Founder's Dinner

Neil Twa's entrepreneurial journey is a testament to the transformative power of risk-taking and adaptability. After leaving his corporate role at IBM in 2007, Neil leveraged his extensive experience in technology and management to build a successful consultancy by 2010. His transition from a structured corporate environment to entrepreneurship was driven by a quest for a more balanced life and a...

Zach Schneider's entrepreneurial journey began at the young age of 19 after he failed to secure an internship, prompting him to found Schneider Digital, which specializes in website development and software solutions. Reflecting on his path, Zach sees entrepreneurship not as a fast track to wealth but as a series of rigorous learning experiences demanding dedication and focus. His story, highlight...

Zach Schneider's entrepreneurial journey began at the young age of 19 after he failed to secure an internship, prompting him to found Schneider Digital, which specializes in website development and software solutions. Reflecting on his path, Zach sees entrepreneurship not as a fast track to wealth but as a series of rigorous learning experiences demanding dedication and focus. His story, highlight...

Seth Greene is an accomplished entrepreneur with a successful background in marketing and communication, recognized for his achievements and featured on the Ink List. Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Seth adopts a perspective of humility and gratitude, acknowledging the continuous evolution in business, marketing, and communication. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to new technol...

Seth Greene is an accomplished entrepreneur with a successful background in marketing and communication, recognized for his achievements and featured on the Ink List. Reflecting on his entrepreneurial journey, Seth adopts a perspective of humility and gratitude, acknowledging the continuous evolution in business, marketing, and communication. He emphasizes the importance of adapting to new technol...

Episode Summary: Mike Davern, co-founder of the thriving digital marketing agency Incept, has a compelling entrepreneurial journey that began with selling pages from adult-oriented magazines he discovered on a trail as a child. His perspective on entrepreneurship is deeply rooted in a desire to help others, particularly parents with sick children, by connecting them with necessary resources and su...

Episode Summary: Mike Davern, co-founder of the thriving digital marketing agency Incept, has a compelling entrepreneurial journey that began with selling pages from adult-oriented magazines he discovered on a trail as a child. His perspective on entrepreneurship is deeply rooted in a desire to help others, particularly parents with sick children, by connecting them with necessary resources and su...

Episode Summary: Susan Duke’s entrepreneurial journey began in her mother's retail business, planting the seeds of her desire to own a business. Despite initially majoring in business administration, she found her true passion in English and history, eventually leading her to pursue a law degree. Her early legal career was fraught with challenges and a lack of mentorship, but she took a leap of fa...

Episode Summary: Susan Duke’s entrepreneurial journey began in her mother's retail business, planting the seeds of her desire to own a business. Despite initially majoring in business administration, she found her true passion in English and history, eventually leading her to pursue a law degree. Her early legal career was fraught with challenges and a lack of mentorship, but she took a leap of fa...

Rodney Reisdorf, the CEO and co-founder of Verivend, a fintech company based in Buffalo, has been a pivotal force in revolutionizing B2B payments with innovative solutions. With a background steeped in high-growth startups across various industries, Rodney has positioned Verivend as a trailblazer in the private capital space, likening it to a Venmo for private capital transactions. Under his leade...

Rodney Reisdorf, the CEO and co-founder of Verivend, a fintech company based in Buffalo, has been a pivotal force in revolutionizing B2B payments with innovative solutions. With a background steeped in high-growth startups across various industries, Rodney has positioned Verivend as a trailblazer in the private capital space, likening it to a Venmo for private capital transactions. Under his leade...

Episode Summary: Katharine Earnhardt embarked on her entrepreneurial journey ten years ago, establishing a thriving business now operating in four cities with a dedicated team of eight women. A self-motivated problem solver, Katharine finds inspiration in the stories of entrepreneurs from diverse fields, which has profoundly influenced her innovative business model. She values being surrounded by...

Episode Summary: Katharine Earnhardt embarked on her entrepreneurial journey ten years ago, establishing a thriving business now operating in four cities with a dedicated team of eight women. A self-motivated problem solver, Katharine finds inspiration in the stories of entrepreneurs from diverse fields, which has profoundly influenced her innovative business model. She values being surrounded by...

