Beyond the Bottom Line

After 30 years as a nurse, Kelly Flowers lost her job over a hospital vaccine mandate — and within thirty minutes, she walked out of the building she'd planned to retire from. Because she and her husband had already paid off their debt, including their home, the loss wasn't a crisis. It was an opening. In this episode, Bob and Maria talk with Kelly, now a Ramsey-trained Master Financial Co...

Dorene Castelline didn't walk into a gym until she was 46 — and at the time, she was in so much pain from a spinal injury that surgeons were recommending titanium disc replacement. Instead, she found strength training, and it changed the direction of her life. In this episode, Bob and Maria talk with Dorene, an IFBB Pro bodybuilder and founder of Never Too Late Fitness, about the decade-plus o...

Dr. Jacob Parrick spent twenty years chasing the moment that would finally make him feel like he'd arrived — until it came, and he felt nothing at all. In this episode, Bob and Maria talk with Jacob about co-founding Summit TelePsychiatry with two partners, why being good at medicine doesn't automatically make you good at running a business, and what he's learned about purpose, partner...

Gene McLaughlin didn't set out to become one of Northeastern Pennsylvania's most respected custom home builders. He started out framing houses as a teenager, spent years running large residential developments in the Philadelphia area, then built luxury homes in Los Angeles before coming home to start G.F. McLaughlin LLC with his brother, Christian. In this episode, Gene talks about what de...

What does it actually cost to bet on yourself? This week on Beyond the Bottom Line, Bob and Maria talk with Jessica Merritt, Founder and Owner of Tachi Hill, a women’s fashion boutique in downtown Scranton, Pennsylvania.  Jessica grew up in Ecuador, moved to New York at 12, worked overnight shifts at Fox News, sold designer dresses on commission in White Plains, then traded all of it for four kids...

Most businesses chase leads. Patricia Bezerra built a booked-out practice on referrals, partnerships, and a founder story her customers trust. On this episode of Beyond the Bottom Line, Bob and Maria sit down with Patricia (aka “Pachee”), licensed esthetician and owner of Pachee’s Spa in Dickson City, PA — an entrepreneur who turned a decade-long personal struggle into a thriving business, with st...

At his lowest point, Jim Rail was waking up at the crack of dawn to drink, cycling through six rehabs, and living in an old farmhouse with almost nothing to his name. Then he “flipped a switch” — quit drinking cold, called his brother, and started knocking on doors to sell roofs. About six years later, Rail Roofing & Construction is a multi-million-dollar operation that did $6.4M last year and...

In this episode of Beyond the Bottom Line, Bob and Maria sit down with Kat Fox, the designer and strategist behind Kat Fox Design — a creative studio helping small businesses build beautiful brands and stronger online presences that actually drive results.  Kat's path to entrepreneurship wasn't linear. She started in high-end jewelry design on 47th Street in New York City, moved to Colorad...

What does it really take to grow a small-town family business into a destination people drive hours to visit PLUS being named the Rural Small Business of the Year by the US Small Business Association?  On this episode of Beyond the Bottom Line, Bob and Maria sit down with Mike and Renee Wilson, owners of Shores Sisters Farm Market in Towanda, Pennsylvania.  What started as a simple roadside sweet...

Healthcare is changing fast and independent pharmacies are feeling the pressure.  On this episode of  Beyond the Bottom Line , Bob and Maria sit down with Tom DePietro, founder of DePietro's Pharmacy, to talk about what’s really happening behind the scenes in healthcare, prescription pricing, and patient care.  Tom shares the story of building an independent pharmacy from the ground up, why he...

What happens when someone hits rock bottom... and then chooses to rebuild?  In Episode 28 of  Beyond the Bottom Line , Bob and Maria sit down with Brian Kerrigan and Jesse Vipond, the team behind  Junken Monkeys —a company that’s redefining what business can look like.  In this episode, we explore:  Brian’s personal story of addiction, recovery, and transformation  The moment that led to 28 years...

What does it really take to build something that lasts?  In Episode 27 of  Beyond the Bottom Line , Bob and Maria sit down with Guy Fasciana—an entrepreneur with experience in both the health food industry and real estate—to talk about discipline, consistency, and what it looks like to build businesses over time.  This conversation explores the overlap between:  Personal health and business perfor...

What happens when you apply the same discipline it takes to transform your body… to building a business?  In Episode 26 of  Beyond the Bottom Line , we sit down with Jordan Galasso—founder of Fit AF Nutrition, a rapidly growing meal prep company delivering fresh, performance-focused meals across the Northeast.  Jordan shares how his background as a personal trainer evolved into a full-scale operat...

