Our guests this week were Grant Filbeck, District Manager for Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania, where he coordinates K–12 educational programs that help young people build essential skills in leadership, financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship, and Katey Cross, the Director of Community Outreach at Erie Federal Credit Union — a local, member-focused financial institution that’s deeply invested in strengthening financial wellness, community partnerships, and economic opportunity here in our region.

This week we’re joined by Thomas Laird, a highly engaged community member and local innovator who’s helping Erie explore practical uses of artificial intelligence to solve real-world challenges and strengthen our regional entrepreneurial ecosystem. Thomas is the CEO of OttoQA and Expivia. Then we welcomed Kristopher Hess, the owner of Rosco’s Sports Bar and Grill, a popular local spot on Buffalo Road in Erie where great food, cold drinks, and a lively game-day atmosphere bring people together.

This week, Dr. Matthew Platz shared the microphones with Ryan Aztert, owner and co-founder of Federal Hill Smokehouse, one of Erie’s most beloved barbecue destinations. In the second half of the show, we welcomed Caesar Westbrook, an impactful visual artist and muralist right here in Erie, Pennsylvania.

In the first half of our show, Dr. Platz welcomed Brandon Wiley, founder and CEO of OpenedEyes, a nonprofit dedicated to cultural unity, diversity awareness, and helping people develop a positive sense of self. In the second half, we heard the story of Christine Myers, the creative force behind The Preppy Pickle, Erie’s charming boutique for custom embroidery, monogrammed gifts, and personalized treasures.

Dr. Platz welcomed Kayla Crosby, Executive Director of #IntegrityFirst, Inc. and Team Market Owner of the Lake Erie Jackals, a Basketball Super League team playing home games at the McComb Fieldhouse at PennWest Edinboro. Making his return to Community Chronicles was Chris Tobin—innovator, musician, and creator of the Rhythm Playbook, a groundbreaking approach to training through sound.

A focus on food this week with Matt welcoming Shirlee Pound, the heart and soul behind Pine Junction, a cherished gathering spot tucked amid the pines near Sherman, NY. In our second half, Christine Temple of Visit Erie, the official destination marketing organization for Erie County, to talk about one of the most delicious local traditions of the year — Erie Restaurant Week.

Creatives were featured on this week's show with Jessica Taylor, co-founder and managing partner of MenajErie Studio, a full-service video production company basedcin Erie, PA. She was followed by Stephen Trohoske, co-owner of City Gallery in downtown Erie, a vibrant hub where visual art, live music, and community collide.

On our latest episode we got an update from two guests who have been featured previously on Community Chronicles. Rachel McCreary of the Shop19, a multipurpose venue in Erie's Little Italy, along with Kat DiVittorio, offering rural autism services in Corry at the DiVittorio Center for Autism.

This week Matt welcomed Deputy Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development Jen Gilburg, and Impact Corry Executive Director Chuck Gray, to discuss tech-oriented entrepreneurism throughout the Commonwealth and how the Corry area is making advances to further opportunities.

Our focus on Community Chronicles was event planning, as Dr. Matthew Platz welcomed Erin Kerner, Co-Founder and CEO of Eventio AI, an innovative platform that’s transforming the way people plan events using artificial intelligence. In our second half, Julie Bartoo shared the story of Wedly, a vibrant wedding vendor community and planning platform based right here in Erie, PA.