September 10, 2025 • 7 mins
Daniel Roberson serves as PNC Fairfax Connection’s executive director, PNC’s free community resource center in Cleveland’s historic east side community. In his role, Roberson leads the center’s staff in sustaining and building upon successful community relationships and programs designed to empower individuals and businesses and help strengthen their economic vitality. With more than 14 years of banking and community development expertise, Roberson strongly advocates promoting both personal and community financial empowerment. Roberson previously served as PNC’s community development officer for northern Ohio. In that role, he was integral in leading PNC’s efforts to deliver financial wellness training to underserved individuals and communities. Roberson, who connects with local nonprofits, serves on multiple boards and is a church trustee and youth ministry leader.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
This is iHeartRadio CEOs. You should know. I'm Keith Hoschkis
and today our guest is Daniel Roberson. Daniel's the executive
director of PMC Fairfax. So I know what p and
C is. What's PNC FAIRFAXX. Talk to me about what
this initiative is for your community efforts.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
No, you are completely fine. So we're known as the
P ANDC Fairfax Connection and who we are Honestly, we
are a free community resource center that is owned and
operated by a P and C bank, So it puts
us in a totally different situation than normally in that
banking relationship, where we're there specifically to empower the community
with free Can I say it one more time? Free
community resources?
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Well, that's interesting and something I probably wouldn't know is
available to folks. I think people think of banks as
for profit, just like anybody else, just like iHeartRadio is
for profit.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Right.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
So, but that's a really important service. I imagine A because
it's very complicated these days, and B it's you're serving.
It sounds like a more underserved community because I correct, Oh,
you hit it.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Right on the head. So we are right in the
heart of the Fairfax neighborhood, which is an underserved community,
and we're coming from a different relationship. We're trying to
change the bank paradigm when it came to you know,
financial education, Yes, that's our core, but how else can
we provide economic mobility and empowerment to people? So it
lies in workforce development, career mobility, financial education, but small
business education too, turning hustles into actually a business and
(01:21):
all of the above.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Well, let's say, I bet you if someone was hearing this,
who you know lived in that neighborhood or another underserved
neighborhood anywhere in the country. Quite frankly, I bet you
they would be like, Wow, I didn't realize that I
could basically get free advice from a legitimate financial institution
like P and C, a really large and important financial
institution is providing this free service to your point for
(01:44):
upward mobility and for community outreach.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
How's it been going so far? Oh, I think it's
it's been a fantastic riote. So we've been around. Officially,
this is our thirteenth year. Wow. So honestly, to be
a bank that comes in and you know, do a
community resource center was unheard thirteen years ago.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Quite frankly. Normally you're hearing about large banks like yours
closing branches in those underserved communities. So you're offering a
basically a free branch in that community. That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Well, the cool thing is we're not a branch, but
we do provide a lot of resources to empower people,
to provide the economic and financial empowerment, right, But we
also understand that, you know, you have to look at
it holistically too, so we have youth and alsold family
programming as well, so bringing in some of our partners
ex cental partners for whether it be something with the
Cleveland Clinic or bringing or that Clevelan Clinic, but the
(02:31):
studio go for Cleveland Metroparks, but actually CLIP and Clinic
bringing relationships with that too as well for workforce development.
So we try to bring an outside resource as well
as push economic resources that we can do to empower
people with free workshops, empowering advice and all of the above.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
We're talking with Daniel rovers An, executive director of P
and C Fairfax Connection. So the service is now thirteen
years and going strong. How do people take advantage of
To your point, say, well, more time, free financial advice
from a legitimate institution like P ANDC.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Right now, I love that. I love that. Yes, so
yes free. I'm gonna say it all day long as
mareny times as I can honestly walk in walk into
the doors. Honestly, anyone can sign up be a member.
Membership is free and it provides all that free access
to resources. Like I said again, community resources education. We've
had drone classes, we've had groove in line dancing classes
(03:24):
as well, but we also have digital music art classes
that provide careers in the arts, and we're looking into
the film industry and also small business. How can I
be an entrepreneur? How can I blow up? How can
I turn this little side hustle into a legit thing
and build out my business plan? So we have things
across the board to really empower people. And again, people
can come into Fairfax Connection anytime or they can also
(03:45):
sign into our website too as well, which is PNC
Fairfax Connection dot com.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
What a unique and really nice service you guys provide,
and congratulations on P and C for providing that service
to the community. What is I assume I is a
big deal in terms of questions people have. What else
are people coming in there for a small business you
mentioned advice turning a side hustle into a legit business.
They can come see you and you'll take them soup
(04:11):
to nuts through this and with seminars and coaching and
all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Right yeah, yeah, you hit it right on the hit.
