| Ralph
Allocco Ralph Allocco is a self-made businessman. After completing High School and serving his country Ralph worked as a mechanic for an airline. He then worked for ten years for a truck rental firm, rising to Facility Manager. Over the next ten years he started and ran a business called Professional Truck Repair. The business was ultimately sold for $100,000. Ralph then took the position of Director of Maintenance for a school bus fleet of over nine hundred vehicles; then went on to District Manager for a truck automotive warehouse. Looking for a change Ralph attended evening classes at Farmingdale State and Hofstra University, receiving certifications as an A.P.P (Accredited Purchasing Practitioner), and C.P.M. (Certified Purchasing Manager.) Ralph worked the next eight years for a Multi- Million Pharmaceutical company; his ideas ultimately saved the firm over $1,000,000. In June 2002 Ralph took an opportunity to buy a small Curves Franchise in Hicksville that was having ownership difficulties. He then purchased two more Curves territories in East Meadow and Farmingdale that opened in September and October 2002. In March and April 2004 Ralph opened two more locations: Jericho and Plainview. There are 30 employees in his employ, following the Curves culture. To date Ralph Allocco has been offered $1.2 Million for these facilities.
Session: Donna
Anselmo, Partner, Proposaldocs
Donna Anselmo is an expert in all phases of business communication. Formerly, an award-winning journalist whose writing had been published in The New York Times and the American Journal of Maternal Child Health, Ms. Anselmo turned her attention to developing university publications, corporate communications, public relations and strategic marketing initiatives in 1994. Her professional portfolio includes strong cross-industry leadership and management skills, along with technical expertise in the full spectrum of copy and creative services. In 2000, Ms.Anselmo founded the Comvergence Marketing Group, which serves a diverse client base, ranging from world leaders to large and small for-profit and not-for-profit corporations. Comvergence serves the human resource staffing, healthcare, technology, finance, and academic sectors, among others. In 2004, she co-founded Proposaldocs™. Over the course of her career, Ms. Anselmo has developed and led strategic initiatives in communication planning, collateral development, business management, quality management, as well as leadership training and employee development for a number of corporations. Ms. Anselmo earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Psychology and a Master of Science in Health Care Policy and Management at Stony Brook University in New York. Ms. Anselmo is actively engaged in her community, serving on the Executive Board of the Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women, and of the Smithtown Industry Advisory Board, whose goal is to create and facilitate mutually supportive relationships between businesses and local schools. Session: How To Write A Business-To-Business Proposal (AM) Linda Calderone, Professor, Chair of Business Department at Farmingdale State University Linda Calderone holds the rank of Full Professor of Business and Chair of the Business/ Management Technology Department. Professor Calderone has been associated with Farmingdale State for 30 years, and teaches in the areas of International Business, Marketing, and Management. Professor Calderone holds an MBA from Hofstra, and a Postgraduate Certificate in International Business from CW Post. Professor Calderone serves on the Board of Directors of the Long Island Import/Export Association, and the Stonehenge Foundation. Among Professor Calderones’ numerous awards is the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Farmingdale Foundation Award for Outstanding Service. Session: Are You An Entrepreneur: Do You Have The Goods? (PM) Richard
Cassiano started North American Resource Capital in 1995.
He helps many small and start-up companies, secure funding for
their businesses, on a national basis. Customers range from
Sole Proprietors to Fortune companies, and include Franchisees
and dotcoms. Funding is often provided for: capital equipment;
working capital; leasehold improvements; inventory; receivables;
real estate; and business acquisitions. Assistance is often
provided in securing insurance, legal representation, accounting
services, and credit repair. Session: Chris Consorte, Managing Partner, Integrated Direct Chris Consorte has spent his entire career working on various marketing and new media projects on both the agency and client-side of business. He is the founder, and Managing Partner, of Integrated Direct, which is a full-service direct and interactive marketing agency. He is also an Adjunct Professor of Marketing and Management at Long Island University, Mercy and Baruch Colleges. Prior to Integrated Direct, he was Director of Web Marketing for Jupiter Media Metrix where he managed e-mail marketing, online advertising and direct marketing efforts. Prior to Jupiter Media Metrix, he managed e-commerce and direct marketing efforts for John Wiley & Sons Publishing. He has a B.S. in Marketing from St. John's University and an M.S. in Direct and Interactive Marketing from New York University. Sessions: Charles Derrico, The Interface Financial Group Charlie
Derrico has been providing small business financing alternatives
since 2003. Prior to joining The Interface Financial Group (IFG),
Charlie successfully managed a 15+ year career at a Fortune 500
bank within the Private Bank division.
