Start Local

Managing finances can be a major challenge for business owners and nonprofit leaders, and having accurate and up to date bookkeeping can make all the difference. We talk with Paula Paisley, founder and president of Paisley Solutions, a bookkeeping service in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Paula shares how she transitioned from working at a CPA firm to running her own company. We discuss the role of technology in bookkeeping and why financial clarity is essential for business success. Whether you are a business owner or a nonprofit leader, Paula’s insights provide real value.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Paisley Solutions

• Website: https://paisleysolutions.com
• Facebook: facebook.com/PaisleySolutions
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/paisley-solutions

Chambers of Commerce

• Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
• Oxford Area Chamber of Commerce
• Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce
• Phoenixville Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Women’s Business Connection of Chester County

Additional Links

• Author: Nevada Barr
• Author: C.J. Box
• Building Capacity and Community with Chris Manna
• Chester County Library
• SCORE
• Managing a Local Accountancy Firm with Kathy Wileczek
• Umbreit, Wileczek & Associates

TRANSCRIPT

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

With fresh, clean water a critical resource for life on earth, balanced ecosystems are essential for keeping our communities healthy and safe. We spend time with John Jackson, Ph.D., Senior Research Scientist with the Stroud Water Research Center in Avondale, Pennsylvania. We speak at length about the challenges that winter road salt poses to our local ecosystems. We hear of a number of the in-depth research projects going on at the Stroud Center and learn how John and his colleagues are engaging with their local communities to educate and inform about important water issues affecting our region.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Stroud Water Research Center

• Website: stroudcenter.org
• Research Team: stroudcenter.org/research
• Education Team: stroudcenter.org/education
• Restoration Team: stroudcenter.org/restoration
• Facebook: facebook.com/stroudcenter
• Instagram: instagram.com/stroudcenter
• YouTube: youtube.com/stroudcenter
• Careers: stroudcenter.org/jobs
• Newsletter sign-up

John Jackson, Ph. D.

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/john-jackson-a78190b9
• Stroud Center website: stroudcenter.org/people/jackson
• John’s publications on Google Scholar

Local Nonprofits

• Brandywine Conservancy: brandywine.org
• Brandywine Red Clay Alliance: brandywineredclay.org
• Natural Lands: natlands.org
• The Nature Conservancy: nature.org
• Willistown Conservation Trust: wctrust.org
• Berks Nature: berksnature.org
• Green Valleys Watershed Association: greenvalleys.org
• Perkiomen Watershed Conservancy: perkiomenwatershed.org
• Valley Forge Trout Unlimited: valleyforgetu.org

Local Universities

• West Chester University: wcupa.edu
• Millersville University: millersville.edu
• University of Delaware: udel.edu

Additional Links

• Willowdale Steeplechase
• PennVet New Bolton Center

Transcript

The full transcript for this episode will be posted as soon as it is available.

Businesses, nonprofits, and individuals have more banking options than ever before. To help local leaders understand some of their options, we sit down with Gary Golden of Propell Credit Union to chat through how a credit union can help with financial services. We cover the history and growth of the community-chartered credit union, learning about its local connection to the helicopter industry. We hear how Propell is expanding its brick and mortar footprint, having recently opened a new branch in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Propell Credit Union

• Website: propellcu.org
• Facebook: facebook.com/propellcu
• Instagram: instagram.com/propellcu
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/propellcu

Kids Foundation

• Kids Foundation: propellcu.org/kids-foundation

Restaurants

• Fava: favaglenmills.com
• Taste & Sea: tastesea.com
• Brick & Brew: bricknbrewpub.com

Additional Links

• Mindspan Systems podcast episode with Gary Golden

Transcript

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

The value that trusted accountants bring to businesses and nonprofits of all sizes cannot be overstated. Changes to federal and state filing rules, new tax regulations, and any flux in the economy see many business leaders turning to their accountants for guidance. We talk with Kathy Wileczek, shareholder with Umbreit, Wileczek & Associates, to learn about how she leads a small, highly-respected accountancy firm based in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. We explore the challenges Kathy faces and the joy she experiences in running her firm, including balancing business management, client work, and other life priorities.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Umbreit, Wileczek & Associates

• Umbreit, Wileczek & Associates: uwacpa.com
• Umbreit, Wileczek & Associates on Facebook: facebook.com/uwacpa
• Kathy Wileczek on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kathleenwileczek

Chambers of Commerce

• Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce
• Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce

Additional Links

• Camp Dreamcatcher

Transcript

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

Farmers markets and craft and artisanal markets are popping up in more and more communities across Chester County, Pennsylvania, as farm-to-table and shop local grow in popularity with consumers. We sat down with Christy Campli of Growing Roots to learn more about how she delivers and produces a series of markets and community events across the region. We speak with her about supporting local farmers, producers, artists, and makers – all while working to build community.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Growing Roots

• Website: growingrootspartners.com
• Newsletter sign-up: growingrootspartners.com/newsletter-signups

Farmers Markets

• Downingtown: growingrootspartners.com/downingtown
• Eagleview: growingrootspartners.com/eagleview
• Malvern: growingrootspartners.com/malvern
• Instagram: instagram.com/growingrootsfarmersmarkets

Crafts & Mercantile

• Instagram: instagram.com/craftandmercantile
• Newsletter sign-up: growingrootspartners.com/craft-mercantile-newsletter

Good Food Fest

• Website: goodfarmsgoodfood.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/goodfarmsgoodfood

Additional Links

• Sundry Mornings Spice Co.
• Seoul Mates Korean Kitchen
• Chester County Food Bank
• Fighting Food Insecurity Locally with Andi Youndt
• Kimberton Whole Foods
• Joe Casabona’s podcast: Streamlined Solopreneur

TRANSCRIPT

The full transcript will be published here as soon as it is available.

