Going Deep With Aaron Watson

Kyshira Moffett is a digital brand strategist, entrepreneur, and author. She’s built a business as a coach helping other businesses and entrepreneurs market themselves effectively.   Kyshira also launched Life of a Bombshell Cosmetics in 2017, offering premium makeup products at an affordable price to businesswomen.    Her experiences in marketing a wide variety of businesses, running a conference (Hustle HER Way Summit), and earning an MBA have given her a wealth of knowledge to call upon.    In this conversation, Aaron and Kyshira discuss live streaming, coaching and launching a cosmetics brand.   Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Kyshira Moffett’s Challenge; 1. Go live. 2. Find a new book to read.   Connect with Kyshira Moffett Linkedin Twitter Instagram   ThePowerCollective.co   Google Digital Coaches   Kyshira’s Book Recommendations Stiletto Network by Pamela Ryckman  Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi   The Brand Within by Daymond John    If you

Tom Lauwers is on a mission to get robots into classrooms. As the founder and chief roboticist at BirdBrain Technologies, he designs educational tools that show students the basics of coding, engineering, and collaboration.   Tom received a Ph.D in robotics in 2010 from Carnegie Mellon, where he initially designed the Finch robot and Hummingbird robotics kit.    The Finch is a small robot designed to inspire students learning computer science by providing a tangible representation of their code.    The Hummingbird is a kit that allows students to create and program robots built from electronic components and craft materials.      In this conversation, Tom and Aaron discuss the design of the learning robot, how to make technology more accessible, and why Tom chose to bootstrap the business. Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Tom Lauwers’s Challenge; Reflect on “What could be your superpower for good?”   Connect with Tom Lauwers Linkedin Twitter Insta

The Going Deep podcast returned to Fayette county for a second interview with one of the area’s top entrepreneurs. J.D. Ewing, President of COE Distributing, regained control of his company just after the Great Recession.   J.D. had to secure financing from the bank so he could buy inventory. When they asked for a business plan, J.D. estimated the firm would reach $10 million in revenue in 3 years.    COE Distributing ended up blowing past that number to more than $24 million. They did $9 million in the first year.   How?   In this podcast, J.D. explains how he systematically removed the constraints to business growth, how he hires team members, and the important lessons of leadership that anyone can use.   They’ve ridden this process to being named an INC 5000 fastest-growing company for 6 consecutive years.   Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   J.D. Ewing’s Challenge; Focus on getting engaged with your employees, colleagues, and teammates outside of

Marco Marandiz is a Co-founder and Head of Marketing for Elliot, a global commerce startup based in NYC.   Prior to Elliot, Marco spent time as a strategist for high-potential DTC brands and led digital product teams at HomeAway and CapitalOne. Through building and shipping products that served hundreds of millions of users, Marco learned about what makes products work in the digital realm.   In this podcast, you’ll hear Aaron and Marco discuss how commerce on the internet is getting easier, how Twitter threads helped Marco advance his career, and why brands need to have a distinct voice.   Marco is speaking at Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart in 2020.   Marco Marandiz’s Challenge; Focus on one channel. Communicate your opinion clearly on one topics and be consistent.   Connect with Marco Marandiz Linkedin Twitter elliot.store   If you liked this interview, check out episode 394 with Ryan Kulp where we discuss How to buy small companies, speaking your mind, and managing

What’s a doctor to do when they become disenchanted with the healthcare system? Dr. Timothy Wong decided the answer was to start his own micro-practice.   In his office in the East Liberty neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Dr. Wong sees ~20 patients per day and only charges $35 for a visit.    This allow people without health insurance to get the care they desperately need. Dr. Wong believes that healthcare needs to be simple, needs to be about the patient & the doctor, and needs to be accessible.   His business model allows that to happen.   In this conversation, Dr. Wong and Aaron discuss how he got the idea for iHealth Clinic, how care gets delivered at his practice, and the way this model can spread & inspire change. Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Dr. Timothy Wong’s Challenge; Let other healthcare providers know about direct-access primary care.   Connect with Dr. Timothy Wong Facebook iHealht Clinic website directaccessprimary.com   If y

