From Combat Veteran to CEO: Geoffrey Costa’s Story of Reinvention | Lead Forward Strategies

What does it take to launch a brand-new youth sports league in a community with decades of established programs—and attract 700 kids in your very first season?On this episode of The New York Business Podcast, we sit down with Paul Dippolito, co-founder of Sand City Soccer, to discuss how four local parents turned an idea into one of Northport's most talked-about new community organizations.After recognizing a gap between traditional recreational soccer and competitive travel programs, Paul and his fellow founders set out to create something different: an affordable, development-focused soccer experience that puts kids, families, and community first.Their original goal was 500 players. They launched with 700, a growing waitlist, and tremendous support from the local community.Drawing on nearly 20 years of experience in sales, marketing, branding, and business development, Paul shares how they built excitement before the league even launched, secured local sponsorships, and created an experience families were eager to be part of.We also explore the business lessons behind the success, from identifying an underserved market and building a recognizable brand to leveraging relationships and creating genuine value for the community.It's a great example of what can happen when entrepreneurial thinking meets a genuine desire to make a difference.Watch the full conversation on The New York Business Podcast!#TheNewYorkBusinessPodcast #SandCitySoccer #PaulDippolito #NorthportNY #LongIslandBusiness #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #YouthSports #CommunityBuilding #BusinessPodcast

What happens when a successful business isn't actually your passion?Susan Kennedy and her husband started their entrepreneurial journey in chocolate, earning national recognition and even a feature in Martha Stewart magazine. But what began as roasting coffee at home to complement their chocolates eventually became something much bigger.Today, Susan is the co-owner of Tend Coffee, a certified-organic coffee roasting company based on Long Island.In this episode of The New York Business Podcast, Susan shares how they went from selling coffee at farmers markets—when some markets didn't even allow coffee vendors—to building a business with its own café, roasting operation, and wholesale customers.We also dive into what really separates specialty coffee from supermarket coffee, why freshness and sourcing matter, the importance of supporting local businesses, and why growing a business doesn't always mean chasing more money.One of the biggest takeaways? Success isn't always about building the biggest business. Sometimes it's about building a business that supports the life you actually want to live.An insightful conversation about entrepreneurship, passion, quality, and knowing what matters most.🎙️ Watch the full conversation on The New York Business Podcast!#TheNewYorkBusinessPodcast #TendCoffee #SusanKennedy #LongIslandBusiness #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessOwner #BusinessPodcast #CoffeeBusiness #OrganicCoffee #SpecialtyCoffee #SupportLocalBusiness #BusinessGrowth #EntrepreneurStories

You probably know the character.But do you know the man behind him?I recently sat down with Big Ed for a conversation that went far beyond reality TV.After becoming one of the most recognizable faces in the world of reality television, Ed found himself dealing with something most people can’t imagine: millions of eyes on his life, an enormous online following, relentless criticism, and a persona that became bigger than the person himself.But what I found most interesting was what happened after the fame.Ed turned his attention into a business.He became one of the top performers on Cameo, built a personal brand around his image, launched Big Ed Malbec, got the wine into roughly 500 Walmart stores, moved into real estate, and continues to find new ways to build revenue around his audience.We also talked about the darker side of fame—learning how to separate Big Ed from Ed, dealing with hate online, staying authentic when millions of people are watching, and figuring out how to redefine your reputation when the internet has already decided who you are.And perhaps most importantly, Ed opened up about what he wants his next chapter to look like.Not just more fame.Not just more money.But building a life that makes him happy, taking care of his mom, giving back through charity, and ultimately becoming someone people can look up to.This was one of those conversations where there was a lot more to the person than the character you see on TV.🎙️ Full conversation with Big Ed on The New York Business Podcast.#BigEd #RealityTV #Entrepreneur #PersonalBrand #Business #90DayFiance #SocialMedia #Entrepreneurship #Podcast

Most businesses spend a lot of time thinking about how to get more customers.But what happens once the customer actually calls, texts, walks through the door, or interacts with your team?On this episode of The New York Business Podcast, I sat down with Filippo Bellia, co-founder of Blinksoft, a Long Island-built software company helping businesses better understand the conversations happening between their employees, prospects, and customers.Filippo and his team are using AI to analyze those interactions, identify opportunities, improve sales and service, and ultimately help businesses create a better customer experience — without simply replacing the human being on the other end.But this conversation went far beyond software.We talked about why word of mouth shouldn't be left to luck, building a company culture where employees think like owners, what separates a good salesperson from a slimy one, how to cold call effectively, why business owners need to learn to love change, and what Filippo learned after scaling Blinksoft too quickly.We also get into something that doesn't get talked about enough: the small interactions customers remember.Sometimes the businesses that win aren't doing anything revolutionary. They simply answer the phone better, remember someone's name, solve a problem faster, or create an experience worth telling someone else about.From starting with a folding table to building a team of around 86 people, Filippo has learned a lot about sales, leadership, customer service, culture, and scaling a company.This was a great conversation for any business owner trying to build something that grows without losing the human side of the business.#NewYorkBusinessPodcast #Blinksoft #LongIslandBusiness #Entrepreneurship #CustomerService #Sales #BusinessLeadership #SmallBusiness #ArtificialIntelligence #BusinessGrowth

Anthony Suppa’s story is about much more than pizza.After serving in the United States Marine Corps, Anthony returned home looking for his next chapter. He started working as a waiter at Frantoni’s Pizzeria, worked his way into management, and eventually became a partner and co-owner of the business.But his entrepreneurial journey ultimately became the foundation for something even bigger.Anthony is now the founder of Slice of Charity, a nonprofit using food, events, local businesses, and community partnerships to help veterans, children, and families in need.Through Frantoni’s, Anthony and his team are able to prepare and deliver hot meals directly to veterans — including a three-course meal provided every single week — while Slice of Charity continues working toward a much larger vision of expanding its impact well beyond Long Island.In this episode of The New York Business Podcast, Anthony and I talk about:• His transition from the Marine Corps into civilian life• Going from waiter to restaurant owner• The reality and pressure of owning a business• Why cutting your marketing during slow seasons can make things worse• Building Slice of Charity into a sustainable organization• The challenges veterans face after leaving the military• Why collaboration matters more than credit• And why Anthony believes you should “get the high from the wins” instead of constantly looking for motivation from someone elseAnthony’s story is a great example of what can happen when business, service, and generosity all work together.🎙️ Full conversation with Anthony Suppa on The New York Business Podcast.#NewYorkBusinessPodcast #AnthonySuppa #SliceOfCharity #Frantonis #LongIslandBusiness #LongIslandEntrepreneurs #VeteranEntrepreneur #VeteranOwned #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #BusinessPodcast #Nonprofit #GivingBack #Community #LongIsland