What does it take to create an event people actually remember?  In Episode 25 of  Beyond the Bottom Line , Bob and Maria sit down with Sarah Effertz, owner of Blu Elefante Events, to talk about building a business rooted in creativity, connection, and calm under pressure.  Sarah shares how she went from finance to marketing to launching her own event planning company, why she believes she’s not ju...

What do you do when you’re terrified… but you want it anyway? In Episode 24 of Beyond the Bottom Line, we sit down with Emilia McCormick—entrepreneur, community leader, founder of USA Tiny Tumblers, visionary behind USA Ninja, CFO of United Sports Academy, and author of Mikey Goes to the Park (with her next book, Jamie’s Big Leap, coming soon). Emilia shares her family’s journey from Bulgaria to P...

What if the thing you’re afraid to do is the exact thing you’re meant to build? This week on Beyond the Bottom Line, we sit down with Eloise Butovich—chef, entrepreneur, and co-owner of Number 27 Café and Central Park Flowers in Clarks Green. From a traditional Italian upbringing in Brooklyn to high-end Manhattan real estate, to rebuilding a business after 9/11 and the 2008 financial crash, Eloise...

Legacy builders, listen up. In this episode of Beyond the Bottom Line, Bob and Maria sit down with Scott Lynett, an estate planning attorney and legacy planner rooted in NEPA, to talk about the real-life (not theoretical) reasons planning matters—especially for parents, business owners, and families who want to protect what they’ve built. Scott shares the personal story that shaped his commitment...

This week on Beyond the Bottom Line, Bob and Maria sit down with Tara Grossi, a psychic medium, healer, and spiritual counselor who has quietly built a decades-long practice rooted in ethics, discretion, and trust. With nearly 30 years of experience, Tara shares what it actually looks like to operate a deeply personal, emotionally intense service business — one that cannot be scaled, automated, or...

🎙️ Episode 20: Bill Ruark — Building Legacy in Business, Family, and Community  This week on Beyond the Bottom Line, Bob and Maria sit down with Bill Ruark, one of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s most respected business leaders and philanthropists—known for building and growing companies like M.S. “Chop” & Stone, expanding into energy services, and investing in community institutions like the Wyom...

This week’s guest is Mike Normandia, owner of LFG Life Fitness Goals in Clarks Summit and an award-winning trainer known for blending fitness, mindset, discipline, and real-life transformation. A lifelong athlete who once relied on talent alone, Mike experienced a wake-up call in college that set him on a completely different path. After rebuilding his health, identity, and belief systems during t...

This week’s guest is Liz Grad Murphy, Chief Strategy & Operations Officer for Lackawanna Medical Group, LMG Wellness, and LMG Cosmetics.    After 15 years leading HR, strategy, talent, and operations at Fortune 500 companies like Cigna, JPMorgan Chase, and Prudential, Liz left corporate life during the Great Resignation to join her family’s 40-year medical practice in Scranton.    In this epis...

In this episode of  Beyond the Bottom Line , Bob and Maria sit down with Micah and Lauren Woodard, the husband-and-wife team behind Lavish Scranton and co-owners of The DripBar Scranton.  Their story is steeped in grit, heart, and genuine honesty — from navigating their son’s rare childhood cancer diagnosis, to stepping into business ownership long before they felt fully “ready,” to expanding Lavi...

What really keeps a community thriving? According to Mari Potis — it’s connection, courage, and a whole lot of heart.    For 27 years, Mari has been the unstoppable force behind membership, events, and community building at the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. She’s a nationally recognized chamber executive, the mind behind the region’s signature Empower Conference, the creator of the Chamber...

Former U.S. Army officer, behavioral scientist, and leadership facilitator Dr. Will Ramey joins Bob and Maria for one of the most energizing and practical conversations we've had on leadership, teamwork, and finding purpose in your work. From deploying to Iraq, to earning a doctorate, to leaving a secure corporate path to pursue meaningful work, Will brings a rare blend of experience, humility...

Entrepreneur. Chef. Mom. Visionary.  This week on Beyond the Bottom Line , Bob and Maria sit down with Michelle Adomiak, co-owner and chef at Epicurean Delight Catering and owner of Electric City Bakehouse.  Michelle’s story is one of grit, growth, and grace — from rebuilding her life after divorce with two toddlers by her side to leading one of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s most in-demand catering...