Podcast
Building Ideas
Hosted by MSA Design · EN
Building Ideas is a podcast joined by passionate designers, leaders, and innovators who believe design and relationships have the power to make the world a better place. Join us as we discuss trending topics, innovative techniques and deep-seated traditions in the design, non-profit, and business worlds that leave a lasting impact on our lives and our communities. Subscribe to hear the latest monthly updates and special guest appearances on Wednesdays.
Building Ideas is a podcast brought to you by MSA Design, an award winning national architecture and design firm headquartered in the Midwest committed to designing exceptional experiences and spaces.
24episodes
Episodes
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Episode 95_Annette DiTommaso & Charlie Williams
Jul 16, 202501:07:07Tap to summarizeAnnette DiTommaso, Executive Director Annette DiTommaso is the Executive Director of the Blue Line Foundation, where she leads efforts to support first responders, uplift at-risk communities, and drive impactful urban revitalization projects throughout Greater Cincinnati. With over a decade of expertise in corporate social responsibility and nonprofit management, Annette is deeply committed to fostering strategic partnerships, securing sustainable funding, and spearheading initiatives that improve community infrastructure, promote neighborhood safety, and expand affordable housing.Before her role at Blue Line, Annette held key leadership positions at altafiber, including Senior Manager of Employee Experience and Corporate Impact and Employee Engagement Manager. There, she developed comprehensive global CSR programs, established charitable foundations, and significantly boosted employee engagement and corporate philanthropy.Annette began her career as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, specializing in ethical investing and strategic charitable giving, before moving into relationship management at United Way of Greater Cincinnati. A proud Indiana University alumna, Annette holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Public Policy and Nonprofit Management. Recognized as a YWCA Rising Star, she combines strategic vision, data-driven solutions, and passionate leadership to create lasting, positive change in the community. Charlie Williams, President Charlie Williams is a seasoned financial professional and Director of Wealth Management at LS Financial Group, with nearly two decades of experience guiding clients through strategic financial planning, investment management, retirement strategies, and estate planning. At the Blue Line Foundation, Charlie serves as President and leverages his extensive financial expertise to help drive strategic decision-making, fiscal responsibility, and long-term sustainability, supporting the Foundation's critical mission to uplift first responders, enhance community safety, and foster urban revitalization.In addition to his role at LS Financial Group, Charlie previously served as a Financial Consultant at A.G. Edwards & Sons, bringing a wealth of experience in wealth-building and client relations. He also contributed to public service as the Campaign Manager for Debbi Alsfelder for Congress, underscoring his commitment to community and civic engagement.A proud graduate of Miami University, Charlie holds degrees in Diplomacy & Foreign Affairs and Economics. He is recognized as a Five Star Wealth Manager and maintains several financial certifications, including Series 7, 63, and 65 licenses. Charlie is passionate about applying his financial acumen and strategic insight to make a lasting positive impact in his community.
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Episode 94_Brendon Cull & Pete Metz
Jun 18, 202500:46:31Tap to summarizeBrendon CullPresident & CEO, Cincinnati Regional ChamberBrendon Cull leads the Cincinnati Regional Chamber—the region’s largest business organization—where he drives a bold strategy to grow our economy, population, and cultural vibrancy. Since joining the Chamber in 2015 (after a decade guiding government affairs for The Kroger Co.), Brendon has steered game‑changing initiatives: championing the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor, co‑creating the Cincinnati Futures Commission, scaling BLINK into a $127 million economic juggernaut, and launching the Minority Business Accelerator Fund I.A Xavier University grad (Organizational Communication) and Leadership Cincinnati alum, Brendon blends 30 years of government, corporate, and nonprofit experience. He’s an in‑demand strategist and civic ambassador, serving on boards for ArtsWave, CincyTech, the Cincinnati Museum Center, the Minority Business Accelerator, Visit Cincy, and Xavier’s Williams College of Business.Away from the office, Brendon is an avid reader, runner, cyclist, and live‑music aficionado. He and his wife Becky are raising two daughters in Cincinnati’s Clifton neighborhood—never far from a great book or the next big idea. Pete MetzVice President, Civic & Regional Partnerships, Cincinnati Regional ChamberPete Metz convenes businesses, civic leaders, and community partners to accelerate initiatives that make Greater Cincinnati thrive. As vice president of Civic & Regional Partnerships, he guides the Chamber’s Center for Research & Data and more than a dozen programs tackling economic development, housing, innovation, and the built environment.Best known as the business community’s “transportation champion,” Pete has spent nearly a decade unlocking hundreds of millions of dollars for transformative projects—the Brent Spence Bridge, Western Hills Viaduct, expanded Metro funding, and the region‑spanning CROWN trail. He helped architect and pass Hamilton County’s landmark Move Forward levy, doubling transit funding while lowering Cincinnati’s earnings tax.Pete cut his teeth in public service as chief of staff to Cincinnati Vice Mayor David Mann and on Capitol Hill shaping federal transportation and energy policy. He now serves on the boards of SORTA, OKI Regional Council of Governments, the Corporation for Findlay Market, and Northside’s NEST CDC.A Clifton resident, Pete enjoys exploring city neighborhoods with his wife Becca and their two young daughters—always plotting the next connection that will move Cincinnati forward.
