COMING UP TONIGHT: WE EXPLORE SPEEDPRO, A PRINTING AND GRAPHICS COMPANY THAT HAS BIG PLANS IN STORE FOR THE FUTURE.

THEN, WE DISCUSS THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF LEAD POISONING IN OUR COMMUNITY.

AND FOR OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES, J DANIEL PLUFF SITS DOWN WITH JEFF KNAUSS TO TALK ABOUT HIS PATH TO ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO ON THE MONEY, WCNY'S FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - THINK OF IT AS YOUR LOCAL FINANCIAL NEWS PROGRAM, FEATURING SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE, BUSINESSES AND HAPPENINGS FROM EVERY CORNER OF CENTRAL NEW YORK.

I'M YOUR HOST, LAIZA SEMIDEY.

DURING OUR SEASON WE'LL SEE WHERE MONEY IS BEING MADE, SPENT -- AND SOMETIMES LOST-- AND FOCUS ON PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES AFFECTING US LOCALLY.

OUR FIRST REPORT TAKES US TO THE PRINT SHOP.

ANYONE WORKING IN PRODUCT-BASED COMPANIES OR SERVICE INDUSTRIES, KNOW HOW IMPORTANT MARKETING IS TO THEIR SUCCESS.

WHETHER IT BE THROUGH DIGITAL PLATFORMS OR THE OLD SCHOOL PRINT ADS, COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES SPEND AN AVERAGE OF TWELVE PERCENT OF THEIR REVENUE ON MARKETING COSTS.

SPEED PRO OF CENTRAL NEW YORK IS WORKING TO HELP MEET ORGANIZATIONS' MARKETING NEEDS, WITH THEIR LARGE-SCALE PRINTING TECHNOLOGY.

OFFERING CLIENTS A VARIETY OF PRINTED ADVERTISING FROM WALL MURALS AND BANNERS TO OUTDOOR SIGNAGE AND VEHICLE WRAPS.

SINCE OPENING ITS CENTRAL NEW YORK LOCATION FIVE YEARS AGO, SPEED PRO HAS SEEN CONTINUAL GROWTH IN ITS SALES AND WORKFORCE.

ALLOWING THE COMPANY TO EXPAND ITS OPERATIONS AND TAKE ON LARGER PROJECTS.

>> SPEEDPRO MEJING IS A FRANCHISE BUSINESS.

140 LOCATIONS NATIONWIDE WE DO LARGE FORMAT PRINTING.

SO THAT INCLUDES THINGS LIKE POSTERS AND VEHICLE WRAPS.

VEHICLE WRAPS IS PROBABLY 40% OF OUR BUSINESS.

WE ALSO DO WALL MURALS, POINT OF PURCHASE DISPLAYS, BANNERS AND ANYTHING WE CAN PRINT ON OUR LARGE FORMAT PRINTERS.

WE HAVE 15 EMPLOYEES NOW AND WE HAVE THE BEST 15 EMPLOYEES THAT I'VE EVER SEEN, YOU KNOW.

SO IT'S-- I THINK WE ARE VERY WELL POSITIONED FOR GROWTH AND WE ARE GOING TO BE HIRING.

PROBABLY 50 OF THE% IS COLLEGES.

BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY IS OUR SINGLE BIGGEST CUSTOMER.

SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY, CORNELL UNIVERSITY ARE ALSO VERY BIG FOR US.

WE ALSO SELL TO A LOT OF WAS WE CALL BROKERS OR RESELLERS.

SO BUSINESSES THAT THEY DON'T PRODUCE ANYTHING THEMSELVES.

THEY OUTSOURCE IT.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A FIVE FOOT BY 10-FOOT CNC CUTTER AND WE WILL HAVE THAT ONE AND ADD ANOTHER ONE TO IT.

RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TWO FLAD BED-- FLATBED PRINTERS ONLINE.

WE ARE GOING TO ADD ANOTHER ONE.

WE ARE ADDING AT LAMINATOR AND 60-INCH WIDE LATEX PRINTER.

THE BIGGEST FACTOR CONTRIBUTING TO OUR GROWTH HAS BEEN OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE.

I MEAN THE COMPETITION HAS THE SAME EQUIPMENT WE HAVE AND THEY CAN PRODUCE THE SAME QUALITY AND THE SAME QUANTITY AND ALL THAT STUFF.

BUT WE PRIDE OURSELVES ON OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE.

SO IF SOMEONE ASKED US FOR A QUOTE, WE WANT TO GET IT TO THEM WITHIN 24 HOURS.