Session: Lisa Dolan, People’s Accident Information Service, Inc., d/b/a Securit® Lisa Dolan is President of People’s Accident Information Service, Inc., d/b/a Securit® , a licensed private investigations firm which is an 8(a)SDB and WBE certified. Lisa
Dolan is a prolific speaker on Doing Business with the Government
and on teaming efforts/mentor-protégé arrangements.
She works with both start up and established businesses in certifying
them. She is listed as a Resource Partner with the SBA. She has
been awarded proposals to work with the Sioux Indians in providing
seminars, mentoring and support programs. She has been recognized
and honored by Working Woman Magazine in their Working Woman Entrepreneurial
Excellence Awards 2000. She is a past Board Member and Program
Chair of the Long Island Chapter of the National Association of
Women Business Owners and past Executive Board Member and Vice
President of the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce. Memberships: American Society for Industrial Security, Accident Reconstruction Communications Network, National Minority Business Council, Women Impacting Public Policy (WIPP) Degrees: B.S. Criminal Justice, ASL Certified
Session: Jeff Egan, Owner, Changing Times Restaurant & Tavern Jeff Egan is a successful restaurant and tavern owner for almost 20 year. After working four years in private industry, Jeff jumped on an opportunity to buy an existing business and become an entrepreneur. Not having any experience in small business ownership, Jeff had to quickly learn the industry. He has since expanded into a second location and shares his knowledge as the Vice President of the Suffolk County Restaurant and Tavern Association.
Session: Eileen Eichler, Dean, School of Business, Professor of Accounting and Finance, Farmingdale State University of New York Eileen Eichler was appointed to the faculty of Farmingdale State in 1987. In 2000, she was appointed Assistant Chair of the Business Department and Co-Director of the Management Technology Program. She was appointed Dean of the School of Business in 2001. As Dean, Eileen is responsible for curriculum development in the areas of Business, Computer Systems, Horticulture, and Visual Communications. Eileen is a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. She has also received the Farmingdale Alumni Association’s Excellence in Education Award and the Tiara Recognition Award from the M3P Organization as being one of the Most Influential Women on Long Island. Eileen is a three-time recipient of the Faculty Advisor of the Year Award. Eileen is now on the Board of Directors of the Institute of Management Accountants, Women Economic Developers of Long Island, APICS (Association of Operations Management), and the Stonehenge Foundation. L. Scott Fenwick, President, Fenwick Consulting & Training L. Scott Fenwick, founded Fenwick Consulting & Training over 15 years ago. Since that time, he has been assisting companies in the their marketing and sales efforts through consultation and training services. Included on Scott's client list are companies such American Express Bank, Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Dale Carnegie Training, Eyeblaster Inc, GHI, Hotbar.com, Strike LLC, Glenwood Management, Edith Roman Associates, Quality Letter Services, Inc., Rickard List Marketing, and 24/7 Real Media, Inc. In addition to Fenwick Consulting & Training, Scott has worked within such prominent organizations such as 24/7 Real Media, Inc. Western Union, B'nai B'rith International, Procter & Gamble and Scott Paper. He has a special respect for the Direct Response industry where he learned an industry as he worked at such distinguished data service pioneers as Printronic Corporation of America, MAGI, Database America Inc. and Direct Access Marketing Services. As an independent trainer, Scott is the senior Sales Advantage Trainer for Dale Carnegie Associates and has developed custom training programs for such companies as Rickard List Marketing, Eyeblaster, Inc., Hergo Technologies, and 24/7 Real Media Inc. In addition, Scott has developed numerous programs for New York area colleges and Universities including, but not limited to New York University, Hofstra University and Queens College. Scott is a currently a member of the Direct Marketing Club of New York and the Direct Marketing Association of Long Island and has served as President for three regional Direct Marketing Organizations; the Direct Marketing Fundraisers Association, the Long Island Direct marketing Association and The B'nai B'rith Communications Unit #5112. A graduate of Ithaca College with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Scott's career has been centered within the world of Sales & Marketing partnering within his own Marketing Agency and serving as the leading Marketing contact within his divisions in a number of his positions. Scott is married and has two daughters.
