopped by the fire pit do discuss their start in entrepreneurship, balancing a partnership and franchising dreams for FINS.
Jan 12, 2022•59 min
IVs by the Seas is the New Jersey Shore’s premier mobile IV therapy service, led by board certified Family and Emergency Room Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Plescia, DNP, who received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Rutgers University. Jenn and her husband, Derek, are rising up-and-coming entrepreneurs who are staunch advocates of taking preventative measures to stay healthy. Their menu of over ten custom IV cocktails offer a wide variety of health benefits, from recovery to performance and ...
Dec 29, 2021•1 hr 11 min
Dr. Greg Mazzatta, DPM is a podiatry specialist with a private practice in Manahawkin, New Jersey. He currently practices at Achilles Foot and Ankle Center and is affiliated with Hackensack Meridian Health Southern Ocean Medical Center. Greg and his wife, Grace, co-founded Port Coffee Roasters in Bay Head, New Jersey and have built a flourishing business that has become a community staple, approaching it with a true appreciation for the process and artisan nature of coffee. Greg is an accomplish...
Dec 24, 2021•1 hr 17 min
Josh Vallario is the former director of global data center operations and construction manager at BlackRock, the worlds largest asset manager, which he joined in December 2005. Josh built and managed a global team of data-center technicians, including creating operations procedures, and helped consolidate 28 data centers into 13 over a one-year period. Prior to joining BlackRock he worked at Citigroup, where he managed e-mail archiving vendors, and Investment Technology Group as a product manage...
Dec 24, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Pat Gagliano is the founder and owner of Finished Basement NJ, New Jersey's premier basement finishing company. With the help of his son Nino and the rest of the Gagliano family, they have amassed a portfolio of over 4,000 deluxe basements, from $30,000 to $500,000 and beyond. The Gagliano boys came by the fire pit to discuss their wrestling roots, getting started in the construction industry, and the future that they envision for Finished Basement NJ. Enjoy!
Dec 24, 2021•1 hr 10 min
Mike Duncan and Joe Ahlert are the owners and operators of Duncan Defense Consultants, based out of Hazlet, New Jersey and with an outdoor course in Cream Ridge. They came by the fire pit to discuss firearms, the importance of a home defense plan to protect your family, executing the plan, and doing everything safely and legally. Enjoy! Mike Duncan is a 15-year veteran of the U. S. Air Force and retired Lieutenant of the Hazlet Police Department, where he served as the firearms instructor respon...
Dec 24, 2021•47 min
Matt Baldwin is the owner and operator of Belmar Plumbing & Heating, based out of Belmar, New Jersey. Not only is he a successful entrepreneur, he is also my brother-in-law and a frequent visitor around the fire pit, so it was about time to get him on camera to share his story. He moved to New Jersey from Long Island and took over his cousin’s plumbing business, scaling it to a highly reputable and recognizable service business at the Jersey Shore. Matt shares his philosophy on building a se...
Dec 24, 2021•1 hr 20 min
Mike Gorman has been influential in my career for a LONG time. He holds an alphabet full of titles, and currently spends his days preparing a multitude of tax and estate plans for clients. He has the unique ability to combine his legal and accounting experience to provide solutions to personal and business issues. Mike made the trip from Madison, New Jersey to Point Pleasant to do a deep dive on a whirlwind of predictions that fell upon his lap by Indian colleagues. He is in the process of writi...
Dec 24, 2021•1 hr 18 min
Joe and Maylon Torrisi are husband and wife founders of Divi Tree Coffee in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. They are Ocean County natives who took the leap into entrepreneurship and started Divi Tree in 2017, growing it into one of the area's most popular and positively reputable cafe/restaurants. Good friends and great people, they swung by the fire pit to chat about their journey as small business owners, navigating a global pandemic that throttled the restaurant industry, and discussed future pla...
Dec 24, 2021•49 min
Jamie Giovinazzo is the founder and CEO of Eat Clean Bro, a next-day-delivery meal prep service based out of New Jersey who services 17 states. He is a true hard-working American chasing his dreams, who gives back to his community and has a master plan that is poised to further disrupt the meal prep industry!
Dec 24, 2021•53 min
