Bell Ringer (Buffalo Podcast)

Passion, meet power

We welcome back Christina Orsi from University at Buffalo to discuss The Innovation Hub, a new entrepreneurial resource to bring groundbreaking research to the commercial market. 

The future is diverse

Shatorah Donovan has made a career out of bettering Buffalo. First as an immigration attorney, then with Buffalo Museum of Science, and now as the City of Buffalo's Chief Diversity Officer. Shatorah covers the benefits of diversity in the workplace and what makes her optimistic about the future of Buffalo Niagara.

A Techstars power-up for Buffalo

Techstars has come to Buffalo with an entrepreneurial ecosystem development program, helping to continue our boom onto the national scene as a startup destination. Jack Greco is leading up the charge and on this podcast we discuss his path to the role and programming he hopes to implement. For any links mentioned, head to our blog buffaloniagara.org for further information.

A manufacturing campus

Buffalo Niagara is creating a manufacturing campus to address the ever-evolving industry so that we remain at the forefront of that flux. Catherine Muth represents the Buffalo Niagara Manufacturing Alliance and acts as a liaison to the Northland Workforce Training Center. We talk about how Buffalo is prepared for the future and how we can leverage our rich history for an even better tomorrow.

An inclusive economy

Royce Woods is leading the Beverly Gray Business Exchange Center helping to foster minority and women entrepreneurship on Buffalo's East side. 

1:59- Who was Beverly Gray?
3:52- Proud to be on the corner of Jefferson and Utica
4:12- What are you offering entrepreneurs? 
18:26- Favorite success story?
21:50- Pittsburgh Steelers vs Buffalo Bills, Ranch vs Blue Cheese

It's a good day for play

Explore & More Children's Museum is coming down to Canalside in a highly anticipated move! We talked with CEO Michelle Urbanczyk ahead of the move to hear what to expect. 

3:01- Technology in play
6:47- Milking cows
7:07- Hospital familiarity 
10:23- On accessibility for all
15:56- Being good neighbors

Nothing feels better than creating a job

In March, AML RightSource expanded to Buffalo, pledging to create 100 jobs in our financial services industry. Today, CEO Frank Ewing joins our show to dive into that decision. We discuss Buffalo's workforce, affordability, resources (including, yes, Invest Buffalo Niagara), and what it means personally to Frank to create jobs in this great region. 

6:07- Inflection points for financial crime monitoring
15:56- Invest Buffalo Niagara's role
18:18- Our fastest project and what that says about AML's culture
20:01- Hiring in Buffalo Niagara
27:15- "Nothing feels better than creating a job"
31:02- Favorite place for wings?

University collaboration

Alan Belicha from the University at Buffalo stops by to talk about the role a large research university can play in economic development. We get into the machinations of a university-company collaboration, intellectual property policies, and success stories. 

Hiring for advanced business services

In the final installment of our podcasts on hiring, Gerard Gooch, chief experience officer at Imagine Staffing, stops by to talk about business and financial services HR challenges. We also talk fun in the office place and challenge each other to 1-on-1 office basketball.

2:28- Word of mouth referrals
5:29- Attracting young professionals
7:51- Relocating talent to Buffalo
15:01- Office Basketball League

Hiring for startups

Chris Beckage and Pete Petrella stopped by our podcast studio to discuss the unique challenges in hiring for startups. With smaller teams and early risks, there's often a smaller margin for error in making hires. Make sure you and your company know common pitfalls and available resources.