A LOT OF OUR COMPETITION WILL GET IT TO YOU WITHIN A MONTH.

OUR GOAL OF REACHING TIN MILLION DOLLARS-- $10 MILLION IS BASICALLY BEING SUPPORTED BY EXPANDING OUR TERRITORY AND FINDING NEW CUSTOMERS IN OTHER PARTS OF NEW YORK.

THAT'S HOW WE PLAN ON GETTING TO $10 MILLION IS BY JUST BRINGING UP OTHER SPEEDPRO TERRITORIES.

WE ALSO WILL HAVE LOCAL FACILITIES IN EACH OF THOSE TERRITORIES SO THAT WE CAN SUPPORT BETTER SUPPORT LIKE VEHICLE WRAPS.

SO WE WILL HAVE GARAGE SPACE, LOCAL PRINT ERRS THERE SO THAT YOU KNOW, A CUSTOMER CAN BRING THEIR VEHICLE IN TRUCK OR CAR, WHATEVER NEEDS TO HAVE A WRAP DONE TO IT SO THEY DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE IT ALL THE WAY TO SYRACUSE.

WE WILL BE ABLE TO DO IT IN BUFFALO, ROCHESTER, SCHENECTADY.

>> OUR THANKS AGAIN TO BOB KELLEHER JOINING US TONIGHT FOR OUR COMMON CENTS SEGMENT IS JAMES ENWRIGHT, PROFESSOR OF PRACTICE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE AND CYBERSECURITY AT LEMOYNE COLLEGE >> WELL-- WELCOME TO ON THE OTHER THAN.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A TOPIC THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT CYBERSECURITY.

TELL ME WHAT ARE THE STEPS THAT A BUSINESS SHOULD TAKE TO BRING SCICT INTO THEIR CYBER SECURITY INTO THEIR BUSINESS.

>> I WOULD MAKE SURE THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT DATA THEY HAVE AND SYSTEMS THEY HAVE THAT ARE IMPORTANT.

ONCE YOU HAVE A GOOD FOUNDATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE ASSETS YOU HAVE, THEN YOU CAN PUT BASIC DEFENSES IN PLACE THINGS LIKE ANTIVIRUS, MAKING SURE YOU HAVE ACCESS CONTROLS, MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION.

ONCE YOU HAVE THE BASIC CONTROLS IN PLACE, THEN WHAT YOU CAN DO IS A DEEPER DIVE AND RISK ASSESSMENT.

REALLY LOOKING AT WHERE YOUR MOST CRITICAL BUSINESS ASSETS ARE, WHERE YOUR DATA RESIDES SO YOU CAN HAVE BACKUPS FOR THAT DATA AND YOU CAN HAVE AN INCIDENT RESPONSE PLAN AND A LOT OF TIMES, YOU KNOW, SMALLER BUSINESSES DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM TO HAVE A WHOLE SECURITY STAFF SO THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IF YOU NEED TO, YOU CAN ALSO LOOK TO OUTSIDE COMPANIES TO COME IN AND HELP YOU WITH YOUR RESPONSE PLAN.

>> YOU MENTIONED SMALL BUSINESSES.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT BECAUSE AS A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER, I'M NOT THINKING ANYONE IS GOING TO ATTACK ME.

TELL ME WHAT HAVE YOU SEEN.

>> UNFORTUNATELY SMALL BUSINESS THINK CYBER ATTACKS ARE ONLY GOING TO BE THE REALLY BIG COMPANIES.

UNFORTUNATELY THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

LAST YEAR WE SAW I THINK IT WAS AROUND 76% OF SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES GET HIT WITH A DATA BREACH OR CYBER ATTACK.

AS A RESULT OF THAT, I THINK THE LOT LOSSES WERE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $250,000.

SO AS A SMALL BUSINESS, YOU WOULD THINK THAT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO GET ATTACKED BUT CYBER CRIMINALS KNOW THAT AGAIN, YOU DON'T HAVE NECESSARILY THE SAME RESOURCES AS THE BIG COMPANIES, SO THEY'LL TARGET YOU AND IF THEY GET $250 GRAND, GREAT BUT THEY WILL TAKE 10,000, 12,000, WHATEVER IT IS.

AND IF YOU ARE NOT PREPARED.

>> WHATEVER THEY CAN.

>> EXACTLY.

>> PULLING ON THAT AGAIN, WHAT ARE SOME COMMON THINGS THAT WE SEE WHERE PEOPLE ACTUALLY GET ATTACKED?