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Episode 93_Charley Wayman
May 21, 202500:39:20Tap to summarizeCharley Wayman is the Director of Marketing at MSA Design, where she leads strategic marketing and business development initiatives across the firm’s architecture, interiors, and graphics disciplines. A proud graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s College of DAAP with a degree in Fashion Product Development, Charley brings a unique blend of creativity, strategy, and relationship-building to her work. She currently serves on the Board of Housing Opportunities of Northern Kentucky, is an alumna of the Queen City Game Changers, and will soon graduate from the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber’s WE Lead program.Originally from Clarksville, Ohio, Charley now lives in Ludlow, Kentucky with her husband and their beloved dogs (and one cat). She’s a self-proclaimed book nerd (on a mission to read at least 40 books for her 40th year), bourbon enthusiast, sneaker collector, wannabe health junkie, and lifelong lover of leopard print. Before joining MSA, she worked with the Building Industry Association of Northern Kentucky, supporting advocacy for the building industry. Charley thrives on trying new things, traveling, cheering on the Bengals as a season ticket holder, and leaning into her Enneagram 7 spirit. Her top strengths—Positivity, WOO, Achiever, Learner, and Strategic—are the heart of how she shows up in life and leadership.
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Episode 92_Scott Schuster
Apr 16, 202501:18:22Tap to summarizeMeet Scott Schuster, a passionate champion of education and lifelong learning whose visionary leadership is reshaping Cincinnati’s nonprofit scene. As Vice President of Philanthropy and President of the Cincinnati Museums Foundation, Scott spearheads bold fundraising strategies that help the Cincinnati Museum Center spark curiosity and wonder across science, regional history, and beyond. Under his guidance, CMC successfully wrapped its largest campaign ever—raising over $123 million to unveil 20 state-of-the-art exhibits, galleries, and research labs—and launched “Project Treasures,” a new $40 million initiative ensuring the museum’s historic and scientific gems remain protected for generations to come.A career fundraiser at heart, Scott’s talent for building authentic, mission-driven relationships has powered transformative projects everywhere he’s served, including Archbishop Moeller High School and the University of Cincinnati Foundation, where he played a pivotal role in a $120 million construction project for UC’s Lindner College of Business. Today, he continues to inspire the next generation of marketing leaders as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at UC, while also serving as a Great Parks of Hamilton County Board of Park Commissioner. Named one of Cincinnati Business Courier’s “Forty Under 40,” Scott Schuster blends passion, expertise, and a commitment to community—making him a driving force behind nonprofit innovation and a must-listen voice for anyone interested in the power of philanthropy.
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Episode 90_Regina Carswell Russo
Feb 18, 202500:50:57Tap to summarizeRegina Carswell Russo is Founder/CEO of RRight Now Communications, a strategic communications firm. Regina helps clients remove barriers to effective communication. With more than 30 years of communications, journalism, and media relations experience, Regina's clients include Duke Energy, Fifth Third Bank, United Way of Greater Cincinnati, The Port, Procter & Gamble, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the City of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Public Schools. After retiring from broadcast journalism after 23 years, 15 years here in Cincinnati at FOX19, Regina transitioned to arts marketing as Director of Communications and Marketing at the Cincinnati Art Museum and Chief of Communications at the Contemporary Arts Center, where the Cincinnati Business Courier recognized her accomplishments with a C-Suite Award. Regina brings innovation and creativity to solve complex communication problems for her clients in crisis communication, media relations, media interview coaching, brand reputation, and multicultural stakeholder engagement. RRight Now Communications' fastest growing client base is C-Suite women, helping them craft and elevate their authentic voice in their corporate leadership. Regina’s vast number of Board appointments and awards include:• National Association of Television Arts and Sciences Emmy Nominee• Five Associated Press and Michigan Association Broadcaster Awards• Cincinnati Magazine/ 2021, 2022, 2023 Power 300-Most Powerful Business Leaders• 2022 YWCA Career Woman of Achievement• Board Trustee, Cincinnati Opera (Executive Committee, Nominating Commitee)• Ragan Communication/ PR Daily Communicator of the Year Award 2021 Regina is a native of Detroit, and lives in Cincinnati with her husband and two sons.
