Lake Erie LifeStyle July 2015 issue by Pam Parker

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contents ENTREPRENEURS

July ’15

VOLUME 8

ISSUE 8

home & garden

BUFFALO BLOOMS

CHECK OUT 400 GARDENS ON A WALK ING TOUR.

Photo by Don Zinteck/Photographics2

bon appetit

38 FOLLOW THE SHEEP

16 COAST ON IN FOR A BREW

Have a glass of Voodoo at Conneaut Lake Park.

business & commerce 19 STAYING POWER

Business startups bring back memories.

20 ANGEL INVESTORS

Funding group banks on success.

22 TRY, TRY, TRY AGAIN

Thirty-one ideas, seven winners.

24 TRANSPORTERS

Teaching, learning starts with driving skills.

Award-winning doctor solves sleep problem.

In Every Issue 10 THINGS TO DO

Get a taste of events in, on and near the water in Buffalo, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Erie.

40 BREATHE EASIER

Dentist develops alternative to CPAP machine.

42 ERIE’S ENGINES

Generations of inventors, idea people build economy.

escapes

44 WATER, RIDES, FOOD, FUN

From small business to big business, two families continue to increase Erie-area recreational opportunities.

ON SCENE

On scene events include Catholic Charities Ball, EHCA prom, Habitat for Humanity and more.

INSIDE PUBLIC BROADCASTING

Meet veterinarians who help heal animals all over the globe.

WQLN PROGRAMMING

Take a bus trip, learn something new, celebrate the Fourth of July and more.

26 IT STARTED WITH HAIRCUTS

Grooming expertise grows into snow plowing, car care and a nonprofit.

28 PICTURE THIS

Film students draw in big customers.

35 PSNERGY

Energy solutions save big for large manufacturers.

36 PUT A LID ON IT

ONTHE COVER

18 MEET THE WINNERS

Gannon University student Jordan Felice won the Innovation Collaborative grand prize for his team’s submission of Bio-Conduit, a medical treatment that prevents infection in broken bones. WeiShin Lai, M.D., owner of Acoustic Sheep SleepPhones, won the Ben Franklin Technology Partners Big Idea Business Plan Contest. Cover photo by Matt Kleck

Mason jar caps seal great deals. July2015

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July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 5

from the editor JULY 2015 I AM AN ENTREPRENEUR If you start your own business, you have to have guts and the belief you can make a living at it. I know because I started a freelance writing business when my kids were little. I didn’t just start a business. I used it to support all three kids after a divorce and the death of their dad. What made me do it? My obstetrician, John Guthleben, now retired, told me I should write books. Maybe he saw that the crazy in me needed a creative outlet. My former boss, the late Gary Lovelace, told me I had missed my calling as a writer when I worked for him as the marketing manager at Cablevision. We had to do reports — a lot of reports, and I added a bit of humor to mine. So armed with the skills of crazy and humor, I went out on a limb. I wound up writing for ad agencies, newspapers, magazines and trade publications. I wrote about everything from AMSCO animal cage washers to Brazilian wax experiences. And here I am. I still have my business, by the way. One tidbit of advice I received from Rich Gensheimer, of Erie Insurance, was that people will surprise you. The folks you think might help and support you won’t. But others who didn’t know you but respected your work will throw you a lot of work. All true. Thanks to all of the people who kept me in business. Congratulations to all of our regional entrepreneurs, and if you’re thinking of starting a business — get some advice, and go for it!

Pam Parker Managing Editor, Lake Erie LifeStyle pam.parker@timesnews.com

LAKE

ERIE

LifeStyle

DIRECTOR OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT Marnie Mead marnie.mead@timesnews.com EDITOR Pam Parker pam.parker@timesnews.com PAGE DESIGNER Holly Waychoff CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER/WEB DESIGN Karen Burchill, Steve Puskar PHOTOGRAPHERS Andy Colwell, Sarah Crosby, Rob Frank, Jack Hanrahan, Matt Kleck, Christopher Millette, Greg Wohlford ADVERTISING MaryBeth Ford, Special Sections Advertising marybeth.ford@timesnews.com 814-878-2201 CONTACT US pam.parker@timesnews.com 205 W. 12th St., Erie, PA 16534 www.lakeerielifestyle.com All content, including the design, art, photos and editorial content ©2015, Erie Times-News. No portion of this magazine may be copied or reprinted without the express written permission of the publisher.

Kim and Pam Parker

July2015

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contributors JULY 2015

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” KAREN BEARDSLEY-PETIT finds entrepreneurs in the business of family fun. Karen is the manager of media relations at UPMC. page 44 JENNIE BREWER shares Brenda Bennett’s story of starting a business at Transporation Solutions. Jennie is a Mercyhurst University grad who interned at the Corry Journal. This is her first contribution to Lake Erie LifeStyle. Welcome, Jennie. page 24 PATRICK BROADWATER checks out events in Buffalo. Patrick is a freelance writer with more than 20 years of experience. page 10 JOHN CHACONA shares the story of veterinarians who save animals all over the globe in “Operation Wild,” airing on WQLN in July. John is a copywriter in Gannon University’s marketing department. page 58 ELENA CLARK got the latest info on ReCap and a family of entrepreneurs. Elena is a student at Kent State University, where she studies fashion merchandising and public relations. This is her first contribution to Lake Erie LifeStyle. Welcome, Elena. page 36 LYDIA LAYTHE interviewed a variety of entrepreneurs for this issue. A graduate of Mercyhurst Preparatory School, she is a senior at the University of Portland. These are her first contributions to Lake Erie LifeStyle. Welcome, Lydia. pages 20, 22, 26, 38 MARY MACIE tells the story of Erie entrepreneur Carl Nicolia. Mary was the first woman buyer at GE Transportation. Currently a Mary Kay consultant, she has been active for 20 years in the Women’s Roundtable. This is her first contribution to Lake Erie LifeStyle. Welcome, Mary. page 35

—Walt Disney STEVE ORBANEK introduces readers to some new wines and brews in the area, and he interviews a crew of animated business owners. Steve is the marketing communication specialist at Penn State Behrend. pages 16, 28 PAM PARKER finds the king (Elvis) is on the stage in July, and she meets some entrepreneurs who have made a difference in the Erie community. Pam is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News. page 10, 42 SUE SCHOLZ previews the extraordinary Buffalo Garden Walk with a lot of home landscapes to love. Sue writes a gardening column for House to Home every Saturday in the Erie Times-News. page 12

coming in August NONPROFITS Erie Gives Day is scheduled for Aug. 11, and the August issue will connect you with some of the area’s nonprofits. Subscribe now by calling 870-1600 or e-mail circulation@timesnews.com.

MARNIE MEAD suggests events you’ll love in July, and she takes a look back at entrepreneur stories she’s published during the past two decades. Marnie is the director of product development at the Erie Times-News. She writes about adventures in food, sports and more for Her Times, Make It Erie and Lake Erie LifeStyle. pages 10, 19 MARISSA ORBANEK checks out John Tucker’s invention that helps people breathe and sleep better. Marissa is the public relations manager for the General McLane School District and the girls lacrosse coach at McDowell High School. page 40 July2015

Erie Times-News file photo by Christopher Millette

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July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 9

things to do this July

PITTSBURGH The largest inland regatta in the country — the EQT Pittsburgh Three Rivers Regatta — pushes off Friday, July 3, around Point State Park, the North Shore and the Photo courtesy of EQT Clemente Bridge. Among the highlights of the weekend are: a nine-story Ferris wheel, which was invented by Pittsburgh North Side native George Ferris in 1893; a return of the Formula One Power Boats; Lighted Boat Parade on Friday, July 3,: the Anything that Floats Race; and fireworks on Saturday, July 4, at 9:36 p.m. Friday evening, the Lighted Boat Parade invites the local boating community to decorate their boats to add sparkle and shine to the rivers. And back by popular demand, the Anything That Floats Race will capture the imagination of anyone who ever tried to build a boat. Enjoy five stages of live music, including headliner Grammy-nominated Chris Young on Sunday, July 5. For more info: www.yougottaregatta.com. — Marnie Mead

Photo by Dale McDonald/ courtesy of Greater Cleveland Aquarium

CLEVELAND The Greater Cleveland Aquarium is celebrating the Fourth of July with music, drinks, food trucks, fireworks and, of course, sharks. On Saturday, July 4, from noon to midnight (aquarium access from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), enjoy the boardwalk festivities against the backdrop of the city skyline and a rocking musical festival of Cleveland’s up-and-coming bands. Guests can experience all of their favorite aquarium exhibits, such as the brand-new invertebrate Touch Pool and updated Shark Gallery. Fireworks are provided by the city of Cleveland. Greater Cleveland Aquarium is located at 2000 Sycamore St.; 216-862-8803 or 855-602-3040. Cost is $29.95 Kids free with a general aquarium admission ticket. Info: www.greaterclevelandaquarium.com/ discover/events/fourth-of-july-red-white-brew. — Marnie Mead

ERIE

BUFFALO

If you remember the Elvis Presley song “Always On My Mind,” and you have Elvis on your mind, grab your blue suede shoes and dance on into Elvis month at the Erie Playhouse. “All the King’s Women,” a special event fundraiser, pulls 17 women together in a series of five comedic plays and three monologues based on the “Life of Elvis Presley.”The show is Mondays, June 29 through July 27, but there is no show on July 6. Need some more Elvis? How about stepping out for “Elvis Has Left the Building,” a comedy that will deliver some laughs in a story that takes place in 1970 when Elvis Presley disappears before a concert. Wild adventures begin when Elvis’ manager — the Colonel — gets into some trouble and comes up with an idea to find an Elvis impersonator within 24 hours. The shows starts Friday, July 10, at 7:30 p.m., through Sunday, July 26. Info: www.erieplayhouse.org/ performances. Don’t be late. “It’s Now or Never.” — Pam Parker

You may not be able to hit 10 or 12 of Buffalo’s best dining spots in a day or even a weekend. Unless you visit the Taste of Buffalo, that is. Now in its 31st year, the Taste is the largest two-day food festival in the U.S. More than 50 restaurants, food trucks and wineries will line Delaware Avenue and Niagara Square July 11-12, offering sample servings of some of their best menu items to an expected 450,000 hungry and thirsty customers. At least a dozen different ethnicities will be represented, giving the festival a truly global flavor. Here’s how it works: Visitors purchase strands of tickets they can redeem for the items of their choice. Each establishment offers at least three menu items — including one healthy option — priced between $1 and $4.There’s also a beer tent and live music throughout the weekend. Admission to the festival is free. Food tickets are 50 cents each and sold in $5 increments.The festival runs from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, July 11, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday, July 12. Info: www.tasteofbuffalo. com. — Patrick Broadwater

