On this week's episode, Cohost's Sara Stockwell and Katy Hobbs are joined by Scot and Kate Pickard with Pickard Solutions.  Pickard Solutions provides small business IT solutions and managed services. Learn more about this incredible husband and wife duo, who started their company at home during the pandemic, while also raising their two kids!

Scot Pickard

Scot has been an IT professional since 2003.  He is a VMware Certified Professional in data center virtualization and an AWS Certified Solutions Architect Associate with Amazon Web Services.  Scot has held multiple positions as a senior systems engineer in the Buffalo and Rochester job markets. His favorite non-computer-related activity is cooking, and he is learning how to barbeque.  Scot grew up in LeRoy, where he graduated in the early 2000s.  When Scot got married, they moved back to LeRoy to start a family.  

Kate Pickard 

Kate creates an atmosphere of collaboration, continued learning, and growth of others.  Her professional experience spans across leadership, education, and project management; all from solid roots as a Registered Nurse.  She graduated from nursing school in 2007. Since then, she obtained her Bachelors in Nursing, Masters in Management, and an advanced graduate certificate in Public Health.   She is also a Certified Associate in Project Management.   

Learning and reading are two constants in Kate’s life and what she points to when others ask how to achieve their goals.  Two values she is instilling in both her children as well.  When not working, Kate loves to bake, play games, and explore the many nature trails WNY has to offer with her husband and two children.   

To learn more about our Genesee County businesses, visit us at https://geneseeny.chambermaster.com/list/

On our first episode with Cohost's Kelly Bermingham and Katy Hobbs, we are joined by Karyn Winters - Director of the Genesee County Business/Education Alliance.

Karyn was born and raised in Genesee County and is a 2003 graduate of Pavilion Central School - Go Gophers! She has a  Bachelor's degree in secondary social studies education from Siena College and a master's degree in world history from SUNY Brockport. 

Karyn has served as BEA Director since March 2017 and is excited to introduce high-growth/high-demand careers and industries to Genesee County students.  She lives in Livingston County with her husband and daughter. 

The Genesee County Business Education Alliance (BEA) is an organization whose mission is to foster a partnership between business and education and to assist students in preparing for the world of work.

To learn more about our Genesee County businesses, visit us at https://geneseeny.chambermaster.com/list/

This episode we were joined by Guy Pellegrino of Pellegrino Auto Sales. He details his start in business at a young age and the mentorship he received from his former boss. He has devoted his entire adult life to building his car business into what it is today and expanding over the years. He gives a lot of credit to the employees and the people of Pellegrino Auto Sales for its longstanding success.

Guy is a graduate of BHS and a local boy through and through, and gives back to his community in many ways- including being involved in the naming of the David McCarthy Memorial Ice Arena for his friend and former teammate David McCarthy.

To learn more about our Genesee County businesses, visit us at https://geneseeny.chambermaster.com/list/