Building Success Stories with Ann Donnelly

Host: Ann Donnelly Guests: Karen Carey, Owner & Intuitive Life & Business Support Coach, Ruby Red Road Episode Overview In this live-on-location episode from Moreau Commons, host Ann Donnelly speaks with Karen Carey, owner of Ruby Red Road. Drawing on 30 years in the customer service and beauty industries and 17 years of dedicated coaching experience, Karen breaks down how intuitive life a...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guests: Brandon Crist, Financial Advisor & Max Benedetto, Financial Advisor Associate, Equitable Financial Episode Overview In this live-on-location episode from Moreau Commons, host Ann Donnelly sits down with Brandon Crist and Max Benedetto of Equitable Financial Advisors. Brandon shares insights from a decade of helping state employees, retirees, and local business owners...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guests: Nic Molik, Director of Partnerships, Adirondack Technical Solutions (ADKtechs) Episode Overview In this live-on-location episode of Building Success Stories from Moreau Commons, host Ann Donnelly sits down with Nic Molik, Director of Partnerships at Adirondack Technical Solutions (ADKtechs). Nic shares how ADKtechs' strategic move from Argyle to Route 9 in South Glens Fa...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guests: Alison Bohannon, Owner, Kingpin’s Alley Family Entertainment Center Episode Overview In this episode of Building Success Stories , host Ann Donnelly checks in live from Moreau Commons with Alison Bohannon, co-owner of Kingpin’s Alley Family Entertainment Center. Alison shares how she and her husband, Doug, have transformed a beloved local bowling alley into a multi-facet...

Guest Host: Janice Durant, New Trails Business Consultants, Inc. & Chief Franchise Matchmaker Guest: Ann Donnelly, Founder, North Country Media Network & Business Growth Strategist Episode Overview What happens when you have the best product in town, but nobody knows you exist? In this role-reversal episode of Building Success Stories , regular host Ann Donnelly hands the mic to guest host...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guest: Kevin Porpora, VP, Residential Mortgage Originator, Arrow Bank Episode Overview What is the true value of face-to-face banking in a digital world? In this episode of Building Success Stories , recorded live at The Gathering at Moreau Commons, host Ann Donnelly sits down with Kevin Porpora, Vice President and Mortgage Originator at Arrow Bank. Celebrating his 25th year wit...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guest: Mike Borgos, Partner, Borgos & Del Signore Attorneys at Law Episode Overview In this bonus episode of Building Success Stories , recorded live on-location at Moreau Commons during Scott Cross’s community gathering, host Ann Donnelly sits down with local attorney Mike Borgos of Borgos & Del Signore Attorneys at Law. While Mike has practiced law in the Glens Falls r...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guests: Brandon Crist & Max Benedetto (Equitable Financial) Nic Molik (ADKtechs) Karen Carey (Ruby Red Road) Alison Bohannon (Kingpin's Alley Family Fun) Michael Borgos (Borgos & Del Signore, P.C.) Kevin Porpora (Arrow Bank) Episode Overview: Why Upstate NY is Built for Business What makes a local business ecosystem truly thrive? In this special compilation episode of Bu...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guest: MeLinda Stanley, Owner, Tease Salon & Beauty Bar Episode Overview How does relocating your brick-and-mortar business change your growth trajectory? In this bonus episode of Building Success Stories, Ann Donnelly visits Tease Salon & Beauty Bar on South Street in Glens Falls to speak with owner MeLinda Stanley. After eight years in a hidden spot, MeLinda shares how...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guest: New York State Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner Episode Overview What happens when a tech writer leaves a Fortune 500 Corporate Giant to pivot into non-profit leadership and eventually becomes a pivotal voice in the New York State Assembly? In this episode of the Building Success Stories Podcast , Ann Donnelly sits down with Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner at ADKtechs headquarte...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guest: Ali Gazetos Mineo, Owner, Floro's Mercantile Episode Overview What happens when an 86-year-old local restaurant legacy gives birth to a modern downtown boutique? In this bonus episode of Building Success Stories , host Ann Donnelly sits down with Ali Gazetos Mineo, the owner of Floro's Mercantile—the newest addition to the rapidly revitalizing South Street in Glens Falls,...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guest: Kara Magoolaghan, Co-Owner, Hometown Shop Episode Overview How does a trained engineer with a law degree end up designing the coziest, most vibrant vintage retail hub in Downtown Glens Falls? In this exclusive bonus feature of Building Success Stories , host Ann Donnelly has a conversation with Kara Magoolaghan, co-owner of Hometown Shop on the newly revitalized South Str...

