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Founders' Forum

Author: Marc Bernstein

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Great business stories and great people come together on Marc Bernstein’s Founders’ Forum!  Marc Bernstein sits down with business founders across the country to discuss their lives, successes, lessons, and their vision for the future.  It’s all about the success they’ve earned and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.  These are American success stories and they’re not done yet!                                  


Your Host, Marc Bernstein                                 

Marc Bernstein is an entrepreneur, author, and consultant. He helps high performing entrepreneurs and business owners create a vision for the future, accomplish their business and personal goals, financial and otherwise, and on helping them to see through on their intentions. Marc recently co-founded March, a forward-looking company with a unique approach to wealth management. He captured his philosophy in his #1 Amazon Bestseller, The Fiscal Therapy Solution 1.0. Marc is also the founder of the Forward Focus Forum, a suite of resources tailored specifically to educate and connect high performing entrepreneurs, and helping them realize their vision of true financial independence. Find out more about Marc and connect with him at marcjbernstein.com.                             


Are you a visionary founder with a compelling success story that deserves to be shared with our audience? We're on the lookout for accomplished business leaders like you to be featured on the Founders' Forum Radio Show and Podcast. If you've surmounted challenges, reached significant milestones, or have an exciting vision for the future, we'd be honored to have you as a guest on our show. Your experiences and insights can inspire and enlighten others in the business world. If you're eager to share your journey and the invaluable lessons you've learned along the way, we invite you to apply here. Connect with us, and let's discuss the possibility of featuring you in an upcoming episode. Join us in celebrating your success and contributing to the legacy of the Founders' Forum!




Securities offered through DFPG Investments, LLC (“DFPG”) Investment Advisory Services offered through Diversify Advisory Services, LLC (“Diversify”). DAS and DFPG are affiliated entities. March is unaffiliated with DAS and DFPG. Member FINRA/SIPC


The information provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as investment advice. The views expressed are those of the host and guests and do not necessarily reflect the views of Diversify or DFPG.

