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Bridgette Shoemaker, the founder of Ayzo Ridge Design, joins the podcast for a deep dive into corporate visual design, which is business-speak for making business spaces awesome. Learn Bridgette's techniques for transforming traditional office spaces into environments your team will WANT to work in.Episode Highlights: Bridgette shares her career background. (3:32) Bridgette discusses when and why she started her design firm. (5:19) How did Bridgette adjust her business plan in the midst of a pandemic? (13:54) What does environmental branding mean? (14:42) Bridgette gives a little background about her core group of clients. (22:11) How does Bridgette help her clients with visual branding? (26:37) Bridgette discusses details of her design intent package. (29:18) Bridgette gives tips on productivity in creative businesses. (34:44) Key Quotes: “My goal is to be the connection between brand design and well-executed design solutions... So, it's no longer just, ‘What do you want?’ Because, people don't know how to answer that question.” - Bridgette Shoemaker “I feel like when you can reach out, shake somebody's hand, look them in the eye, and they agree to something with you...That to me, is the most validation that you could ever get. Or, when somebody reaches out, shakes your hand and says thank you with that visual eye connection in there...It just feels different in your heart.” - Bridgette Shoemaker “With 20 years in the industry, I know how things are built...I know where to source the materials. Myself and my team are just constantly engaging in outside sources, like The Society of Experimental Design, in finding new and different ways to bring those things to life.” - Bridgette Shoemaker Resources Mentioned: Bridgette Shoemaker LinkedIn Ayzo Ridge Design Reach out to Ryan Hanley Reach out to Michael Field

Craig DeVoe, the co-founder of Precision Lacrosse in Latham, joins the podcast live for a discussion on starting a retail business during COVID, why the Capital Region needed a lacrosse super-store, and what comes next! This is an episode you don't want to miss…Episode Highlights: Craig mentions the goal they have in mind for his business. (3:30) Craig shares why he chose Loudon Road, as his business location. (5:57) Craig mentions the soft opening of their store that happened two weeks ago. (8:07) Craig shares the other huge part of their strategy and vision. (9:51) Did Craig and his team plan to launch last spring when the pandemic happened? (10:57) Craig gives a piece of advice to the listeners who want to open up a business. (12:32) Does Craig plan to expand his business? (15:13) Craig shares the story behind the name of his business. (16:29) Craig mentions the concept behind the space inside the shop. (18:04) Key Quotes: “The coaches have been great, and they're such a huge part of our business. Because they talk to all the players, they make recommendations...They can send people our way, and we try to take care of them as much as we can. So, it's a great partnership with a local lacrosse community.” - Craig DeVoe “There's a need to have a physical presence, to get your hands on stuff to try it out, and if you can get yourself connected to the community, and provide a good service, we know that there can be success.” - Craig DeVoe “If you have the right equipment on, it builds your confidence and helps you perform. As long as you're putting in the work and playing wall ball, and doing all the right things, and putting in all that, you got it.” - Craig DeVoe Resources Mentioned: Precision Lacrosse Reach out to Ryan Hanley Reach out to Michael Field

Cody Shields, founder of The Big Body Butcher, not only started his butcher two weeks before COVID-19 hit and survived...he thrived. In this episode of the podcast, we talk about why he started his own butcher shop and how he was able to grow it into one of the most recognized brands in the Capital Region.Episode Highlights: Cody shares his background. (3:44) Cody mentions how he started in the butcher industry. (5:20) Cody shares how they came up with their tag line. (6:33) Cody shares how the meat are raised. (7:39) What's one of the common misconceptions people have when they come to Cody’s shop? (11:43) Cody explains what Wagyu is. (13:12) Cody mentions the variety of meat they sell. (15:28) When did Cody’s butcher shop start? (16:05) How did the pandemic affect Cody’s business? (25:35) Cody shares his plans for the next five years. (28:06) Does Cody see the saturation in the market as an opportunity? (33:20) Key Quotes: “Butcher shops are kind of becoming a mainstream thing again. So, it's kind of blowing up and it's kind of just taking itself over, and turning into something that at the end of the day, it's a butcher shop. We're cutting up pieces of animals and stuff like that. It's not that complicated and it's not as crazy as everybody thinks.” - Cody Shields “It makes me very grateful to be in a position to where I am and it was awesome. I couldn't be any happier than at first and still to this day. We're still extremely busy, but it was awesome to see it take off that first day and be supported by the community.” - Cody Shields “I think once people get to know who I am and the way I operate my business, and the people that work for me in the store, it kind of just sells itself.” - Cody Shields Resources Mentioned: The Big Body Butcher Reach out to Ryan Hanley Reach out to Michael Field

