MIKE'D UP!

Robby and I discuss perspectives during the COVID-19 pandemic and how to keep pushing forward. His 14 years in the Marine Corps has strengthened his character, his will to win, and his ability to dominate his space. We discuss the roots and growth of his CrossFit facility Athlete's Unleased and his leadership training.

I've met many people during the last decade networking with business professionals and business owners and Robby has always stood out. It's more than his massive and intimidating beard and demeanor. It's his character. His grit. His no BS attitude and especially his heart.

Learn how he makes people "Hard To Kill" in this action-packed episode.

Tony Watson, President of WNY Sales Solutions powered by Sales Xceleration, is a passionate, energetic sales leader with more than 25 years of experience driving and increasing sales revenue.

He has a proven track record for developing top-performing teams and has built, mentored and led large action-oriented sales teams managing over $200 million in annual revenue.

http://wnysalessolutions.com/

PJ has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company, NY Times, LA Times, USA Today and The TODAY Show.

He is the Founder and CEO of Atyourgate, a delivery app for airport passengers, flight crews, and employees; delivering food right to your gate!

PJ won a $25,000 Pitch Contest placing 1st out of 100 participants at the Wharton School for Entrepreneurial Studies.

He's also a Kentucky Football Letterman and coached his sons in Little League as well as an 8-year-old Sam Darnold, who later went on to be drafted 3rd overall by the NY Jets in 2018.

This interview is packed with business insight as well as fun stories that give us an inside look at PJ and one of the top startup companies in the industry!

Laura Marsala joined the Marine Corp when she was 19, then became a life & business coach, entrepreneur, world traveler, keynote speaker, writer, homeschooling Mom of 3 and is an absolute Rockstar!

Tim's career spans over 25 years as a Content Writer, Author and Voice Actor. He has written for the NY Times, Washington Post, USA Today, National Geographic, GQ, Esquire and other popular publications. He's published 13 books, including one that we highlight called Cancer Crossings: A Brother, His Doctors, and the Quest for a Cure to Childhood Leukemia. He has received the Johns Hopkins University Teaching Excellence Award TWICE and the Professional Achievement Award THREE times! Tim is an advocate for finding a cure for blood cancers and I'm honored to have him supporting my upcoming campaign for LLS Western & Central New York Chapter.

Check out more about Tim: http://www.timwendel.com

Learn More about My Campaign: https://mikeduppodcast.com/mikes-warriors

Alysson began her career as an elementary school teacher and then earned a degree in law; practicing for six years before realizing it was time to trade in writing trial briefs for writing children's books! She has sold over 10,000 copies and frequently visits school libraries for speaking events to help inspire children to make reading fun! She's won the NY Big Book Award, she's a 4 time Mom's Choice Award winner and she's also won the Benjamin Franklin Digital Award! Her entire Alycat series was featured in the 2020 Oscars Celebrity Gift Bags! Learn more at AlycatSeries.com

Alysson began her career as an elementary school teacher and then earned a degree in law; practicing for six years before realizing it was time to trade in writing trial briefs for writing children’s books! She has sold over 10,000 copies and frequently visits school libraries for speaking events to help inspire children to make reading fun! She’s won the NY Big Book Award, she’s a 4 time Mom’s Choice Award winner and she’s also won the Benjamin Franklin Digital Award! Her entire Alycat series was featured in the 2020 Oscars Celebrity Gift Bags! Learn more at AlycatSeries.com

Dr. Marnie LaVigne has spent more than 30 years in both the private and public sectors creating new products and start-up businesses, driving innovation and economic growth in high-tech industries, such as life sciences, informatics, and advanced manufacturing. Her passion for working with start-ups took root from her experience launching health informatics businesses with colleagues in the 1990's as she finished her doctoral work at the University of Rochester, which resulted in growing two health informatics companies with more than 100 employees and two initial public offerings (IPOs).

