EPISODE SUMMARY:
• Discover how Smile Farms connects agriculture with advocacy
• Learn how meaningful employment creates lifelong impact
• Be inspired by Steve’s personal and professional journey—from global brands to grassroots change
🍽️ This Friday on Philanthropy in Phocus with Tommy DiMisa #InTheAttic
We’re planting seeds of purpose and possibility with Steve McDermott, Managing Director of Smile Farms, an organization redefining inclusion through meaningful work opportunities for people with developmental disabilities. 🌱✨
This week, we explore “Harvesting Dignity, Growing Futures.” From his early days at Unilever and PepsiCo to leading strategic impact at Smile Farms, Steve’s journey is rooted in passion, innovation, and purpose. Join us for a conversation about employment, empowerment, and how farms are cultivating more than just crops—they’re cultivating community.
“Two flights up from the kitchen — it’s your boy Tommy D, the Nonprofit Sector Connector!”
In this episode of Philanthropy in Focus, Tommy shares how he’s building community impact on Long Island through collaboration with the Sattel Institute and local leaders. He sits down with Steve McDermott of Smile Farms to talk about career journeys, marketing with purpose, mental health awareness, and creating inclusive opportunities through meaningful work
Segment two starts with Tommy chating with Steve McDermott about his journey from a 25-year career in marketing at major companies like Unilever, PepsiCo, and VaynerMedia to dedicating his work to social impact. Inspired by personal connections and his wife’s work as a developmental pediatrician, Steve shifted his focus toward supporting individuals with developmental disabilities. Now leading efforts at Smile Farms, he helps create meaningful employment opportunities for people with disabilities through community gardens and greenhouses across New York.
The third segment focuses on Steve, as he discusses his meaningful journey into the nonprofit social impact sector, emphasizing service, purpose, and helping individuals with developmental disabilities find fulfilling work. He explains how Smile Farms operates 14 campuses across Long Island and New York City, providing agricultural and vocational training while donating food to local food banks. Partnering with organizations like 1-800-Flowers, Smile Farms creates inclusive employment “playbooks” to help other employers recognize and match business needs with the talents of people with developmental disabilities, fostering dignity and opportunity.
Tommy and Steve end the episode by emphasizing the importance of community, collaboration, and hope, noting how these initiatives not only provide jobs but also foster social connection and empowerment. Steve discusses creating a national playbook to guide companies in hiring and supporting neurodiverse employees, highlighting the success of partnerships like Rooted Hospitality Group, which features Smile Farms’ produce and “Heat with Heart” hot sauce in its restaurants. The conversation closes with Steve inviting listeners to support Smile Farms through donations, volunteering, or attending their 10th anniversary gala in New York City.
00:00:47.440 --> 00:01:02.850 Tommy DiMisa: What up? It's Sector, Connector, coming at you two flights up from the kitchen. You know, the kitchen. I'm in the house, baby. I'm just below the roof. I am in my attic. And I, you know, I used to be here all the time, and to be honest with you.
00:01:02.870 --> 00:01:22.549 Tommy DiMisa: It's less. It's less attic time for Tommy D. They let me out, man. It's like a… kind of like a work release program, you know? They let me out to go work, and they release me back into the community. Talk about getting work released, man, you know? I just… I… I'm so blessed that I get to hang out with nonprofit leaders on a regular basis. You know, I get to spend time…
00:01:24.800 --> 00:01:28.710 Tommy DiMisa: I had a really cool opportunity.
00:01:29.220 --> 00:01:32.480 Tommy DiMisa: this week, where I brought together
00:01:32.690 --> 00:01:48.769 Tommy DiMisa: I'll call a cohort, I'll say a cohort of business leaders here on Long Island to meet with a colleague who I am now collaborating with. Shout out to Paul Howard, shout out to Sattel Institute out of Philadelphia originally, but really building the contingent here on Long Island. Sattel Institute is a fully funded nonprofit organization.
00:01:51.070 --> 00:02:09.290 Tommy DiMisa: that brings sea looty to talk about impact, and we are now creating a community here on Long Island of members of Sattel Institute. So Paul Howard is my buddy, regional VP over there at Sattel, helping, grow the Northeast for that organization. And listen.
00:02:09.539 --> 00:02:11.130 Tommy DiMisa: You looking for a guy?
00:02:11.520 --> 00:02:24.299 Tommy DiMisa: who might know some people out on Long Island, who might be connected to the nonprofit sector. Maybe he calls himself the nonprofit sector connector. Well, then he found me. So, it was, it was a great connection. We had folks from
00:02:24.300 --> 00:02:33.390 Tommy DiMisa: Jovia, from some, Jovia Financial Credit Union, from some of the local insurance companies, some other local business professionals. I went out and visited my friend.
00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:52.609 Tommy DiMisa: Jeff McQueen over at Mental Health Association of Nassau County. We all know about it. By the way, this show's called Philanthropy in Focus, we didn't do that yet. We went out to Mental Health Association of Nassau County because you know how critically important it is to me. Hashtag ending the stigma together. I just know…
00:02:52.640 --> 00:02:59.619 Tommy DiMisa: the more we normalize these conversations about mental health, the better we all are. So it's no coincidence that after
00:03:00.090 --> 00:03:08.759 Tommy DiMisa: Well, we don't have to see Yolanda Rabano Gross, and we saw Jeff McQueen afterwards, but Yolanda had options for community living, so Paul and I went on a bit of a roadshow.
00:03:08.760 --> 00:03:28.880 Tommy DiMisa: Vanguard Benefits is our company, that's the agency, we're so focused on the nonprofit sector and corporate social responsibility, so when I met Paul Howard, it just made so much sense to collaborate with what's going on with Sattel Institute. What is that all about? More to come and all that. I had Paul on Long Island Changemakers, but as I stand here right now, that's right, I stand at my desk, as I stand here right now.
00:03:28.880 --> 00:03:30.290 Tommy DiMisa: I'm like, you know what?
00:03:30.680 --> 00:03:46.700 Tommy DiMisa: You know what, Tommy D? What is it, Tommy D? I think we should get Paul Howard on this show, Philanthropy and Focus, as well. So, Paul, I will, I'll text you later, and we'll figure that all out, but just, important work that's being done, and I get to be on the front line. So, last night, I'm at a gala for Tiegerman.
00:03:46.710 --> 00:03:53.210 Tommy DiMisa: the amount on Wednesday with the… with the folks I'm saying about Sattel Institute. It's,
00:03:53.370 --> 00:04:09.450 Tommy DiMisa: you know, it's easy being Tommy D, it really is, sometimes. And then there's the rest of my life that I have to actually have some challenges in. Steve McDermott is here, the organization of Smile Farms, shout out, what's up, Steve? Look at the… I mean, listen, man, it's chilly out right now, but looking behind you, man, it looks like it's…
00:04:09.450 --> 00:04:13.799 Tommy DiMisa: spring day, like, with all that… with all the veggies growing, man. What's up, brother?
00:04:13.800 --> 00:04:18.490 Steve McDermott: Hey, it's great to see you, Tommy. Well, we're still in the harvest season, and great time.
00:04:18.490 --> 00:04:21.040 Tommy DiMisa: Are we harvesting? Are we harvesting right now?
00:04:21.269 --> 00:04:29.229 Steve McDermott: Yeah, sure, we still got, you know, some peppers and other items out in the garden, you know, the tomatoes are kind of gone, but.
00:04:29.460 --> 00:04:31.739 Tommy DiMisa: I like that.
00:04:31.740 --> 00:04:49.409 Steve McDermott: we gotta do, like, an in-person Tommy D, maybe, like, you know, come out, do a little bit of harvest, we'll have to… let's talk to Isabel, you, me, maybe I come out and do… I… I haven't worn overalls in a long time, and I think it'd be fun to get, you know, a pair of overalls on. Not… as I look at your… your website, though… It'd be great to get you on.
