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| Lisa
Albinowski
Linda Calderone, Professor of Business/Management Technology Department, Farmingdale State College Linda
Calderone holds the rank of Full Professor of Business of the
Business/Management Technology Department at Farmingdale State.
Professor Calderone has been associated with Farmingdale State
for over 30 years, and teaches in the areas of International Business,
Marketing, Management, and Business Jill O’Sullivan, Professor of Business/Management Technology Department, Farmingdale State College Professor Jill O’Sullivan is a faculty member at Farmingdale State College in the Business Administration and Management of Technology Department. Professor O’Sullivan teaches in the subject areas of Entrepreneurship, Operations Supply Chain Management, International Business, Strategic Management, and Management courses. Professor O’Sullivan is the recipient of the 2007 Farmingdale College Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching. Professor O’Sullivan is on the Board of Directors of the Long Island Chapter of APICS (Organization of Operations Management). She is the Faculty and Student advisor to the Student Chapter of APICS at Farmingdale State College. Professor O’Sullivan earned a B.S. in Criminal Justice from C. W. Post, an MBA in Business Management from Dowling College and is currently pursuing her doctorate. Mrs. O’Sullivan is the Founder and President of JJK Sales, a Manufacturers Rep company that served the Mid Atlantic, New England and New York chapter regions. The company specialized in custom manufacturing, assembly, and electronic component products for a diverse customer base of Industrial/OEM, Distributor/Wholesalers, Value Added Reseller (VAR), Military/Aerospace, Government, and Medical companies ranging from world leaders to large and small L.I. companies. Principles represented included international and national sources. Formerly, a Purchasing Manager and Material Manager on Long Island, Mrs. O’Sullivan has acquired more than 24 years of experience in Operations. Married with two young boys Prof O’Sullivan lives in Nassau County. Professor O’Sullivan maintains strong ties with the Long Island business communities and continues to bring her business experience to the classroom. Anna Maria Sforza Villa, Sole Proprietor, Sforza Bandola Anna Maria Sforza Villa is the sole proprietor of Sforza Bandola, a strategic marketing consultancy and AMV Entertainment, a music, entertainment and video productions company. In 1989, with $600 in her pocket and a roundtrip ticket, she returned to America after spending nine years living, studying and working in Italy. She began work immediately selling on commission and later returned to school taking one class per semester. She founded Sforza Bandola in 1996, and earned her bachelor's degree in 1998 while supporting herself DJing/singing and consulting. Ms. Villa has worked with small to mid-sized businesses here and in Italy including engineering firms, manufacturers and restaurants. She also has worked with governmental and political clients as well as clients in arts, entertainment, tourism and academia. Among them was the Small Business Development Center in Stony Brook as well as for Hofstra University's Business Development Center. In addition, in a conference organized by The Center for Italian Studies at the State University of New York in Stony Brook: "Sicily is Here, Made in Sicily", Ms. Villa addressed a group of Italian students and professors of marketing from the University of Messina, Italy. She successfully devised and implemented many innovative marketing campaigns in a variety of environments that increased sales and profits quickly and dramatically, and at low cost to the organizations. She is well versed in cutting-edge "best practices", has internet marketing expertise and has extensive, hands-on experience. Ms. Villa has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business, Management and Economics majoring in Marketing from Empire State College, State University of New York in Old Westbury, USA and an Associates Degree in Applied Arts in Community Studies (Diploma di Maturita' - Dirigente di Communita'), ITALY. She is bi-lingual, speaks, writes, and translates/transcribes Italian fluently. She sings, is a DJ/MC and is one of the first female DJ's on Long Island. Her memberships include the Society of Professional Journalists, Press Club of Long Island and the Copywriter's Council of America. Ms Villa lives in Hauppauge, Long Island, and spends time at her mountain home in Italy with her extended family. Ritu S. Wackett, Business Advisor, Small Business Development Center, Farmingdale State College Ritu S. Wackett joined the Farmingdale SBDC in 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. Ritu additionally authored The Home Based Child Care Provider’s Business Management Toolkit in a joint venture between the Farmingdale SBDC and the Child Care Council of Suffolk, Inc. 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 holds a B.A. (summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) in political science and psychology from the State University of New York at Albany 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 coursework toward a doctorate in political science. Ritu sits on the boards of the Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc. and the Suffolk County Executive’s Asian American Advisory Board. Ritu was also a founding board member of the United States Women’s Chamber of Commerce, New York affiliate. In January 2008, Ritu was named in the “Top 40 under 40”, for individuals in the business community by Long Island Business News. Dorothy
