We’ve unlocked the trunk on our season one wrap-up with Joe Bonilla (Episode 22), Trent Griffin-Braaf (Episode 10), and Catherine Hover (Episode 2) - our panel of serial entrepreneurs! - from sharing learning moments over the last year to what’s coming for each of them. Want landlord horror stories? Check. Looking for their take on building lasting relationships in business? Check. Need to hear our famous “car horn” more than a couple of times? Check! We’ve got that and more, including questions from our guests for Miriam and Tom. So close the glove box, set the cruise control, and listen in to our great season finale!

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It’s really too bad you can’t see a smile on a podcast. John Robinson has one of the brightest smiles you’ll ever find. After a successful career in media advertising, John has since started a technology company focused on helping individuals with disabilities find their career home.  We talk about challenges he’s faced, as well as what it means to run into an emotional “flat tire.” 

In 2023, Our Ability's CEO was recognized by the Zero Project as an Innovative Solution. In 2018, John Robinson presented with the Chamber Champion Award in recognition of actions that have advanced the mission of the New York State Capital Region Chamber. In 2014, named "One of ten national White House Champions of Change for Disability Employment."

Robinson is dedicated to connecting individuals with disabilities towards education and employment through mentoring, workshops, public speaking as well as job placement. Our Ability is the only disability owned and operated business dedicated to building employment opportunities through our job platforms, employment webinars, digital profile system and personal empowerment. 

John Robinson is the subject of "Get Off Your Knees: The John Robinson Story" a public television documentary seen around the United States and other countries. Autobiography of the same title published by Syracuse University Press in 2009. 

Since Jan 2020 – Our Ability has delivered 12,000+ “apply” clicks to our worldwide partners! 

Schedule a Meeting
Jobs Ability

Contact
John Robinson
CEO, Our Ability, Inc.
Email
Phone
LinkedIn

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From teaching English as a Second Language, to living the theater/performer life, all the way to running her own successful pair of businesses in the heart of Schenectady. Kat Koppett joins HR in the Car to tell us about the history of their building (hint – it includes fire poles), and how we can all learn a lesson from the Circus Bow (celebrating failure) in work and home life.

Bio

Kat Koppett  is the Eponymous Founder of Koppett, a consultancy specializing in the use of improv and storytelling techniques to enhance individual and group performance. She is the author of Training to Imagine: Practical Improvisational Theatre Techniques to Enhance Creativity, Teamwork, Leadership and Learning, and a contributor to The Applied Improvisation Mindset ed. Theresa Robbins Dudeck and Caitlin McClure. She has worked with diverse clients including Meta, Apple, Prezi, PwC, NASA, SUNY, the Workforce Development Institute, NYSID and the Clinton Global Initiative. 

In 2019 was the winner of the North American Simulation and Gaming Association (NASAGA)’s Ifill-Raynolds Lifetime Achievement Award. She is the co-director and a performing member of the Mopco Improv Theatre, a founding member and the current vice-president of the Applied Improvisation Network, and the co-host of the podcast Performance Shift: The Art of Successfully Navigating Change.

More information on Sivasailam “Thiagi” Thiagarajan can be found here.

Contact

Kat Koppett 
Webiste 
LinkedIn
Phone

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Our first, admitted Black Belt joins the show to give us a lesson or two on what Workforce Development can do for the generations to come. Crickett Thomas-O’Dell shares her experience helping businesses like Albany Can Code and Hot Crispy Oil find the funding necessary to create job opportunities in our local communities.  

Bio

Crickett Thomas-O’Dell joined WDI in 2019 as the Regional Director-Capital Region after spending over three years commuting bi-weekly to Washington, DC as the VP of Operations for a transportation services company. In January 2022 she was promoted to the Statewide Pre-Apprentice Program Coordinator/Director of Community Engagement.  Prior to WDI Crickett spent the bulk of her professional career working in education settings- enrollment management, print to digital learning environments, international educational travel and STEM curriculum implementation at the high school and middle school levels.  Her professional career began in telecommunications in the voice and data industry. 

