Welcome to the Pain Points Podcast! 

In this episode, we sit down with Melissa Winkler, a certified Level 2 Sommelier and owner of Winkler & Samuels, a boutique wine and spirits shop offering curated wine classes, a premium wine storage facility, and a passion-driven approach to wine education.  

Melissa takes us on a journey from her unexpected start in the wine industry—beginning as a nanny, to discovering her passion at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, and finally building a thriving wine business in Buffalo, NY.  

Welcome to another episode of the Pain Points Podcast!   

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with Larry Mietus (aka Leadership Larry)—author, business consultant, and founder of Speaking of Strategy. Larry has spent decades helping businesses obliterate excuses, build strong cultures, and lead with strategy.  

Tune in to another episode of The Pain Points Podcast, where we explore how Impressia Bank is changing the game for women entrepreneurs and the financial struggles that they face! 

In this episode, we sit down with Lauren Schellinger, VP/Regional Relationship Manager at Impressia Bank to discuss the financial roadblocks women-owned businesses encounter, the funding gap in traditional banking, and how relationship-based banking can be a game changer. Women are underfunded, underserved, and underestimated—but they’re also powerful economic drivers when given equal opportunities. 

Welcome to another insightful episode of the Pain Point Podcast, where we tackle the biggest challenges professionals face in their careers. In this episode, we sit down with Lamark Shaw, Director of Career Services at Daemen University, to discuss mentorship, career transitions, work-life balance, and the evolving job market. Lamark shares his unexpected career path, from graphic design to retail management, to ultimately finding his passion in mentoring students and shaping their professional futures. His experiences highlight the importance of networking, adaptability, and finding work that truly excites you.

Welcome to another enlightening episode of the Pain Points Podcast! In this episode, we dive deep into the journey of Saverio “Sam” Marrazzo, Chief Innovation Officer at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC), as he shares his incredible story from his early days in the Navy, how he found his love for technology, and to his transformative role in the non-profit sector. Hosted by Maggie Shea, this episode uncovers the Pain Points and challenges faced by Sam throughout his career and how he overcame them to achieve a balanced and fulfilling life!

Join us as we explore the highs and lows of Sam's career, the lessons learned, and the strategies he used to navigate through various Pain Points. You’ll learn how the lessons from his past roles are informing his current work and discover the strategies he uses to turn challenges into opportunities.

Welcome to another episode of the Pain Points Podcast, where we dive deep into the critical challenges that businesses face in scaling and sustaining growth. Today, we’re excited to feature Mike Belin, Executive Growth Strategist at Nacre Consulting, a firm renowned for helping businesses grow their top-line revenue, optimize sales processes, and build sustainable growth strategies.

With over 5 years at Nacre Consulting, Mike has worked with diverse companies—from startups to enterprises exceeding $100M in revenue—spanning industries like SaaS, Manufacturing, Professional Services, and Telecommunications. He brings decades of hands-on experience in sales management, customer experience design, and leadership coaching.

Join us as Mike unpacks real-world solutions to business challenges, including how to build sales playbooks, design effective growth strategies, and create a company culture that fosters continuous development. His actionable insights will provide you with the tools you need to overcome your company’s growth obstacles and unlock its full potential.

Welcome to another insightful episode of the Pain Points Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with a dynamic leader in B2B sales and corporate innovation—Sondra Vidal—to explore the challenges and successes that have shaped her remarkable career. From driving growth at Favordrop to leading multiple ventures, including RelPro and Luc and Lyla LLC, Sondra brings a wealth of experience in turning Pain Points into powerful sales opportunities. 

Sondra shares her journey through the highs and lows of B2B sales, digital gifting, and entrepreneurship. We dive deep into the Pain Points that have defined her path, from balancing multiple roles to driving innovation in a competitive market. Discover how she overcame these challenges to deliver exceptional results across industries. 

Whether you're a seasoned professional in B2B sales, a budding entrepreneur, or someone looking to understand how to navigate the complexities of modern marketing, this episode is for you. Sondra offers actionable insights on how to turn Pain Points into avenues for growth and innovation. Learn from her experience in building successful teams, driving sales, and fostering collaboration across various industries. 

Welcome to another insightful episode of the Pain Points Podcast! In this episode, we sit down with Bill Boulden, a seasoned technology leader and serial startip CTO for multiple innovative companies. Bill brings over 15 years of experience navigating the complex landscape of B2B technology, product design, and artificial intelligence. 

As a visionary in technology management, Bill has successfully led teams through the intricate process of product development and technology deployment across various industries. His ability to identify and overcome Pain Points has been instrumental in his journey from a Junior Developer to a Chief Technology Officer, and now as a Fractional CTO for forward-thinking companies like Favordrop and Edgeli, Inc. 

Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a business leader, or someone navigating the challenges of growth and innovation, this episode offers invaluable insights into turning Pain Points into powerful solutions. 

Welcome to the latest episode of the Pain Point Podcast! Lauren Lewis sat down with Massoma Alam Chohan, the inspiring author of Take Your Lunch Break, a powerful guide to overcoming workplace stress and anxiety. Massoma shares her personal journey through debilitating anxiety, her transformative TEDx talk "Go Spaghetti," and the actionable strategies she developed to foster resilience and well-being in both personal and professional settings. 

In this episode, we dive deep into the Pain Points of workplace stress, burnout, and anxiety. Massoma explains how tools like exposure therapy, mindset shifts, and learning to set boundaries can lead to a healthier, more balanced life. We also discuss the importance of taking breaks, prioritizing rest, and maintaining meaningful workplace relationships. 

Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by your workload, struggling with “Sunday Scaries”, or looking for ways to improve your mental health at work, this episode is packed with actionable insights and hope. 

Welcome to another episode of The Pain Points Podcast! In this engaging conversation, we’re diving deep into the entrepreneurial journey of Len Morrissey, Managing Partner at Morrissey Metcalfe and Associates, and published author of "Cursed Gift". With over 16 years of banking experience across two countries and a dynamic transition into entrepreneurship, Len Morrissey shares the key Pain Points he faced while scaling businesses, building high-performing teams, and navigating complex financial landscapes, and ultimately pursuing his dream of writing a book!

As we explore Len Morrissey's career path—from banking at institutions like Citizens Bank, Bank of America, and TD Bank, to leading RAPID_ to a successful sale—we uncover the hidden challenges behind major growth phases. We also dig into how Morrissey Metcalfe and Associates helps small-to-medium businesses tackle some of their biggest Pain Points in securing funds and achieving sustainable growth.