Jack Welsh is the co-owner of LumberjAxes and Sliders Curling. He has successfully transitioned from a union job and bartending gig into running a business that delivers genuinely unique experiences.   He and his co-founders first came across axe throwing in Philadelphia and decided to bring the concept to Pittsburgh. It’s been a winner and has grown to multiple locations.   To keep the momentum going, he has now opened Sliders Curling in the adjacent lot to offer competitive, bar-style curling to their customers.   In this conversation, you’ll hear Jack and Aaron discuss the origins of the company, how Jack transitioned out of his day job, and the capital required to get the company off the ground. Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Jack Welsh’s Challenge; Go out of town to find some new entertainment options.   Connect with Lumberjaxes Axe Throwing Instagram Facebook Axethrowingpgh.com   Connect with Sliders Curling Instagram Facebook Slidersbaran

Bill Sarris has been in the candy business for more than 40 years. Upon graduating from college, Bill joined his father’s business and has overseen significant growth while building a Sarris Candies into a regional leader in chocolates.   Sarris Candies was started by his father Frank in the family’s basement. Behind Bill’s efforts, the company grew to include more than 350 employees and $16 million in annual sales.   Today, the Sarris Chocolate Factory and Ice Cream Parlour fill an area the size of a football field with over 100 yards of chocolate, penny candy, ice cream, and plush toys.   In this conversation, Bill and Aaron discuss flying to Europe to buy equipment in the 70s, Sarris’ five channels of revenue, and the strategic acquisition of Gardeners Candies.   Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Bill Sarris’s Challenge; If you find something you like, go after it.   Connect with Bill Sarris Linkedin Twitter Instagram Facebook Sarris Candies Websi

Glen Meakem is the founder & CEO of a permanent cloud photo storage and sharing company called Forever. He previously took his first technology startup, FreeMarkets, public in late-1999.   FreeMarkets grew up during the height of the Dotcom Bubble and reached a peak valuation of over $10 billion. While the spectacular highs of the bubble could not last, underneath the market Glen was tripling revenues each year and operating.   After selling FreeMarkets to Ariba in 2004, Glen started angel and venture investing. Some of his most successful investments include Kiva Systems (sold to Amazon), HotPads (sold to Zillow), and Niche.com.   After wrapping up a successful venture career, Glen returned to being an entrepreneurial operator. Forever was built because Glen was frustrated by the short-term business models and incentives offered from other cloud storage providers.   In this podcast interview, you’ll hear Glen and Aaron discuss timeless leadership principles, how to recognize a business opportunity, and

Dr. Gordon Vanscoy is the founding Chairman and CEO of PANTHERx Rare, the nation’s leading rare disease and orphan drug-focused pharmacy.   PANTHERx Rare assists patients in navigating the complex process of getting orphan & precision medicines. They also help innovative biotechnology entrepreneurs get their medicines approved by insurers and healthcare providers.   Prior to PANTHERx, Dr. Vanscoy developed 7 health care companies while concurrently serving  in various leadership roles at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. Today, he serves as Pitt’s Associate Dean for Business Innovation and Associate Professor of Pharmacy and Therapeutics.   In this conversation, you’ll hear Dr. Vanscoy and Aaron discuss the growth of precision medicine, why he came out of semi-retirement, and the staggering rate of growth.   Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Gordon Vanscoy’s Challenge; Do more research on the treatment of Rare Diseases.   Connect w