A graduate of Albany High School (NY), both her undergraduate and graduate education occurred at Russell Sage College and Sage Graduate School where Crickett was very active on campus receiving several honors and awards for her contributions to campus life.  She also played both volleyball and basketball for the Sage Gators.   

Crickett and her husband Dennis are the proud parents of one daughter, Brianna (Bre) who after graduating from Shenendehowa High School followed in her parents’ footsteps and played collegiate basketball at RIT- Rochester Institute of Technology, while studying engineering.  

Living in Saratoga County Crickett and her family enjoy basketball – she and her daughter Bre are both basketball referees, and Crickett is also a high school volleyball and the martial arts referee. Crickett holds a 5th degree Black Belt in Karate and a 1st degree Black Belt in Judo. A member of the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Albany, NY she is active in the Usher Ministry, the Women’s Ministry, the Praise/Liturgical Dance Ministry and sings in the Women’s Day Choir.   

Crickett currently serves as the President of the Saratoga Sparks Girls AAU Basketball organization, the Secretary/Treasurer of the Capital District Girls Basketball League, a statistician for the NYS Public High School Athletic Assoc. Media Committee-State Basketball Championships and has served previously on several boards including the Troy YWCA, Troy Boys & Girls Club, RSC Alumnae Association, NYS Association of College Admission Counselors, the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals, Faculty Member for the National Assoc. of College Admission Counselors, and the Capital District Counselors Association.   

Working within a wide range of industries through meetings with businesses, educational institutions, community-based organizations and unions, Crickett has developed strong relationships and collaborates with a network of professionals who are dedicated to workforce development solutions with a focus on preparing youth, women and underserved communities for the workforce of today and tomorrow. Her position now focuses on making sure that statewide there are opportunities specifically for people of color and women to gain the skills necessary to become members of the unionized building and construction trades.  
 
Crickett works very closely with the NYS Building & Construction Trades, several Workforce Development and Advisory Boards, Labor Councils, and High School Career & Technical Education Committees. She has been featured in the Capital Region Women@Work magazine and the Albany Business Review, and has been asked to serve on several panels to present workforce development issues and trends. Most recently she was named a 2022 Woman of Distinction by Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh-NYS Assembly 112th District and a 2022 Woman Who Means Business by the Albany Business Review. She is also a member of the Capital Region Professional Women of Color and a 2021 graduate of Capital Region Chambers’ Leadership Tech Valley/Capital Region Leadership. Recently she has been asked to join the NYS Economic Development Council, the Upstate NY Black Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and the Center for Economic Growth Leadership Board.

Contact

Crickett Thomas-O’Dell
Statewide Pre-Apprentice Program Coordinator/Director of Community Engagement-Workforce Development Institute (WDI)
Email
LinkedIn

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Our guest this week has been in that category of serial entrepreneur locally. Unless you know him well, you’ll never guess where it all started (you’ll have to listen for that). Our conversation takes us through his journey, some of the life lessons others could apply, to where he is today, as owner of Sandler Training of Albany. He thinks he’s not a coach/mentor, but we think otherwise. His influence on the business scene as well as his non-profit work tell you a lot about who Matt Scarchilli is. Listen in!  

Bio

Matt has over 25 years sales experience ranging from entry level sales, to sales manager to V.P. Sales to ownership of a sales training company (Winning Process, LLC, dba Sandler Training of Albany). Matt’s sales success over the last 20 years has put him in a position to now be able to share those experiences to help companies grow and flourish. 