M. Harris, Assistant to the Director, Small Business
Development Center, Farmingdale State College Jill Frechtman, Founder and President, Fretzels by Jill, Inc. Jill Frechtman, an admitted chocoholic, began making chocolate covered pretzels in her mom’s kitchen at a very young age. Experimenting with different combinations of chocolates and toppings, she soon began giving her creations as gifts to friends and family. Always a creative soul both in and out of the kitchen, Jill’s artistic inclinations led her to pursue a degree in Advertising Design from Syracuse University, where she received her BFA in May 2001. In December 2001, working as an assistant art director at a large advertising agency in New York, Jill made her chocolate-covered pretzels for an office holiday party where they were an instant hit! Jill's edible art proved to be so irresistible that everyone's raving turned into encouragement. She had to get her pretzels out there for other people to try. After almost 2 years of encouragement from family, friends, and coworkers, it took an Oprah Show, featuring Po Bronson, author of What Should I Do with My Life? To finally realize her “Aha” moment that this sweet path was the one she should take. Using her creativity and background in design, Jill perfected various pretzel creations and designed her own logo and packaging, turning her passion and pastime into a business. Thus, Fretzels™ by Jill "Frechtman" was born. With an initial “investment” of $300 from her grandmother to buy chocolate, and a few years of nurturing and developing her idea, Jill’s ecommerce website, www.fretzels.com, finally launched in May 2005. She continued to work in advertising while starting to grow her business until it became apparent that she could not do both jobs. In March 2006 she finally got the courage to leave the corporate world. In just over 2 years, Fretzels by Jill has already been nationally (and locally) recognized, being featured on The Today Show, ABC 7 Eyewitness News, Long Island Business News, DailyCandy.com, The Rachael Ray Show, LI Pulse Magazine, Real Simple Magazine, as well as many other national and regional media outlets. Jill Frechtman, 28, has had to wear many different hats in order to run her business. She is the head chef, creative director, graphic designer, webmaster, book-keeper, shipping manager, customer service representative, and marketing and public relations director. But she could not do it all alone. Family and friends have generously provided their time and energy, pitching in wherever and whenever necessary, especially her father, who now works with her full-time. In January 2008, Jill was named in the “Top 40 under 40”, for individuals in the business community by Long Island Business News. In addition to growing her own business, Jill has provided support for other budding entrepreneurs. She has given her time to speak at the Farmingdale Entrepreneur Conference, NYU Stern Business School, and at Ladies Who Launch events. Jill lives by the motto, “Sleep is overrated.” Kimberly Seals Allers, Award-winning Journalist, Personal Finance Expert, Public Speaker and Author Kimberly Seals Allers is an award-winning journalist, a respected personal finance expert, public speaker and the author of The Mocha Manual to a Fabulous Pregnancy (Amistad/HarperCollins) —the first-of-its kind guidebook for African American moms-to-be. She is also a co-author of the recently released Giving Notice: Why the Best and the Brightest Are Leaving the Workplace and How You Can Help Them Stay (John Wiley & Sons), and author of the upcoming The Mocha Manual to Turning Your Passion into Profit (Amistad/HarperCollins), a guidebook for entrepreneurs. Seals-Allers is been a frequent expert columnist and guest speaker on personal finance, motherhood, and work/life balance issues. She also appears frequently on television and radio. Most recently, Seals Allers served as a senior editor at Essence magazine, where she was responsible for all the personal finance and careers coverage, including feature stories, the annual POWER issue, and her eight-page monthly section. Seals Allers created and executed Essence’s first-ever Home Ownership Campaign. The series received the National Association of Black Journalists’ 2007 award for best business story of the year. At Essence, she also served as host of the nationwide Work & Wealth events, where she conducted live “talk show” style financial planning workshops in various cities. Prior to joining Essence, Seals-Allers was a reporter and staff writer for Fortune magazine for seven years. In 1999, she was awarded the Knight-Bagehot Fellowship for Business & Economics Journalism at Columbia University. Seals Allers has also worked as the Wall Street reporter and columnist for the New York Post, and as a business writer for The Times of London. Her freelance work has appeared in Ladies Home Journal, The New York Daily News, Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens Family Money, The