WNY Entrepreneur

Frank DiMaria has been the CEO of Frank’s Basement Systems for five years and has been an official owner of this family-owned business for just over a year. During his tenure, he has not only doubled the company's size and annual revenue but also successfully expanded operations into Rochester. In addition to his achievements with Frank’s Basement Systems, Frank has diversified his entrepreneurial...

Stephanie Skryzowski is a Chief Financial Officer and founder of 100 Degrees Consulting. The company helps nonprofit leaders better understand and use their numbers to make smart decisions that grow their bottom line and their impact and provides financial strategy and bookkeeping services exclusively to nonprofits around the world. Stephanie is the author of the upcoming book Do Good and Prosper,...

Upstate Roots Design is a woman-owned boutique business specializing in staging and design across Western New York. Co-owners Meagan Baker and Kristin Lindley leverage design as a strategic tool to highlight a home’s best features and inspire potential buyers to emotionally connect with the property. This connection often results in higher demand and a greater return on investment during the real...

Rich Chiaino is a marketing professional with over 30 years of comprehensive experience in the industry. Before establishing Enrich Marketing seven years ago, he had 25 years dedicated to the media industry, holding various roles from Account Executive to General Managerat several prominent TV and radio stations. This extensive background equipped Rich with a deep understanding of the media landsc...

Nick is rated the #1 Tour Guide in Niagara Falls and Winner of the Golden Buffalo Award for “Best Tour Event in America”. Nick’s favorite spot in Niagara Falls, besides at home with his wife and kids, is Luna Island. "Niagara Falls is in my heart. Some days, I feel like this rushing water was put here for me. There are few things that I love more than my home. If before you leave, I can share just...

Rosanna St. John is a certified public bookkeeper, and the owner of Canna bookkeeper LLC. She started the business in 2021, in response to the Marijuana Regulations and Taxation Act in New York State. The mission was simple, help high risk business owners satisfy the never-ending compliance. Canna Bookkeeper LLC specializes in providing day-to-day accountancy and bookkeeping services tailored to s...

Anthony M. DeSimone is a leading expert in helping businesses monetize AI to enhance efficiency and profitability. With over 25 years of experience as a CPA and CMA, he specializes in integrating AI with data to optimize small business operations. As the owner of 'You're the Expert Now, LLC,' and an adjunct professor at the University at Buffalo, Tony teaches entrepreneurs how to effectively lever...

In this episode, host David Schaub dives deep into the essentials of hiring, training, and retaining entry-level sales reps for any industry. Whether you run a retail store, a B2B service, or a blue-collar business, this episode is packed with practical insights on how to find the right talent, develop effective training programs, and create a culture that keeps sales reps motivated. Tune in to di...

Nick is recognized as a digital marketing expert by many, including Ford Motor Company, RYSE Supplements & NRG Energy. He speaks often on business development, advertising, analytics and helps brands navigate the nuances of the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape. His day-to-day is centered around operating his businesses and consulting on technical and strategic execution of advanced sa...

Christopher Schunk is a business owner born and raised in WNY.  After being laid off in 2008 following a 15-year career in manufacturing, he faced 2 ½ years of uncertainty and doubt, unsure if he would ever regain his footing. Starting a business that no one believed in was his only option, but against all odds, it has not only survived but thrived, becoming the largest independent furniture retai...

Emily is invested in Buffalo and invested in her clients. With a thorough hands-on approach, Emily’s strategy is fine tuned for each client she serves.  Extensive knowledge and experience in all realms of real estate and every market in the WNY area, her focused enthusiasm works for the best interests of her clients to bring their vision to fruition and transactions to the closing table. From firs...

Mike has dedicated his entire life to the seafood business, starting at a young age by driving to New York City every week to procure the freshest fish from the bustling Fulton Fish Market and bring it back to Buffalo. This commitment ensured that Bailey Seafood had the widest selection of seafood in Buffalo. Twenty years ago, Mike purchased the market from his parents and transformed it into a th...