Matt has been a Capital District resident his entire life growing up in Waterford and settling in Latham for the last 27 years with his wife Kathleen and three children. On the professional side, Matt has worked as a staff pharmacist for Latham Pharmacy and Supervising Pharmacist with Community Health Plan in Troy before transitioning to pharmaceutical sales. As a passionate soccer guy, Matt became president of Latham Circle Soccer Club. This is where he and John Haller met and together they founded SportsSignup. SportsSignup was a SaaS business that automated the tasks in running a youth sports organization (online registration, scheduling, stats, standings, etc.). While at SportsSignup, the company made 3 acquisitions. Matt’s role was Managing Partner and Vice President of Sales. After building the business to national success with 40+ employees and managing a team of 15 in the sales department, SportsSignup was acquired by Time, Inc. in July of 2015. The company was run as Sports Illustrated Play while owned by Time Inc. The SportsSignup software is now owned and run by NBC Sports. 

After staying on with Sports Illustrated Play to help with the transition, Matt was ready for his next venture. While at SportsSignup, Matt had employed the Sandler Training team of Albany at the beginning of 2014. He was so impressed with the methodology that he entered into a long-term engagement with them to train his sales team, customer service team, and himself as a manager. When he was approached by the previous Sandler owner (Lorraine Ferguson) to purchase the business, it was not a difficult decision.   

Education and Affiliations 

A.A.S. Chemical Technology, HVCC, 1986 
A.S. Math/Science, HVCC, 1987 
B.S. Pharmacy, Albany College of Pharmacy, 1990 

Board Member, Big Brother, Big Sisters, Albany 
Advisory board member, Nerdwise and TROPHECASE  
Big Brothers Big Sister of the Capital Region (https://bbbscr.org/)  

Contact Info

Matt Scarchilli 
Owner of Sandler of Albany 
Email
Phone
LinkedIn

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From start to finish, this week we learn from one of our areas brightest entrepreneurs. From working out of a non-airconditioned top floor space, to now working with clients all over the United States, Joe Bonilla talks about what’s like to value and have the presence of mind to remain balanced with work and personal life. Listen in as Joe shares many stories, including how authenticity helps create cultures of sustainability in todays business landscape.  

Charitable causes Feed Albany, although they closed end of 2022.

Bio

Joe Bonilla is a results-driven entrepreneur committed to providing tough, but decisive leadership in communications, startup business, and media. As the co-founder, managing partner, and senior media director of Relentless, an award-winning creative strategy firm headquartered in Albany with offices in Greenville, SC and Las Vegas, Joe has led Relentless to work with some of the most recognized brands (including but not limited to: Deloitte, Uber, Amtrak, Redburn Development, Waste Management, Bow Tie Cinemas, Nine Pin Cider, and many more), public figures (including Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, Assemblymember Pat Fahy, Albany County District Attorney David Soares, and several in- and out-of-office), and public entities (Clark County in Nevada, Albany County, City of Troy, and more) over the past decade-plus in business. Originally a two-person operation working out of "Class D" office space, Joe has built Relentless into a communications and creativity powerhouse - working with rising leaders at the local, state, and federal level, startup organizations to Fortune 500 companies all driven to be part of the "public conversation," no matter the terrain or the timezone. 

Under Joe's continued leadership, Relentless is recognized for its media relations expertise, excellence in creative design and media production, and ingenuity in solving complex public challenges. 

In addition to Joe's leadership with Relentless, Joe - alongside Relentless co-founder Rich Fazio and award-winning former journalist Liz Benjamin - co-founded Motor Oil Coffee, a startup craft coffee company based in the Capital Region, and CivMix, a news and commentary platform. Further, Joe has worked to develop and manage back office business operations for Jack Carpenter and Taylor Rao, the co-founders of Two Buttons Deep, to help build the brand into the fastest growing media outlet in Upstate New York. 

Prior to Relentless, Bonilla handled media outreach for a leading enterprise technology public relations firm and was a communications director for a New York State Assemblywoman. Bonilla also served as the founding executive director of the Capital Craft Beverage Trail Association, a leading craft beverage trade association in New York State. Joe is a graduate of the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at the University at Albany (B.A. Public Policy, concentration in Community Relations). While attending UAlbany, Joe produced a series of events that featured former President Bill Clinton and the late legendary journalist Barbara Walters to campus as part of the World Within Reach Speaker Series that brought increased attention to the University community. 
 