Independent (London), Fortune, Pregnancy, Black Enterprise, Upscale, Savoy and others. The Mocha Manual to a Fabulous Pregnancy has been extensively featured in the international, national and local press, including Ebony, Pregnancy, and Essence magazines, and the UK’s New Nation and The Voice newspapers. Seals Allers has also held several academic posts, serving as an adjunct professor at NYU, Long Island University, and City College of the City University of New York to name a few. Seals Allers holds a BA from New York University, and a M.S. from Columbia University. A Queens, New York native, she currently resides on Long Island, New York with her two children—seven-year-old Kayla Rebecca and three-year-old Michael Jaden. Celeste Beatty, CEO, Harlem Brewing Company Celeste Beatty is President and CEO of Harlem Brewing Company, which she founded in November 2000. She became fascinated with beer brewing in the early 1990’s, when a friend gave her a home brewing system. At that time, Beatty was continuing her studies at NYU. \ Her hobby took on new meaning when she traveled to Europe and Central America and got a sense of how integral beers are to many cultures. This was further heightened when, while in Europe, Beatty discovered a map that illustrated beer’s role in world history. She was excited to learn that some of the earliest beers were made by women in Africa and that this tradition was passed down through many generations in America. For Beatty, her brewing hobby soon turned into beer passion. She was a founder and director of Mojo Highway Brewing Company, one of the nation’s first African-American-owned brewing companies. Establishing a brand in major urban markets provided her with a wealth of experience, which she used when starting Harlem Brewing. Beatty has also served as advisor to several start-up beverage ventures, focusing on the specialty craft-brewing market. Beatty created the recipe for Harlem Brewing’s Sugar Hill Golden Ale and made the first batches (near her bathtub) in her Harlem apartment. Although she is originally from North Carolina, Harlem and music was an integral piece of her cultural upbringing, which is why she has tied her brand to one of Harlem’s most famous neighborhoods, Sugar Hill. Starting a beer brand isn’t easy. She was just getting things on track in September 2001. The New York Times had featured a story on her and Sugar Hill Ale; things looked promising. But on September 11, a truck full of Sugar Hill was detoured to New Jersey as a result of the attacks. Beatty was unable to get to the product in time. It spoiled, because it was not pasteurized. In addition, many of the bars, restaurants and cafés that had placed orders did not want new inventory. Beatty did not give up and rebuilt her business and relationships from scratch. Today, Sugar Hill Ale is found in many retail venues around NYC, and Beatty plans to launch into several new markets along the eastern corridor and in Asia. Future plans include a brewery-pub. An avid cook, Beatty also develops tasty recipes that are best accompanied by a Sugar Hill Ale. Richard Cassiano, President, North American Resource Capital, Inc. Richard Cassiano started North American Resource Capital in 1995. He helps many small businesses start-up and others to continue to grow, helping them secure the financing they need, and guiding them step by step, from application to closing. Customer industries encompass: manufacturers; service businesses; retail stores; restaurants; transportation; real estate investment; professional services; etc. Financing is often provided for: business equipment; working capital; build out; inventory; account receivables; real estate; and business acquisitions. Assistance is offered through referrals for insurance, legal representation, accounting services, credit repair, etc. Richard Cassiano’s career providing business financing began in 1984. Prior he had worked in consumer financing and auto leasing administration. Richard Cassiano is an alumnus of CW Post/Long Island University and Nassau Community College. www.narcapital.com Stanley F. Grochocki, Vice President, New York Business Development Corporation Stan Grochocki is a Vice president with the New York Business Development Corporation, the Empire State Certified Development Corporation and the Statewide Zone Capital Corporation. Prior to joining NYBDC, Stan served as Vice President and Senior Credit Officer for the Community Development Corporation of Long Island in Centereach, NY. He has over 30 years of broad-based commercial banking experience working with institutions such as Washington Mutual Bank, Fleet Bank, and EAB. He is responsible for SBA supported lending activities in New York City and Long Island. Mark
