Bell Ringer (Buffalo Podcast)

Explore & More Children's Museum is coming down to Canalside in a highly anticipated move! We talked with CEO Michelle Urbanczyk ahead of the move to hear what to expect.  3:01- Technology in play 6:47- Milking cows 7:07- Hospital familiarity  10:23- On accessibility for all 15:56- Being good neighbors

In March, AML RightSource expanded to Buffalo, pledging to create 100 jobs in our financial services industry. Today, CEO Frank Ewing joins our show to dive into that decision. We discuss Buffalo's workforce, affordability, resources (including, yes, Invest Buffalo Niagara), and what it means personally to Frank to create jobs in this great region.  6:07- Inflection points for financial crime moni...

Alan Belicha from the University at Buffalo stops by to talk about the role a large research university can play in economic development. We get into the machinations of a university-company collaboration, intellectual property policies, and success stories. 

In the final installment of our podcasts on hiring, Gerard Gooch, chief experience officer at Imagine Staffing, stops by to talk about business and financial services HR challenges. We also talk fun in the office place and challenge each other to 1-on-1 office basketball. 2:28- Word of mouth referrals 5:29- Attracting young professionals 7:51- Relocating talent to Buffalo 15:01- Office Basketball...

Chris Beckage and Pete Petrella stopped by our podcast studio to discuss the unique challenges in hiring for startups. With smaller teams and early risks, there's often a smaller margin for error in making hires. Make sure you and your company know common pitfalls and available resources. 

Albright Knox Art Gallery Executive Director Janne Siren stops by to talk about his path to Buffalo and his perceptions before he moved. We also discuss the museum as a cultural and global icon and how the selfie age has impacted how we consume art. 3:28- Albright Knox was not written in the stars 5:44- "From the very outset, I felt in-tune with the friendliness, openness, and curious inquisitiven...

Buffalo Niagara's advanced manufacturing industry is a pillar of the local economy. Over 66,000 people work in the industry in Western New York. Now, with national and local unemployment somewhere around 4%, finding skilled and reliable workers can be more difficult. On this episode of Bell Ringer, we talk with Claire Petrie about recruiting methods, retention incentives, and all things manufactur...

Jack Connors and John Tebeau, past and present Publishers of Buffalo Business First respectively, announced today Buffalo Homecoming. Buffalo Homecoming is a conference that will bring successful expats back to Buffalo to learn about what has changed in the city since they left and what still needs improvement. The hope is that these expats re-invest in the community, in an industry or charity tha...

Steve Ranalli stops by to share results of Outer Harbor focused public forums, future plans for Canalside, and reflections on how far we've come at Buffalo's waterfront. 3:28- Public inclusion for the Outer Harbor 6:30- In what ways do Canalside and the Outer Harbor compliment each other? 10:26- Kayak logjam on Buffalo's waterfront 15:31- Blizzard round

Our Research Director Matthew Hubacher is in Miami, spreading the good word of Buffalo Niagara at a site selection conference. Relationships with site selectors are imperative to ensuring Western New York is considered, and considered favorably, for relocation or expansion projects. Learn more about what site selectors do, how we communicate with them, and more.

Paul Bonaro knows a thing or two about data centers. Talent, power, and low risk of natural disasters are all very important to operations. Bonaro says Buffalo Niagara checks all the boxes on this episode of Bell Ringer.  3:09 - Attracting top talent? No problem. 9:28 - Power, fantasy football, and natural cooling 17:17 - "Western New York checks a lot of boxes" 19:47 - Paula's red velvet ice crea...

David Rust stopped our podcast to talk about Say Yes to Education Buffalo and how its making kids dreams of college come true.  4:32- Huge testament to this community 12:27- This has worked to date and we have a long way to go 26:42- Vanilla ice cream

Erie County Executive talks Canadian business expansions to Buffalo Niagara, our assets, support networks, and ice cream flavors on this episode of Bell Ringer. 1:33- One big region 4:34- Support networks 9:59- Welcome, SWS Warning Lights Inc. 15:22- Blizzard round

WEDI Executive Director Ben Bissell stops by to talk about how his organization is helping people up the economic ladder. And yes, we talk about the West Side Bazaar.

Michael Spence and David Brenner both competed in Startup Weekend in previous years. Now, they're helping to organize the event that brings together the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Buffalo Niagara. 1:06- What is Startup Weekend? 7:08- Success stories 15:50- Building your resume https://www.eventbrite.com/e/techstars-startup-weekend-buffalo-0918-tickets-48212248132

When Lena Levine first moved to Buffalo almost 10 years ago, she went searching for technology meetup groups to connect with like-minded people. What she found was minimal and, as she looked around the room, there were almost no other women. That's when she decided to start the Buffalo chapter of Girl Develop It. Today, Girl Develop It has grown exponentially, and dozens of other support groups ha...

Dave Horesh stops by the podcast to discuss Oxford Pennant, their origin story, inflection point, and current state as they've secured Ignite Buffalo funding and are opening a retail location in downtown Buffalo. 4:01- Abridged history of the pennants-- American ingenuity 8:27- Company's inflection point 10:14- Ignite Buffalo 18:36- "Oxford Pennant doesn't exist if we're not in Buffalo" 20:25- Buf...

Explore Buffalo Executive Director Brad Hahn joins the podcast to talk about his growing local tour company and how Buffalo Niagara's renaissance made it all possible.

Michael Montante of Uniland Development talks about Buffalo Niagara's commercial real estate market and draws from experience in site selection to share why Western New York is an attractive business destination.  3:38- Michael's most memorable project 10:29- Trends in commercial real estate 12:16- Putting on the site selector hat 22:41- Hard-hitting journalism

Stephen Tucker, President & CEO of Northland Workforce Training Center, discusses the importance of manufacturing in our region's future. 0:44- What is Northland Workforce Training Center? 7:41- Making manufacturing attractive to young people 10:52- Earning while you're learning 19:19- Buffalo Bills break 17-year playoff drought. Thanks, Cincinnati Bengals! 

Don De Laria brought his business, Larkin Express Logistics, to Buffalo. Since, he's seen exactly why we've earned the name 'The City of Good Neighbors.' 3:43 - Nothing like that Buffalo work ethic 5:48 - Invest Buffalo Niagara's role 12:58 - We're hiring! 20:59 - Kentucky Fried Chicken

Liz Callahan stops by to talk about Buffalo Manufacturing Works and their newest program, Shift. 3:03- Pounding the pavement 8:41- Robots with a human touch 15:31- Moving to Northland Corridor 17:27- Chicken wings!

City of Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown graciously gave his time to discuss economic development accomplishments in Buffalo during International Economic Development Week.  1:01- The accolades keep rolling in! 8:28- Furthering retail development 9:14- City of Good Neighbors for refugees and immigrants 11:54- Making Buffalo's revitalization accessible to all 22:01- If you were a flavor of ice cream, what...

Rosanna Berardi is managing partner at Berardi Immigration Law and a cross-border expert. On this episode of Bell Ringer she shares some of that expertise, with some help from special guest Carolyn Powell of Invest Buffalo Niagara.

Katie O'Sullivan walks the walk and, on this episode of Bell Ringer, talks the talk. She discusses Go Buffalo Niagara, an organization committed to bettering transportation options throughout our region.