Founders Story
Every successful business starts out with an idea and a dream. In the Founders Story Podcast, you’ll learn from local entrepreneurs as they discuss their journey from their first inspiration to their first employee and the steps they took to get there. Listen to the Founders Story to hear how these entrepreneurs gained the success they enjoy today.
Episodes
31 episodes
Woo Juice: Isaiah Tatum and Noel Stemn
Isaiah Tatum and Noel Stemn started their business in Tatum’s basement, with the two longtime friends juicing fruits and vegetables and coming up with new recipes for fresh, healthy and delicious juices and smoothies.Now, the pair has i...
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Season 2
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Episode 1
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40:34
DOUGHNUT SHOP: Rocco's Doughnut Company
Today we are joined by Joe Astrella and Vinny Astrella founders of Rocco's Doughnut Company. The Astrella family has always been involved with doughnuts in one way or another, whether it was with Joe's father, Rocco, being an original Dunkin fr...
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Episode 30
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1:00:47
HOSPITALITY EMPLOYEMENT AGENCY: SNAPchef
Today we are joined by Todd Snopkowski Co-Founder and CEO of SNAPchef. SNAPchef is New England’s premier on-demand hospitality training and staffing solution, connecting job seekers to job opportunities. Founded by chef Todd Snopkowski and his ...
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Episode 29
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36:26
INSURTECH COMPANY: Combined Ratio Solutions
Today we are joined by Michael Jones, CEO and Luke Magnan, COO from Combined Ratio Solutions. They specialize in insurance technology software that allows insurance companies to better leverage their relationships with agents to increase profit...
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Episode 28
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1:02:49
FINANCIAL ADVISORS: The Patriot Financial Group
Today we are joined by David O'Donnell, Chairman and Founder of The Patriot Financial Group. David was in the financial business for 20 years before he had the vision of what The Patriot Financial Group would become. Over the past 18 years, Dav...
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Episode 27
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33:15
BREWERY: Seven Saws Brewing Company
Drink Well, Do Good! Today we are joined by Troy Milliken, one of the founders of Seven Saws Brewing Company. The idea for starting the brewery happened when the founders of Seven Saws Brewing Company were talking around a fire pi...
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Episode 26
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1:04:41
PERSONAL TRAINING STUDIO: True North Personal Training
Today we are joined by Tory Gisleson, Owner of True North Personal Training. They are formerly known as True North Performance Training. Tory started his career as an infantry Marine, after he finished his service in the Marines he worked secur...
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Episode 25
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38:24
TOOL MANUFACTURER: Angel-GUARD Products Inc.
Today we are joined by Casey Cormier, President of Angel-GUARD Products and US Tool and Fastener. Casey talks about growing up with Angel-GUARD and doing a little bit of everything within the company. He discusses why they originally started wo...
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Episode 24
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1:02:54
RESTAURATEURS: Rail Trail Flatbread Co.
Today we are joined by Karim El-Gamal and Michael Kasseris founders of The Rail Trail Flatbread Co., New City Microcreamery, and Less Than Greater Than all of which are located in downtown Hudson, MA. Karim and Michael have al...
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Episode 23
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1:14:05
ROOFING CONTRACTOR: Golden Group Roofing
Have you ever been put in a situation where you had to change all of your life's goals in an instant? Greta found herself in such a situation near the end of high school when she became pregnant, though this isn't where Greta's story ends. She ...
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Episode 22
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46:58
BREWERY: Greater Good Imperial Brewing Company
Paul Wengender got into the brewery business a little bit differently than the average brewer, but when you listen to him describe his founder's story his journey begins to make a lot of sense. From starting a Bio-Tech company to starting a bre...
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Episode 21
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36:31
BARBECUE RESTAURANT: B.T.'s Smokehouse
After being trained in fine dining and working in the industry, Brian Treitman decided that he wanted to start a side hustle selling BBQ at the Brimfield Antique Show out of a handbuilt trailer, with no experience cooking brisket. Brian now has...
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Episode 20
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50:12
EMPLOYMENT AGENCY: The Davis Companies
We talk to Bob Davis from The Davis Companies here in Marlborough, MA about how he founded his company, from leaving high school in the 10th grade to pursue a logistics career and getting into employment services early on when he saw an opportu...
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Episode 19
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51:32
MARKETING AGENCY: Vision Advertising
Julia Becker Collins is our guest this week and she brings ALL of her high energy to the interview. Julia shares her history in school and her career path. If you find yourself struggling with school, you don't like school, or you're in a posit...
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Episode 18
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39:37
BREWERY: Wormtown Brewery
Join us as David tells the wild founding story of Wormtown Brewery when it was just Ben Roesch and Tom Oliveri and their humble beginnings at Peppercorns to one of the top Breweries in New England. Connect with David Fields and Wormt...
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Episode 17
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1:04:39
WEBSITE DESIGNER: Ladybugz Interactive Agency
Lysa Miller is the founder of Ladybugz Interactive Agency, located in Southboro, MA. She started doing web design the traditional way by working for a company and soon started to moonlight on the side, all while being a young mom of four kids. ...
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Episode 16
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26:08
THEATRE: The Hanover Theatre
Troy Siebels has been the president and CEO of The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts for over 17 years! He was tasked with raising money to renovate the theatre to bring it back to its former glory. Troy originally starte...
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Episode 15
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25:53
GRANITE SUPPLIER: Discover Marble & Granite
Victor DeOliveira is the founder of Discover Marble and Granite in Millbury, Massachusetts. He started out with a passion for flying and became a commercial pilot but after the events of 9/11, he lost his job, but rather than sitting idly by wa...
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Episode 14
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38:55
PERSONAL BRANDING: AiVi Nguyen
AiVi Nguyen is an incredibly inspirational woman and has accomplished a lot in her life by being herself and standing out from the crowd. AiVi talks about the importance of knowing who you are, knowing what you want to accomplish, and how to me...
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Episode 13
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45:23
NONPROFIT: Why Me & Sherry's House
In this episode, we talk to David Hagan the Executive Director of Why Me & Sherry's House. David talks about the origins of Why Me and its grassroots efforts to help children and their families to what it is today. Rick also has a surprise ...
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Episode 12
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55:33
MUSEUM: Worcester Historical Museum
Today Rick talks to William Wallace, the Executive Director of the Worcester Historical Museum. They dive into the history of Worcester and the businesses and founders who helped build Worcester to what it is today. Worcester has a rich industr...
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Episode 11
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22:50
VIDEO GAME DEVELOPMENT: Petricore Games
Does getting a game featured in Apple's App Store mean it will be an automatic success and make money? Ryan describes what it's like starting his game development studio while in college and getting their first game featured in Apple's App Stor...
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Episode 10
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28:35
BAKERY: The Queen's Cups
Renee Diaz is the owner and founder of The Queen’s Cups and Diazsta Designs. We talk to Renee about borrowing money from an ex-boyfriend, becoming obsessed with baking and practicing until she was great at it, and about sacrificing and working ...
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Episode 9
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41:23
CHIROPRACTIC: Percuoco Chiropractic Neurology Center
Dr. Peter Percuoco graduated from Hudson High School in 1983 and studied at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) and Framingham State University. He received his Doctoral Degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic in 1989. In 1990,...
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Episode 8
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29:28