What’s Your Story?

We buy and make decisions based on emotion.

Authentic storytelling can emotionally connect you and your small business to the community.

Your business is unique because nobody else has your story.

Own your uniqueness—tell your story.

Shovel the Sidewalk Philosophies

Branding = Everything

It’s not just advertising that affects your brand.  Everything you do, every touch point a person has with your business—it all impacts your brand.  If you don’t shovel the sidewalk to your business on a snowy day your customers carry that experience with them.

Message Before Delivery

What you say is more important than where you say it. If your advertising message is poor then the advertising medium is irrelevant. Clear the path by writing a good message first.

Advertising On Brand

An off-brand advertisement can hurt. Make sure you shovel the sidewalk by writing advertisements that are on target with the direction of your brand. You can’t be what you’re not. Your uniqueness is your best selling point. Own what will make you successful.

Learn More

Get to Know Us

It happened a few years ago on a winter’s day in Buffalo, New York. A business holding a grand re-opening event invited the world but didn’t shovel the sidewalk to the store. It dampened the customers’ feet, experience and word of mouth advertising. You don’t have to be an astute businessperson to understand the importance of covering the basics, like shoveling the sidewalk.
Team photo

Branding = Everything

Message Before Delivery

Advertising On Brand

Steve Fortunato

Founder & President

It takes a true artist to connect with another individual. My mom, an amazing watercolor artist, connects on an emotional level with so many people through skill, vision and an acceptance of vulnerability. A great artist like my mom realizes art isn’t created for those that don’t like it, only for those that do.I took that philosophy with me, from my early days as a sportscaster, to what eventually became my passion, building brands. Every brand, personal or business, won’t connect with everyone, and that’s okay. What’s your art? Who likes it? Who doesn’t? I started Shovel The Sidewalk with the idea of helping people and companies answer those questions. Ultimately, the answers help to create a brand that resonates with those that will appreciate it, while ignoring those that won’t.

Second-favorite quote: “Consistency is the hallmark of greatness.” – Jim Tressel, President, Youngstown State University

Favorite quote: “Consistency is the hallmark of greatness, unless you’re consistently bad.” – Cherisse Fortunato, Wife, Mother, Event Coordinator, Social Media Expert, Realist

Random facts about me: Bat left, throw right… two idols, Don Mattingly and Rick Jeanneret…top priority is my family, wife, Cherisse and two daughters, Ellie and Jules…Mike Tyson once saved me from getting beat up.

Contact Steve:
[email protected]
Direct: 716.465.5131

Maria Batt

Director of Client Relations and Design

In the non-profit world there is a mantra, “no mission, no money…know mission, know money.” If you are in love with your mission, we can help others fall in love with it, too. The money will follow. I started my career working for non-profits in Western New York. The most valuable lesson I learned was the importance of building relationships and connecting with people on an emotional level. That doesn’t always mean tugging at someone’s heart strings. If you dig deep enough, you can find a way to connect with anybody. That is what I love to do—strip away the fluff, connect with your mission, and create a way for others to catch on.

Favorite quote: “If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to sleep with a mosquito in the room.” – Anita Roddick

Second-favorite quote: “While some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
– Jack Kerouac

Random facts about me: I view chefs the way many view professional athletes. Eric Ripert would be my Michael Jordan. My favorite thing to do is to eat around Buffalo with my husband Jeremy. I have two kids, Teagan and Rocco, and live with the best dogs in the universe, Mr. Louie Valloucche, and Gordon Alfredo.

Favorite cocktail: The East Ender at Buffalo Proper.

Contact Maria:
[email protected]
Direct: 716.909.2032

Cherisse Fortunato

Brand Strategist

I watched Shovel the Sidewalk develop from an idea talked about at the kitchen table into a real, live company. Over the years, my role has increased, and I love being a part of this team. It’s truly gratifying when we work with a client to help bring its company brand to life. Every business has a story. Every business has a why. It just takes the right words to tell it.

When I’m not working I enjoy spending time with my husband and two girls, working out, cooking up new recipes,  and singing karaoke at any given chance.

Contact Cherisse:
[email protected]
Direct: 716.807.9776

Jamie Catania

Account Executive

I believe in order to be an effective communicator, you have to be able to connect with individuals with common goals and create long term relationships with your customers.

Face to face is the purest form of communication because there’s less of a chance of misunderstandings versus text messages and email. I take these philosophies and apply them to my marketing strategies to create authentic storytelling for businesses to help them grow and learn from their audience.

Favorite quote: “You don’t have to be great to get started. You just have to get started to be great.”  – Les Brown

Random Facts About Me: For the past few years, I’ve been practicing Judo and Muay Thai and have competed in tournaments. I also enjoy designing freshwater aquariums and breeding ghost shrimp with the help of Youtube. Since high school, I’ve collected vinyl from many different genres and have produced my own music through the use of computer software and drum machines.

Contact Jamie:
[email protected]
Direct: 716.949.0063

Shovel The Sidewalk, LLC.

P.O. Box 154, Clarence Center, NY 14032 | 716-465-5131
© 2012 All rights reserved.