Start Local

By Liam Dempsey, Erik Gudmundson, and Joe Casabona

Start Local is focused on helping businesses and non-profits in and around Chester County, Pennsylvania, connect and grow together. Our aim is to bring together the many folks that make up our wonderf... more

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FAQs about Start Local:

How many episodes does Start Local have?

The podcast currently has 103 episodes available.

Start Local episodes:

November 14, 2025Sheltering Our Homeless Neighbors and Caring for Their Needs with Jessica Chappell
Start Local Podcast Spring Networking Event
We'll be gathering as a community in Coatesville, Pa on Wednesday, May 6th from 5 to 7 PM. This opportunity to meet and mingle with business and nonprofit leaders from in and around Chester County is free to attend, but registration is required.

Come on out for an evening of great people, meaningful conversations, and delicious local food and drink.

Learn more and register over on our website at startlocal.co.

Despite the great wealth in Chester County, homelessness is a significant and persistent local issue. We sit down with Jessica Chappell, Executive Director of Safe Harbor of Chester County, to explore how her team provides shelter, meals, and compassionate support to adults experiencing homelessness. Jessica walks us through the realities facing the financially at risk population, the growing challenges around attainable housing, and the trauma-informed approach that guides the organization’s work. We discuss Safe Harbor’s partnerships, volunteer network, and the systemic pressures shaping homelessness in our county.
OUR PARTNER
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
LINKS
Safe Harbor of Chester County
Website: safeharborofcc.org
Instagram: instagram.com/safeharbor_ofchestercounty
Facebook: facebook.com/safeharborofchestercounty
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/safe-harbor-of-chester-county-inc/
Givebutter (Donations/Events): givebutter.com/safe-harbor-of-chester-county-inc
Local Nonprofits
Chester County Food Bank
West Chester Food Cupboard
The Melton Center –
PA 211
Act Now
Camp Dreamcatcher
Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County
Additional Links
Better Than Bacon Improv
Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center
Related Episodes
Nurturing Belonging and Celebrating Community with Children Impacted by HIV/AIDS with Patty Hillkirk
Supporting Victims of Sexual Violence and Other Crimes with Christine Zaccarelli
Transcript

The full transcript will be posted on our site as soon as it is available.
...more
59min
October 31, 2025Supporting the Unhoused from Crisis to Stability with Kelly Faust
Start Local Podcast Spring Networking Event
We'll be gathering as a community in Coatesville, Pa on Wednesday, May 6th from 5 to 7 PM. This opportunity to meet and mingle with business and nonprofit leaders from in and around Chester County is free to attend, but registration is required.

Come on out for an evening of great people, meaningful conversations, and delicious local food and drink.

Learn more and register over on our website at startlocal.co.

Homelessness and housing insecurity affect people in every community – including here in Chester County. We sit down with Kelly Faust, Community Engagement Coordinator at Good Samaritan Services, to learn how the organization supports individuals and families on their journey from crisis to stability. Kelly explains Good Sam’s personalized, relationship-based approach, its housing programs, and the wraparound services that include mentorship, counseling, and microloans. We also talk about the community partnerships that make their work possible – and the local events and fundraisers that make their work possible.
OUR PARTNER
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
LINKS
Good Samaritan Services – Good Sam
Website: goodsamservices.org
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/good-samaritan-services
Instagram: instagram.com/goodsamserv
Facebook: facebook.com/GoodSamServ
Kelly Faust on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kelly-faust-477b9a2b3
Additional Organizations
Anne’s Heart
Phoenixville Women’s Outreach
Phoenixville Free Clinic
Union Community Care
PA CareerLink
Orion Communities
Open Hearth, Inc.
Citizen Advocacy of Chester County
United Way of Chester County
New Story Church
Hopewell United Methodist Church
Transcript
The full transcript will be posted as soon as it is available.
...more
53min
October 17, 2025Growing the High Voltage Division at an Employee-Owned Business with Jim O’Farrell
Start Local Podcast Spring Networking Event
We'll be gathering as a community in Coatesville, Pa on Wednesday, May 6th from 5 to 7 PM. This opportunity to meet and mingle with business and nonprofit leaders from in and around Chester County is free to attend, but registration is required.

Come on out for an evening of great people, meaningful conversations, and delicious local food and drink.

Learn more and register over on our website at startlocal.co.