>> SOME OF THE MOST COMMON ATTACKS WE SEE ARE SOCIAL ENGINEERING ATTACKS WHERE PEOPLE WILL TRY TO MANIPULATE YOU INTO GIVING UP INFORMATION VIA PHONE OR TEXT MESSAGE.

SOCIAL ENGINEERING ATTACK THAT WE SEE A LOT IS A PHISHING ATTACK.

SO PHISHING IS WHEN YOU GET AN EMAIL SENT TO YOU AND YOU CLICK ON A LINK OR MALICIOUS FILE AND THE PHISHING ATTACKS RIGHT NOW USUALLY RESULT IN GETTING RANSOM WARE INSTALLED ON YOUR SYSTEM AND THAT'S WHEN THEY TAKE YOUR DATA AND SYSTEMS AND ENCRYPT THE INFORMATION AND MAKE IT SO IT'S NOT ACCESSIBLE TO YOU.

>> WOW.

I FEEL LIKE WE CAN HAVE A WHOLE SHOW ABOUT CYBERSECURITY.

OUR TIME IS UP AND I'M GLAD YOU CAME TO SHARE MORE ABOUT CYBERSECURITY, ESPECIALLY FOR SMALL BUSINESSES.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> UP NEXT ARE PROPERTY POST SEGMENT.

LEAD POISONING CONTINUES TO THREATEN SYRACUSE'S CHILDREN, PARTICULARLY IN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS.

THIS PROBLEM STEMS FROM THE CITY'S AGING HOUSING STOCK AS MOST HOMES WERE BUILT BEFORE LEAD PAINT WAS BANNED IN 1978.

THE IMPACT IS STAGGERING: IN 2019 ALONE, ABOUT 500 SYRACUSE CHILDREN TESTED POSITIVE FOR DANGEROUS LEVELS OF LEAD IN THEIR BLOOD.

DESPITE DECADES OF AWARENESS, THIS PREVENTABLE HEALTH CRISIS STILL PERSISTS•LEAVING US TO WONDER WHAT FINANCIAL FACTORS ARE CONTRIBUTING TO THE ISSUES LONGEVITY.

THE ON THE MONEY TEAM SAT DOWN WITH JESSICA VINCIGUERRA, THE DIRECTOR OF LEAD OPERATIONS FOR ONONDAGA COUNTY, TO UNCOVER THE FINANCIAL COSTS OF LEAD POISONING.

AND WHAT FUNDS ARE STILL NEEDED IN ORDER TO REMOVE LEAD FROM OUR HOUSING STOCK.

>> LED POISONING IS THE UNFORTUNATE INCIDENTS WHERE PREDOMINANTLY CHILDREN ARE EXPOSED TO LED-BASED PAINT EITHER THROUGH PARTICLES, DUST OR PAINT CHIPS.

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DATA SURROUNDING LED POISONING, IT IS NO SECRET THAT AREAS OF LOW INCOME AND AREAS WHERE WE HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF MINORITY POPULATION ARE NOT ONLY AT MOST RISK OF LED POISONING BECAUSE OF THE CONDITIONS OF THE HOUSING STOCK IN THOSE AREAS BUT WE ARE ALSO SEEING THE TRENDS IN TERMS OF HIGH ED RATE OF POISONING SO IN 2023, WE TESTED ABOUT 4400 CHILDREN.

THOSE 4400 CHILDREN, ABOUT 400 OF THEM CAME BACK AS HAVING ELEVATED BLOOD LEAD LEVELS, SO JUST UNDER SO%.

THAT'S ROUGHLY 222,000 LIFETIME COST BURDEN ON A CHILD THAT WAS EXPOSED AND POISONED BY LEAD-BASED PAINT.

THE AVERAGE UNIT COST FOR REMEDIATION IS ROUGHLY $20,000.

THAT ONLY ADDRESSES HAZARDS THAT ARE FOUND AT THE TIME THE INSPECTION IS COMPLETED.

SO IT'S NOT FULLY ABATING THE PROPERTY.

AND THE STATE IS SAYING IT'S ROUGHLY ON AVERAGE ABOUT $40,000 PER UNIT TO FULLY ABATE A PROPERTY.

MOST FAMILIES, THEY CAN'T AFFORD THE REMEDIATION WORK REQUIRED IN A HOUSEHOLD THAT HAS RISKS OF LEAD EXPOSURE.

OFTEN TIMES IN RENTAL PROPERTIES, IN LOW INCOME AREAS, WE DO SEE THAT HOMES DON'T UNDERGO THE PROPER REMEDIATION.