00:04:49.510 --> 00:04:54.360 Tommy DiMisa: It'll be fun, right? Look at the website, smilefarms.org, smilefarms.org.
00:04:54.970 --> 00:05:07.050 Tommy DiMisa: I don't see a lot of overalls, but I see a lot of aprons. So, I might need an apron. I got some hot sauce. Isabel hooked me up with the hot sauce, because she interviewed me. Isabel Lando, who's handling programs out by you guys, who we go back to Best Buddies.
00:05:08.350 --> 00:05:26.679 Tommy DiMisa: you, me, Isabelle, we met at Horse of Billy. So many things we're gonna do together, man, so many opportunities. But, you know, it all starts out with, like, your story, right? How you got to Smile Farms, right? There was a lot of journeys. I was looking through your bio again last night and again this morning, and, you know, I find it's interesting how
00:05:29.110 --> 00:05:42.780 Tommy DiMisa: we can look back, like, once we've gotten somewhere, and then, like, it sort of makes sense, like, the steps and the stages in the progression of our careers. I mean, you and me are still young men, so we're figuring that out, but I can still look back 20 years and go and go.
00:05:42.930 --> 00:05:49.890 Tommy DiMisa: oh, that's, like, how this all happened, you know? And, like, that's why this makes sense. I didn't know it while it was happening.
00:05:50.220 --> 00:06:05.789 Tommy DiMisa: I didn't know what was going on, you know? Like, I've never been somebody who was like, I am so, like, locked in, and this is my career path. And I think it's probably because I never really wanted to be in corporate America that long. You know, I don't exactly…
00:06:06.060 --> 00:06:13.730 Tommy DiMisa: fit inside the box, so to speak. You know, I used to say, I'm not the greatest employee, you know, because I… I like sonar…
00:06:13.730 --> 00:06:15.280 Steve McDermott: Self-awareness, too.
00:06:15.280 --> 00:06:18.129 Tommy DiMisa: I did it my way.
00:06:19.200 --> 00:06:19.710 Steve McDermott: Absolutely.
00:06:19.920 --> 00:06:21.190 Tommy DiMisa: Say it again, Steve?
00:06:21.370 --> 00:06:28.689 Steve McDermott: Well, self-awareness is really important in terms of, you know, knowing your strengths and how to apply them.
00:06:28.970 --> 00:06:36.390 Steve McDermott: And, it takes some time to discover that, you know, kind of coming out of school, and what do I want to do, and where do I want to go.
00:06:36.630 --> 00:06:38.029 Steve McDermott: You know,
00:06:38.190 --> 00:06:55.159 Steve McDermott: marketing is… is really, where… where I found, you know, most of my career, and has, developed through marketing. A lot on the for-profit side, and then more recently transitioning into the, to the, to the social impact space.
00:06:55.220 --> 00:07:00.179 Steve McDermott: But, you know, I guess if, if, you know, if you want me to kind of go back.
00:07:00.180 --> 00:07:13.309 Tommy DiMisa: I want to hear your story. Yeah, I mean, I want to… like, let's just… let's play with that marketing piece. Let's pull on that thread, because was that something you were… were you… you know, like, I… I took some marketing classes in college, right? You know, I was a… I was a finance…
00:07:15.440 --> 00:07:16.650 Tommy DiMisa: And,
00:07:16.830 --> 00:07:23.639 Tommy DiMisa: you know, I think certainly marketing is key to… I don't care what sector we're in, but marketing and sales, I mean, that's…
00:07:23.650 --> 00:07:41.609 Tommy DiMisa: every… other parts of the business are important, but marketing and sales. We don't have marketing and sales. We really don't have… we don't need accounting or accounts payable or receivable, because there's not a whole lot going on. So, were you drawn, and that relates to our sector, the nonprofit sector as well, right? Marketing is key. So…
00:07:42.020 --> 00:07:48.899 Tommy DiMisa: Was that as a young person? Were you drawn to that? Did you know, oh, marketing is something I want to be involved with? Like, how does that even start?
00:07:50.040 --> 00:07:51.850 Steve McDermott: Yeah, I, I think,
00:07:51.890 --> 00:08:11.639 Steve McDermott: My first job out of school was actually in sales, and I was selling business seminars and conferences. I was working, actually, down in Argentina, and I found pretty quickly that the product was really important, and how we talk about the product was even more important.
00:08:11.640 --> 00:08:21.720 Steve McDermott: So you can be a tremendous salesperson, but, you know, if, if, you know, the product isn't well designed and not well thought out.
00:08:21.830 --> 00:08:31.560 Steve McDermott: then it's hard to sell that product, and so I quickly learned that I wanted to get into marketing. I came back to the States, and I, you know, wanted to cut my teeth.
00:08:31.670 --> 00:08:43.340 Steve McDermott: I worked as a marketing analyst at an incredible agency called Fusion 5, learned from some brilliant people there, you know, kind of worked into the insight role.
00:08:43.419 --> 00:08:58.810 Steve McDermott: And I had a great curiosity about people. Like, why do people think things? Why do people do things? How do we get people to change their minds? Whether that's about, you know, a product or a policy.
00:08:58.810 --> 00:09:04.050 Steve McDermott: You know, how do we get people to change behavior? And so,
00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:13.560 Steve McDermott: there's a lot of psychology that comes behind it, and, you know, from there, I, wanted to progress
00:09:13.610 --> 00:09:26.999 Steve McDermott: you know, more into the management of brands and businesses. I went to business school at Stern, at NYU, Stern School of Business.
00:09:27.000 --> 00:09:39.090 Steve McDermott: And, made my way over to Unilever, and had a great 7-year run at, Unilever and PepsiCo. I launched, Pure Leaf Iced Tea, which,
00:09:39.090 --> 00:09:46.250 Tommy DiMisa: Oh, yeah? You know, I love that iced tea, man, and my brother, you would get the one, like, the unsweetened.
00:09:46.750 --> 00:09:51.759 Tommy DiMisa: Just, like, drink it by, like, the, the, like, I don't know what size that is, but, like.
00:09:51.760 --> 00:09:52.550 Steve McDermott: Yeah, which is mine.
00:09:52.550 --> 00:09:54.230 Tommy DiMisa: A gallon and a half of iced tea?
00:09:54.230 --> 00:10:01.529 Steve McDermott: 64 ounces, you can't get enough of it. It's very thirst-quenching and, you know, energizing. It's all natural.
00:10:02.730 --> 00:10:03.100 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah.
00:10:03.370 --> 00:10:12.490 Steve McDermott: That, that was a tremendous experience. I also, was joking with your, your assistant, Jesse, beforehand. She had a… Yeah.
00:10:12.740 --> 00:10:22.149 Steve McDermott: a funny t-shirt with a cool logo that says, I can't believe I'm Still Alive, which is a spoof off of the brand, I can't believe it's not butter.
00:10:22.150 --> 00:10:24.309 Tommy DiMisa: It was not butter. Yeah, of course, yeah.
00:10:24.310 --> 00:10:27.070 Steve McDermott: So I… that was another brand that I managed.
00:10:27.070 --> 00:10:27.669 Tommy DiMisa: Is that right?
00:10:27.680 --> 00:10:34.900 Steve McDermott: to spend, you know, like, 7 days on the road with Fabio, the, the, you know, the supermodel who was the spokesperson.
00:10:34.900 --> 00:10:39.089 Tommy DiMisa: Was… was Fabio the spokesperson for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter?
