WNY Entrepreneur

Planning ahead is not just about family care — it is also a principle that can transform how you run your business. In this episode, I talk with Ann Marie Klosko, owner of Eldercare Transition Consulting, about the powerful lessons entrepreneurs can learn from helping families navigate eldercare transitions.

Ann Marie shares real world stories of what happens when families plan ahead — and when they don’t. The parallels for business owners are striking: ignoring tough conversations or avoiding decisions can create chaos, while thoughtful preparation leads to smoother outcomes.

Her insights will challenge you to think differently about leadership, planning, and decision making, both at home and in your business.

What Business Owners Will Learn in This Episode:

How planning for difficult situations in advance reduces stress and conflict

Why avoidance is one of the costliest mistakes leaders make — in family and in business

The role of communication and transparency in making transitions smoother

Lessons from family dynamics that translate into building healthier teams

How facing uncomfortable realities can set your business up for long term success

📞 To connect with Ann Marie directly, you can reach her at 716-440-0933.

What does it really take to launch a professional sports team—and why would someone do it without a blueprint? In this episode, we sit down with Kayla Crosby, the powerhouse founder behind the Jamestown Jackals, a professional basketball team with a mission rooted in character, community, and impact.

Kayla shares how she turned a bold idea into a real franchise, why integrity and faith guided every step, and how she balances business with purpose. Whether you're building a brand, leading a team, or chasing a vision others don’t understand yet, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.

You’ll hear:

The early struggles and unlikely wins that shaped her journey

How to lead with values while growing something sustainable

Why community connection is key to long-term success

Real advice for entrepreneurs walking into uncharted territory

Listen in and get inspired by what’s possible when you lead with conviction, serve others first, and bet on yourself—just like Kayla Crosby, Founder of the Jamestown Jackals.

How do you take a homemade cracker recipe and turn it into an internationally recognized brand—and win one of the biggest startup competitions in the world while you’re at it? In this episode, we sit down with Rebecca Brady, Founder of Top Seedz, to unpack how she went from baking in her kitchen to winning 43North’s $1 million grant, landing major retail deals, and building a fast-growing food brand rooted in health and hustle.

Rebecca shares how she started small, leaned into the unknown, and scaled her company without losing the heart of her mission. Her journey is one every entrepreneur can relate to—and learn from.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

How to grow a CPG brand with no industry background

Why hiring before you're “ready” is part of real growth

How Rebecca handled rapid demand and national expansion

The mindset behind winning a $1 million startup competition

Why resilience, optimism, and saying yes opened major doors

If you're building something from scratch and wondering if it's possible to scale without giving up your values, this is a must-listen. Get inspired by Rebecca Brady, Founder of Top Seedz—a local entrepreneur making a global impact.

What if one of the most valuable tools for growing your business was totally free—and you weren’t using it? In this episode, we sit down with Rachel Rumbold, founder of Rumbold Consulting and certified business mentor with SCORE Buffalo Niagara, to uncover the mentorship program too many entrepreneurs overlook.

Rachel shares how SCORE’s no-cost support is helping startups and small businesses thrive across Western New York. From guiding growth strategies to building better systems, she reveals how local business owners are using mentorship to navigate challenges and grow sustainably.

You’ll also hear how Rachel balances entrepreneurship, motherhood, and coaching softball—all while serving her community through strategic guidance and mentorship.

In this episode, business owners will learn:

What SCORE is and how to get free 1-on-1 business mentoring

How to set healthy boundaries and avoid burnout as an entrepreneur

The power of time blocking and planning with intention

How mentorship and structure can accelerate your business growth

What SCORE looks for in new mentors and how business owners can get involved

How to access free workshops, resources, and ongoing support through SCORE

Whether you're feeling stuck or ready to scale smarter, this conversation will give you tools, clarity, and a reminder that you don’t have to do it alone.

Tune in now to hear from Rachel Rumbold of Score International.

Most business owners want to take care of their team—but end up offering health benefits that are overpriced, underused, or just plain confusing. In this episode, we sit down with Brian, founder of Business Health Market, to talk about the costly health benefit mistakes small businesses are making and how to fix them without blowing up your budget.

Whether you’re a solopreneur thinking about your first hire or a seasoned business owner looking to improve retention, this conversation will open your eyes to what truly matters when offering health coverage to your employees.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why traditional health plans often don’t serve small teams well

How to design benefits that actually retain talent and save you money

What questions to ask before signing your next healthcare agreement

Creative options most owners don’t realize exist

The long-term business impact of choosing the right health partner

If you care about your team and want to stay competitive in today’s hiring market, you can’t afford to miss this one. Tune in now to hear from Brian, Founder of Business Health Market.

What does it take to grow a home organizing business from a one-woman side hustle to the largest operation of its kind in Western New York? In this episode, Tonya Cunningham, founder of Next Chapter Solutions, shares the real behind-the-scenes journey of building a 17-person team—without a business degree, startup capital, or traditional management experience.

Entrepreneurs will hear how Tonya:

• Turned her natural talent into a scalable service

• Built a flexible team culture that thrives without burnout

• Attracts the right clients by knowing when to say no

• Created systems out of chaos to streamline growth

• Used family collaboration to spin off multiple aligned businesses

Whether you're in the service industry or simply looking to grow with more intention, Tonya’s story is packed with practical lessons and fresh perspective on leadership, hiring, and growing a business that reflects your values.

Listen in and walk away with clarity, encouragement, and maybe a few ideas to clean up your own operations.

In this solo episode, I get real about the hard but necessary changes I’ve made over the past six months as a business owner, husband, and dad. From cutting my workweek down to three days, turning down “good” opportunities, to focusing only on profit-building activities and deep relationships—this episode is a reflection on what truly matters.
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by your own calendar, unsure if your content is landing, or burned out from saying yes to too much, this one’s for you.
We’ll cover:

• Why “family first” has to show up in your schedule, not just your words

• How to rethink your content strategy for clarity and real connection

• The deep lake vs wide lake mindset

• Delegating with trust (and consequences)

• The shift from reach to relationship in marketing

• And the freedom of not needing to be everywhere

Kelly Phillips, owner of The Lodge Auction House, shares how she turned a lifelong passion into a 22-year business rooted in transparency and trust. From navigating estate liquidations to managing a team through personal loss, Kelly breaks down what it takes to scale a service business while staying true to your values. Her story is a mix of grit, growth, and great business lessons.
What You’ll Learn:

• How to turn a passion into a long-term business

• The power of transparency and consistency in brand building

• Delegation strategies for small service teams

• How to adapt when markets shift

• Lessons from handling both high-end estates and emotional client situations

In this solo episode, David Schaub, founder of WNY Entrepreneur, pulls back the curtain on something few business owners talk about—the unexpected downsides of growth. We all want to scale, but is it actually bringing you more peace, profit, or freedom?

David shares honest insights from years of mentoring entrepreneurs, leading mastermind groups, and living the business owner life himself. You’ll be challenged to rethink what success really looks like, especially in the context of your current season of life.

If you're feeling stretched thin, constantly chasing the next milestone, or wondering if there’s a better way to grow—this episode is for you.