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Power Couple Shares Entrepreneurial Journey with Consumer Behavior Students
In an inspiring session with Roberts Wesleyan University's Consumer Behavior class, Rochester's entrepreneurial power couple Ryann and Paul Guglielmo offered students a glimpse into their remarkable business journeys and the realities of building successful local brands.
The Spring 2025 traditional undergraduate students had the privilege of hearing firsthand experiences from two of Rochester's business leaders on April 10, 2025. Their stories of perseverance, calculated risk-taking, and community engagement provided valuable real-world context to classroom concepts.
"Having the Guglielmos share their entrepreneurial journey with our students was invaluable. Their story perfectly illustrates how marketing principles and consumer behavior concepts apply in the real world. What made their presentation particularly powerful was the authenticity they brought—showing both the challenges and rewards of building businesses based on personal passion. Students witnessed firsthand how understanding your customer is fundamental to success, regardless of industry. This kind of experiential learning, connecting classroom theory with real-world application, is exactly what we strive to provide at Roberts," said Associate Vice President of Institutional Communications Donna McLaren and adjunct professor of business.
Passion Projects Become Thriving Businesses
During their presentation, the couple shared the personal stories behind their business ventures. Paul spoke of learning to make his grandfather's sauce as a child and eventually transforming that family recipe into a marketable product. Meanwhile, Ryann described the vision she shared with her mother, Debbie Bouchard, to revitalize Red Bird Market in Fairport, creating a hub for locally-made specialty products.
"I really appreciated the chance to learn from two amazing local business leaders in the Rochester area. They shared real-world examples that showed how consumer behavior impacts all kinds of businesses—from direct customer interactions to business-to-business relationships, “ said student Joey Saia ‘26 (Marketing).
Learning Through Experience
A central theme of their talk was experiential learning. Both entrepreneurs emphasized that confidence comes through hands-on experience—each interaction with customers and potential partners strengthened their business acumen and market understanding.
“Hearing from Ryann and Paul gave me valuable insight into what it's really like to start a business and be an entrepreneur. I appreciated the authenticity and honesty in their presentation, and I found their advice incredibly helpful,” said student Julia Dufkova ‘27 (Sports Management & Marketing).
The couple didn't shy away from discussing the challenges of entrepreneurship, particularly the demanding transition from side hustle to primary business venture. They emphasized the value of hard work, dedication to craft, and thriving in fast-paced environments.
"Listening to Ryann and Paul’s entrepreneurial journey was inspiring. Their emphasis on resilience and risk tolerance really resonated with me, and their stories made the idea of entrepreneurship feel more attainable,” said student Natalie Inferrera ‘26 (Psychology, Marketing minor).
Perhaps most importantly, they highlighted the importance of working on your business rather than just in it and the critical role of community engagement in sustaining local enterprises.
As the session concluded, students left with valuable insights from two entrepreneurs who have successfully navigated the challenging but rewarding path of building businesses from passion and vision.
“What struck me most about this presentation was realizing entrepreneurship isn't about having superhuman confidence, but rather about taking action despite fear. Paul and Ryann showed that everyone experiences self-doubt, but successful entrepreneurs simply have faith in themselves and their ideas anyway. This insight has inspired me to approach my own business ideas with more confidence, knowing that feeling uncertain is actually part of the journey, not a sign I'm not ready,” said Noah Balaam ‘25 (Cross-Disciplinary Studies)
Students Julia Dufkova, Joey Saia, Noah Balaam and Natalie Inferrera.
About Ryann and Paul Guglielmo
A PR Maven with Local Roots
Ryann Guglielmo, owner of Ryann PR LLC and public relations partner for Roberts Wesleyan University, brings impressive credentials to her role as an entrepreneur. As co-owner of Red Bird Market in Fairport since 2022, she has created a specialty grocery destination featuring locally sourced produce, handmade peanut butter, and other artisanal products.
Her professional journey includes serving as Director of Public Relations for Dixon Schwabl and Company. Ryann holds a B.S. in Communications and Business Administration from SUNY Fredonia and a Master's degree in Strategic Marketing from Roberts Wesleyan University.
Her excellence in the field has been widely recognized—she was named a 2023 Woman of Excellence honoree, received a 2018 Rochester Business Journal Forty Under 40 nomination, and earned the Public Relations Society of America "Rising Star" award in 2016.
From Radio Personality to Food Entrepreneur
Paul Guglielmo's path exemplifies bold entrepreneurial spirit. What began in 2014 with just 20 cases of his grandfather's marinara sauce has evolved into Guglielmo's Sauce, a recognized regional brand. As co-owner of Craft Cannery, he's expanded his food manufacturing footprint. His leap of faith came in 2020 when he purchased a food manufacturing facility in Bergen, transitioning fully from his previous career as co-host and executive producer of the popular Brother Wease Show on Radio 95.1.
Paul's community leadership is evident in his service on multiple boards, including Rochester Rotary, Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Rochester Broadway Theater League, and St. Ann's Foundation. His business acumen was validated when Craft Cannery won an impressive $500,000 at the 2022 Grow-NY business competition.
A graduate of John Carroll University in Ohio with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, Paul shares with his wife the distinction of being a Rochester Business Journal Forty Under 40 award winner.