00:10:39.090 --> 00:10:47.410 Steve McDermott: Yeah, for many years, aside from, you know, gracing the cover of, like, hundreds or thousands of romance novels, but quite a character.
00:10:47.410 --> 00:11:05.509 Tommy DiMisa: Alright, we gotta go back. There's a couple… we gotta dial back for a lot of different things. First of all, we gotta go back to Argentina for a minute, and then we'll go forward to get to how the heck Fabio was selling fake butter. Sorry, sorry, that's a branding issue, but you're not there anymore, but it wasn't real butter.
00:11:05.510 --> 00:11:06.670 Steve McDermott: I hear ya.
00:11:06.670 --> 00:11:30.180 Tommy DiMisa: So, let's go back, because I understand you speak Spanish fluently, I do not. I like to call myself the kid, sometimes I say El Nino, and I spoke Spanish growing up in high school, and then I worked in restaurants for a long time, and we had some version of English and Spanish we called Spanglish, and most of the language we used when I was expediting food out, was between me and the guys in the kitchen, was not exactly language we would use on a family show.
00:11:30.180 --> 00:11:33.569 Tommy DiMisa: called Philanthropy in Focus. We… we used that,
00:11:33.760 --> 00:11:51.800 Tommy DiMisa: In fact, I will say one word in Spanish that there was a book I bought when I was a kid in high… probably even junior high school, and the book was named Mierda, and if you know, you know. If not, Google it, but that was the name of the book. That would teach you all the bad stuff to say in Spanish. But you're… you're a fluent speaker.
00:11:51.930 --> 00:12:05.810 Tommy DiMisa: Yes, it does happen. Well done, well done. Shout out to Tom Hanks, by the way. Shout out to Forrest Gump. It happens. So, listen, what about… how did you even end up in Argentina? Like, what was the angle that was there? Tell me about that.
00:12:06.420 --> 00:12:22.909 Steve McDermott: Yeah, so, I had studied, Spanish in high school and college. I studied a year in Madrid, in Spain, which was incredible. I wanted to go into international business coming out of college, and I was fortunate enough
00:12:22.950 --> 00:12:33.780 Steve McDermott: to… I'm the youngest of five kids. Two of my older brothers happen to be living and working down there. I had one in Santiago, Chile, my brother Tom, and then my brother…
00:12:33.780 --> 00:12:52.630 Steve McDermott: Jerry was in Buenos Aires, and so I tried each out, and I wound up getting a job, down in Buenos Aires, you know, selling seminars, and got my own pad, and spent a little over a year down there. I also met my wife, who's from Argentina.
00:12:52.630 --> 00:12:53.200 Tommy DiMisa: Got it.
00:12:53.200 --> 00:13:07.269 Steve McDermott: And, you know, it was, it was an incredible experience, and I, you know, continue to use Spanish today at home, and, you know, with the people in the community that we serve and elsewhere.
00:13:07.270 --> 00:13:11.569 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, I mean, listen, man, it's so important. I just find it, like…
00:13:12.620 --> 00:13:30.480 Tommy DiMisa: Alright, now I'm gonna be a little self-deprecating, and maybe not just on me, but, like, based on a lot of people, but the fact that in this country, many of us just speak one language is so foreign to the rest of the globe, right? Like, you go to other places, and people are fluent in two, three, more than that languages, and…
00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:34.419 Tommy DiMisa: you know, and then now I'll dial back and go, this is the United…
00:13:35.620 --> 00:13:45.350 Tommy DiMisa: States of America, man, half the country's native language is Spanish. I mean, it's not like… it's like… it's not a negotiable. Like, learn how to speak Spanish better, so…
00:13:45.350 --> 00:13:57.040 Tommy DiMisa: we can communicate, you know? I think that's critically important. And, you know, growing up, you know, in a household like maybe your children, like, they've always heard Spanish around them. Are they pretty…
00:13:57.040 --> 00:13:58.249 Tommy DiMisa: up to speed.
00:13:59.020 --> 00:14:14.889 Steve McDermott: Yeah, I mean, they've… they've come along, so they… they have a good ear for it, they understand pretty much everything, so when my wife and I are talking in Spanish, and we are… might be talking about them in the other room, you know, their ears perk up, no, I didn't say that!
00:14:14.890 --> 00:14:17.290 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah.
00:14:17.290 --> 00:14:34.219 Steve McDermott: So they're doing well in school, but also they, you know, they embrace the culture. So my younger son, Julian, he plays piano, he plays some beautiful tangos. Last night, he was learning a pop song from Argentina on the piano.
00:14:34.550 --> 00:14:43.199 Steve McDermott: So, yeah, we've embrace the culture. I, I, I get it, got a lot very deep into, Roque and Espanol.
00:14:43.310 --> 00:14:51.170 Steve McDermott: You know, when I was in Spain and Argentina, and really take a lot of pleasure in that music.
00:14:51.690 --> 00:14:56.959 Tommy DiMisa: And you, and we can get into this later, but I understand you're a bit of a dancer, too, Steve, is that right?
00:14:57.250 --> 00:15:03.920 Steve McDermott: I enjoy dancing. I wouldn't call myself a dancer, but I do get out there and enjoy it.
00:15:05.170 --> 00:15:30.160 Tommy DiMisa: I like that, I like that. Alright, here's what we're gonna do. We're gonna take a quick break. We're gonna get a… I always find it's fun to roll out your story, your journey, how you got where you are, where you've been, that sort of thing. We're gonna come back, gang. We're gonna talk about Fabio when we come back. In 233 episodes of the program called Philanthropy in Focus, we've never even said the word Fabio. Now we're gonna talk about Fabio, and I can't believe it's not Butter. How did that happen? Very funny how that all happened. We're gonna do that with talking with Steve McCon
00:15:30.160 --> 00:15:37.119 Tommy DiMisa: Dermot, the organization at Smile Farms. I'm your boy, Tommy D, the nonprofit sector connector. I'm hearing a bit of a raspy voice, and it could be because…
00:15:37.530 --> 00:15:44.050 Tommy DiMisa: I don't stop, and I just keep pushing. And, after I leave here today, we got a bunch of episodes of Long Island Changemakers we're gonna put…
00:15:44.720 --> 00:15:57.720 Tommy DiMisa: I can. So just, really important things. We're gonna talk about Smile Farms, we're gonna talk about the impact, we're gonna talk about how you can help, and some of the stuff where I think, you know, Steve, you can share with people how to… I know how important to you
00:15:57.720 --> 00:16:10.809 Tommy DiMisa: vocation is, I know how important this inclusive angle and focus is, and we're gonna get into that, and even how you were, you know, exposed to supporting that in some of your nonprofit work before you took on the managing director role over here at Smile Farms.
00:16:10.810 --> 00:16:15.230 Tommy DiMisa: We're gonna take a quick break, we'll be right back. Philanthropy in Focus.
00:18:02.630 --> 00:18:20.629 Tommy DiMisa: Smile Farms, name of the organization. I gotta tell you, I mean, I was aware of this organization for a long time, but it wasn't until your colleague, my friend and colleague, Isabel Lendano, reached out to me. She's like, Tommy D, I'm over here now, and we need to talk, and we did that, and then I came through, and she actually interviewed me on a show.
