We spend time in conversation with Bob Beggs, Executive Director of Good Works, Inc. Good Works is a Christian nonprofit organization working to transform lives by repairing homes for low-income families and sharing the hope that Bob, his colleagues, and teams of volunteers have found in Jesus Christ. We talk about the housing challenges that low-income families face in Chester County – and how Good Works aims to address those challenges by interweaving care for homes with care for people. OUR P...
Apr 19, 2024•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 48
We step into the podcast studio with Bill Ronayne, the founder and owner of Brandywine Valley Heating & Air Conditioning. Founded in 1993, BVHVAC has grown to more than 60 employees, serving both residential and commercial customers from its base in West Chester, Pennsylvania. We speak with Bill about running and growing his community-focused business for more than thirty years. OUR PARTNER Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce LINKS Brandywine Valley Heating and Air Conditioning Websi...
Apr 05, 2024•49 min•Season 2Ep. 47
We sit down in the podcast studio with Christine Zaccarelli, Chief Executive Officer of The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County to talk about how victims of sexual violence and others crimes can access the support they need. Chris walks us through the work that she and her colleagues at CVC are doing in the areas of victim advocacy, counseling, and prevention education. OUR PARTNER Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce LINKS The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County Website: cvcofcc....
Mar 22, 2024•42 min•Season 2Ep. 46
The focus on STEM education and STEM careers in recent decades has us meeting with Richard Roberts, III, to talk about supporting economically disadvantaged and historically underrepresented youth to become the next generation of leaders. Rick is the founder and President of Young Men and Women in Charge, headquartered in West Chester, Pa. In a well-rounded conversation, we talk about how a village of support enables local young people to excel. OUR PARTNER Southern Chester County Chamber of Com...
Mar 08, 2024•41 min•Season 2Ep. 45
With a growing local population and much upheaval in recent years in how and when people commute to and from work, the transportation needs and goals of Chester County are an important topic for discussion. We meet with Tim Phelps, Executive Director of the Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC), to talk about advocating and collaborating for sustainable transportation practices. We discuss the many travel planning initiatives happening across the region, and explore how...
Feb 23, 2024•48 min•Season 2Ep. 44
With so much happening in the local residential property market in recent years, we meet with David Graham and Bela Vora to discuss the topic. Based in Kennett Square, David Graham is a mortgage specialist with Rapid Mortgage. Bela Vora is a realtor in Exton, with Coldwell Banker Realty. We cover what steps to take before applying for a mortgage, how to to prepare for buying a first home or buying a home for the first time in a long time, and trends in the Chester County property market – and mo...
Feb 09, 2024•51 min•Season 2Ep. 43
We jump into the local manufacturing sector with Doug Thompson, Manager of Manufacturing at R-V Industries, Inc.. We learn about how R-V Industries, celebrating fifty years in business this year, has grown and expanded to include facilities and operations in multiple sites in Pennsylvania, and in New Jersey and Illinois. Doug talks about building and supporting manufacturing and engineering teams and more at R-V Industries, while highlighting the opportunity for young people to build a career in...
Jan 26, 2024•39 min•Season 2Ep. 42
We spend time with Chris Saello, President & CEO of the United Way of Chester County. We explore how the United Way operates and how it supports our local community generally. Chris then walks us through the many exciting and impact-focused programs that the United Way is delivering to address a range of significant local needs. We also focus on the ALICE community and the work being done to support those in need there ... and more. OUR PARTNER Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce LIN...
Jan 12, 2024•47 min•Season 2Ep. 41
We enjoy a wonderful conversation with Sue Miller, a local farmer and cheese maker. Together with her husband and their two sons, Sue owns and runs Birchrun Hills Farm in Chester Springs, Pennsylvania. We dive into cheese making and running a dairy farm where the cows produce milk that goes into the cheese. Links Birchrun Hills Farm Website: birchrunhillsfarm.com Facebook: facebook.com/BirchrunHillsFarm Instagram: instagram.com/birchrunhills 2023 Chester County Farmers of the Year Additional Lin...
Dec 29, 2023•43 min•Season 2Ep. 40
We cover a lot of ground with Laura Berry, an R&D Tax Credit Specialist with Bowers R&D Associates. We talk at length about how local-area businesses can secure tax credits for their research and development. We also talk about being the spouse of a veteran, playing and coaching rugby, creative writing, and more. If your business is currently doing R&D or you are thinking of getting into it, this is a must-listen conversation. LINKS Laura Berry Laura Berry on LinkedIn Laura’s Books: ...
