The James Protin Podcast

We are very excited to present Episode #1 of our special series, “Amazing Kids”. Our guests is Jace Churby. 

In April, 2019, then 6-year old Jace won his first race in Lebanon, Missouri, and he hasn’t looked back. He raced the Hoosier Arenacross Series and the Missouri State Championship Series with multiple Top 5 finishes.

In 2021, Jace was Selected for the KTM Jr Supercross at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Florida where he took home the 3rd Place Trophy, 

When his family was posted to Minot Air Force in North Dakota, Jace began competing with North Dakota Motocross Association. In 2022 he earned 1st Overall in two classifications, 50A and 65B. 

Jace made his debut on the national scene by finishing 1st overall at the Loretta Lynn Area Qualifier in Little Falls, Minnesota for 50cc, age 7-8. He followed that up with 21st overall at Loretta Lynn Regional Qualifier. 50cc, age 7-8. 

He competed against the best racers in the country at The Motoplayground Race at Ponca City finishing 9th and 12th place overall in 50cc, age 7-8 and 50cc Open. He finished 24th overall at the AZ Open of Motocross in Buckeye, Arizona. Crashes and mud kept him out of completing all the motos.

We have a very special show for Episode #42 of the podcast. Today is our Christmas Special, and we’re very excited to be joined by a very special guest…Santa Claus. 

Santa Claus, also known as Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Kris Kringle, or simply Santa…was able to take some time away from his Christmas preparations to stop by and say hello to everyone and answer some questions from our super-curious kids. 

Santa also updates us on the progress the elves are making in building all the toys, and how Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen have been preparing for their big night at home in the ice and snow of the North Pole. 

•You’re known by many names in languages around the world. In the US you’re Santa Claus…or Kris…or St. Nicholas. Do you have a preference?
•What do you do to get in shape and make room for all those cookies & milk?
•Do you have an exercise routine?
•Where is the North Pole?
•What is it like living there? 
•In his poem “The Night Before Christmas “ Dr. Clement Moore described you as having … “a broad face and a little round belly that shook when (you) laughed like a bowl full of jelly.” 
•I can remember the names of six of your reindeer: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, and Cupid. But what were the names of the other two?
•How do you care for the reindeer? 
•Do the reindeer exercise throughout the year so that they’re in shape for Christmas? 
•Who is your favorite reindeer?
•How do you get the elves to work for you? 
•How old are you? 
•You’re the ultimate gift giver…but what’s the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received? 
•How do you make a list of children worldwide and deliver presents according to whether they have been ‘naughty’ or ‘nice.’
•When did you start sliding down the chimney?
•How did the tradition of stockings hung by the mantel start?
•What is your favorite kind of cookie?
•Besides Christmas - what is your favorite holiday?
•If you weren’t Santa, what would your  dream job be?
•What do you do after Christmas?

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice.

Joining us for Episode #41 of the podcast is Vinnie Borrelli. 

Vinnie is a man of many talents and has been successful in his career for over 16 years. He has dedicated his life to helping people find their passion and teaching them how to make that passion light up their life. 

Through his childhood experiences as the child of Italian immigrants and his experiences with his older sister, Gina, who was born with congenital heart disease, his passion for succeeding was lit and has been burning hot ever since.
 
Vinnie is an entrepreneur, speaker, motivational coach, author, accomplished martial artist, and, most importantly, a good person who followed his dream. He now uses this passion to help others find and live their true purpose and break the cycle of the traditional path many have been put on through the influence of others.
 
He is the author of “Personal Prosperity Blueprint: A Journey from Pain to Passion into Prosperity,” written to help people identify and solidify who they are, what they are, and where they should be. In this book, you learn more about his personal journey through an interesting childhood, the impact of the loss of his sister, and the sacrifices his parents. You’ll meet the people who opened his eyes to different views on life, and so much more that helped shape his journey of discovery that ultimately led to his true purpose. The pain that he experienced throughout his life detoured him to some bad places, but it also led him to discover the passion that he now enjoys in his life.
 
This isn’t your run-of-the-mill self-help book. Vinnie shares his blueprint for success with actionable steps developed from his own journey of turning pain into passion and prosperity.

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice. 

Our guest for Episode #40 of the podcast is my dear friend Connie Capiotis. 

Connie is a business consultant and catalytic growth specialist who thrives on building deep relationships with her clients. She believes that the key to growth lies in supporting each individuals’ needs from a holistic perspective. 

Connie gas created two custom programs, the Bold Boss Bootcamp and Full Flavor Leadership to utilize her signature Diagnose, Prescribe, and Implement process to help her clients discover the root of their success and create ongoing growth by focusing on key action areas of…
•Marketing
•Operations 
•Confidence/Charisma 
•Emotional Agility

Digital Bridges Pittsburgh, the education and nonprofit arm of her work, in which her popular programs So, You Want To Be a YouTube Star and Entrepreneurs & Influencers aim to meet PA State Academic Standards including Technology and Society; Markets and Economic Systems; Career Preparation; Writing; and Communication. 

Digital Bridges Pittsburgh’s mission is to close the digital divide and build vibrant communities by using technology and business skills to reduce poverty, build equity, encourage individualized learning, improve employability, and nurture strong social connections. 

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice.

Our guests for Episode #39 are my senior colleagues at GPI, Diane Altland, PE, Ifeanyi Odigboh, PE, and George Sarapa, PE. Three professionals from very different backgrounds, who have travelled very different career paths to come together at GPI. 

