Start Local

For many, music is as much a part of life as breathing. We drop the needle on a conversation with Shawn Cephas, owner of Forever Changes, a record store in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Shawn shares how his deep love for and expansive knowledge of music has driven him to open a shop that is as much a space to learn about music as to buy records. We explore the intimate connection that Shawn’s family...

Continuing our run of conversations with local producers, we sit down with Olga and Brian Dressler, the owners and cider makers at Dressler Estate. We learn about their branch to bottle approach to making local cider. We hear about their recently opened tasting room in Downingtown, Pennsylvania, and their vision for this new home. We talk cider production, label making, and the business of a runni...

Southeastern Pennsylvania is not typically at the top of the list of renowned wine regions of the world. Yet that is exactly why we stopped into the tasting room at Va La Family Vineyard. We sat down Anthony Vietri, farmer and wine maker, to learn how his family has been farming the land in Avondale, Pennsylvania for almost one hundred years. We talk about his approach to farming grapes and crafti...

In times of uncertainty, the desire for financial security is universal. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk with Patti Brennan, founder and CEO of Key Financial, a wealth management firm based in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Patti shares practical ideas for navigating turbulent markets. We explore her unique career path from ICU nurse to nationally recognized financial advisor. We dig into...

The snack business is competitive to say the very least. It may even be cut-throat. Creating a snack that people want is hard enough, but getting it into the market and on store shelves takes even more grit. We chased down Brendan Cawley, founder and CEO of Righteous Felon, a meat snack company with deep roots in Chester County. We interrogate Brendan about jerky, biltong, and meat sticks, explori...

Enticed by her delicious ice cream and kitchens creations, we had to talk with Melinda Shaw, founder and owner of Hangry Bear Creamery in Kennett Square. Melinda shares how her love of food and background in hospitality led her to open a unique ice cream studio that goes far beyond scoops and cones. We dip into the science behind real ice cream, the importance of using local ingredients, and how c...

Located in southern Chester County, Oxford, Pennsylvania, is a charming small town that is rich in history and poised for revitalization and growth. We sit down with Pauline Garcia-Allen, the Borough Manager of Oxford, to explore what makes this town so special. From its diverse community to its evolving downtown and economic development efforts, Pauline shares how she and other local leaders are...

While Chester County is renowned for its picturesque landscapes and open spaces, preserving that natural beauty – and the wildlife that thrives within it – requires constant effort. We speak with Kate Etherington, President and Executive Director of Willistown Conservation Trust, about the dedication and strategy behind this vital work. This local land trust leads initiatives in land protection, b...

There’s something special about the glow of a historic theater marquee, the scent of fresh popcorn, and the magic of a film flickering on the screen in a century-old venue. But keeping The Colonial Theatre thriving takes more than nostalgia – it demands passion, strategy, and dedication. Executive Director Jennifer Carlson takes us behind the scenes of running this iconic venue. Whether you’re a f...

Managing finances can be a major challenge for business owners and nonprofit leaders, and having accurate and up to date bookkeeping can make all the difference. We talk with Paula Paisley, founder and president of Paisley Solutions, a bookkeeping service in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Paula shares how she transitioned from working at a CPA firm to running her own company. We discuss the role of...

With fresh, clean water a critical resource for life on earth, balanced ecosystems are essential for keeping our communities healthy and safe. We spend time with John Jackson, Ph. D., Senior Research Scientist with the Stroud Water Research Center in Avondale, Pennsylvania. We speak at length about the challenges that winter road salt poses to our local ecosystems. We hear of a number of the in-de...

Businesses, nonprofits, and individuals have more banking options than ever before. To help local leaders understand some of their options, we sit down with Gary Golden of Propell Credit Union to chat through how a credit union can help with financial services. We cover the history and growth of the community-chartered credit union, learning about its local connection to the helicopter industry. W...

