SBBF - Pristine
Jared Schultz, owner and founder of Pristine Pro Wash! 🎤
Jared’s story and the founding of the company is like most small businesses. Jared shares, “I knew I could provide a better service than what was currently being offered in the community (Utica, NY).
Early on, I vividly recall helping family and friends with their pressure washing needs. Partly they wanted someone they trusted – that treated their property like their own AND someone that could get results – a sense of expertise. I always had a knack for the right equipment and started fiddling around with natural detergents/chemicals to get the best results for each scenario (vinyl siding, concrete, shingles, deck, etc). Quality and a high attention to detail has always been the core aspect of everything I do.
As more neighbors referred their friends and relatives, it became evident that what I loved to do is what I should be doing full-time. I left my career in the insurance field and launched Pristine Prowash. A few hundred customers later… I’m thrilled about the progress we’ve made throughout Oneida County and excited to introduce additional services to help our local homeowners.”
Small Business Big Future - Matt Roberts 4.17.23
Matt formerly worked in the culinary field and started working in wildlife control in 2010. In 2020 Matt and his wife Christine moved from the Boston area to Utica.
Peace & Quiet soft launched in early 2022 and took off in April of 2022. Matt shares that the response from the community and local connection through BNI have been fantastic and humbling, and that business levels for 2023 have been, with much intimidation and gratitude, climbing. Looking ahead, Matt greatly anticipates the day when Peace & Quiet can offer fulfilling careers to amazing people as business grows, all while taking care of the most valued part of business, their clients.
Matt’s hobbies include cooking for friends and family, movies, board games, building computers, and table top nerd stuff!
Small Business Big Future - 4/3/2023
Small Business Big Future - 4/3/2023 - With your host Stephen & Will!
BNI Power Team
🎙️ We are VERY excited about our next episode, where Will and Stephen chat with Ashley, Nathan and Kacie, otherwise known as the BNI “Power Team” 🎙️
Ashley Paolozzi - Mortgage Originator #556632 is a Licensed Loan Officer with Premium Mortgage Corporation with over ten years of experience. Ashley develops loan applications by evaluating applicant information and documentation and she consults with clients about their lending needs to help them achieve their financial goals, including the collection and analysis of information about the clients financial situation.
Nathan Durant is the owner and operator of Durant Home Inspections. Durant Home Inspections performs Home Inspection and Radon Mitigation Services
Established in 2020. Durant Home Inspections- KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY!
Kacie M. Crouse, Esq. is an attorney at Michel N. Kalil, Esq. LLC. where her primary focuses are Family Law, Real Estate, Wills, and traffic violations.
Alexandra Gigliotti joins us from Allied American Abstract Corp.! Allied American Abstract Corporation, headquartered in Utica, New York, is a multi-faceted real estate services corporation minimizing the burdens of real estate transactions for attorneys, consumers, realtors, and lenders.
SBBF - 3/6/2023
🎙️ We’re Back, Baby! 🎙️
After a brief hiatus and dashing, new headshots, Will and Steve are back to talk to entrepreneurs and small business owners in our local community.
Join us LIVE on Monday March 6th at 12pm as Will and Steve catch us up on all the NEW, amazing updates in their businesses- Bradley and Bradley Real Estate and T5 Insurance Services! 🎉
See you there 👋🏼
Episode 53 - Brett Levitt - Beer Here
Brett Levitt is Wake Forest grad, and earned his MBA at Syracuse University. He started out in commercial lending as underwriter in 2007 with NBT Bank and moved into a commercial loan officer role until 2014.
Brett opened his local small business, Beer Here in 2014 and was recruited as a lending officer in 2015 by Americu Credit Union. He actively dedicated his time between both career paths. 💵 🍺
Episode 52 - Bradley Waters - Sentinel Media Company
Bradley Waters is a sixth generation publisher and president of the Sentinel Media Company. Waters graduated from St. John Fisher College in 2009 with a B.A. degree in Communication/Journalism and minored in Business Management. He currently serves on the board of the Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and the Rome Chamber of Commerce. He also co-chairs the Family Owners and Next-Generation leadership conference for Americas Newspapers.