Session: Gerald Flynn, Ph.D.,Associate Dean, School of Business, Farmingdale State University of New York Gerald Flynn joined the faculty of Farmingdale State in 1979 as a member of the Mathematics department. Computer Science was a part of that department and he taught courses in both areas, becoming coordinator of Computer Science in 1985. He became a member of the Business and Computer Systems department in 1997. He has served as Interim Dean of the School of Business and is currently the Associate Dean. In that capacity, he coordinates the “University in the High School” program, along with many other responsibilities. He has also been a math/programming consultant for Grumman, developing models for turbulent fluid flow. He holds a BS and MS in Mathematics from the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn and Ph.D. in Mathematics from the City University of New York. Scott Garera, Assistant Professor & Assistant Chair Business Department, Farmingdale State University Scott A Garera is a Business/Management Technology faculty member at Farmingdale State University. He holds the title of Assistant Professor and is currently serving as the Assistant Chair of the Business Department. Professor Garera has taught many of the core business classes offered within the School of Business such as Accounting I & II, Finance, Financial Markets and Institutions, Risk Management & Insurance, and Advanced Topics in Corporate Finance. Professor Garera has been highly involved within the area of Finance and Taxation for over 12 years. His area of professional focus has been Trusts, Estates and Portfolio/Risk Management and small business record keeping consultation. Professor Garera's educational background consists of a MBA in Banking & Finance, and is currently arranging to continue his professional education with a PhD. in Economics with Leed's University in the United Kingdom.
Session: Jonathan C. Gibralter, Ph.D., President, Farmingdale State University of New York Prior to his appointment, Dr. Gibralter served as Interim President at Corning Community College, and as Dean of Academic Affairs. In addition, he was the Dean of the Rome Campus of Mohawk Valley Community College. Within the State University of New York System Administration, he served as co-chair of the Provost's Task Force for General Education. He attended the Harvard Graduate School of Education Leadership Institute (MLE) as well as the Harvard University New President's Institute and participated in the League for Innovation in Community Colleges. Dr. Gibralter earned his Ph.D. in Child and Family Studies from Syracuse University, his Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology from New York University and his Bachelor's Degree from Binghamton University. Dr. Gibralter began his presidency at Farmingdale State in June of 2001. Since that time, college enrollment has increased by almost 20%, with a concurrent increase in admissions selectivity over the past three years. Four new Bachelor Degrees have been launched under his leadership including Bioscience, Technology Studies, Computer Programming and Information Systems and Applied Mathematics; 5 more degree programs are in progress. He has built strong connections with business leaders on Long Island and created industry forums, bringing to the campus CEO's of the most important local industries - banking, bioscience, horticulture, healthcare, engineering/manufacturing and hospitality/tourism. This led to the development of the college's first ever major gifts campaign. With a goal of $10 million in 5 years, $2.5 million has already been raised in the first year. Under Dr. Gibralter, Farmingdale State has been selected as the exclusive Daimler/Chrysler automotive technology program in the metro New York area and expanded the Aviation program with a new fleet of 13 Piper aircraft. He has also met the Long Island nursing shortage head on, forging an agreement with Winthrop University Hospital to create new facilities and hire additional faculty; similar programs are in development with several other key hospitals. Dr. Gibralter led Farmingdale State in the development of a large grant from the KeySpan Foundation to create an Energy Technology curriculum, developing vital partnerships with Long Island high schools leading to enrollment at Farmingdale. He has overseen the college's entry into the NCAA Division III and has worked to develop plans for new athletic facilities including a new baseball stadium already under construction. Dr. Gibralter has overseen a new facilities master plan, resulting in a new residence hall community slated to open in fall 2005, and is in various stages of renovating academic facilities to meet the needs of the college's growth trends. He has worked to secure $20 million in funds for Phase 2 of the Broad Hollow Bioscience Park and has launched a Long Island radio program for business leaders. Dr.
