In this episode, Jeff tells the story of how his company evolved over its 30-year history. It all started with a life-changing phone call when he was just a budding copywriter for an independent agency. He decided to “bet on himself” and start his own firm. In 2007, after 14 years in business, Jeff decided that he needed a change, so he took a senior position in a large PR firm. Seven years later, he was once again yearning for his role as an entrepreneur. He rebooted Krakoff Communications with new goals and ambitions in mind. He has grown his firm over the years, and he is currently joined by his son, Josh Krakoff, who came on board after graduating from college. At the end of our conversation, Jeff leaves us with some practical and motivating advice. Enjoy this episode!

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH JEFF KRAKOFF AT:

Website: https://krakoffcomm.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/krakoff_communications

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/krakoffcomm

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/krakoff-communications

Toni Shelaske purchased Healthy Pet Products in 2008, and she has grown it to four locations. Her company stands out for its customer service and for specializing in raw pet food for dogs and cats. In our conversation, she explains the benefits of being a raw feeder and how she expanded that part of her business. By the way, this is a great episode for learning more about the reasons why someone would buy an existing business instead of creating one from scratch. Toni and I also talk about the fun she is having with her own podcast called Toni Unleashed.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH TONI SHELASKE AT:

Website: https://healthypetproducts.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthypetproducts

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HealthyPetProducts

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@healthypetproducts222

The theme for this season is “in studio” as I’m back in the studio recording with all of my guests. Check out the incredible lineup that I have for you in Season 12:

Toni Shelaske, owner of Healthy Pet Products

Jeff Krakoff, owner of Krakoff Communications

Steve Dawson, owner of Fat Butcher

Jen Worley, owner of Jen Barker Worley Photography

Sidney and Terri Sokoloff, owner and founder of Specialty Group

Patrick Schober, owner of Poetica Marketing

Lisa Grazan, owner of Brilliant Biographies

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano

Phone: 412-336-8247

Getting to tour Destin LeCornu’s recording studio was an incredible opportunity. In this episode, he invites us behind the scenes to see everything that goes into making a state-of-the-art facility. The place has vintage vibes, and the multi-room setup gives you the sense that you walked onto a movie set.

Destin is an audio engineer, producer, teacher, and accomplished musician. He plays several different instruments, and he is a vocalist too. In our conversation, he describes how his father, a Nashville singer-songwriter, influenced him from a young age. Destin has managed to create a full-time career in the music industry, which is no small feat in a city the size of Pittsburgh.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH DESTIN LECORNU AT:

Website: https://www.sunsetplacestudio.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destinlecornu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100075963441408

During our conversation, Claire told the story of how she transitioned from theatre management to working for herself full time. She described how Chez Lapin evolved from a home-based Etsy shop to an established business with a full-fledged production facility.

Claire’s focus on eco-friendly and cruelty-free products is clearly an important part of her mission. Over the years, she has donated her time and a percentage of profits to several different rabbit rescue organizations. “Chez Lapin” is French for rabbit house, and the choice of name was inspired by Claire’s love for rabbits and French culture. I even got to meet her newly adopted companion and shop mascot, Tipsy, a cute little lionhead rabbit. Enjoy this episode!

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH CLAIRE LANDUYT AT:

Website: https://www.chezlapingoods.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chezlapingoods

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChezLapinGoods

Chi Ilochi is a one-of-a-kind fashion stylist whose work stands out in the local scene. Although Pittsburgh isn’t generally thought of as a fashion hub, Chi has managed to build a successful brand and business right here at home.

Her refreshing approach has been one of inclusiveness and accessibility. Core to her mission is reaching groups of people who traditionally have been written off by the mainstream fashion industry. Chi has also engaged in projects with non-profits, which is rare in her line of work.

In our conversation, Chi talks about the development of her confidence, which has given her the courage to be herself. This has also allowed her to get the best out of her clients by advising them on the importance of authenticity.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH CHI ILOCHI AT:

Website: https://stylingbychi.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StylingByChi

Email: Stylingbychi1@gmail.com

In this episode, I took a tour of Iron City Boulders in the Lawrenceville neighborhood. Dean Privett, a co-owner of the indoor bouldering gym, showed me around while we talked about his impressive facility and the growing climbing industry. His journey to entrepreneurship was 10 years in the making, and he shared his amazing story with me during our time together. You can tell from listening to Dean just how much he loves climbing and the cohesive community he and his team are building in Pittsburgh and in their Florida location. In fact, Dean and his European business partners are planning an eventual expansion across the U.S. in the years to come. Enjoy this sneak peek into the fascinating world of indoor climbing.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH DEAN PRIVETT AT:

Website: https://ironcityboulders.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ironcityboulders

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ironcityboulders

Dr. Nikhil Asher realized his dream of creating an integrated health and wellness center when he opened Aspirational Health in 2022. The brand new facility, which was the site of a former fast food restaurant, features a spacious on-site yoga and fitness studio. In addition to traditional medical services, patients also have access to a complete wellness program, including nutrition management, fitness instruction, and physical therapy.

Aspirational Health is an independent primary care medical practice that also functions as an urgent care facility. In our conversation, Dr. Asher describes how his background in critical care medicine and internal medicine, as well as his administrative position at a regional healthcare system, gave him the leadership experience he needed to operate his own private practice. His desire to treat people from a holistic perspective, and to help fill in the missing gaps in their care, has driven him to create a truly unique patient experience in our region.

If you have any questions or if you’d like to chat, you can reach me at my contact info below. The purpose of this podcast is to share ideas, inspire action, and build a stronger small business community here in Pittsburgh. So please say hello, tell me what you think, and let me know how I’m doing. It means a ton!

YOU CAN REACH ME AT:

Website: https://www.proprietorsofpittsburgh.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/proprietorsofpittsburghpodcast

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darinvilano

Phone: 412-336-8247

YOU CAN REACH DR. NIKHIL ASHER AT:

Website: https://aspirationalhealthandwellness.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aspirationalhealthandwellness

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Aspirationalhealthandwellness

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/aspirational-health