152 Episodes
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What happens when passion, community, and entrepreneurship come together? In this episode of Founders Forum, Marc Bernstein sits down with Justina Latura, founder and CEO of Vine Bar in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to explore how a personal passion can grow into a thriving local business. Joining Marc as guest co-hosts are Ray Loewe, known as “The Luckiest Guy in the World,” and Deborah Brandt, founder of Fig Industries. Together, they dive into a conversation about Lancaster’s strong sense of co...
Success in entrepreneurship rarely happens overnight—it’s often the result of decades of learning, experimenting, and refining what works. In this episode of Founders Forum, Marc Bernstein sits down with Jason Sherman to explore the experiences that shaped his entrepreneurial journey. In this conversation, recorded in July 2025, Jason Sherman—CEO and co-founder of Vengo AI—shares how a childhood filled with music, technology, and curiosity set the foundation for a career building and leading ...
What if getting fired was the best thing that ever happened to your career? In this episode of Founders Forum, Gui Costin shares how a career setback led him to build Dakota into a company serving thousands of investment firms nationwide. Gui Costin, Founder and CEO of Dakota, shares his journey from losing his job to creating Dakota Marketplace, a powerful database used by over 1,200 investment firms and 6,000 fundraisers. Along the way, he discovered that success isn’t just about sales—it’s...
Burnout isn’t just about working too hard—it’s about lacking the mental systems to sustain performance. In this episode of Founders Forum, Lissy Alden shares how her personal burnout led her to build a company dedicated to helping individuals and organizations develop true mental fitness. Co-hosting this episode alongside Marc Bernstein is Nicole Dery, Founder of Allelo Design, who brings thoughtful perspective to the conversation around leadership, culture, and workplace dynamics. Lissy Alde...
What if the future of air conditioning could cut your energy bills by 90%—while helping create cleaner, healthier buildings? In this episode of Founders Forum, Grahame Maisey joins Marc Bernstein, with special guest co-host Dr. Valecia “Dr. V” Dunbar, Founder & CEO of the Center for Confidence and Full Confidence RX. Together, they explore sustainability, innovation, and what it truly means to build for the future. Grahame shares his journey from post-war Leicester, England to becoming a ...
What if the key to solving climate change was already sitting on top of every commercial building? In this powerful episode of Founders Forum, Marc Bernstein is joined by guest co-host Matt Wampler, Founder & CEO of ClearCOGS, for a forward-looking conversation with Nick Martin, Co-Founder and COO of Carbon Reform. From AI and emerging tech to climate innovation and legacy thinking, this episode blends cutting-edge insight with deeply personal storytelling. Nick shares how the unexpecte...
What if your business wasn’t just about revenue—but about changing lives? In this inspiring episode, Brad Stephenson shares how a people-first mindset transformed his company, his career, and thousands of others along the way. Hosted by Marc Bernstein and guest co-host Ray Loewe, this conversation dives into Brad’s journey from laborer to CEO & Co-owner of Newcastle Lawn & Landscape. Brad opens up about the personal struggles that shaped his leadership style—from growing up in a chall...
What if most disappointment comes from unspoken expectations—and the cure is a simple agreement? In this episode, we explore how shifting from assumptions to aligned agreements can transform leadership, teams, and even families. Hosted by Marc Bernstein, with guest co-host Scott Reuter of Product Command Data, this conversation features Gal Borenstein, founder and CEO of The Borenstein Group. Gal shares a remarkable journey—from flying with generals in the Israeli Defense Forces’ media unit t...
How do you turn decades of corporate experience into something that truly lasts—both in business and in your community? In this episode of Founders Forum, Marc Bernstein sits down with Tom McEvoy, CEO and Founder of LumberCon LLC and Founder and Board Chair of the Uptown Theater in West Chester, Pennsylvania. After spending 24 years with Armstrong World Industries—including leadership roles overseas—Tom transitioned into entrepreneurship, helping develop a revolutionary fireproof concrete dec...
What happens when a White House correspondent trades breaking political news for building a purpose-driven PR agency? In this episode of Founders’ Forum, Marc Bernstein sits down with Ronica Cleary to talk about clarity, intention, and the realities of growing a modern communications business. Ronica Cleary is the Founder and CEO of Cleary Strategies, a full-service public relations agency serving leaders and organizations across the U.S. Before launching her firm, Ronica spent years as a tel...
What if the biggest risk to your business isn’t technology itself—but your relationship with it? In this episode of Founders’ Forum, Marc Bernstein sits down with Darek Hahn to explore why strong human connection is the missing link in modern IT and leadership. Darek Hahn is the founder and CEO of AffinIT, a relationship-first managed IT services company, and the soon-to-be-published author of Team We. Drawing from decades of experience across startups, acquisitions, and exits, Darek shares h...
She wanted to work for Merck. They rejected her. Best thing that ever happened—because Theresa Hummel-Krallinger was never meant for a lab. Theresa Hummel-Krallinger, CEO and Chief People Officer of High Five Performance, spent 18 years at Prudential before launching her consulting firm in 2002. But here's the twist: she's also a stand-up comedian, Emmy Award winner, and founder of Meet the Author—ranked #4 for business networking in Philadelphia. For $89 at community college, she learned com...
He went to Penn State to become a doctor. But bartending at his stepmother's Irish pub changed everything—and now he's creating memories for Lady Gaga tours and corporate events alike. Josh Funk, President and CEO of TFB Hospitality, discovered he was a math nerd who runs restaurants. After hating pre-med despite a 1400 SAT, one hospitality course showed him restaurants are "chaos math"—probabilities with six different bullseyes. After nine years at the National Press Club managing $10M opera...
She was babysitting to pay rent while building a business. But that 27-year-old had something her 44-year-old self admires—fearless grit. Renee Patrone Rhinehart, founder and CEO of Events by Renee and Party Host Helpers, started event planning in 2007 when the economy crashed. Working part-time jobs for eight years, she went full-time in 2015. When clients kept asking for bartenders and servers, Renee launched Party Host Helpers in 2013, expanding nationwide within two years. Today, 40,000 g...
What if a cup of coffee could do more than wake you up? Matt Ramsay, founder and co-owner of Denim Coffee, shares how a late-night campus job sparked a mission to build cafés that are about people first, not transactions. While working 11 PM shifts, Matt noticed students weren’t coming in just for drinks—they were lonely. With over 40% of college students experiencing extreme loneliness, he saw coffee shops as modern “third spaces” where connection matters. The road to building Denim Coffee w...
The son of a serial entrepreneur never planned to start a business. Then 21 years in the Marine Corps, intelligence community, and U.S. Cyber Command taught him something powerful—service isn't just a mission, it's a mindset. Kevin Hyde, President of Layer 8 Security, went from defending American interests against cyber threats at the NSA to co-founding a cybersecurity firm that helps businesses stay protected and compliant. After spending decades in a world of strict hierarchy and standard o...
Retirement? That's not in Ray Loewe's vocabulary. At an age when most slow down, Ray's launching his most meaningful venture yet. Ray Loewe, founder of The Luckiest Guy in the World, LLC and host of Changing the Rules podcast, has spent decades helping people design lives on their terms. After selling his financial planning business and running a podcast for six years with 200+ episodes, Ray discovered something powerful: everyone has incredible stories, but they're not telling them. Living i...
What if your next customer never touches a search results page? That's the reality David Sonn spotted early—and it's transforming digital marketing. David Sonn, Founder and President of Arc Intermedia, launched one of Philadelphia's first digital-only customer acquisition agencies in 2010. People now learn about brands inside AI assistants, asking longer questions and trusting comprehensive answers over traditional search. By early 2024, Dave retooled his SEO practice into "organic visibility...
Starting a business in 2017 meant navigating COVID supply chain nightmares and now tariff challenges. But for Nik Mondo, bootstrapping through chaos became the ultimate test of creativity and integrity. Nikolas Mondo, founder and CEO of Mondo Media Solutions, built a thriving commercial AV and technology integration company from the ground up—no private equity, no shortcuts, just grit and word-of-mouth growth. From his early days working on a Lancaster farm to running live events at the White...
No college degree. Dyslexia. A childhood spent tinkering with code on AOL. None of it stopped Todd R. Kueny, Jr. from building AI solutions that are transforming how pharmaceutical companies navigate FDA compliance. Todd R. Kueny, Jr., Co-founder and CTO of PatientWing and Claris AI, shares his unconventional journey from childhood coding on AOL to leading cutting-edge AI solutions in life sciences. With no formal college degree, Todd built over 20 years of software development experience thr...
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