Besides running one of the fastest growing and most successful small law firms in western Pennsylvania, Adam Williams has tried his hand at several other ventures too. While he was growing his law firm, Adam and two of his friends launched a humorous political board game during a recent U.S. presidential election. This landed them an interview in New York City on Fox News. He also helped start a grilled cheese food truck in 2018, which was successfully sold to a local operator. Today, Adam puts all of his energy into leading and expanding his law firm, which has been expertly rebranded as Rust Belt Business Law.

In response to the closing of her favorite yoga studio, Dr. Shayla Cammarata opened Ignite Yoga in 2021. With the support of the instructors and students from her former location, she has been able to create an amazing new community of yoga practitioners. In this episode, Dr. Shayla talks about what it means to have a bad day on the mat and why it’s important to show up no matter what.

Sydney Smyers is an owner and operator of three local business. Her latest venture, The Maverick Co-Working Space, is one of the only co-working locations in Pittsburgh’s North Hills suburbs. Sydney is also a co-owner of the North Hills Golf Academy and the sole owner of Know Your Worth PGH, her bookkeeping and financial analysis business.

I had so much fun recording this new season! My guests were amazing and gracious with their time and willingness to share their stories with us. These episodes are a great way to hear what goes on “behind the scenes” with many of our favorite small businesses. And, don’t forget to leverage the power of this local show by letting them know that you heard their stories on this podcast. I know they will appreciate that. Take care, and enjoy Season 9.

In this latest installment of the “small business roundtable,” I have three spectacular guests back on the show. Kristen Ricupero, owner of Financial Fitness Coaching, Wendy Gilch, owner of SellingLater.com, and Jessie Tait, owner of Enspra, sit down with me for an engaging and entertaining discussion. We cover a wide variety of small business and real-life topics in this power-packed episode.

In this special episode, I sit down with three local business owners to discuss a variety of current topics. Matt Marietti, owner of de Fer Coffee and Tea, Fiore Moletz, co-owner of Burgh’ers Brewing, and John Vella, owner of The John Vella Salon, are all back on the show. This is a first of what I expect will be many more “small business roundtable” discussions. They’re an opportunity to revisit with past guests and discuss what’s happening in the local economy, the small business community, and in their specific lives and businesses. So, please enjoy, and let me know about any thoughts you have regarding past guests who you’d like to see featured in these types of episodes.

When I returned to Pittsburgh in 2018 after being gone for nearly 20 years, I realized that there was something that I wanted to add to the media and small business landscape in our region. I had an idea for a podcast that would be deeply local and solely focused on the small business community that is the heartbeat of our regional economy. It’s been two years since I’ve launched the Proprietors of Pittsburgh Podcast, and I couldn't be more thrilled with the work we’ve done so far. I say “we” because it’s my guests and their stories that are the real stars of the show. My hat goes off to them and the entire small business ecosystem in western Pennsylvania for the hard work that they do every day.

Inspired by a spiritual fast in 2018, Corry Smith decided that it was finally time to share her baking mixes with the world. Her daughter’s health crisis, which began years earlier, marked the beginning of her family’s health journey. The standard American diet was no longer an option, so Corry knew that she had to get creative in the kitchen. As her family’s health improved, she perfected her recipes and reintroduced comfort foods that were both healthy and delicious. Although she made many popular dishes over the years, it was her baking products that received the most praise from family and friends. This became the foundation for her company, CorEats.

Edgar Snyder is a Pittsburgh lawyer, local business legend, icon, and advertising pioneer. He took a chance on communicating directly with the public at a time when doing so was unheard of in his industry. He took risks, borrowed money for advertising, and persevered through harsh criticism from his peers in the legal community. By the time his competitors realized that advertising was the right thing to do, Edgar already had a lengthy head start. Always an entertaining spokesman and an avid philanthropist, he has been fixture in our local media landscape for over 40 years.

Get ready, because we’re starting 2022 off with a bang! Local legend, Edgar Snyder, is on the program. I also recorded the show’s first “live audience” episode featuring food entrepreneur, Corry Smith, owner of CorEats. I wanted to try something new this season, so I invited several popular guests back onto the show to mix things up in a group discussion format. And, I plan to drop my recent interview on the “Evolution of Brand” podcast as a bonus in the feed. So, stay tuned and enjoy the ride with Season 8.