Rochester Business Journal Leading source of business news and information in Rochester, N.Y.

George Zheng was a junior at Rochester Institute of Technology studying mechanical engineering technology when he realized his calling was elsewhere, specifically in mycology, or the study of fungi. Zheng, 26, was doing an independent study under Carl Lundgren, professor ...

“As far back as I can remember I’ve wanted to be an attorney.” Anthony Iacchetta, 33, followed through with this aspiration he’s had since childhood. In middle school, he begged his parents to let him sign up for a law ...

Alyssa Belasco loved her job. But she knew something was missing. She turned to volunteering outside of work to fill the void she felt, and it led her to exactly what she was looking for. Belasco, 35, worked at the ...

At 30 years old, Becca Post founded a company. At 31, she saw the company more than double in size over the course of one year. Currently, the company’s projected revenue for 2018 is expected to increase by over 30 ...

Most college seniors are focused on getting through their last few classes and finding a job. If you’re Liza Hinman, you’re spending your final year at college working with your friends to build a startup. Hinman, 24, is a founding ...

Ian Szalinski first discovered muesli while at a snowboarding competition in Switzerland. Now, he has his own muesli company. Muesli is a type of cereal consisting of whole grains, dried fruits, nuts and seeds. It’s a versatile meal and can ...

From a young age Maddie Nizamis had her eyes set on the future. Her interest in personal training ignited in high school, and she always dreamed of opening her own space. At 26, Nizamis has achieved her goal. She opened ...

Iman Abid is confident that anyone can spark change in their community. You don’t have to be in politics or an attorney to make a difference. “You can make an impact in any sort of profession; it all intersects with ...

Inclusion is a widespread issue that pervades many facets of our society. As a transgender woman, Chloe Corcoran is acutely aware of the inequities that exist, especially for the LGBTQ community. Corcoran, 36, works at the University of Rochester, and ...

Always in pursuit of the next adventure, Christian Champion is diving into his latest business pursuit: designing, manufacturing and selling dive watches. Champion, 38, is a native of Lima, Peru, where he was raised by his British father and Peruvian-American ...

  Becoming a barber is no walk in the park. For Kyle Chapman, it involved a five-month, full-time, 600-hour course through Shear Ego International School of Hair Design. Chapman, 31, graduated from the barber program in spring 2016. After browsing ...

  Undergoing several career changes is expected of the millennial generation. While shifting career paths has become the norm, it is a daunting leap. Caroline Hill, 29, began her career working for Xerox Corp. She started out as an intern ...

Many architects claim that it all started with a fascination with Legos. For Allison Shannon, this rings true. Shannon was recently promoted to senior project manager at SWBR, an architectural firm she has worked at since moving to Rochester in ...

A troubled childhood often leads to a troubled adulthood. Jason Hilton bounced from foster home to foster home until he was 13. He watched his mother battle an addiction to drugs and alcohol. He quit school after 10th grade and ...

  For just two years Bryan Karns is calling Rochester “home.” Employed by the Professional Golf Association of America, Karns is in the midst of preparing for the 80th KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in 2019, which will be held at ...