Tag: Leadership
Fearless Growth in Hospitality: Building Without Losing Your Culture with Sydney Grims (Ep. 18)

Fearless Growth in Hospitality: Building Without Losing Your Culture with Sydney Grims (Ep. 18)

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Growth can look exciting from the outside—but behind every new location, partnership, or expansion are tough calls, people challenges, and the constant pressure to get it right.

So how do you scale a business without losing the culture that made it successful in the first place? And what does it really take to build a company people want to grow with?

In this episode, Jamie Hopkins and Kate Duffy sit down with Sydney Grims, Director of Business Development at Fearless Restaurants, to unpack what it takes to expand a hospitality brand while staying true to its roots. Sydney shares how her family’s restaurant background shaped her leadership approach, why building the right operational systems became essential, and how Fearless navigates hiring, real estate decisions, branding, and thoughtful growth.

They also dive into women in leadership, community-building through the Fearless Femmes initiative, and why sometimes the smartest growth strategy is slowing down.

Key takeaways:

  • Why protecting culture—not just chasing growth—is the foundation of long-term success
  • How stronger systems and faster response times unlocked new operational opportunities
  • What to look for in new markets, from real estate strategy to local demand signals
  • How intentional, measured growth helps avoid burnout and build a company people want to be part of

Resources:

Connect with Bryn Mawr Trust: 

Connect with Kate Duffy: 

Connect with Jamie Hopkins: 

Connect with Sydney Grims: 

About our Guest: 

Sydney Grims serves as Director of Development for Fearless Restaurants, where she oversees the strategic growth and evolution of the company’s 14-property hospitality portfolio. Working directly with the Founder and CEO of the family-owned business, she helps advance both vision and execution across the organization.

Her role spans all divisions of Fearless, including capital projects, talent acquisition, sales and marketing, operations, and culinary. She leads cross-functional teams to bring new concepts to life, strengthen existing properties, and align each initiative with the company’s standards for hospitality, culture, and long-term value.

From guiding major capital investments and development initiatives to building teams and refining operational performance, Sydney focuses on sustainable growth rooted in people, place, and purpose. She works closely with leaders across the organization to translate strategy into action, balancing creativity with discipline and innovation with operational excellence.

At the core of her work is a commitment to preserving the integrity of a family business while thoughtfully expanding its impact. She takes pride in building environments where teams thrive, guests feel genuinely welcomed, and Fearless continues to set the standard for distinctive dining and hospitality experiences.

Sydney attended Cornell’s School of Hotel Administration to prepare for her role in the family business and has worked with several premier hospitality organizations, including Hillstone Restaurant Group.

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Building Strong Teams and Scaling a Family Business with Eric Faggioli (Ep. 15)

Building Strong Teams and Scaling a Family Business with Eric Faggioli (Ep. 15)

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Strong businesses are not just built on strategy; they are shaped by relationships, trust, and shared experiences.

What happens when leadership, family, and growth all intersect? And how do you balance speed, alignment, and long-term vision without losing what matters most?

In this episode, Jamie Hopkins and Kate Duffy interview Eric Faggioli, President of Delaware Valley Paving, about scaling a family-run business while maintaining strong personal relationships. He shares how alignment and trust drive decision-making, why early exposure to hard work shapes leadership, and how he navigated stepping into leadership after personal loss. 

The conversation also explores building teams from within, improving service to stand out, and expanding operations nationwide through partnerships and systems.

Key takeaways:

  • How prioritizing alignment and trust over top talent can reduce friction and improve long-term execution
  • Why maintaining friendships within family businesses helps prevent conflict and strengthens collaboration
  • How early exposure to physically demanding work builds resilience and long-term perspective
  • The role of service differentiation and small improvements in creating meaningful client experiences
  • How scaling nationally requires strong subcontractor networks, systems, and consistent execution

Connect with Bryn Mawr Trust: 

Connect with Kate Duffy: 

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Connect with Eric Faggioli: 

About our Guest: 

Eric Faggioli is the CEO of Delaware Valley Companies, the parent organization of Delaware Valley Paving and its expanding family of businesses. This includes the company’s core Paving division, its National Construction operations, its Excavation business, and its growing real estate Development company. As a leader of a third-generation organization headquartered in Philadelphia, PA, Eric brings a unique blend of hands-on experience and long-term vision to every facet of the enterprise.