OVER THE YEARS, THE CITY OF SYRACUSE AND ONONDAGA COUNTY HAVE BEEN APPLYING AND RECEIVING FUNDING FROM HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT, SO IT'S FEDERAL FUNDING FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS TO APPLY THAT HAVE CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF SIX AND SO THROUGH THOSE PROGRAMS, FAMILIES ARE ABLE TO APPLY FOR THE FUNDING SOURCE WHERE WE ASSIGN INSPECTORS TO THE HOME TO IDENTIFY WHERE LEAD-BASED PAINT IS, WHERE HAZARDS EXIST IN THOSE HOMES.

AND THEN WE'LL GO IN, WE'LL SEND AN INSPECTOR TO DRAFT A SCOPE OF WORK THAT THEN GOES OUT TO E.P.A.

CERTIFIED CONTRACTORS WHO GO INTO THE HOMES, REMEDIATE THE LEAD-BASED PAINT HAZARDED THAT WERE FOUND AT NO COST TO THE FAMILY OR PROPERTY OWNER.

WE HAVE EXPANDED OUR WINDOWS AND DOORS PROGRAM.

WE CALL IT WINDOWS AND DOORS AND MORE.

SO FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT CASES WHERE THERE IS AN OPEN LEAD VIOLATION, WE ARE ABLE TO REFER ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS WHO MIGHT NOT BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE HUD GRANTS TO THAT PROGRAM TO HAVE THE HOUSE COMPLETELY ABATED OF LEAD HAZARD.

AND LAST YEAR'S COUNTY BUDGET WE WERE ABLE TO ALLOCATE $2.5 MILLION TOWARDS LEAD POISONING PREVENTION.

PRIOR TO THAT, WE BUDGETED ABOUT $5 MILLION TOWARDS LEAD POISONING PREVENTION.

WE HAVE TAKEN THAT AND WE HAVE ALSO COUPLED IT WITH THE FUNDING THAT WE APPLIED TO THE STATE FOR THEIR LEADING AND LEAD PROGRAM FOR ANOTHER $1.3 MILLION.

MY JOB IS TO HOPEFULLY NOT HAVE A JOB SOON BECAUSE THIS ISSUE NO LONGER EXISTS.

WE STILL HAVE A REALLY OLD HOUSING STOCK.

WE'VE ONLY SCRATCHED THE SURFACE WITH THE WORK REQUIRED TO BE ABLE TO AMILE AMILE YOUR-- AMELIORATE THIS PROBLEM.

MY HOPE IS THAT FUNDING OF THE WCNY LED COMPANY COALITION, THE WORK OF ONONDAGA COUNTY, THE DEPARTMENT OF CODE ENFORCEMENT WITH THE CITY OF SYRACUSE, ALL OF THIS ATTENTION AND ENERGY AND FUNDING BEING CHANNELED TOWARD THIS ISSUE WILL HELP US TO TURN A NEW LEAF, CREATE SAFER ENVIRONMENTS IN OUR HOMES FOR OUR CHILDREN AND TO NOT BE HERE IN 50 YEARS.

>> THIS WEEK FOR BY THE NUMBERS, WE TAKE A LOOK AT THE COST OF CHILD CARE IN SYRACUSE.

LET'S SAY YOU HAVE ONE KID.

LIKE ME.

THE AVERAGE STARTING COST FOR CHILDCARE IS ABOUT $18.

LESS LOOK AT A 40 HOUR WORK WEE.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT $733 AND MONTHLY YOU ARE LOOKING AT 130 HOURS, IT COULD BE MORE.

YOUR TOLY PAYMENT IS $2,383.

THAT'S A MORTGAGE PAYMENT.

HAVE I SOME GOOD NEWS FOR PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN OCTOBER.

YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.

TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE, IF YOU ARE A PARENT WITH ONE CHILD AND MAKE AROUND $60,000 A YEAR YOUR WEEKLY FAMILY SHARE WOULD BE $10.

$10.

50, WHICH IS ABOUT $42 A MONTH.

WHICH SOUNDS A LOT BETTER THAN $2,383 A MONTH!

P. GO CHECK IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE!

THESE ARE YOUR NUMBERS FOR THIS WEEK!

WE CONTINUE NOW WITH OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WITH J DANIEL PLUFF.

THE SERIES HIGHLIGHTS BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE DOING SOMETHING SPECIAL IN OUR AREA.

