Hudson Valley Hustle

Fernando Paulino turned his passion for sim racing into a thriving business called FK Sim Solutions, helping racers and gaming enthusiasts build professional racing setups.

In this episode of Hudson Valley Hustle, Fernando shares how he:

• Started FK Sim Solutions as a side project in his garage

• Built his first rig from scratch

• Grew his client base through word of mouth

• Balanced family and business

• Turned passion into a full-time career

A must-listen for anyone thinking about turning a hobby into a business.

📲 Follow FK Sim Solutions

Website: https://fksimsolutions.comInstagram: @fksimsolutions

Kate Baumann knew nothing about running a business when she opened her first yoga studio. What she did have was drive, a clear vision, and a willingness to learn.

With the help of mentors from SCORE, Kate built Rooted Yoga from the ground up, turning one small studio in Wappingers Falls into two thriving locations across the Hudson Valley.

In this episode of Hudson Valley Hustle, Kate shares:

• How she built her first studio while working full time

• Why she believes in building stability before taking the leap

• The resources that helped her get started

• What it takes to manage 30+ instructors

• And how she’s keeping community at the heart of everything she builds

A must-listen for anyone thinking about turning their side hustle into a full-time business,

📲 Follow Rooted Yoga

Website: https://rootedyogany.comInstagram: @rootedyogany

When COVID hit, fitness trainer Jake Allyne lost his job, and found his calling.
What started in his garage has grown into a 7-figure, mission-driven gym serving clients of all abilities.

Jake joins Hudson Valley Hustle to talk about:

• How he bootstrapped his gym with zero funding

• Building a team around servant leadership

• Growing from “no’s” to nonstop momentum

• Turning passion into purpose and profit

This episode is for anyone ready to take the leap into entrepreneurship, chase a mission bigger than themselves, and build something that lasts.

📲 Follow Breakthrough Fit Co

Website: breakthroughfitco.com
Instagram: @breakthroughfitco

In this episode of Hudson Valley Hustle, Joe Amato sits down with Angelo Notaro, the mastermind behind Famous Food Events — the company behind Hudson Valley Wing Fest, Pizza Fest, Taco Fest, Empanada Fest, and more.

Angelo shares how he left a successful career in the auto industry to chase his dream of bringing people together through food. From organizing his first event with 1,000 attendees to hosting some of the Hudson Valley’s biggest festivals, Angelo talks about:

• Leaving a high-paying job to follow his passion

• The early days of Wing Fest and how it took off

• The importance of community and supporting local businesses

• How social media helped Famous Food Events grow

• Why great service and great people are the foundation of success

If you love stories about taking risks, building something from scratch, and serving your community, this episode will hit home.

🍗 Learn more or get tickets: https://famousfoodevents.com/
🎧 More episodes: https://beacons.ai/hudsonvalleyhustle

Bryanna Russo, owner of Furever Friends Family, went from underpaid and underappreciated at Petco to owning two thriving pet business locations — one in Hopewell Junction, NY, and another in Danbury, CT.

In this episode, Bryanna shares her story of betting on herself, building her first store from scratch with no investors, and now preparing to franchise her dream.

Follow Bryanna: https://www.instagram.com/fureverfriendsfamily/

We talk about:

• How she knew it was time to leave her job and start her business

• What it took to build Furever Friends from nothing

• The sacrifices that come with being a single mom and entrepreneur

• Learning to let go and trust her team

• The mindset it takes to open a second location

• Teaching her kids the power of ownership and hard work

• Her vision for legacy and generational wealth

🎧 Watch or listen to the full episode of Hudson Valley Hustle with Joe Amato:
https://beacons.ai/hudsonvalleyhustle

Diego Martín, owner of Hudson Valley Tattoo in Wappingers Falls, NY, left his full-time tattoo job 12 years ago to open his own shop — and never looked back.

In this episode, Diego shares how he built one of the most respected tattoo studios in the Hudson Valley, grew a team of artists, and even launched the Hudson Valley Tattoo Convention that attracts talent from around the world.

We talk about:

• How Diego decided to take the leap from employee to owner

• Why the tattoo industry exploded after COVID

• The real challenges of running a shop with 9+ artists

• How social media and word of mouth drive his business

• The future of tattoos in an AI-driven world

• His advice for anyone ready to start their own business

Connect with Diego: https://www.hudsonvalleytattoocompany.com/

Most people talk about starting a business.
Paul Mascia actually did it.

After 12 years working at BMW dealerships, he hit a breaking point and decided to open M Autwerks, a BMW-only service shop in Congers, NY. Four years later, he’s running the whole thing himself and booked out for weeks.

In this episode of Hudson Valley Hustle, we talk about what it really takes to go from employee to business owner - the fear, the long hours, and the reward of finally calling the shots.

In this conversation:

• The moment Paul decided to walk away from his job

• Why specializing in one brand (BMW) was the smartest move he made

• How he stays busy without advertising

• Balancing family, burnout, and 15-hour days

• Why trades like this are never going away, even with AI

• The money lessons every new business owner learns the hard way

Whether you’re a mechanic, creator, or anyone dreaming about working for yourself, Paul’s story will hit home.

Connect with Paul: https://www.instagram.com/m.autowerks

Eliza Edge is creating an ecosystem for entrepreneurs in the Hudson Valley. Learn how she’s helping startups secure funding, grow revenue, and stay rooted in the region through her work with the Hudson Valley Venture Hub.

Brian Stylez went from spinning weddings to building a CRM software for DJs across the globe. Hear how he transitioned from the DJ booth to launching a tech startup right from the Hudson Valley.

Oliver Wilkinson turned his family’s British pie recipes into a booming business in Wappingers Falls. From farmers markets to frozen shipping plans, this episode dives into the hustle behind Brazed Pies—and why locals can’t get enough of shepherd’s pie and sticky toffee pudding.