Electricity powers nearly every part of our lives – and the infrastructure behind it keeps our communities running. In this episode, we talk with Jim O’Farrell, Director of High Voltage Operations at the Tri-M Group, based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Jim walks us through how Tri-M delivers electrical construction, high-voltage services, building automation, and energy analytics across the region – and beyond. We also discuss Tri-M’s employee-ownership model, its accredited apprenticeship program, and the company’s commitment to workforce development and focus on supporting the local community.
OUR PARTNER
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
LINKS

Tri-M Group
Website: tri-mgroup.com
Careers: tri-mgroup.com/careers
Tri-M Group’s Apprenticeship Program
Instagram: instagram.com/tri_mgroup
Facebook: facebook.com/TheTriMGroupLLC
Jim O'Farrell on LinkedIn
Additional Links
Penn Medicine
Kennett Library
YMCA of Greater Brandywine
KACS (Kennett Area Community Service)
Camp Dreamcatcher
Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC)
KAU Little League (Kennett-Unionville)
Related Episodes
Nurturing Belonging and Celebrating Community with Children Impacted by HIV/AIDS with Patty Hillkirk
Transcript
The full transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.
...more
35min
October 03, 2025Recording and Teaching Local, National, and Global History with Conor Hepp
Start Local Podcast Spring Networking Event
We'll be gathering as a community in Coatesville, Pa on Wednesday, May 6th from 5 to 7 PM. This opportunity to meet and mingle with business and nonprofit leaders from in and around Chester County is free to attend, but registration is required.

Come on out for an evening of great people, meaningful conversations, and delicious local food and drink.

Learn more and register over on our website at startlocal.co.

History lives all around us in Chester County – in our buildings, our landscapes, and our communities. In this episode, we sit down with Conor Hepp, President of the Chester County History Center, to explore how one of our region’s oldest cultural institutions continues to preserve and share the stories that shape us. Conor walks us through the Center’s extensive collection, the creative ways the organization adapted during the pandemic, and how new technologies and community programs are helping expand its reach to audiences near and far. We also hear how the Center is honoring local legacies through exhibits, walking tours, and partnerships, and why history – even when difficult – must be told truthfully.
OUR PARTNER
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
LINKS
Chester County History Center
Website: mycchc.org
Facebook: facebook.com/ChesterCountyHistory
Instagram: instagram.com/ChesterCountyHistory
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/chestercountyhistorycenter
Conor Hepp on LinkedIn
Additional Local Organizations
The Colonial Theatre
Chester County Art Association
Historic Yellow Springs
North Star of Chester County
Home of the Sparrow
Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County
NAACP Coatesville Area Branch
Punk/Rock Bands
Bad Religion
Pennywise
Rage Against the Machine
Related Episodes
Building a Thriving Theater to Benefit the Local Community with Jennifer Carlson
Supporting Victims of Sexual Violence and Other Crimes with Christine Zaccarelli
Transcript
The full transcript will be posted on our website as soon it is available.
...more
48min
September 19, 2025Buying, Growing, and Running an Independent Medical Practice with Brad Dyer, MD
Start Local Podcast Spring Networking Event
We'll be gathering as a community in Coatesville, Pa on Wednesday, May 6th from 5 to 7 PM. This opportunity to meet and mingle with business and nonprofit leaders from in and around Chester County is free to attend, but registration is required.

Come on out for an evening of great people, meaningful conversations, and delicious local food and drink.

Learn more and register over on our website at startlocal.co.

Few topics matter more to parents than the medical well-being of their children. We sit down with Brad Myer, MD, to learn from his decades of experience as a leading local pediatrician. The founder of All Star Pediatrics, in Exton, Pennsylvania, Brad spent almost two decades growing an independent medical group. In our conversation, Brad talks us through the buying the practice from Penn Medicine and growing it to serve thousands of families, while navigating the world of health insurance, and recruiting and retaining a top team around him. Now with the management of the practice behind him, Brad walks us through how he gives back to his local community through board leadership and volunteerism with a number of local organizations.
OUR PARTNER
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
LINKS
All Star Pediatrics
Website: allstarpediatrics.com
Brad Dyer on LinkedIn
Additional Organizations
Chester County Food Bank
Better Days Ahead
West Chester Food Cupboard
Phoenixville Area Community Services (PACS)
Community Volunteers in Medicine (CVIM)
Phoenixville Free Clinic (Phoenixville Free Medical Clinic)
Area Hospitals
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Nemours Children’s Health
Penn Medicine
Related Episodes
Fighting Food Insecurity Locally with Andrea Youndt
Transcript

The full transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.
...more
52min
September 05, 2025Nurturing Belonging and Celebrating Community with Children Impacted by HIV/AIDS with Patty Hillkirk
Start Local Podcast Spring Networking Event
We'll be gathering as a community in Coatesville, Pa on Wednesday, May 6th from 5 to 7 PM. This opportunity to meet and mingle with business and nonprofit leaders from in and around Chester County is free to attend, but registration is required.

Come on out for an evening of great people, meaningful conversations, and delicious local food and drink.

Learn more and register over on our website at startlocal.co.