The value that trusted accountants bring to businesses and nonprofits of all sizes cannot be overstated. Changes to federal and state filing rules, new tax regulations, and any flux in the economy see many business leaders turning to their accountants for guidance. We talk with Kathy Wileczek, shareholder with Umbreit, Wileczek & Associates, to learn about how she leads a small, highly-respect...

Farmers markets and craft and artisanal markets are popping up in more and more communities across Chester County, Pennsylvania, as farm-to-table and shop local grow in popularity with consumers. We sat down with Christy Campli of Growing Roots to learn more about how she delivers and produces a series of markets and community events across the region. We speak with her about supporting local farm...

Today’s libraries play a significant role in the life of the community. The programs, services, and happenings at our local libraries might surprise those who have not visited one recently. We catch up with Chris Manna, Executive Director of the Kennett Library, to walk through all things library. We learn how this wonderful library – and others across Chester County – are meeting the needs of the...

The lack of educational and employment opportunities experienced by disadvantaged folks in Chester County presents significant challenges to their well-being. To learn more, we speak with Javonna Wylie, President and CEO of Chester County OIC. Javonna explains how CCOIC works to enable access to economic empowerment through the delivery of free educational and related services. She also highlights...

We spend time with Kirstin Downie, Director of Development and Communications with Canine Partners for Life (CPL), as she explains how the organization works to improve quality of life for people with disabilities or other challenges by pairing them with professionally trained service or companion dogs. Kirstin takes us for a long walk through the extensive training that service and companion dogs...

Now in its 27th year, the Kennett Brewfest is a leading beer festival held yearly in Kennett Square. Arguably the oldest beer festival in the Philadelphia region, the Brewfest provides support to the Kennett Collaborative. We speak with the founder and long-serving lead organizer of the festival, Jeff Norman. An architect by trade, Jeff has lead efforts to organize and deliver the famed Kennett Br...

With a unique nonprofit business model, Handi-Crafters employs, trains, and encourages people with intellectual and developmental challenges to enable them to find meaningful and engaging opportunities in the workplace. Focused on the individual skills and needs of the community it serves, Handi-Crafters has been delivering employment-centered programs for more than 60 years from its facilities in...

Green or clean energy regularly garners press coverage and is often a topic of vigorous public debate. We speak at length with Ron DiSabatino about sustainable and fossil-fueled energy to better understand the factors and considerations around the debate. Ron is the VP of Nuclear Engineering with Constellation, the largest provider of carbon-free energy in the US. We also explore employee recruitm...

Finding and accessing quality and affordable healthcare is a concern for many. We meet with Ronan Gannon, Chief Executive Officer of LCH Health and Community Services. We speak about the medical and related needs of underserved communities and economically disadvantaged families in southern Chester County, Pennsylvania. Ronan shares about the structure and offerings of LCH – and how the nonprofit...

With Kennett Square celebrated as the Mushroom Capital of the World, we knew it was only a matter of time before we spoke with Meghan Klotzbach. Meghan is the Vice President of Sales, Marketing & Operations at Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms. With the family farm outside West Grove, Pennsylvania, and facilities at a number of locations in southern Chester County, Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms...

We spend time with Nina Kelly, Director of Marketing with Chester County Tourism. We chat with Nina to discover some of the many great places to visit and wonderful things to do in Chester County. We learn about a number of hidden gems in our local area and explore some of the many exciting happenings coming to the region. This conversation is a great way to find fun activities this summer, both f...

We meet with two leaders from Penn Medicine Chester County Hospital to discuss the medical needs of the local community and how the teams providing that care are being supported. Dr. Karen Pinsky, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer at the hospital and a practicing clinician specializing in pediatrics. Her colleague, Ed Callahan, is the Chief Human Resources at the hospital. We cover everything from...

We connect and spend time with Peter Davis, owner and brand story strategist with Hero's Quest Consulting. Peter explains business as theater, walking us through the power and value that stories can play in the marketplace for both businesses and nonprofits. Based in Oxford, Pa, Peter is an engaging and dynamic conversationalist – and this conversation offers many insights for local area leaders....