Empire State Entrepreneurs: NY Business Law

In this wide-ranging conversation, David Pfalzgraf sits down with Larry Quinn, one of Buffalo's most prolific behind-the-scenes forces, for a deeply personal and candid look at a career spanning city government, Manhattan real estate, professional sports ownership, the film industry, and education reform. From his early days as the youngest commissioner in Buffalo city government to co-owning the...

In this episode of the Empire State Entrepreneurs and New York Business Law Podcast, host David Pfalzgraf is joined by two of Rupp Pfalzgraf's own: Matt Miller, Practice Area Leader of the Labor & Employment group, and Ben Burge, M&A attorney and the firm's General Counsel. Together, they pull back the curtain on how Rupp Pfalzgraf has navigated AI adoption, from early experimentation to b...

In this episode of the Empire State Entrepreneurs and New York Business Law Podcast, host David Pfalzgraf sits down with Jack O'Donnell , founder and managing partner of O'Donnell & Associates , a Buffalo-based government relations and lobbying firm with offices in Albany, Rochester, and New York City. Jack shares a candid look at his journey from Buffalo public schools to the halls of Albany,...

Building Buffalo's Startup Ecosystem From Open Coffee Clubs to ACV Auctions with Nick Barone & Dan Magnuszewski In this episode of Empire State Entrepreneurs, David Pfalzgraf sits down with two of the driving forces behind Buffalo's thriving tech and startup scene - Nick Barone and Dan Magnuszewski, co-founders of ACV Auctions and partners at Radial Ventures . Nick and Dan trace their paths fr...

As Season Two comes to a close, Empire State Entrepreneurs takes a step back to reflect on the conversations, insights, and moments that defined the past nine episodes. This special best-of episode brings together standout clips, along with several never-before-heard moments, from business owners, creatives, technologists, and community leaders who shared candid perspectives on building, protectin...

In this episode of Empire State Entrepreneurs , host David Rupp sits down with longtime friend and renowned immigration attorney Michael Serotte , founding partner of Serotte Law . Known for his deep expertise in business immigration and an entrepreneurial approach to law, Michael shares the remarkable story behind building one of the country’s most respected immigration practices—right from Buffa...

Tricia Barrett is the Chief Executive Officer at Crowley Webb and Praxis . Recognized in Business First’s Power 200 (ranked as high as #62), she serves on boards including United Way of Buffalo & Erie County , Buffalo Prep , and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership . A Buffalo native, she studied communications at John Carroll University , and once completed a semester at sea on a 134-foot sailboat...

In this episode of the Empire State Entrepreneurs: New York Business Law Podcast , host David Pfalzgraf welcomes longtime friend and community leader John Osberg - entrepreneur, endurance athlete, growth strategist, and current Director of Development & Partnerships for the PGA of America – Western New York Section . John’s story is anything but linear. From unexpected opportunities in Buffalo...

In this episode, David sits down with Sam Marrazzo , Chief Innovation Officer at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus ( BNMC ) and adjunct professor at UB School of Management. They cover Sam’s remarkable career journey, from immigrating from Calabria, serving in the U.S. Navy, and leading R&D at Praxair, to becoming a champion of Buffalo’s startup and innovation community. Sam highlights real-w...

The city of Buffalo and the surrounding region have experienced a renaissance over the last 10-15 years, and in that time, 43North has played a huge role in attracting businesses to the area. On this episode of Empire State Entrepreneurs, host Dave Pfalzgraf connects with Colleen Heidinger and Pete Grum to discuss the competition, the organization's impact, and how Buffalo has become a place that...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, host David Pfalzgraf welcomes his lifelong friend, creative force, and Buffalo native Pete McGennis . From childhood memories in Buffalo to the creation of Harley-Davidson’s only co-branded product, and now seven feature films and counting, Pete’s journey is a masterclass in resilience, storytelling, and following your joy. They reflect on Pete’s early entr...

Brian Higgins has been a mainstay in Buffalo for decades. Even in his time in state and federal government, he was fighting to give Western New York the best opportunities to thrive. Now, as CEO and president of Shea's Performing Arts Center, the former congressperson comes back home to serve the community through the arts. Listen as Brian takes Dave from his humble beginnings in South Buffalo all...