Image courtesy of Erie Playhouse

July2015

Photo courtesy of Taste of Buffalo by Tops

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July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 11

home & garden

Gardens full of ideas in Buffalo By Sue Scholz

THE LAST WEEKEND in July is a garden tour like no other — Garden Walk Buffalo. A mere two hours away, it is the country’s largest garden tour. This amazing event is July 25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.This year, the gardens that are available to tour have surpassed an impressive 400 gardens. “It’s exciting to have reached our maturity — this is our 21st year — with more than 400 participating gardens.The city of Buffalo, and our thousands of visitors from as close as the suburbs and as distant as many countries across the oceans, has caught on to the blossoming of Buffalo’s West Side. We gardeners are excited to show pride in our individual gardens and the improvement of our neighborhoods,” says Cindy Loomis, chairwoman of the Garden Walk Buffalo committee. July2015

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home & garden

facing page: Utilizing every inch of space is common in Buffalo’s small urban yards — Ellie Dorritie’s garden at 415 Little Summer St. above left: Backyard entertaining is easy with this Hopkins/ Dunlop garden at 84 16th St. above right: The Eight Paths Garden, 278 Baynes St., is serene. left: The colorful cottages on Little Summer Street are popular. Photos by Jim Charlier

The variety of the gardens is diverse with cottage gardens, formal gardens, Oriental, water, children’s and eclectic, to name a few. “Garden Walk Buffalo provides a wide variety of gardens to tour, from humble gardens created by novice gardeners to elaborate and colorful gardens that have delighted visitors for many years.There’s something for everyone,” says Loomis. Because it is impossible to see all of the gardens in two days, it is best to pick a neighborhood and see the gardens in that area, and explore another area the next time.The www.lakeerielifestyle.com

tour also includes free shuttle buses to other neighborhoods. The gardens have evolved into “Buffalostyle.” “Here in Buffalo, you’ll find small urban gardens that pack a big punch — including cheerfully brash juxtapositions of colorful perennials and unique annuals, minimal or no lawns, and creative uses of found objects and architectural artifacts as sculpture. A Buffalo-style garden will have the patina of a well-used, customized space, often with complete disregard for garden design

conventions. Buffalo gardeners take advantage of the sides of houses and fences by hanging artwork, sculptures, grates, mirrors, plants and more — incorporating the impressive and diverse architecture found throughout every neighborhood,” says Jim Charlier, vice chairman of Garden Walk Buffalo and chairman of the marketing committee. Garden Walk Buffalo has helped Buffalo shed its snowy, gloomy, rust-belt image. Many of the gardens have been featured in national gardening magazines. “People are amazed at what a beautiful city we have. Garden walkers July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 13

home & garden

are welcomed into the gardens, front, back and/or side, of private residences.They can chat with the homeowners to learn about what’s growing while enjoying the unique architecture of our neighborhoods,” says Loomis. “The take-away that we hear most often, after the walk, is that people had no idea how nice Buffalo is, and what friendly people live here,” says Charlier. Mark your calendar for this year’s 21st annual Garden Walk Buffalo. There are so many reasons to attend. “Garden Walk Buffalo is like the world’s largest garden and home show. Sure there are creative and masterful gardens, but many enjoy unique features: decks, outdoor kitchens, espaliers, plant collections, wall and fence artwork, sculptures, potting sheds, hot tubs, fountains, ponds, pools, vertical gardens, porch gardens, dining areas and much more. It’s more than just pretty plants. It is gardens full of ideas,” says Charlier. LEL

in the know:

GARDENWALK BUFFALO

Saturday and Sunday, July 25 and 26 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.gardenwalkbuffaloniagara.com

top: This front yard garden of Jennifer and Jim Guercio at 755 W. Delevan St. is a traffic-stopper. Photo by Don Zinteck/Photographics2. above: Ryan Osborn’s garden at 86 Norwood Ave. is a real crowd-pleaser. Photo by Jim Charlier

July2015

Maps are available online and at the three Buffalo headquarters: ▀ Summer Street Senior Center, corner of Richmond Avenue and Summer Street. ▀ Buffalo Seminary, 205 Bidwell Parkway. ▀ Evergreen Health Services, 206 S. Elmwood Ave.

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July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 15

bon appétit

Craft beer takes a ride at Conneaut Lake Park By Steve Orbanek

top: Patrons enjoy the Blue Streak at Conneaut Lake Park. This year, they can also enjoy Voodoo craft beer at the park. Erie Times-News file photo above: 21 Brix Winery and Olde Chautauqua Farms host a fruit festival with wine slushies, homemade pie and more. Photo courtesy of Olde Chautauqua Farms

July2015

CRAFT BEERS in an amusement park? It would seem to be an unconventional connection, but not at Conneaut Lake Park. New for this year, Meadville-based Voodoo Brewery has opened a beer, merchandise and concession stand inside the historic park. It’s a change from what normally would be expected from the 100-plus-year-old park, but Angela Annibale says that’s the idea. “A lot of times when you mention Conneaut Lake Park, people have a perceived notion of what that means, and with Voodoo, it’s really a good fit because we’re really looking for fresh, new ideas,” says Annibale, marketing and special projects manager at the Economic Progress Alliance of Crawford County. The alliance manages the amusement park through an agreement with park trustees. New ideas like the introduction of craft beer could be beneficial as the park tries to secure its future after trustees filed for Chapter 11 protection in December. “We can help raise awareness about Conneaut Lake Park,” says Matteo Rachocki, owner of Voodoo Brewery. “They’re trying new things.They’re making an honest effort to improve. In my opinion, it’s a win-win situation for both of us.”

While beer in northwestern Pennsylvania theme parks might be a new concept, Rachocki says that a number of national parks do offer beer and have had success with that practice. For area beer connoisseurs, one of the benefits of Voodoo’s new Conneaut Lake Park location is that it operates in a manner similar to the brewery’s Meadville and Homestead locations. Six different beers are available on tap, and park attendees can purchase and fill a growler or buy a four- or 12-pack to go. “It’s a great convenience for people who are in the Conneaut Lake Park who might not want to drive all the way to Meadville to have a growler filled,” Rachocki says. “You can have a cold beer on a hot day, you can fill your growler, you can also educate people who are coming from outside of town about Voodoo. It’s a great situation.” In honor of the new collaboration with Conneaut Lake Park, Voodoo has even brewed a brand-new beer. “The one we brewed specifically for the park is a blueberry graham cracker ale that we brewed with fresh blueberries. We have not come up with a name yet, but it will probably be based around the Blue Streak (roller coaster). You can only get it right there at Conneaut www.lakeerielifestyle.com

bon appétit Lake Park,” Rachocki says. Conneaut Lake Park is open Fridays and Saturdays from noon until 10 p.m. and Sundays from noon until 8 p.m. Park admission (without a ride pass) is free, so visitors are welcome to come to the park just to get a taste of Voodoo’s new, exclusive creation. Provided that this year goes well, the plan is for Voodoo to continue hosting a concession stand at Conneaut Lake Park in future seasons. The park could even expand to add new vendors as well. “Voodoo is kind of our project pilot, and if it works well in the future, maybe we’ll have some other well-known restaurants out there as well,” Annibale says. “We’ve seen Voodoo expand and grow, and I think this is just such a great opportunity to reinvent the park and get some culture up there.” Other area wine and beer happenings

Burning River Fest, Cleveland For two days in late August, come down to Cleveland’s Coast Guard Station on Whiskey Island to celebrate the 14th annual Burning

River Fest. From 6 to 11 p.m. both nights, you’ll enjoy live music, fresh food from local farms and eateries, chef demos, and Great Lakes Brewing Co. beers. All proceeds benefit the Burning River Foundation, which has awarded nearly $400,000 to organizations dedicated to sustaining, restoring, conserving, and improving freshwater resources. Cost is $12 in advance or $15 at the door. For more information, visit www.burningriverfest.org. LEL above: McNulty’s Bier Markt hosts Summer Sour Slam on Saturday, July 25. Photo courtesy of McNulty’s Bier Markt

Fruit Festival, 21 Brix Winery and Olde Chautauqua Farms Join 21 Brix Winery and Olde Chautauqua Farms for their second Fruit Festival, scheduled for Thursday, July 2, and Friday July 3, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. You’ll get to pick cherries from the farm’s cherry orchard and then head to the winery to enjoy wines, wine slushies and slices of homemade pie. A series of craft vendors will also be on hand at the winery.There is no admission cost, but there are fees for food and beverages.

Summer Sour Slam, Cleveland McNulty’s Bier Markt (1948 W. 25th St., Cleveland) is hosting the first Summer Sour Slam on Saturday, July 25. From noon until closing (2:30 a.m.), you’ll be able to sample some of the world’s best-known sour beers. Timed tappings of rare sour beers will also be held throughout the day. Admission is free, and no RSVP is necessary.

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July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 17

BUSINESS&COMMERCE SPONSORED CONTENT

Erie boosts business

The Innovation Collaborative and Ben Franklin Technology Partners help business startups get rolling. We asked Liz Wilson, of Ben Franklin Technology Partners, and Beth Zimmer, of Innovation Collaborative, to tell readers what they do. What does your organization do?