00:18:20.650 --> 00:18:38.530 Tommy DiMisa: Jim McCann's show called, Celebrating Your Story, which I haven't seen, which means to me I might not have done such a good job on the show, but I'm not really sure, so… but that was… I got to meet you when I came into the office that day over at 1-800-Flowers, where you guys have your space, too. And I,
00:18:44.900 --> 00:18:47.259 Tommy DiMisa: I just…
00:18:49.420 --> 00:19:03.020 Tommy DiMisa: where you came for a tour. I'm on… I need to get Steve out to Spirit of Huntington Arts Center, which we're gonna work out, you and me, because I think there's some cool overlap that we could explore there at Spirit of Huntington. And…
00:19:03.070 --> 00:19:12.120 Tommy DiMisa: And we'll make that happen, you know, in the next couple weeks. But it's… I want your journey… let's go back to Fabio, since I teased everybody at the commercial right there. What's gonna, like…
00:19:12.120 --> 00:19:23.449 Tommy DiMisa: Did you hung out with him? How does he even get hooked into… that's marketing, so that's why I'm bringing it up, because that's marketing, that's branding. You have this guy with the wonderful, flowing, blonde locks. If you don't know who Fabio is, gang, you…
00:19:23.510 --> 00:19:27.230 Tommy DiMisa: Can't help you with that part. How does that even happen when I can't believe it's not both?
00:19:28.010 --> 00:19:45.290 Steve McDermott: Yeah, so Fabio was a supermodel in the 80s, like, he was there with The Gap, like, with Andy McDowell, and him, and a couple of other stars. Then he graced the cover of, like, thousands of romance novels.
00:19:45.290 --> 00:19:50.520 Steve McDermott: And, you know, this brand, I can't Believe It's Not Butter.
00:19:50.720 --> 00:20:10.699 Steve McDermott: played in this fanciful space of, you know, oh, it's, it's better than reality, and so in the early 90s, the folks running the brand, made him the spokesperson, and he… I started working on the brand, later, in, like, 2005, 2006.
00:20:10.890 --> 00:20:27.769 Steve McDermott: Where we had… we actually brought him back to launch a new product called the Mediterranean Blend, which was a blend of olive oil and margarine. And, you know, he was quite a character. You know, very personable.
00:20:28.940 --> 00:20:34.129 Steve McDermott: Had a way about him that, you know, that just makes you feel like you're the only person in the room.
00:20:34.260 --> 00:20:46.520 Steve McDermott: And so, you know, I went… as the associate brand manager, I went on tour with him, and did a lot of, PR stops, you know, we're on the… he was on the Today Show.
00:20:46.550 --> 00:20:58.049 Steve McDermott: He was on Conan O'Brien late night. They wrote him into the script, where he took a giant tub of, I can't believe butter and played the bongos with Max Weinberg.
00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:03.840 Steve McDermott: Hilarious, and Conan kept, reprimanding him for going off-script.
00:21:05.230 --> 00:21:17.350 Tommy DiMisa: I… I used to love… I think Conan was such a great show. I loved Conan, man, because it was so… it was silly, it was zany, and if you compared it to, like, the old dogs, like Letterman and Leno, and then before them, Johnny Carson.
00:21:17.620 --> 00:21:34.119 Tommy DiMisa: you know, he was just… Conan's so silly. Yeah. And I love that. I love that, that silly nature of Conan. So, with Max and the whole Max Weinberg 7, and Conan used to do the thing with, like, the strings, he would pretend like he was on, like, strings, and I don't know if we're a big Conan fan, but gang, Conan O'Brien, he makes me laugh, man.
00:21:34.120 --> 00:21:34.949 Steve McDermott: Germany, too.
00:21:34.950 --> 00:21:36.050 Tommy DiMisa: It's a lot of fun.
00:21:36.050 --> 00:21:37.749 Steve McDermott: The podcast is still good.
00:21:42.580 --> 00:21:44.150 Steve McDermott: Tommy, you're breaking up on me.
00:21:44.150 --> 00:21:47.399 Tommy DiMisa: in on that show a couple times. I want to understand, like.
00:21:47.400 --> 00:22:07.059 Tommy DiMisa: Am I? Yeah, it's… we're dealing with something here in the attic, so it's, sometimes we just gotta keep it moving, man, you know? It is what it is. I'm gonna let you do most of the talking then, Steve McDermott. How's that? So, Steve, take me through this trip where you're working in the marketing space, you know, you know, take me down where you went, Unilever and then PepsiCo.
00:22:07.060 --> 00:22:12.409 Tommy DiMisa: And then you start to talk about those, and then take me to how you did some work in the, you know, supporting nonprofits.
00:22:14.120 --> 00:22:15.580 Steve McDermott: Yeah, so,
00:22:15.820 --> 00:22:24.340 Steve McDermott: really, I spent the better part of 20, 25 years in marketing in the for-profit world. I,
00:22:24.550 --> 00:22:33.119 Steve McDermott: Got into social media at VaynerMedia, and then, was at, BCG helping them build their digital marketing practice
00:22:33.140 --> 00:22:46.200 Steve McDermott: Following that, I established my own agency with a couple of partners, and about 5-6 years ago, we started working with nonprofit organizations, helping them with their marketing, helping them with their fundraising.
00:22:46.400 --> 00:22:58.240 Steve McDermott: And the more we did that, the more I was drawn into it, and, you know, it just lit something inside of me that, you know, I want to do more to help the greater good.
00:22:59.120 --> 00:23:11.139 Steve McDermott: So much so that we, you know, we pivoted our agency to focus entirely on, social impact, Growth… Growth Drivers was the name of my agency. And so…
00:23:11.540 --> 00:23:21.350 Steve McDermott: you know, we got deeper and deeper into that. And then last year it was, you know, and with, with, you know, some reflection in the pandemic, about.
00:23:21.520 --> 00:23:34.480 Steve McDermott: you know, with friends and family members passing on, like, alright, how long am I gonna be on this earth? And, what do I… how can I contribute? You know, what is my legacy?
00:23:35.840 --> 00:23:44.480 Steve McDermott: you know, when I look back, or, you know, my kids look back, what did my dad do? I want to leave a greater mark, and so…
00:23:44.690 --> 00:24:02.530 Steve McDermott: I've been helping, you know, nonprofits with their marketing and fundraising from an agency perspective, but I came to the decision I just want to do more and serve in a bigger way, and leverage my, you know, leadership and experience and strategy and marketing and management to, you know.
00:24:02.530 --> 00:24:21.119 Steve McDermott: have a greater impact in the community. And it was, through that that I started working and networking in the human services space, you know, looking for organizations, that work with people with, disabilities and…
00:24:21.140 --> 00:24:31.170 Steve McDermott: food insecurity and so on that, that, that I met Jim McCann, and, you know, was introduced to, to Smile Farms.
00:24:32.690 --> 00:24:37.870 Tommy DiMisa: I gotta… so, I gotta ask you this quick question. So, one of the things…
00:24:38.430 --> 00:24:46.319 Tommy DiMisa: You mentioned VaynerMedia, and I don't want to gloss over it too quickly there, because I listen to GaryVee. If you don't know VaynerMedia.
00:24:46.900 --> 00:24:55.039 Tommy DiMisa: Gary Vee, Gary Vaynerchuk. I listened to GaryVee over the years for a long time, and one of the things he says, and I totally…
00:24:55.120 --> 00:25:07.439 Tommy DiMisa: A lot of this show comes from this one comment that he made, which he's made over and over again, but it's… if there's something you're passionate about, and there's something that's connected to you and pulls on your heartstrings.
00:25:07.560 --> 00:25:14.730 Tommy DiMisa: do content on that. This show doesn't exist with me not hearing that. Like, you know, philanthropy and focus is between…
00:25:14.750 --> 00:25:29.919 Tommy DiMisa: hearing GaryVee talk about that, and then at the time, I'm so focused on the nonprofit sector, I started hanging out with my friend Ken Cerini, who founded the Imagine Awards, the Long Island Imagine Awards, the New York City Imagine Awards. That just kept coming up for me, and I… and…
00:25:30.280 --> 00:25:38.680 Tommy DiMisa: I'm hoping my audio and video is pretty good for you right now, Steve, because I know I was up against it there for a minute, but the thing that kept coming up for me was.
