Family, trust, and grit are the foundations behind one of the country’s leading structural engineering firms.

Anthony and Pete Naccarato share the story behind O'Donnell & Naccarato Structural Engineers, from its early days built on long hours and strong relationships to becoming a national, employee-owned company. Pete reflects on building the firm with deep trust in his partner, while Tony shares his journey from entry-level engineer to CEO, earning his leadership along the way.

They talk about embracing new technology, building lasting client relationships, and making bold decisions like transitioning to an ESOP, all while staying true to their values. At its core, this is a conversation about stewardship and building something that lasts.

Key Takeaways:

• Trust builds strong partnerships
• Relationships drive repeat business
• Start from the ground up
• Innovation creates opportunity
• ESOPs support long-term growth
• Leadership is stewardship

About Anthony and Pete Naccarato:

Anthony Naccarato is a lifelong Philadelphia resident and a graduate of Villanova University’s College of Engineering. He has spent his entire career at O’Donnell and Naccarato, working his way up from an entry-level role to now serving as Chairman and CEO.

He was born and raised in the Tacony section of Philadelphia, where he lived for over five decades, and now resides in Bella Vista with his wife, Kathee, who he’s been with for 40 years and married to for 35. Together, they have two children, Pete and Grace, and are proud grandparents to Anthony, Declan, and Amelia.

Pete Naccarato is the co-founder of O’Donnell and Naccarato, a nationally recognized structural engineering firm. With decades of experience in the industry, he helped grow the company from a three-person startup into a trusted partner on major projects across multiple markets. Known for his strong work ethic, commitment to client relationships, and values rooted in family and trust, Pete played a key role in building a firm designed for long-term success. He later helped guide the company through its transition to an employee-owned structure, ensuring continuity for both its people and its legacy.

Connect:

Website www.o-n.com
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/anthony-naccarato-04371a6
Facebook facebook.com/odonnellandnaccarato/

Marc Bernstein's Founders' Forum is brought to you by March Forward, LLC, and this episode is sponsored by O’Donnell and Naccarato, a national structural engineering firm. Visit o-n.com to learn more.

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Most founders don’t start with a clear plan. They start by figuring things out as they go.

In this episode, we’re joined by Mitch Gyger, President and Co-Founder of OPS Security Group, with Vera Hempel as guest co-host. Mitch shares how graduating into the 2009 recession led him to take a security guard role, an opportunity that ultimately shaped his entire career. What started as a stopgap turned into a long-term path as he built experience, earned credibility, and eventually co-founded a company from the ground up.

Mitch opens up about the early days of entrepreneurship, doing every role, making mistakes, and learning without a playbook. He also breaks down how OPS scaled into a 600+ employee organization by focusing on one key principle, putting employees first. From hiring to pricing, that philosophy drives how they operate, even when it means losing short-term deals.

We also explore how Mitch thinks about growth today, from building structured sales systems to staying patient in government contracting, and how he defines success across business, faith, and family.

Key Takeaways:

• Start where you are and build from experience
• Expect chaos early, clarity comes later
• Pay people well to build stronger teams
• Short-term losses can create long-term wins
• Stay patient when timing isn’t in your control
• Plan intentionally across business and life

About Mitch Gyger:

Mitch has over 20 years of experience in the security industry and currently serves as the President of OPS Security Group. Since co-founding the company, he has played a central role in shaping its growth and evolution. In his role as President, Mitch is responsible for setting the company’s strategy, overseeing finance, sales, human resources, and service delivery. His leadership ensures OPS continues to deliver high-quality service while building a culture rooted in integrity and high performance.

Connect:

Website opssecuritygroup.com
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/mitchgyger/

This episode is brought to you by The Satell Institute; the leading CEO organization dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Go to satellinstitute.org to learn more.

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Success doesn’t always come from a perfectly mapped out plan. Sometimes it starts with simply showing up and sharing what you know. In this episode of Founders Forum, Deanna Robinson reveals how a few pieces of marketing advice and a batch of cupcakes sparked the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey.

As the founder of Social Impression, Deanna walks us through her evolution from working in a male dominated industry to building a full service marketing agency and stepping into a fractional CMO role. Joined by guest co-host Nik Mondo, Founder and CEO of Mondo Media Solutions, the conversation brings added perspective as they explore real-world business challenges and growth strategies. Deanna shares how she scaled her business while raising three kids, why she chose a contractor based team model, and how staying authentic became her biggest advantage.

The discussion also dives into real world marketing challenges like aligning sales and marketing teams, choosing the right clients, and using AI without losing your brand voice.

Key Takeaways:

• Be confident and authentic
• Start before you feel ready
• Build the right team
• Align sales and marketing
• AI is a tool, not the answer
• Protect your time and energy

About Deanna Robinson:

Deanna is the founder of Social Impression, a full-service marketing agency established in 2012 that helps businesses stand out through strategic planning, creative campaigns, and digital marketing. As a Fractional CMO, she combines big-picture strategy with hands-on execution, guiding clients to reach their goals with a unique laddered marketing approach.

Connect:

Website www.socialimpression.org
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/deannaleerobinson/
Facebook facebook.com/socialimpression
Instagram instagram.com/socialimpression

This episode is brought to you by CamaPlan, A Different Way to Invest. Go to camaplan.com/foundersforum to learn more.

Marc maintains a personal account relationship with CamaPlan. The advisor does not solicit, recommend, or endorse CamaPlan’s products or services in his capacity as an investment advisor, and receives no compensation or other benefit in connection with this relationship. Diversify Advisory Services and DFPG Investments has no affiliation with CamaPlan.

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