THROUGHOUT OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES WE'VE INTRODUCED YOU TO SEVERAL CENTRAL NEW YORKERS WHO HAVE STARTED NEW, LOCAL BUSINESSES - - MANY OF WHICH HAVE SEEN IMPRESSIVE GROWTH.

SKANEATELES RESIDENT JEFF KNAUSS IS YET ANOTHER - HE AND A PARTNER ESTABLISHED DIGITAL HYVE - A DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY CONNECTING VARIOUS BRANDS TO THEIR TARGETED AUDIENCES.

IT'S GROWTH RATE WAS BOTH AWARDED AND RECOGNIZED BY NATIONAL PUBLICATIONS.

THE COMPANY WAS ACQUIRED FOR AN UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT, BUT LIKE SO MANY ENTREPRENEURS, JEFF WAS THEN READY FOR THE NEXT BIG THING.

AND, AFTER THAT, .

THE NEXT BIG THING.

OUR J DANIEL PLUFF GOT SOME BUSINESS ADVICE FROM JEFF, ALONG WITH HIS THOUGHTS ON THE >> TAKE NO OFFENSE TO THIS, BUT FOLKS LIKE YOU I FIND DIFFICULT FOR ME BECAUSE YOU KNOW, I CAN'T PIGEON HOLE YOU.

IT'S NOT LIKE YOU HAVE BEEN RUNNING A COMPANY FOR 20 YEARS AND WE TALK ABOUT HOW IT STARTED OR HOW IT GREW.

YOU HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE PLACE, WHICH IS INTERESTING.

I THINK ONE SPOT THAT WE SHOULD REALLY HIT ON FIRST IS YOU CO-FOUNDED AND GREW A COMPANY CALLED DIGITAL HYVE.

THE GROWTH WAS PHENOMENAL.

YOU CHOSE TO SELL DIGITAL HYVE.

WHY?

>> WELL, INTERESTINGLY ENOUGH, FROM DAY ONE OF STARTING THE BUSINESS, WE KNEW THAT WE WOULD NOT KEEP THE BUSINESS FOREVER.

WE HAD A PLAN TO EXIT FROM DAY ONE, MY PARTNER AND I.

THE REASON FOR THAT WAS BECAUSE YOU KNOW, YOU MENTIONED AT THE TOP THAT I'VE DONE A LOT OF THINGS.

I KNEW THAT I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF ENTREPRENEUR ADHD.

I LIKE TO LOOK AT PROBLEMS THAT EXIST IN THE WORLD AND CREATE MANAGE FROM NOTHING.

MY PASSION REALLY IS BUILDING COMPANIES, STARTING IT, GETTING IT OFF THE GROUND AND YOU KNOW, THE OPTIMIZATION AT A CERTAIN POINT OF SCALE TAKES A DIFFERENT MIND AND ONCE IT'S OUT OF THE CRAZINESS OF START-UP LIFE AND-- I LIKE TO GET IT TO A POINT WHERE THERE IS PROCESS INFUSED AND IT CAN SCALE, THAT'S WHEN I THINK A GREAT OPERATOR CAN TAKE IT OVERAND GROW IT FROM THERE.

>> IT STRIKES ME THAT SELLING IT WAS NOT A DIFFICULT DECISION, NOT LIKE SELLING YOUR BABY.

THIS WAS PART OF THE PLAN QUITE FRANKLY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I HAVE A BELIEF THAT IT WAS IN THE-- IT WAS BORN FROM THE IDEA OF WANTING TO MAKE IT EVEN BIGGER AND BETTER THAN I COULD EVEN BRING IT TO AND THAT'S REALLY WHAT SELLING IT WAS FOR ME.

>> NEXT UP AND THIS IS WHERE IT GETS TOUGH FOR ME BECAUSE NOW YOU GO ALL OVER.

I BELIEVE YOU ESTABLISHED A RESTAURANT DOWNTOWN, XO TACO, PARTNERSHIPS WITH SKANEATELES HIDDEN FISH AND CLOVERS, CORRECT?

IT BEGS THE QUESTION, WHY THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS?

THE FAILURE RATE THERE, AS YOU KNOW, QUITE HIGH.

>> YES.

THAT'S RIGHT.

YOU KNOW, RESTAURANTS, FOR ME, ARE ALL ABOUT COMMUNITY BUILDING WE HAVE A REALLY GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, WITH MICRON POPULATION GROWTH, BUSINESS GROWTH, TO REALLY MAKE A BIG IMPACT AND CREATE A LEGACY IN THIS AREA WITH GROWTH.