Bonilla previously served as chairman of the City of Albany’s Public, Educational, and Government Access Oversight Board, president of the board of directors for Capital CarShare Inc., and as vice chair of Troy Prep Charter School. Bonilla was also a regular panelist of WAMC Northeast Public Radio’s nationally-syndicated and award-winning news and discussion program The Roundtable, co-host of CivMix’s The Mix podcast with former journalist Liz Benjamin, and hosted “Behind The Buttons” on Two Buttons Deep. Bonilla is also a co-founder of Feed Albany, a non-profit charity focused on providing meals to in-need and at-risk individuals in the Capital Region in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
Active within the community, Bonilla serves on the following boards and commissions: 

Secretary and Governance Committee Chair, University at Albany Alumni Association 
Trustee, Maria College 
Board Member and Communications Committee Chair, Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Capital Region 
Board Member, Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce 
Board Member, United Way of the Greater Capital Region 
Advisory Board Member, Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy 
Capital Region Board Member, New York League of Conservation Voters 
Board Member, New York Urban Orchards 

Bonilla, a graduate of the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs & Policy at the University at Albany (B.A., Public Policy), has recognized by:

• City & State Magazine (Albany Rising Stars 2017, Upstate Power 100 2021, Political Consultants Power 75 2021, PR Power 50 2022, PR Power 50 2023)
• Capital Region Hispanic Chamber (Business Person of the Year 2022)
• Hispanic Coalition of New York (40 Under 40 Latino Rising Stars 2012)
• Albany Business Review (40 Under Forty 2014)
• University at Albany (Thirty Under 30 2014)
• Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy (Young Alumnus in Political Science Award 2017)
• Albany County Legislature (Beyond the Call Award 2020) 

Contact

Joe Bonilla
Managing Partner and Senior Media Director at Relentless Awareness LLC
LinkedIn

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This weeks guest, Reg Harnish, talks about what it was like transitioning from working with big business, to altering his view and approach working with 99% of the business market in the US – Small Business. We shared a lot of great stories, hinting at how Reg’s timeline looked like Bill Gates’. You’ll love hearing about what would be in Reg’s Roadside Assistance Kit, as well as how one of his favorite charities leaves him inspired to help. 

Bio

Reg Harnish is a nationally recognized cybersecurity veteran, investor, board member, advisor, speaker, author, and CEO of OrbitalFire. Reg is also the founder and former CEO of GreyCastle Security, a former Executive Vice President at the Center for Internet Security, and the former CTO of Autotask. OrbitalFire is a leading cybersecurity services provider focused on simplifying, automating, and ultimately solving security challenges for the underserved – small businesses. Reg is responsible for the company’s vision, strategy, and growth. Reg is a fellow of the National Cybersecurity Institute, a member of the Forbes Technology Council, and a board advisor to numerous high-growth cybersecurity startups. Reg has been featured in Time Magazine, Forbes, The Washington Post, CBS Nightly News, CIO Magazine, Dark Reading, Software Magazine, ComputerWorld, InfoWorld and countless other media outlets. Reg has been practicing cybersecurity for nearly two decades. His experiences, skills, and sometimes provocative perspectives have established him as a highly respected thought-leader and sought-after keynote speaker in the industry. 

Contact Info

Reg Harnish
CEO, OrbitalFire Cybersecurity 

LinkedIn
American Red Cross

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Know what a Mustang Sally moment is? You’re going to love our next guest’s story of Mustang Sally. Along with that, Amy brought our first four legged guest star to the show (Paxton). Listen in as we discuss the impact culture can have on your business as well as the relationships you make with customers. Amy shares how she measures culture when matching her team with her customers and how it creates greater connectivity and partnerships. 

