Founders' Forum

When experts told Judith Creed that her son would never walk, talk, or live independently, she refused to accept that as his future. Instead, she turned one family's challenge into a movement that has transformed hundreds of lives. In this episode of Founders' Forum, Judith Creed shares her remarkable journey from speech-language pathologist and entrepreneur to founding JCHAI, a nonprofi...

Success isn't always about avoiding failure. Sometimes it's about what you build after everything falls apart. In this episode, Steve Berardi shares how resilience, leadership, and a willingness to adapt helped him rebuild both his business and his future. Steve Berardi, Founder and President of Omni Building Group, joins Marc Bernstein to discuss his entrepreneurial journey from music s...

Pete Meyer has spent nearly three decades building businesses, navigating industry shifts, and learning one of entrepreneurship's toughest lessons: success comes from execution, not perfect planning. In this episode of Founders Forum, Pete Meyer, Founder and CEO of Cause Connect, joins Marc Bernstein to share his journey from the early days of the dot-com boom to building companies that have...

Some founders launch companies. Syd Kitson set out to build a hometown. In this episode of Founders' Forum, Marc Bernstein welcomes Syd Kitson, the visionary behind Babcock Ranch, one of the most innovative and resilient master-planned communities in the United States. Syd shares how his experiences growing up in a close-knit New Jersey town and playing in the NFL helped shape his approach to...

When the housing market collapsed in 2008, many business owners pulled back. Mark Wagner saw an opportunity to pivot, helping transform a small family flooring business into a national industry leader. His journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the power of long-term thinking.  In this episode of Founders Forum, Marc Bernstein sits down with Mark Wagner, Co-Founder and CEO of RM I...

Susan McCrossin launched Boomtown Internet Group in 2001, when nobody knew what to call what she was doing. Two decades later, her daughter Devon is running the company and building it into something even bigger. From cold-calling clients in the early days of Google to managing a global team of 25, the Boomtown story is one of timing, grit, and an unexpected family handoff. Susan shares how she an...

Selling your business doesn't mean you've arrived. It means you're starting over. And nobody warns you about the wall you hit on the other side. In this episode, Marc Bernstein sits down with Chris Donnelly, a former investment banker turned plumbing and HVAC entrepreneur who spent a decade rebuilding his family's business before selling it in 2023. Amy Wicks, founder of Wicks...

Her son asked her one question that changed everything. How many tons of plastic are you personally responsible for sitting in a landfill right now? For Marta Sylvester, founder and CEO of NuGen Packaging, that moment didn't just sting. It sparked a company. After 20 years climbing the ranks of the traditional packaging industry, Marta walked away from a VP of Sales role to build something sh...

What does it really take to build a brand people trust and remember? In this episode of Founders Forum, Amy N. Wicks, P.E. shares how she turns insight into impact and helps founders create meaningful connections that support long term growth. Joined by guest co-host Chris Donnelly, the conversation explores Amy’s journey through business growth, brand strategy, and staying authentic in a crowded...

Bill Sprague didn't wait for the perfect moment — he built one. Starting Risk Averse Insurance in 2015 with no clients and a blank slate, Bill and his childhood best friend turned a bold idea into one of Philadelphia's leading commercial insurance brokerages. Bill Sprague, President and founder of Risk Averse Insurance, shares how he grew a firm built on proactive service, strategic acqu...

If you feel like your company can’t grow unless you work harder, you’re not broken. You’re probably missing the right second-in-command. In this episode of Founders Forum, Alec Broadfoot, Founder and CEO of Vision Spark and author of Hiring Your Right Number Two Leader , joins Marc Bernstein and guest co-host Anthony Naccarato to break down how the right leadership hire can completely change the t...

Family, trust, and grit are the foundations behind one of the country’s leading structural engineering firms. Anthony and Pete Naccarato share the story behind O'Donnell & Naccarato Structural Engineers, from its early days built on long hours and strong relationships to becoming a national, employee-owned company. Pete reflects on building the firm with deep trust in his partner, while T...

Most founders don’t start with a clear plan. They start by figuring things out as they go. In this episode, we’re joined by Mitch Gyger, President and Co-Founder of OPS Security Group, with Vera Hempel as guest co-host. Mitch shares how graduating into the 2009 recession led him to take a security guard role, an opportunity that ultimately shaped his entire career. What started as a stopgap turned...

