This Week in AI with cohosts ChatGPT and Tony DeSimone

Brian Grunert, Grammy winner, six time nominee and owner of White Bicycle shares with us why branding and marketing during the post covid recession is more important than ever, how to get brand recognition and "cut through all the noise", how he uses his Grammy winning design skills to improve his clients branding, he shares his new album cover design which features Jimmy Sweeney, who was an early influence on Elvis Presley (sounds just like him). Brian also discusses his idea for a Gen X haircut truck and promises to share the hilarious (and somewhat embarrassing) story about his encounters with Weird Al Yankovic only if you ask him.

Fireside Chat: In this episode, Tony talks about the divisiveness culture we live in and what you can do to avoid it. He also shares the latest on the economy and what his clients are experiencing post quarantine as well as what they are seeing (or not seeing) in 2021.

With 50% capacity restrictions and fall coming, the restaurant model is broken. Nick Pitillo, owner of Osteria 166, Villaggio, Stock the Freezer and the new venture Chalet Valet will explain how he continues to innovate as he "kicks the can" in order to avoid becoming part of the wake of upcoming restaurant failures. In this very entertaining episode, we discuss how all restaurant business models need to change, the struggles in the town of Ellicottville, predictions on state restrictions for restaurants, and how Nick upset his mom so much she refused to make him sauce for 2 years. Also, Nick gives a shout out to the CEL, Erin McGee and the Ravioli Ride with Danielle Nyhart at Danifit. Enjoy!!  

In this fireside chat, Tony discusses the logic behind using a neti pot daily to defend against Covid, his daily covid fighting health regiment, the death of malls, struggling Starbucks, increasing sales with your current customer base, the struggle to find new clients and how to outlast your competitors!

Sleep specialist, Soda Kuczkowski, owner of Start with Sleep will convince you that getting the proper amount of deep sleep can improve your health, stress levels, weight, mood and your business. In this episode, we discuss a shortcut to better sleep, define sleep success, share the ideal daily routine to maximize sleep, statistics on why sleep matters and much more.

Erin McGee, Managing Director of the University at Buffalo Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) shares the secret to why the program has been successful for over 30 years, filling the big shoes of her predecessor, Tom Ulbrich, changes needed to keep the programs going during the quarantine, the power of the CEL community, recruiting for class this fall and working from home.

If you are interested in signing up for the CEL's CORE program discussed in this episode, click here!  There are limited seats available!

 

StaffBuffalo partner, Lauren Lewis discusses why women have been hit the hardest by job losses during the pandemic, unemployment at the macro and regional level, how to handle the $600 unemployment supplement, how much easier it will get to find great candidates with higher unemployment, working remote and much more.

Return guest, Lori Miller from Developing Professionals simplifies all of the new Covid-19 rules and regulations needed by business owners to safely bring employees back to work while avoiding as much risk as possible. In this episode, we cover working from home, crisis management planning, what companies are not focusing on as they react to all the Covid rules, hiring HR help and all of the templates you need. She was kind enough to share all of the return to work policies and templates needed to make it easier for you to have everything you need! They include: Employee Health Screening form template, Sample memo to go to employees about screening procedures, Return to Work PPT deck guide that can be customized based on individual business’ plan, NYS Business Reopening template that every organization needs to have posted on-site and the Safe Work Playbook – for those that want to do a deep dive and ensure all parts of the business is covered. 

PPP specialist, Steve Turner CPA, Principal from The Bonadio Group breaks down all of the PPP updates that became law as part of the PPP Flexibility Act. In this episode we discuss, FTE's, filling out the application for forgiveness, the deferment of the social security component of employer payroll taxes and much more.

With less inventory in the housing market during the quarantine, there was an increase in demand and prices. James Wangelin, the manager at Towne Housing Real Estate and the owner of Cellino Wangelin Construction, explains how he took advantage of that, the new way to sell houses post quarantine, how to think like an entrepreneur, building a construction company out of need and the BRRR strategy to buying houses.