Proprietors of Pittsburgh Podcast Darin Vilano

In a way, Jeff Krakoff is an accidental entrepreneur. Early in his career, the firm he was working for fell on hard times, and he wasn’t sure what his next move would be. Then came a call with an opportunity that required him to start his own business. Thirty years and a few detours later, the rest is history. His son joined the firm a few years ago, and together they are building the next generation of Krakoff Communications.

Toni Shelaske, a self-described serial entrepreneur, purchased Healthy Pet Products in 2008. She leveraged her background in retail management to grow the business from one small storefront to four expanded locations, including one in Florida. In this episode, we cover how she got started, why pets mean so much to her, and what her future plans are for the business.

Season 12 is here! I have a great lineup of “in studio” interviews coming your way. Get ready for some inspiring stories and engaging conversations with Pittsburgh’s small business community.

Come with me as we check out Sunset Place Studio and learn more about what it’s like to work in the music industry.

It was a real pleasure to get a personal tour of Claire Landuyt’s production studio for Chez Lapin. A space like this is generally not open to the public, so I am happy to be able to share this experience with all of you for this episode.

Chi Ilochi has certainly made an impact in Pittsburgh’s budding fashion industry. Her business, Styling By Chi, aims to include a wide range of people, especially those marginalized by the traditional mainstream corporations. She has been featured in many national publications for her work, and her non-profit projects have also caught the attention of the local media. In this episode, Chi shares how she overcame the internal challenges she faced to get where she is today.