The Jake Rouch Show

Dr. Andrew Roth is and has been many things - a tenured professor, an administrator, a university president, a writer, a lecturer, a leader. Woven through all that he does is his role as educator - and he is a masterful one. His new book - "How To Be An Effective Leader: A Leadership Primer" - published by the Jefferson Education Society - is meant as a tool to lay the framework/groundwo...

Nick Scott, Jr. is Vice President of Scott Enterprises, a multi-level hospitality and entertainment company. Scott Enterprises owns and operates Splash Lagoon – on of the top indoor water parks in the country – Peek-N-Peak Ski Resort, numerous hotels, Oliver's Restaurant, Oliver’s Beer Garden, Roma’s Italian Oven, Applebee's, and more. Scott Enterprises is run by a three-headed dragon – Ni...

John Lyons is an Erie, Pennsylvania-based filmmaker.  John has been a full-time employee at Edinboro/PennWestUniversity since 2000 working in IT…that is his daytime cape. After hours, on weekends, and on vacation, John is a professional filmmaker and creator. He has created orworked for/with the following – Lyons Den Productions, Film Society of NW PA, Eerie Horror Fest, Film at the Erie Art Museu...

There can be no telling of the revitalization/rebirth/rebuilding of downtown Erie without recognizing the steadfast leadership and presence of Calamari’s under the ownership and leadership of Jay and Marci Honard. In celebrationof our decades long friendship – and their 30th anniversary indowntown Erie – we connect to discuss their business origin story – the challenges of running a successful res...

Darlene Feeney almost never went to college. Thankfully - for thousands of students in Erie - she did. Darlene started in the parochial system and migrated to Erie's Public Schools where she taught for 20 years. She then ran for and won a seat on the Erie School Board. Darlene is a professional educator who has seen it from all angles. She is also a very thoughtful individual when it comes to...

Kyle is a husband & dad first - he is also an entrepreneur, coach, volunteer and so much more. Kyle is a great example of someone on the playing field of our region making plays, being a good teammate, and strategizing on what’s next. I have said on this show several times – the ball finds energy…and ball is definitely finding Kyle’s energy. Excited for everyone to hear directly from this high...

Rebecca Styn has an undergraduate degree in piano but is building a national brand of spirit free cocktails called Blind Tiger. Rebecca's career path may not be a strait-line of progression, but it is a deeply impressive one. From marketing to campaign consulting to running for office to opening a restaurant to becoming a beverage manufacturer - Rebecca takes on challenges that peak her intere...

Bob & Desiree Troutner are just husband and wife - they are business partners in two complex, technology heavy businesses. In 2012 they created ACTION SHOTS (a sporting event photo service for large tournaments and competitions) and in 2022 they created FIXED - HOME HANDYMAN SERVICES (a web-based technology company that is designed to connect skilled home repair and improvement professionals t...

In this episode, we are joined by two individuals who are onthe daily, front line of entrepreneurship – Sean Fedorko and Jenessa Norton. Sean is an Erie native who founded Radius CoWork, is a champion for co-working, for entrepreneurship, for technology, for Erie, for downtown Erie and for youngdynamic professionals choosing Erie to live and work. Jenessa Norton Business Support Coordinator for Ra...

Brad DiFiore is Managing Director at Ailevon Pacific, an airline consulting firm that has been working with the Erie International Airport for the last 5+ years to help increase airservice options.  Prior to creating Ailevon Pacific, Brad worked for Sabre Airline Solutions and Delta Airlines in a variety of capacities focused on scheduling, network planning, andcultivating relationships between ca...

I think the first 10+ episodes are a good sample set to request some feedback from those of you who have been kind enough to listen. Take a listen to hear how best to share your thought and some ideas I have on how to go forward. Regardless of whether you share ides with me or not - a gigantic THANK YOU to all of you who have listened - it is beyond what I could have ever expected!

Tim Wachter is a partner at The Knox Law firm where his practice specializes in working with municipalities, municipal authorities, and school districts. Tim is a national expert on Federal Opportunity Zones. But much like the onions he cooks over an open fire at home, Tim has many more layers to his professional personal life than even those who know him are aware. In this episode I learn more ab...

Two days after it was announced that Yuriy Ostapyak would be succeeding founder Jim Berlin as CEO of Logistics Plus, he joined The Jake Rouch Show to talk about life, business, global logistics, Ukraine, and more. Yuriy is a dynamic young leader that is a native of the Ukraine, went to school at Edinboro University, and has been working at Logistics Plus since 2008. As you listen, you will quickly...

This episode covers chasing a dream, friendship, adventures in performing, memories, and laughing...lots of laughing. My guests today are Mark Tanenbaum and John Stockhausen . Mark and I have been professionally connected for 20+ years. John and I grew up in the same Briggs Avenue neighborhood. Today, I want to find out more about how they met, their friendship, their involvement in the arts but m...

Jim Foote is the CEO of First Ascent Biomedical - is a biotech start-up founded in 2018 with a mission to transform medical oncology through highly individualized, prospective treatment planning technologies that improve survival and advance science. Our conversation provides a deeper dive into their technology - in a listener friendly manner - and how it pairs with an individual's oncologists...

My guest today is Elana Como. E Elana is CEO of the Northwest Institute for Research (NWIR). NWIRoperates the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) for 13 counties in NW PA, including Erie County. The ELRC provides a single point-of-contact for families, early childhood education professionals and communities to get information and accessservices that support high-quality childcare and early learn...

Tina Mengine is the CEO of the Erie County Redevelopment Authority. Tina is one of those "names" that people in Erie know, but not nearly as many have had the pleasure to meet. I hope this conversation helps to shine more light on my friend and colleague whom I have known for over 25 years andworked with in a variety of capacities. I am confident that the development work she is doing pr...

Brian Slawin is a serial entrepreneur, tech investor, pilot,consultant, public speaker, a great hype-man, and the face of Ben Franklin Technology Partners in northwest Pennsylvania. Brian is also a great colleague and friend. Today, we will be talking predominantly about entrepreneurship...but a few other things may be sprinkled in there! Enjoy!

Meet the host and hear the back story on how and why The Jake Rouch Show came into existence.

Refugee resettlement has brought 700-1000 new residents per year to the Erie community over the last 20 years. Katie Kretz leads the Multi-Cultural Resource Center (MCRC), the largest organization in our community helping to facilitate this process for these new residents in a professional, thoughtful, and caring manner.

Gary Horton is Executive Director of the Urban Erie Community Development Corporation. Gary comes from large Erie family with a storied history of political and social equity advocacy. Gary was one of the first professionals - outside my immediate office - that I worked with very closely. Gary and I remain professional colleagues and friends but today's conversation provided me with new perspectiv...

Steve Trohoske is a lifelong Erie resident, professional musician, and is co-owner of City Gallery with his wife, Lena Logvina. Steve is deeply passionate about the arts and the arts community in Erie. Steve and I have known each other for years and always enjoy each others company and perspective, but today I got to go deeper and know more about the person.

Chris Sirianni developed The Brewerie and played a material role in the redevelopment of downtown Erie over the last 20 years. Chris great guy and has been a positive energy force for so many. In this episode, we get his full story of creating Brewerie and learn more about one of truly good people living in our region. Enjoy!