Host: Ann Donnelly Featured Audio Interviews: Kara Magoolaghan , Co-Owner, Hometown Shop MeLinda Stanley , Owner, Tease Salon and Beauty Bar Ali Gazetus Mineo , Owner, Floro's Mercantile Jim Siplon , President & CEO, Warren County EDC (From Episode 10) With Additional Insights From: Katy Foster , Co-Owner, Katy's Wine & Whiskey Bar Judd Gershen , Owner, Judd's Tavern Episode Overview What...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guest: Jim Siplon, President & CEO, Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Warren County What if the secret to building a resilient regional economy isn't chasing smokestacks or mega-factories, but leveraging the irreplaceable "power of place"? In this episode of Building Success Stories , host Ann Donnelly sits down with Jim Siplon, President & CEO of the Economic Devel...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guests: Vicki Marking, Director of Sales and Marketing, and Bryan Carr, Account Executive, LayerEight In this episode of Building Success Stories, host Ann Donnelly sits down with Vicki Marking and Bryan Carr from Layer Eight. Layer Eight is an IT company that recently expanded its presence from Plattsburgh to a new office on Broad Street in Glens Falls. Vicki and Bryan discuss...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guest: Scott Cross, Broker/Owner of Crosspoint Realty Why do some real estate agents thrive while others struggle to find their footing? And what does it take to leave a secure management role overseeing 58 agents to build your own brokerage from the ground up? In this episode of Building Success Stories , Ann sits down with Scott Cross, the Broker and Owner of Crosspoint Realty...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guest: Nick George, Executive Director, High Peaks Hospice In this powerful episode of Building Success Stories , Ann Donnelly sits down with Nick George, the Executive Director of High Peaks Hospice. Celebrating 40 years of service, High Peaks Hospice provides vital, compassionate end-of-life care across six New York State counties. Operating within the second-largest geographi...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guests: Christopher Crowd, Founder, Severus AI Episode Overview Are you a business owner drowning in daily tasks and struggling to scale? In this episode of Building Success Stories, Ann Donnelly sits down with Christopher Crowd, the tech specialist and founder behind Severus AI, a new Glens Falls-based business. Christopher shares how artificial intelligence is no longer just f...

Host: Ann Donnelly Guests: Mark Stewart & Nic Denno, Co-Founders of Northern Builders Episode Overview What happens when you combine the discipline, leadership, and community-first mindset of law enforcement with a passion for high-quality craftsmanship? You get Northern Builders . In this episode of Building Success Stories , host Ann Donnelly sits down with co-founders Mark Stewart and Nic D...

In this episode of Building Success Stories, host Ann Donnelly sits down with F. Raymond "Ray" Agnew, the Vice President of Hospital and Community Engagement at Glens Falls Hospital. Ray shares his fascinating career trajectory, which began at the Crane School of Music, where he studied music composition and theory. From writing music for the Lake Placid Olympics to leading development and communi...

In this episode of Building Success Stories , host Ann Donnelly sits down with John Snyder, the newly appointed Executive Director of the Park Theater Foundation in Glens Falls, New York. Relocating from a remote village in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, John brings a unique blend of experience in the performing arts and nonprofit leadership to the historic downtown venue. Listen in as they discuss J...

In this episode of Building Success Stories , host Ann Donnelly sits down with Kevin O’Brien , co-founder of TechFirst Insurance Agency . With a career spanning decades—from working with industry giants like Travelers to leading family-run agencies and bank consolidations—Kevin has seen the insurance landscape transform through technology and private equity. Now, Kevin is "starting fresh" with Tec...

Disrupting Upstate Real Estate: Technology, Discretion, and the $6.5M Lake George Estate with Realize Brokers Episode Overview: What do aviation, cryptocurrency, and a chance meeting at a local cigar bar have to do with the future of real estate in Glens Falls? In this episode of Building Success Stories, host Ann Donnelly sits down with Spencer Bray and Nic Ketter, the innovative co-founders of R...

In this episode, Ann Donnelly sits down with Colleen Carlson , the Director of Sales at the Saratoga Casino Hotel , to explore a career that spans decades at one of Saratoga’s most iconic properties. From her humble beginnings selling race programs at age 15 to overseeing sales for a massive complex that includes a hotel, casino, fine dining, and elite event spaces, Colleen shares the "magic" behi...

In this episode of Building Success Stories , Ann Donnelly sits down with Sharon Horton, the Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. With a rich background spanning hospitality and major nonprofits such as the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association, and NAMI, Sharon brings a wealth of operational and advocacy expertise to th...