C&G Strategies, 215 Pine Street, Suite 200, Harrisburg, PA (2026)

06/18/2026

Every time you turn on the faucet to brush your teeth, cook dinner, or fill a glass, you expect clean, safe water. But have you ever wondered what it takes to keep it flowing for half a million people every day?

In the latest episode of Insight and Influence, David Caliguiri chats with Will Pickering, the CEO of Pittsburgh Water (Pgh2O), to pull back the curtain on our local water system.

Top-Tier Water Quality: Thanks to a decade of major investments and an innovative, food-grade barrier treatment (orthophosphate), Pittsburgh's water quality has never been better.

Lead Line Replacements: Pgh2O is on track to remove all residential lead pipes by 2027. Using $120 million in PENNVEST funds, they are replacing both the city’s pipes AND the private lines on your property at absolutely no cost to homeowners. That puts Pittsburgh 10 years ahead of the federal deadline!

Supporting the Community: Massive upgrades mean rate adjustments, but Pgh2O is leading the way with robust customer assistance programs, discounts, and debt forgiveness so no one gets priced out of the city.

Learn how the city is leading the way in water infrastructure? Listen to Episode 10 of Insight and Influence today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or watch on our YouTube channel! https://www.cgstrategiespa.com/insightandinfluencepodcast

06/05/2026

If you're in the Bethel Park area - get your donut on for The Salvation Army of Western PA at The Bethel Bakery. Can't make it out? You can make a donation anytime at https://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usa-eastern-territory/western-pennsylvania/.

06/04/2026

🎙️ NEW PODCAST EPISODE ALERT! 🎙️

Pennsylvania is facing a massive demographic challenge. With 1.2 million skilled workers nearing retirement, our state could see a shortfall of 700,000 workers by 2035. What is the solution to keeping PA competitive?

In Episode 9 of Insight and Influence, we sit down with Saleem Ghubril (Executive Director of The Pittsburgh Promise) and Leroy Ball (CEO & Chairman of Koppers) to talk about a game-changing initiative: The Pennsylvania Promise.

The Pittsburgh Promise has already done incredible work, investing $192 million into 13,000+ local public school students and boosting graduation rates from 68% to 84%. Now, the goal is to take this model statewide to offer free tuition, fees, and trade certification funding for low- and middle-income families who commit to working in PA after graduation.

Public polling shows 69% support for this pending legislation across diverse demographics—and now, we need your voice to help secure our future workforce.

👇 How to listen:
Catch the full conversation on the C & G Strategies podcast, Insight and Influence.

Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or watch the video version on our YouTube channel! Visit our website at https://www.cgstrategiespa.com/insightandinfluencepodcast to catch all of the episodes.

05/21/2026

The 8th episode this year of our Insight & Influence podcast is now available.

We hope, if you've watched these roll out, that you'll see we're much better at these than we used to be - but we're still amazed by the engaging conversations that we have with guests. We learn something new each time - and we hope you do too.

This week, a big thank you to Sen. Nick Pisciottano and Allegheny County Economic Development Deputy Director Alan Sisco for spending some time with C&G Strategies partner David Caliguiri to talk about their work on the Mon Valley Forward plan.

Building off an unimplemented 2005 revitalization study, their work has focused on balancing legacy anchors like United States Steel Corporation with newer clean energy opportunities like Eos Energy. Beyond creating a higher-wage, modern economy, they're also addressing core infrastructural, housing, and workforce challenges.

The pair noted that they were surprised to learn that roughly 60,000 non-residents commute into the valley for work while 68,000 residents leave the region for employment. To capture more of these jobs locally, the plan aims to align workforce training through regional assets like Penn State Greater Allegheny and CCAC.

Allegheny County Government has also strategically deployed resources—such as the Main Streets Allegheny program, small business grants, and targeted demolition funds linked to reuse plans—to seamlessly blend large-scale industrial redevelopment with the entrepreneurial spirit of the valley's historic main streets.