Jason Wood is the owner and designer of 1979 Designs, a company that makes custom pins. He has worked diligently to build strong relationships with clients and deliver high quality products. Some of his clients include Ketel One Vodka, Fernet Branca, Campari, Founders Brewery, and Edrington Americas. 1979 Designs has produced as many as 60,000 pins at a time. Jason loves making customized, limited...

In this special solo episode of the *WNY Entrepreneur Podcast*, host David dives deep into one of the most frequently asked topics: how to get into the Airbnb business. After being asked about Airbnb investing nearly every week, David—who owns and manages six Airbnbs himself—decided to share everything he's learned over the past five years. Whether you're curious about what it takes to get...

James Wangelin, a 2012 graduate of Buffalo State College (University), embodies the love for entrepreneurship. From his humble beginnings on campus, where he founded his first business, Summer Storage, James has consistently demonstrated his ability to turn ideas into successful ventures. After selling Summer Storage, James redirected his focus to real estate,where he has cultivated a rental portf...

Joe Petralia is a dedicated Mortgage Loan Originator at Genesee Regional Bank, where he harnesses his extensive knowledge in financial services to help families and individuals navigate the complexities of home financing. A proud Rochester native, Joe holds an MBA from St. John Fisher University and deeply values the community he has always called home. Outside of his professional life, Joe is dee...

Joseph Klem always knew that he would be self employed. An only child with a penchant for learning and action. He has been the owner of Joe’s Moving Co. in Rochester, NY since 2015 when he was 18 years old. The business now completes over 1000 moves per year with plans to develop within the moving service industry.

Joe Manzella is the dynamic owner of Junk King Buffalo, where he has revolutionized the junk removal industry with exceptional service and eco-friendly practices. Under his leadership, Junk King Buffalo has become the go-to solution for residential and commercial cleanouts, consistently exceeding customer expectations. With a keen eye for innovation and a commitment to sustainability, Joe has buil...

An interesting conversation with Gary Lutz, who is the owner of Lutz Bookkeeping Solutions LLC. Gary helps small business owners keep their books organized so they can focus on what's important to them. While keeping the books are often the last thing on many business owners' minds, Gary has been successful in keeping his clients on track. 

Clinton was born and raised in the City of Buffalo. Went the the Marines right after high school. Upon discharge he worked at American Axle while working nights on his commercial cleaning business. Quit American Axle to run his business full time which also turned into a construction business for 13 years. He sold the construction business and bought a home inspection franchise with Pillar to Post...

Jeff Gerber managed a McDonald's during his 20s and decided he needed a side hustle. In this podcast episode we talk about is journey from managing a fast food restaurant to now owning a 26 employee cleaning company that was voted (By the Buffalo News) in 2023 the best cleaning service in WNY. They provide the white glove treatment in whether it commercial or residential cleaning. I guess you...

Matt went from being accountant to owning a local swimming pool service start up. He owns 716 Pool Service and is now working on scaling the business and increasing his market share. Matt’s business takes the hassle out of owning a swimming pool while helping protect his client’s investment that they’ve made in their property.

Drew Cerza is affectionately known as the Wing King locally and nationally as the Founder of the National Buffalo Wing Festival. As a serial entrepreneur, Drew has been a real estate investor for over 25 years. For ten years Drew founding and ran RMI Promotions Group, a national food promotion company that raised money for local charities. Drew has served on over 15 local non-profit boards as he a...

Jeremy Ballsmith is a self-made real estate broker and owner of a local property management, sales firm and construction company servicing over 200 owners around the world and assisting them with their local WNY and Rochester real estate needs. With a focus on real estate, his engagements go far beyond. With interests in aviation aircraft leaseback and management, real estate holdings and a new up...

Our guest today is the Founder of Social Chameleon, a podcast production, distribution, and content company. They specialize in creating audio & video podcasts for entrepreneurs, as well as organizations. He is also the host of MIKE’D UP!, a podcast that showcases inspiring guests and other talented individuals who deliver their personal stories and insights to provide the ammo needed to LEVEL...