The First Customer

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Andy Kochanowski, founder and CEO of Alerify, a data center based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Andy shares his journey from a 30-year career in corporate America, including service in the Navy, to taking the leap into entrepreneurship. He explains how Alerify serves a niche market of small and medium-sized businesses seeking secure, localized data storage through co-location and virtual private cloud solutions, providing a personal, hands-on approach that sets them apart from the hyperscale public cloud providers.

Andy also dives into the process of acquiring and revitalizing Alerify, from conducting meticulous due diligence to investing in infrastructure improvements, achieving SOC 2 compliance, and building a strong local network. He discusses early client wins, including iHeart Media, and shares his approach to leveraging AI at the edge for private, secure data processing. Along the way, he offers advice for aspiring business owners about finding the right opportunity, valuing culture alignment, and starting local before scaling.

Tune in to Andy’s story as he highlights the blend of strategic planning, technical expertise, and human connection that drives his company’s growth in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
Alerify
https://www.alerify.com/


Andy Kochanowski's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-p-kochanowski-ph-d/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Sean Heberling, founder and CEO of Marion Street Capital.

From buying up newspaper routes as a kid in Rochester, New York, to hiring friends and building a mini “paperboy empire,” Sean’s early ventures taught him how to scale, manage people, and spot opportunity. Those same instincts followed him through a 20-year career in hedge funds and later into academia as a finance professor at Villanova University, where he rediscovered his passion for helping businesses grow from the ground up.

Sean explains how Marion Street Capital was born from a handful of phone calls and a desire to bridge the gap between capital and companies that need it. He breaks down the hedge fund world in plain language, reveals what separates thriving entrepreneurs from failing ones, and shares how pattern recognition, persistence, and strategic ruthlessness shape success. From scaling startups to mentoring future leaders, Sean offers a grounded take on what it really takes to build something sustainable—and why, if failure weren’t an option, he’d be sailing around the world.

Hear how Sean Heberling turned early ambition into lasting impact on the finance world in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
Marion Street Capital
http://www.marionstreetcapital.com


Sean Heberling's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanheberling/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Adam Holt, founder and CEO of Asset-Map.

Adam talks about how his entrepreneurial drive took shape from his early years in New York to leading one of the most innovative platforms in financial visualization. Adam shares how his mother’s example as a self-made realtor influenced his approach to business and connection, teaching him to treat every interaction as a chance to form genuine relationships. He reflects on how attending Tony Robbins seminars as a teenager opened his mind to the power of mindset, reframing, and fear-breaking—lessons that became foundational to how he leads and builds companies today.

Adam discusses how he transformed his career from government work to launching Asset-Map, a platform that reimagines how people see and understand their financial lives. He dives into the early challenges of product development, balancing service revenue with innovation, and the costly lessons that came with scaling too soon. With refreshing honesty, Adam talks about finding the right partners, the importance of trust and culture, and how he built a company rooted in transparency and human connection. 

Hear Adam Holt’s reflections on growth, trust, and the art of making finance more human in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
Asset-Map
http://www.asset-map.com


H. Adam Holt's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hadamholt/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Joshua Davidson, CEO and founder of Chop Dawg.

Growing up just outside of Atlantic City during the Great Recession, Josh saw firsthand how fragile traditional industries could be. Watching friends’ families lose homes and his father work multiple jobs gave him a survival instinct and a drive to create opportunities for himself. By the time he was a teenager, Josh was building websites door-to-door and helping small businesses grow, even in the middle of an economic downturn. That early tenacity and optimism became the foundation of what would evolve into Chop Dawg.

Over 17 years later, Chop Dawg has grown from building websites for local businesses to developing complex apps and software for Fortune 500 companies, healthcare systems, universities, and household names like Wawa, Six Flags, and the Philadelphia Eagles. Josh shares how staying true to unconventional branding choices, leveraging repeat business and referrals, and being an early adopter of trends like generative search (GEO) have kept his company ahead of the curve. Through it all, his focus has remained on understanding clients deeply, building genuine partnerships, and refusing to play catch-up with competitors—choosing instead to set the pace in his industry.

Be inspired by Joshua Davidson’s path from teenage hustler to leading Chop Dawg’s global impact in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
Chop Dawg
https://www.chopdawg.com


Joshua Davidson's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dasjoshua/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Rob Wenger, CEO and founder of Higher Logic.

Rob shares how Higher Logic evolved from a LinkedIn-style networking idea into a powerful engagement platform serving over 3,000 clients worldwide. With a focus on professional communities—ranging from doctors and accountants to global corporations—Rob explains how the right mix of purpose, participation, and leadership can shape thriving ecosystems that deliver real value for members and organizations alike.

Rob also reflects on his 17-year journey growing Higher Logic, offering insights into what makes communities flourish—or fade. From discovering that participation percentages remain surprisingly steady across professions to witnessing how one quirky question in a CPA forum sparked explosive engagement, Rob emphasizes the unpredictable yet rewarding nature of community building. He also discusses the role of leadership, moderation, and AI in sustaining engagement, and shares how his entrepreneurial roots and early observations of LinkedIn’s limitations inspired him to create a space where professionals could connect, learn, and grow together.

Be inspired by Rob Wenger’s journey of building lasting connections and shaping communities in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
Higher Logic
http://www.higherlogic.com


Rob Wenger's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robwenger/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Tim Haak, founder and Vice President of Innovation at Mile6. 