00:25:38.920 --> 00:25:52.919 Tommy DiMisa: I'm gonna make a show called Philanthropy in Focus. And that came out of just being influenced by listening to what other people around me were saying, and again, I've never met GaryVee, but I watch enough of the stuff to just hear that, and it resonated with me.
00:25:53.780 --> 00:25:55.750 Tommy DiMisa: From a passion perspective.
00:25:55.750 --> 00:26:01.740 Steve McDermott: Very inspirational guy, and, you know, learned a lot about entrepreneurship, working with him.
00:26:02.470 --> 00:26:16.330 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, yeah. So, I want to take some of your passion into nonprofit as it relates to, why individuals with intellectual developmental disabilities, why was that part of the sector?
00:26:18.010 --> 00:26:32.250 Steve McDermott: Yeah, so, my connection to the community and people with, developmental disabilities goes back to a younger age when I was in high school. I taught Sunday school, to, you know, special ed.
00:26:32.290 --> 00:26:40.230 Steve McDermott: kids in special ed one-on-one. So that was kind of my first experience. Over the course of my life, my wife
00:26:40.300 --> 00:26:55.749 Steve McDermott: has had the biggest influence in that she's a developmental pediatrician. And her… she sees, patients 4 days a week. She also conducts research, and her specialty is, children with autism.
00:26:55.900 --> 00:26:58.480 Steve McDermott: And on the autism spectrum.
00:26:58.890 --> 00:27:09.620 Steve McDermott: And so that's kind of been part of the dinner table conversation, and we've been part of that community for a number of years. The other, you know.
00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:18.900 Steve McDermott: big influence was my work with VaynerMedia last year, where our client was, United Way, in Bergen County, New Jersey.
00:27:19.020 --> 00:27:25.920 Steve McDermott: Where they're focused on building, supportive housing for people with developmental disabilities.
00:27:25.920 --> 00:27:39.509 Steve McDermott: And so, by spending time with them and, you know, really getting to know people in the community more and their needs, it opened my eyes to more of the needs of this community.
00:27:39.570 --> 00:27:52.419 Steve McDermott: And it really stopped me in my tracks the first time I heard the executive director, Tom Tarano, there, say, you know, the biggest challenge this community is facing is that they graduate to the couch.
00:27:53.900 --> 00:27:59.770 Steve McDermott: And I… it's an awful expression, but it really…
00:28:00.750 --> 00:28:02.509 Steve McDermott: For me, it made it tangible.
00:28:03.810 --> 00:28:13.049 Steve McDermott: Holy cow, like… we… we gotta do something. There's… it's 8 out of 10, approximately, 80% unemployment rate.
00:28:13.360 --> 00:28:28.139 Steve McDermott: Among people with developmental disabilities, they're not able to work, and so when you're not able to work, we know, you know, work provides dignity, work provides pride, work provides, you know, personal growth in, you know, in our lives.
00:28:28.280 --> 00:28:47.000 Steve McDermott: And so, you know, when I heard about Smile Farms and what we do here, in terms of, you know, we create meaningful work and training opportunities for people with developmental disabilities, we have this network of gardens and greenhouses across Long Island and New York City.
00:28:47.070 --> 00:29:06.729 Steve McDermott: Where, you know, it's… we create real jobs, there's skill building, there's community, and, you know, it's building people's confidence, it's, building their skills, not just in agriculture, but transferable skills if they want to, work someplace else.
00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:10.820 Steve McDermott: And, you know, also,
00:29:11.690 --> 00:29:14.080 Steve McDermott: Helping them get, you know, more independent.
00:29:15.230 --> 00:29:16.929 Steve McDermott: So it's, it's, it's…
00:29:17.190 --> 00:29:37.830 Tommy DiMisa: Man, I want to go into all that. We're gonna take a… we're gonna take a quick break, Steve. I'm dealing with some audio. We're leaving the attic, and I'm going to the porch. So, I'm… we're gonna take a break right here. I'm gonna meet you right back here, except I won't be right here, I'll be somewhere else with a different machine. We'll be right back. This is Philanthropy in Focus. I'm Tommy D. Steve McDermott's here. I'll be right back, he'll be right back. See you in a minute.
00:29:37.830 --> 00:29:38.970 Steve McDermott: On the other side.
00:32:37.670 --> 00:32:39.180 Steve McDermott: Great. Thanks, Jesse.
00:32:39.650 --> 00:32:45.629 Steve McDermott: So, it's… Great to be on this show, and I, I'm really,
00:32:46.210 --> 00:32:55.669 Steve McDermott: grateful to Tommy for having me. You know, my journey here is to the nonprofit social impact space.
00:32:55.790 --> 00:33:08.219 Steve McDermott: has been a… a long journey, but, you know, it's a meaningful one, and as Tommy was talking before about, kind of the signposts, there's different signs along the way that you see it.
00:33:08.420 --> 00:33:14.690 Steve McDermott: You know, whether it's, conversations that you have with people, or attending a conference, or, you know.
00:33:14.930 --> 00:33:21.129 Steve McDermott: You know, there's a spiritual side to it, that… which has been a big part for me about, you know.
00:33:21.250 --> 00:33:29.260 Steve McDermott: where do I go next? Where can I serve? Where should I serve? How can I make the most of my talents?
00:33:29.510 --> 00:33:32.499 Steve McDermott: And so that's really been,
00:33:32.650 --> 00:33:38.029 Steve McDermott: You know, it's been a fruitful journey, and there's a lot more to do.
00:33:38.420 --> 00:33:43.359 Tommy DiMisa: You are an absolute professional, my friend. You are an absolute professional. This has never happened.
00:33:43.360 --> 00:33:45.199 Steve McDermott: In college on the air, so…
00:33:45.200 --> 00:33:56.380 Tommy DiMisa: Dude, this has never happened in, in 200… it's never happened in 230 episodes or something like that. This has never happened on the show. And fortunately, I got a guy who knows what he's doing.
00:33:56.380 --> 00:34:09.080 Tommy DiMisa: So, I'm gonna work out my tech issues. Tell me… I want you to just break down programs. Let's move into programs of the organization, what it's like, and you'll hear me when you can hear me, but please, you tell some stories about the programs.
00:34:10.300 --> 00:34:18.740 Steve McDermott: Yeah, so, we operate, 14 campuses, with 7 partners across Long Island and New York City.
00:34:19.980 --> 00:34:35.810 Steve McDermott: you know, we partner with, schools like, the Viscardi Center and, and Nassau BOCES, hospitals like, Catholic Health, and, day habilitation, centers, like IGHL,
00:34:35.810 --> 00:34:50.930 Steve McDermott: And free, and, you know, it's a combination of, you know, that ranges the people, the people that we serve from high school age all the way up to folks in their, 60s and 70s. You know, it's, it's,
00:34:51.060 --> 00:35:03.520 Steve McDermott: Wherever they are, we kind of meet them on where they are with skills, where they are with, you know, their desire to work. We kind of fit into their schedule.
00:35:03.570 --> 00:35:13.390 Steve McDermott: And, you know, there's a dual benefit that we actually have on, with the food that we grow, in that a lot of it gets donated to local food banks.
00:35:13.550 --> 00:35:33.439 Steve McDermott: So, you know, we put people to work, you know, they're able to grow their skills, it grows their confidence, you know, they have a greater purpose, when they get up in the morning, and they… they can demonstrate, you know, to the rest of the community the value that they have. You know, for so long.
00:35:33.540 --> 00:35:40.660 Steve McDermott: People in the developmental disabilities community have kind of been put, you know, into the background.
