The James Protin Podcast

Gene Barr is the President and CEO of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry, the state’s largest broad-based business advocacy association. He oversees all operations of the PA Chamber and its for-profit subsidiary, PA Chamber Insurance.

Barr joined the PA Chamber in February 2003. He served for more than eight years as Vice President of Government and Public Affairs before being elected President in October 2011. During his tenure, he has worked on many significant legislative and regulatory efforts critical to improving Pennsylvania’s business climate.

Barr has more than 40 years of experience in various facets of government, political and public affairs activity, and business operations.

Our discussion centered around addiction and the difficult road to recovery. The opioid crisis is a national epidemic, and it has reached crisis levels here in southwestern PA. 

With Club Serenity and the SPHS Centers of Excellence, Kellie and Joey and the amazing team at SPHS are making a difference in our communities. 

Joey is honest…and at times raw in sharing details of his journey. This is our most powerful show to date.

Our guest for Episode #11 is Mandi Pryor. Mandi is the Executive Director of the Southwest Communities Chamber of Commerce and host of the TV show Spotlight on Pittsburgh. 

Mandi is also the owner of MP Marketing and PR, a boutique firm specializing in event planning, marketing and social media management. 

We talked about everything from local television, marketing, and chambers of commerce, to goats and African Dwarf Frogs. You don’t want to miss this one. 

Our guests for Episode #10 of the podcast are Rachael Rennebeck and John Chamberlin, the co-hosts of the Ya Jagoff Podcast…the #1 podcast in Pittsburgh.

Rachael and John are also the owners of Ya Jagoff Media. The YJ team provides strategic and reliable marketing initiatives and content to increase brand awareness for businesses and events. 

Rachael, John and the YJ team of content creators are experts at creating next level engagement and interaction within their clients promotions and campaigns.

Episode #10 is a milestone for our podcast and we can’t think of a better show to celebrate. 

Leonard Hammonds II is a United States Marine Corps veteran and Founder of Hammonds Initiative. He is the current District Office Director for the 19th Legislative District of Western Pennsylvania and a Campaign Specialist for BMe Community.  
 
Hammonds has earned various awards and proclamations for his work. He has received proclamations from Former State Representatives Ed Gainey and Jake Wheatley Jr., along with State Representative Anthony Deluca.  A few of his awards include 2021 Marlon J. Lucas “Love is Action” Community Humanitarian Award, 2018 VBC Veteran of the Era Award, 2018 BMe Black Genius Fellowship Award, 2018 Passion Meets the Road Entrepreneur Award, 2018 CEA Nation Building Award, and 2017 New Pittsburgh Courier Men of Excellence Award, amongst  others.  
 
Hammonds serves on various boards and committees including President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Alliance Committee in Pittsburgh, and the Heinz Endowments Just Arts Advisory Committee.  

Leonard is married to LaShaundra Hammonds and has two beautiful children, Leonard J. Hammonds III and Camilla Hammonds.

When I think of today’s guest, I think of servant leadership, entrepreneurship, and a life journey that has followed the road less traveled. Camera Bartolotta has been an actress, model, a successful entrepreneur, and a Pennsylvania State Senator…all while raising two children who are successful adults in their own right. 

Our conversation wasn’t about politics. Camera shared much about her journey that those who only see her public side would never know. 

Camera brings an entrepreneurial spirit and a wealth of real-world experience to her job representing residents of Pennsylvania’s 46th District. She is very active in our community serving on the Pittsburgh Film office and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, as well as serving as a board member of our local United Way. 

I hope you enjoy it and learn a little about the person behind the public face. Don’t forget to hit that subscribe button. We have some amazing stories in the queue.

Pastor Tim Burgan is Lead Pastor of Christian Center Church and President of the Full Potential Project, and Lisa Lyons is the church’s Outreach Director, and Operations Manager of His Place Coffee, Community and More. 
 
Tim began a ministry in broadcasting in 1976 when as a teenager he began working in Christian radio. In 1980 Tim began his ministry in television when he served as an intern at WPCB TV 40.  Since then he has had the privilege of serving the Lord and CTVN in nearly every position.

Lisa’s life has been about reaching out to bring hope to others. After her father lost his battle with diabetes, she continued to get her teaching degree from Duquesne University while working fulltime and helping her mother battled the grief while helping with taking care of her youngest sibling. 

When Pastor Tim shared the vision of helping to change a whole community, she was the first to jump on board, seeing the Full Potential Project with the coffee shop, tutoring, single moms and mentoring it was a perfect fit as her heart is to bring the hope, joy, love, and peace she knows to others.

Kelly Frost is the Founder & CEO of FROST Executive Services. Kelly has more than 20 years of thriving success in the fields of Consulting, Strategic Planning, Marketing & Advertising, Publishing, Management, Media Production, Communications, Event Planning and Human Resources. 

That long list is why “Everyone needs a Kelly!”

Kelly is adamant about empowering and inspiring women and men in business, and in life. She facilitated the launch of a national publication, Inspiring Lives Magazine, a magazine with an emphasis on business, lifestyle, health & wellness, travel and many other sections of a person’s life. 

Kelly is excited to bring PEEL: Pittsburgh’s Elevated & Emerging Leaders to fruition. It serves women and men from a place of kindness with philanthropic endeavors, professional achievement, personal development and playful purpose. She believes in promoting empowerment through enrichment and shared experiences, and cultivating joy is an essential component to both our success and our well being.

Lynn Doehring was born I and raised in Washington County. She returned to the area in 2008 after having four children to be closer to her parents and siblings. She is currently the President of Bridge Insurance Group, Inc.

Passionate about community involvement, she is active in multiple organizations and often partners with others to multiply her charitable efforts.

Lynn was recipient of the Women In Philanthropy Award in 2019, and serves on the Board for Youth For Christ and Lifepoint Church. She actively supports many local charities, such as The Lemoyne Community Center, Dress For Success, Face to Face, Washington City Mission, Veterans Place, Hair Peace, Lighting the Way, 2000 Turkeys, and has sponsored defense classes for survivors of Domestic Abuse.

Lynn loves spending time with her family and friends, playing keys and singing in her church worship band, dancing as much as possible, traveling, being outside no matter the weather, and the power of handwritten cards.

Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard

A great podcast has no definitive form, it’s spontaneous and free flowing. The thing about a podcast that makes it great is the storytelling. Story is how we learn about each other and ourselves. 

In Episode #4 of the Podcast, we step out of our comfort zone and travel to Mount Vernon, NY.  

Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard and the city’s Commissioner of Public Works, Damani Bush, join us to share the story of a community that has been left behind. 

But Mount Vernon is a community…a strong, resilient community in fact. Along with our colleagues from GPI and Jackson & Tull, we toured the city and saw first hand the Infrastructure that is literally crumbling beneath their feet. 

We saw a decrepit sewer system that has outlived its useful life, a water distribution system predominantly made of lead pipes, bridges that cannot safely carry traffic, and city buildings that have been condemned for safety reasons.

But the thing we will remember most is the people. We met people, some who invited us into their homes…homes that have been flooded with raw sewage. Whether residents, business owners, or city employees, we saw the immense pride in a city that is determined to be left behind no more. 

#LiveLoveLearnPrayInspire