Gibralter received an award from the Long Island Association,
Small Dr. Gibralter is an avid runner. He led campus participants in the JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge, participated in the Special Olympics Torch Run, is a member of Long Island Blood Services 2004 Campaign and participated in Relay for Life, raising a record $100,000 for cancer research. His compassionate leadership has served the campus community well and which has encouraged campus members to devote time and funds to philanthropic causes. Roslyn D. Goldmacher, President/CEO and founder, LI Development Corporation Roslyn D. Goldmacher is President/CEO and founder of the LI Development Corporation, a 25 year old regional economic development organization serving LI small businesses. LIDC has made over $700 million in direct loans to LI entrepreneurs and helped LI companies obtain over $1 billion in government contracts. Roslyn, an attorney, serves on numerous business, trade and charitable boards of directors. She is Chair of the LI Fund for Sustainable Development, Secretary of the National Board of Service Corps. of Retired Executives, an officer of groups such as the LI Partnership, LI Business Development Council, LI Community Foundation, Suffolk County Girl Scouts, Nassau Association for the Help of Retarded Children Foundation etc. Roz has been honored many times by such groups as Newsday, LIA, NYS Legislature, Congress, US Small Business Administration and others.
Session: Matthew Lamstein, Partner, Lazer, Aptheker, Rosella & Yedid Matthew C. Lamstein is a partner in and co-chairs the firm’s Real Estate practice group where he focuses his practice on commercial real estate, leasing and financing transactions. Mr. Lamstein is a frequent lecturer on issues related to real estate law, with topics including commercial leasing, commercial mortgage financing, acquisition and sales of real estate and condominiums and cooperative housing corporations. His philanthropic efforts include, among other things, work for The Long Island Jewish North Shore University Hospital Child Life Program, The Institute for Student Achievement as well as The Nature Conservancy. Mr. Lamstein is graduate of Colgate University (B.A., 1984), and Cornell Law School (J.D., 1987), and is a member of the Suffolk County, New York State and Connecticut Bar Associations.
Session: Merry Law, President, WorldVu LLC Merry Law, President of WorldVu LLC, Merry oversees their publications and international marketing programs. With customers for their publications and consulting services in more than 70 countries, WorldVu actively markets worldwide via direct mail and the Internet. She is the editor of the Guide to Worldwide Postal-Code and Address Formats and an authority on international addressing. Merry has lived in Brussels, Belgium, where she was part of the management team of the multi-national membership organization FOCUS Career Services, implementing new administrative and financial procedures and reorganizing membership and subscriber databases. Before moving to Brussels, Merry was an independent consultant on international database services and international direct marketing. Merry began her career in international marketing managing The Conference Board's customer and marketing database. Merry has taught questionnaire design, basic methods of statistical analysis and lectured on U.S. voting behavior and politics at the university level. She writes on international and marketing issues and is co-author of A Travel Guide Through Children's Literature.
Session:
Stephanie Leibowitz has more than 20 years of experience providing
clients with a unique perspective and approach to business. With
undergraduate and graduate degrees in Anthropology from Stony
Brook University, Ms. Leibowitz brings an understanding of cultural
influences on communication and group dynamics to business strategy.