AND IN ORDER TO ATTRACT REALLY GREAT PEOPLE, IN ORDER TO, YOU KNOW, MAKE PEOPLE WANT TO STAY IN THIS AREA, HAVE YOU TO HAVE GREAT PLACES TO GO TO BE ENTERTAINED AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE GREAT PLACES TO EAT.

>> I'M GOING TO COME BACK TO THAT IN A SECOND, THE WHOLE IDEA.

THAT'S KIND OF NEAT.

IN BETWEEN THEN AND WHERE WE ARE NOW, ANOTHER ENTITY CALLED PROFOUND.

WHAT WAS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> SO PROFOUND IS A MASTERMIND GROUP AND WHAT THAT MEANS IS WE BRING TOGETHER YOU KNOW, HUNDREDS OF BUSINESS LEADERS FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK TO SHARE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES WITH ONE ANOTHER TO BUILD GREAT EXPERIENCES AND TO BUILD LONG AND LASTING RELATIONSHIPS.

AND THE IDEA WAS TO, YOU KNOW, ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS VERY LONELY.

IT'S VERY HARD WHEN YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, BUILD SOMETHING.

IT'S DIFFICULT.

EVERY SINGLE DAY IT'S DIFFICULT.

AND TO SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PEOPLE GOING THROUGH SIMILAR CHALLENGES AND HOW TO CAPITALIZE ON OPPORTUNITIES, CAN BE A GAME CHANGER AND SO THAT'S REALLY WHERE PROFOUND WAS BORN OUT OF.

>> YOU MENTIONED, YOU SAID SOMETHING A SECOND AGO.

YOU MENTIONED ENTREPRENEURS IN GENERAL ARE VERY LONELY PEOPLE.

THAT STRIKES ME AS ODD, HOW COME?

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY'RE LONELY PEOPLE.

THE JOURNEY OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS LONELY.

>> GOTTA.

>> SO WHILE YES, YOU ARE SURROUNDED BY PEOPLE, EMPLOYEES, SAY, FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN YOU ARE GOING THROUGH THE HARD TIMES AND NOT SURE HOW YOU ARE GOING TO MAKE PAYROLLS AND YOU LOSE A BUNCH OF CLIENTS, IT'S ON YOU TO FIGURE OUT.

ULTIMATELY BEING C.E.O., I HEARD THIS RECENTLY, IS THE HARDEST JOB BECAUSE YOUR JOB AS C.E.O.

IS TO GO OUT AND HIRE THE SMARTEST PEOPLE YOU CAN FIND AND YOUR JOB, ONCE-- AS C.E.O., YOUR JOB IS TO SAY HERE ARE THE CHALLENGES WE HAVE AND ANY CHALLENGE THAT YOU SUPER SMART CHALLENGE CAN'T FIGURE OUT, THAT'S FOR ME TO FIGURE OUT AND SO IT CAN BE A LONELY JOURNEY.

>> GOT IT.

OKAY.

SO NOW WE MOVE FAST FORWARD TO TODAY.

ANOTHER ENTITY CALLED OPIN, ON THE SURFACE, JEFF, IT STRIKES ME AS HAVING SOME SIMILARITIES TO PROFOUND.

TELL US MORE ABOUT THAT.

>> OPIN WAS BUILT AS A COMMUNITY FOR ENTREPRENEURS, SIMILARLY TO PROFOUND WHERE IT IS A LONELY JOURNEY, BUT WITH OPIN, THE IDEA WAS TO SCALE IT GLOBALLY.

AND SO WHAT IT IS IS THIS COMMUNITY FOR ENTREPRENEURS BUT ALSO WE HAVE THE WORLD'S MOST SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE TEACHING LESSONS.

SO THE IDEA IS A: EVERYBODY THAT HAS HAD ANY KIND OF SUCCESS, AT LEAST THAT I'VE MET, WANT TO SHARE THAT SUCCESS WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

THEY WANT TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES.

THEY WANT TO TELL THEIR STORY.

AND LOOK, WE GO OUT, YOU KNOW, WE WILL SPEND 20, 30, $50,000 ON THESE VIDEO SHOOTS AND WE'LL TELL THEIR STORY THROUGH A DOCUMENTARY-STYLE LENS.

AND NOW THEY HAVE THE LEGACY PIECE THAT THEY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TELL THEIR STORY THAT HOPEFULLY THEY CAN PASS ON TO THEIR GRANDKIDS AND AT THE SAME TIME THEY'RE TEACHING OTHER PEOPLE ALL ABOUT HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> SO I LOOK AT YOU.

YOU'VE GOT ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE; BUSINESS CONTACTS, SIT ON SEVERAL BOARDS.

