WNY Entrepreneur

Meet Sal Alaimo, a powerhouse in the plumbing and heating industry with over 30 years of experience and a decade as a successful business owner. Born and raised in North Buffalo to immigrant parents, Sal’s entrepreneurial journey is a story of resilience, adaptability, and strategic growth.

After becoming a father at 22, Sal left college and jumped into the trades, starting as a carpenter’s apprentice before finding his niche in HVAC and plumbing. He quickly climbed the ranks, joining Local 22 in 2003 and leading major commercial projects like Ralph Wilson Stadium and Harborcenter as a steward and foreman. But when layoffs became frequent, Sal took control of his future—launching his own company in 2015 as a sole proprietor.

Sal’s turning point came in 2023 after a serious injury forced him to scale his business. He expanded his operation, purchased more trucks, and hired a team—transforming a one-man operation into a growing business. His story reflects the entrepreneurial spirit: knowing when to pivot, when to grow, and how to build a business that stands the test of time.

Sal’s journey from the job site to business ownership is packed with hard-earned lessons and strategic wins. Tune in to hear how he leveraged decades of experience to create a thriving business and why adaptability is the key to entrepreneurial success.

Meet Tony Galbo, a Lancaster, NY native now thriving in Clarence with his wife and three boys. Tony is a natural-born entrepreneur whose passion for growth and tangible success has propelled him to impressive heights as a business owner, husband, and father. As President of Galbo Group, Tony’s journey began as a specialty contractor in masonry—but he didn’t stop there.

With his construction business thriving, Tony took a bold step into real estate by purchasing a multi-tenant commercial and industrial property, which became home to Galbo Group and sparked a deeper passion for real estate. Since then, he’s expanded his portfolio to include multi-family homes, additional commercial properties, warehouse spaces, and a property management firm. Tony’s entrepreneurial spirit has also led him into the restaurant business, proving that his “the sky is the limit” mindset knows no bounds.

Tony’s drive to succeed extends beyond business—he’s building a legacy for his family and team, instilling a belief that anything is possible. Tune in to hear how Tony’s fearless approach to business and life continues to push boundaries and inspire those around him.

Meet Jennifer Whitmarsh, a trailblazing entrepreneur with over 18 years of industry experience and the visionary behind Snappy Dry Cleaning. Jennifer’s path from working the front counter as a teenager to owning her own full-service cleaner is a masterclass in determination, leadership, and strategic growth.

Jennifer didn’t just open a dry cleaner—she built a brand rooted in exceptional customer service and trust. Certified in dry cleaning (yes, there’s a school for that!), Jennifer’s expertise extends beyond her own business. She now coaches other dry cleaners nationwide through The Route Pro’s, specializing in customer service and operational excellence.

Her leadership style is built on teamwork and empowerment. Jennifer believes in surrounding herself with talented people whose skills complement her own—creating a strong, customer-focused team that thrives. Her belief? "We’re not in the dry cleaning business—we’re in the customer service business… we just happen to help you clean up some messes at the same time.”

Jennifer’s journey from employee to industry expert is a blueprint for scaling a business while maintaining a strong company culture. Tune in to discover how Jennifer built a thriving business by putting relationships and service at the heart of her success.

Bill Testa, President & CEO of DirectMail 20|20 and creator of Frintz™, has spent over 40 years transforming the printing and marketing industry. He turned a bold idea into a patented business model that delivers free printed photos while offering advertisers a 100% open rate marketing opportunity. Beyond business, Bill is passionate about community impact, serving as Rotary Club President and supporting causes like breast cancer research and the Special Olympics through the Frintz Fund. In this episode, he shares how he built a disruptive business, the importance of patents and scaling efficiently, and the mindset shifts that helped him overcome challenges. Whether you're a business owner or aspiring entrepreneur, Bill’s insights on innovation, resilience, and giving back will inspire you. Tune in for an episode packed with real-world lessons and entrepreneurial wisdom!

ric is a son, brother, husband, father, grandfather and a friend to many---his focus is always on serving and helping others. Eric's career has spanned a few
decades, in a number of industries and learning and using various disciplines.
From an agricultural representative (degree in horticulture from the University of
WI), to a senior buyer for a fortune 100 food company, to the selling and
marketing of a diverse array of products and services to a wide variety of markets.
Though not originally from here, Eric loves WNY and has considered it home for
30 years. After being downsized from corporate America 15 years ago he started Picture Your Walls LLC, which offers wall decor solutions, custom framing, fine art printing, and photo restoration. The company stands by their motto of Picture Your Wall YOUR WAY!

Justin Charles Whitted is the owner of Salon Justin Charles as well as the owner of Bogo Properties, LLC. After returning home from the Vidal Sassoon Advanced Academy in London, England, Justin Charles was inspired and determined to build a salon reflective of his newly refined skills. Justin Charles creates sophisticated looks that are technically precise, effortlessly chic, and are easy to recreate day after day.Justin was born and raised in Western New York and now lives in the Elmwood Village with his wife and two young children.

Jeremy Meindl is the Director of Marketing at Williams Media and Hueston. After high school,he joined a Vancouver startup to create spam-filtering rules for the Canadian government andBlackBerry.  Later, he ran ad operations and SEO for Cleveland Clinic and built an online store that reached over $1.5 million in its first year. He also rose to the top tier of affiliate work for DraftKings, Lull Mattress, and others. Now, Jeremy develops programmatic SEO and marketing plans for clients at Hueston and Williams Media. He lives in Western New York with his wife Brenna and their two children, having recently returned from Maui.

Howard Cadmus is from downstate New York. After putting himself through college at Albany, he came to Western New York for law school and stayed in the area to work as an attorney. An entrepreneur at heart, in 2007, Howard started his own law firm and two years later started Oh Pour L'amour Du Chocolat.  He also purchased Jenny's that same year and started 1811 Comics in 2014. In 2020, he helped to launch Mizuchi Dojo.

Shawn Glogowski, CFP®, EA has been in the financial industry for
over 20 years. Ten years ago, Shawn founded Note Advisors
(formerly GCW Capital Group) with his colleague and friend Tom
Waring, Jr. in the hopes of providing clients a more holistic
approach to wealth management. 
Shawn loves sharing his knowledge with anyone who’s ready to
achieve their vision in their own life and business. He specializes
in helping his clients create, implement, and monitor a
comprehensive financial plan that aligns with both their personal
and business visions. 
Shawn is the director of the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation,
Co-Chair of the WNY chapter of Tee it Up for the Troops and
Board Member of The Ronald McDonald House. He’s a proud
Buffalo native and graduate of UB. In his free time, Shawn enjoys
spending time with his wife and two daughters.