Her extensive experience includes management positions in marketing,
communications, business development, contracting, and health
care administration, including the development of marketing communications
plans for start-up operations. After a successful career in the
corporate sector, Ms. Leibowitz established a communications and
project management consulting practice in 2003 and has served
clients ranging from a regional health care trade organization,
to a software technology company, to a public sector management
firm. In 2004, she co-founded Proposaldocs™. Ms. Leibowitz
has successfully written and managed thousands of proposal projects,
and planned and managed thousands of large, integrated management
initiatives that required coordination and cooperation across
entire organizations. She is an adjunct instructor for the Dowling
Institute. Ms. Leibowitz is on the Long Island Works Coalition
Internship Connection Fair Planning Committee and a member of
its Speaker’s Bureau, a member of the Long Island Center
for Business and Professional Women, a member of the marketing
committee of the Foundation for Sight & Sound, and an associate
member of the Suffolk County Women’s Business Enterprise
Coalition. Richard Merzbacher has been President of State Bank of Long Island since 1997. Mr. Merzbacher was Executive Vice President from 1987 to 1997. He served as Senior Vice President and Senior Lending Officer from 1981 to 1987. Mr. Merzbacher received a MBA in Finance from Long Island University and a BA in Economics from St. Francis College. Mr. Merzbacher is past Chairman of the Nassau County Chapter of the American Red Cross and a former Officer and Director of the Long Island Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants. Currently, Mr. Merzbacher is a member of the Government Relations Council of the American Bankers Association and a member of the Robert Morris Associates. Mr. Merzbacher is past Chairman of the Long Island Group of the New York Bankers Association and serves on the Board of Directors of the Statewide Zone Capital Corporation and the New York State Bankers Service Corporation. Mr. Merzbacher was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the Independent Bankers Association of New York State. He serves as the Treasurer of the Boys and Girls Club of Oyster Bay-East Norwich and also sits on the Finance Committee of St. Kilian Parish and the President’s Council of Big Brothers and Sisters of Long Island.
Michael Murphy, Executive Director, Prudential Douglas Elliman Michael has incorporated a full service commercial division and tied into one of the country’s most predominant residential companies. As executive Director of the commercial division Michael is responsible for strategic planning and day-to-day operations overseeing 60 offices in New York alone. Since inception (approximately three years) he has sold in excess of forty-five million dollars in real estate and has done multiple office/industrial leases as well as retail developments with several national chains. Michael is an active member in CIBS, SIOR, ABO, and ICSC & EXECULEADERS. A few notable charities he is very involved with are The Sunshine Kids, American Heart Association, Toys for Tots and The Sunrise Fund-Stony Brook University. Michael is a “True “ entrepreneur… He has successfully started and opened several businesses including a chain of successful restaurant/Bars, with six (6) locations throughout Long Island. Michael has received his MBA in International Business from Franklin College, Lugano Switzerland. He participated in a one year accelerated program. Received his B.A. from CW Post Long Island University, where he also played football on scholarship. Session: Alan Pearl, Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel Portnoy Messenger Pearl & Associates Inc. Alan Pearl began his career as a labor attorney representing unions. Since 1976, he has represented management clients as both a consultant and in a legal capacity. As a practicing trial attorney and the principal partner in Alan B. Pearl & Associates, P.C., Alan represents employers in all facets of labor relations and employment law. A graduate of Adelphi University and Brooklyn Law School, Alan has participated in the "Lawyer in the Classroom" program sponsored by the Nassau County Bar Association and is a frequent lecturer to groups and businesses on discrimination and employment law matters in the workplace. His articles on labor and employment issues appear regularly in trade periodicals. He trains management in Title VII, ADEA, FMLA and ADA matters, and in various other fair employment practice rules and regulations.