The Waters family took ownership of the Sentinel Media Company in 1864. The Sentinel is the publisher of the Daily Sentinel, Seven Day Sentinel Weekly, Boonville Herald Weekly, and romesentinel.com. Brad currently lives in Rome, NY where he was born as raised.
He is married to Jenna who is a Nurse Practitioner with Bassett and working in Clinton, NY. Brad has a 2-year old son Bryce, a dog Oakley, and another son due at the end of March.
Episode 51 - Utica Fire Chief - Scott Ingersoll
Scott Ingersoll is the Fire Chief for the City of Utica Fire Department. Scott has served in this position since June of 2019.
Scott was appointed to the Utica Fire Department in September of 2000. Since graduating the fire academy he has held many roles in the fire department including paramedic, company, station, and shift commander, and member and leader of the Oneida County Hazardous Materials Response Team.
Throughout his career Scott has assisted with many fire prevention opportunities in the community. He also volunteers for the Utica Food Bank, helping to coordinate the annual Thanksgiving meal giveaway at the fire department.
Scott is happily engaged to his fiancé Lisa and is the proud father of 3 children.
Episode 50 - John Calabrese Jr - Express Employment
John Calabrese Jr. started off his career with Express Employment in 2013 and has been in variety of roles from Staffing Assistant to Payroll Associate to Staffing Consultant. John graduated from SUNY Poly in 2016 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. In John’s current role he recruits, interviews, screens, and places candidates for a variety of positions with the great clients of Express. John has worked with over 70 local businesses to support their hiring and HR needs and has helped 100’s of local job seekers find meaningful employment.
John’s volunteer experience includes the Express Veterans Supply Drive, Board of Directors for Feed Our Vets, CABVI’s Camp Abilities programs. In 2017 John was awarded The Champions of Hope recipient by Express Employment Professionals International Headquarters for his vision and creation of the Veteran’s Supply Drive, a program that involved the re-purposing of multiple military vehicles to collect food, clothing, supplies, as well as monetary donations for local veterans.
Episode 49 - Mike Taft
Mike Taft is an entrepreneur focused on making life better for people through improved infrastructure by leveraging his background in technology, engineering, finance, and coaching.
As Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Via Blockchain Solutions (Via BCS), Mike leads a talented, bright, and driven team dedicated to improving the efficiency, security, and connectivity of real estate transactions.
Separately, Mike always tends to be co-leading a few other ventures at any given point in time. One noteworthy project right now includes a technology-based service that brings new ways to foster heartfelt connections during the most meaningful events in life such as funerals and weddings.
Outside of business, Mike prefers to spend his time motorcycle touring, volunteering, coaching, and discussing philosophies behind just about anything with his friends and loved ones.
Mike has requested that anyone interested in learning more about engaging with entrepreneurship, life-coaching, or anything else that was discussed today to please feel free to reach out directly via LinkedIn or ViaBCS.io.
Episode 48 - Dr. Michael Redner,
After 20 years experience in the medical field, hardships, and true grit, Dr. Michael W. Redner founded his own private medical practice, High Peaks Medicine, PLLC. Michael was born and raised in Boonville, NY and beat overwhelming odds to be where he is today. He climbed his way up facing some unimaginable circumstances including being born to teenage parents, two home fires, and financial hardships.
Dr. Redner experienced a dirt bike accident at 9 years old where he sustained multiple head and facial injuries leading him to the hospital where a doctor reassured his family and put him on the path to recovery. That experience inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. Dr. Redner excelled in academics and and completed his licensed practical nursing (LPN) certification while in Adirondack high school through BOCES graduating salutatorian and valedictorian from those institutions. His academic performance earned him a Founder’s Scholarship to Syracuse University where he studied Pre-Med/Biology.