Bio

Amy Roman is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of NY as well as a Certified M&A Advisor and Certified CultureTalk Partner. She is the founder and owner of Strategic CFO Resources LLC, d/b/a CEFO Advisors. The business was formed in June 2013, with the idea of helping small businesses balance Strategy, Finance, and Culture to achieve optimal results. Amy’s career began as a Staff Accountant for UKW (UHY) in Albany from 1985 through 1990. Amy moved to New York City in the early 90’s and worked for several small and mid‐sized companies in senior financial positions for 20 years. Much of what Amy’s experience was focused on included helping CEOs build value within their firm to achieve their optimal exit valuation. The last 10 years in NYC included working for the portfolio companies of private equity firms. She worked on acquisitions, divestitures, and was brought into organizations as the CFO when facing margin dilution problems, maximizing value for exit as well as similar types of challenges.

While in NY, it became apparent to Amy that being a CFO was rarely a full-time position. Amy found that 20% of her time was spent at the CFO level and the other 80% was spent filling in wherever necessary. When Amy moved back to Albany, she realized she could assist multiple businesses as a fractional CFO. When Amy first opened CEFO Advisors, she worked with up to 6 small businesses at any given time as their fractional CFO. Several of these businesses remain clients today. Today, CEFO Advisors works with over 45 businesses assisting with their accounting operations and CFO Advisory needs. CEFO has a team of 20 individuals who are CFOs, Controllers, Accountants and Bookkeepers. The firm grew 72% between 2020 and 2021 and the compound annual growth rate since 2018 was 56%. Together we share the passion to support small business owners grow their businesses and achieve their dreams. 

Contact Info

Amy Roman
CEO of CEFO Advisors, Inc.

LinkedIn

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Your business space has a drastic impact on your company's identity and brand. In this episode of HR in the Car, Todd Stevens talks to us about the many elements involved in choosing the right space to invite your people to work with you on a daily basis. We walk through Todd’s journey into the commercial real estate space and learn about his impact on local business culture and engagement, through designing and developing the right space for their organizations. Additionally, we learned something new about our neighbor, that he is a long-standing, volunteer firefighter in the Town of Colonie.   

Bio

Todd is a Vice President with Cresa and has managed the Albany office’s accounts since 2017. As their clients’ advocate, he provides guidance in implementing real estate strategy to meet their operational and financial goals. His specialties include strategic planning, market analysis, site selection, financial analysis and integrated transaction management. Todd has been an active volunteer firefighter in the Town of Colonie since the age of 14 having served as a captain and lieutenant over the years. He served on the board of directors of Habitat for Humanity Capital District for eight years and held the offices of treasurer and board president. 

Of Special Interest

Shaker Road-Loudonville Fire Department
Habitat for Humanity Capital District 

Contact Info

Todd Stevens
Vice President
Cresa Albany

LinkedIn

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Being passionate about what you do is a critical part of success. When you listen to Khamel Abdulai, you’ll hear just that. We get to learn about why Learning & Development is so important to organizations, and how leaders will know they’ve really made an impact on their teams. His approach and style of connecting with people are part of what sets him apart, and we always leave our conversations wanting more.   

Bio

Khamel Abdulai is the Senior Director of Talent Development at Excelsior University, where he oversees training and professional development initiatives. Khamel also works with partners across Excelsior to support Excelsior’s strategic objectives, change management, and employee engagement. He’s also been an instructor at the College of St. Rose and is an active supporter of several local non-profits, including serving on the Board of the Albany Center for Economic Success and the McNulty Veteran Business Center – organizations that support the creation of entrepreneurs and business owners.

Khamel was born and grew up in Ghana, and moved to Albany, New York, to complete a bachelor’s degree in geology. In addition, he is also a graduate of the College of St. Rose’s Huether School of Business. 

Recommended Resources:           

• The HBR Manager Handbook
• The Harvard Business Review (site and periodical)
• The MIT Sloan Review (site and periodical)
• Any book by Clayton Christensen

Podcasts:

• This one, of course!
• HBR Ideacast
• TED at Work

Contact Information

Khamel Abdulai
Senior Director of Talent Development
Excelsior University

LinkedIn

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