SO I CAN LOOK TO YOU AND SAY, THERE IS SOMEONE WHO IS PROBABLY A GOOD GUIDE OR CAN GAUGE THE CENTRAL NEW YORK ECONOMY.

I SEE A LOT HAPPENING LOCALLY.

>> YEAH.

>> DO YOU SHARE THAT VIBE?

>> I BELIEVE THAT CENTRAL NEW YORK IS ON THE PRECIPICE OF THE LARGEST GROWTH AND IMPACT JOURNEY THAT WE'VE BEEN ON, MAYBE EVER.

I HAVEN'T BEEN AROUND LONG ENOUGH TO KNOW EVER, BUT CERTAINLY IN MY LIFETIME, AND YOU KNOW, MY KNOWN HISTORY.

>> WITH RESPECT, THAT'S A BOLD STATEMENT.

>> IT IS.

AND I BELIEVE IT FULLY.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT, IN MY LIVED EXPERIENCE IS THAT CENTRAL NEW YORKERS FACE IS WE HAD THIS MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY THAT LEFT, THE ECONOMY GOT WORSE AND SO MANY PEOPLE WERE STUCK IN THE PAST.

THEY'RE THINKING OH MY GOSH, ALL THIS STUFF HAS LEFT AND THEY FEEL BURNED BY THAT AND I GET IT, EMPATHETIC TO IT.

BUT THE REALITY IS THAT THERE IS SO MUCH OPTIMISM, AND SO MUCH POSITIVENESS COMING OUR WAY, WITH MICRON FOR YOU ARE, THE IMPACT THAT IS GOING TO MAKE IS HARD TO QUANTIFY AT THIS POINT.

BUT I BELIEVE IN IT AND I BELIEVE IN THE SUPPLIERS THAT WILL FOLLOW THEM.

I BELIEVE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT WILL FOLLOW THEM.

THE EMPLOYEES THAT WILL FOLLOW.

IT'S A VERY EXCITING TIME.

>> SO, AND I'M WITH YOU.

BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS HAPPENING, ESPECIALLY WITH YOUNGER PEOPLE COMING INTO BUSINESS, YOU KNOW, I'M EASILY IMPRESSED BUT I'M IMPRESSED TO SEE YOUNG PEOPLE STARTING BUSINESSES, DOING WELL RIGHT HERE IN CENTRAL NEW YORK AND IT'S CONTINUING.

THE QUESTION THOUGH IS YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO START A BUSINESS, TO GET SOMETHING GOING?

>> I THINK IT'S MORE THAN JUST STARTING A BUSINESS BECAUSE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE SO EXCITED TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING POSITIVE, EXCITING AS WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

AND ALSO WE HAVE FERTILE GROUND WITH OUR EDUCATION SYSTEMS, OUR GREAT, YOU KNOW, INSTITUTES THAT ARE IN THE AREA, PUMPING OUT REALLY SMART PEOPLE AND ALL WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS BUILD GREAT BUSINESSES THAT KEEP THEM AROUND.

AND LIKE I SAID, BUILD GREAT COMMUNITY, RESTAURANTS, ENTERTAINMENT, THINGS TO DO.

IF WE CAN DO THAT PIECE OF IT, ALONG WITH INDUSTRY, WE ARE GOING TO WIN.

>> BACK TO JUST STARTING A BUSINESS THOUGH.

HOW DO YOU TAKE WHAT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA AND KNOW THAT IT'S A GOOD BUSINESS IDEA?

>> SO WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT STARTING A BUSINESS, SO MUCH OF THAT IS AN EXCITING PROSPECT OF LIKE A GREAT IDEA.

BUT REALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO, THE MAIN REASON THE BUSINESSES FAIL IS BECAUSE THEY RUN OUT OF MONEY.

RIGHT?

THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH.

>> CAPITAL ISSUE.

>> IT'S CAPITAL IN THE WAY OF LIKE I THINK SHARK TANK HAS CHANGED THE PERCEPTION AROUND ENTREPRENEURSHIP SOME.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THINK, OKAY, I HAVE THIS GREAT IDEA.

I'M GOING TO RAISE MONEY.

AND I JUST AM SOMEONE, YOU KNOW, THAT BELIEVES THAT IF YOU CAN START A GREAT-- ESPECIALLY A LOCAL REGIONAL BUSINESS, IF YOU CAN START THE BUSINESS BY SAVING UP AND MAYBE A FRIEND'S, ASKING FRIENDS AND FAMILY IF HAVE YOU TO.