00:35:40.910 --> 00:35:48.760 Steve McDermott: For decades, and, you know, there's… there is… has been progress, but, you know, there's so much more opportunity.
00:35:49.970 --> 00:36:07.240 Steve McDermott: And so we've got a really, I think, well-honed model in the gardens and the greenhouses, on the campuses that we operate, and we're planning to expand more, to new locations, to make these opportunities,
00:36:07.470 --> 00:36:09.640 Steve McDermott: Available to more people.
00:36:09.930 --> 00:36:14.220 Steve McDermott: And we're looking also to take it beyond.
00:36:14.220 --> 00:36:14.960 Tommy DiMisa: partner upstairs.
00:36:15.770 --> 00:36:16.690 Steve McDermott: Go ahead.
00:36:19.120 --> 00:36:26.660 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, just other organizations that you would want to partner up with, like, who would be on your short list, whether they be a specific name or a type of organization that you want to partner with?
00:36:27.750 --> 00:36:29.899 Steve McDermott: Yeah, I mean, we're…
00:36:30.010 --> 00:36:49.759 Steve McDermott: We, at the top of our list, are organizations that serve people with developmental disabilities, so they may have, you know, a day habilitation program, they may have residents, they might have other programs that serve this community that are complementary.
00:36:50.790 --> 00:36:51.570 Steve McDermott: So…
00:36:51.800 --> 00:37:06.659 Steve McDermott: you know, we, we met, with Katie out at, at HorseAbility, and they have a tremendous program there, serving this community, with equine therapy and a variety of other services.
00:37:06.750 --> 00:37:13.169 Steve McDermott: You know, I met recently, with the ARC, which is one of the largest organizations in the country.
00:37:13.310 --> 00:37:16.210 Steve McDermott: That, that serves this community.
00:37:16.400 --> 00:37:22.300 Steve McDermott: You know, there's other, those are the types of organizations, but, you know.
00:37:22.920 --> 00:37:28.510 Steve McDermott: there's… I think we're open to partnering with, other folks who have land.
00:37:28.860 --> 00:37:37.460 Steve McDermott: to put to use. You know, I was actually just at this conference the other day, hosted by, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.
00:37:37.650 --> 00:37:42.580 Steve McDermott: Where, Cardinal Dolan was talking about how
00:37:43.740 --> 00:38:01.719 Steve McDermott: The church and religious organizations in general are kind of real estate rich, but cash poor, and, you know, there's… not all of their assets or their properties or buildings are being utilized to make the most of them.
00:38:01.910 --> 00:38:08.030 Steve McDermott: And so, you know, are there, opportunities with those types of,
00:38:08.220 --> 00:38:21.680 Steve McDermott: you know, whether that's a church or a school, where we can expand as well. I mean, that's also within the realm of possibilities in growing our agricultural footprint.
00:38:22.760 --> 00:38:30.539 Tommy DiMisa: you know, you see, you know, you know, you see a lot, Steve, like, the Sisters of St. Joseph out here on Long Island, I know they do some farming out here as well.
00:38:30.670 --> 00:38:37.449 Tommy DiMisa: I've done some volunteer work with them over the years, and I think, talk about being outside, gang, I took the,
00:38:37.720 --> 00:38:50.730 Tommy DiMisa: I took the show on the road, as they say, to, to try to… I figured if I got closer to the, the phone poles and stuff like that, I might get more of a signal, so Steve and I can have a proper conversation. Steve, you're gonna have to come on now.
00:38:50.780 --> 00:38:59.309 Tommy DiMisa: this is like, now you have to come on again, and now I have to come on Long Island Changemakers, and we're just gonna have to do a bunch of stuff together. There's so much importance in
00:38:59.950 --> 00:39:17.479 Tommy DiMisa: what you're talking about from a vocational perspective and an inclusion perspective, I heard you say the number is, like, 80%. I've heard much higher than that. You said, like, I think you said graduate to the couch. You know, it's a tragic situation when our individuals age out, at 21, age out of the school system. Some will go to college, some won't.
00:39:17.790 --> 00:39:34.119 Tommy DiMisa: But I think it's always a thing… I get up here, I usually stand on my soapbox, but I lifted up in the attic just now, but I will actually sit here on the porch, open my soapbox, and just say, dang, it's not about ability, it's about access, it's about accessibility, it's about making things. You know,
00:39:34.120 --> 00:39:42.690 Tommy DiMisa: Obviously, if you've been watching this show all morning, you know I'm having some tech issues. I am not the IT department, gang, right? So that's not where I would hang my hat, you know?
00:39:42.690 --> 00:39:56.439 Tommy DiMisa: But I think if we find out what people are good at, and what their skill set is, and focus and lock in on that, that's it, man. And people, you know, find so much, you mentioned dignity, and so much of our self-worth and our character.
00:39:56.610 --> 00:40:02.059 Tommy DiMisa: Right or wrong is related to our profession and or career, and
00:40:02.150 --> 00:40:20.360 Tommy DiMisa: you know, I think even, like, you know, I'm on a journey, as many of us are, trying to figure out our own impact in the world, and as you said, you sort of look back and reflected on your career, and as it was moving through, you look back and you said, what legacy am I leaving? What impact am I leaving? And I think when you and I spoke recently.
00:40:20.800 --> 00:40:23.590 Tommy DiMisa: Prior to doing the show, a big part of what you talked about was
00:40:24.660 --> 00:40:34.460 Tommy DiMisa: educating other workplaces, like, what you all are doing in tandem with these other nonprofits, but if we could talk about, like, before we go to break, talk about, like.
00:40:35.190 --> 00:40:38.809 Tommy DiMisa: What you're able to do with… in a…
00:40:39.100 --> 00:40:44.079 Tommy DiMisa: conjunction with 1-800-Flowers, how you're creating something like…
00:40:44.160 --> 00:41:05.259 Tommy DiMisa: workflows, or playbooks, I think is the term you use, playbooks on how other employers… by the way, you know, I know our friend and colleague Isabel through Best Buddies, and I'm on the Long Island Advisory Board for Best Buddies, and they have a jobs program, so there's so much overlap. I think there's a lot of people doing important work in the inclusion space, in the vocational space.
00:41:05.260 --> 00:41:07.309 Tommy DiMisa: I think, and I said this years ago.
00:41:07.310 --> 00:41:23.880 Tommy DiMisa: You know what, Steve? It's coming to me now. Let's get together, if you're not already doing this with others, and let's continue to nurture, because again, it's not about ability, it's about access and putting people in positions for them to succeed. What do you have to say about that and on some of the playbooks you guys have created?
00:41:24.080 --> 00:41:30.870 Steve McDermott: Yeah, yeah. So, if… I'll… let me just back up a second and give people context. So.
00:41:31.260 --> 00:41:39.940 Steve McDermott: Jim McCann, our founder at Smile Farms, also the, founder and chairman of, 1-800-Flowers.
00:41:40.030 --> 00:41:55.169 Steve McDermott: And so we have a close relationship with 1-800-Flowers, and we're partnering with them to expand, more jobs, and identify more jobs, and put more people to work with developmental disabilities beyond the garden. So…
00:41:55.170 --> 00:42:11.859 Steve McDermott: What we have going right now is kind of, picking and packing and gift assembly, like, in a production line, and we're looking to expand that. But, you know, a variety of roles, and create more pathways to employment.
00:42:11.920 --> 00:42:23.130 Steve McDermott: And our goal is to help more employers see the why and the how of inclusive employment, you know, to identify the tasks that
00:42:23.130 --> 00:42:34.989 Steve McDermott: in their business, or that don't get done, or that are a great fit for people with developmental disabilities. So, for example, if we think about, you know, somebody with autism has a great
00:42:34.990 --> 00:42:45.780 Steve McDermott: attention to detail, and, you know, wants to pursue mastery in that space. So, you know, inventory management is a great match.