Zimmer: We are inspiring a culture of entrepreneurship that is paramount to our economic competitiveness. We work to facilitate the growth of services that support entrepreneurs’ success, while measuring and communicating progress over time. The Innovation Collaborative engaged Jumpstart Inc. in 2013 under a state grant in collaboration with the Technology Council. Jumpstart has assessed and coached more than 15 regions across the U.S. Liz Wilson is the director of marketing/ Jumpstart provided an assessment of our communications at Ben Franklin Technology region that was not positive, confirming we Partners. Photo by Rob Frank lagged behind similar regions significantly when it comes to entrepreneurial activity and creators. Companies less than 5 years old create support. More importantly, it provided us with almost 100 percent of all net new jobs.This a road map to reality-based, proven solutions has been a fact for the past 30 years in the for improvement. You can see the plan at www. United States. If we want economic growth innovationcollaborators.com. in our region, we must support and grow Wilson: Ben Franklin Technology Partners entrepreneurial activity. has been providing investment capital and Wilson: Entrepreneurs and tech startups business support services to tech startups and are our business.Today’s risk takers and small manufacturers for more than 30 years. innovative thinkers are tomorrow’s employers. If you are starting a business to develop Their efforts should always be supported and an innovative, new product or process, your applauded — loudly. personal assets and credit will only go so far. Friends and family will likely be your first What do you do for the various investors, but that well runs dry fast.The next businesses your organizations serve? stop tends to be the bank. But banks are lenders, Zimmer: We advocate for funding for not investors.What you need is a “friendly” organizations that are partnering with institutional investor who is not averse to risky, us. We are focusing on Culture Building, tech-based projects. Regional Entrepreneurial Network, Economic There’s a need for early-stage “seed” investors Gardening, Enhanced Mentoring Networks, to help fledgling startups get to the point where High Growth Startups and Student they can get the attention of equity investors. Entrepreneurship Programs. We work with media partners to raise How important are entrepreneurs to the public’s awareness of the importance of the community? entrepreneurship. We connect entrepreneurs Zimmer: Entrepreneurs are the real job

July2015

Beth Zimmer is a founder and managing director of Innovation Collaborative. Photo by Rob Frank

with resources; provide programming, such as meet ups, and educational opportunities; sponsor events; advocate for entrepreneurs; support our partners in any way that we can; and measure and communicate progress. (See report: www.innovationcollaborators.com.) Wilson: Ben Franklin funding is used to develop innovative, new products or processes and help startups grow. But you also get a partner to help share the risk and provide business mentoring. Our companies can access, at no charge, our team of 10 seasoned business professionals for advice on any business topic. BROUGHT TO YOU BY Ben Franklin Technology Partners Knowledge Park, Suite 202, 5340 Fryling Road, Erie 814-898-6650, www.cnp.benfranklin.org Innovation Collaborative c/o Radius CoWork @ Renaissance Centre 1001 State St., Suite 907, Erie 814-490-5295, http://innovationcollaborators.com

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business & commerce

Lake Erie entrepreneurs

Bio-Conduit is designed to reduce infection in artificial limb replacement. It is filled with antibiotic beads or cement, which can pass through the metal rod, made of porous metal called Tantalum, to fight infection at the bone level.The metal also promotes bone tissue and blood vessels to grow into the rod for better support and healing. Bio-Conduit, Felice explained, is still in the start-up stage. Winning the Ben Franklin Technology Partners Big Idea Business Plan Contest were By Marnie Mead Lai and her team at AcousticSheep LLC, headboards out of reclaimed materials. LAKE ERIE LIFESTYLE editor Pam based in EBCO Park off Peninsula Drive. For those people whose concepts are Parker and I have had the pleasure of meeting AcousticSheep created both SleepPhones harder to wrap your hands around, there are enterprising people in the Lake Erie region for and RunPhones, headbands with flat speakers the entrepreneurial angels at the Innovation more than 20 years.The first publication we inside that provide for nonintrusive listening. worked on was Your Money magazine, which was Collaborative and the Ben Franklin Technology Lake Erie LifeStyle worked with the Partners. Each year these two separate in Erie’s newspapers in the mid- to late 1990s. Innovation Collaborative and Ben Franklin organizations sponsor competitions to uncover Partners to put together a list of area We interviewed small business owners the next big idea. On the cover of the magazine entrepreneurs. We then reached out to Jim Kurre, every week and won the Small Business are two of the stars, Jordan Felice, a student Administration Media Advocate award for director emeritus, Economic Research Institute western Pennsylvania. Sometimes, we wondered at Gannon University, and Wei-Shin Lai, a of Erie, and Ken Louie, director, Economic if the business was going to make it to the next medical doctor and inventor of a headband Institute of Erie, for their suggestions. With this device for listening to music while falling asleep list in hand, we met with our magazine partners issue of the magazine. Many didn’t, especially or running. those in the restaurant or retail businesses. at WQLN Public Media to come up with a list Felice and his inventor team from Gannon Others are still chugging along today — some of eight entrepreneurs to celebrate in our eighth were the grand prize winner of the Second in the same spot, some with new ownership year as a magazine.The ninth, Catherine Mott, is Annual Innovation Collaborative hosted by and locations, such as Naturally Yours. Other known as an angel. You can read more about her Erie Insurance.The team had seven minutes to on these pages as well. We also reached out to entrepreneurs have reinvented themselves over pitch the product idea, called Bio-Conduit to a our Facebook friends, Athena Erie leadership, and over again. panel similar to “Shark Tank.” What was the difference between the Coffee Club Divas and more. LEL successful entrepreneurs and those who failed? It wasn’t passion. Almost every single person we met had an idea they believed in. Most worked hard, even seven days a week and up to 20 hours a day to bring their idea to the Erie market. Some, I believe, had ideas that were ahead of their time. Others just didn’t have the capitalization to get out of the garage. Many others didn’t understand marketing — remember, this is before social media, PayPal, eBay and the many other venues there are today to get the word out. Today, there are any number of ways to find a small business and support it. I recently met Matt and Anna Rachocki, who run Knot 2 Shabby out of their home selling on Etsy. com.They don’t have the overhead of a store or employees. But they do have plenty of ideas and hard work. What this couple does is tangible — they make things, like lights and clocks and right: Jordan Felice, whose team invented Bio-Conduit and won the Second Annual Innovation Collaborative contest, and Wei-Shin Lai, winner of the Ben Franklin Technology Partners Big Idea Business Plan contest for SleepPhones and RunPhones. Photo by Marnie Mead

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July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 19

business & commerce

Financing angels By Lydia Laythe

“I always saw things differently. I was always … thinking outside the box. It didn’t feel like risk to me, (but for others) doing something different was risky.”

CATHERINE MOTT is known to some as “The Maverick,” a nickname that couldn’t be more appropriate. Mott is an independent, forward-thinking person, and has been for as long as she can remember. When Mott, a self-proclaimed “tomboy,” was a child, there were mostly boys in her neighborhood, which meant she grew up playing army and King of the Hill. She was comfortable playing rough and pushing back against the other boys. Now the neighborhood is a board room, the games are meetings, and the boys are men — but Mott still feels like she’s playing a game of King of the Hill. According to Mott, banking and finance are dominated by men, especially in Mott says the pressures of being a woman in senior management where she has been since a male-dominated industry are always there. she first started working in corporate banking. “Prejudices are prejudices,” Mott says. “It’s

— Catherine Mott, BlueTree Allied Angels

July2015

always there, but you learn to live with it. You calculate how you need to deal with the issues. (Sometimes I have to) call a spade a spade.” www.lakeerielifestyle.com

business & commerce But Mott has not always been impervious to the pressure of gender norms. When she went to college, the first in her family to do so, Mott says women were expected to be either nurses or teachers. So she got her degree in education, and taught high school English. Her teaching career didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t last long before her maverick nature was sparked again.This time she returned to school, earned her MBA and jumped head-first into banking â&#x20AC;&#x201D; where she first earned the nickname â&#x20AC;&#x153;Maverick.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I always saw things differently,â&#x20AC;? Mott says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was always â&#x20AC;Ś thinking outside the box. It didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel like risk to me, (but for others) doing something different was risky.â&#x20AC;? After 17 years in banking, Mott moved into venture capital and enjoys the impact her work has in the world around her. Her BlueTree companies have invested in life-saving businesses and products like ALung, makers

of artificial lung devices, and Cryothermic Systems, makers of devices for first responders to heart attack, stroke or traumatic brain injury. BlueTree Allied Angels is working with the Innovation Collaborative, a NWPA Tech Council-led organization focused on encouraging creative economic progress through entrepreneurship. This partnership began when Innovation Collaborative leader Beth Zimmer heard Mott speak in Pittsburgh about the BlueTree Allied Angels in 2010. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Catherine has added professionalism and sophistication to a historically very risky business. Her leadership focuses on the highest ethical standards, risk mitigation for investors,

left: Catherine Mott created BlueTree Allied Angels to provide capital for entrepreneurs. Photo courtesy of Catherine Mott

bio:

CATHERINE MOTT

BlueTree Capital Group and BlueTree Allied Angels P.O. Box 1323, Wexford, Pa. www.bluetreealliedangels.com

and quality support for the entrepreneurs that they invest in,â&#x20AC;? Zimmer says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Investing in startups without a system like BlueTreeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s is similar to walking across a street with your eyes closed.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I enjoy watching the entrepreneurs be successful, create jobs, â&#x20AC;Ś have a meaningful impact on the economy and a meaningful impact on peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives,â&#x20AC;? Mott says. Mottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s care for the community and her maverick attitude make her a powerful and inspiring role model. And whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s making investment risks or racing motorcycles as a teenager, Mott is able to find the balance between risk and security to be successful. But even after founding BlueTree Capital Group and BlueTree Allied Angels and becoming a managing partner of the BlueTree Venture Fund, Mott doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel like a success. For her, success means being finished â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not done yet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Success is never overnight,â&#x20AC;? Mott says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And success is never over.â&#x20AC;? LEL

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July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 21

business & commerce

From poverty to prosperity: Veteran starts 31 businesses By Lydia Laythe

RICH ARLINGTON STARTED like most great entrepreneurs do: just a kid and a lawn mower. Seeing the successful multimillionaire now, you might think his life has been a series of easy choices — but it hasn’t. Arlington was born into poverty and faced many obstacles growing up. Arlington still recalls waiting in the welfare line with his mother for bread and cheese. “I grew up in a very bad situation, so I knew I didn’t want to live that way,” Arlington says. “I (had to) strive to be better.” Today he does as the owner of Rich Arlington and Associates, a consulting company specializing in snow, ice and landscaping industries.

July2015

“My mom told me I could be anything I wanted to be if I was willing to work hard for it.”

