About BEAM

BEAM Collaborative helps communities build stronger local economies.

We offer strategic AI tools, education, research and support for entrepreneurs. From inclusive procurement and corporate partnerships to local investment and entrepreneurship, we provide actionable strategies that move beyond talk and toward measurable outcomes.

As millions of Baby Boomer-owned businesses approach retirement, BEAM is stepping in to support buyers and sellers through successful transitions. Our work ensures these legacy businesses remain community assets, preserving jobs, wealth, and local character for generations to come.

Joel Burstein

Chief Executive Officer

Joel Burstein is the CEO and co-founder of BEAM Collaborative, a strategic advisory firm dedicated to strengthening the small business ecosystem in southwestern Pennsylvania. Launched in 2020 in response to widening economic disparities, BEAM builds inclusive, sustainable pathways to business ownership through acquisition, succession planning, and long-term growth support.

Joel’s entrepreneurial journey began with Keep it Simple Training and Development, a company he founded to deliver high-impact leadership and operational training across industries. He later launched BEAM to address systemic barriers that prevent small businesses from scaling, especially in underserved communities where ownership transitions and wealth-building opportunities are too often lost.

With more than a decade of experience as a Fortune 500 leader managing teams of 70 or more, Joel has advised executives, mid-level leaders, and frontline supervisors alike. His expertise spans strategic planning, organizational execution, and business acquisition, having led or supported over 30 business transactions. He brings a unique blend of operational rigor and strategic clarity, known for turning complex challenges into actionable, measurable outcomes.

Joel also serves on the boards of the Pittsburgh Walk of Fame, Neighborhood Allies, and the Team Pennsylvania Foundation, where he continues to champion regional economic development and locally rooted entrepreneurship.

Our Story

Following the global protests sparked by the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020, there came a reckoning over everything from public monuments to the names of sports teams.

In Pittsburgh, there was a confluence of individuals who understood the dramatic consequences disparities have had on the economic vitality of our region.

A shared conviction emerged from discussions among Will Allen of Magarac Venture Partners; Joel Burstein, Founder and CEO of Keep It Simple Training and Development; Tricia Warrick, CEO, Coach, and Chair of Vistage Worldwide, LLC; and Joe Massaro III, CEO of Massaro Construction Company - addressing the region's persistent racial wealth gap is intrinsically connected to the prosperity of small, locally-owned businesses. By fostering the growth of these enterprises, the overall quality of life of the region will be significantly enhanced.

We launched BEAM to materially transform the way wealth is created and maintained in our communities, seeking to add and sustain wealth in western Pennsylvania. We're doing something different where everybody wins.