Rust Belt Rundown

Joining us this week is Hallie Crouch, the Director of Strategy and Associate Principal of Bialosky Cleveland. Bialosky Cleveland is a multidisciplinary design firm whose clients include institutions, civic organizations, government agencies, and private developers. Hallie is a strategic and trusted advisor within her company where she occupies a self-created role. She offers us insight on the power of creating positions from within and the importance of emotionally intelligent leaders.

Listen in as Hallie and Paul dive into the art of the commute, the importance of physical space and interpersonal relationships in your career, the value in pursuing non-traditional paths and Hallie’s experience with the Cleveland Bridge Builders Program.

Hallie resides in Akron and she recommends Square Scullery, which can be described as “punk rock meets gourmet” and the Akron institution, Diamond Grill.

Connect with Hallie Crouch on LinkedIn to see what her, Bialosky Cleveland, and the Cleveland Bridge Builders are up to!

In this episode, we are joined by the Executive Director of the Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Workforce Development Board, Michelle Rose. Listen in as Michelle shares her experience at the federal level with the U.S. Department of Labor and her return to Cleveland in this new era of leadership in our city as an appointee of Mayor Justin Bibb.

Michelle offers us insight on the newfound buying power that workers have and what that means for employers and businesses, discusses overcoming barriers to work and training and how that relates to the transportation paradox, and what the shift to remote work means for Downtown Cleveland.

She names Rasika Indian Restaurant as her favorite food spot from her time in D.C. and as a proud Miami University alumna, she recommends Skipper’s chicken salad sandwich with waffle fries and a beer tower if you ever find yourself in Oxford.

Connect with Michelle Rose on LinkedIn and follow @OMJCleCuy on Twitter to stay in the know on all things workforce development related in Cuyahoga County.

Mick Jendrisak joins us on today’s episode of the Rust Belt Rundown. Listen in as Mick discusses his role at Pilot Plastics, their philosophy on workforce development, and the many service offerings they have to offer.

Mick also takes the time to discuss the sales process of finding a new client in this industry, workforce automation and what it entails, and other future trends to expect over the next decade. Also, expect to hear about Pilot Plastic’s recent rebrand, issuing a brand new website, logo, and more for the company!

If you find yourself in Athens, OH, home to Mick's alma mater Ohio University, feel free to check out some of his favorite restaurants! Look no further than Casa Nueva for Mexican cuisine, and Union Street Diner for their hash browns! 

Are you interested in learning more about Pilot Plastics and their industry? Connect with Mick Jendrisak on LinkedIn. 

We are joined by Ryan Landau, Founder of Purpose Jobs in this episode of the Rust Belt Rundown. Ryan discusses the revitalization of Detroit and other similar cities in the Midwest, detailing how and why to retain recent college graduates in their local workforce. 

Listen in as Ryan takes us through his motivation for completing 5 Ironman triathlons, the effects of the pandemic on recent college graduates, and his experience with the founding of his company. 

When asked, Ryan gave us two great dining options both in Columbus and Detroit. If you are in the Columbus area, Ryan recommends The Pearl, a tavern with an exquisite brown sugar and brown butter pie. Ryan's favorite spot in his hometown of Detroit is Flowers of Vietnam. 

Interested in learning more? Connect with Ryan Landau on LinkedIn for more insight into this industry. 

Matt Secrist of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP joins us in this episode of the Rust Belt Rundown. Matt recently joined Taft as an employee benefit and executive compensation attorney. Listen in as Matt discusses his time in the employee benefits industry, his new role with Taft, and some of the potential tax implications of remote work.

If you find yourself in Chagrin Falls, check out a few of Matt’s favorite spots to eat! M Italian is his go-to for Italian cuisine, and Flipside is his favorite spot for a burger.

Are you interested in keeping up with current trends in employee benefits? Connect with Matt Secrist on LinkedIn to stay up to date on trends in this industry!

In this episode of the Rust Belt Rundown, we speak with Sam Friedman, Brand Director of Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve. Since moving back to Cleveland from his teaching job in Spain, Sam has helped to take family-owned Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve from his mother's kitchen to the successful online retailer it is today.

Sam's favorite spot in Cleveland is called Hingetown, home to Amba, a newly opened Indian restaurant, and Larder, a European-style deli that combines traditional ingredients with a modern style.

Listen in as Sam discusses his time living in Europe, getting Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve off the ground, and his experiences in the Cleveland political scene. Feel free to keep up with him by connecting with Sam Friedman on LinkedIn.

Start your career by saying yes! In this episode, we're joined by Roslyn Quarto, Director of Workforce Innovation at Towards Employment. Listen in as she takes through her diverse career journey and gives advice to recent and upcoming grads on how to approach the world outside of college. 

We’re going abroad for this episode of the Rust Belt Rundown with logistics ninja, Ms. Ashley Lawson. Ashley is the Vice President and Managing Partner of Achieve Incentives & Meetings. Since the global pandemic began, Ashley set out to save her family business by proving that global travel was still safe (safer even in some parts) with only a backpack and her partner. After years in non-profit, Ashley said this was her chance to “serve in a different way”. Listen in to this episode as Ashley spills the tea on travel and business during a global pandemic.

And, even though Ashley is enjoying different foods from around the world, she still favors Barrio tacos and chip dip from Moosehead Saloon in Bay Village. Thank you Ashley for sharing your story! You can follow Ashley’s adventures by connecting with her and Achieve Incentives & Meetings on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube or LinkedIn.

In this episode of the Rust Belt Rundown, we speak with Tanya Budler, Founder of Rise Together. Tanya co-created Rise Together, an impact consulting firm in Cleveland, because she truly believes that cities thrive when workforce, economic development and international newcomer communities work together.

And don’t be fooled, just because Tanya is a Cleveland newbie does not mean she came unprepared! When asked, Tanya said Mason’s Creamery helped sell her on the city and Ready, Set, Coffee is phenomenal. Her favorite place though, is Cassa located across from CSU; the restaurant is immigrant owned and he very warmly welcomed her to the city the first time they met.

Listen in to this powerful conversation and help us welcome Tanya by connecting with her where you can!

In episode 33 of the Rust Belt Rundown, we’re joined by Andy McCartney, President of Bowden Manufacturing. Andy leads the conversation with lessons about leadership and teamwork learned from his experience in the Navy and from his love of sports. Being the president of a manufacturing organization, Andy knows the importance of workforce retention and keeping the interest of all generations. Bowden Manufacturing understands that it’s no longer good enough to have a good job; people want a great job and great opportunities.

Paul and Andy finish their conversation with a quick check in of their March Madness brackets and Andy gives his restaurant recommendation. As an east-sider, Andy and his family love Sara’s Place by Gavi’s in Gates Mills.

Tune in to their conversation to hear how this manufacturing organization is staying true to their team and the changes they have made over the years to attract and keep quality employees.