00:42:45.780 --> 00:42:57.199 Steve McDermott: Whether that's in a warehouse, whether that's at a pharmacy, making sure that medications, that are past expiration never get out into distribution, or if we think about
00:42:57.200 --> 00:43:11.610 Steve McDermott: clerical skills and their organization at a law office where, you know, all the notes and all of the documentation needs to be tagged and digitized and really meticulously stored and categorized, that's a great
00:43:11.710 --> 00:43:27.870 Steve McDermott: match. It's a win-win, and so what we want to get to is a place where we're not employing people out of charity. It's a win-win because there's a match to the business need, and it's strategic, and it's, you know, values-based.
00:43:28.020 --> 00:43:29.080 Steve McDermott: And so.
00:43:29.080 --> 00:43:29.450 Tommy DiMisa: Yep.
00:43:29.450 --> 00:43:29.990 Steve McDermott: playbooks.
00:43:29.990 --> 00:43:47.289 Tommy DiMisa: That's a, like, that's a puzzle piece. That's a puzzle piece that's saying this skill set benefits the business, and then this job opportunity benefits the individual, everybody wins, that's that 2 plus 2 is not 4, it's some other number, right, where… versus for, historically.
00:43:47.290 --> 00:43:59.820 Tommy DiMisa: individuals with different abilities have been set aside, or not poured into. Now, it's like, you met when we went out to Horsebability, we gotta take a break in a second. When we went to HorseAbility, I had my buddy
00:43:59.820 --> 00:44:19.989 Tommy DiMisa: Antonio Anthony Ferrara, I just call him Ant, but he was on… with us for Aviators for Autism. The aviation industry, I've learned now, has so many open opportunities, there's just not enough people going into aviation, and there are many jobs. Anthony's educated me on this, and we all should meet on that, but…
00:44:20.540 --> 00:44:39.830 Tommy DiMisa: it just… so many of those opportunities could be filled by people with different abilities. That might be better suited. Look, Steve, my skill set doesn't apply to every job, your skill set doesn't apply to every job, and if we put us in, I sort of said, you know, early in the show, I'm not the best employee, that's why I'm an entrepreneur, because I'm not the best employee, but…
00:44:39.940 --> 00:44:51.070 Tommy DiMisa: people who do fit into a certain mold and are good at a certain skill set belong in those opportunities. So, there's so much more to cover. We've got to take a quick break. We come back from break.
00:44:51.070 --> 00:45:08.129 Tommy DiMisa: We'll have to just schedule the next show you come on. That's how it's gonna have to happen. I mean, maybe, maybe we'll just… maybe you come in the studio this afternoon, we'll do Long Island Changemakers together. But I wanna… I wanna hear about the future of the organization, I want to hear about what's upcoming, and I'd like to hit that partnership, that Isabelle has told me about with the,
00:45:08.640 --> 00:45:13.059 Tommy DiMisa: With the restaurant out here in Long Island. I'm sure there's more than that. How's that sound when we come back?
00:45:13.060 --> 00:45:13.880 Steve McDermott: Excellent.
00:45:14.050 --> 00:45:27.990 Tommy DiMisa: It's nice for me to actually be part of the conversation, this part of the show, huh? What do you think? This is Tommy D. Sometimes they break me out of the attic, sometimes I break my own way out of the attic. We'll be right back. Philanthropy, in focus, from the porch. Right back.
00:46:56.660 --> 00:47:02.619 Tommy DiMisa: This is a day of firsts. I've never done philanthropy and focus from my front porch, so that's a… that's new.
00:47:02.640 --> 00:47:25.619 Tommy DiMisa: You gotta sometimes be ready to pivot, be ready to move around, things are gonna change, it's not always gonna go your way. Like I always say, if you wanna do something, try it out. If you wanna do a show about nonprofits, try it out. Things are gonna change, things are gonna ebb, things are gonna flow. Steve McDermott, come off mute, man. Let's get into it, I wanna know what's… what's upcoming. I wanna leave everything out on the field, as they say. In this case, leave everything out in the field, in the farm, or leave it on the porch.
00:47:33.360 --> 00:47:39.470 Steve McDermott: Tommy, I think you're, you're stolen out, so I'm just gonna keep running, to, to finish where we picked up,
00:47:39.530 --> 00:48:04.110 Steve McDermott: on the playbook front, you know, we're trying to put together a playbook for inclusive employment that is kind of a step-by-step guide for any company, large, small, whether that's a company or a non-profit, on how to identify, how to hire, how to support neurodiverse people, and make it work for the company.
00:48:04.110 --> 00:48:09.350 Steve McDermott: There's tremendous, benefits to it in terms of, you know, these are loyal people, they're dedicated.
00:48:09.350 --> 00:48:17.799 Steve McDermott: Low turnover, and when you find that fit of skills with, abilities for the job,
00:48:17.800 --> 00:48:30.499 Steve McDermott: You know, there's a lot more that can be done, and so where we're going is that we want to make this more of a national model for inclusive employment, where, you know, this partnership with
00:48:30.790 --> 00:48:45.350 Steve McDermott: Smile Farms and 1-800-Flowers, we can be an example, and then feature other smaller companies, and organizations on how to do this in a productive, and win-win, fashion.
00:48:45.720 --> 00:48:48.120 Steve McDermott: and then.
00:48:48.120 --> 00:48:48.570 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah.
00:48:48.570 --> 00:49:01.999 Steve McDermott: You know, I guess, you had also asked about, you know, our, relationships and, collaborations in the hospitality space. So we, we happened to, to meet a,
00:49:02.180 --> 00:49:06.179 Steve McDermott: very kind and tremendous entrepreneur, David Hirsch.
00:49:06.330 --> 00:49:09.750 Steve McDermott: He and his wife run, Rooted Hospitality Group.
00:49:10.110 --> 00:49:21.570 Steve McDermott: In eastern Long Island. And, David, came out to one of our campuses and, loved what we're doing, out there, and in an instant, he's like.
00:49:21.690 --> 00:49:41.320 Steve McDermott: I'd love to, you know, feature your produce on our, on our menus, and bring more, visibility to the work that you guys are doing. So right now, at, Roomba, which is an amazing, kind of Caribbean, eclectic, restaurant in Patchogue, New York.
00:49:41.980 --> 00:49:49.219 Steve McDermott: We… they're featuring our spaghetti squash with a, delicious, Arctic char and romesco sauce.
00:49:49.390 --> 00:49:56.459 Steve McDermott: It's been going on for, over a month now. It's been so well received, they're gonna continue it through the winter.
00:49:57.260 --> 00:50:05.529 Steve McDermott: They also, have a couple of, Mexican, places called Ava Taco in New Hyde Park and in Bayside, Queens.
00:50:05.530 --> 00:50:20.969 Tommy DiMisa: Oh, so I'm on a… I'm on a board of directors for the Bayside Business Association. Shout out to Rooted. I didn't realize that Avo Taco was part of their… their thing. We've done some events with Avo Taco, so that's… that's so cool, man. Alright, so we gotta get you out to Bayside now, too, and… and do some of the…
00:50:20.970 --> 00:50:35.880 Steve McDermott: It's our, our hot sauce. So we have a product line of some things, pickles, but hot sauce is our biggest, product. It's called Heat with Heart, and you can now try it at Ava Taco.
00:50:36.160 --> 00:50:37.209 Steve McDermott: Yeah, in addition to…
00:50:37.210 --> 00:50:37.709 Tommy DiMisa: It's so cool.
00:50:37.710 --> 00:50:39.179 Steve McDermott: website for sale.
