For episode six, we are highlighting a great event being held by TecBRIDGE, an organization that is vital to the business community of Northeastern Pennsylvania. On Thursday April 21st, they will be hosting the 20th annual Business Plan Competition at the FM Kirby Center in downtown Wilkes-Barre. We had TecBRIDGE Executive Director Don Webster on to talk about the event, its history, and so much more. This competition is the region’s signature entrepreneurship and innovation event, and we were so impressed with the participants being showcased this year. Events like this help highlight the world class talent and the unlimited potential we have right here in our own backyard. TecBRIDGE’s slogan “Why not us? Why not here? Why not now?” captures their mission well. They want to cultivate a mindset for more people to dream big in Northeastern Pennsylvania, while providing resources to support them along the way. If you are interested in attending or learning more, please visit their website at tecbridgepa.org.This far-ranging discussion can benefit anyone with an interest in entrepreneurship, or who wishes to see more dynamic economic growth in our region. We talked about Don’s journey from growing up in the Midwest, to graduating from the University of Chicago, to working on Wall Street, and finally to Northeastern PA where he and his family put their roots down. Don has built, sold, and invested in several businesses throughout his career, and brings that experience to his role at TecBRIDGE, where they provide guidance and resources to others trying to do those same things. Our firm has enjoyed getting involved in this event, as our goal is similar- We want to serve as trusted advisors to our clients by helping them make sound decisions so they can get where they want to go. We also want to provide resources that allow them to be better allocators of capital, whether it is at the business or household level. Don’s passion for the area and for helping people achieve their dreams is contagious. In this episode we talk about TecBRIDGE’s goal to help connect the business, education, and technology communities to drive innovation in Northeastern Pennsylvania in a cohesive way. He also shares strategic advice he gives aspiring founders and entrepreneurs that can apply to anyone, and how he views risk and opportunity when making major decisions in his own life. There was so much packed into this conversation, but be sure to listen to the end when Don reflects on advice he’d give his 22 year old self. We hope you enjoy this episode, and we will see you on April 21stat the Business Plan Competition Awards Event!

This is the first of our “community spotlight” episodes. While the goal of this podcast is to highlight business owners, high-performers, and industry leaders to better understand their stories and how they make important decisions, these episodes will be a little bit different.We are a firm focused on partnering with our clients to help them achieve their financial goals, but we know there is so much more to life than planning and investing. We also care deeply about the community in which we live, and we feel we all have a responsibility to make it better. It is for these reasons we will use this platform from time to time to highlight stories in Northeastern Pennsylvania that focus on our community. We hope these episodes can provide much needed perspective and help all of us stay focused on what really matters.For this episode, I sat down with Theo and Greg Zayac, founders of the Jude Zayac Foundation, which was established in memory of their son. On July 23, 2014, their healthy son Jude unexpectedly and tragically passed away at only three months old. His life was claimed by “SIDS” – Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Not much is known about what causes SIDS, but it typically strikes children under one year of age without notice. The mission of Jude’s Foundation is to raise funds to support SIDS research and to enrich the lives of children. To help accomplish this mission, they host a large annual community event, a 5K run/walk followed by a community celebration to promote SIDS awareness and provide a day of family friendly fun. After two years without a race due to Covid-19, it is back in 2022.Theo, Greg, and their families started with an initial goal of having 100 people and raising $1,000, and it has since grown to the largest SIDS awareness 5k in the country. They have raised almost $600,000 dollars since 2015, which has gone directly to important causes we discuss in this episode. Theo and Greg share Jude’s story, how their mission has evolved, and how they have turned the worst tragedy in their lives into something that continues to inspire and rally our community. We also talk about how their willingness to share their story has helped so many other people who have suffered trauma and tragedy, many of whom they didn’t even know. We discuss why we must always remember that everyone is struggling with something, and why today more than ever a close-knit community is essential to help one another pull through hard times. Greg, Theo, and their families are true leaders who share a message about why we must communicate openly about the hardest things in life. While this was an emotional conversation, it was also one we enjoyed, learned, and grew from. We think you will too.

