Heather L. Sidorowicz is President and owner of Southtown Audio Video, a custom installation and integration firm based in Hamburg, NY. Heather’s roots are on the front lines; working directly with the client, selling and designing both personalized audio/video solutions and corporate/higher education conference and training spaces. Most recently SAV completed the technology behind Explore & More’s interactive exhibits.

As a female in a predominately male industry, Heather has a unique perspective, believing that technology should balance the home/workplace rather than overtake it, and it's her mission to find technology and products that enhance one's quality of life.

Southtown Audio Video has been Commercial Integrators Top Higher Ed Integration Firms, and in 2015 Heather was selected to be one of their 40 Influencers Under 40. She also received a Legacy Award from Women in Consumer Technology in 2017. Locally, she has mentored for the University at Buffalo’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership program and Allstate's Minority and Women’s Emerging Entrepreneurs Program.

Heather is past President of the Hamburg Development Committee’s board, an active member with Economic Development in the Village of Hamburg and she just finished her term on the CEDIA board – a global residential technology association that have brought her to such places as Denver, San Diego and London, England.

Heather is a contributor to both Residential Technology Today, Residential Systems' and other online sites where she muses about the custom installation industry with a passionate and singular style. She has also written for CEDIA EMEA’s prestigious magazine.

In her spare time, she can be found skiing with her husband and two girls, on her yoga mat, cooking fresh meals, and writing in the third person.

If you or a friend owns a storefront/retail store they HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS. There are so many gold nuggets in this podcast episode. I promise you will not be disappointed.

In 1979 Ken Slomovitz arrived in Buffalo New York to start what is today a 40+ year adventure in furniture retailing.  What was a retail store selling Ethan Allen Products today is a leading fashion center for home furnishings.  Throughout the years Ken understood the value of building a team of great employees that understood that the most important part of their business was their customers.  In today's environment with online shopping a viable alternative to shopping at a store, Ken and his team focus not only on the products they sell but more importantly the customer experience which is critically important.  And Ken continues his role in providing the environment in his company that allows it to grow and prosper.

Sean Heidinger brings a unique background in community engagement, entrepreneurship and event planning to his role as the BNMC’s Business Development & Incubation Manager. Joining the BNMC team in 2015 as Curator for DIG, WNY’s largest co-working and event space, Sean has grown to become the primary contact for all of the Innovation Center and BNMC’s entrepreneurial and incubation efforts. Currently, he manages and continues to expand the diverse collection of companies on campus, build the entrepreneurial ecosystem through incubation programs, and seamlessly execute a multitude of networking and social events of all varieties. He remains steadfast in maintaining a professional workspace while providing an unmatched level of service, energy, positivity to the Innovation Center’s entrepreneurs, professionals, and events.

This week I will be sitting down with serial entrepreneur Patrick Engasser. Patrick was born completely blind and has proven that obstacles are meant to be overcome, as he has conquered this challenge on his way to building two successful businesses. After college and a few short months of working in a call center, he realized that working for someone else just wasn’t the right path for him. At 24 years old, Patrick started working as a straight commission insurance agent and built a six figure business in four years. He was promoted to District Sales Coordinator in 2015 and found his passion for coaching emerging professionals who share his commitment to lifestyle design through success in business. Patrick has made it his life mission to mentor those seeking a way to build a life of financial and time freedom for themselves and future generations. He now has a second business teaching entrepreneurs how to create financial independence and residual income through an on line product brokerage platform. Join me this week and find out what we can all learn from someone who has refused to let what some would consider a “disability” stand in the way of his success.

Max Muscato & His Father Marc Muscato founded their non-profit Rock Autism. While many organizations fund scientific research, Rock Autism addresses the issues of people living with autism and their families today. Rock Autism donates funds raised from benefit concerts to organizations serving youth living with autism. Rock Autism contributes to the professional development and growth of every person across the spectrum. We offer program support to organizations connecting youth with autism to a field of study in music, film and the arts while giving them the chance to achieve marketable talents after graduation.

Here we talk about how they started their non-profit and how to start your own if you ever had the dream to do so. We talk about the business side of non-profits, the pros/cons and what you would need to know to start one yourself. 

Dan is a former Town of Amherst Police Officer, a U.S. Secret Service Special Agent, and a Criminal Investigator with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Building on his career in law enforcement, Dan held senior corporate security, real estate and aviation management roles with America Online and Delaware North Companies. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President with HSBC Bank, where he oversaw security risk management operations and technology throughout North America.

Dan left the corporate security profession in 2012 to found a Southtowns focused real estate company where he managed sales growth from zero to nearly $35M in just four years. In their new venture, Emprise Realty Group, LLC, Dan and an experienced team of Realtors utilize their sales and marketing approach to offer their listing and buying clients a new level of exceptional service.

Dan is an investor/partner in several local businesses and real estate development ventures. In addition, Dan has operated a successful e-commerce retail business since 2001, giving him a keen understanding of how to connect buyers and sellers, as well as how to effectively utilize the Internet and technology in sales and marketing.

Dan has an undergraduate degree from Colgate University and a Master of Arts Degree from The George Washington University. He also attended the University at Buffalo Law School, holds numerous industry certifications, and is a past or present member of several industry organizations.

In 2005, Dan and his wife, Jennifer Noah, moved back home to Western New York after spending several years in the Washington, DC area. Dan, a Licensed Real Estate Broker, and Jennifer, an Attorney, reside in Orchard Park with their twin boys.

Enas Latif, one of the top real estate agents in Western New York isn't originally from here. Enas grew up in the country of Jordan. She moved here when she was 18 years old with her husband. In this podcast, we talk about how she built her business on relationships and hard work when she barely knew anyone here originally. Enas now has her own real estate team and is continuing to grow. Enas Latif is an award winning, top producer ranking 4th place company wide and one of the top 1% of local Realtors.

MJ is no stranger to the weight loss struggle. Reaching 220lbs in middle school, she decided to make a change for the better once she got to high school and lost 90lbs.

MJ began working in the fitness industry in 2006 while attending classes at U.B. for Accounting. She worked front desk at a local gym and would often skip classes at school to pick up extra shifts at the gym. That’s when she decided she should switch career paths.

MJ continued to move up at the gym from front desk, to teaching classes and personal training, to becoming the group fitness director. MJ learned from each position and gym and studio she worked at and picked what she liked and didn’t like from each, and that’s how SWEAT 716 was born in 2017.  SWEAT 716 aims to be a safe space in an industry that can be pretty judgmental. MJ has cultivated a warm,  welcoming environment at SWEAT 716 that focuses on fitness being FUN more than anything.