00:50:39.530 --> 00:51:03.089 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, and listen, I actually got two bottles, because when I was, when I came on that show a couple months back, I got a couple bottles and a t-shirt, so… but please, guys, support that, because when you… if you like it hot, man, and you like the hot sauce, you know, support an organization that is supporting… actually, you know what, I got another couple bottles. I was at something with Wilmington Trust not too long ago, and they were giving out bottles of hot sauce when I was leaving that event. In fact, I told everybody…
00:51:03.990 --> 00:51:21.330 Tommy DiMisa: Yeah, I told everybody at the beginning of the show, I met Paul Howard from Sattel Institute, and that's actually how I met him at that Wooming Trust event, so it's interesting how everything, you know, comes full circle. You know, I just, like, think, you know, with the reach and depth of relationships you have, I saw all the people
00:51:21.330 --> 00:51:38.739 Tommy DiMisa: supporting our post about this show coming up. Hello to everybody, and I… your reach and the depth of what 1-800-Flowers can do, certainly from a thought leader perspective, as you're talking about these playbooks, you know, I see that
00:51:39.010 --> 00:51:51.670 Tommy DiMisa: you know, you guys have that… you're at the tip of the spear, as they say, but it's really going to be an educational thing, so I'd love to stay in touch, you and me, and talk about how to bring that into other employers. You know, I own…
00:51:54.230 --> 00:52:09.900 Tommy DiMisa: an employee benefits agency. We talk to HR departments, directors, C-level folks in businesses and nonprofits, and I think there's a lot of overlap when we're talking about inclusion. And, you know, a playbook, I love that scene of a playbook as we sit here on a brisk day in the fall, talk about NFL football, right?
00:52:10.410 --> 00:52:27.989 Tommy DiMisa: a playbook, give me a roadmap. I've always said that, Steve, when people are talking about, you know, things I'm trying to work on, I'm like, look, man, I'm not trying to recreate the thing. Give me a roadmap, give me a playbook, let me run through the plays. Because to go out, you know, especially in an age of where we can leverage AI, to a certain extent, we can leverage AI for things, but it's that…
00:52:27.990 --> 00:52:40.770 Tommy DiMisa: subject matter expertise, or that thought leadership, as I say, those SOPs that you all are talking about, that can be totally implemented in other organizations. Last night, I'm with Tiegerman for their gala. Apparently, I left early.
00:52:40.770 --> 00:52:59.399 Tommy DiMisa: I knew that part, but the apparently part is, I won 3 baskets, which usually happens. I usually win a bunch of baskets. And the trick is, people go, Tommy D, you win so many baskets. Well, because Tommy D buys a lot of tickets. That's really what the move is. But I was there because my friend, Patty Castro Giovanni, and I think I said it right that time, she…
00:52:59.710 --> 00:53:05.989 Tommy DiMisa: And Special Suites were one of the honorees last night. I don't know if you know Special Suites. Have you met them yet?
00:53:05.990 --> 00:53:07.809 Steve McDermott: Yeah, tremendous organization.
00:53:07.810 --> 00:53:12.939 Tommy DiMisa: cupcakes, forget about it, and I was able to be there for Patty and the team, and
00:53:13.050 --> 00:53:24.650 Tommy DiMisa: I met Joseph, who works over there, and this wonderful, young woman, Patricia, who I know. Patricia, love you right back, we're friends, I'm coming, we're gonna… we're gonna bake, I promise, we're baking cupcakes in a couple weeks when I come through on a Monday.
00:53:24.650 --> 00:53:37.170 Tommy DiMisa: that organization, you know, has their own SOPs and their own things, but we can all learn together, Steve, collaboratively. And like I said earlier, like, looking back on a career, much of
00:53:37.170 --> 00:53:42.700 Tommy DiMisa: What you bring are things that you, you know, happened to you 10, 15, 20 years ago, right?
00:53:42.700 --> 00:53:57.829 Steve McDermott: Yeah, and really, this is, it's… it's building on a body, not just of science, but it's an art and a science of… you know, we're dealing with human beings here. It can't be so clinical and dry, and, you know, we, you know, we're providing
00:53:58.310 --> 00:54:06.129 Steve McDermott: Jobs and a shovel and a place to work, but, you know, we're also collectively here in the business of hope.
00:54:06.260 --> 00:54:18.190 Steve McDermott: Right? And, you know, we're about giving people, you know, more encouragement and the tools and the training that they need to take that next step and grow
00:54:18.320 --> 00:54:28.829 Steve McDermott: as a professional, as a friend, as a human being, you know, the socialization part is also a big part of what we do in the gardens, because there's community.
00:54:28.880 --> 00:54:43.730 Steve McDermott: We know that there's a huge, you know, loneliness epidemic in this country, across the world now, with mobile, you know, dominating, and, you know, it's even more pronounced among this community.
00:54:43.870 --> 00:54:48.829 Steve McDermott: As they age out, and, you know, there's not as many opportunities for them.
00:54:49.210 --> 00:55:00.950 Tommy DiMisa: in a time when we need more hope than ever on this planet, in this history, you know, I remember this morning having a discussion with one of my children, I dropped my four kids off at school in the morning, and having this discussion about
00:55:00.990 --> 00:55:11.159 Tommy DiMisa: how we all, as a community of humans, I don't care where people are from, I don't… this is… Tommy D, you know I'm not political, gang, but these… this is a race of human beings.
00:55:11.160 --> 00:55:12.709 Steve McDermott: Okay, I'm not stuck on…
00:55:12.710 --> 00:55:34.930 Tommy DiMisa: borders, let's talk on land masses. I'm gonna just say it, I don't really care about all that, man. We're supposed to be reaching out and helping that human that is next to you, or not exactly next to you. That's what I believe this world is about. And in a time when we need hope more than ever, it's nonprofit organizations like Smile Farms that are delivering that hope, and they talk about the hot sauce, heat with heart. Gang.
00:55:34.930 --> 00:55:40.489 Tommy DiMisa: I love what I get the opportunity to do, meet with nonprofit leaders. Steve McDermott, this has been a heck of a journey to…
00:55:40.490 --> 00:55:48.729 Tommy DiMisa: Hey, man, because, like, you didn't expect it to be as, maybe, challenging as it was, but we're… you know what? We got through it. I'm sure folks are digging it, and they're like, tell me…
00:55:54.470 --> 00:55:58.419 Steve McDermott: So, I'm gonna, jump in and just say, how do you get involved?
00:55:58.420 --> 00:56:02.239 Tommy DiMisa: Thank you for being here. Organization, smile for my seat. Steve, take it away.
00:56:02.400 --> 00:56:21.409 Steve McDermott: Yeah, I just wanted to say, if people are interested in supporting Smile Farms, you know, you can donate at smilefarms.org. We're having our 10th anniversary gala on November 20th in New York City at the Ziegfield Ballroom. You can find out more information on our website, smilefarms.org. Check out our hot sauce.
00:56:21.570 --> 00:56:34.959 Steve McDermott: or reach out to me, and we'll take you on a tour of one of our campuses. You can come out and volunteer with your family, and it's a great experience. You can work shoulder to shoulder with our Smile Farmers.
00:56:35.660 --> 00:56:38.849 Tommy DiMisa: Wonderful thing, Steve. Thanks for being my friend, man, thanks for your patience today.
00:56:38.850 --> 00:56:42.250 Steve McDermott: And I will, talk to you all next week.
00:56:42.250 --> 00:56:47.980 Tommy DiMisa: We will work out these issues. I got a week to work it all out. Make it a great day, gang. See you later. TommyD.nyc on the Instagram. Later.
00:56:48.300 --> 00:56:49.019 Steve McDermott: Thank you, Tommy.
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