In this episode of the Capital Region Business podcast, Vic Christopher, the President of Clark House Hospitality, which is the parent company for Troy (and Capital Region) staples such as Donna’s Italian, Little Pecks and Lucas Confectionery, joins us for a deep dive into entrepreneurialism and small city business.Episode Highlights: Vic shares why he decided to start his business in Troy, New York. (2:54) Vic mentions why New York City is a scary place right now. (5:52) What is Vic’s team currently working on in the company? (9:33) How does Vic work through political roadblocks? (10:36) Vic mentions why he’s always been a risk-taker. (11:08) Vic mentions the biggest threat to business. (17:46) What does Vic envision for his company? (20:03) Vic shares why 2020 was the best year of his life. (25:27) Vic shares the other plans for his business. (28:49) Key Quotes: “Don't let everybody know what you're thinking all the time. And I think people like doing business with me because they know where I stand on things. I don't keep anything to myself, but it’s definitely a problem.” - Vic Christopher “If you feel that what you're doing doesn't have much of a purpose, get the hell out, go do something else. I see people that are just not happy doing what they're doing, and I encourage everybody in my life, and even the people that run this company to go out, and do their own thing.” - Vic Christopher “I always wanted to envision providing a path to entrepreneurship, just through the environment that we all create together here in downtown Troy, and we've done that.” - Vic Christopher Resources Mentioned: Agency Intelligence Reach out to Ryan Hanley Reach out to Michael Field Vic Christopher LinkedIn Clark House Hospitality

Warren Zeiser, founder of We Rise Consulting, joins the podcast for a deep dive into leadership. Specifically, we examine what has changed because of COVID and how leaders should be positioning their business for the future.

Frank Scavio, cofounder and owner of Capital Region staple, Paesan’s Pizza, joins the podcast to discuss how Paesan’s started and was able to expand into empire it is today. We also dive into what getting rated by Barstool Sports has meant to Paesan’s and the impact it’s had on their frozen pizza business.

Matt Scarchilli, owner of Sandler Training, joins the podcast to breakdown what is working and what isn't for sales professionals in our increasingly virtual sales environment.

Seth Rosenblum, Principal at The Rosenblum Companies and Managing Director of Hone Coworks joins the podcast to talk about flexible workspace and the future of "Office Space" in a post-COVID world.

Matt Callahan, General Manager of the Tri-City Valley Cats joins the podcast to discuss the recent announcement that they'll no longer be affiliated with the Houston Astros and what's next for our professional ball club.

John Trimble, the founder of Hot Crispy Oil, one of the fastest-growing consumer brands in the Capital Region, joins the podcast to discuss his journey launching a startup brand during COVID and where he's taking Hot Crispy Oil next.

Annmarie Lansesey, president of Greene Tree Technology and founder of AlbanyCanCode stops by the show to discuss the origin story of AlbanyCanCode and why she believes this type of alternative path to education and expertise is the future.

Bob Manasier has dedicated his work to helping startups make their dreams reality. Unfortunately, reality isn't easy. That's why mentors like Bob and the people he connects his startups with are so important to success. In this episode, we talk about Startups and what it takes to succeed.

Kate Hedgeman, the managing partner of Hedgeman Law, shares her experience and expertise on the changing environment of law and real estate. We also go into the impact of COVID-19 on the not-for-profit community and board-driven organizations.

Mealeo is Capital Region technology and entrepreneurial success story for beating out national competition such as GrubHub and Uber Eats. In this episode of the podcast, we interview Blake Hanan, founder and CEO of Mealeo to learn how he's done it and what comes next.

Chris Wessell, the founder of Staffegy LLC, joins the podcast to share his experience as an executive recruiter and talk about the future of hiring and staffing in the Capital Region. There will always be talent attraction, management and retention challenges, but the model that staffing agencies have used to address those challenges has been fundamentally the same for decades, and must adapt and evolve.

Jason Gough is known throughout the Capital Region for his work on the weather team at News Channel 13. But recently, he has broken out on his own and launched Jason's Weather, an independent weather service focused on forecasting the Capital Region's weather in a personalized and timely manner. In this episode of the podcast, we talk about why he started Jason's Weather and what is to come in the future.

Mike and Ryan breakdown their first two months producing podcast episodes for the Capital Region Business Podcast. We've learned some valuable lessons about telling small business stories.

Derek DeMeo, entrepreneur and founder of VA Relief joins the podcast to dispel the myths of virtual assistants and explains why VAs might just be the future of your business.

Todd Cetnar joins the podcast for the breakdown of his leadership philosophy, "The 3 Skills of the Elite."

Dominick Purnomo, the owner of DP's in downtown Albany, is not taking the restaurant lockdown, lying down. He's putting his network to work and feeding Albany.