Tim shares how growing up in a small-town family business shaped his entrepreneurial mindset, and how his curiosity for technology led him to build his first websites as a teenager—before he even had his driver’s license. From those humble beginnings to leading a digital product agency that has reinvented itself every few years, Tim reflects on the persistence and adaptability needed to stay relevant in an ever-changing industry.

Tim also dives into Mile6’s evolution from a traditional dev shop into a fully integrated digital product agency serving enterprise clients. Tim explains how moving beyond “launch and leave” projects into long-term growth partnerships has elevated their work, and how shifting their focus upmarket aligned their website and software practices under one strategy. Along the way, he shares insights on managing resources, integrating AI tools, and building quality into every stage of the process. 

Let's join Tim as he paints a vivid picture of what it takes to build a business that thrives across decades in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
Mile6
https://www.mile6.com


Tim Haak's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/timhaak/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Marco Benitez, CEO and founder of ROOK, a company revolutionizing how wearable health data is integrated and used.

Marco opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, from growing up in Mexico to moving his family to the U.S. to pursue bigger opportunities. He reflects on how his first startup shaped his path, how COVID-19 became the catalyst for ROOK’s pivot, and the game-changing moment when their very first insurance client validated their API solution.

Marco shares how Rook enables insurance companies, digital health platforms, and remote patient monitoring providers to seamlessly access data from over 300 wearables through a single API. By standardizing and harmonizing this information, ROOK helps organizations unlock clean, structured insights without the hassle of building multiple integrations. A self-proclaimed wearable geek, Marco also talks about his personal favorites, from Ōura to Whoop to Apple Watch, and how lifestyle shapes the value these devices provide.

Be inspired by Marco's story, a candid look at resilience, innovation, and the drive to build something bigger than yourself in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
ROOK
https://www.tryrook.io

Marco Benitez's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcobzg/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Umair Khan, CEO and founder of Techamana.

Umair explains that Techamana is a vetted talent marketplace designed to stand apart from traditional freelance platforms. Techamana ensures quality by rigorously evaluating technical skills, communication, and cultural fit before admitting freelancers to the platform. He explains that the company matches clients with top candidates within 48 hours, delivering a faster and more reliable hiring experience. Umair also addresses challenges such as detecting fraud, upholding quality control, and building trust when connecting global talent with businesses. 

Umair also shares his personal journey from growing up in Karachi, Pakistan, to becoming a U.S. citizen and entrepreneur. Inspired by his own experience breaking into the global freelance economy, he recognized the opportunity to empower skilled workers in developing countries to access fairer wages and meaningful work. With Techamana, he aims to bridge wage disparities, leverage AI in building scalable solutions, and create opportunities for vetted professionals worldwide. 

Step into Umair Khan’s journey, where the internet shaped his path and determination fueled the rise of a thriving platform, in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
Techamana
https://techamana.com

Umair Khan's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/umairahmedkhan/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Melissa Sherman, founding CEO of MOBILion Systems, Inc.

Melissa shares how her Midwestern upbringing and early career at DuPont shaped her blend of science and business acumen, transforming her from a researcher into a CEO. She talks about discovering her passion for building businesses around complex technology, drawing on experiences ranging from textiles and fashion to investment and startup incubation. 

Melissa dives into MOBILion’s mission to “reveal what others leave unseen” through advanced instruments that push the boundaries of measurement and analysis. Melissa explains how their technology helps industries—from pharmaceuticals to food testing—characterize molecules more quickly and accurately, saving time and money while improving outcomes. She discusses the challenges of focus in a small, venture-backed company with wide-ranging applications, and how MOBILion strategically balances innovation with execution. Melissa’s story shows how curiosity, adaptability, and a love of science can translate into successful leadership in high-tech industries.

Learn how Melissa Sherman built a career turning complex chemistry into real-world impact in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
MOBILion Systems, Inc.
http://www.mobilionsystems.com


Melissa Sherman's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-sherman-ph-d-4711004/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/

In this episode, I was lucky enough to interview Dan Abel Jr., the Chief Chocolate Officer of Bissinger’s Chocolate.

Dan shares how his family grew up immersed in the candy business—starting from a small family-run operation in 1981 to acquiring and leading the iconic Bissinger’s brand today. Dan walks us through their unique family dynamic, how each sibling found their place in the business, and what it’s really like behind the scenes of a chocolate kitchen—from caramel science to flavor innovation and why making candy is as much art as it is chemistry.

Dan also dives into the story behind Bissinger’s newest luxury product, the 1668 Collection, a meticulously designed line of shell-molded confections inspired by the brand’s royal French heritage. With flavors like cinnamon pear caramel and blood orange truffles, Dan describes how he personally locked himself in the R&D lab to bring this vision to life. Dan also touches on seasonal creativity, overlooked fruits like pears, why certain candies have stood the test of time, and what makes Bissinger’s chocolate different from the rest. It’s a delicious blend of tradition, innovation, and entrepreneurial storytelling—perfect for anyone curious about the business of chocolate.

Step inside the kitchen of Bissinger’s as Dan Abel Jr. shares the flavors, stories, and craftsmanship that define the brand in this episode of The First Customer!


Guest Info:
Bissinger's Handcrafted Chocolatier
http://www.bissingers.com


Dan Abel Jr.'s LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-abel-jr-15541765/

Connect with Jay on LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayaigner/
The First Customer Youtube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@thefirstcustomerpodcast
The First Customer podcast website
https://www.firstcustomerpodcast.com
Follow The First Customer on LinkedIn
http://www.linkedin.com/company/the-first-customer-podcast/