The summer camp experience affords such a meaningful experience for so many children. Camp Dreamcatcher creates a fantastic camp week specifically for children infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS. We sit down with Patty Hillkirk, the camp’s Founder and Executive Director, to learn about how she is spearheading efforts to organize and run the weeklong camp, held in August every year. We talk about how the camp is run, partnering with other local organizations, and supporting young people and empowering them to lead. Patty walks us through how Camp Dreamcatcher has delivered such a lasting and valuable effect on the lives of so many young people for 30 years.
OUR PARTNER
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS
Camp Dreamcatcher
Website: campdreamcatcher.org
LinkedIn: inkedin.com/company/camp-dreamcatcher
Instagram: instagram.com/campdreamcatcher
Facebook: facebook.com/therapeuticcamp
Patty Hillkirk on LinkedIn
Over the Edge fundraiser
Volunteer with Camp Dreamcatcher: campdreamcatcher.org/get-involved/volunteer
Camp Dreamcatcher Videos
Video library on the Camp Dreamcatcher website: campdreamcatcher.org/about/video-pictures
The story behind the founding of Camp Dreamcatcher as shared in Patty's TEDx Talk
Hear about the Wish Log ceremony from two campers (jump to 1:14)
HIV/AIDS Resources
HIV/AIDS information on the Cleveland Clinic website
HIV/AIDS information on the May Clinic website
HIV and AIDS information on the John Hopkins Medicine website
HIV/AIDS information on the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) website
Supporting Organizations
Longwood Rotary Club
Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania
Lincoln University
Philadelphia School of Massage & Bodywork
AHHAH (Arts Holding Hands and Hearts)
Avon Grove High School
Kennett Lions Club
West Grove Fire Company (EMTs in West Grove)
PayPal
Morning Star Foundation
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
Philadelphia Avengers
Johns Hopkins Medicine
Additional Organizations
Pennsylvania Gestalt Center
Center for Relational Practices
Friendship Bench
Family Promise of Southern Chester County
DeafCAN! of Pennsylvania
Kennett Area Community Service (KACS)
Related Episodes
Managing a Local Accountancy Firm with Kathy Wileczek
TRANSCRIPT
A full episode transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.
...more
53min
August 22, 2025Changing Careers and Building a Local Business with Jason Feller
Start Local Podcast Spring Networking Event
We'll be gathering as a community in Coatesville, Pa on Wednesday, May 6th from 5 to 7 PM. This opportunity to meet and mingle with business and nonprofit leaders from in and around Chester County is free to attend, but registration is required.

Come on out for an evening of great people, meaningful conversations, and delicious local food and drink.

Learn more and register over on our website at startlocal.co.

Entrepreneurship isn’t always glamorous, but it can be deeply fulfilling and rewarding. Jason Feller, owner of Crystal Clean Canz, joins us to discuss his journey from managing country clubs to growing a business centered on cleanliness and customer service. We talk about the surprises he encountered as a first-time business owner, how he diversified his services, refined his service area, and works to grow his recurring revenue. Jason also shares why he values his role as chair of the Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce. Jason’s story is a candid look at the risks, rewards, and realities of building a small business.
OUR PARTNER
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
LINKS
Crystal Clean Canz
Website: crystalcleancanz.com
Instagram: instagram.com/crystalcleancanz
Facebook: facebook.com/CrystalCleanCanz
Email: [email protected]
Additional Links
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
New London Consulting
This Sober Vet
Univest
LBDesign
Related Episodes
Networking, Local Community, and Business Connections with Tony Poluch
Transcript
A full transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.
...more
48min
August 08, 2025Networking, Local Community, and Business Connections with Tony Poluch
Start Local Podcast Spring Networking Event
We'll be gathering as a community in Coatesville, Pa on Wednesday, May 6th from 5 to 7 PM. This opportunity to meet and mingle with business and nonprofit leaders from in and around Chester County is free to attend, but registration is required.

Come on out for an evening of great people, meaningful conversations, and delicious local food and drink.

Learn more and register over on our website at startlocal.co.

