Transforming Small Business (Impact Corry)

In our series finale, we're speaking with two individuals that are integral to regional business development: Cherie Dickey of the Corry Area Chamber of Commerce, and Brian Slawin of Ben Franklin Technology Partners. The two guests speak about their organizations, along with how each helps regional businesses. They also speak about the Sails to Trails tourism project, the new Erie Revitalization Investment Fund, and much more. We hope you enjoy the conversation.Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Impact Corry⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Production: Edinboro Campus Media

In our newest episode, we're speaking with the team behind Corry High School's Manufacturing Enterprise program. Guests include teacher Travis Carey, along with students Sylas Bryan, Charlie Amburgy and Alex Schmidt. They discuss the program's launch, how they built Beaver Precision Works, and which local businesses are collaborating with them.We hope you enjoy the conversation.Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Impact Corry⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Production: Edinboro Campus Media

In our newest episode, we're speaking with Chris Groner, the Director for the Office of Development Services with the City of Erie. We discuss his long history with the City of Erie, how municipal finance and lending can benefit small business owners, and his most fulfilling projects over the years.We hope you enjoy the conversation.Episode note: On December 3rd, Groner was named the Director of Administration for Erie County, as part of Christina Vogel's new team. He will assume that position on January 5th, 2026.Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Impact Corry⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Production: Edinboro Campus Media

In our newest episode, we're speaking with Julie Zajac, the founder of 3 Pillarz Farm in Northwest Pennsylvania. We discuss the family history of the farm, talk the many educational offerings offered through 3 Pillarz, and then discover the great products they sell. We hope you enjoy the conversation.Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Impact Corry⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Production: Edinboro Campus Media

In our newest episode, we're speaking with Betsy Grinder, the owner of Corry, PA's Your Daily Serving. We discuss the origins of the meal-prep, catering, and personal chef enterprise, along with how they adapted through the COVID-19 pandemic. Then, we talk about the business's evolution to a physical location and meal delivery across the region. We hope you enjoy the conversation.Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Impact Corry⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Production: Edinboro Campus Media

In our Season 3 premiere, we're speaking with Greg and Kathy Bowes, the owner-operators of both The Buzz of UC and The Buzz at Copperleaf. The episode covers the origins of the Union City coffee shop, how they work with local vendors for many of their ingredients, and how they've become a community center. Then, they discuss their second location, The Buzz at Copperleaf.We hope you enjoy the conversation.Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Impact Corry⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Production: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edinboro Beehive

In our newest episode, we're speaking with Brenda Kirik, who owns Williams Place in Corry, PA. Williams Place is a locally owned gift and fabric shop offering a full service retreat center. They have a large variety of unique gifts from local artisans and carry a wide selection of fair trade products from around the world.Brenda talks about forming the business, the Airbnb units that are hosted above it, and her daughter's business (The Corner Bar and Grillz in Corry, PA).We hope you enjoy the conversation.Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Impact Corry⁠⁠⁠⁠Production: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edinboro Beehive

In our newest episode, we're speaking with John Oliver (President/CEO) and Christine Temple (Director of Communications) at Visit Erie. Our conversation covers the success of Erie's 2024 Eclipse events, how Canadian tourism has been impacted by recent U.S. events, and their new branding initiative. We hope you enjoy the episode.Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Impact Corry⁠⁠⁠⁠Production: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edinboro Beehive

In our newest episode, we’re speaking with Kerrie Catalfu about her family’s Corry, PA maple syrup business, Sweet Traditions.Kerrie talks about the business’s array of maple syrup and maple-flavored products (such as BBQ sauce, cotton candy, and more), along with her husband Casey’s expertise in the field, and the family traditions anchoring all of this. We hope you enjoy the conversation.Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠⁠⁠Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Impact Corry⁠⁠⁠Production: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Edinboro Beehive