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Episode 89_Sean McGrory
Jan 15, 202500:55:00Tap to summarizeIn this episode, we sit down with Sean McGrory, who has been the Board President of the Wasson Way organization since 2018, after joining in 2017. Sean is also a founding member of the CROWN Collaborative, which stands for the Cincinnati Riding or Walking Network. CROWN is an ambitious project aiming to create Cincinnati's first-ever urban trail loop—a 34-mile, multi-use paved trail encircling the city's urban core. This trail will connect over 350,000 people across 54 neighborhoods to key destinations such as parks, schools, employment centers, retail, recreation, and entertainment. The loop will be formed by linking several trails in development, including Wasson Way, the Ohio River Trail East, the Lunken Trail, the Little Miami Scenic Trail, the Ohio River Trail West, and the Mill Creek Greenway Trail. In his professional life, Sean is a CPA and Shareholder at Clark Schaefer Hackett, where he leads the Real Estate and Construction practice. He is a graduate of Miami University, Xavier University, and Walnut Hills High School, and an alumnus of Leadership Cincinnati Class XXV. Join us as we dive into the vision behind CROWN, the impact it will have on the city, and Sean's role in driving this exciting initiative forward.
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Episode 88_Chad Munitz
Dec 11, 202400:41:40Tap to summarizeChad Munitz joined FC Cincinnati in May 2022 as its Chief Development Officer where he manages the club's Real Estate growth ambitions including the creation of a large-scale mixed-use district adjacent to TQL Stadium. Chad added oversight of the club's business development arm, Aligned Ventures, to his remit in January 2024, which includes all non-MLS soccer revenue initiatives. Prior to FC Cincinnati, Chad held leadership roles in Real Estate and Economic Development with Towne Properties, the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation (3CDC), the City of Cincinnati and the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). He has directed over $800 million in development and led transformative projects like Fountain Square and Washington Park, playing a key role in the revitalization of Cincinnati's downtown urban core. Chad graduated from The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Information Systems. He is a native of New Philadelphia, Ohio and resides in the City of Cincinnati neighborhood of Northside with his wife and daughter.
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Episode 87_Tom Demeropolis
Nov 13, 202400:40:30Tap to summarizeTom Demeropolis serves as Editor-In-Chief of the Cincinnati Business Courier, the premier business media digital and print publication in Greater Cincinnati. He leads the team in both the print and online editions. He is a University of Cincinnati graduate and has a master’s in journalism from Ball State University. Prior to joining the Courier in 2010, he was a reporter with the Dayton Business Journal, a sister outlet. He was selected to be a part of Leadership Cincinnati Class 47. He is a three-time American City Business Journals Eagle award winner. A proud native of the Queen City, he lives in Cincinnati's Western Hills with his wife Lauren, and children.
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Episode 86_Luke Blocher
Oct 23, 202401:16:50Tap to summarizeLuke Blocher is General Counsel and Chief Strategy Officer for the Cincinnati Development Fund. The CDF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit lending institution that fills a gap not covered by traditional lenders. They provide funding for real estate development in under-served markets in the Greater Cincinnati area. They also offer facilities and equipment funding for nonprofit organizations in the Greater Cincinnati region. At CDF Luke is responsible for legal and strategy functions, including management of the affordable housing lending and New Markets Tax Credit programs. He oversees compliance, data collection and reporting required by all CDF funders. He joined CDF in 2022. His previous experience includes working in the Attorney General's office of the State of Ohio, Senior Counsel at Taft Stettinius & Hollister and Deputy City Solicitor, City of Cincinnati. A Cincinnati native, he is an alumnus of St Xavier High School, Amherst College and Columbia Law School in New York City. He resides in Cincinnati's Clifton neighborhood with his wife and family.
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Episode 85_LaNae Barnes & Scott Thompson
Oct 2, 202401:02:10Tap to summarizeLaNae Barnes is the Local Market Executive for Bank of America in Cincinnati and works in partnership with the market President leadership team to help connect businesses, families and individuals to the banking and investment teams that will help improve their financial lives. She deploys Bank of America’s resources in the market to address social and economic concerns and build strong communities. More specifically, LaNae is responsible for the development and execution of the market plan, designed to drive revenue growth, employee engagement and corporate reputation. In addition, she oversees community partnerships, sponsorships and philanthropy in Cincinnati. LaNae is a native of Dallas, and an accomplished full scholarship track & field athlete at Syracuse University, where she was training for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. She and her husband live in Cincinnati with their twin daughters. Scott Thompson is the founder of RESLV. He founded the agency in 2016 with a vision for elevating his clients' businesses by producing high-quality content that highlights their unique characteristics. He has grown the company from its humble roots to an Emmy award-winning agency whose reach extends around the world. Scott leads his team with a foundational commitment to transparency, creativity, and respect, valuing each team member's expertise and insights as they provide innovative content to their clients. Scott currently serves as a Chair of the Evanston Business Association in Cincinnati and was recently elected to the NATAS Ohio Valley Board of Governors, the organization that oversees the Emmy awards. Storyteling is his passion, and he and his team are commited to showcasing the very best of Cincinnati.
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