Session: Vikram Rajan, Vice President, Maestro Business Academy Vikram
Rajan is the Director of the MAESTRO Business Academy, and co-founder
of its parent company, CoGrow Systems, Inc., an education and
counseling firm for business owners. Session: Yvonne Sydnor, Partner, Proposaldocs Yvonne Sydnor is a Senior Vice President responsible for operations management of Global Conferencing Services who has been with Citigroup since 1995. Prior to joining Citigroup, Ms. Sydnor was operations manager for an aircraft and industrial manufacturing facility responsible for account management for customers such as General Electric, Fairchild Republic, Xerox, Sperry Univac, and Grumman. In 2004, she co-founded Proposaldocs™. Ms. Sydnor serves as Executive Vice President for The Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women, and has received many awards lauding her achievements: recognition by President Carter for her Military Service, Citigroup Star Award, Citigroup Y2K Award, Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women Award for Recognition of Outstanding Voluntary Services, 2002 Achiever of the Year Award and a finalist in the 1st Annual Women in Technology Diamond Awards. Session: How To Write A Business-To-Business Proposal (AM) Ritu S. Wackett, Farmingdale SBDC, Business Advisor Ritu S. Wackett joined the Farmingdale SBDC in March 2002 with experience in economic development and political community relations. As well as being a certified Business Advisor, Ritu serves as the Farmingdale SBDC's grant writer and Spanish speaking advisor. Though well versed in all sectors, Ritu specializes in assistance to child care centers and woman-owned businesses. Additionally, she authored both Business Basics and The Business Plan Guide, publications extensively used by the SBDC. Prior to joining the SBDC, Ritu was most recently employed by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy’s Manhattan-based Good Jobs New York Project, where she researched corporate retention subsidies and wrote Development Subsidies in New York: A Research Manual for Activists. Ritu has a B.A. in political science and psychology and an M.A. in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an M.A. in public policy from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where she also completed two years of doctoral coursework. Sessions: Mark Wan, Farmingdale SBDC, Business Advisor Mark Wan currently works as a business advisor for the Farmingdale Small Business Development Center, where he develops business plans, financial models, and banking relationships for startup and existing businesses. At the SBDC he serves as the primary workshop presenter and has instructed over 40 workshops for over 900 attendees on business startup, business plan writing, marketing, tax issues, and more. Prior to joining the SBDC, he co-founded and served as Program Director of the Fordham University Service Learning Program, which matches the technical skills of qualified business students with the business needs of local nonprofits. He is an alumni of the university twice over, BS and MBA. Mark serves as a youth leader at a local church, leading middle/ high school students in weekly Bible studies and biweekly service projects focused on living the law of love. The group actively serves many local and national organizations, including Marty Lyons Foundation, March of Dimes, World Vision, and more. Some projects include serving meals in a soup kitchen and hosting a hunger banquet.
Session: Annette Wanderer, Assistant Professor Business Department, Farmingdale State University Annette Wanderer has been a faculty member for 15 years in the Business Management Technology Department at Farmingdale State University. Professor Wanderer teaches in the subject areas of Management, Business Communications and Public Relations. Professor Wanderer earned her MBA in Management form Long Island University and has more than 25 years of management consulting experience in a variety of industries. Her experience as a former School Board VP, as well as her current affiliation with Farmingdale State's "University in the High School program", allows Professor Wanderer to maintain strong ties with Long Island's business and educational communities.
Session: Lucille Wesnofske, Director, Small Business Development Center Farmingdale State University of New York Lucille Wesnofske, Director of the Farmingdale State Small Business Development Center, formerly Associate Director of the Stony Brook Small Business Development Center, has been with the program for 18 years. As director, Lucille is responsible for the management of the SBDC Regional Center at Farmingdale State. This includes 1 part time, 7 full time professional advisors, 2 administrative assistants and two outreach centers, one at CW Post and one located in Hempstead outreach center. Lucille has helped hundreds of fledgling entrepreneurs realize their dream of owning successful businesses resulting in millions of dollars of economic impact for the Long Island Economy. She takes particular pride in assisting women owned enterprises. She is known statewide for her business expertise in the child care industry. She has developed and conducted “hands on” training programs specifically designed to train new entrepreneurs in business planning, marketing and financial success. Recognizing the need for more quality child care providers on Long Island, Lucille developed the award winning, “Building Blocks Child Care Business Planner”, an automated decision support system that gives potential child care providers the necessary tools to create a business plan and successfully launch their new day care businesses. Because of its ease of use and comprehensiveness, the program is now being used statewide by other SBDCs, the Cornell Cooperative Extension and industry Resource and Referral Agencies. Business Recognition 2003
- Guest speaker “At Issue” News 12
|