87:60 by Virtuoso

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with A.M. Bhatt, Founder of DAE and U of Next and Mostafa Analoui, Director of the M&T Bank Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Quinnipiac University. They discuss the state of workforce development in Connecticut, the factors holding back the effectiveness of workforce training, and the state’s economic disparities. Bhatt and Analoui argue...

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Jon Feld, Associate Creative Director at Rebellion Group, to discuss Feld’s publishing roots, dealing with various personalities in the workplace, and the impact of AI on the creative field. They compare the current technological shift to the emergence of the web in 1999, and point out that the value in AI comes from user expertise. The conversation...

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with James Dowd, Elena Anetrella, and Samantha Manz to talk about AI as a tool for enhancement, regional economic challenges, and the resistance to adopting artificial intelligence into everyday life. The conversation explores how AI can be used to enhance human skills, comparing it to historical inventions like the calculator and abacus. The ethical deb...

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with James Dowd, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Creative Officer at Rebellion Group, to talk about AI’s impact on jobs and innovation, brand integrity, and future strategy. They highlight the current state of AI adoption in workplaces, the importance of brands focusing on humanity, and the nuances required for a successful business to succeed. The co...

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Erin Choquette, CEO of CT Paid Leave, to discuss the many factors that shape the program and its impact on employers and employees alike. An employment lawyer by training, Erin spent years representing employers before stepping into her role at CT Paid Leave. The conversation touches on the challenge of “employer fatigue,” operational benefits of pa...

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Lisa Jacobi, Senior Vice President and Chief HR Officer at COCC (Connecticut Online Computer Center), to discuss the company’s rebrand, common recruitment challenges, and its focus on internal talent pipelines. COCC is a long-standing technology service provider for community banks and credit unions. Jacobi touches on the company’s impressive achiev...

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Andy Pforzheimer, founder and former CEO of bartaco and Barcelona Wine Bar, to talk about his journey from working in a restaurant to building two businesses from the ground up. Andy discusses his experience with successfully scaling restaurants, what he thinks makes a “decent human being,” and the business fallacy that is quantity over quality. His...

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Kyle DeVivo, Chief Operating Officer of DATTCO, alongside his father, Don DeVivo, President of DATTCO, to talk about what it really takes to modernize a business without losing a people-first philosophy. Kyle highlights his family’s humble beginnings running a dairy farm—crediting this experience as the foundation for DATTCO’s direct, family-first a...

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito talks with Joe Wilson Jr., Director of Providence’s Department of Art, Culture and Tourism, about what it actually takes to build a city people want to stay in, not just visit. From permitting and producing major public events like PVDFest to stewarding public art, nightlife strategy, and World Cup fan activations, Joe breaks down why “visitor experience” only wor...

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Vincent Errichetti, founder of Taste of Massachusetts and Taste of New England, to explore what travel and tourism content actually does when it’s done right: drive foot traffic, shape demand, and fuel local economies. From building a creator-owned brand after getting laid off, to realizing that storytelling consistently outperforms aesthetics and v...

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Becky Lewis, founder of Invictus Records, to explore a different kind of record label — one built to protect artists instead of exploiting them. Becky breaks down why most musicians still can’t make a living in a streaming-first world, how traditional contracts create massive power and information imbalances, and what it looks like to build a more t...

What does real marketing risk look like in 2026 and why does trust matter more than ever? In this episode of 87:60, host BJ Kito dives into a wide-ranging conversation on brand risk, cultural backlash, and the myth of breakthrough marketing. Using recent campaigns from brands like YETI and American Eagle as examples, the group debates whether today’s safest strategies are actually the riskiest one...

Cybersecurity isn’t just about firewalls and fear. It’s about protecting the systems that hold the world together. In this episode, Justin Orcutt, Microsoft’s defense and cybersecurity lead for top global contractors, explains how “unknown unknowns,” AI, and zero trust are reshaping security. From nation-state threats and regulatory frameworks to Connecticut’s growing role as a defense and cyber h...