— Richard Arlington

There were still bumps along the way. When Arlington dropped out of high school, he faced the criticism of his family. “They looked down on me and told me I’d

never amount to anything,” Arlington says. But his family’s skepticism didn’t hamper his ambition. In fact, being told he couldn’t do something only made him more motivated to

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business & commerce do it.The only person Arlington remembers supporting his plans was his mother. “My mom told me I could be anything I wanted to be if I was willing to work hard for it,” says Arlington, 49. Arlington then joined the Marines but left with a disability status, and he returned to Erie. Both his parents had been laid off. Shortly after returning home, Arlington lost his job when the company he was working for moved out of Erie. “Having a job wasn’t necessarily guaranteed security. ... I needed to be self-employed,” Arlington says. In the mid-1980s Arlington borrowed his parents’ lawn mower, a broom and a dust pan, and he started Arlington Lawncare. As new obstacles arose, he started a new business to address them. Parents couldn’t leave their children at home, so he started day care left: Richard Arlington is the founder of Rich Arlington and Associates, a consulting company for snow, ice and landscaping businesses. Photo courtesy of Rich Arlington and Associates

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services. He couldn’t get his products delivered on time, so he started a trucking company. He needed notarizations, so he started a notary business. Over his life so far, Arlington has started around 31 different businesses. “Only seven are left,” Arlington laughed, “So I have failed more than I have succeeded, (but) I learn from every failure and incorporated them into my (other businesses) and made them even more successful.” Even his journey through the business realm had its challenges. Arlington says he’s been on the verge of bankruptcy five times over

bio:

RICHARD ARLINGTON

Rich Arlington and Associates 1600 Maple Ave., Lake City, Pa. www.richarlington.com

the past two decades, and he and his family have had to sacrifice a lot for the success of his business endeavors. But clearly his hard work and sacrifice have paid off — and now he’s using his time and energy to share his success with others through a consulting firm that specializes in ice, snow and landscaping industries nationwide. “There is an internal obligation I feel, because of the success I have had, to give (it) back,” Arlington says. Arlington gave back to the community most recently when he published his first book, “Why Not You?” in which he describes the specific obstacles he faced in his life and how he overcame them. His advice to readers: “You can. You’re able. And it’s your choice. Believe in yourself.” Despite all his success, Arlington still stays true to his hometown roots. “I’m still that kid that grew up on Fourth and Poplar,” Arlington says. “I still put my pants on one leg at a time.” LEL

July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 23

business & commerce

Keeping the community safe, one driver at a time By Jennie Brewer

THE MOTTO that Brenda Bennett and her employees go by daily at Transportation Solutions is, “I’m human first, I run a business second,” meaning that regardless of the circumstances or situation a client is facing, July2015

he or she, like the rest of us, is fighting for something behind closed doors every day. Bennett had a successful career as the administrator for Erie County’s Lift system. But in 1995, her daughter had been diagnosed

with no immune system, and she quit her job to care for her baby, who developed normally, thanks to a lot of care and medical help. Bennett’s experience with Lift became valuable to others around the country who were starting www.lakeerielifestyle.com

business & commerce similar businesses. She became a consultant and started a business in her basement. The consulting business went so well that soon area schools started calling asking about driver training. Bennett started the paperwork to become certified, and contracts rolled in with local schools. At the same time, she taught math at Cathedral Preparatory School. Since then,Transportation Solutions has been thriving and serves as a certified driving and testing facility with driver-training vehicles, a team of occupational therapists, rehabilitation specialists and certified driving instructors who help men, women and teen drivers become licensed in Pennsylvania and New York. Today,Transportation Solutions even has a $55,000 modified minivan to train people who are disabled. “Not only do we help student drivers with no experience whatsoever, we help several people who come from different walks of life,” said Bennett. When asked about the most memorable customer Transportation Solutions assisted within the past year, Bennett recalled two cases. “We had a client who was in the driving

— Brenda Bennett,Transportation Solutions rehabilitation program, and when he completed the course, he revealed that his wife had passed away. All he wanted to do was drive each day to the cemetery to talk to his wife. Another client wanted to learn to drive so she could remove herself from an abusive marriage that she was stuck in. We helped her move on, and moments like this make my job very humbling,” Bennett said. What continues to drive the business to grow each year is keeping the community safe and educating people on safe driving.There’s a bonus for her students: Driver training education earns car insurance discounts. Bennett also founded a nonprofit for individuals around the community who cannot afford car seats for their children. “We at Transportation Solutions are just

trying to make a positive change in society and enhance people’s lives by helping them gain independence behind the wheel,” said Bennett. Transportation Solutions works with a variety of clients depending on their individual needs. “I know we change people’s lives,” Bennett said. LEL

bio:

BRENDA BENNETT

Transportation Solutions 4202 Peach St., Erie 833-2301 www.drivingneeds.com

facing page: Brenda Bennett is the president of Transportation Solutions. Her company teaches teens and adults how to drive. Erie Times-News file photo by Christopher Millette

“We at Transportation Solutions are just trying to make a positive change in society and enhance people’s lives by helping them gain independence behind the wheel.”

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July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 25

business & commerce

Hooked on helping By Lydia Laythe

MICHAEL R. HOOKS GREW UP in a single-parent home. His mother never had a job and never owned a house or a car. Hooks says his family was a product of the welfare system, and he recalls being surrounded by people who barely scraped by. “As a young kid, I can remember vividly not having the things I needed to start the school year, (so) I didn’t want to go to school,” says Hooks, now 48. These memories — along with many factors — are what drove Hooks to start giving free haircuts to students before the first day of school 10 years ago. Already the owner of July2015

Michael’s Hair Salon, Hooks saw it as a small way he could help the community in a way he knew how. Haircuts soon turned into giving

bio:

MICHAEL R. HOOKS

Michael’s Hair Salon, Michael’s Car Care, Michael’s Snow Plowing Service and Michael Making Lives Better (nonprofit) 12 E. 11th St., Erie www.michaelmakinglivesbetter.org

away backpacks, which turned into filling packs with school supplies, which turned into a communitywide family resource fair. In August, Hooks will hold his 10th annual Back-to-School Free Haircut Day as well as his third annual Family Resource Fair. Last year, more than 1,000 participants and about 60 agencies were involved in the Family Resource above right: Michael R. Hooks, left, cuts the hair of Dominick Robinson during the Seventh Annual Back-To-School Free Haircut Day at Pfeiffer-Burleigh Elementary School. Erie Times-News file photo by Greg Wohlford

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business & commerce fact, when people first approached him years ago to interview him, Hooks turned them down. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I never wanted the focus to be on me,â&#x20AC;? Hooks says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t think people take into account that, yeah, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m the focus, but there are so many people behind me, so many people that believed in me, ... people who help out. I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do any of these things without those people.â&#x20AC;? Whether itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the people who help him, the people he helps, or the people who look to him for encouragement and advice, Hooks is motivated by them all.

Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what Hooks loves about his job â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the people, the opportunity to connect with people and to bring people together in a meaningful way. Cutting hair or running a snow removal business might not sound like the most glamorous job, but Hooks counts his businesses as a major success. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Success is not where you are in life, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what you had to go through to get where you are,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not about trying to match yourself up to anybody else. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about taking what life has given you and making the very most of it.â&#x20AC;? LEL

In the know: YOU CAN HELP

Michael R. Hooks is looking for people to donate their time, resources and expertise to this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Back-to-School events and resource fair. E-mail michaelmakinglivesbetter@gmail.com to learn more. Back-to-School Shopping Spree: Monday, Aug. 24 Family Resource Fair: Friday, Aug. 28 Back-to-School Free Haircut Day: Saturday, Aug. 29

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Fair. Free dental exams, immunizations, physicals and vision screenings were offered in the past.This year, Hooks hopes to teach people about the Affordable Care Act, offer CPR certification, teach people urban farming and how to cook healthy meals on a lowincome budget. In many ways Hooks still identifies with the reluctant elementary-school student who goes to class in hand-me-down clothes, unsure where heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll eat dinner and just wanting enough paper and pencils to get through the day. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re young, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re vulnerable, and if thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no one there to care for you, anything could happen to you,â&#x20AC;?Hooks says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ask for parents who donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t work or parents that use drugs â&#x20AC;&#x201D; as a kid, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t ask for those things, but as a kid thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nothing we can do about them. But if you can come along and give those kids â&#x20AC;&#x201D; those people â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a hand, a new way of looking at life, a better understanding â&#x20AC;&#x201D; ultimately thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what I believe (in).â&#x20AC;? Despite the local fame Hooks has experienced, he still hates the spotlight. In

July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 27

business & commerce

Creative trio leads animated life By Steve Orbanek

IT WAS LESS THAN eight years ago that the trio of Adam Calfee, Jordan Held and Gus Trauth, then all Edinboro University of Pennsylvania applied media arts students, would regularly convene inside Edinboro’s the Empty Keg bar. They’d sit atop the bar stools, drink their favorite beers and discuss possibilities for the future. July2015

Today, the trio still convenes, but now on a This is MoreFrames Animation, Erie’s daily basis.The bar stools have been replaced premiere animation studio. with chairs and couches inside an office on the “We always talked about trying to start ninth floor of Erie’s Renaissance Centre. While something ourselves,” says Calfee, an Akron, they still enjoy an adult beverage after hours, the trio’s drink of choice is now coffee, perfect for getting the creative juices flowing. Suddenly, above: Edinboro University of Pennsylvania graduates Adam Calfee, left, Gus Trauth and Jordan Held created the possibilities discussed years earlier have MoreFrames Animation. Erie Times-News photo by Sarah become realities. Crosby www.lakeerielifestyle.com

business & commerce “We’ve heard over and over again that you have to go to Los Angeles, but with the Internet, that’s just not the case anymore. We looked all over and ... landed back at Erie because the cost of living is so much lower.” — Jordan Held, MoreFrames Animation video for him.That project went over well, and before long, clients were lining up to get work from MoreFrames Animation, which officially came together in 2009 before becoming a limited liability company in 2010. “That’s basically how we’ve been able to

grow,” says Trauth, a Waynesburg native, who graduated from Edinboro University in 2008. “Somebody sees some of our work, likes it, and then they contact us.” While all three owners are talented animators, they also all have a specific niche

Ohio, native who graduated from Edinboro University in 2007. “I don’t think we ever appreciate how cool it is until we’re talking to someone else about it or someone else points it out to us.” Calfee, Held and Trauth admit that the story of how they made it from dreamers to up-and-coming entrepreneurs is somewhat complicated, but they agree it started with “Moonboy,” Calfee’s senior animation project at Edinboro. After completing the project, the group decided to post it to various areas of the Internet, including Vimeo, a video-sharing website similar to YouTube. The animated short got featured as the “Video of the Day” and then “Staff Pick of the Day” on Vimeo, meaning it was placed on the website’s homepage. The group then found themselves invited to the Annual Vimeo Festival in New York City, and that’s when things really started to take off. Ill Bill, a rapper and record producer from Brooklyn, noticed “Moon Boy,” contacted the group and requested they animate a music

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July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 29

business & commerce that they fill.Trauth does much of the 2-D drawing, while Held focuses on CGI (computer-generated imagery). Calfee then takes all of those elements and puts them together. The list of clients to hire MoreFrames is impressive. The popular animated characters that the crew have brought to life include: the Archie Comics gang, Master Chief from the popular Halo video game franchise, Sonic the Hedgehog and Mega Man. The team has also made a music video for rock band Lamb of God, and they even animated the ghosts from Disneyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Haunted Mansion for a mobile application that Disney planned to use for the Halloween season. Erie might seem like an unconventional location for an animation firm that is dealing with such nationally renowned clients, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been the perfect landing spot for the guys. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve heard over and over again that you have to go to Los Angeles, but with the Internet, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s just not the case anymore,â&#x20AC;? says

bio:

ADAM CALFEE, JORDAN HELD AND GUS TRAUTH

MoreFrames Animation Renaissance Centre, ninth floor, 1001 State St., Erie www.moreframes.com

Held, a Hampton, N.J., native, who graduated from Edinboro University in 2008. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We looked all over, and then we objectively landed back at Erie because the cost of living is so much lower, and Edinboro helps us with an intern program.â&#x20AC;? MoreFrames has also started to do some local work, including commercials for Country Fair and Erie Reader, and the group is open to doing more of that in the future. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d love more local work, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re happy to be involved in Erie,â&#x20AC;? says Calfee, whose company also regularly collaborates with the Erie Playhouse.

