From Passion to Profits: Lessons from an Inspiring Panel at PNC

We had the privilege of attending From Passion to Profits: Inspiring Entrepreneurial Success, an event hosted by PNC Bank that brought together a remarkable group of women entrepreneurs for an afternoon of honest conversation, connection, and inspiration. The energy in the room was electric from the moment we walked in, and the panel that followed delivered exactly what the title promised.

Four founders took the stage and did something that doesn't happen often enough in business circles: they got real. They talked about where their businesses started, the walls they ran into along the way, and what it actually took to push through. As a firm that works closely with small business owners every day, we left with a deep appreciation for every one of their journeys and a few lessons worth sharing.

Panelist 1

Jessica Aiello

Founder & CEO, TCS Interpreting

Jessica built TCS Interpreting and Captions into a leading language access provider specializing in American Sign Language interpreting and captioning services for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. With a roster of over 15,000 certified interpreters and more than 30,000 completed client requests, TCS serves business, government, legal, and entertainment sectors, including specialized government interpreting at the local, state, and federal level. What struck us most about her story was how deeply mission-driven the business is from its foundation. For Jessica, interpretation isn't just a service. It's access. It's the difference between someone fully participating in the world around them and being left out of it.

Building a business at that scale while staying rooted in community and equity is no small thing. Hearing her speak about how she's grown TCS while holding onto that mission reminded us that the most durable businesses are the ones built around something that genuinely matters.

Panelist 2

Stephanie Chon

Founder & CEO, Balian Springs

Stephanie's journey with Balian Springs is a testament to what it takes to build a destination from a vision. Balian Springs is a membership-based spa and wellness club centered on community, restoration, and self-care, offering everything from hydrotherapy and thermal experiences to wellness classes and professional spa services. Creating something that people return to not just for a service but for the feeling it gives them requires a level of intentionality that goes far beyond the offering itself.

Stephanie spoke about building a business rooted in community and what it took to bring that vision to life in a meaningful way. Her story was a reminder that the wellness industry, like any hospitality business, runs on trust. You are not just selling an experience. You are asking people to make time for themselves, and that is a responsibility worth taking seriously.

Panelist 3

Beth Johnson

Founder & CEO, RP3

Beth has built RP3 Agency into a full-service creative and performance marketing firm that works with major brands including Coca-Cola, Marriott Bonvoy, and Norfolk Southern. As a woman-owned, WBENC-certified business, RP3 combines breakthrough creative strategy with measurable performance marketing to help brands stand out and deliver real results. What she shared about building a business in a competitive, relationship-driven industry was candid and refreshing. She talked about the moments that tested her resolve: the pitches that didn't go her way, the pivots that were necessary even when they were painful, and the importance of staying true to what you stand for even when it would have been easier to compromise.

For anyone running a service-based business, Beth's perspective on building trust and reputation over time was worth the price of admission alone.

Panelist 4

Hannah Pollack

Founder & CEO, Nightingale Ice Cream

Hannah brought a warmth and genuineness to the stage that was immediately disarming. As a woman-veteran owner, she built Nightingale Ice Cream into a premium ice cream sandwich brand now carried in over 6,000 grocery stores nationwide. Handcrafted with non-GMO, nut-free ingredients and a mission to bring joy to every moment, Nightingale is a brand that takes a beloved classic and elevates it into something worth seeking out. Getting a food product onto retail shelves at that scale requires navigating brutal logistics, tight margins, and a supply chain that leaves very little room for error.

Hannah talked about what it took to build something special in that environment without cutting corners on what makes it special. Her story is a reminder that passion alone doesn't make a business, but without it, the hard days don't have a reason. The businesses that last are the ones where the founder's "why" is strong enough to outlast the inevitable rough patches.

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What We Took Away

Events like this are why community matters in business. Four founders, four very different industries, four unique paths, but the same core story underneath all of them: a clear sense of purpose, the resilience to absorb setbacks, and the discipline to keep building even when no one is watching.

At Dexton-Livvy, we work with small business owners every day who are writing versions of these same stories. The financial side of running a business, including the bookkeeping, the cleanup, and the month-end close, can feel like the least inspiring part of entrepreneurship. But it's the foundation that everything else stands on. Clean books give you the clarity to make the moves that matter. They free you to focus on the passion that started it all.

Thank you to PNC Bank for putting together an afternoon that reminded us why the work we all do is worth doing. And thank you to Jessica, Stephanie, Beth, and Hannah for sharing your stories so generously. You inspired the room and you inspired us.