Monday, March 29, 2010

PositivelyPittsburghLive, Pittsburgh Sweetheart Stories, 2-15-10

Positively Pittsburgh Live Talkcast Notes 2-15-10

Pittsburgh Sweetheart Stories
hosted by Good News Reporter
Joanne Quinn-Smith
aka TechnoGranny



Can life stay sweet when you’re in business with your sweetie?


3 Pittsburgh couples say absolutely yes!!


Hear their stories from pre-betrothal to post business.

Charles and Janet Pelligrini of F Tambellini and Peak Performing Properties

“You know how you lose a good customer? Marry her!” –Charles Pelligrini


She was the girl next door. They lived in the same neighborhood, attended the same high school, were in the same marching band. Yet 10 years would go by before they’d truly discover each other. Their romance began on one of the many nights that Janet and friends went to dinner at Tambellini’s. This particular night guess who their server was? Charles Pelligrini!! After serving Janet and her friend s, he invited them to the bar for drinks. He then proceeded to invite Janet to a personal tour of the Banquet Room. They never made it to that Banquet Room because Charles stopped at the office and got up the courage to ask her out to lunch. And so it began.

By their second date Charles began declaring that he would marry Janet and 3 years later he did. 20 years, 2 children and 2 businesses later, they are still very happily married

Tambellini’s has been in business for 60 years. Charles’ mother, a matriarch, was is one of the founders of this family owned business. Therefore, Janet not only married into the family but also into the business. This could have put Charles in an awkward position as he would be doing business with his mother and his wife. There would definitely be the potential for in-law conflict among these two women. “…but they get along beautifully!” He says.

Tambellini’s is the couple’s primary business and Peak Performing Properties their secondary business together. “It’s great doing business with your spouse!” Says Janet.


For information about F Tambellini go to http://www.eatzuchini.com/

or call 412-391-1091 for reservations

For information on Peak Performing Properties go to http://www.peakperformingproperties.com/




Eva and Scott Kerschbaumer of Esspa Kozmetika

“I’m really fortunate to have met someone I could build a business with.” – Scott Kerschbaumer

Eva came to Pittsburgh from Budapest, Hungry at time when Scott was very frustrated with dating. He was working on a movie when the lead actress mentioned a young lady she’d met at a hair salon. Scott was thrilled about the prospect of meeting someone who was new to the country, new to the area and new to him.



Scott and Eva were set up and their first date required him to take her AND her 3 Hungarian house mates. They all went to dinner and Scott attempted to make conversation. Despite the language barrier, pregnant pauses, stares and strange looks, Scott continued talking. It paid off because that night became the start of a life time commitment. About 2 months later Scott and Eva became housemates and a year and half later they were married. 10 years of marriage has brought them a son and a successful business.



Eva knew that her very creative husband would have a business but she didn’t know if she would be part of it. Scott had no doubt that she would be a great business partner. Both agree that they work well together because they naturally balance each other out.

“He gets the people in the door and I make sure they come back,” says Eva, “It wasn’t planned and I wasn’t sure it was a good idea.” But it’s been 8 years and Esspa Kozmetika has grown from 3 employees to 40.


The spa has been voted the best spa in Pittsburgh every year since 2005. It won 3rd best spa in the US in 2008. Skin inc magazine International named Esspa Kozmetika the Best of the Best in the in 2008. It was recommended by DaySpa Magazine, the leading publication in the industry worldwide. This spa is 1 of 12 founding members of GreenSpa.

For more information about Esspa Kozmetika go to http://www.esspa.net/

Or call 412-782-3888 for reservations



Kristen Holloway and Captain Charles Querriera of Operation Troop Appreciation

“I think of all the soldiers who have received gifts from OTA over the years and can’t believe any could have been as wonderful as the gift I got from OTA – my soulmate and best friend.”


– Kristen Holloway Querriera


Her charity organization, Operation Troop Appreciation had been in operation for about a year when a wish list came in from a tank captain in Baghdad. The captain wanted clothing and shoes to give the Iraqi children he encountered in addition to supplies for his troops. Kristen was struck by his request and after sending what he asked, she and Captain Querriera continued to correspond. Through email and the occasional phone calls from overseas, something beautiful began to form.