Networking offers avenues to opportunities, collaborations, and growth, especially in business. In this episode, we sit down with Tony Poluch, Senior Vice President and Senior Business Development Officer at Univest Bank & Trust Company, to explore how meaningful conversations with local professionals can produce business success, further a career, and forge strong local connections. Tony shares his insights on cultivating authentic relationships and the value of curiosity in business. We explore Tony’s lengthy career in commercial banking and ask about the location business environment. Whether you consider yourself a networking pro, or are struggling in that area, this conversation offers spot-on guidance on making the most of business conversations.
OUR PARTNER
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
LINKS
Tony Poluch / Univest Bank
Tony Poluch on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/tony-poluch-a50b544/
Univest website: univest.net
Univest on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/univest
Univest on Facebook: facebook.com/univestfinancial
Univest on Instagram: instagram.com/univest_financial
Chester County Chambers of Commerce
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce
Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry
Exton Chamber of Commerce
Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce
Additional Links
The Gables at Chadds Ford
Chester County Economic Development Council (CCEDC)
Delaware Contractors Association
Local Nonprofits
Home of the Sparrow
Open Hearth
Chester County Art Association
Kennett Library
Urban Affairs Coalition
TRANSCRIPT
The full transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.
...more
54min
July 25, 2025Making Connections, Opening Doors, and Providing Access with Christopher Everett
Start Local Podcast Spring Networking Event
We'll be gathering as a community in Coatesville, Pa on Wednesday, May 6th from 5 to 7 PM. This opportunity to meet and mingle with business and nonprofit leaders from in and around Chester County is free to attend, but registration is required.

Come on out for an evening of great people, meaningful conversations, and delicious local food and drink.

Learn more and register over on our website at startlocal.co.

In a first for our show, we are are excited to feature a guest who is both a business and nonprofit leader. It was a privilege to walk a full round with Christopher Everett, Senior Vice President at Truist Bank and the Founder and Board President of the RLE Go Fore It! Foundation. Christopher guides us through his career in banking – a journey of almost 25 years. He explains what led him to create a nonprofit that empowers young people through business education, mentorship, and exposure to new possibilities – all through the game of golf. He shares some tough lessons he learned in his younger days, and what connecting people and opening doors for the next generation means to him.
OUR PARTNER
Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
LINKS

Truist
Website: truist.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/truistfinancialcorporation
Facebook: facebook.com/truist
Instagram: instagram.com/truist
Christopher on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christophereverett26
Careers with Truist: careers.truist.com/us/en
RLE Go Fore It! Foundation
Website: goforeitusa.com
Book: Go Fore It!: A Family and Golf Story by Christopher Everett
Facebook: facebook.com/goforeitusa
Instagram: instagram.com/goforeitusa
Golf/Sports Organizations and Books
Carter’s Spectrum Golf
Book: Swinging Beyond the Spectrum: How Autism Became My Superpower On And Off The Golf Course! by Carter Bonas
Book: Playing from the Rough by Jimmie James
Book: Dear Black Girls: How to Be True to You by A’Ja Wilson
Additional Links
Sow Good Now
Chester County Community Foundation
North Carolina Central University
Local Restaurants
Black Lab Bistro
Sedona Taphouse
Savannah Bistro
The Naked Olive
Transcript
The full transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.
...more
45min
July 11, 2025Keeping Kennett Square Welcoming and Beautiful with Daniel Embree
Start Local Podcast Spring Networking Event
We'll be gathering as a community in Coatesville, Pa on Wednesday, May 6th from 5 to 7 PM. This opportunity to meet and mingle with business and nonprofit leaders from in and around Chester County is free to attend, but registration is required.

Come on out for an evening of great people, meaningful conversations, and delicious local food and drink.

Learn more and register over on our website at startlocal.co.

What makes a town truly welcoming? We head to southern Chester County to meet with Daniel Embree, Executive Director of Kennett Collaborative, to explore how placemaking, events, and people shape a stronger, more inclusive community in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Daniel shares the organization’s mission and why collaboration is at the heart of their work. We discuss Daniel’s own journey from artist to nonprofit leader, and the value of telling personal stories in public spaces. From Kennett Brewfest, Daniel paints a beautiful picture of his corner of our community.
Our Partner

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
LINKS
Kennett Collaborative
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kennettcollaborative/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennett.collaborative
Volunteer: kennettcollaborative.org/volunteer
Donate: kennettcollaborative.org/support
Brewfest Tickets: https://www.kennettbrewfest.com/
Unicorn Across the Street: https://kennettcollaborative.org/stories/the-unicorn-across-the-street/
Daniel Embree on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielembree/
Local Shops and Organizations
Great places to eat and shop (Business Directory): kennettcollaborative.org/explore
KSQ Farmers Market: https://www.ksqfarmersmarket.com/
Shoppe Marché: https://www.instagram.com/shoppemarche
Camp Dreamcatcher: https://campdreamcatcher.org/
Kennett Area Community Service: https://kacsimpact.org
The Garage Community and Youth Center: https://www.garageyouthcenter.org
YoungMoms: https://www.youngmomschestercounty.org
Related Episodes
Spearheading the Organization of a Community Brewfest with Jeff Norman
Note: The photo of Daniel used in the episode artwork is by Dylan Francis.

Transcript

The full transcript will be posted on our website as soon as it is available.
...more
54min

FAQs about Start Local:

How many episodes does Start Local have?

The podcast currently has 103 episodes available.

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