Having grown up in the paving business, Eric developed an early appreciation for strong relationships, dependable service, and uncompromising craftsmanship. From childhood through adulthood, he worked in every area of the company, gaining practical insight that now shapes his leadership approach. Over the past decade, Eric has played a pivotal role in expanding Delaware Valley Companies’ capabilities and strengthening its reputation nationwide. Under his guidance, the organization has opened new locations, broadened its service offerings, and advanced a comprehensive 10-year strategic plan designed to elevate performance, scalability, and client experience across all business units.

What drives Eric most is developing exceptional leaders and building systems and processes that will stand the test of time. With that mindset, Eric leads Delaware Valley Companies and its expanding divisions with a focus on sustainable growth, strong leadership development, and long-term success.

**Note: The guest featured in this episode is a current client of our organization and did not receive any compensation for their participation in the program.**

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The Art of Building Bridges in Business with Sal Patti (Ep. 6)

The Art of Building Bridges in Business with Sal Patti (Ep. 6)

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Many people talk about relationships in business, but few live it the way Sal Patti does.

His story shows how community, authenticity, and servant leadership can shape a career and the people around you.

From quiet beginnings to becoming Senior Vice President and Director of Commercial Banking at WSFS Bank, he reflects on the moments and mentors that shaped his success.

In this episode, Jamie Hopkins and Kate Duffy talk with Sal Patti about his journey from Philadelphia University to leading commercial banking teams, his connector bridge philosophy, and the role of trust in guiding clients through changing conditions.

Key Takeaways:

  • How Sal Patti’s early education and mentor support at Philadelphia University shaped his move from accounting into banking
  • His connector bridge approach and how relationship building is the key to long-term growth
  • Why leadership means listening, serving your team, and helping people flourish
  • How business owners who prepare, pivot, and innovate are finding stability in current market conditions
  • Why the human element still matters in a time of rising AI use and digital communication

Connect with Bryn Mawr Trust: 

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Connect with Sal Patti: 

About our Guest: 

Salvatore Patti is Senior Vice President, Division Director of Commercial Banking in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey region at WSFS Bank. Sal has more than 30 years’ experience in the Philadelphia market, delivering strong and consistent operating and financial results for the Commercial and Wealth divisions. He is an active member of the community, serving on the Executive Board of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation, where he is Chairman of The Board. He is also a board member for Thomas Jefferson University – The Kanbar College of Design Engineering and Commerce, Rowan University Foundation and The Avenue of The Arts Board. Sal is a resident of Philadelphia and received his B.A. in Accounting and Finance from Philadelphia University.

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Hospitality, Family, and Vision: Inside BPG with Chris Buccini (Ep. 2)

Hospitality, Family, and Vision: Inside BPG with Chris Buccini (Ep. 2)

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In this episode, Jamie Hopkins and Kate Duffy sit down with Chris Buccini, Co-founder of the Buccini Pollin Group (BPG), to explore how a local dream grew into a $6 billion enterprise. 

Chris shares lessons from three decades in real estate, the power of teamwork, and how hospitality drives business success. His story blends family, community, and bold decisions that have helped shape the city of Wilmington, Delaware and beyond.

Key takeaways:

  • The importance of preparing for downturns and building strong fundamentals in business
  • How hospitality principles influence real estate and client experiences
  • The role of leadership and team culture in scaling BPG to nearly 4,000 employees
  • The challenges and rewards of working with family and building respect in partnerships
  • The origin and impact of BPG Sports and its role in Delaware’s economy
  • And more!

Resources:

Connect with Bryn Mawr Trust: 

Connect with Kate Duffy: 

Connect with Jamie Hopkins: 

Connect with Chris Buccini: 

About Our Guest: 

Chris Buccini is Founder of Buccini Pollin Group, Inc. (“BPG”), a privately-held, real estate investment, development, and management company.  BPG develops and acquires hotel, office, residential, retail, and parking properties, and sports and entertainment venues throughout the United States. Chris leads the firm’s investment management platform, Corten Capital, and its commercial management affiliate, BPG Real Estate Services, LLC, and is a director of PM Hotel Group, Inc., a hotel management company with over 3,500 rooms under management. In addition, Chris is co-founder and co-owner of Major League Soccer’s Philadelphia Union.

Chris is the Chairman of the YPO Intercontinental Chapter, a member of the Board of Trustees of Wilmington Friends School, a member of the University of Delaware President’s Leadership Council, the Delaware Business Roundtable, and Hagley Museum and Library Council of Advisors.

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