So we have adult programming which hits those spaces in
small business and workforce development, but we also have our
youth and family programming again that I explained earlier. But
besides for that, we also bring in different COI Centers
of influence, business leaders, community leaders to bring in their
advice also too, and have like a little speaker series too,
so bringing in important people across the board so they
(04:36):
can get inspiration, motivation and also again upward mobility.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
What an incredible service P and C is providing. With
P and C Fairfax's connection, Dan Roberson is the executive director.
And Daniel, what do you what advice do you have
for people who are thinking, boy, I'm kind of stuck here.
What's one thing they can do to change the trajectory.
Obviously they can come see but what's one thing that
(05:01):
you always tell people at fairly consistency when they come.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
In Oh wow. I say that if I was going
to sum it all up together, I would just say,
take advantage of free resources that are available. There are
so many great resources and we're one of those. Take
advantage of it. It might look like, hey, this is free.
I don't know, I don't believe it. It is. It
is believed to be seen. You can come in, take
advantage as a resource and empower yourself, empower your family
(05:24):
and have a good time too as well. So that's
the big thing that I would say every single day
to every single person.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Well, if you've heard Daniel on CEOs you should know
you can tell he's passionate about this program the PNC
provides and it sounds excellent as far as resourcing for
the community. Daniel, One of the things we ask are
CEOs you should know on the podcast here is how
do they who handle a lot of stress and you know,
manage a lot of different things coming at them. How
do you disconnect and sort of distress yourself and center
(05:53):
yourself these days?
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Oh, I say, the big thing is for me personally,
what empowers me and allows me to keep going is
knowing and not being able to impact people and make
their lives, even if it's a small little bit I
was able to help, Then I'm empowered. Then I'm like
I'm plugged in. You know, I'm good to go. But
we also have a yoga class too as well, so
sure stop for the yoga class. Hey, whatever out to
help too as well.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Yeah, right, well listen if this sounds interesting to anybody listening,
which I think it would, especially again communities that are underserved,
P and C Fairfax Connection provides free we'll say it
one more time services in terms of small business, entrepreneurship,
financial literacy, those kinds of things. So, Daniel, anything we
want to add before we wrap today.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, I just want to say that I'm happy to
say this is a really unique center that we have,
this unique only to Cleveland, across the whole entire footprint
of P and C nationwide, we are the only one, wow,
and that's fit the three markets. So this is our
commitment that Cleveland, when it comes to empowering the community,
being a little bit different and like I said earlier,
changing that banking relationship for the better.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Right, P and C Fairfax Connection. Daniel Robson, thank you
for joining us today and this has been iHeartRadio CEOs.
You should know. Today's show was produced by Bob Coates said,
I'm Keith Hotchkiss.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
We'll see you next time.
This is iHeartRadio CEOs. You should know. I'm Keith Hoschkis
and today our guest is Daniel Roberson. Daniel's the executive
director of PMC Fairfax. So I know what p and
C is. What's PNC FAIRFAXX. Talk to me about what
this initiative is for your community efforts.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
No, you are completely fine. So we're known as the
P ANDC Fairfax Connection and who we are Honestly, we
are a free community resource center that is owned and
operated by a P and C bank, So it puts
us in a totally different situation than normally in that
banking relationship, where we're there specifically to empower the community
with free Can I say it one more time? Free
community resources?
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Well, that's interesting and something I probably wouldn't know is
available to folks. I think people think of banks as
for profit, just like anybody else, just like iHeartRadio is
for profit.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Right.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
So, but that's a really important service. I imagine A because
it's very complicated these days, and B it's you're serving.
It sounds like a more underserved community because I correct, Oh,
you hit it.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Right on the head. So we are right in the
heart of the Fairfax neighborhood, which is an underserved community,
and we're coming from a different relationship. We're trying to
change the bank paradigm when it came to you know,
financial education, Yes, that's our core, but how else can
we provide economic mobility and empowerment to people? So it
lies in workforce development, career mobility, financial education, but small
business education too, turning hustles into actually a business and
(01:21):
all of the above.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
Well, let's say, I bet you if someone was hearing this,
who you know lived in that neighborhood or another underserved
neighborhood anywhere in the country. Quite frankly, I bet you
they would be like, Wow, I didn't realize that I
could basically get free advice from a legitimate financial institution
like P and C, a really large and important financial
institution is providing this free service to your point for
(01:44):
upward mobility and for community outreach.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
How's it been going so far? Oh, I think it's
it's been a fantastic riote. So we've been around. Officially,
this is our thirteenth year. Wow. So honestly, to be
a bank that comes in and you know, do a
community resource center was unheard thirteen years ago.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
Quite frankly. Normally you're hearing about large banks like yours
closing branches in those underserved communities. So you're offering a
basically a free branch in that community. That's amazing.
