Pain Points

In this episode of the Pain Points Podcast, Maggie Shea sits down with Kay Devealt, better known as the Palsy Power Chick, keynote speaker, disability advocate, and founder of Palsy Power Chick Innovations.  Kay shares her incredible journey from growing up with cerebral palsy to becoming a nationally recognized advocate for inclusion, accessibility, and workplace equity. She opens up about the ba...

In this episode of the Pain Points Podcast, Lauren Lewis sits down with Mary Czopp, Chief Communications and Development Officer at Child and Family Services, for a conversation about the evolving needs of families, the power of storytelling, and the life-changing work happening across Western New York.  For more than 150 years, Child and Family Services has been helping children, families, and in...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with Patti Stephen, President of Buffalo Prep and CEO & Co-Founder of C3 Community, for a conversation about leadership, educational equity, workplace culture, and what it means to truly help people thrive.  Patti shares her incredible journey from joining Buffalo Prep nearly two decades ago as a part-time special events coordinator to leading one of Wes...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis visits Say Yes Buffalo and sits down with Collin Gehl, Chief Human Resources Officer, for a conversation about career growth, nonprofit leadership, workforce development, and the importance of helping people see what is possible for themselves.  Collin shares his journey from earning an English degree at UB to finding his way into human resources through nonprofit wor...

In this episode, Maggie Shea sits down with David Herer, former CEO of ABC-Amega, for a conversation that spans generations of business, international expansion, family dynamics, and what it really takes to lead through uncertainty.  David shares the incredible story of how his family business started during the Great Depression and eventually evolved into an internationally recognized company ser...

Lauren Lewis sits down with Darnell Epps, founder of Thurgood, for a conversation that is both inspiring and incredibly real.  Darnell shares his journey from growing up in New York City, facing early challenges, and eventually working his way to Cornell and Yale Law School. But what makes his story stand out is what happened next. Instead of following a traditional legal path, he made a decision ...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with Christine Mathieu, B. Msc., CMC®, Wealth Coach and Certified Money Coach at Note Advisors, for a conversation that goes way beyond numbers and into how we actually think and feel about money.  Christine shares her journey from spending 20 years as a financial advisor to shifting into wealth coaching after realizing something important – logic alone does...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with Sheri Scavone, CEO of the WNY Women’s Foundation, for a conversation that is honest, eye-opening, and incredibly relevant right now.  Sheri shares her journey from healthcare and public health into nonprofit leadership, and how that path led her to focus on advocacy, data, and driving real change for women and families across Western New York.  They get...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis visits ACSI and sits down with James Brand, President, and Kristen Huffcut, Senior Relationship Manager, to discuss the complexities of retirement plans and why many employers struggle to manage them.  ACSI is a third-party administrator (TPA) specializing in retirement plan compliance, administration, and support for small and mid-sized businesses. Their team helps c...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with Carmelo Morreale, Owner and Partner of Metrodata Services, a nationally accredited pre-employment screening company based in Buffalo, NY.  Carm shares his journey from starting as an intern in 2009 to eventually purchasing the company with his business partner in 2022. What started as “just a job” turned into a career rooted in accountability, complianc...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with Angela Hall, PhD, CFP, Senior Advisor at Note Advisors, for a refreshing and honest conversation about financial literacy, career pivots, and making money conversations less scary, and a lot more human.  Angela shares her nontraditional path into finance, starting her career in biology and education before finding her calling as a financial advisor. Wit...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with Christina Pearl, Corporate Director of Communications at Horizon Health Services, for an inspiring conversation about purpose-driven work, mental health advocacy, and the power of connection.  Christina shares her journey of returning to Buffalo after college, finding her way through nonprofit board service, and ultimately building Horizon’s communicati...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with Amy Gurske , Founder of sayhii , for a powerful and deeply human conversation about burnout, fear, self-worth, and what happens when you finally choose your health over expectations. Amy shares her journey from spending 17 years in corporate America, to hitting a breaking point that led to a life-changing decision she calls a “midlife resign.” From glas...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with Justin Cuviello and Kyle Cuviello , brothers and co-owners of Care Team Solutions , a national healthcare staffing agency based in Buffalo, NY. Their story is packed with grit: from taking a leap of faith after careers in pharmaceutical and software sales, to launching a staffing firm from scratch, to growing through COVID, and surviving the steepest do...

