Tim Wachter is a partner at The Knox Law firm where his practice specializes in working with municipalities, municipal authorities, and school districts. Tim is a national expert on Federal Opportunity Zones. But much like the onions he cooks over an open fire at home, Tim has many more layers to his professional personal life than even those who know him are aware. In this episode I learn more about Tim's professional background, we discuss America's 250th birthday, get geeky about Opportunity Zones, we chat about the state of civility in society today, and we finish with his thoughts of living and celebrating life. If you are like me, you will finish this episode looking forward to the next time you get to see and talk with Tim Wachter.

Two days after it was announced that Yuriy Ostapyak would be succeeding founder Jim Berlin as CEO of Logistics Plus, he joined The Jake Rouch Show to talk about life, business, global logistics, Ukraine, and more.

Yuriy is a dynamic young leader that is a native of the Ukraine, went to school at Edinboro University, and has been working at Logistics Plus since 2008. As you listen, you will quickly understand why Logistics Plus is in great hands with Yuriy. You will also learn more about Logistics Plus – a company headquartered in Erie at Union Station that is fast approaching $1 billion in revenue with over 3000 employees around the globe. So grateful that LP calls Erie home and Yuriy is at the helm.

Please listen, enjoy, share, and have a great weekend!

This episode covers chasing a dream, friendship, adventures in performing, memories, and laughing...lots of laughing. My guests today are Mark Tanenbaum and John Stockhausen. Mark and I have been professionally connected for 20+ years. John and I grew up in the same Briggs Avenue neighborhood. Today, I want to find out more about how they met, their friendship, their involvement in the arts but mostly I want to hear the story of the comedy troupe they formed – In All Seriousness – a professional, touring comedy/improv group comprised of a whole host of close and loving friends – and talented artists – who all connected in Erie and traveled America to make people smile. Like improv…I have no idea where this episode may go!

Jim Foote is the CEO of First Ascent Biomedical - is a biotech start-up founded in 2018 with a mission to transform medical oncology through highly individualized, prospective treatment planning technologies that improve survival and advance science. Our conversation provides a deeper dive into their technology - in a listener friendly manner - and how it pairs with an individual's oncologists comprehensive treatment for individuals with re-occurring cancer or rare cancer types to help better inform what drugs will likely be most effective in treating each unique individual's cancer. For more information you can go to www.firstascentbiomedical.com or call 786-746-6722. If you listen and feel it worthy of sharing, please do not hesitate to do so...using our collective six degrees of separation may just help bring some light (and hopefully positive impact) to someone in the darkness of despair.

My guest today is Elana Como. E Elana is CEO of the Northwest Institute for Research (NWIR). NWIRoperates the Early Learning Resource Center (ELRC) for 13 counties in NW PA, including Erie County. The ELRC provides a single point-of-contact for families, early childhood education professionals and communities to get information and accessservices that support high-quality childcare and early learning programs. Elana got connected during the pandemic and I quickly learned that she is one of the most well respectedprofessionals in Pennsylvania when it comes to childcare and early childhood education. Elana and I work to unpack and dive into childcare – its importance and why it one ofthe greatest business challenges we face as a country.

Tina Mengine is the CEO of the Erie County Redevelopment Authority. Tina is one of those "names" that people in Erie know, but not nearly as many have had the pleasure to meet. I hope this conversation helps to shine more light on my friend and colleague whom I have known for over 25 years andworked with in a variety of capacities. I am confident that the development work she is doing presently is the most challenging – and most rewarding – work of her life. Today we dig in deeper with Tina about her career arch and discuss the challenges, frustrations, and excitement of doing large scale economic development projects. I hope you enjoy.

Brian Slawin is a serial entrepreneur, tech investor, pilot,consultant, public speaker, a great hype-man, and the face of Ben Franklin Technology Partners in northwest Pennsylvania. Brian is also a great colleague and friend. Today, we will be talking predominantly about entrepreneurship...but a few other things may be sprinkled in there! Enjoy!

Meet the host and hear the back story on how and why The Jake Rouch Show came into existence.