Pittsburgh Business Insights

Finding Your Niche | Kevin Trout

In our 20th episode of Pittsburgh Business Insights, we sit down with guest Kevin Trout, experienced business owner and current Vistage Worldwide, Inc. CEO Peer Advisory Board Chair. The can't-miss milestone episode explores sales strategy, discusses the unique system of accountability provided by Vistage, and dives into the good reads that have served Kevin's career. 

Challenge the Status Quo | Adam Murphy

Is your workplace best designed to help your employees succeed? Adam Murphy, Founder and President of Sourceree, took his "new normal" as an opportunity to ask himself the same question. This week on Pittsburgh Business Insights, join Adam to discuss unforeseen cybersecurity risks for businesses, the necessity of a healthy company culture, and when it’s time to break your workplace status quo.

How to Turn the Tide | Fred Marroni

Strategizing in order to power your business through the pandemic is, by now, par for the course. But when a company reports a record first quarter in 2021, they may have found something  special. Fred Marroni, President and CEO of Indigo Biosciences, a State College-based company offering products and services focused around nuclear receptors, talks about the practices that have fueled his growth throughout the past year.

Succession Success | Laurie Barkman

Succeed in Your Succession | Laurie Barkman

How do I pinpoint a number that represents the value of my business? Is it too early to begin planning for a transition? Do I have the capital to begin planning? Can I maintain an active role in my company following my transition? Laurie Barkman, Business Transition Advisor and CEO & Founder of strategic advisory firm SmallDotBig, has made it her career’s mission to answer these questions and more for small to mid-size business owners.  Laurie visits Pittsburgh Business Insights to discuss...

Success in Succession | Laurie Barkman

Employee Emphasis | J.D. Ewing

From unconventional beginnings in his grandmother's typewriter repair shop in the basement of a bar to unlikely growth throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, J.D. Ewing has helmed family-owned office furniture distributor COE Distributing for over 30 years. His key to success? Prioritizing his people.  Hear our 16th episode with guest J.D. Ewing, CEO and Founding Member of COE Distributing. 

Rowing in the Same Direction | Lloyd Wolf

In our 15th episode, join Lloyd Wolf, longtime Pittsburgh business owner and professional EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System) implementer, to discuss the extensive benefits of implementing EOS, the importance of peer groups for professional accountability, and his own unique personal journey from engineering to consulting to EOS.

Episode 14: Adam Whitaker

This week, we are joined by Adam Whitaker, SBA Business Development Officer at First National Bank. Adam covers the bases on SBA lending, including the common misconceptions regarding eligibility for loans and the advantages and enjoyment of banking with a personal touch.

Episode 13: Taylor Abbett

In our 13th episode of Pittsburgh Business Insights, guest Taylor Abbett, President of Tailored Marketing, Inc., talks in-house vs. out-of-house brand management, taking advantage of social media, and the challenges and benefits of marketing as a mid-size firm. 

Episode 12: Charles Hadad

In this episode, we sit down with our own colleague, partner and Estates & Trusts chair Charles Hadad of The Lynch Law Group, for a deep dive into business succession planning. 

Episode 11: Mary Simon

On this week's episode of Pittsburgh Business Insights, we sit down with Mary Simon, a senior executive coach who uses her expertise in neuroscience to advise clients in negotiations and business transactions. 

Episode 10: Yvonne Campos

In the 10th episode of Pittsburgh Business Insights, we sit down with Yvonne Campos, President of the Next Act Fund and longtime Pittsburgh business leader, to discuss identifying gaps in the marketplace, the challenge of finding funding for women-owned businesses, and the formation and future of the Next Act Fund.

Episode 9: Marek Hajn

This week on Pittsburgh Business Insights, The Lynch Law Groups hosts Marek Hajn, Vice President of Business Development at IT-CNS, Inc. He discusses the necessity of cybersecurity for any business, his experience coming to America from the Czech Republic, and the entrepreneurial spirit of the Hajn family. 

Episode 8: Anne Flynn Schlicht

In Pittsburgh Business Insights' eighth episode, join guest Anne Flynn Schlicht, director of the Center for Women's Entrepreneurship at Chatham University, to discuss the importance of mentorship, the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, and the unique network and support system that the Center provides. 

Episode Seven: Stephen Gurgovits

In this episode of Pittsburgh Business Insights, join guest Stephen Gurgovits, Managing and Founding Partner of Tecum Capital, for a high-level discussion of traditional, mezzanine, and private equity financing, as well as some great stories. 

Episode Six: Chris Pentrack

In this episode of Pittsburgh Business Insights, we host Chris Pentrack, managing director of Expense Reduction Analysts and Supporting Strategies, to discuss improving cash flow, cost control in the era of COVID-19, and tight controls in a virtual world.

Episode Five: Dan Lynch

In this special episode of Pittsburgh Business Insights, we are joined by guest Dan Lynch, Founder and Managing Partner of The Lynch Law Group, to discuss company culture, the intricacies of good networking, and the best practices to manage employees remotely. 

Episode Four: Erin Gildea

In this episode of Pittsburgh Business Insights, The Lynch Law Group hosts Erin Gildea, Business Development and Marketing Manager at the Gildea Group. We discuss the journey that led Erin to join her family's business, her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated industry, and the importance of diversification in business.

Episode Three: Tom and Todd Richards

Anyone for pizza? In this episode, local business owners Tom and Todd Richards of Fat Angelo's  discuss the challenges and successes of the pizzeria throughout the pandemic, the evolution into restauranteurs, and personal topping preferences for good measure. 

Episode Two: Sal Acosta

Hear guest Sal Acosta, business broker and managing partner of Landon and Acosta, LLC cover business brokering, growing and selling companies, and the pros and cons of buying vs. starting a business.

Episode One: Frank Vitale

In the first episode of "Pittsburgh Business Insights," hear Forge Business Solutions President and CEO Frank Vitale discuss client relationships, entrepreneurial advice, and the importance of strategic planning in the age of COVID-19 and beyond.