Speaker 2 (02:09):
Well, the cool thing is we're not a branch, but
we do provide a lot of resources to empower people,
to provide the economic and financial empowerment, right, But we
also understand that, you know, you have to look at
it holistically too, so we have youth and alsold family
programming as well, so bringing in some of our partners
ex cental partners for whether it be something with the
Cleveland Clinic or bringing or that Clevelan Clinic, but the
(02:31):
studio go for Cleveland Metroparks, but actually CLIP and Clinic
bringing relationships with that too as well for workforce development.
So we try to bring an outside resource as well
as push economic resources that we can do to empower
people with free workshops, empowering advice and all of the above.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
We're talking with Daniel rovers An, executive director of P
and C Fairfax Connection. So the service is now thirteen
years and going strong. How do people take advantage of
To your point, say, well, more time, free financial advice
from a legitimate institution like P ANDC.
Speaker 2 (03:03):
Right now, I love that. I love that. Yes, so
yes free. I'm gonna say it all day long as
mareny times as I can honestly walk in walk into
the doors. Honestly, anyone can sign up be a member.
Membership is free and it provides all that free access
to resources. Like I said again, community resources education. We've
had drone classes, we've had groove in line dancing classes
(03:24):
as well, but we also have digital music art classes
that provide careers in the arts, and we're looking into
the film industry and also small business. How can I
be an entrepreneur? How can I blow up? How can
I turn this little side hustle into a legit thing
and build out my business plan? So we have things
across the board to really empower people. And again, people
can come into Fairfax Connection anytime or they can also
(03:45):
sign into our website too as well, which is PNC
Fairfax Connection dot com.
Speaker 1 (03:49):
What a unique and really nice service you guys provide,
and congratulations on P and C for providing that service
to the community. What is I assume I is a
big deal in terms of questions people have. What else
are people coming in there for a small business you
mentioned advice turning a side hustle into a legit business.
They can come see you and you'll take them soup
(04:11):
to nuts through this and with seminars and coaching and
all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 2 (04:14):
Right yeah, yeah, you hit it right on the hit.
So we have adult programming which hits those spaces in
small business and workforce development, but we also have our
youth and family programming again that I explained earlier. But
besides for that, we also bring in different COI Centers
of influence, business leaders, community leaders to bring in their
advice also too, and have like a little speaker series too,
so bringing in important people across the board so they
(04:36):
can get inspiration, motivation and also again upward mobility.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
What an incredible service P and C is providing. With
P and C Fairfax's connection, Dan Roberson is the executive director.
And Daniel, what do you what advice do you have
for people who are thinking, boy, I'm kind of stuck here.
What's one thing they can do to change the trajectory.
Obviously they can come see but what's one thing that
(05:01):
you always tell people at fairly consistency when they come.
Speaker 2 (05:03):
In Oh wow. I say that if I was going
to sum it all up together, I would just say,
take advantage of free resources that are available. There are
so many great resources and we're one of those. Take
advantage of it. It might look like, hey, this is free.
I don't know, I don't believe it. It is. It
is believed to be seen. You can come in, take
advantage as a resource and empower yourself, empower your family
(05:24):
and have a good time too as well. So that's
the big thing that I would say every single day
to every single person.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Well, if you've heard Daniel on CEOs you should know
you can tell he's passionate about this program the PNC
provides and it sounds excellent as far as resourcing for
the community. Daniel, One of the things we ask are
CEOs you should know on the podcast here is how
do they who handle a lot of stress and you know,
manage a lot of different things coming at them. How
do you disconnect and sort of distress yourself and center
(05:53):
yourself these days?
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Oh, I say, the big thing is for me personally,
what empowers me and allows me to keep going is
knowing and not being able to impact people and make
their lives, even if it's a small little bit I
was able to help, Then I'm empowered. Then I'm like
I'm plugged in. You know, I'm good to go. But
we also have a yoga class too as well, so
sure stop for the yoga class. Hey, whatever out to
help too as well.
Speaker 1 (06:14):
Yeah, right, well listen if this sounds interesting to anybody listening,
which I think it would, especially again communities that are underserved,
P and C Fairfax Connection provides free we'll say it
one more time services in terms of small business, entrepreneurship,
financial literacy, those kinds of things. So, Daniel, anything we
want to add before we wrap today.
Speaker 2 (06:34):
Yeah, I just want to say that I'm happy to
say this is a really unique center that we have,
this unique only to Cleveland, across the whole entire footprint
of P and C nationwide, we are the only one, wow,
and that's fit the three markets. So this is our
commitment that Cleveland, when it comes to empowering the community,
being a little bit different and like I said earlier,
changing that banking relationship for the better.
Speaker 1 (06:56):
Right, P and C Fairfax Connection. Daniel Robson, thank you
for joining us today and this has been iHeartRadio CEOs.
You should know. Today's show was produced by Bob Coates said,
I'm Keith Hotchkiss.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
We'll see you next time.
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