Success doesn’t always come from a perfectly mapped out plan. Sometimes it starts with simply showing up and sharing what you know. In this episode of Founders Forum, Deanna Robinson reveals how a few pieces of marketing advice and a batch of cupcakes sparked the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey. As the founder of Social Impression, Deanna walks us through her evolution from working in a m...

Commitment can feel heavy, especially when you think it means locking into one path forever. In this episode, Vera Hempel offers a simpler approach: choose a direction, take action, and adjust as you go. We’re joined by Vera Hempel, co-founder of KissUX and Cactus Club Creative. Vera shares the mission driving her work today, helping aging adults and underserved communities access technology in a...

Uncertainty is everywhere—but what if it’s actually an opportunity? In this episode of Founders Forum, recorded in July 2025, Marc Bernstein sits down with Kerry Benson, alongside guest co-host Karla Trotman, to unpack how leaders can navigate constant change with clarity and confidence. Kerry, President & CEO of Big Edge Advisors, shares his journey from humble beginnings in Queens to becomin...

Entrepreneurship rarely follows a straight path. For Rebecca Addington, founder of Ville & Rue in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the journey blends farm roots, a passion for design, and a deep belief in the power of community. In this episode of Founders Forum, host Marc Bernstein is joined by co-hosts Ray Loewe, founder of The Luckiest Guy in the World, and Deborah Brandt, founder and CEO of Fig In...

What happens when passion, community, and entrepreneurship come together? In this episode of Founders Forum, Marc Bernstein sits down with Justina Latura, founder and CEO of Vine Bar in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to explore how a personal passion can grow into a thriving local business. Joining Marc as guest co-hosts are Ray Loewe, known as “The Luckiest Guy in the World,” and Deborah Brandt, founde...

Success in entrepreneurship rarely happens overnight—it’s often the result of decades of learning, experimenting, and refining what works. In this episode of Founders Forum , Marc Bernstein sits down with Jason Sherman to explore the experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial journey. In this conversation, recorded in July 2025, Jason Sherman—CEO and co-founder of Vengo AI—shares how a childhood...

What if getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to your career? In this episode of Founders Forum, Gui Costin shares how a career setback led him to build Dakota into a company serving thousands of investment firms nationwide. Gui Costin, Founder and CEO of Dakota, shares his journey from losing his job to creating Dakota Marketplace, a powerful database used by over 1,200 investment f...

Burnout isn’t just about working too hard—it’s about lacking the mental systems to sustain performance. In this episode of Founders Forum, Lissy Alden shares how her personal burnout led her to build a company dedicated to helping individuals and organizations develop true mental fitness. Co-hosting this episode alongside Marc Bernstein is Nicole Dery, Founder of Allelo Design, who brings thoughtf...

What if the future of air conditioning could cut your energy bills by 90%—while helping create cleaner, healthier buildings? In this episode of Founders Forum, Grahame Maisey joins Marc Bernstein, with special guest co-host Dr. Valecia “Dr. V” Dunbar, Founder & CEO of the Center for Confidence and Full Confidence RX. Together, they explore sustainability, innovation, and what it truly means to...

What if the key to solving climate change was already sitting on top of every commercial building? In this powerful episode of Founders Forum, Marc Bernstein is joined by guest co-host Matt Wampler, Founder & CEO of ClearCOGS, for a forward-looking conversation with Nick Martin, Co-Founder and COO of Carbon Reform. From AI and emerging tech to climate innovation and legacy thinking, this episo...

What if your business wasn’t just about revenue—but about changing lives? In this inspiring episode, Brad Stephenson shares how a people-first mindset transformed his company, his career, and thousands of others along the way. Hosted by Marc Bernstein and guest co-host Ray Loewe, this conversation dives into Brad’s journey from laborer to CEO & Co-owner of Newcastle Lawn & Landscape. Brad...

What if most disappointment comes from unspoken expectations—and the cure is a simple agreement? In this episode, we explore how shifting from assumptions to aligned agreements can transform leadership, teams, and even families. Hosted by Marc Bernstein, with guest co-host Scott Reuter of Product Command Data, this conversation features Gal Borenstein, founder and CEO of The Borenstein Group. Gal...