This week, Lauren Lewis sits down with Brittany Frey , Co-Founder of Hays Frey PR, for an honest, funny, and powerful conversation about crisis communications, entrepreneurship, and navigating life when everything feels upside down. Brittany shares her full story — from agency grind, to in-house roles, to losing her job during COVID, to launching a PR firm in the middle of a lawsuit, raising young...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with Candice Miller, Founder and Principal of Miller Advisory Group, to unpack her journey from finance and law firm operations to building a thriving business development consultancy for legal professionals. Candice shares how she found her niche helping law firms modernize their operations, use data more strategically, and adapt to emerging technologies li...

In this episode, Maggie Shea sits down with Tom Murdock , Clinical Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Management , to unpack his nontraditional career journey — from corporate consulting to higher education — and how he’s helping shape the next generation of entrepreneurs in Western New York. Tom shares how his early passion for economic development led him from Deloitte Consulting i...

In this episode, Maggie Shea sits down with HeatherJackson - Fassari , Owner of Interlink CFO , to discuss the realities of leaving corporate America to launch a business from scratch — and the Pain Points that come with entrepreneurship, growth, and trust. Heather shares her story of stepping out of a 20+ year career in corporate finance and operations to build a fractional CFO firm from the grou...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with Allison Raffaele, CEO of Medical Health Associates of Western New York (MHA) , to explore the realities of leading a healthcare organization that balances independence, compliance, and community connection. Allison shares her winding career path — from surgical technology to animal hospital administration — and the pivotal Pain Points that shaped her le...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with MarioRodriguez , President of Forseti Protection Group , a full-service security company that’s redefining what it means to keep people, property, and organizations safe. Founded in 2012, Forseti Protection Group was born from the belief that clients deserve more than box-checking and basic protection—they deserve peace of mind . With a team built on mi...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis sits down with Beth Clark , third-generation owner of Bridal Chateau , a beloved local bridal shop that’s been serving brides for nearly 50 years. Beth shares the evolution of the business her grandmother started—from a small in-home operation to a leading bridal destination that’s focused on experience, inclusion, and authenticity. Together, they explore the Pain Poi...

In this episode, Maggie Shea sits down with Steve McMorrow, Founder of the Buffalo Cannabis Network (BCN) and longtime advocate for cannabis normalization and education.  Steve shares his cross-country journey from LA film schoolto launching a cleaning company for grow facilities in Colorado, to ultimately returning to Buffalo to build an inclusive and informed cannabis ecosystem. Together, Maggie...

In this episode, Maggie Shea sits down with creative strategist and community leader Lindsay Taylor (Director of Advancement & Development, Buffalo PAL; Founder, Beau Fleuve Music & Arts).  Lindsay shares his journey from organizing school trips andparties to launching multi-city festivals, community programs, and one of Buffalo’s most dynamic “third spaces.” Together, Maggie and Lindsay d...

In this episode, Lauren Lewis of  StaffBuffalo  sits down with fellow woman-owned business leader  Danielle Bickel , founder of  Strokes Painting & Contracting .   Danielle shares her journey launching Strokes during the height of the pandemic, from working around the kitchen table to managing 14 crews and opening a dedicated shop. With a commitment to integrity, transparency, and culture, Dan...

In this transparent and compelling episode, host Maggie Shea visits East Leaf Dispensary, a woman- and family owned, New York State licensed adult-use cannabis retailer in Cheektowaga, NY. Maggie sits down with co-owner, Gina Miller, and team member, Taylor Smith, to dive deep into the  real  Pain Points of navigating a brand-new cannabis dispensary from scratch.  From opening a thriving liquor st...