In the future, the trio says they hope to get to the point where they have the opportunity to animate their own ideas, much like they did with â&#x20AC;&#x153;Moonboy,â&#x20AC;? which ultimately led to the company getting on its feet. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Somewhere along the line, I think that is the dream,â&#x20AC;? Held says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But we have to balance those passion projects with â&#x20AC;&#x153;steam whistleâ&#x20AC;? (commercial) work, which is what allows us to continue doing what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re doing.â&#x20AC;? The three admit that being young entrepreneurs can be a grind, but they also are aware of how far theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve come. If they ever need a reminder, the Empty Keg is just a 22.5mile drive away. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This can be really difficult and grinding work at times, but thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so much excitement,â&#x20AC;? Calfee says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The creative part of this is so much fun. With animation, sometimes you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get to appreciate it until you finish, look back and realize, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Wow, that was really nice.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;This is really gratifying work.â&#x20AC;? LEL

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business & commerce

Energized entrepreneur By Mary Macie

CARL NICOLIA BELIEVES in Erie. It’s where he founded in 2013 PSNergy LLC, an industrial energy solutions company that’s driven to reduce emissions, improve product quality and increase energy efficiency of industrial processes. PSNergy was incorporated to develop, manufacture, market and sell on-site services and specialty components for industrial furnaces, says Nicolia, a former executive with General Electric Co. and Zurn Industries. The company reduces natural gas consumption and lowers processing costs with high-tech components and innovative processing techniques.The company improves industrial furnace emissions, quality and productivity. Where did he start? A Cathedral Preparatory School and Gannon University graduate, he received his master’s degree in engineering at Oakland University in Michigan while working for Chrysler in its Manufacturing Management Program and as a product engineer with the Jeep group. He had a 10-year career with GE Transportation and then spent 13 more years with Zurn/Rexnord. After spending part of his career closing www.lakeerielifestyle.com

plants for large companies, Nicolia says he wanted to do more. When he had the financial ability, he took a leap of faith and started PSNergy in Erie, where he and his wife have raised three children. “Being an entrepreneur is not a bus ride where you can ring the bell and jump off. It’s roller-coaster rides,” he says. Two years ago, he and his team invented the radiant tube insert for gas-fired furnaces. It recently was patented, and even though Nicolia has been involved in other patented products, this is his baby. Nicolia’s partner and mentor, Paul Koch, owner of PSN Consulting, was instrumental in establishing the Plastic Engineering program at Penn State Behrend in 1988. “Carl is the real deal,” Koch says. Nicolia says the only thing he would change in his career is to network more in the community, outside the workplace. He believes you can get great ideas from networking. In terms of hours on the job, Nicolia says he works the same number of hours as he did for above: Carl Nicolia is the owner of PSNergy. Photo by Mary Macie

bio:

CARL NICOLIA

PSNergy LLC 5368 Kuhl Road, Erie www.psnergy.com

GE and Zurn — as many as 70 hours per week. However, he can set his own schedule. Nicolia and Koch agree with Forbes Executive Editor Brett Nelson, who wrote in a 2012 Forbes article “entrepreneurs, in the purest sense, are those who identify a need — any need — and fill it. It’s a primordial urge, independent of product, service, industry or market.” As an entrepreneur one must try not to address all opportunities. Start with one idea and bring it to fruition, and then move on to the next. Nicolia would like to see the many great organizations in Erie, which are working hard, to be able to collaborate. Schools, he added, need to collaborate and teach entrepreneurship. Nicolia believes in and wants to give back to his community. LEL July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 35

business & commerce

ReCap: Not only recapping, but reviving Mason jars By Elena Clark

FOR THE RZEPECKIS, innovation is a family affair. Karen Rzepecki, creator and founder of ReCap, credits much of her success to her “creative family” and the constructive input they provide her. With a mother who was an artist, Rzepecki had always understood the need for creativity. This, paired with honesty and ambition, created the perfect foundation for entrepreneurship, which she built upon after retiring from General Electric Co. after 29 years. “I set a goal for myself to create something that did not yet exist, and I knew I would accomplish it,”she says. Rzepecki created ReCap, attachable lids for Mason jars that are easy to pour from and reuse. She won the 2011 Innovation Erie Design Competition and $10,000 award from the Ben Franklin Technology Partners Big Idea Business Plan Contest, which helped to launch the Mason Jars Co. From there, she started a Kickstarter.com campaign. “We were able to test the market value of ReCap on Kickstarter, and the feedback was positive, so we knew it was marketable,” she says. She has “no background in plastics,” so she knew she needed a team of people including a toolmaker, a parts maker, a designer and, more importantly, the right talent to manage the resources. She explained that this is why networking is so crucial when starting a business, to discover talent and assets. She advises aspiring entrepreneurs to “network, network, network” and make sure to get opinions from trustworthy individuals. “You have to share things to get them off the ground,” she says. “A lot of entrepreneurs are scared to share their ideas with others because they’re afraid their ideas will get stolen. If I share an idea with someone, I’m not worried left: Karen Rzepecki is the founder of the Mason Jars Co. and inventor of ReCap Mason jar caps. Erie Times-News file photo by Andy Colwell

July2015

www.lakeerielifestyle.com

business & commerce because bringing the idea to market is the important part.” Not surprisingly, Rzepecki’s son, Ryan Rzepecki, carried the entrepreneurial gene as well. Ryan Rzepecki began his business, Social Bicycles or SoBi, before his mother’s startup of ReCap. SoBi is a bike-sharing system that allows users to reserve and find bikes at hubs, on mobile devices or on the bike itself. Bikes can be returned anywhere within the SoBi system and contain their own locks so they don’t need to be returned to a hub. Locations include Buffalo,Tampa, Orlando and San Francisco. Mason Jar Co. started with one ReCap lid style in one color and no packaging.This

bio:

KAREN RZEPECKI

— Karen Rzepecki original product, the regular mouth pour lid in silver, remains the most popular to this day, Rzepecki says. Since then, the company creates one new product a year.The options have now expanded to four different product categories — pour, adapta, flip and metal — in six colors. The lids are further separated into the two standard sizes for regular and wide-mouth jars. This matches Rzepecki’s favorite things about her job — “coming up with an idea and seeing it come to life through teamwork.”The next product is expected to come out within weeks. Aside from the actual products, ReCap has developed accessories and promotions on its website.

ReCap, which is “brand agnostic” when it comes to jars, has partnerships with several top jar companies to satisfy all customer preferences. Currently, the company is licensed to sell the Mason jars, along with its attachments, on ReCap’s Amazon.com shop, but not ReCap’s online store itself. The company intends to become the kingpin supplier in terms of all things glass-canningjar-related. Essentially, Rzepecki is working toward a “one-stop-shop for Mason-jar enthusiasts,” and she seems to be well on her way to doing so. The present and the future seem bright for ReCap and the business ventures of the Rzepecki family. LEL

Mason Jars Co. (ReCap, product) Erie www.masonjars.com

“I set a goal for myself to create something that did not yet exist, and I knew I would accomplish it.”

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July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 37

business & commerce

A sleeper turns into a winner By Lydia Laythe

WEI-SHIN LAI, M.D., has been creating technology to help others for as long as she can remember. When she was in middle school, Lai created a computer game for her younger brother to help him with math and spelling. When Lai went to medical school, she created a three-dimensional paper model of the pelvic area for an anatomy exam. After she developed it more, she made a website to sell it to other students. Lai was surprised to find that, not only were anatomy students using her models, but other professionals, like midwives, were as well. When Lai began practicing as a family July2015

doctor, she would be contacted at night while on call. She had trouble getting back to sleep, so she began problem-solving, like she always had. In 2007, Lai and her husband, Jason Wolfe, created SleepPhones â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a soft headband with flat headphones inside, perfect for using while lying in bed. Lai, now 38, created a website for the new product, and the business took off, recently winning the Ben Franklin Technology above: Wei-Shin Lai, M.D., dreamed up SleepPhones, one of many inventions she has created since she was in middle school. Photo by Sarah Crosby/ErieTimes-News

in the know: ACOUSTICSHEEP

Awards abound for this company, recently named International Consumer Electronics Show honoree and recipient of the Pennsylvania Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ImPAct Award two years in a row. In 2007, the company sold about $30,000 worth of product. In 2014, the company sold about $3 million. You can find RunPhones and SleepPhones, starting at $39.95, in stores, catalogs and online. Or visit www.sleepphones.com or www.runphones. com to learn more.