Dec 15, 2023•42 min•Season 2Ep. 39
We spend time with Chris MacNeel, the Chief Operating Officer of Freya Systems, a local area data analytics and software development company. Having met Chris at TECH360, we go right in AI and the many ways it is shaping our lives today. We talk about company culture and explore remote vs. in-person work environments. This is a wide-ranging listen and an important listen for any leader of a business or nonprofit. Links Freya Systems Freya Systems website: freyasystems.com LinkedIn: linkedin.com/...
Dec 02, 2023•36 min•Season 2Ep. 38
We meet with with Bertram L. Lawson II, the new President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Brandywine. With a long and distinguished career with the YMCA (garnered in leadership positions at several YMCA locations), Bertram shares his insight and experience of steering a large local nonprofit at a difficult and challenging time. Links YMCA of Greater Brandywine Bertram L. Lawson, II on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/bertram-l-lawson-ii-4167a66 YMCA of Greater Brandywine website: ymcagbw.org YMCA of Gre...
Nov 17, 2023•25 min•Season 2Ep. 37
We chat with Bob Cox, Managing Partner of BHHC, a local area consultancy focused on enabling companies and nonprofits to move towards greater success. We speak at length with Bob about how to support and empower high performing employees, especially in a difficult labor market. Links BHHC website: buildandperform.com Bob Cox on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/accountabilitybob Good to Great by Jim Collins Project C.U.R.E.: projectcure.org/location/philadelphia Rise Against Hunger: riseagainsthunger.or...
Oct 20, 2023•40 min•Season 2Ep. 36
We chat with Eric Kuhn, Managing Partner with Pillar Real Estate Advisors, LLC, a local area commercial real estate brokerage firm. We learn about the current state of the local commercial real estate economy. Eric shares his professional experience on what entrepreneurs should consider with respect to their workspace needs as their business grows. This wide-ranging conversation is an important listen for any business or nonprofit leader in or around Chester County, Pennsylvania.
Oct 06, 2023•29 min•Season 2Ep. 35
We spend time with Laura Manion, the President and CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry. We speak with Laura about her advocacy work at the CCCBI and how she and her colleagues work on behalf of businesses and organizations in and around Chester County. We also go into detail about the challenges of affordable childcare and housing, particularly as they affect local employers and employees.
Sep 22, 2023•49 min•Season 2Ep. 34
We spend time with Robert Jefferson, a private practice attorney, about his role as the City Solicitor for the City of Coatesville, Pa and his approach to serving the people of that community. We chat about the non-profit organizations that Rob supports through service on their boards. And we spent time chatting about changes to the legal sector. This was a fun, energetic conversation with an enthusiastic and articulate lawyer.
Sep 08, 2023•30 min•Season 2Ep. 33
We explore how the Chester County Food Bank leads the local fight against food insecurity in a great conversation with the for impact organization's CEO, Andrea Youndt. Andrea shares how her career trajectory lead her to her current leadership position, and walks us through how the food bank partners with 150 local partners to address food insecurity and related challenges across Chester County.
Aug 18, 2023•28 min•Season 2Ep. 32
We catch up again with West Chester-based marketing agency owner, Marty McDonald. The CEO and Co-Founder of Bad Rhino, Marty shares how every local business should have a podcast – and how that podcast could fill its marketing messaging needs in a easy-to-manage and compelling way.
Aug 04, 2023•38 min•Season 2Ep. 31
We learn all about Camphill Village Kimberton Hills from Robert Martin, a retired academic and musician. We begin our conversation with Bob walking us through his storied life and professional trajectory, which saw him move to the Camphill Village in northern Chester County. He then goes into depth about the philosophy and purpose of the village – and its many activities and happenings. It was such a treat to learn about this wonderful, caring, and beautiful community. Any single sentence or two...
Jul 21, 2023•31 min•Season 2Ep. 30
We explore how the Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC) is helping local area businesses move ahead in today'seconomy. Michael Grigalonis, recently appointed as President of the CCEDC, offers his professional goals for the non-profit organization, as well as sharing insight into his personal goals. He walks us through how the CCEDC operates as a non-profit, focused on local workforce development across a range of industries and sectors.
Jul 07, 2023•32 min•Season 2Ep. 29
We do a deep dive into how a long-time local business leader and entrepreneur came to commit herself to her local community. Susan Springsteen talks through her journey into seeing Coatesville as the place where she wanted to start and grow a new business. She walks us through getting to know the City of Coatesville, its leaders, and its local residents. She speaks with joy and pride about taking a holistic approach to investing in the long term success of her corner of Chester County, Pennsylva...