Episode Summary: Adria Goldman Gross, a distinguished expert in the health insurance industry, collaborates with the Expert Institute, where her extensive knowledge is highly valued. Surprised but grateful to be approached by the organization, Adria works closely with lawyers, providing deep insights and guidance on complex legal matters. Her extensive experience, including co-authoring the book "...

Episode Summary: Adria Goldman Gross, a distinguished expert in the health insurance industry, collaborates with the Expert Institute, where her extensive knowledge is highly valued. Surprised but grateful to be approached by the organization, Adria works closely with lawyers, providing deep insights and guidance on complex legal matters. Her extensive experience, including co-authoring the book "...

Episode Summary: Paul Grenauer's entrepreneurial journey began with a youthful landscape business, reflecting his early passion and his family's strong entrepreneurial spirit. His perspective on the entrepreneurial journey emphasizes a relentless drive, a passion for new challenges, and the fulfillment that comes from helping others. Grenauer acknowledges the difficulties along the way but believe...

Episode Summary: Paul Grenauer's entrepreneurial journey began with a youthful landscape business, reflecting his early passion and his family's strong entrepreneurial spirit. His perspective on the entrepreneurial journey emphasizes a relentless drive, a passion for new challenges, and the fulfillment that comes from helping others. Grenauer acknowledges the difficulties along the way but believe...

Trevor Buccieri, a driven entrepreneur from Orchard Park, has a unique perspective on the entrepreneurial journey that underscores the importance of passion, risk-taking, and continuous growth. Initially following a conventional path in accounting, Trevor pivoted to fitness and nutrition, leveraging his personal transformation to establish a thriving personal training business at just 19. His subs...

Trevor Buccieri, a driven entrepreneur from Orchard Park, has a unique perspective on the entrepreneurial journey that underscores the importance of passion, risk-taking, and continuous growth. Initially following a conventional path in accounting, Trevor pivoted to fitness and nutrition, leveraging his personal transformation to establish a thriving personal training business at just 19. His subs...

Billy Lewis embarked on his entrepreneurial journey in the late nineties, quickly transforming his business from a modest $6 million in sales to an impressive $50 million by 2005. Reflecting on his journey, Lewis reveals a mix of pride in his achievements and humility regarding his early mistakes, such as letting pride inhibit his willingness to seek advice. Despite these initial hurdles, his abil...

Billy Lewis embarked on his entrepreneurial journey in the late nineties, quickly transforming his business from a modest $6 million in sales to an impressive $50 million by 2005. Reflecting on his journey, Lewis reveals a mix of pride in his achievements and humility regarding his early mistakes, such as letting pride inhibit his willingness to seek advice. Despite these initial hurdles, his abil...

Wade Swikle, a proficient entrepreneur, transitioned from his position as a fractional chief marketing officer to establish a moving company. His perspective on starting a moving company highlights the significance of proper business practices and continuous learning. Initially, Wade dove into the business with little understanding of the essential legal requisites, such as licensing and insurance...

Wade Swikle, a proficient entrepreneur, transitioned from his position as a fractional chief marketing officer to establish a moving company. His perspective on starting a moving company highlights the significance of proper business practices and continuous learning. Initially, Wade dove into the business with little understanding of the essential legal requisites, such as licensing and insurance...

Michael Williams, founder of Williams Media, began his entrepreneurial journey unexpectedly at the age of 27 while working in sales and marketing for his family's business. His perspective on the entrepreneurial journey and its associated learnings stem from his improvised entry into the business world and his subsequent experiences. Williams asserts that entrepreneurship often involves taking ris...

Michael Williams, founder of Williams Media, began his entrepreneurial journey unexpectedly at the age of 27 while working in sales and marketing for his family's business. His perspective on the entrepreneurial journey and its associated learnings stem from his improvised entry into the business world and his subsequent experiences. Williams asserts that entrepreneurship often involves taking ris...