This is a talented and experienced team of professional engineers with more than 70 years in the engineering industry. But this is not a podcast about engineering. 

Today’s show is Part 2 in our GPI Series, following up our conversation on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Our topic today is Attracting, Developing, and Retaining talent. 

You will find this show impactful regardless of industry or market sector or geography. After all, every organization is only as strong as the collective talent of the people who work there. 

To attract top talent, organizations need to be a place where people advance their career. It needs to be a place where people are given opportunities to learn new skills and take on new challenges. 

Key Topics:
YOUR CAREER PATH
•Different Paths…Same Destination 
IMPORTANCE OF WORKPLACE CULTURE
•Culture of Caring
CHILDCARE AND HEALTHCARE 
•Politics of Workplace Childcare
•Flex-Schedule 
DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION
•People Who Look like Me
MENTORING
•Who is Responsible 
•Two-Way Street
WHEN RECRUITING BEGINS (University/HS/MS)
•Too Soon/Too Late
IMPORTANCE OF COMPANY MISSION and VALUES
•Alignment 
JOB OPPORTUNITY vs CAREER OPPORTUNITY
•Stepping Stone
PEOPLE OVER PROFIT STRATEGY
•People Drive Profit
MOTIVATED OR INSPIRED
•Motivation is Inside-Out, Inspiration is Outside-In
SHOWCASING COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES 
•Everybody Loves a Winner

Our guests for Episode #38 are Kelly Cain and her son Clayton. Kelly is not only the Executive Director of the Autism Caring Center, she built the entire organization from the ground up over a span of just four years. 

The mission of the Autism Caring Center is to enhance the lives of individuals and families by working diligently to provide support, resources, advocacy, and training to community businesses to raise awareness and acceptance. 

Kelly is driven, results-oriented leader who has established an autism community hub, and built a comprehensive network of impassioned volunteers. Her industry-leading training programs for businesses and community members have empowered ASD individuals and given their families a voice. 

Kelly is an outstanding leader, leveraging her expertise in program administration, leadership and communication skills, and a big-picture mindset to optimally position nonprofit organizations for growth. 

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice. 

Our guest for Episode #37 is Jim Shorkey, Sr., retired owner of the Jim Shorkey Family Auto Group. Jim retired at 59 from a 37-year career as the owner of the Jim Shorkey Family Auto Group. 

Over the course of his professional life, Jim has experienced all the highs and lows. Going from bankruptcy-imminent to one of the most successful dealerships in the Pittsburgh region. But he didn’t do it alone. Along the way, Jim sought expert counsel and  relied on those mentors to achieve success. 

Not one to sit idly and watch life pass him by, in retirement started Results From Thinking, a professional development business. His “RethinkU” self-development program is a learning tool for professionals at every career level. 

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice. 

Our guests for Episode #36 are Vivien Luk, Executive Director, and Richardson Antoine, First Mile Impact Manager at WORK. It was awesome to have the newest member of our team, Melissa Migliaro spending time in the co-host chair. 

The team at WORK believes every individual has potential. The organization’s mission is to accompany families in Haiti out of poverty through good, dignified jobs.

They work in one community in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, called Menelas, where about 1,500 families live. The goal is simple…to place two heads of households into a good, dignified job, so that families and their community can lift themselves out of poverty forever.

WORK stands beside the families they serve, working to remove barriers to their success, and providing necessary resources to accompany them to independence. The organization restores human dignity. When WORK commits to a family, our commitment stands until we get the job done whether that takes 10 days or 10 years. 

The process starts by getting to know the families and to learn about their needs. Oftentimes it begins with addressing health concerns, as illness can stand in the way of all other goals. Next, they ensure all school-aged children have access to an education and address basic needs such as debt and housing with their parents. 

Once family members are work-ready, they participate in WORK’s job preparation program and are trained and placed into dignified work. WORK families receive follow up services such as professional development and household budgeting workshops and WORK’s commitment to accompany them remains until it’s no longer needed. 

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice.

Our guest for Episode #35 is Spencer Lynn. Spencer is a local guy…a Mon valley guy. He’s a Belle Vernon Area High School alum and a California University of Pennsylvania graduate. 

During his time at both schools, he was a standout football player and was just recently inducted into the Belle Vernon Area Football Hall of Fame. 

After college, Spencer had many paths available to him…he chose a commission as an Infantry Officer in the  United States Army, and currently serves as the Northeast Regional Manager for KOS Naturals, an avid endurance athlete. 

Spencer is a thoughtful young man of character, a Hall of Famer on the gridiron and in life. He leads by example and is a role model I encourage my grandsons to look up to. 

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice. 

#podcast #service #leadership #livelovelearnprayinspire

Our guest for Episode #34 of the podcast is Jennifer Toprani. Jen is a Licensed Professional Counselor at Associates in Counseling & Wellness in McMurray. 

Jen‘s husband Steve was our guest for Episode #25 and she shares the story of how a chance encounter in Paris turned into a love story for the ages. 

Jennifer works in schools and in private practice addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, eating disorders and marriage counseling. She has served on various counsel’s and boards regarding suicide, sex trafficking and LGBTQIA teens.

This was a fun, yet powerful conversation that I found both enlightening and heart-wrenching. Jen is an amazing human and her passion for her work is inspiring. If you’re a parent or grandparent, this one is a must watch. 

As always, the visually inclined can watch it all go down on YouTube, or you can catch us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and your platform of choice.