I PREFER TO BOOTSTRAP WHICH MEANS YOU START THE BUSINESS ON YOUR SAVINGS.

YOU GET IT SELF PROPELLING IN A WAY THAT YOU GO OUT AND GET CLIENTS, YOU GET REVENUE, WHATEVER YOU NEED TO DO TO START THE BUSINESS.

START SMALL, GROW FROM THERE.

AND IN MY OPINION, YOU HAVE A MUCH BETTER CHANCE OF SUCCESS BECAUSE YOU ARE NOT RELIANT ON CONTINUING THE INVESTMENT FLY WHEEL OF GOING AFTER INVESTMENT AFTER INVESTMENT.

>> SURE.

I THINK THAT'S GREAT ADVICE.

BUT HERE IS KIND OF A WRAP-UP QUESTION FOR YOU.

IF I SAID TO YOU, THERE IS NO DIGITAL HYVE, IN PROFOUND, NO RESTAURANTS PUTTING IN FRONT OF YOU A CLEAN SLATE.

>> YEA.

>> WHAT TYPE OF BUSINESS MIGHT YOU WANT TO START OR GO INTO NOW?

WHAT LOOKS INTERESTING TO YOU IN THE CENTRAL NEW YORK MARKET?

>> SO THE THESIS THAT I'VE HAD WHEN STARTING BUSINESSES, ESPECIALLY FOR THE CENTRAL NEW YORK MARKET IS TYPICALLY CENTRAL NEW YORK IN TERMS OF LIKE EVOLUTION OF BUSINESS OR ADAPTING, YOU KNOW, NEW TECHNOLOGIES, IS A COUPLE YEARS BEHIND.

IT'S NOT A KNOCK.

IT'S JUST THE TRUTH.

AND THAT'S A MASSIVE ADVANTAGE FOR ANYONE THAT IS INTERESTED IN STARTING A BUSINESS, THE REASON DIGITAL HYVE WORKED SO WELL IS THAT WE DID DIGITAL AND SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING IN A TIME THAT NEW YORK CITY, BOSTON, LAMP, THE BIG MAJOR MARKETS, THERE WAS A DIGITAL MARKETING AGENCY ON EVERY CORNER.

FOR US, IT WAS ALMOST BLUE OCEAN TERRITORY BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING WHAT WE DID IN THE WAY WE DID IT.

AND SO RIGHT NOW I WOULD PROBABLY BE LOOKING AT HOW CAN YOU, SIMILAR TO WHAT I TALKED ABOUT WITH DIGITAL MARKETING, HOW CAN YOU TAKE A.I., LEARN ENOUGH ABOUT IT SO YOU CAN BECOME THE RESIDENT EXPERT IN THISSER AND HELP BUSINESSES APPLY A.I.

TO THEIR BUSINESSES.

I THINK THIS THE THAT WOULD BE A MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY.

>> I MAY HAVE TO COME BACK AND TALK TO YOU ABOUT A.I.

ON ANOTHER INTERVIEW.

>> IT IS CERTAINLY MY PASSION RIGHT NOW.

>> LOVE WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

I THINK SOME GOOD ADVICE HERE TODAY, TOO.

THANK YOU FOR THAT AND CONTINUED BEST WISHES TO YOU.

>> THANK YOU, BROTHER.

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING.

>> APPRECIATE IT.

>> BIG THANKS TO JEFF KNAUSS FOR TALKING WITH US.

IT IS THE END OF OUR PROGRAM TONIGHT BUT WE HAVE MORE FOR YOU• NEXT WEEK WE'LL TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE PORT OF OSWEGO'S TWO POINT ONE MILLION DOLLAR DEEP-WATER MARINA.

THEN, WE'LL DISCOVER HOW THE EAST ADAMS PROJECT IS BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO A STRUGGLING NEIGHBORHOOD IN SYRACUSE.

FOR OUR SPOTLIGHT SERIES, J DANIEL PLUFF TACKLES ONE OF OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES•FENTANYL.

WE HAVE A LOT MORE COMING THIS SEASON, SO IF YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR A BUSINESS, PERSON OR JUST SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENING IN CENTRAL NEW YORK, CONTACT US BY EMAILING NEWS AT WCNY PNTS ORG.

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YOU CAN ALSO VIEW OUR PREVIOUS EPISODES THERE TOO.

AND YOU CAN FOLLOW US ALL OF OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, AS WELL.

I'M LAIZA SEMIDEY, THANKS AGAIN FOR WATCHING.