The science of sound is a unique and interesting area of study. Ultimately, we can attribute everything we hear to vibration. But not every vibration is a good vibration, and that's where Mike Latvis of Harmonic Resolution Systems comes in. From humble beginnings in aerospace to turning his passion for a pristine listening experience into a career, Mike takes Dave through his journey in music and...

Tony Rupp may be a man who requires no introduction, as the founding partner of the law firm Rupp Pfalzgraf, LLC. Tony joins host Dave Pfalzgraf and longtime friend and partner in tech, Steve Poland for a forward-thinking episode of Empire State Entrepreneurs. Topics on this episode include the many uses of AI in the practice of law, the origins of Go To Verdict , and solid advice for entrepreneur...

There is something to be said about accountability, a support network, and discipline. For Nick Ennis and Max Montante , it's given them the opportunity to give back with Mind Over Foundation . In this episode, host Dave Pfalzgraf speaks with Nick and Max about their dedication to mental wellness, and how their life experiences set the groundwork for their cause. Highlights include:  -  Growing up...

Dr. Leonard Kaplan has spent decades studying wellness and has built a practice that incorporates integrative, regenerative, and functional medicine into the treatment of the patients at OWM Integrative Wellness . Host David Pfalzgraf and Dr. Kaplan explore a life dedicated to developing an understanding of the human body and its systems, the future of medicine, and more.  Highlights include: - Fo...

If you are in Buffalo and you like craft beer and great food, chances are you've been to a Schutte Hospitality restaurant. Managing Creekview , Britesmith Brewing , Oliver's , and Marcato is no easy task, but David Schutte's labors of love have been providing Western New York with excellent experiences all over the region. Learn more about David and the path to hospitality on this episode of Empir...

In a landscape dominated by chain grocery stores, Stuart Green operates Braymiller Market , which proudly provides fresh produce and tantalizing prepared foods for the southtowns, and as of 2020, downtown Buffalo. In Episode 8 of the Empire State Entrepreneurs podcast, we learn Stuart's story.  Highlights include: - A photographic beginning - An unlikely first career - An unlikely second career -...

Evan Giokas and Carl (CJ) Montante III bring an immeasurable wealth of energy to every room they are in. They are experts in communication, and that's clear from the moment they begin a conversation. This episode of Empire State Entrepreneurs is no exception - the great minds behind MGM Coaching take Dave through a journey of self-discovery and give listeners a chance to evaluate how they communic...

One thing is certain: Buffalo is lucky to have Nagendra Raina . His journey to becoming the president of Buffalo Games is a story for the ages, and he shares that exciting odyssey with us here in Episode 7. Highlights include: - Growing up in New Delhi - Losing a parent at a young age - Using loss to build resilience and courage - Math, Science, and Programming - Growing from a coder to an entrepr...

As the Chief Information Officer for M&T Bank , Mike Wisler has been to every corner of the Western world, but found answers a lot of the questions that life had raised along the way in the unlikeliest of places.  Highlights of the conversation include: - Bringing Middle Ohio to Buffalo - A startup that became an international enterprise - Modernizing statistical analysis - The problematic lif...

Jamie Obletz took a position at Delaware North just as business in that industry was coming to a screeching halt. On this episode of Empire State Entrepreneurs, Jamie and Dave discusses how he dealt with the adversity and ushered the Sportservice division to new heights. Highlights include: Heading to NYC for grad school Working at J.P. Morgan The marathon weeks of investment banking Advocating fo...

On this episode, host Dave Pfalzgraf welcomes Sharon Cryan , The creative, motivated mind behind FoodNerd . The revolutionary snack products at FoodNerd offer children a full compliment of key nutrients, supporting healthy habits at a young age. "We're on a mission to redefine what kids eat today, tomorrow, and in the future. We craft a variety of tasty foods, but beneath the deliciousness, we're...

Frank Ewing is the CEO of AML Rightsource , a global leader in financial crime prevention and third-party compliance. According to their website, Frank is, "...a thought leader and innovator in the global anti-financial crimes and regulatory management space and is always focused on providing the best service and experience for our clients." Listeners will soon learn that his focus on service for...

Juweria Dahir is a gift to the Buffalo entrepreneur community. She has developed a passion for data, evidence-based decision making, and listening, and has applied that passion to improve access to crucial networking opportunities for small businesses in underserved populations as the Director of Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus . In this episode, h...