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business & commerce Partners Big Idea Business Plan Contest, which came with a cash prize of $50,000. “Even growing up, I knew I needed to be a leader of some sort,” Lai says. “I didn’t like to listen to people. I needed to be able to respect whoever was going to be in charge of me. And, short of that, I needed to be in charge.” Lai grew up in a home full of electronics and gadgets that her father, an electrical engineer, had gathered. Lai’s parents immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan when she was 7. Lai says her parents encouraged her to pursue her interests in math, science and programming. So it’s no surprise that, after growing up in an environment that fostered learning, creativity and exploration through technology, that Lai would be so comfortable starting her own business. The business, AcousticSheep, started in the couple’s home. Lai says she and her husband knew nothing about business but learned quickly as the work began filling every room and every aspect of their lives. “We even had boxes in our bedroom. It was taking over our house.” While some couples may be strained by the workload and stress of starting a business, Lai says she and her husband have only become closer since starting AcousticSheep. She says they thrive on busy schedules. If she wasn’t busy with the

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“Even growing up, I knew I needed to be a leader of some sort. I didn’t like to listen to people. I needed to be able to respect whoever was going to be in charge of me. And, short of that, I needed to be in charge.” — Wei-Shin Lai, inventor of SleepPhones business, Lai says she and her husband would be busy doing something else. The couple enjoys many unique hobbies like growing exotic vegetables and being members of the Central Pennsylvania Mushroom Club. But the couple don’t have as much time to hunt for wild mushrooms as they used to. Lately, when they’re not at the office, the

bio:

WEI-SHIN LAI AND JASONWOLFE

AcousticSheep 2001 Peninsula Drive, Erie www.acousticsheep.com

couple spends all of their free time with their 3-year-old son. Lai says finding the right worklife balance hasn’t always been easy. “My husband has a picture of me answering a phone call in the delivery room ... from a customer. I was in labor, and I was answering phone calls,” Lai says with a laugh. Three years later, Lai says she’s found a better balance and isn’t worried about the amount of time she and her husband put into their business. “I think it’s OK for a child to watch their parents work hard. I think it’s good for the child,” Lai says. “Then they see that money doesn’t come easily, success is not something that’s guaranteed, and they have to work hard themselves in order to accomplish something.” LEL

July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 39

business & commerce

Dentist invents fix for sleep apnea By Marissa Orbanek

AS A CHILD, John Tucker spent his weekends at his father’s office working on a lab bench and playing with denture teeth. As night would fall,Tucker recalls waking to his father’s poor sleeping habits. What seemed like normal snoring quickly turned into pauses in breathing for what seemed like an eternity for the then-young child. “I remember saying, ‘Please — breathe, breathe, breathe so I can breathe.’ It was very scary,”Tucker says. His father died at the age of 57, in what seemed like a tradition for the Tucker family. Decades and six dental patents later, Dr. John Tucker is the first Tucker male in three generations to live past the age of 57, thanks to his own research. Tucker serves as a diplomat of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and is the founder of Erie Dental Sleep Therapy LLC, an organization that became the eighth ABDSMaccredited facility and was named one of the Best Sleep Facilities in 2012 by the Sleep Review Journals for Sleep.

July2015

bio:

JOHNTUCKER, D.M.D.

Tucker Dental Excellence 3736 Sterrettania Road, Erie 814-836-7777 www.eriedentalsleeptherapy.com

Erie Dental Sleep Therapy offers Oral Appliance Therapy, a mouth-guard-like appliance that is an alternative to cumbersome Continuous Positive Airway Pressure, known as CPAP machines.Tucker’s treatment has positively impacted those suffering from obstructive sleep apnea, a sleeping disorder that research shows hasn’t been clinically diagnosed

in 93 percent of women and 82 percent of men. From mood disturbance to congestive heart failure,Type II diabetes, weight gain and a variety of other health problems, this disorder can go far beyond uncontrolled, loud snoring. According to Tucker, it’s even beyond what his father would have imagined. Although Tucker didn’t have the opportunity to fulfill top: John Tucker, D.M.D., developed oral appliance therapy that has helped many patients sleep better. Contributed photo above: This oral appliance design, the Herbst, is used for treatment of CPAP-intolerant patients. Photo courtesy of John Tucker

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fact that the dental profession itself is now in a position where it can have a postive role in assisting threatening medical diseases, (my father) would have thought this was pretty cool.To me, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind-boggling.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; John Tucker, D.M.D. his goal to practice with his father, he says he knows his dad would be impressed today. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The fact that the dental profession itself is now in a position where it can have a positive role in assisting threatening medical diseases, (my father) would have thought this was pretty cool.To me, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mind-boggling,â&#x20AC;? says Tucker. Tucker uses his passion to educate others, traveling most weeks nationally and internationally to lecture and teach. In addition,Tucker has published numerous articles on the therapy. Outside his personal experiences, one specific success story resonates often with Tucker. A couch-ridden patient was referred after she couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tolerate a CPAP device. After about four months, she could walk up and down her driveway. Six months later, she walked around the block, lost 55 pounds, decreased her blood pressure and even purchased a bicycle to loop around Presque Isle State Park. When she returned to visit, this patient gave Tucker a gift â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a framed pen and ink portrait of a lighthouse. But even for this water sport and boat connoisseur, the best part of the gift was a note that read, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Thank you for giving me my life back.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not worthy of that,â&#x20AC;?Tucker says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To be able to provide that level of care for patients in our area is beyond what I thought dentistry would be about.â&#x20AC;? LEL www.lakeerielifestyle.com

in the know: SLEEP APNEA

What is sleep apnea: A sleep disorder where breathing repeatedly stops and starts. What causes sleep apnea: Poor quality of sleep, daytime sleepiness, cardiovascular disorders and neurocognitive problems. Symptoms/factors of sleep apnea and snoring: â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Excessive daytime sleepiness. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Chronic snoring. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Gasping or choking episodes during sleep. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Morning headaches. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Fatigue-related automobile or work accidents. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Depression and unexplained personality or cognitive changes. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Obesity. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Decreased sex drive/ impotence. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Oversized neck circumference. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Sleep-related bruxism (in children as well). â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Gastric reflux disease. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Anatomic abnormalities. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Family history. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Alcohol or sedative use. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Smoking. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Hormone imbalance. â&#x2013;&#x20AC; Genetic disorders.

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business & commerce

Erie’s business engines By Pam Parker

WE ASKED OUR representatives from the Ben Franklin Technology Partners, Innovation Collaborative and other business professionals in the region to share the names of entrepreneurs they think of as award-winning business starters. While we can’t include everyone, we heard some interesting names we wanted to mention here: Sylvia and John Ferretti. The brother and sister duo behind LECOM, Millcreek Community Hospital and everything LECOM-related in Erie, Pittsburgh and Florida is nothing short of miraculous. Imagine Erie without LECOM. As one of the area’s largest employers and landowners, this is a team to be honored for all of their contributions. Fred’s Furniture. Better known as Fred’s Beds, it was founded by Fred Barbato, whose son now owns it.The furniture store on East 12th Street has been a staple in Erie for decades. I’ve bought a lot of college kid furniture from Fred. Elizabeth Brown. The owner of three Subway July2015

restaurants built her business and her own personality in the past few years. Members of her Athena PowerLink advisory panel marveled that she could not speak in public or even on video in her early days as an entrepreneur. Now, she has speaking engagements and mentors other women. Naomi Stutzman. The owner of Fast Signs has grown her franchise business since 2007. Her company was awarded the 2010 Athena mentoring award, the 2012 Fastsigns Outstanding Franchisee of the Year Award and 2013 International Franchise Association’s Franchisee of the Year. Adria Johnson. The owner of Head Cases Salon wasn’t handy with a computer or a smart phone before she became an Athena PowerLink award recipient in 2014. Since then, Johnson embraced technology so much that she created a GoFundMe project to help her late brother-in-law’s family deal with medical costs. Mary Beth Graml. This entrepreneur left the stability of her job with the Albion Prison to

start Grapevine Laundry, with several locations in the Erie area. Even a fire at her dry cleaning business in Millcreek didn’t keep her down for long. Graml is still pressing toward success. Charlene Kerr. A consultant and planner for CMK Planning LLC and the Poggemeyer Group, Kerr started her business with a move back to her hometown after a nationwide career in city and community planning that took her to Iowa, Ohio and Pennsylvania. At the Poggemeyer Design Group, Kerr earned special recognition for her efforts to revitalize several of Ohio’s downtown areas. Sara’s. A fixture at Presque Isle State Park, the iconic restaurant, campgrounds and more have been in the same family for many years. Current owner Sean Candela’s parents, Sara Coyne and Jerry Candela, and his stepfather, Ted Majeroni, were instrumental in ownership of Presque Isle properties including the Beachcomber Hotel. This business continues to grow exponentially. Cappabianca Travel. Since 1927, the www.lakeerielifestyle.com

business & commerce

company has helped Erieites travel the globe. John Cappabianca started the business as Cappabianca EarthTours Inc., and his sons Patrick and the late Italo Cappabianca later took over the business. It is still family owned with Patrick Cappabianca’s daughters, Lisa Cappabianca and Carla Agnello, at the helm. Many folks will remember Pat Cappabianca as a city councilman, school principal and administrator for the state Department of Revenue.The late Italo Cappabianca had a 22year career in the House of Representatives. Gerlach’s Garden & Floral Center. The family-owned business was founded as Gerlach’s Feed & Seed in 1985 by Mark Gerlach and his wife, Sharon. Their sons Mitchell and Adam joined the business and added property maintenance and snow plowing services, along with a power equipment center. Mason Farms. It started out in Lake City in 1975 as a farm, of course, then it opened retail locations. John Mason Sr. and his wife, Susan, run the business along with John Jr., his brother, Joe, and John Jr.’s wife, Amy. John Mason Jr. and Joe Mason have children, who all work part time for Mason Farms. Peggy Gray. At Peggy Gray Candies and Gifts, 1674 Holliday Road in Springfield

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Township, owner Jon Holliday can trace the business’ roots back to his grandmother, Marguerite Holliday, who made candy as a hobby in her Cleveland home. She married and used her nickname Peggy, and the family bought the current property in the 1940s — where the business remains. Virgil’s Plate. Owners Gary and Erin Fleming put extensive research into their freshly made dough and sauce that includes three, fresh, hand-grated cheeses. Linda Staszewski compared it to a “cross between the old Luigi’s and DiSil’s squares, and you can buy by the slice. It is incomparable,” she said. Stinky Yogi, started by Stacy Skala Orr, a yoga instructor at YogaErie, was suggested by Susan Black for its essential oils.

