IN Brentwood-Baldwin-Whitehall Fall 2019 | Page 18

Chad Conley (left) with Frank
Puccio and his dog, Rocky.
THE BALDWIN
BOYS
Pittsburgh actor Chad Conley found the help
he needed in best friend Frank Puccio.
B
aldwin natives Frank Puccio and Chad Conley have known
each other since high school and been best friends for more
than a decade. They live and work not far apart but in two
completely different industries. And just last year, Conley was
relying on Puccio to get him through a very difficult situation and
says he wouldn’t have trusted anyone else to do the job.
Conley started acting about eight years ago and has been in a
few local Pittsburgh productions along with some independent
movies.
“My first acting job was in a series called ‘Unusual Suspects.’
It’s one of those crime-solving shows where they reenact what
happened in a murder case. I played a murder suspect,” he recalls.
“From there, I’ve done some movies, ‘The Other Side’ and ‘The
Chop.’ But my latest project, ‘116 MacDougal Street,’ has taken
me out of my element and I love it.”
By out of his element, he means learning to play the music
made famous by ‘60s folk group Peter, Paul and Mary.
“I was auditioning for the role of Peter Yarrow,” says Conley.
“I learned to play the guitar and sing and luckily got the part. It’s
been fun, enlightening and challenging and I’m really excited for
everyone to see this movie. They were true civil rights leaders,
and more people need to understand the part they played in our
history during that time.”
As pre-production began, Conley continued practicing the
guitar and learning the group’s songs. He also went about his daily
routine, which included gym workouts.
“I like to stay in shape, and lifting weights and boxing are part
of my regimen,” he explains. “So, one day during my workout, I
started punching the heavy bag and suddenly felt a snap in my
right arm near my bicep. It was so painful, and I could hardly
move it. And then I remembered, ‘I have to play the guitar in this
film!’ To say I was worried would be putting it mildly.”
After getting confirmation from an orthopedic surgeon that
he had severed the muscle and tendon from the bone, Conley
had surgery to repair the damage and was told he had four weeks
before he would regain full range of motion in his arm.
“I already knew I didn’t have that kind of time,” he says. “I
hadn’t told anyone associated with the film I had injured myself
because they might have recast the role. I was in a bit of a panic.
After leaving the hospital, I called Frank within 48 hours. I was
desperate and I trusted him to get me where I needed to be.”
Frank Puccio is in the business of helping people feel their best.
From an early age, his father taught him and his younger brother
all about working out and boxing. “We started as toddlers,” he
recalls. “My brother, dad and I would work out in our basement.
But along with the boxing lessons we were also taught how to
stick up for ourselves and others.”
It wasn’t until Puccio got older, and suffered through his
own shoulder injury, that his mindset, knowledge and empathy
expanded, prompting him to start his own business. When he got
the call from Conley, he
knew it was dire.
“I don’t get a lot of calls
from people desperate to
be mended within weeks
of surgery,” he says. “But
I could hear the worry in
Chad’s voice. He wanted
to cut the recommended
therapy time in half. It was
a tall order, but we came up
with a plan.”
As a Human
Foundations Practitioner
Chad Conley
through a system called
Functional Patterns,
Puccio is able to utilize exercise techniques to make people more
connected to their bodies and mindful about what they’re doing.
These types of exercises also help correct muscle imbalance,
movement dysfunction and posture, all leading to a healthier
body for everyday living.
“I told Frank I needed full range of motion in two weeks. I had
zero fear going to him because I know the dedication he puts into
his clients. I didn’t trust anyone but him. Plus, he is accredited
through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and has a
million certifications behind his name,” says Conley.
“We just worked smart,” explains Puccio. “We didn’t push
the limits; we worked within them, and created an environment
where he was healing and straightening his arm more and more
each day. And, it worked. After two weeks, he had full range of
motion. It was a success for both of us.”
Another saving grace for Conley was that the production
switched a few things around and decided to record some live
songs for the movie before filming began, which gave him even
more time to recover. “It was a true blessing,” he says. “And now,
several months later, I can honestly say my arm is better and
stronger than it was before, thanks to Frank.”
Through this journey together, the friends have found a new
respect for one another while also embracing what they already
know to be true—that they have each other’s backs. And while
their professions may be vastly different, their drive to succeed
and dedication to their craft runs deep.
“To me, success is giving more to the world than the world has
given to you,” says Puccio. And from Conley: “Surround yourself
with people you can trust, but more so be someone who can be
trusted.” Not bad for a couple of Baldwin boys.
To learn more about Frank Puccio’s approach to fitness and
living well, follow him on Instagram @pucciofrank. Chad
Conley’s newest movie, “116 MacDougal Street” is currently
filming in Pittsburgh and will be released soon. n
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FALL 2019
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