Adam Williams is not afraid of a small danger.
Review his idea of a Gaga monopoly spinoff called “Socialism: Game”, where players do not try to maximize profits, but rather sell and rent property to achieve total justice and equality.
As Williams withdrawn, “The game ends when everyone has the same amount of money.”
The game, which was launched as a parody in 2016 by Williams and a group of its determined capitalist friends, gained attention. She appeared at Fox Business Channel. But the joke didn’t sit down. The product was turned on. And Williams now swear that there is a warehouse in ERIE full of 10,000 game boxes.
At the age of 42, Williams does not see with regret.
Businessman and lawyer Erie sees risk values - and failure. It is a mentality that nourishes its kindness for bold hobbies, such as hockey, car racing and flight. It is also a mentality that guides him as an entrepreneur, a lifestyle that requires danger and the will to overcome obstacles.
“When I lose money for something, I consider a deposit in the school account,” Williams said. “I have to learn something from her.”
And learn something he has.
In its most successful entrepreneurship – the law of the rust belt business – Williams, the risk recipient, helps entrepreneurs overcome their risks.
DOES What does Rust’s Rust’s business do?
Established in 2010, Williams -led firm helps small businesses owners start, grow and manage their organizations.
Whether he is drafting contracts, receiving trademarks, saving tax dollars or simply dealing with litigation, firm, set at 425 W. 10th St., instructs entrepreneurs about business traps, those so often I prevent them from violating the terrain.
“If you are going to work with someone, you love someone who has seen what can go wrong and survived it,” Williams said. “People do not want to get the opportunity to start a business. Part of my mission is to try and change it. “
A focus ‘rust belt’
For Williams, the value proposal is simple: the better his customers do, the better his firm. And the more important, the better you do.
Williams sees his role as not only a trusted adviser, but as someone trying to return the so -called “brain drainage” of ERIE, referring to the exodus of young people seeking opportunities elsewhere.
To return that trend, Williams said Rust Belt Business Law focuses on small businesses, countries that generate more work, but are likely not to afford a team of lawyers.
As Williams said, “it’s for people who want to start a landscape business, but grow it beyond the truck and their material energy.”
David Hunter is a main example.
In 2009, Hunter co-founded a startup with two people called Epic Web Studios, a company that, according to Hunter, had humble roots.
“We would find people and get one -sided projects from Craigslist,” he said.
But the company has since evolved into a full online service development, SEO and digital marketing agencies, with a team of 15 full -time employees and more than 500 customers across the country.
Hunter, the Director General of the Company, in 901 French St., said Rust Belt’s business law was “there from the beginning”.
“They were absolutely useful,” Hunter said. “They presented all the documents with the state and the federal government to make sure we have all the documentation we needed. They were also useful to get the right language for our contracts with clients.”
Williams said he re-marked his firm as Rust’s Business Law in 2021-The Williams Law Office was earlier, he wanted to convey a message of reinvestment in a city and a region that once progressed.
“There are a lot of people there who have no idea what is ‘belt belt’,” Williams said. “But the people who know it, they get it. They understand what we are about. We are not Silicon Valley. We are not Miami. We are not in New York City. We took a different approach for these things. “
A 15-year historic moment of growth
The message has resonated.
In the last 15 years, Williams, who began his firm with himself and his wife, Jackie, has overseen a significant increase. Not only does the firm boast of nearly 20 employees and clients from 41 countries, but one of the fastest growing firms from 500 legal firms and one of the fastest private growth companies in the northeast has been repeatedly appointed. Magazine
“That was good because – no insult to lawyers – they are not the entrepreneur group,” Williams said with a smile.
Williams said Pandemia Covid-19 and migration to digital connections inspired it to expand the firm’s extent beyond ERIE and Pennsylvania. Indeed, Williams said 80% of his customers are now overseas.
In 2023 and 2024, the firm withdrew with nearly $ 5 million in revenue.
“We have checks and wires and payments of credit cards coming from all over the country every day,” Williams said. “This is the money we are putting back to the community through jobs, expenses, charity – you name it.”
Williams said the firm’s success has made him open another office in Pittsburgh. It is also allowed for his wife to start a sister company named Pennywise Tax Strategies, an accounting firm that is located at the same address ERIE.
Williams said the goal for Pennywise is to ultimately help their customers save $ 100 million in taxes.
“If we can put it back into the hands of entrepreneurs all over the country, we think this influence will be great,” Williams said. “This is the next milestation.”
Williams said he is optimistic that the region will jump again, saying that ERIE is “turning the corner – it’s just a really slow turn.”
When asked what the secret of success is, Williams added, “The secret is that there is no secret. There are so many obstacles facing an entrepreneur and successful ones just continue to return to the plate and swing.”
Aj rao can be reached at arao@gannett.com. Follow it in x @Etnrao.
