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Our Story.

With over 20 years of collaboration and hands-on experience, we founded 412 Forward Business Consulting to help other small businesses thrive.  After decades of working side by side in retail, operations, and strategic growth roles, we saw a clear need: small business owners deserve trusted advisors to help with challenges.

At 412 Forward Business Consulting, we bring practical  solutions, personalized strategies, and a passion for helping fellow entrepreneurs.  Whether you want to streamline your operations, develop marketing that connects, or put scalable systems in place, we can help - we have walked in your shoes.

Our Team.

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Kelley Costa

Co-Founder

Kelley Costa is a seasoned entrepreneur and accounting veteran who has blended her financial savvy with a true passion for ice cream and coffee. After earning a degree in entrepreneurship, marketing, and accounting, she spent nearly a decade in public and corporate accounting. During that time, she gained early hands-on business experience helping run Kelley’s Dari‑Delite, a family‑owned soft‑serve operation, with locations in Bethel Park and Shaler, PA  .

In her late 20’s, after surviving multiple brain aneurysms and surgeries, Kelley took a courageous leap: she founded Churn Homemade Ice Cream and Coffee, opening its first location in Gibsonia, PA on October 30, 2015, with a mission to serve handcrafted ice cream and quality coffee in a warm, community‑focused atmosphere  . Despite challenges stemming from her health and construction delays, the Gibsonia store launched successfully, followed by Cranberry (2017); Southside (2021) and Fox Chapel/Glenshaw locations (2019).  

 

Under Kelley’s leadership, Churn has become renowned for its inventive flavors, award-winning service, and vibrant brand presence—earning local accolades like “Best Ice Cream” and securing features in PBS’s Start Up series  . The brand’s resilience shone during the pandemic, pivoting to carry-out, DoorDash, and Grubhub while maintaining a robust operation.

 

Now, Kelley is expanding Churn through franchising, completing the franchising Disclosure Document (FDD) in early 2024 and selling her first franchise in Jeannette, PA  . Beyond ice cream, she actively mentors young employees, champions strong work ethics, and empowers women entrepreneurs  .

Quick Stats:

 

  • 🎓 Degrees in entrepreneurship, marketing & accounting

  • Over 10 years in accounting

  • 1999–2000s: Co-founded Kelley’s Dari‑Delite (2 locations)

  • 2015: Launched Churn in Gibsonia

  • 2017: Expanded to Cranberry Township 

  • 2019–2021: Expanded to Southside & Fox Chapel

  • Featured on PBS’s Start Up (Nov 2022)

  • Overcame multiple brain aneurysms — turned resilience into purpose

  • 2025: Began franchising—first franchise sold in Jeannette, PA

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Josh Stein

Co-Founder

With over 15 years of experience driving growth and innovation in healthcare, logistics, and financial services, Josh Stein brings a solution-oriented, performance-driven mindset to every engagement. From leading high-impact business development teams across 16 states to building trusted referral networks and exceeding ambitious sales targets, he has consistently delivered measurable results for national organizations.

As a former Vice President of Business Development for Acadia Healthcare, Josh oversaw strategy and outreach for a multi-state behavioral health network, increasing revenue by $9 million in a single year through targeted relationship management and data-informed planning. Prior to that, his leadership at American Addiction Centers earned sustained double-digit growth, with regional admissions consistently hitting or exceeding targets—even during volatile market periods.

Whether serving as a strategic leader or a hands-on contributor, Josh specializes in aligning sales execution with organizational goals, mentoring high-performing teams, and navigating complex challenges with clarity and confidence. His approach blends analytical rigor with emotional intelligence—developing deep partnerships, uncovering opportunities, and driving forward momentum at every level.

From C-suite collaboration to field-level execution, 412 Forward was founded on the belief that sustainable growth starts with aligned strategy, strong leadership, and a deep understanding of the human side of business.

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