Today’s libraries play a significant role in the life of the community. The programs, services, and happenings at our local libraries might surprise those who have not visited one recently. We catch up with Chris Manna, Executive Director of the Kennett Library, to walk through all things library. We learn how this wonderful library – and others across Chester County – are meeting the needs of their communities in innovative, exciting, and engaging ways.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Kennett Library

• Kennett Library website: kennettlibrary.org
• Facebook: @KennettLibrary
• Instagram: @kennett_library
• YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC0S-xlaN4XGo-oErL7XkVQA
• Employment opportunities: kennettlibrary.org/employment
• Volunteering opportunities: kennettlibrary.org/volunteering

Chris Manna

• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/christopher-manna-675a32272/

Additional Links

• Fluxspace
• Freedom to read: ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/freedomreadstatement
• Censorship: ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/censorship

TRANSCRIPT

The full transcript will be published here as soon as it is available.

The lack of educational and employment opportunities experienced by disadvantaged folks in Chester County presents significant challenges to their well-being. To learn more, we speak with Javonna Wylie, President and CEO of Chester County OIC. Javonna explains how CCOIC works to enable access to economic empowerment through the delivery of free educational and related services. She also highlights the exciting opportunities happening in Coatesville, Pennsylvania, where CCOIC is now based.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Chester County OIC

• Website: ccoic.org
• Work Enclave project: ccoic.org/programs/workenclave
• Volunteer opportunities: ccoic.org/get-involved
• Careers: ccoic.org/jobs
• Twitter: @ChesCoOIC
• Facebook: facebook.com/ChescoOIC
• Instagram: instagram.com/chestercountyoic
• Javonna Wylie on LinkedIn

Rev. Leon Sullivan

• Rev. Leon Sullivan on Wikipedia
• Book: Build, Brother, Build

Additional Links

• Alliance for Health Equity
• Witmer Public Safety Group
• Chester County HR Association
• 2nd Century Alliance
• nth Innovation Center
• Investing in your local community with Susan Springsteen
• Pennsylvania Department of Education

Transcript

The transcript for this episode will be posted as soon as it available.

We spend time with Kirstin Downie, Director of Development and Communications with Canine Partners for Life (CPL), as she explains how the organization works to improve quality of life for people with disabilities or other challenges by pairing them with professionally trained service or companion dogs. Kirstin takes us for a long walk through the extensive training that service and companion dogs undergo to be able to assist their assigned companions. We learn how CPL provides these highly trained dogs to folks of all ages from across the USA. And we hear about some uniquely wonderful volunteer opportunities.

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Canine Partners for Life

• Website: k94life.org
• Facebook: facebook.com/CaninePartnersforLife
• Instagram: instagram.com/k94life
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/canine-partners-for-life
• Fall Festival featuring Cow Bingo
• Volunteer with Canine Partners for Life: k94life.org/volunteer
• Kirstin Downie on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kirstindownie

Additional Links

• Brian’s House
• Valley Forge Educational Services
• Assistance Dogs International

Transcript

A transcript will be posted as soon as it is available.

Now in its 27th year, the Kennett Brewfest is a leading beer festival held yearly in Kennett Square. Arguably the oldest beer festival in the Philadelphia region, the Brewfest provides support to the Kennett Collaborative. We speak with the founder and long-serving lead organizer of the festival, Jeff Norman. An architect by trade, Jeff has lead efforts to organize and deliver the famed Kennett Brewfest since its inception. We talk about the history of the festival, its evolution over time, and of course, all things beer.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Kennett Brewfest

• Website: kennettbrewfest.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/kennett.brewfest
• Facebook: facebook.com/KennettBrewfest
• Jeff Norman on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-norman-5004382

Other Kennett Square Festivals

• Kennett Winterfest
• Kennett Summerfest
• Mushroom Festival

Kennett Collaborative

• Website: kennettcollaborative.org
• Instagram: instagram.com/kennett.collaborative
• Facebook: facebook.com/kennettcollaborative

Additional Links

• Waywood Beverage
• Victory Brewing
• Braeloch Brewing
• Two Stones Brewing
• Jeff’s favorite beer: Avec Les Bons Vœux from Brasserie Dupont
• Dressler Estate (Ciders)
• Excursion Ciders
• ServPro of Kennett Square/Oxford
• Kennett Run
• Ales for ALS

Transcript

The transcript will be posted as soon as it is available.

With a unique nonprofit business model, Handi-Crafters employs, trains, and encourages people with intellectual and developmental challenges to enable them to find meaningful and engaging opportunities in the workplace. Focused on the individual skills and needs of the community it serves, Handi-Crafters has been delivering employment-centered programs for more than 60 years from its facilities in Thorndale, Pa. We speak with the Executive Director of Handi-Crafters, April Ennis-Pierson, to learn more about the organization and its innovative approach to its work.

OUR PARTNER

Southern Chester County Chamber of Commerce

LINKS

Handi-Crafters

• Website: hcocenter.org
• Facebook: facebook.com/HCOpportunity
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/handi-crafters
• April Ennis-Pierson on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/april-ennis-pierson-32b33127/

Additional Links

• Section 14(c) Subminimum Wage Certificate Program
• PA Office of Developmental Programs
• ARC of Chester County
• Herr’s
• Victory Brewing
• CTDI
• Crazy Aaron’s Thinking Putty
• Chester County Commissioner Eric Roe

Transcript

The transcript for this episode will be posted as soon as it is available.