Leverage & Beverage

Tune in to Episode 21 with Derek “Ducky” Ryan, real estate agent with Keller Williams. We touch on a bunch of topics including building a pipeline of business as a self-employed individual. We discuss the how behind fostering a “bring home what you kill” mentality. We also touch on the idea that sales is overrated and that most people would generally do better by developing the heart of a servant instead. We chat about building out business processes and developing a client service model. He explains the importance of knowing what you know, what you don't know, and knowing the difference.

Tune in to Episode 20 with Lori Colasanti of The Job Exchange Associates, a full-service staffing agency which has been matching businesses with talent for over 25 years. Their specialty is recruiting talent in the fields of accounting, administrative support, customer support, and human resources. We chat about the origin story of how she got into the staffing space and well as how she has adjusted to the market over the years. We touch on the current job economy as well as her outlook on the future. We touch on business scaling, growth, and pivot points. We also talk about technology and its impact on the job market going forward.

Tune in to Episode 19 with Deepa Lal and Laurin Dorman of Stokelan Estate Winery. We chat about the hard work involved in building a business with the understanding that this “struggle” is a good thing. We dive into some of the wines themselves with Laurin Dorman, who is Stokelan’s general manager and coordinator of chaos. Laurin has a background in the beverage industry and is also a sommelier. We touch on all things wine, marketing, business as well as strategy on how to make a statement and give your business that “wow” factor. In other words, how to make the intangibles, tangible. A recurring theme was simplicity. Tune in to see why this is such an important concept in business.

Tune in to Episode 18 with Vincent Jacobbi of Togronis, a ready-to-drink craft cocktail company that focuses on the Negroni. We talk about Vincent’s background growing up in the restaurant business, his experience in various sales roles over the years, and how his experiences have led to where he is now. We touch on the future of the beverage world, industry trends, and the cute can that is impossible to turn down. "Togronis was conceptualized amidst the global pandemic, when bars and restaurants had to get creative and with looser regulations, started selling drinks to go. Which brought up an idea: why can't I have my favorite craft cocktail in a can? Togronis (Craft Negroni To Go), by Common Pour, is the first line of ready to drink craft cocktails in a can."

Tune in to Episode 17 with Chuck Garrity of Death of the Fox Brewing Company. Death of the Fox is a local brewery, coffee house, and coffee roastery, the first and only one of its kind in the state of NJ. We talk about Chuck’s background in the heathcare industry, the similarities between coffee and beer culture, and the idea of a “third place.” We touch on his life as a home brewer and eventual transition into the beverage industry full-time. Furthermore, we talk about the regulation roadblocks that the NJ ABC has imposed upon NJ breweries and what they are doing to fight against these egregious and unfair regulations. https://p2a.co/rxLGUAd

Tune in to Episode 16 with Jason Shoff of Mill Creek Apiary, a local bee keeping operation and manufacturer of exquisite bee products. We discuss some of the following: What is an apiary? Why is honey a superfood? Why are honey-related products a good business model? We also talk about the feelings associated with the multi-faceted life of a business owner. We touch on how sometimes simplification and paring back is needed before true business growth can happen. We sip on some delicious mead and talk about all of these things and more!

Tune in to Episode 15 with Bill Butrymowicz of Seaview Beverage, a beverage distribution company in South Jersey. We talk about his entry into the business started by his dad's entrepreneurial spirit. What started as taking a chance on an up and coming brand, has turned into a great business decision. We talk about the beverage industry as a whole and changes over the years, including the rise in popularity of health-related drinks as opposed to those that are sugar-filled. We discuss how to treat customers and how to make them come back for more. We also touch on the topic of a close-knit businesses and how to "raise employees." The beverage industry is alive and well, I'll drink to that. 

Tune in to Episode 14 with Ben Roberts III of Ben's Shine, a shoeshine business. We talk about his upbringing and early entry into the world of business development. We talk about family dynamics and how sometimes things that seem unfair or not beneficial, actually turn out to be in our benefit. We sip on some Grand Marnier and touch on client acquisition in ways that might seem traditionally "un-business-like." We also talk about building a community around a product or service and how relationships and experience will keep clients coming back around.

Tune in to Episode 13 with Marc Brookland of SEOLocale. We dive into his college career and dissatisfaction with his path at the time. We talk about the topic of luck in business as well as taking advantage of opportunities that present themselves. We explore the world of digital marketing ranging to everything from web design to search engine optimization (SEO) as well as paid ad campaigns and email marketing. We also talk about forming a cohesive strategy and what works best for certain industry segments. We chat about all of this while sipping on some Dogfishhead 60-Minute IPA, one of the staples in the American IPA repertoire.

Tune in to Episode 12 with Anthony Parenti of Omnia Basketball Academy. We dive into his early upbringing, career in teaching, and his new venture, Omnia Basketball Academy. We examine the mindset of uncertainty and procrastination of business owners, emphasize the importance of learning from mistakes to create a smoother path going forward, and converse about the importance of courage and encouragement from others in the process of building a movement. We also talk about his vision beyond basketball for Omnia. Always Forward.