Quantum technology and life sciences may seem like two different worlds — but in Connecticut, they’re rapidly converging. In this episode, Albert Green, CEO of QuantumCT, and Jodie Gillon, CEO of BioCT, explain how the state is becoming a national hub for quantum innovation, biotech advancement, and workforce development.

Artificial intelligence doesn’t have to live in the hands of a few. In this episode, Edward Zyszkowski, CEO and Chairman of Personal Digital Spaces, explains how decentralization, data licensing, and small, specialized models are reshaping the AI economy. From the early foundations of neural networks to today’s human-first design, Zyszkowski explores a future where consent, control, and compensati...

From nuclear submarines to cybersecurity strategy, Ian Leatherman’s journey proves that innovation starts with curiosity and the courage to rethink what’s possible. As a former Navy engineer turned Microsoft security strategist, Ian has helped reshape how the federal government, defense sector, and private industry protect critical systems and infrastructure.

111 years in business doesn’t mean playing it safe. Jill Mayer, CEO of Bead Industries, is proving that legacy and innovation aren’t opposites — they’re fuel for each other.  As the fifth-generation leader of a family company, she’s carrying forward more than a century of history while pushing into new markets, experimenting with technology, and rethinking what it means to build culture in modern...

Niko Zurita has spent his career scaling startups and building intentional workplace cultures. From early talent roles to leading People & Culture at Inbox Health, he’s helped companies grow with clarity, empathy, and operational focus. Now, he’s applying that same mindset to a new challenge: group travel. As co-founder of Vamos, Niko is solving the coordination chaos behind company retreats....

Behind Shaping CT's Future Pitch Competition is the powerhouse team at UConn’s Connecticut Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (CCEI). Executive Director Jennifer Mathieu and Assistant Director Alycia Chrosniak have helped launch and grow hundreds of startups, designing accelerator programs, securing funding opportunities, and mentoring founders. This episode highlights what makes Co...

Orbit Crates is reimagining playtime with a toy rental service designed to reduce clutter, encourage sustainable play, and help families save money. Founder Kim Conti, a three-time AI product founder, left a C-suite role to build a mission-driven business tackling the environmental and financial waste of toy overconsumption. This episode highlights the inspiration behind Orbit Crates, lessons from...

Puure is a mission-driven intimate apparel brand putting women’s health first. Founder Christina Phillips was inspired by her personal health journey to design organic, non-toxic lingerie that’s as safe and sustainable as it is beautiful. In this episode, Christina talks about the gaps in the intimate apparel market, how Puure blends wellness with fashion, and why conscious consumer choices can tr...

Restore is a SaaS platform built for restaurants to track and resolve guest issues in real time, whether it’s handling concerns in person, offering rewards through the app, or using insights to improve service. Founder Nathan Catapano is focused on giving restaurant owners a credible, engaging tool that strengthens customer relationships and boosts operational performance. In this episode, Nathan...

PatentPlus AI is automating one of the most time-consuming parts of innovation: patent search. Co-founder Massyl Mallem is pioneering a system that delivers premium-quality search reports in less than 24 hours, giving inventors and startups faster paths to protection and commercialization. We take a closer look at how AI can transform IP research, the impact on global innovation, and what’s next f...

Levo International is transforming food security with affordable, accessible hydroponic technology. Founder Christian Heiden started the company as a teenager and has since scaled it into a community-driven enterprise producing fresh, local food with 90% less water and faster growth than traditional farming. We talk about Levo’s journey from small pilot farms to statewide expansion and how their m...

Andrea Shields is a physician-entrepreneur and maternal health advocate, co-founding Varda5 to tackle a critical gap in emergency response education: maternal cardiac arrest. Their Obstetric Life Support (OBLS) training is a first-of-its-kind, evidence-based program preparing healthcare teams to save lives in critical moments. In this episode, Andrea discusses the urgent need for OBLS, the challen...