Jun 23, 2023•37 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Start Local is back, and we have a fantastic guest! Representative Chrissy Houlahan joins us to give us an update on post-pandemic recovery for small businesses in the Pennsylvania 6th Congressional District. We also discuss the Women Owned Small Business Program Transparency Act, resources available to struggling small businesses, and Congress’ efforts to combat inflation. Join us as we explore the challenges and opportunities for small businesses in Chester County, PA and the surrounding regio...
Jun 02, 2023•19 min•Season 2Ep. 1
While we have focused on businesses in and around Chester County since shortly after the arrival of COVID-19, we know that non-profits in the area have suffered the same challenges and hurdles. To learn what non-profits in Chester County are experiencing, and how those non-profits are pivoting, we spoke with Stephenie D. Stevens, Grants & Outreach Officer with the Chester County Community Foundation. Links The Chester County Community Foundation’s Community Leadership page is designed to pro...
Nov 20, 2020•22 min•Season 1Ep. 26
With winter weather fast approaching, we know that the local restaurant and hospitality sector is facing an even more precarious position because of the ongoing challenges of COVID-19. We sat down with Bill Covaleski, a Co-Founder and Brewmaster at Victory Brewing Company, and the Chairman of the Pennsylvania Restaurant & Lodging Association (PRLA). Bill shared his experience of learning from and with his local business community through the PRLA, and how local restaurants, event companies, ...
Nov 13, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 25
With Chester County and much of the nation facing what might be a second wave of COVID-19, we turned to Cheryl Kuhn to understand how businesses in southern Chester County are faring and how local chambers of commerce are helping those companies navigate the coronavirus economy. Cheryl is the President & CEO of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce. Links Restore Chester County: https://restorechestercounty.org/ SCCCC LinkedIn SCCCC Facebook SCCCC Instagram Main Street organization...
Oct 30, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Running an essential business during COVID-19 presents its own challenges to business owners – especially for brick-and-mortar businesses. We spoke with Patrice Banks, the Chief #sheCANic and Founder of Girls Auto Clinic. Girls Auto Clinic is a full service auto repair shop which caters to women. Links girlsautoclinic.com instagram.com/girlsautoclinic facebook.com/girlsautoclinic Twitter: @girlsautoclinic Patrice’s book: Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide NOTES How has COVID-19 affected your abil...
Oct 16, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 23
Chester County boasts an amazingly diverse economy with strong, vibrant businesses ranging from pharma and medical technology to manufacturing, and from world class professional services to farming. We sat down with Joy Beam and Gareth Yoder of Cedar Meadow Meats to hear how they are harnessing technology to pivot their beef farm to a COVID-19 economy. Links Cedar Meadow Meats website Facebook: facebook.com/CedarMeadowMeats Penn State Berks TestLab National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Notes How...
Oct 09, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 22
As the challenging effects of COVID-19 continue across southeast Pennsylvania and beyond, many businesses and non-profits are still struggle to cope. We sat down with Josh Maxwell, one of three Chester County Commissioners, to talk about what the county government is doing to support the local business economy. LINKS Josh Maxwell, Chester County Commissioner Twitter: @maxwelljosh Facebook: facebook.com/commissionerjoshmaxwell Chester County’s Restore Business Dashboard Chester County Voter Infor...
Oct 02, 2020•24 min•Season 1Ep. 21
As COVID-19 continues to have a significant effect on the local economy in Chester County, Pennsylvania, businesses and organizations are still in need of options to address revenue shortfalls and cashflow challenges. We turned to Rebecca Worthington from Benchmark Federal Credit Union to chat about the local economy and how that financial institution is supporting folks in Chester County. LINKS Benchmark Federal Credit Union’s website: benchmarkfcu.org Benchmark Cares Loan Program Benchmark FCU...
Sep 25, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 20
With all the economy turmoil caused by COVID-19, many folks are considering taking their careers in new directions. We caught up with Yardell Perkins to talk about how he started his own business. Through Perkitech, Yardell helps businesses and individuals establish or re-establish their digital presence. Links Main website: perkitech.com Links landing page: landing.perkitech.com Telephone number: 215-325-0403 Video camera: Panasonic HC-V770 Catchafire (Volunteer Job Board): catchafire.org Yarde...
Sep 18, 2020•32 min•Season 1Ep. 19