During that time, Dr. Redner worked as an LPN at Masonic Home and later Loretto Nursing Home in Syracuse to help pay for his tuition. In 2005, Dr. Redner decided to return to school in hopes of becoming a Physician Assistant (PA) and enrolled at Stony Brook University where he earned his master’s degree in 2007. For the next four years he worked as a PA and the scope of his vision became even clearer. Originally hoping to be a urologist, Dr. Redner became increasingly concerned with the medical field’s transition to corporate franchising and the liberal prescription of opiates.
He wanted to be a part of a more empathetic and natural approach to healing patients and that’s when he decided to change his focus to Osteopathic Family Medicine. In 2011, he enrolled at University of New England from which he earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in 2015. He then
Episode - 47 - Dominick Manfredo
Dominick M. Manfredo is a nonprofit executive, real estate investor, community leader, public speaker, co-author of a book, and advocate of the Mohawk Valley. In his primary role as Chief Executive Officer for The Community at Sunset Wood and the Sunset Home of Utica Foundation, Dominick manages one of the few “Aging-In-Place” stand alone nonprofit independent living communities in the nation, where he has seen the wonders of life throughout all its stages.
As a real estate investor, Dominick is co-owner of multiple office buildings, one of which is located in the up-and-coming Downtown Utica area, as well as co-owner of a new modern lakefront cabin short-term rental called Hinckley Hideaway coming to Hinckley Lake in Summer 2022.
Dominick is an expert in both organizational and community leadership in the fact that he can bridge the gaps between two parties to accomplish shared goals. His abilities to create relationships has given Dominick the opportunity to work with international corporations, small businesses, colleges, school districts and local nonprofits.
In a volunteer capacity, Dominick serves as Board Vice President for The House of the Good Shepherd, a Market-Rate Senior Housing Cabinet Vice President for LeadingAge New York, an active attendee of the Government Affairs & Economic Development Council for the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce, sits on the Town of New Hartford Senior Advisory Committee, and most-recently joined the Greater Utica Chamber Catalyst Group.
Episode 46 - Kathy Beaver - CABVI
Kathy manages a rehabilitation staff of 28 rehabilitation professionals including vision rehabilitation therapists, teachers of the visually impaired, low vision optometrists, orientation and mobility instructors, clinical social workers, case managers and adaptive sports and recreation staff. The population served by CABVI is demographically diverse including infants, youth, and the elderly; and represent a wide range of visual impairments from visually impaired to legally blind.
Episode - 45 - Jeremy Zogby
Jeremy has over a decade of teaching interactive history seminars at both secondary and college levels utilizing his focus group style of teaching both abroad and in the U.S. Jeremy also served as the editor for the legendary and former President of Czech Republic Vaclav Havel’s annual conference of Statesmen and Spiritual Leaders where he worked closely with the former leadership that produced the Velvet Revolution.
Before joining Zogby Strategies, he worked with BNY Mellon’s Central New York Data Analytics team. Jeremy has a keen eye for finding the unique story and unseen opportunities within each data set and offering insight and direction to a variety of clients in the sectors of politics, healthcare, higher education, and non-profit/philanthropy. He conducts workshops on bridging cultural gaps within organizations as well as turning complex data and demographics into understandable projections and strategies. Most recently, he is the editor of the Main St. – K St. IntelligenSEER biweekly report on the future.
Episode 44 - Brandon Schrader - Nutrishop New Hartford
Brandon is a native to the CNY area, graduating from Holland Patent High School, MVCC, and SUNY Brockport with a Bachelors degree in Kinesiology. Despite schooling Brandon worked in the restaurant industry for about 13 years until 2017 when he transitioned to General Manager at Nutrishop New Hartford. Working his way from dishwasher to management, then ultimately to GM of Nutrishop. Next up, small business owner!
After 5 years of performing the current duties as GM the only logical step up is, owner/operator! Nutrishop New Hartford is the areas leading wellness center for anything health related. Whether you are looking to build muscle, lose fat, or just become a better version of yourself, they are here to help!
In Brandon’s spare time he enjoys exercising semi fast and Olympic lifting. He also loves spending time with his fiancé Courtney and their best boy, Maverick!