PAWS Poop-Scooping. A company that handles everything from one-time yard cleanup to litter box cleanup to deodorizing, pet walking and other services was recommended by Dana Roberts and Patty Thom Theiss. “Once they begin to work, your yard is completely transformed,” Roberts says. Theiss agrees. “I really am impressed with their work, very courteous and professional.” There are countless entrepreneurs in Erie. The Hilbert family has been instrumental in industry and retail.The Dahlkemper family has been involved in jewlery, and Potratz families have been into gardening for generations along with numerous others. Congratulations to all local entrepreneurs who continue to call Erie home. LEL

far left: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Silvia M. Ferretti, the school’s provost, senior vice president and dean of academic affairs, and her brother John M. Ferretti, LECOM’s president and CEO, are among Erie’s most prolific entrepreneurs. Erie Times-News file photo by Andy Colwell middle left: Peggy Gray Candies and Gifts owner Jon Holliday is the third generation owner of the Springfield Township shop. Erie Times-News file photo by Greg Wohlford center: Gerlach’s Garden and Floral Center has two generations of family in the business. Erie Times-News file photo by Sarah Crosby middle right: Diners enjoy lunch at Sara’s Restaurant, in Millcreek Township. Erie Times-News file photo far right: John Mason Jr., of Mason Farms, is the second generation of his family to work at the Mason Farms Country Market in Millcreek Township. Erie Times-News file photo by Andy Colwell

July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 43

escapes

Work is fun and games for these families By Karen Beardsley-Petit

above: Nick Scott Jr., of Scott Enterprises, rides the Giant Dual Zipline at Peekâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;n Peak Resort in Findley Lake, N.Y., in 2014. Erie Times-News file photo by Jack Hanrahan

July2015

THE AVERAGE LIFE SPAN of a familyowned business is 24 years.Two local families have bested the average and are still going strong. In their 119th season at Waldameer Park and Water World, this fun-loving family of Moellers, Nelsons and Gormans are among only 3 percent of businesses that go into a fourth generation or beyond, according to www.Businessweek.com. The Scott family opened its first business 75 years ago, and it is also beating the odds.The third generation family operation is one of just 13 percent of family-owned businesses that make it to that point. Both families say the secret to their success is hard work, mutual respect, good communication, and loving what you do while having fun doing it. Members of both families began working in their respective businesses at an early age, even earlier than the legal age to work, and each made the decision to join the business on his or her own. Brian Gorman, grandson of Waldameer owner Paul Nelson, started working at the park when he was 12 and continued throughout high school and college. Gorman, 28, who majored in marketing in college, says that he decided while in college to get into the family business. Gorman does some marketing for the park including managing social media. His official title is vice president of operations. www.lakeerielifestyle.com

escapes â&#x20AC;&#x153;The advantage of working with family is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s usually easy to communicate with one another; you can speak your mind,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a double-edged sword because communicating can sometimes be the hardest part, as youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re trying not to hurt anyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s feelings.â&#x20AC;? Brian Gormanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mom, Nancy, and his dad, Steve, both had other careers before joining the family business â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Nancy as a nurse and Steve as a mechanical engineer.They have two other children who do not work for the family business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t push any of the kids into the business; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a good idea,â&#x20AC;? Nancy Gorman says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In fact, I never thought Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d come back to Erie and do this, but you just never know.â&#x20AC;? Gorman agrees that the advantage of working with family is that there tends to be a better ability to coordinate and act as a team. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a unique experience,â&#x20AC;? she adds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our work mode is different from our relaxed family

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to be handed a business, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another thing to prove youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re worthy of it and can make it grow.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Nick Scott Jr., third generation business owner gatherings. Sometimes, we need time away from each other, but when we reconnect with each other away from work, we are a normal family who enjoy spending time together and having fun.â&#x20AC;? There is much happening at Waldameer these days.The new wave pool, the largest of its type in the tristate area opened in June, and it is the most expensive ride in the parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the centerpiece of Nelsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four-year, $18 million plan to upgrade Waldameer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m excited to bring the water park into the modern age,â&#x20AC;? Brian Gorman says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This

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is fun, and I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t imagine not working in a family business. We all understand where weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re coming from and where weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going.â&#x20AC;? Similarly, Nick Scott Jr. and his brother Chris, both vice presidents at Scott Enterprises, grew up working in the family business, which their grandfather started. From making pizzas at Funtown to serving fries at Arbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and moving hotel furniture, they say theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve done it all. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At a very young age, we were often paid in Arbyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sandwiches,â&#x20AC;? he says with a laugh. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seriously, I worked in the hotels at the front

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desk, in house cleaning and then as a manager. Learning from the ground up has been beneficial.â&#x20AC;? Scott Enterprises owns some 30 properties, including hotels, restaurants, an indoor water park and a ski resort, and it employs more than 2,000 people. Most recently, the company announced the construction of three IHOP restaurants in Erie.The family will open its second hotel in Buffalo later this summer. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exciting, and weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re constantly looking at new ideas,â&#x20AC;? Nick Scott Jr. says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So, at family gatherings, we do sometimes tend to talk about work because we love what we do.â&#x20AC;? The oldest of Nick Scott Jr.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s four children is 14. While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s too early to tell if he and the others will become the fourth generation of Scott Enterprises, his dad says the kids are definitely people-oriented and find the business interesting. He plans that they, too, will work in various capacities throughout the business as they grow up. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to be handed a business, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s another thing to prove youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re worthy of it and can make it grow,â&#x20AC;? Nick Scott Jr. says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hard work and determination are the keys to being successful.â&#x20AC;? His brother Chris agrees. His children are

young, but he plans to instill the same work ethic in them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t force them into the business, of course, but it would be great to have them be a part of it,â&#x20AC;? Chris Scott says. Both Chris and Nick Jr., along with their sister Alison, attended Pennsylvania State University and received degrees in hotel and restaurant management. â&#x20AC;&#x153;On college breaks, I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go on vacation with my friends but would come home and work instead. I can say Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve worked all of the numerous positions we employ,â&#x20AC;? Chris Scott says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We get along great as a family, and we have the same business acumen,â&#x20AC;? he continues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sure, we have some disagreements, but we have such an interest and a passion in the business, something we learned from watching our father and grandfather.â&#x20AC;? His grandfather, Chris Scott, started his first business, Scottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Motel, taking advantage of summer tourism business at Presque Isle State Park. His son Nick Scott Sr. also above: Steve Gorman, president of Waldameer Park & Water World, stands atop the Ravine Flyer II. He and his wife, Nancy Nelson Gorman, are the third generation of the family to run Waldameer. Erie TimesNews file photo by Christopher Millette

www.lakeerielifestyle.com

started working at an early age washing dishes, gardening, lifeguarding and pounding shingles on the hotel roof. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a wonderful ride because I started with my father, who was a selfeducated, brilliant guy,â&#x20AC;? Nick Scott Sr. says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I was by myself for a while, but nothing beats the joy of working with family members.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I really enjoy working with my two sons and my daughter and a son-in-law,â&#x20AC;? the elder Scott continues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;At first I was their teacher, and now Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m their business partner, and we have a lot of fun together.The great thing is that we respect one another and listen to each otherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideas.They have a passion for the business, as I did when I was younger because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d spent so much time in it with my father, even though he wanted me to be a concert pianist.â&#x20AC;? Nick Scott Sr. and his wife, Kim, have two daughters who elected not to be involved in the family business. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t put any pressure on our kids; thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very important,â&#x20AC;? he says. Of their 18 grandchildren, Nick Scott Sr. says he has his eye on a few of them. But he says thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no pressure on them to carry on the family business. LEL www.lakeerielifestyle.com

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â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Brian Gorman, fourth generation employee at Waldameer Park and Water World

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The advantage of working with family is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s usually easy to communicate with one another; you can speak your mind.â&#x20AC;?

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on scene

CATHOLIC CHARITIES BALL CELEBRATES 20YEARS On Saturday, May 30, the Catholic Charities Ball honored donors and celebrated successful fundraising at the Bayfront Convention Center. Catholic Charities ministers to people of all faiths in the Diocese of Erieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 13-county, 10,000-square-mile area. The eventâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s honorary chaircouple was Charlie and Ann Rutkowski, and the host circle chaircouple was David and Mary Therese Ciacchini. The Helping Hands award went to Frank and Mary Therese Riley. Photos courtesy of Catholic Charities

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above: Charlie Rutkowski, left, Annie Rutkowski, Ann Badach, Bishop Lawrence T. Persico, Greg Badach, Mary Therese Riley and Frank Riley. right: Dawn Schaaf, left, Abby Schaaf and Dan Schaaf.

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on scene

left: Emily Chiappazzi won the female celebrity dance contest with her professional partner, Rick Boldizar. above: Justin Carter won the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s celebrity dance with his professional partner Dianne Porter.

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July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 49

on scene GLOWING ABOUTTHE RUN Nearly 3,000 people signed up for Penn State Behrendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first Glow Erie Fun Run 5K, raising more than $20,000 for United Service Corps. United Service Corps will help send eight students on monthlong trips for humanitarian works in Ecuador, Peru and Cambodia. Runners wore neon clothing and carried glow sticks, necklaces and bracelets. The race had â&#x20AC;&#x153;glow stations,â&#x20AC;? with black lights and a laser light chute. Participants ranged in age from 4 to an 86-year-old grandfather running with his granddaughters. Even younger children took part in the run, although they didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have feet on the ground themselves. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We only expected about 500 people,â&#x20AC;? said Angela Magee, executive director of the nonprofit organization. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So this totally blew our expectations away. This is our first fundraiser, and it was a wild success.â&#x20AC;? Erie

left: Organizer Angela Magee shows her support for the Glow Erie Fun Run on the campus of Penn State Behrend in Harborcreek Township.

Times-News photos by Greg Wohlford

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on scene

above: Laura Guncheon, top left, and Carrie Bach perform as the Stilt Ladies before the Glow Erie Fun Run.

right: Friends Kamryn Wilson, 14, left, and Autumn Shuskie, 15, both from Meadville, hang out before the Glow Erie Fun Run.

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July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 51

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TROIKA Church of the Nativityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s seventh annual Troika Russian Festival served up food, drink and dance to record crowds this year. More than 5,000 people attended. Troika is scheduled around the teachings of the Russian Orthodox Church, explained the Rev. Pimen Simon, rector for the church. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are many fasting days, so it can be difficult to find a time for the festival,â&#x20AC;? Simon said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to do it later in the summer, but we canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. So it makes the most sense to do it in this late Easter season.â&#x20AC;? The festival features Russian music and dance, along with Russian food and drink. Erie Times-News photos by Jack Hanrahan

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on scene left: Lina Karokhina, of the Russian song and dance ensemble Barynya, performs at the seventh annual Troika Russian Festival. right: From left, Anna Brovkina, Olga Shpitalnaya, Valentina Kvasova and Katia Brovkina of Barynya get ready to perform. below left: Boulat Muhametov of Barynya entertains.