Jake Loosararian is the CEO and co-founder of Gecko Robotics, a Pittsburgh robotics startup. Gecko recently announced a $40 million Series B round of fundraising led by Drive Capital.   Gecko Robotics builds robots that do unassisted inspections of power plant boilers. The robots’ sensors measure key data including temperature, wall thickness, and other system failure indicators.   Jake invested his life savings into the company and was named the top startup in Y Combinator’s Winter 2016 cohort.   In this podcast, Jake Loosararian and Aaron Watson discuss the business model of Gecko, how he raised $40 million, and the high bar they have when hiring. Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Jake Loosararian’s Challenge; Read a book.   Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel  High Growth Handbook by Elad Gil    Connect with Jake Loosararian Linkedin Twitter Website jake.loosararian@geckorobotics.com   If you liked this int

Kent McElhattan’s entire business career has been dedicated to the safety of workers.   In 1985, Kent co-founded Industrial Scientific and built a worldwide leader in IOT and predictive analytics for the safety industry. The company climbed to hundreds of millions in revenue and sold to Fortive.   After that success, Kent started another company, Discovery Robotics, aimed to bring robotics technology to the field of janitorial services. Their first product is an autonomous floor-cleaning robot.   The company’s mission remains to increase human productivity and safety.   In this conversation, Kent and Aaron discuss how he ended up focusing on industrial cleaning, the lessons Kent has taken from Industrial Scientific, and the future of work.   Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Kent McElhattan’s Challenge; Find something that doesn’t feel like work.   Connect with Kent McElhattan Linkedin Twitter Facebook Website   If you liked this interview, check ou

Anthony Gadient is co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer for Voci Technologies. Voci uses GPU-accelerated, deep machine learning speech technologies to help companies understand what their team members are saying on the phone.   Their technology helps clients mine actionable insights from their voice data. It can be applied to customer service, sales, and compliance analysis.   The company is built with technology spun out of Carnegie Mellon University. Previously, Anthony co-founded Neolinear, a semiconductor design automation firm that was acquired.   Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Anthony Gadient’s Challenge; Take some time to think about the implications of computers being able to hear you.   Connect with Anthony Gadient Linkedin Website   If you liked this interview, check out episode 303 with Luke Skurman the founder of Niche.com  and episode 361 with Jason Wolfe where we discuss multiple successful technology startups. Underwritten by P

2019 was a year of growth and learning. Thank you for being a part of it. We're planning for even more in 2020.  

David Levine founded NuGo Nutrition Bars in 2000 after raising a small sum of capital from friends and family.   NuGo Nutrition uses real dark chocolate to make their protein bars and have been committed to making healthy, high-caliber bars from their inception.   The company has developed a variety of SKUs developed for Kosher, gluten-free, organic, vegan, and low sugar diets.   David and Aaron discuss the founding of the company, how NuGo has scaled its distribution, and the fake chocolate used by other companies.   Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   David Levine’s Challenges;  Learn the difference between real and fake dark chocolate.  When you’re with your family, put the phone away so you can reflect on your day together.   Connect with David Levine Linkedin Instagram Website   If you liked this interview, check out episode 407 with JD Ewing where we discuss wholesaling, trends in office furniture, and creating a company book club. Underwrit

Brian Gaudio is the CEO of Module, a design & technology startup based in Pittsburgh.    Module is developing a pay-as-you-go housing solution that enables homebuilders to provide an affordable and flexible entry point for homeownership. One of their distinctive features is a design that allows a buyer to turn a one-bedroom starter unit into a 3 bedroom house.   Brian has previously directed a documentary about the housing crisis in South America, worked as a Fulbright Scholar in Santiago, Dominican Republic, and worked in the Blue Sky Department at Walt Disney Imagineering.   In this conversation, you’ll hear Brian and Aaron discuss how home construction and financing are interwoven, why pre-fabricated houses are the future, and the capital-intensive nature of the business. Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Brian Gaudio’s Challenge; Take one day during the holidays away from any work-related digital devices.   Connect with Brian Gaudio Linkedi

