Matt Dayton quickly realized that the traditional college path wasn’t for him. After leaving school early, he landed a job with a brand-new mold remediation company. He eventually realized that he had his own ideas for how to better service clients, especially those in lower income households, so he rounded up some business partners and investors and started Pure Air. In this episode, Matt talks about how his work impacts those who live with daily fear from the mold growing in their homes and why his mission to give back is foundational to his company’s success.

As the owner and founder of Paper Box SEO, Russell Michelson runs a tech company consisting of a virtual team of talented experts. They specialize in doing one thing extremely well, which is search engine optimization. In our conversation, you can tell that Russell was destined to run his own business. He shares the story of how he decided that SEO was right for him and how his relocation to Pittsburgh got him interested in our city’s rich history.

Sara Ponsoll’s mission in launching Boheme Pittsburgh wasn’t only to provide a brick-and-mortar retail space for Pittsburgh’s burgeoning artisan and maker scene. Her desire to create an incubator that could help advise and mentor up-and-coming designers and artists also played a pivotal role. A master curator herself, Sara has quickly attracted some of the area’s most incredible talent while creating an eclectic and much needed shopping experience in our region.

Sarah Kaminski created Best Ever Granola as a pivot during the height of the 2020 pandemic. After seeing a steep membership decline in The Veg Out Project, her meal planning and health coaching company, she realized that she had to take immediate action. Granola just happened to be one of her most popular recipes, so she decided to see if she could make a business out of it. In this episode, Sarah talks about her personal health journey, the challenges of getting her business started, and how she sources the best ingredients for her products.

John Graf decided to join the family business because he enjoyed putting smiles on people’s faces. This was in stark contrast to his work in law where he was often dealing with clients who were experiencing the worst day of their professional lives. Under his leadership at the Priory Hospitality Group, he expanded on the work started by his parents by adding 17 guestrooms to the Priory Hotel in 2011. He also continued improving and promoting the Grand Hall at the Priory, developing its reputation into Pittsburgh’s premier special event facility.

As the founder of Gentile Family Direct Primary Care, Natalie Gentile, M.D. is able to practice medicine in a way that fits her best. With the lack of third-party interference and the ability to spend significant time with each patient, she is working to bring back the relationship-centered approach that was characteristic of the way medicine was practiced generations ago. Short wait times, unparalleled access to physicians, affordability, and customized care are just some of the attributes of the direct primary care (DPC) model that attracted Dr. Natalie to adopt it as her chosen entrepreneurial career path. Currently, she is in the process of joining forces with other DPC doctors in the region to form Direct Care Physicians of Pittsburgh, which is set to debut in January 2022.

Kelly Sanders and Monica Yope were on similar but divergent paths when they met at a tech event in 2017. Their creative, non-tech backgrounds in a sea of tech savvy participants drew the two of them together. After sharing stories and ideas of what they were both working on, Kelly and Monica quickly realized that they shared a common passion for the local maker scene. Within a few months of meeting, they were forming a partnership and making plans for what would become love, Pittsburgh. After four years of establishing a delightful and originative brand, their three exquisitely curated stores have become a favorite destination for artisans, creatives, visitors to our region, and lovers of all things local.

Inspired by a café that he visited while on a trip to Argentina, Derek Davies decided to launch Café Conmigo in Wexford, PA in early 2021. He saw a need in the North Hills for the type of hip and eclectic community space that he often frequents when he is in Pittsburgh and other major metropolitan areas. As he was building his café in late 2020, which included many additional challenges caused by the impact of the pandemic, Derek realized that he wanted to help the Pittsburgh small business community by featuring locally made products. Today, his shop is a vibrant hub of activity and a welcoming environment for all that visit this warm and inviting place.

With a small amount of capital and a big idea, Mark Caskey launched Steel Nation in 2008. He took a risk by leaving his employer and the coal industry to embark on the burgeoning natural gas market that was developing in the Marcellus Shale Appalachian Basin. Over the past thirteen years, he has created a highly successful business that serves a competitive industry. Today, Mark’s company designs and constructs steel buildings in accordance with his mantra of “clean, cool, quiet, and safe.”

I have a lot in store for you in this brand-new season. There is something for everybody, as I will be speaking with business owners representing a wide array of industries. Some are companies that you will recognize and that have been around for a while and others are new businesses that have just launched during the pandemic. Enjoy Season 7!