Brian Slawin (Ben Franklin Technology Partners)

Erie, PA entrepreneur Lisa Hansen joins the podcast to discuss her outdoor adventure gear company: Hikes and Hose. Throughout the conversation, Lisa will first talk about the origins of the company, along with how the COVID-19 pandemic encouraged the idea. Then, she'll talk product development and how its a family-driven process. Finally, she'll talk about the economic development programs that she's participated in, including the ErieMade Business Academy and the Ben Franklin Technology Partners' TechCelerator. At the time of this conversation, Hansen was in week 3 of the TechCelerator. She has since graduated from the program. Check out the Hikes and Hose line of products today (hikesandhose.com). Sponsored by: ⁠⁠Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership⁠⁠This podcast is a product of the ⁠⁠NWPA Innovation Beehive Network⁠⁠. Most guests are clients that have used our free, grant-funded services.Music"Pamgaea". Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). — Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0. — http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music by https://audionautix.com/. — Audionautix's "Roboskater" by Jason Shaw available via Creative Commons Attribution-International 4.0.— License: ⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠, No changes were made.

Betsy Grinder joins the podcast to discuss her meal-prep/catering/personal chef enterprise: Your Daily Serving. Throughout our conversation, Betsy first talks about the environmental aspects of her business (food waste, canning, composting). Then, we discuss her growing customer base in Erie County and how social media has helped in this quest. And finally, she highlights some of her favorite restaurants in the Corry area and beyond.Sponsored by: ⁠Erie Regional Chamber & Growth Partnership⁠This podcast is a product of the ⁠NWPA Innovation Beehive Network⁠. Most guests are clients that have used our free, grant-funded services.Music⁠"Pamgaea".⁠ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). — Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0. — http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music by ⁠https://audionautix.com/⁠. — Audionautix's "Roboskater" by Jason Shaw available via Creative Commons Attribution-International 4.0.— License: ⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠, No changes were made.

Brian McCauley joins the podcast to discuss his non-profit: Flying for Veterans. We first touch on his military background, along with how that inspired this veteran service organization. Then, we talk about the process and pitfalls of starting/running a non-profit. And finally, we get into the organization's future plans.Sponsored by: Erie Regional Chamber & Growth PartnershipThis podcast is a product of the NWPA Innovation Beehive Network. Most guests are clients that have used our free, grant-funded services.Music⁠"Pamgaea".⁠ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). — Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0. — http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music by ⁠https://audionautix.com/⁠. — Audionautix's "Roboskater" by Jason Shaw available via Creative Commons Attribution-International 4.0.— License: ⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠, No changes were made.

Missy Hitz joins the podcast to discuss her business: Monacella Massage & Kinesiology. Before that though, we also touch on Missy's mentorship work with Paramount Pursuits, a small business incubator and economic development consulting partner in Erie. We also discuss how she grew up in small business, along with what she's currently reading in our free time. Sponsored by: Erie Regional Chamber & Growth PartnershipThis podcast is a product of the NWPA Innovation Beehive Network. Most guests are clients that have used our free, grant-funded services.Music⁠"Pamgaea".⁠ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). — Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0. — http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music by ⁠https://audionautix.com/⁠. — Audionautix's "Roboskater" by Jason Shaw available via Creative Commons Attribution-International 4.0.— License: ⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠, No changes were made.

Davina Pacley joins the podcast to discuss DivinelyCROWN'D, her business that encompasses life coaching, style coaching and much more. Our conversation covers Davina's journey to self love, how working with Paramount Pursuits set her on the path to success, and the social media advice Pacley has for other business owners. One note: The Sip & Slay Soirée that we discuss has since happened. Congrats to Davina on the sold-out event.Sponsored by: Erie Regional Chamber & Growth PartnershipThis podcast is a product of the NWPA Innovation Beehive Network. Most guests are clients that have used our free, grant-funded services.Music⁠"Pamgaea".⁠ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). — Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0. — http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music by ⁠https://audionautix.com/⁠. — Audionautix's "Roboskater" by Jason Shaw available via Creative Commons Attribution-International 4.0.— License: ⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠, No changes were made.

