The Marcor Studios Podcast

Buying a home with solar shouldn't feel like buying a mystery. Yet every day, homeowners purchase properties without fully understanding the condition, ownership, or performance of the solar system sitting on the roof.   In this episode, I sit down with John Stalzer, Owner of American League Home Inspection Inc. and a Certified Professional Inspector (CPI), to discuss the critical role home inspec...

Insurance fraud is not just an insurance problem. It is driving up construction costs, homeowners insurance, auto insurance, rent, and exposing everyday people to risks they do not even realize exist.   In this episode, I sit down with Damien Caldwell, President of the iFraud Foundation and the Long Island Claims Association, for an eye-opening discussion about staged accidents, insurance fraud, c...

What actually separates great construction companies from the ones that disappear? It usually comes down to values, leadership, and how they treat both customers and employees when things get difficult.   In this episode, I sit down with Chase Peres, Sales Manager at Marcor Construction, and Ray Nurnberger, Head of Purchasing at MGM Construction Services, for a candid conversation about the realit...

Solar is no longer just about panels on a roof. It is about performance, storage, expansion, and making the numbers work in a post-tax-credit market.   In this episode, I sit down with David G. Schieren, Solar Exchange Principal at Marcor Solar, to discuss where the solar industry is heading in 2026 and why battery storage is becoming one of the most important topics for homeowners on Long Island....

Solar was sold as “set it and forget it.” The reality? It’s a power plant on your roof.   In this episode, I sit down with James Callindes, Solar Maintenance Manager at Marcor Solar, and Greg Sachs of Solar Exchange to break down the truth about solar monitoring and maintenance for both residential and commercial systems. From panel cleaning and critter guards to electrical inspections and product...

Not all shingles are created equal. And not all manufacturers stand behind what they sell.   In this episode, I sit down with Eric Thorne, Area Sales Manager at Owens Corning, to break down why Marcor “bleeds pink” and why Owens Corning continues to lead the roofing industry nationally. From vertical integration at their Kearny, New Jersey, plant to manufacturing their own asphalt through Trumbull...

From open houses to closing tables, solar is showing up in more real estate deals than ever, and most buyers have no idea what they’re actually inheriting.   In this episode, I sit down with Carrie Cappello, VP of Solar Services at Marcor Solar, to officially introduce our newest division: Solar Roof Check. With nearly 10% of homes across Long Island and the five boroughs now equipped with solar,...

Solar isn’t “set it and forget it.” And in 2026, a lot of Long Island homeowners are learning that the hard way.   In this episode, I sit down with Carrie Cappello, Vice President of Solar Services at Marcor Solar, to break down the real-world side of solar ownership that nobody talks about enough: orphan systems, service gaps, and what happens when the company that installed your panels disappear...

When it comes to large-scale community projects, leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about accountability.   In this episode, I sit down with Michael Rutigliano, President of High Oaks in Huntington, to break down what responsible HOA leadership actually looks like. With nearly four decades on Wall Street and a hands-on approach to governance, Michael shares how preparation, transparency, and part...

The solar boom created thousands of systems. It also created thousands of unanswered service calls.   In this episode, I sit down with Tara McDermott to officially welcome her as the new Director of Solar + Storage Services at Marcor Solar. With nearly a decade of experience working alongside our team, Tara breaks down the realities facing homeowners today: orphaned systems, lack of monitoring, in...

Growth doesn’t break businesses. Avoiding hard conversations does.   In this episode, I sit down with Susan Gatti, Business Consultant and Founder of Disruptive Spark, to unpack what actually holds companies back as they scale. From leadership blind spots to operational bottlenecks, Susan shares why most businesses don’t fail because of strategy. They stall because of mindset, structure, and commu...

When it comes to selling (or buying) a home, the decisions you make before the listing can add or subtract real money at the closing table.   In this episode, I sit down with Reenie Murino & Paul Musso of Team Musso for a straight-talk strategy session on pre-listing moves that actually have ROI: do the roof before you list if it’s borderline, clean up the exterior story (front door, gutters,...

From backyard play sets to full-scale outdoor living spaces, few businesses on Long Island have evolved quite like Wood Kingdom West.   In this episode, I sit down with Bryan Spodek, owner of Wood Kingdom West, to talk about the company’s 36-year legacy of craftsmanship, community, and family values. We discuss how his father’s vision of helping families spend more time outdoors turned into a trus...