In our newest episode, we're speaking with Sara Gilger, owner and operator of Sara’s Business Solutions & Notary Services in Union City, Pennsylvania. Sara details her community-focused business, along with how she advises clients on small business ventures, taxes, and more. We finish by discussing her unique approach to customer service and customer comfort. We hope you enjoy the conversation.Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠⁠Impact Corry⁠⁠⁠⁠Production: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edinboro Beehive

In our newest episode, we're speaking with Cindy Wells (Borough Manager for Union City, PA) and Steve Bishop (Project Coordinator for the Union City Community Foundation). The duo speaks about how these two entities intersect, how they've worked on the Union City community and Main Street, and how small businesses are succeeding in their town. We hope you enjoy the conversation. Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠⁠Impact Corry⁠⁠⁠ Production: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Edinboro Beehive

In our first episode of season 2, we're speaking with Cherie Dickey, who works for both the Corry Area Chamber of Commerce and Impact Corry. Cherie speaks about how these two jobs intersect, about how she helps small businesses in the region, and about operating her own business (a family farm!). We hope you enjoy the conversation. Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠⁠ Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠Impact Corry⁠⁠ Production: ⁠⁠⁠Edinboro Beehive

A trio of guests join us to discuss the 2024 PA Wilds Big Idea Contest. Brian Slawin (Ben Franklin Technology Partners) talks about the contest winners and how his organization helps entrepreneurs in the region. Katie Caputo talks about her business, Roambler, which is revolutionizing experiential tourism in PA by connecting adventure seekers with local guides and hosts. Tim Emerick talks about his business, Otzzy, which has developed an interactive tap-to-play interface app, revolutionizing personalized keepsake gifts. This will be our season 1 finale. Stay tuned for season 2. Music: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠⁠ Sponsor: ⁠⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠⁠ / ⁠⁠Impact Corry⁠⁠ Production: ⁠⁠⁠Edinboro Beehive

Matthew Platz joins the podcast to discuss the Corry Higher Education Council and their upcoming Rural Entrepreneur Week. The conversation details the Corry Hi-Ed’s mission, Matt’s history in higher education, and all the events making up Rural Entrepreneur Week.  Music: ⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠ Sponsor: ⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠ / ⁠Impact Corry⁠ Production: ⁠⁠Edinboro Beehive

Our newest episode features Bernie Blore (Before The Barrel Distillery) and Autumn Jells (Sapphire Empire Enterprises). A perfect pairing of local entrepreneurs, they discuss the business climate in rural Erie County, Pennsylvania, along with their passion for the food and beverage industry. Music: ⁠⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠⁠ Sponsor: ⁠⁠ECGRA⁠⁠ / ⁠Impact Corry⁠ Production: ⁠⁠Edinboro Beehive

Candace Hillyard joins the podcast to discuss the PA Route 6 Alliance. Our conversation hits on the 11 counties covered by the Alliance, their facade improvement program, their bike-friendly business work, and their recent annual conference that was held in Corry, PA. Note: This episode was recorded over Zoom. We apologize for any audio issues. For the next episode, we'll be back recording in our studio. Music: ⁠⁠Slim and Red⁠ Sponsor: ⁠ECGRA⁠ / Impact Corry Production: ⁠Edinboro Beehive

Del Birch and Kristen Karrfalt join the podcast to discuss a variety of Erie regional business issues. They talk about the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership's work in the Corry, Pennsylvania area, along with how to practice active listening when talking to business owners, and what it means to be an Erie "Boomerang-er." Note: Since the recording of this episode, Kristen Karrfalt has left the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership. We wish her the best at her next stop. Music: ⁠Slim and Red Sponsor: ECGRA Production: Edinboro Beehive

The first episode of Transforming Small Business features Perry Wood (Erie County Gaming Revenue Authority) and Chuck Gray (Impact Corry). Together, they discuss the concept of an "economic steward" and how it relates to Corry, grants and funding for rural community reinvention, and much more. Host: Tony Peyronel Music: Slim and Red