The Right Concept. Every Plate | Andy Pforzheimer, bartaco & Barcelona Wine Bar

Artificial Intelligence. Human Integrity.

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with James Dowd, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Creative Officer at Rebellion Group, to talk about AI’s impact on jobs and innovation, brand integrity, and future strategy. They highlight the current state of AI adoption in workplaces, the importance of brands focusing on humanity, and the nuances required for a successful business to succeed. The conversation explores Agent XQ (an internal project developed to move beyond generic output), machine learning vs. artificial intelligence, and the factors required to move forward in an AI-saturated environment.

Paid Leave. Workforce Stability. | Erin Choquette

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Erin Choquette, CEO of CT Paid Leave, to discuss the many factors that shape the program and its impact on employers and employees alike. An employment lawyer by training, Erin spent years representing employers before stepping into her role at CT Paid Leave. The conversation touches on the challenge of “employer fatigue,” operational benefits of paid leave, and the general scope of the program.

Lisa Jacobi | Senior Vice President and Chief HR Officer at COCC

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Lisa Jacobi, Senior Vice President and Chief HR Officer at COCC (Connecticut Online Computer Center), to discuss the company’s rebrand, common recruitment challenges, and its focus on internal talent pipelines. COCC is a long-standing technology service provider for community banks and credit unions. Jacobi touches on the company’s impressive achievements: being recognized as a “Top Workplace” by the Hartford Courant for 16 consecutive years, as well as receiving the Great Place to Work® certification The conversation explores the shift toward skill-based hiring, the importance of fostering employee engagement, and the Connecticut talent gap.

The Right Concept. Every Plate | Andy Pforzheimer, bartaco & Barcelona Wine Bar

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Andy Pforzheimer, founder and former CEO of bartaco and Barcelona Wine Bar, to talk about his journey from working in a restaurant to building two businesses from the ground up. Andy discusses his experience with successfully scaling restaurants, what he thinks makes a “decent human being,” and the business fallacy that is quantity over quality. His original plan didn’t include expansion and happened naturally as the restaurant refined their model by focusing on a specific, well-executed concept. The conversation explores the value of fostering a viable work environment, recognizing your business demographic, and the issue with transactionalizing hospitality.

Moving People. Moving Forward. | Don & Kyle DeVivo

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Kyle DeVivo, Chief Operating Officer of DATTCO, alongside his father, Don DeVivo, President of DATTCO, to talk about what it really takes to modernize a business without losing a people-first philosophy. Kyle highlights his family’s humble beginnings running a dairy farm—crediting this experience as the foundation for DATTCO’s direct, family-first approach. From implementing fully online booking capabilities to AI-driven safety systems, Kyle details how their business is using emerging technologies to assist employees, not replace them. Together, the conversation explores the value of fostering a family-like atmosphere, building scalable strategies, and leveraging tools like AI while keeping people at the center of the business.