Priory Hotel | Randy Strothman & Associates

In early March I decided to create my first photo book, Colors of Pittsburgh: North Shore and Lower North Side. It’s my small tribute to Pittsburgh and the historic community that I moved to in 1997. Then came the second book in the Colors series Colors of Pittsburgh:  Downtown and The Strip District, first published in June. Both books, plus this new one, reflect my passions for color and photography.

Now, in September, it’s Colors of Nature: Nature and Man Embracing Nature, previewed below. This third coffee table photography book pays homage to nature around us, including the wonderful variety of textures, shapes, colors and patterns. I’ve also included examples of man’s use of natural forms in art and architecture and our embracing of nature in parks and gardens.

In early March I decided to create my first photo book, Colors of Pittsburgh: North Shore and Lower North Side. Here’s a preview of the 108 page book featuring 191 photos. It’s intended as tribute to Pittsburgh and the historic community that I moved to in 1997. Oh yes,  it certainly reflects my passion for colors and photography.

Now the second book in the Colors series is available too: Colors of Pittsburgh:  Downtown and The Strip District.  These one-of-a-kind coffee table books are not really a comprehensive tour guide, since some wonderful local attractions are not included. It’s rather a gallery of high quality, colorful images I’ve gathered over 4-5 years to belie Pittsburgh’s historic Smoky City image and to spotlight the rich tapestry and history of the neighborhoods.

In early March I decided to create my first photo book, Colors of Pittsburgh: North Shore and Lower North Side. Here’s a preview of the 106 page book featuring 191 photos. It’s intended as tribute to Pittsburgh and the historic community that I moved to in 1997. Oh yes,  it certainly reflects my passion for colors and photography.

This one-of-a-kind coffee table book is not really a comprehensive tour guide, since some wonderful local attractions are not included here. It’s rather a gallery of high quality, colorful images I’ve gathered over 4-5 years to belie Pittsburgh’s historic Smoky City image and to spotlight the rich tapestry and history of the neighborhoods.

I love to see good people launch a great small business idea and succeed, especially if it’s local to my home and office here on Pittsburgh’s Northside. This post features my observations about recent business launches that could have been stronger with some simple basics.

A little background.  Randy Strothman & Associates has spearheaded several launches in the past, including a nonprofit, and they’re all going strong years later. I like to think “our business is to make your business a success”—at least in the marketing sense and knowing that there are so many other considerations for creating and running a successful business.

In the last 3 months Randy has provided pro bono support for two new businesses in his community. It’s because he’s part of a team working to revitalize his neighborhood business district.

His simple, quick and buzz-creating tools are good photography and Facebook—both enhanced, perhaps, by his reputation for being a community maven and activist.

So Randy introduced himself to the owners of Farmer’s Daughter Flowers, an artistic floral design shop opening in his Deutschtown neighborhood. He offered to help promote their Grand Opening the next day with colorful posts to two neighborhood Facebook pages with more than 1,700 followers.