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above: Fairview High School students from the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Young Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leadership Committee dance with individuals supported by Erie Homes for Children & Adults during a prom event organized by the student group at EHCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s M.O.V.E. program. above right: Confetti flies over Chris Brown, center, of Lawrence Park Township, as Fairview High School students dance with Brown and other individuals. left: Fairview High School junior Ruthie Riesenberg, left, of Fairview Township, takes a selfie with Hillary Millis, of Harborcreek Township.

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below: Fairview High School sophomore Emily Eberly, left, of Fairview Township, dances with Ron Beck, of Harborcreek Township, and Debra Niland, of Fairview Township.

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on scene

SWEET MEMORIES Fairview High Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Young Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leadership Committee hosted a prom for clients of Erie Homes for Children & Adults. The Candyland-themed event was held at EHCAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Making Opportunities for Volunteerism and Exploration program at 4950 W. 23rd St. and included typical high school prom trimmings: a photo booth, corsages, boutonnieres and plenty of dance music. About 50 EHCA individuals attended, dancing the night away with the students, EHCA staff and each other. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rewarding for us to know that theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re having a great time out on the dance floor, â&#x20AC;&#x153; said Anna Maynard, 17, a Fairview junior who co-founded the all-girls group in 2012 with fellow junior Sara Niland. Photos by Andy Colwell/Erie Times-News

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New Habitat for Humanity homeowner Nicole“Red”Krysiak, top center, with her daughters Cynthia“Maxi” Mims, 12, left, and Nitya Mims, 11, and son Tyrone Mims, 6, outside their new house at 2322 Camphausen Ave. The house, called Celebration House, is the 65th such project built by Greater Erie Habitat for Humanity and also marks the 25th anniversary of the organization’s operations in Erie. The four will move in later this summer, once the interior is complete.

CELEBRATINGTHE HOUSETHAT HABITAT BUILT

www.lakeerielifestyle.com

Celebration House, which marked 25 years for Habitat for Humanity in Erie, was dedicated in June, making dreams come true for the organization and Nicole “Red” Krysiak, who moved in with her three children at 2322 Camphausen Ave. “I can say dreams do come true, and my prayers have been answered,” she said. The house is Greater Erie Area Habitat for Humanity’s 65th in Erie County. “Our goal is to continue that success,” board member Patrick Burns said. Erie Times-News photo by Andy Colwell July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 57

wqln PUBLIC BROADCASTING

Heartwarming ‘Operation Wild’comes to WQLN By John Chacona

ANIMALS, MEDICAL ADVANCES and gorgeous nature photography sound like the ingredients of a frothy school’s-out-for-summer PBS programming success and to be sure, those elements are found in abundance in “Operation Wild.” The series that premieres Wednesday, July 1, at 8 p.m. and runs for the two consecutive Wednesdays that follow, is a look at how medical advances originally developed for human patients are being transferred to the animal world — and world is the operative word here.The first episode, the only one available for viewing at press time, showed veterinarians and researchers treating their patients in a remote African jungle, in the wilderness of southwest China, in a makeshift avian ER in India and underwater in Okinawa. “Grey’s Anatomy” this is not. The stories are alternately heartbreaking and heartwarming, and they are not made prettier for the camera. A segment about a gorilla called Shufai, who was shot in the arm by poachers when he was a baby, is fairly graphic. There will be no spoiler here except to say that the story had a happy ending, but very young children might find the material a little strong. Disney did not make “Operation Wild”; the BBC did. That provenance pays off in the outstanding nature photography one has come to expect from the network that gave us the documentaries of Sir David Attenborough. Production values are predictably high from the photography to the narration. But as outstanding as settings are rendered, there is urgency in the storytelling in “Operation Wild.”Though there is a lot of the cliffhanger construction where a story is set up, cut away from and then returned to for resolution (you’ll remember this from “St. Elsewhere” onward), the medical perils faced by the animals and the challenges presented to the July2015

doctors are genuinely dramatic. Many of the veterinarians are young.They’re also British, and their “keep calm and carry on” demeanor wears well and prevents the series from tipping into bathos. Still, it’s hard not to get choked up when watching the enormous — and quite evident — courage of the patients. It is the animals who are the stars of the series. A subtext, of the first episode, at least, is that oftentimes the greatest threat to wild animals comes from their human neighbors. In three of the five stories covered in a surprisingly brisk hour, the doctors treated injuries inflicted by humans.The point is never overtly made, and

it doesn’t need to be made to register strongly. There is a palpable and quite appropriate sense on the part of the doctors that theirs is a mission of evening the karmic balance of the world, of righting through the science of X-rays and surgery what the science of firearms and drift nets has broken. Buddhist philosophy asserts that all sentient beings are interdependent in their earthly existence. It further posits that all sentient beings suffer. One glimpse of Shufai the gorilla’s face — if you can see it through the inevitable tears this program will summon — is the most eloquent illustration of that ancient concept, and the best reason to watch “Operation Wild.” LEL

above: “Operation Wild”shares the story of surgery for this gorilla and many more animals. Photo courtesy of Alice Jones/BBC

“Operation Wild” airs on WQLN-TV Wednesdays at 8 p.m., starting July 1. www.lakeerielifestyle.com

WQLN Public Media 8425 Peach Street, Erie, PA 16509, www.wqln.org 814-864-3001, 800-727-8854, FAX 814-864-4077

WQLN Station Guide July 2015, Issue 253

july’s a

Wild ride on WQLN TV

By Halle Kostansek

Hold on for a wild ride: Operation Wild, Wednesdays at 8pm, July 1-15, will follow veterinarians to some of the most remote places on earth as they save animals’ lives with groundbreaking operations. Continuing the wild Wednesday trend, Life on the Reef, Wednesdays at 8pm, July 22-August 5, will visit the Great Barrier Reef and the people working to save this diminishing ecosystem, Australia’s greatest natural icon and home to a stunning array of creatures. Don’t discredit that most familiar creature of all, for whom life itself can be a wild and wondrous ride. Weddings, hospital delivery rooms, scraped knees, monthly bills, and the challenges of work and a career are all mileposts that describe a life well lived, especially for baby boomers those dreamers, planners, and doers who are now standing at the front door of retirement. If you’re among them and would like your future dreams fulfilled, your planning shouldn’t stop now. On Thursday, July 23 at 8pm, the WQLN TV Original Production Life’s Next Chapter brings experts together to talk about making the next years of your life the best years. First Peoples continues to explore the mixing of prehistoric human genes around the globe. www.lakeerielifestyle.com

Watch as Homo sapiens arrives in Asia (9pm July 1), Australia (10pm July 1), and Europe (9pm July 8). On Friday, July 10 at 9pm, just days before the release of Harper Lee’s new novel Go Set a Watchman, American Masters: Harper Lee: Hey, Boo will explore the mysterious life of the Pulitzer Prize winning author of To Kill a Mockingbird, including the social changes inspired by the seminal novel. Known for the wildest coif in classical music (and plenty of other credentials), Gustavo Dudamel will conduct the LA Phil in Tribute to John Williams, with violinist Itzhak Perlman and host Natalie Portman at 9pm Friday, July 24. Uranium: Twisting the Dragon’s Tail, by Emmy Award winning filmmaker Sonya Pemberton, will deliver a story of this ancient element’s impact on the world, from its birth from a collapsed star to its contrasting roles in the advancements of medicine and warfare, Wednesday, July 29 at 10pm. And on Thursday, July 30, another WQLN TV Original Production Erie Now: Business & Economic Development will look at the changing landscape of entrepreneurship in the Erie region. Wild!

This Month on WQLN-TV 54 First Peoples Asia - Wednesday, July 1 at 9pm Australia - Wednesday, July 1 at 10pm Europe - Wednesday, July 8 at 9pm Operation Wild Wednesdays at 8pm, July 1-15 American Masters: Harper Lee: Hey, Boo Friday, July 10 at 9pm Life on the Reef Wednesdays at 8pm, July 22-August 5 WQLN TV Original Production Life’s Next Chapter Thursday, July 23 at 8pm LA Phil in Tribute to John Williams Friday, July 24 at 9pm Uranium: Twisting the Dragon’s Tail Wednesday, July 29 at 10pm WQLN TV Original Production Erie Now: Business & Economic Development Thursday, July 30 at 8pm A Green Sea Turtle swimming in the Great Barrier Reef. Sea Turtles are one of Earth’s most ancient creatures, having been around since the time of the dinosaurs. Photo courtesy of Jon Shaw / © Eye Spy Productions Trading as Northern Pictures.

July2015 Lake Erie LifeStyle 59

Radio

happy

Independence

Day

from WQLN Radio By Brian Hannah

Parades, barbecues, fairs, picnics, family reunions, and concerts. The celebration of Independence Day here in the United States takes on many forms. But while we celebrate friends, family, and community, let’s not forget the real reason we celebrate this national holiday! The day before Congress approved the Declaration of Independence, John Adams wrote in a letter to his wife, Abigail:

The second day of July, 1776, will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America. I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.

How ever you choose to celebrate this most patriotic of American holidays, you can begin your Independence Day celebration early by joining me, Brian Hannah, from 9am to 1pm on July 3 for a special edition of Classics on WQLN Radio 91.3FM! Have a safe and happy July 4th!

Events

By Lisa Counasse

Summer’s in full swing, and the calendar is filling up fast. If you’ve procrastinated booking your next adventure, there’s still plenty of time to hop on the WQLN Road Trip bus. But you’d better hurry, before your seat is gone! For more information or to reserve your seat visit www.wqln.org/roadtrips or contact Jocelyn at 814-217-6055 or jtaylor@wqln.org.

Fallingwater & Kentuck Knob

Sunday, July 19, 2015 1,000 Islands

Lighthouses of Lake Erie

Classic Christmas Markets in Germany, Austria, & France

Friday, September 4, 2015

NEW! Garrison Keillor: The America the Beautiful Tour

Niagara-on-the-Lake

Friday, July 31, 2015

Experience Pittsburgh Erie Islands

Friday, August 21, 2015 July2015

Beautiful the Musical (Pgh.)

Thur.-Sat., August 27-29, 2015

Saturday, July 25, 2015

Friday, August 14, 2015