Strategic investment is turning Erie from a legacy manufacturing town into a modern innovation hub, and this episode dives into the people and partnerships making it happen.​

Today’s conversation spotlights the Erie Revitalization Investment Fund, a 500,000 dollar evergreen fund launched by Ben Franklin Technology Partners and Erie Insurance to back early-stage tech companies and small manufacturers in Erie County.

Host Jacob Jones sits down with Ben Franklin’s Brian Slawin, along with entrepreneurs Desiree and Bob Troutner of FIXED HHS and Alan Tate of Intag Systems, to explore how this fund helps founders cross the “valley of death” between idea and sustainable growth.

They discuss why capital alone isn’t enough, how wraparound mentorship, expert teams, and regional partnerships de-risk innovation, and what it means when startups choose to headquarter and scale in Erie instead of leaving for bigger cities.​

You’ll hear real stories of moving from cramped spaces to larger facilities, building new greenhouses at Savocchio Opportunity Park, and creating family-sustaining jobs in both tech-enabled services and agricultural technology. The group also unpacks how Erie’s collaborative entrepreneurial ecosystem Ben Franklin, Erie Insurance, the Beehive, Radius CoWork, the EDDC food hall, the Center for Family Business, and more is shifting from a scarcity mindset to an abundance mindset where “no wrong door” means every connection can lead to the right support.

If you’re an entrepreneur wondering how to fund and scale your next step, this episode offers a candid look at what resources are available, who to call, and why Erie might be the right place to grow your business.

ERIF Information: https://cnp.benfranklin.org/funding/erie-revitalization-investment-fund/

This podcast is sponsored by Zac Wild CFP, CEPA financial advisor with Edward Jones. Zac works for business owners who are interested in maximizing their investments in tandem with efficient tax strategies. this includes fully leveraging the benefits of 401k's, SIMPLE IRA, and other more unique tax advantaged accounts.

Fourth‑generation owner Shane Reese joins Zach and Jacob to share the nearly 100‑year story of General Exterminating, an Erie‑based pest control company that began with his great‑grandfather’s Depression‑era decision to find a “recession‑proof” business. From shooting rats in basements with a .22 in the 1930s to today’s regulated, highly professional structural pest control operation, Shane traces how each generation has adapted while serving some of the same accounts for more than nine decades.​

Shane talks about growing up in the business (born on a Friday, in the office by Monday), learning the trade from an employee with 50+ years of experience, and modernizing operations with new technology while respecting his parents’ “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” mindset. He opens up about working side‑by‑side with his dad, navigating loud but productive disagreements, keeping family and business separate, and planning a thoughtful transition so the fifth generation won’t face the same sudden hand‑offs his father did.​

Along the way, he shares wild on‑the‑job moments—from hazmat‑suit cleanups to bedbug‑ and roach‑infested homes—plus the quieter realities of ownership: 2 a.m. worries, long days, and the pride of maintaining a 94‑year reputation for “great service at a decent price.” If you’re interested in multigenerational succession, small‑business resilience, or what it really takes to carry a family company to 100 years and beyond, this episode offers a candid, down‑to‑earth look inside a legacy pest control business.​

This podcast is sponsored by Zac Wild CFP, CEPA financial advisor with Edward Jones. Zac works for business owners who are interested in maximizing their investments in tandem with efficient tax strategies. this includes fully leveraging the benefits of 401k's, SIMPLE IRA, and other more unique tax advantaged accounts.

A 21-year-old buying a family machine shop sounds like a movie plot—but for Andrew “Andy” Reinwald, it was real life. In this episode, Andy shares how he purchased Ripley Machine from his grandfather and then led it through the hardest year in company history, a full modernization, and a deep cultural shift toward continuous improvement.

He talks candidly about stepping into leadership young, navigating layoffs and financial stress, and learning to lead with humility, transparency, and faith.

We dig into how Ripley Machine implemented ISO standards, built a daily “drum beat” around continuous improvement, and now tracks hundreds of improvements per year across the team. Andy also reflects on honoring his grandfather’s legacy, treating long‑time employees like family, and building a business that supports both high-quality manufacturing and the families behind it. If you’re in a family business, manufacturing, or thinking about buying a company that needs change, this conversation is for you.

Connect with Andy and Ripley Machine:
Ripley Machine & Tool Company – ISO‑certified CNC turning and grinding shop in Ripley, NY
Website: https://www.ripley-machine.com
LinkedIn (Andy)
Email: AndyR@ripley-machine.com

This podcast is sponsored by Zac Wild CFP, CEPA financial advisor with Edward Jones. Zac works for business owners who are interested in maximizing their investments in tandem with efficient tax strategies. this includes fully leveraging the benefits of 401k's, SIMPLE IRA, and other more unique tax advantaged accounts.