He invited her to visit him in Los Angeles during his mid-tour break and they were inseparable thereafter. He had two more tours in Iraq before he returned to the states for good. During this time their friendship deepened and they couldn’t wait to see each other again. They dated long distance between Pittsburgh and Kansas and then Pittsburgh and Los Angeles for 2 years. Then on Valentine’s Day 2008, during a visit to Pittsburgh, Captain Querriera proposed. Four months later, on June 14 – Flag Day – they were married on a beautiful beach in the Bahamas. “He must have loved me a lot to leave sunny California and move to Pittsburgh!” Says Kristen.

They’ve been married for nearly 2 years and Captain Querriera is now in business school in addition to helping Kristen with Operation Troop Appreciation.


Kristen is the Executive director and founder of Operation Troop Appreciation. OTA seeks to ease the burden of deployment on soldiers by supplying them with things to make their time a little easier. The organization is run by volunteerism and donations. Kristen’s work with OTA has earned her an award from President W. Bush. He late invited her to the White House to join him as he gave a speech on volunteerism.

For more information on Operation Troop Appreciation go to http://www.operationtroopappreciation.org/



To hear this episode of Positively Pittsburgh Live in its entirety go to http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=323861&cmd=apop









Delana Flowers is a Positively Pittsburgh Live reporter, an independent writer and owner of Ingenuity Copywriting ©, writing effective copy so you don’t have to. Services include copywriting for newsletters, blogs, ad copy, marketing pieces, articles and reviews.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

PositivelyPittsburgh News from 2-15-10

Positively Pittsburgh News from February 15, 2010



STORYTIME LIVE! FEBRUARY 20-21 at the BENEDUM CENTER

Leap into Fairytale Land with “Dora the Explorer,” journey through Purewood Forest with “The Backyardigans,” hop into Wonderland with “Wonder Pets!” and monkey around on The Monkey King Adventure with “Ni-Hao, Kai-lan.”

http://pgharts.org/


POWER OF 32


Power of 32 is a regional visioning initiative that will involve tens of thousands of people across 32 counties in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Ohio and West Virginia in creating a shared vision for the region's future. Power of 32 will work with you to make tough choices to create a prioritized regional agenda, and work together to make positive change.
In the next month, we will also be looking for people to work with us to help coordinate the project across our region. We will be looking first for regional points of contact to help with outreach. The description/application link for the Outreach Coordinator Opportunity is: http://sites.google.com/a/powerof32.org/power-of-32/district-coordinator-application.


Selena Schmidt

selenas@powerof32.org

412-807-1933 or 412-648-9474



ASPEN SANTA FE BALLET FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26

8:00PM BYHAM THEATER

Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s sophisticated repertoire is inspired by some of the world’s foremost choreographers.

http://www.pgharts.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=20531

SAMUEL J FOUNDATION'S SIXTH ANNUAL "LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE" COMEDY BENEFIT SATURDAY, MARCH 6, 2010, AT THE RADISSON HOTEL IN GREENTREE

For The Pediatric Brain Tumor Fund

Doors Open At 7 Pm; The Show Begins At 8:30

You can order your tickets directly from our website at http://www.samuelj.org , or

by mailing your payment, along with a stamped, self-addressed envelope to

Samuel J Foundation, P.O. Box 75, Oakdale, PA 15071
Call Kelly Johnson at (724)693-9901

http://www.samuelj.org



FAITH DICKINSON HONORED AT FIFTH ANNUAL WOMEN OF ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS MARCH 3, 2010 6:00 to 9:00 PM at OMNI WILLIAM PENN HOTEL

$75.00 Per Person, benefiting Cribs For Kids



Celebrate and Share is thrilled to honor 25 women at their Fifth Annual Women of Achievement Faith has been involved in the film and television industry in various capacities throughout her career. Upon her return to Pittsburgh, she started a Women In Film chapter (WIFM), which provides opportunities to women of all ages in film, television and screen-based media. The organization has successfully produced a PSA for the SIDS Organization (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) Cribs for Kids Program and The Women and Girls Foundation



For reservations contact:

JoAnn Forrester – 412-440-6969 & Bonnie DiCarlo – 412-480-5247

MUSICAL NETWORKING HAPPY HOUR WITH VOCALIST JESSICA LEE & FRIENDS EVERY THURSDAY 5:30 PM - 8 PM LITTLE E'S JAZZ & BLUES

Cover Charge: Only $5.00!