The Mon Valley isn't unique in the Commonwealth in its challenges or opportunities, but Sen. Pisciottano hopes that the Mon Valley Forward plan can be a roadmap for other communities to work strategically and collaboratively to move their municipalities forward and grow.

Watch the full podcast on our website and our YouTube channel. And subscribe today to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcast today and you'll never miss one!

https://www.cgstrategiespa.com/insightandinfluencepodcast
https://www.youtube.com/

05/07/2026

Episode 7 of 2026 of the C & G Strategies podcast, Insight and Influence, is now available wherever you get your podcasts.

This week, Amie Downs hosted a discussion regarding America 250, a multi-year initiative celebrating the United States' semiquincentennial. Guests Mike Daniher and Todd McGregor from Laurel Highlands Council, Scouting America, alongside Allegheny County Sheriff's Office Sheriff Kevin Kraus, detailed two major patriotic flag projects.

The first involves a commemorative flag traveling through all 67 Pennsylvania counties, where local scouts partner with sheriffs to conduct ceremonial raising and lowering events. The second, the "Flag Sojourn," features a flag that has flown over American cemeteries abroad and all 50 states. This sojourn will culminate locally on July 4th at the Allegheny County Courthouse, where the flag will be presented to 250 motorcycle riders for a ceremonial transport to Washington, D.C.

Beyond the anniversary celebrations, the conversation highlighted the broader community impact and evolution of Scouting America. The organization now serves roughly 12,000 youth in the region, including girls in the Scouts BSA program and specialized "Exploring" posts focused on career development in fields like law enforcement and medicine.

The guests emphasized the program’s commitment to service—ranging from "Scouting for Food" campaigns to adaptive programs for special needs youth at Camp Guyasuta. The episode concluded with a look at upcoming local events including "Scout Nights" with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Riverhounds, as well as a public Flag Day ceremony on June 14th at Flag Plaza.

The podcast – the current version and prior ones – are available on our website at: https://www.cgstrategiespa.com/insightandinfluencepodcast.

You can also find it and subscribe on these platforms:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3QgNOELcflsAtgZ4QSKYXG
Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/insight-influence/id1817091979

04/23/2026

Pittsburgh is playing host to the NFL Draft this week - and while there's a whole lot of talk about football, there's also plenty of conversations about how this opportunity can translate into business investment and attraction.

On the most recent episode of our Insight & Influence podcast, Amie Downs and David Caliguiri sit down with Matt Smith, Chief Growth Officer of the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, to discuss the massive economic potential behind the upcoming NFL Draft in Pittsburgh. Far more than just a three-day sporting event, Smith explains how the conference is leveraging the global spotlight to accelerate business development, bringing in national site selectors and international delegations to showcase the region’s unique "secret sauce" of public-private partnerships.

From the revitalized downtown public spaces like Arts Landing and Market Square to the Southwest PA's reputation for solving the world’s most complex technical challenges, this conversation highlights how the Pittsburgh region is positioning itself as a premier global hub for investment and talent.

Visit https://www.cgstrategiespa.com/insightandinfluencepodcast for this and all of our episodes, or catch it on our YouTube channel. Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcast today and you'll never miss one!

03/27/2026

Episode 5 of 2026 of the C & G Strategies podcast, Insight and Influence, is now available wherever you get your podcasts.

Rep. Justin Fleming and Jen DeBell, Executive Director of PennAEYC Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children, join host Rob Vescio of C&G Strategies to discuss early care and education in Pennsylvania. The conversation covers the recruitment and retention crisis, highlights how low wages are driving passionate educators out of the field and creating "childcare deserts" across the Commonwealth.

Rep. Fleming shares his vision for bipartisan legislation aimed at aligning and expanding subsidy eligibility to help middle-class families afford high-quality care, arguing that investing in children now is far more cost-effective than paying for systemic failures later. The two talk about their support for women-owned businesses, the need for sustainable workforce solutions in this industry, and emphasize why early learning is the most vital investment for Pennsylvania's future.

You can find all of Insight & Influence’s episodes on our website and our YouTube channel. Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcast today and you'll never miss one!

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