
Are you ready to ignite your business and achieve your full potential? Welcome to Building Success Stories, the podcast that empowers entrepreneurs and business leaders. I’m Ann Donnelly, and I’ve spent over four decades in the business world. I’ve witnessed the power of perseverance, innovation, and strategic thinking firsthand. We’ll explore the stories of successful entrepreneurs and business leaders, and we’ll delve into the practical strategies and mindset shifts that can propel your business to new heights. Get ready to be inspired and motivated to take your business to the next level!
Host: Ann DonnellyGuests: Vicki Marking, Director of Sales and Marketing, and Bryan Carr, Account Executive, LayerEightIn this episode of Building Success Stories, host Ann Donnelly sits down with Vicki Marking and Bryan Carr from Layer Eight. Layer Eight is an IT company that recently expanded its presence from Plattsburgh to a new office on Broad...
Host: Ann Donnelly Guest: Scott Cross, Broker/Owner of Crosspoint Realty Why do some real estate agents thrive while others struggle to find their footing? And what does it take to leave a secure management role overseeing 58 agents to build your own brokerage from the ground up? In this episode of Building Success Stories, Ann...
Host: Ann Donnelly Guest: Nick George, Executive Director, High Peaks Hospice In this powerful episode of Building Success Stories, Ann Donnelly sits down with Nick George, the Executive Director of High Peaks Hospice. Celebrating 40 years of service, High Peaks Hospice provides vital, compassionate end-of-life care across six New York State counties. Operating within the...
Host: Ann Donnelly Guests: Christopher Crowd, Founder, Severus AI Episode Overview Are you a business owner drowning in daily tasks and struggling to scale? In this episode of Building Success Stories, Ann Donnelly sits down with Christopher Crowd, the tech specialist and founder behind Severus AI, a new Glens Falls-based business. Christopher shares how artificial...
Host: Ann Donnelly Guests: Mark Stewart & Nic Denno, Co-Founders of Northern Builders Episode Overview What happens when you combine the discipline, leadership, and community-first mindset of law enforcement with a passion for high-quality craftsmanship? You get Northern Builders. In this episode of Building Success Stories, host Ann Donnelly sits down with co-founders Mark Stewart...
In this episode of Building Success Stories, host Ann Donnelly sits down with F. Raymond “Ray” Agnew, the Vice President of Hospital and Community Engagement at Glens Falls Hospital. Ray shares his fascinating career trajectory, which began at the Crane School of Music, where he studied music composition and theory. From writing music for the...
In this episode of Building Success Stories, host Ann Donnelly sits down with John Snyder, the newly appointed Executive Director of the Park Theater Foundation in Glens Falls, New York. Relocating from a remote village in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, John brings a unique blend of experience in the performing arts and nonprofit leadership to the...
In this episode of Building Success Stories, host Ann Donnelly sits down with Kevin O’Brien, co-founder of TechFirst Insurance Agency. With a career spanning decades—from working with industry giants like Travelers to leading family-run agencies and bank consolidations—Kevin has seen the insurance landscape transform through technology and private equity. Now, Kevin is “starting fresh” with...
Disrupting Upstate Real Estate: Technology, Discretion, and the $6.5M Lake George Estate with Realize Brokers Episode Overview: What do aviation, cryptocurrency, and a chance meeting at a local cigar bar have to do with the future of real estate in Glens Falls? In this episode of Building Success Stories, host Ann Donnelly sits down with...
In this episode, Ann Donnelly sits down with Colleen Carlson, the Director of Sales at the Saratoga Casino Hotel, to explore a career that spans decades at one of Saratoga’s most iconic properties. From her humble beginnings selling race programs at age 15 to overseeing sales for a massive complex that includes a hotel, casino,...





