In this episode of Going With the Flow, Lucas Cellino sits down with Rich, Cellino’s new Director of Finance, to talk about his journey from growing up in California and working at Sonos to making the move to Buffalo to be closer to family. What began as an unlikely connection, meeting one of Cellino’s electricians through online gaming, led to a career-changing referral and his new role at Cellino. Rich discusses the shift from corporate finance to small business operations, sharing how forecasting, data insights, and understanding both wins and shortfalls help shape smarter decisions. He also reflects on his first impressions of Cellino’s culture, the sense of community, and how quickly the team made him feel at home. The episode dives into industry trends, the role of private equity, and why the trades continue to be a stable, rewarding career path.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

• How Rich transitioned from corporate finance at Sonos to his role at Cellino
• The story behind an unexpected gaming friendship that led to a career move
• What forecasting reveals about business growth, performance, and opportunity
• How Cellino’s fast-paced, team-oriented culture fosters collaboration and trust
• Why the trades remain one of the most stable and essential industries today

In this episode of Going With the Flow, Lucas Cellino sits down with Job, longtime website and SEO partner for Cellino and founder of JMAX Media Solutions. Job shares how his partnership with Cellino began nearly seven years ago, when a quick conversation with Luke at a Niagara Business Associates meeting turned into a six-hour deep dive into marketing, community, and collaboration. What started as a professional connection has since grown into a lasting friendship and partnership built on authenticity and shared values. Job reflects on his journey from entertainment to building JMAX Media, how Buffalo’s business community shaped his growth, and what he’s learned from working side by side with the Cellino team. Together, they discuss the evolution of SEO, the impact of AI on marketing, and why authentic, community-driven content still matters most.

What You Will Learn in This Episode

• How Job and Lucas built a seven-year partnership rooted in trust and collaboration
• The evolution of SEO and how AI is changing digital marketing
• Why authenticity and community-driven content still outperform trends
• How Cellino’s company culture influences its marketing and partnerships
• Lessons on giving back and growing through meaningful business relationships

In this episode of Going With the Flow, Lucas sits down with Sayler Shakir—dog lover, rescue advocate, and co-founder of the Shakir Family Foundation.

Sayler shares how an impromptu trip to a dog adoption event led her and her husband, Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir, to adopt their dog Missy—and how that one decision has since blossomed into a full-fledged mission to save as many dogs as possible.

She and Lucas talk about the overwhelming success of their second annual adoption event, the emotional stories behind the rescues, and how the visibility Khalil brings has helped boost adoption numbers, donations, and foster sign-ups.

Sayler also gives a behind-the-scenes look at how Khalil personally transported 19 dogs from Alabama to New York the day after the event, and how the couple continues to support local and national rescue organizations through their foundation. They discuss the challenges rescue organizations face, what the community can do to help (even if they can’t adopt), and why fostering is often the most powerful way to make a difference.

With baby #1 on the way and their rescue work growing, Sayler hints that their goal of helping 10,000 dogs is just getting started.