Start Local

The growth and vibrancy of Kennett Square and Southern Chester County is shaped by the places where the community gathers, works, and connects. In this episode, we sit down with Geoff Bosley, Vice President and CFO of LGB Properties, to explore how a family-run real estate company transforms buildings into community assets across the southern end of the county. Geoff shares the story behind the Market at Liberty Place – and walks us through the company’s approach to renovation, tenant partnerships, and supporting local businesses. We also discuss the challenges of running a boutique property firm, and Geoff’s years of service in local government.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

LGB Properties

• lgbproperties.com
• Geoff Bosley on LinkedIn
• Property listings: lgbproperties.com/property-listings

Local Restaurants

• The Market at Liberty Place (An LGB Properties venue)
• Mary Pat’s Provisions 
• State Street Pizza & Grill
• Kaboburritos
• La Verona
• The Naked Olive 
• Lily Sushi & Grill  
• Hangry Bear
• Braeloch Brewing
• Portabellos of Kennett Square
• Flowers Cafe

Local Nonprofits

• Kennett Collaborative 
• The Mushroom Festival
• Mushroom Cap Half Marathon
• Camp Dreamcatcher  
• The Garage Community and Youth Center

Related Episodes

• Nurturing Belonging and Celebrating Community with Children Impacted by HIV/AIDS with Patty Hillkirk
• Keeping Kennett Square Welcoming and Beautiful with Daniel Embree

Transcript

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: linkedin.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.

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.

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.

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.