John Persinger joins the podcast to discuss his role as CEO for the Erie Downtown Development Corporation. This group has gone about revitalizing the downtown through the addition of Flagship City Food Hall, the Flagship City Public Market, new (and relocated) shops, and more in the future. We cover all this in our conversation, plus Persinger's history in the city's political scene and his thoughts on the NWPA Innovation Beehive Network. One note: this conversation was recorded in late February, and the Public Market has since opened in downtown.Sponsored by: Erie Regional Chamber & Growth PartnershipThis podcast is a product of the NWPA Innovation Beehive Network. Most guests are clients that have used our free services.Music⁠"Pamgaea".⁠ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). — Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0. — http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music by ⁠https://audionautix.com/⁠. — Audionautix's "Roboskater" by Jason Shaw available via Creative Commons Attribution-International 4.0.— License: ⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠, No changes were made.

Lindsay Henry joins the podcast to discuss her business: Yoga Spot Meadville. The studio brings a variety of classes for all skill levels to the Meadville community, along with seasonal programming and the belief “that everyone can benefit from the practice of yoga."In this conversation, she discusses how her sports background inspired her to get into Yoga and eventually open her own studio, plus how the Edinboro Beehive assisted in some apparel design. Finally, the talk moves to how the business community in Meadville supports locally-owned businesses. Sponsored by: Erie Regional Chamber & Growth PartnershipThis podcast is a product of the NWPA Innovation Beehive Network. Most guests are clients that have used our services. Music⁠"Pamgaea".⁠ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). — Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0. — http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music by ⁠https://audionautix.com/⁠. — Audionautix's "Roboskater" by Jason Shaw available via Creative Commons Attribution-International 4.0.— License: ⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠, No changes were made.

Chuck Gray (Impact Corry) and Brody Howard (Corry Higher Education Council) join the podcast for a very special, Corry-focused, episode. Throughout the discussion, the duo touches on Corry’s relationship to greater Erie County, how they’ve helped re-establish the identity of their city, and their personal experiences working with the NWPA Beehive.Sponsored by: Erie Regional Chamber & Growth PartnershipMusic⁠"Pamgaea".⁠ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). — Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0. — http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music by ⁠https://audionautix.com/⁠. — Audionautix's "Roboskater" by Jason Shaw available via Creative Commons Attribution-International 4.0.— License: ⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠, No changes were made.

An Erie Reader "40 Under 40" honoree. President of Young Erie Professionals. Community Leader for city highlight Radius CoWork. It's pretty obvious why Amanda Duncan is the perfect guest to discuss Erie's rising profile with us. Stick around for discussion on all her endeavors, plus her recent Erie Homecoming panel and adventures with Italian food.Sponsored by: Erie Regional Chamber & Growth PartnershipMusic⁠"Pamgaea".⁠ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). — Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0. — http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music by ⁠https://audionautix.com/⁠. — Audionautix's "Roboskater" by Jason Shaw available via Creative Commons Attribution-International 4.0.— License: ⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠, No changes were made.

Brian Slawin joins the podcast to discuss his crucial work with Ben Franklin Technology Partners. Specifically, Brian works in Central and Northern Pennsylvania, but Ben Franklin has been a statewide economic development program for over 30 years. They provide "both early-stage and established companies with funding, business and technical expertise and access to a network of innovative, expert resources."Our conversation covers all that, plus: the changing economy in Erie, why he loves mentoring emerging entrepreneurs, and working with (former guests of this podcast) Fish Gods.Sponsored by: Erie Regional Chamber & Growth PartnershipMusic⁠"Pamgaea".⁠ Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). — Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0. — http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Music by ⁠https://audionautix.com/⁠. — Audionautix's "Roboskater" by Jason Shaw available via Creative Commons Attribution-International 4.0.— License: ⁠⁠⁠https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/⁠⁠⁠, No changes were made.