Entrepreneurial OOMPH

Sales leader Denise Horan joins Debra Pearlman for an honest conversation about selling with integrity, building platforms, and why relationships still matter. Key takeaways: • Trust drives results • Platforms create freedom • Women thrive through collaboration • Networking fuels opportunity Listen now and book a Touch of OOMPH! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialOOMPH/podcasts Spoti...

What if your biggest leadership breakthroughs came from your hardest life lessons? In this episode, Debra Pearlman sits down with retired professional speaker and former baseball executive Skip Weisman to unpack a powerful journey of reinvention, communication mastery, and intentional decision-making. From running minor league baseball teams to speaking on national stages, Skip shares the moments...

Debra Perlman interviews L’Oreal Keaton of Keaton Cottages Vacations about going from intense nonprofit leadership to entrepreneurship—and building more freedom and family time along the way. Key takeaways: - Solve problems people actually have - Keep goals simple: “make it pay for itself.”  - Build margin for the unexpected - Stay grounded, open to advice, and have faith

What happens when a first-grade teacher swaps the classroom for entrepreneurship—and builds a business that runs on creativity, systems, and heart? In this episode, Debra sits down with her niece, Lisa Koppelman, CEO of Party Time Events in Morganville, NJ, to talk about calculated risk, constant evolution, and real-life work/life balance.  In this episode, you’ll learn: - How to take a calculated...

Publicist KJ Blattenbauer joins Debra Pearlman to break down what PR really is (earned credibility), how it differs from paid marketing, and the simple steps entrepreneurs can take to get noticed—starting with consistent messaging across every platform. Takeaways: - Earn trust with third-party validation - Align your website + social bios - Pitch editors and local media for free - Start a “proof o...

Adam Roach joins Entrepreneurial OOMPH to share how his journey from tennis pro to real estate owner to founder of the I Love Coaching Community was fueled by surrender, sales, and a deep commitment to serve. He unpacks the REAL Coach Method and what it truly takes to turn your calling into a thriving coaching business. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8} You’ll learn: • The REAL framework for p...

How do you bring in future-ready industries without losing the small-town feel people love? In this episode, Debra Pearlman interviews Bill Fioravanti, CEO of the Orange County IDA in New York, on balancing bold economic growth with culture, community, and quality of life. • Use incentives to drive long-term community benefit   • Treat culture and values as real site criteria   • Address traffic a...

What does it really take to build a business from scratch—and keep it growing with purpose? In this episode, Frank De Raffele, Executive Director & Franchise Owner of BNI Mid-Hudson Valley, gets real about the discipline, clarity, and perseverance behind lasting entrepreneurial success. Frank shares how he went from running multiple side jobs while building a video production company with $5 i...

When life delivers challenge after challenge, how do you keep your business — and your spirit — alive? In this deeply moving episode of Entrepreneurial OOMPH!, host Debra Pearlman speaks with Johanna Gervais, a Texas real estate professional whose story embodies courage, perseverance, and faith. From supporting her paralyzed father and losing her brother, to her own cancer diagnosis and rebuilding...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial OOMPH!, host Debra Pearlman sits down with Peter Gregory, Business Broker at First Choice Business Brokers Westchester, to explore the real mechanics behind selling or buying a company — from valuation and buyer vetting to confidentiality, SBA financing, and the power of business incubators in driving community growth. You’ll learn: • How brokers prepare sellers...

Director of The Coaching Nexus, *Fritz Pollard* unpacks decades of lessons on leadership, mentorship, and the routines that power high-impact coaching. *Takeaways:* • Coach–Recruit–Train: a durable leadership trio • Mentorship & shadowing compress the learning curve • Stamina comes from daily habits of mind and body • Choose joy and relationships over status symbols

What happens when a CPA turns publisher, face-plants in print at the wrong time, and then builds one of the fastest-growing talent companies serving small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs)? Rob Levin, co-founder and CEO of Work Better Now, joins Debra Pearlman to unpack his 30-year entrepreneurial journey — and share why every business owner needs a full-time assistant, how to build a culture by des...

From dancer to defender of growing companies—employment lawyer Devora Lindeman shares how proactive counsel helps leaders sleep at night. We unpack real HR curveballs (the soap-opera kind), what to do before you’re sued, and how to turn culture from words on a wall into performance metrics. Devora explains when to document advice, why “write it down” protects you, and right-sized legal options—hou...

What does it take to grow from a single shredding truck to a multi-market operation that competes head-to-head with industry giants? In this candid conversation, Judith Papo shares the journey from Hudson Valley Shred to Legal Shred, which has expanded into data destruction, hard-drive shredding, box storage, and a fast-growing medical waste business—fueled by a relentless focus on relationships,...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial OOMPH!, host Debra Pearlman sits down with John Klassen, a business leader whose military discipline and banking precision shaped his management and sales philosophy. John shares powerful insights on leadership, delegation, and accountability, including his signature 10-3-1 sales rule that transforms team performance. He opens up about guiding his company through...

Steve Simon shares how compassion sparked the Living Benefits movement, forever changing life insurance. At nearly 80, he’s still innovating—building companies, creating music, and proving that passion and perseverance drive a true legacy.

From painting garbage trucks purple to signal “professional service for women,” to leading a $65M multi-state operation, to surviving Chapter 11 and rising again—Shirley Ann Felder embodies ordinary greatness. In this powerful conversation, Shirley (Chief Inspirational Officer, Ordinary Greatness Consulting) shares how she built and led a team in a male-dominated industry, employed over 150 people...

Seventeen years “in the shadows” supporting marquee brands—and now stepping into the spotlight. In this episode, Mark Heinsman, owner of Imagative (IMAGATIV.com), shares how he shifted from custom web builds to Revenue Operations: assembling fast, testable systems that capture leads, convert customers, and scale with CRM-driven automations (GoHighLevel), A/B testing, and tight feedback loops.

Gina McDonald grew Massage Experience from a single spa into a thriving collective. She shares how she empowers other entrepreneurs, mentors providers in financial savvy, and builds a business rooted in growth, resilience & purpose.

Carole Hurst, a 75-year-old wellness educator, entrepreneur, and team leader, shares her powerful story of resilience, health transformation, and leadership. From overcoming major health challenges and living with muscular dystrophy to building a thriving business and empowering women, Carole demonstrates that a strong mindset, gratitude, and purpose fuel longevity and success. Learn how to grow w...

Real estate coach & numbers expert Kyle Harrison shares how clarity in your financials transforms business, leadership, and life. Vulnerability, alignment, and success—beyond the spreadsheets.

At 83, Sheila Pearl is still coaching, growing, and inspiring. She shares powerful lessons on leadership, emotional alchemy, and feedback in this unforgettable episode.

What can a former rock star teach you about building sustainable businesses? In this candid and insightful conversation, Debra Pearlman sits down with Eric Egeland, founder of Capacity Consulting and Capacity Bookkeeping, to unpack decades of hard-earned entrepreneurial lessons. Eric shares how he pivoted from government consulting to scaling a profitable bookkeeping business, why diversification...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial OOMPH!, host Debra Pearlman sits down with Kyle Hudson, successful entrepreneur and BNI Director Consultant, to explore how he and his brother grew their Charleston-based landscaping company from a small family venture to a thriving business with 23 employees. Kyle shares the pivotal moments in transitioning from hands-on fieldwork to operational independence, le...