From outdated buy-sell agreements to ignored retirement plans, most business owners are one unexpected event away from financial chaos.   In this episode, I sit down with Justin Manfredo of Life Legacy Concepts, who breaks down how to protect your company, your partners, and your family through smart financial planning. His message is simple: start early, plan wisely, and treat your business like...

What happens when the people you work so hard for sit across from you on the podcast?    In this heartfelt episode, I welcome my two daughters, Julianna and Gabriella Farese, for a special conversation about life behind the scenes of a family-run business. 🎙️❤️   The girls talk about everything from growing up around roofing jobs and podcast recordings to selling bracelets for charity and dreaming...

What does it take to earn the trust of Long Island’s top builders, developers, and trades?   In this episode, I sit down with Stephen Spurgeon, founder of Businesses of Superior Standards (BOSS) — a network built on excellence, ethics, and lasting relationships. 🎙️🌐   From the evolution of Long Island’s commercial landscape to the importance of integrity in business, Steve shares how BOSS became...

From payroll audits to new labor laws, the rules are changing, and ignorance isn’t an excuse.   In this episode, I sit down with Miriam Hubbard of PBI Payroll, who pulls back the curtain on the biggest payroll mistakes currently happening in the construction industry: misclassifying workers as independent contractors, paying manual laborers incorrectly, failing to meet salary thresholds, and not t...

Second-generation grit meets modern service.   In this episode, I sit down with Rich Kasten of Dynamite Tool Co. as he shares how their family shop evolved from multiple storefronts to a central Long Island hub focused on what contractors actually need. 🎙️⚙️   We break down how a service-first supplier keeps crews moving: in-house repairs on nailers, compressors, generators, pickup & delivery,...

Every bad headline about a contractor makes it harder for the good ones to earn trust.   In this episode, I sit down with John Castro of Long Island Contractors Roundtable (LICRT) to talk about building a real support system for remodelers—one that blends advocacy, accountability, and education. 🎙️🏗️   We unpack the shift from “great with tools” to “great at business,” why enforcement and access b...

Some legacies are built in concrete. Others are built in character.   In this episode, I sit down with my father, Gary Marzano, COO and founder of Marcor Construction, to pull back the curtain on how Marcor began and the values that shaped it. 🎙️🏗️   We dive into the early days of roofing, the challenges of running a family business, and the lessons he passed down to me as both a business leader a...

Building a business is tough. Building a marriage is tougher. Doing both at once? That’s a whole different story.   For this episode, I sit down with my favorite guest yet—my husband, Anthony Farese—to talk about what it’s really like when your personal and professional worlds are always intertwined. 🎙️💍   We share stories from our blind date beginnings, the challenges of working long hours while...

When the lights go out, what keeps your home running — the grid, a generator, or your own battery system? 🔋⚡️   In this episode, I sit down with Jack Felbinger, Chief Operating Officer of JFF Electric and Marine Veteran, and Ryan Schoenewerk, Solar Production Manager at Marcor Solar, to break down the real story on batteries, solar, and the future of energy.   We talk about how batteries actuall...

Filing an insurance claim isn’t just paperwork — it’s a game, and the rules are stacked against you.   In this episode, I sit down with Justin Oland, Public Adjuster and owner of Oland Property Loss Consultants, to share how homeowners and business owners can level the playing field. 🎙️🏠   We break down the difference between calling your insurance company first vs. calling a Public Adjuster, why...

The real threat isn’t always what caused the damage—it’s who’s going to pay for it.   In this episode, I sit down with David Mahoney, Esq. of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP, a nationally recognized litigator and legal strategist in insurance defense and construction law. 🎙️⚖️   We talk about liability gaps, how contractors can accidentally waive their own coverage, and what really happens behind the...

The policy says you’re covered. But when an employee gets injured, suddenly… you’re not.   In this episode, I sit down with Scott Salmonson, Esq., a second-generation litigator and partner at McIntyre, Donohue, Accardi, Salmonson & Riordan, LLP, to expose how workers’ comp really works—and why contractors and employees alike are blindsided when claims get denied. 🎙️📑   Scott shares stories fr...