In July 2014, she became the President and CEO of Launch NY, a 27-county venture development organization that she co-founded with other Buffalo boosters and whose mission is to identify, support and invest in high-growth, high-impact companies and catalyze the entrepreneurial culture of Upstate New York. Previously, she led economic development efforts involving work with hundreds of businesses at UB as Associate Vice President for Economic Development from 2012 to 2014 and Director of Business Development from 2005 until 2012 at the NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences and the UB Center for Advanced Biomedical and Bioengineering Technology yielding economic impact with more than a 60:1 return-on-investment. In addition to her for profit start-up experience prior to UB, Dr. LaVigne also spearheaded product development initiatives for larger corporations in managed care (e.g., Aetna), pharmaceuticals (Bristol-Myers Squibb), medical devices (Welch Allyn), and medical informatics (Medscape/MedicaLogic, now GE and WebMD).

Dr. LaVigne has a bachelor's degree in neuroscience and a doctorate in clinical psychology, both from the University of Rochester. She is chair of the New York State Economic Development Council (NYSEDC) and a member of the Board of Directors for Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, the State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI), Upstate Venture Connect, Western New York Venture Association, and numerous advisory boards. As lifelong residents of Buffalo, Marnie and her husband, Rob Fohl, are avid downhill skiers and sailors who are blessed with two adult children, a son-in-law, and three grandchildren.

Dr. Marnie LaVigne has spent more than 30 years in both the private and public sectors creating new products and start-up businesses, driving innovation and economic growth in high-tech industries, such as life sciences, informatics, and advanced manufacturing. Her passion for working with start-ups took root from her experience launching health informatics businesses with colleagues in the 1990’s as she finished her doctoral work at the University of Rochester, which resulted in growing two health informatics companies with more than 100 employees and two initial public offerings (IPOs).

In July 2014, she became the President and CEO of Launch NY, a 27-county venture development organization that she co-founded with other Buffalo boosters and whose mission is to identify, support and invest in high-growth, high-impact companies and catalyze the entrepreneurial culture of Upstate New York. Previously, she led economic development efforts involving work with hundreds of businesses at UB as Associate Vice President for Economic Development from 2012 to 2014 and Director of Business Development from 2005 until 2012 at the NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences and the UB Center for Advanced Biomedical and Bioengineering Technology yielding economic impact with more than a 60:1 return-on-investment. In addition to her for profit start-up experience prior to UB, Dr. LaVigne also spearheaded product development initiatives for larger corporations in managed care (e.g., Aetna), pharmaceuticals (Bristol-Myers Squibb), medical devices (Welch Allyn), and medical informatics (Medscape/MedicaLogic, now GE and WebMD).

Dr. LaVigne has a bachelor's degree in neuroscience and a doctorate in clinical psychology, both from the University of Rochester. She is chair of the New York State Economic Development Council (NYSEDC) and a member of the Board of Directors for Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, the State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI), Upstate Venture Connect, Western New York Venture Association, and numerous advisory boards. As lifelong residents of Buffalo, Marnie and her husband, Rob Fohl, are avid downhill skiers and sailors who are blessed with two adult children, a son-in-law, and three grandchildren.

Cary Mullen is an internationally recognized sports personality, keynote speaker and business leader. He was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame in 2002 and is the Founder of Vivo Resorts in Puerto Escondido.

Cary has spent more than 20 years studying the success strategies of high performers. On his way to becoming a World Champion, Cary experienced the upper echelon of success, and what it takes to climb out of the depths of adversity. In his 11 years as a leader on the National Ski Team, Cary persevered through 3 near fatal crashes that left him with double vision and memory loss, to finally regain 100% health.

Cary's book "How to Win" - Achieving Your Goals in Extreme Conditions outlines the key variables impacting your results and what drives you from the core, while diving deeper into an intentional Process for Success™.

Cary's Accomplishments:

• World Cup Downhill Champion
• World Downhill Speed Record Holder – 97 mph
• Member of the Olympic Hall of Fame
• Two-Time Olympian
• Two-Time U.S. Champion
• Four-Time North American Champion
• Leader of the National Ski Team for over a decade