949 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222

2nd Floor above Mahoney's Restaurant

412.392.2217


THE "ENTREPRENEURIAL THURSDAYS" HAPPY HOUR SHOW AT LITTLE E’S

Live Music by City's Great Jazz/R&B Artists!

Interviews @ Musical Break with City's Leading Entrepreneurs/Innovators!

Great Business & Professional Networking!

February 18, 2010

"Exit Strategies for Your Business"


SEVENTH ANNUAL GLASS SLIPPER BALL

Have some Fun! Make a difference! Reserve your spot today!



This event has raised over $370,000 for educational initiatives for women, locally and globally. New this year will be a special request on behalf of "Love and Care Family International," an orphanage in Uganda with girls needing assistance with their secondary education.



Reserve Your Tickets Today

Sponsorships Still Available -- 724-935-6100

"Friends Don't Let Friends Miss The Glass Slipper Ball "

AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY APRIL 6-11 AT THE BENEDUM CENTER



The Associated Press calls it “An astonishing creation — riveting, extraordinary, and incredibly funny,” and TIME Magazine named AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY the “#1 Show of the Year!”


http://www.pgharts.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=13322

Use promotional code WESTONS to order your tickets to AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY before they go on sale to the public Friday, February 19.

YWCA SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE MICROENTERPRISE SYMPOSIUM


The details of the symposium:

Carnegie Mellon University

Tepper School of Business,

Saturday, February 20, 2010

8:30am - 5:00pm


Topics include:

Technology

Marketing

Entrepreneurship

Financing and Pricing

Regulations and Legal

Panel Discussion: Million Dollar Business Woman


Special Guests:
Erin Patton, the HipHop Marketer and Author

• Donna Baxter, the Soul Pitt

• Joanne Quinn-Smith, Dreamweaver Marketing Associates, positively Pittsburgh live Magazine, aka Technogranny

• Seton Hill University

• Diane Daniels, DID & Associates

• Carl Knoblock, Regional Director, Small Business Administration

• Grace Robinson, Owner Grace Robinson Insurance Agency; Broker State Farm Insurance Agency

• Rosemary Martinelli, WQED Multimedia

The registration cost has been reduced to $20.00 for 100 women who register by the end of the day Wednesday, February 17, 2010 (6:00pm). Includes lunch. Registrations can be made online at http://www.micro2millions.eventbrite.com/ or by calling

412 255-6749. Registrations can also be made by email: awilliams@ywcapgh.org.

Please provide detailed contact information to receive a call confirming your reservation.

INSIDE OUT: MAXIMIZING CREATIVITY. TRANSFORMING YOUR LIFE

A workshop led by Erika Luckett and Lisa Ferraro, Guests during PositivelyPittsburgh™ News.


By developing skills that sharpen our awareness, highlight our motivation, and tap into our deepest knowing, we bring forth the meaningful change we seek in our lives.

You can listen to the entire Positively Pittsburgh news for this blog on the 2/15 Episode of Positively Pittsburgh Live at http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/audioPop.jsp?episodeId=323861&cmd=apop



Roving Pittsburgher Report

Name: Pan Asia

5321 Clairton Blvd., Pittsburgh, Pa 15236


“The best egg roll I’ve ever had in my life! Outstanding food, delightful atmosphere, wonderful service, very congenial dining.” – The Roving Pittsburgher


Steeltown Hero


We’re accepting nominations for Steeltown Heroes. These heroes will be honored on the show e and at Entrepreneurial Thursdays. They will also be nominated from Positively Pittsburgh Live for the 10th annual Make the Connection Awards Gala.
For more information about nominating for the Make the Connection Awards go to http://www.nawbopittsburgh.org/
You can email your nominations for Steeltown Hero to Joanne Quinn-Smith

info@pplmag.com



Delana Flowers is a Positively Pittsburgh Live reporter, an independent writer and owner of Ingenuity Copywriting ©, writing effective copy so you don’t have to. Services include copywriting for newsletters, blogs, ad copy, marketing pieces, articles and reviews.