J.D. Ewing is the President of COE Distributing, the largest furniture-only wholesale office furniture distributor in the United States.    We traveled out to Uniontown, PA to record this interview at the company’s headquarters, which includes a 300,000 square foot warehouse.   The company also operated hubs in North Carolina and Texas, which allows it to serve the entire continental United States.   Over the last decade, COE has been growing rapidly. He bought the family business back after an acquirer ran into bankruptcy in 2008/09. Now, they are named an Inc. 5000 company and a Top 100 Fastest Growing Business by the Pittsburgh Business Times year-after-year.   In this episode, Aaron and J.D. discuss the start of the wholesaling business, when J.D. has been an opportunistic buyer, and trends in office furniture. Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   J.D. Ewing’s Challenge; Optimize your life around work you enjoy.   Connect with J.D. Ewing Linkedin

Jessica Gibson is CEO and Co-Founder of Ariel Precision Medicine, an integrated genomics and digital health company.    Ariel helps patients with complex chronic diseases by using genetics and health information to model the mechanisms and drivers of disease. This enables clinicians to establish an early diagnosis, long-term prognosis, and targeted management plan.   Ariel's PancreasDx® is the most comprehensive genetic test for pancreatic disease and is built off of Dr. David C. Whitcomb’s leading research.   Aaron and Jessica discuss the mission behind the company, how commercialization efforts have evolved, and the promise of precision medicine. Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Jessica Gibson’s Challenge; Understand that you can be the change you want to see in the world.   Connect with Jessica Gibson Linkedin Twitter Instagram Website   If you liked this interview, check out episode 405 with Matt Kesinger where we discuss the development and

Matt Kesinger’s company, Forest Devices, is developing the medical device ALPHASTROKE to help first responders identify stroke and triage patients to the right hospital.   Strokes are the #1 cause of disability worldwide. Lives are changed by how quickly a stroke is diagnosed and treated.   Matt was EMT in Boston for two years and learned how hard it can be to diagnose a stroke with just a clinical exam.    While attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Matt conducted and published research on the difficulties of pre-hospital providers diagnosing stroke. He was part of the team that conducted the largest US study on the identification of large vessel occlusive strokes in the pre-hospital environment.    In this conversation, Matt & Aaron discuss how to diagnose a stroke, the testing process for medical devices, and the mission that inspires the team. Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Matt Kesinger’s Challenge; Learn the signs

Lillian Rafson did not plan to start her business Pack Up + Go. But, on a trip to Latvia, she came across an idea that was too good to pass up. Booking surprise travel for vacationers.   She came back to the US, started the business, and hoped to get 50 clients that year. She got 500.   She followed the sharp trajectory upwards and remained bootstrapped the whole way. Now she runs a team, does millions in revenue, and is charting expansion plans.   In this conversation, Lillian and Aaron discuss the inspiration for the business, how she got initial traction, and the way she has built her team. Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Lillian’s Challenge; Go visit a new neighborhood in your city or town.   Connect with Lillian Rafson Linkedin Twitter Instagram Website  Underwritten by Piper Creative Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs, and videos for companies.    Our clients become better storytellers.    How? Click here and Learn more.   We work wi

We believe this is one of the best and most valuable podcasts we’ve had the privilege to share.   Michele McGough is the founder and CEO of solutions4networks, a professional services and integration company that provides network engineering and network security consulting as well as associated equipment/software to a select client portfolio.   She’s been in IT for more than 30 years and has learned a lot of lesssons along the way.   In this episode, you’ll hear her discuss retaining the talented people on her team, how & when to fire a client, and how she got started.    Pittsburgh’s best conference to Expand your Mind & Fill your Heart happens once a year.   Michele’s Challenge; Perception is not reailty. Don’t make assumptions about others.   Connect with Michele Linkedin Twitter Instagram Website   If you liked this interview, check out episode 361 with Jason Wolfe another top-notch entrepreneur, operator, and team builder. Underwritten by Piper Creative Piper Creative creates podcasts, vlogs,