For episode four, we sat down with real estate developer and the managing partner of Montage Mountain Resorts, Charles Jefferson. We had a very enjoyable conversation that covered Charlie’s roots in Philadelphia, his career path, various real estate projects he has worked on, and how he took the leap from the world of real estate development to managing a ski resort and water park. While Charlie has family roots in Northeastern Pennsylvania, it wasn’t until 2006 that he made his first investment in the area. Charlie’s group purchased the Connell Building in downtown Scranton, turning it from a vacant and dilapidated building to one of the premier residential spaces in the area. In our conversation we talk about the ability to see value where others do not when making an investment, the details of his decision-making process, and why a relentless focus on accountability has been vital to building a high-performing team and successful outcomes. He also describes why creativity and focusing on details and the feeling people get is the key to success regardless of the type of business you are in.In this far-reaching discussion Charlie outlines common themes for successful investing, whether it be real estate, financial assets, or business relationships, and why it is vital to play the long game. He describes why his focus is on long-term results while avoiding the traps of instant gratification that are so common in today’s world. Charlie also shares advice he would give those who are considering making a major change in their career or their portfolio.Be sure to listen to the end when Charlie tells the the story of learning how to ski at the age of 52, his vision for Montage Mountain, and why he is very optimistic about Northeastern Pennsylvania in the years to come. Thanks again to Charlie for a great conversation. Enjoy!

For episode three, we sat down with serial entrepreneur Patrick Sandone.  We discussed Pat’s career path, including the successful sale of his technology company Net Driven in 2015, which he had grown from a one-person start-up into the largest digital marketing company serving independent automotive businesses in North America. We also discuss his most recent start-up venture, the Guide App, which will launch next year.   Patrick’s professional journey took him from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was classmates with Elon Musk, to a career on Wall Street, before getting his M.B.A. and joining his family’s business in Northeastern Pennsylvania. It was there he had the idea for Net Driven, a technology start-up focused on helping independent family-owned businesses get the same online exposure as big box retailers. After years of explosive growth, Patrick knew he had to make a change, and decided to sell the company and start a new chapter. Patrick was such a fantastic guest, and incredibly candid as we discussed how he struggled personally with burnout, stress, and a loss of meaning and identity following the sale of his company.  Despite having success in every way he could have ever hoped, Pat knew something was off. He expected a feeling of euphoria, but in many ways felt the opposite in the days and weeks following the sale. This experience led him to take a break, and turn his attention to self-reflection and exploring why he was feeling this way. His journey deep into the world of personal wellness led directly to the founding of his new company, The Guide App , which will focus on helping people build a better life by creating and sharing a daily practice for a more effective mindset and emotional intelligence. We also talk about information overload in today’s world, why working on yourself should be viewed as a strategic advantage, why tactics from the self-help industry doesn’t usually lead to lasting change, and much more. Enjoy!

In this episode, we sat down with Robert and Matt Knowles of Knowles Associates, a full-service insurance firm serving corporations, organizations, and families throughout 22 states. We had a great conversation about a very interesting (and complicated) topic: successfully transitioning a family-owned business to the next generation. According to two 2010 studies cited by Cornell’s Johnson School of Business, the average life span of a family-owned business is 24 years. Only about 40% of U.S. family-owned businesses turn into second-generation businesses, and just about 13% are passed down successfully to a third generation. Only 3% to a fourth or beyond. Whether you own a business or not, you can probably guess a lot of the reasons why mixing family and business can get complicated. Communication problems, lack of interest or skillset, an unwillingness to give up control, and other family dynamics can lead to all sorts of problems.We discuss how the transition has gone so far, what they’ve learned along the way, and what is next for their firm in the years to come. Bob and Matt brought so much thought to their succession planning process, as well as to this discussion. Enjoy!

Maggie Mineo Zayac moved home to Scranton from New York City with the goal of creating a unique shopping experience that didn't yet exist in Northeastern Pennsylvania. From this idea, The Daisy Collective was born. Our conversation explores how she went from a part-time employee to a business owner, how she balances running a successful business while being a mother of two , and much more. Enjoy!