Wan, Manager, Firmwide Sourcing, Morgan Stanley Previously, Mark was a business advisor for the Farmingdale SBDC, where he consulted over 1,000 startup companies in business planning, management, and financial analysis. He also served as client development manager for MBAs4NYC, a non-profit providing free technical assistance and consulting to small businesses rebuilding post 9-11. Mark’s professional experience also includes a brief stint with KPMG’s audit practice. Mark holds B.S. and M.B.A. degrees from Fordham University, where he graduated with high honors. His additional interests have included serving as adjunct lecturer at St. Joseph’s College, founding board member of the Long Island Junior Chamber, working with high school students through a local church. Mark lives in Hicksville, NY, with his wife Erin. Mindy Ferrentino Wolfle, Founder and President, Neptune Marketing LLC Mindy Ferrentino Wolfle is the founder of Neptune Marketing LLC, which she established in January 2005 to assist entrepreneurs, businesses, professionals, organizations, and not-for-profits in reaching their business development goals through targeted marketing. She often presents seminars and workshops on such topics as networking, entrepreneurship, and marketing. A well-known Long Island marketing professional and active networker, Mindy previously held marketing director positions at several large national accounting and law firms. She also spent eighteen years with the Nassau County Department of Social Services where she developed her focus on human services and giving back to the communities in which we live and work. Mindy was recognized by the Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women in 2007, when she received the prestigious Achievers Award in the field of Marketing. In 2005, Mindy was presented with the “Making a Difference for Women” award by Soroptimist International, a worldwide organization for women working through service projects to advance human rights and the status of women. She was named Outstanding In-House Marketing Department Executive for 2003 by the Long Island Ad Club and Long Island Business News, and has been the recipient of the International Association of Business Communicators’ “Achievement in Communications Award”; honored by the Girl Scouts of Nassau County in its “90 Women for 90 Years” Honor Roll; and was presented with a Leadership Award by the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. With volunteer and humanitarian affiliations too numerous to list, Mindy is currently a director of Soroptimist International of Nassau County and has served on the boards of the LI Center for Business & Professional Women, the U.S. Women’s Chamber of Commerce, the Public Relations Professionals of Long Island, the International Association of Business Communicators, and the Long Island Fund for Women and Girls. Neptune Marketing LLC provides integrated marketing, communications, and public relations services. A published writer, Mindy has authored numerous articles, interviews, opinion pieces, newsletters, and speeches; she also ghost writes for her clients. Other services provided by Neptune Marketing include branding, seminars, speaking engagements, event planning, annual reports, collateral materials, strategic planning and consulting, marketing plans, Website project management and Website content. Ken Stein, President, Kensington Company Ken Stein is the President of The Kensington Company, which is located in Roslyn Heights, New York. The Kensington Company is a professional merger and acquisition intermediary firm with three divisions of expertise; Middle-Market M & A, Main Street Businesses and Franchise Sales and Development. Mr. Stein is also a Franchise Specialist with Frannet, which has successfully identified more suitable franchise opportunities for interested candidates than any other organization. Mr. Stein applies his varied skills in the owning, operation, marketing and sale of small to mid-size businesses to facilitate successful transactions for his clients. In addition, he has achieved the designation of Certified Business Intermediary, which is granted to professionals who complete the stringent requirements of the International Brokers Association. Only approximately 350 business intermediaries in the U.S. currently carry that coveted title. Even more notably, Mr. Stein is one of only 37 Certified Business Intermediaries who have completed the additional rigorous required coursework required to achieve the advanced designation of Merger & Acquisition Master Intermediary (M&AMI). Before starting The Kensington Company, Ken Stein operated numerous drug stores and home health care companies on Long Island for 18 years. In 1995, Mr. Stein sold his business to Revco Drug Stores, which at the time was the second largest drug chain in the country. They have since been acquired by CVS. At the time, one of Mr. Stein’s stores was ranked three in sales volume for the entire chain of 2,500 stores. These results were achieved by expanding the store size twice, and more importantly by providing superior service in a very competitive environment. In 1995, Mr. Stein sold his business to Revco Drug Stores, then the second largest drug chain in the U.S. At the time of the sale, one of his stores was ranked third in sales volume out of Revco's entire chain of 2,500 stores. Mr. Stein was able to achieve this significant success with his business by emphasizing superior service in a highly competitive marketplace and, as a result, was able to expand the size of the store twice. Stuart Levenberg, Franchise Development Manager, Kensington Company After graduating from the University of Cincinnati with a double Major in Finance and Real Estate, Stuart immediately began his career in franchising. Working for a 14 unit operator in the Arthur Treacher’s System, Stuart was in part responsible for the financial reporting of all units as well as field support. In 2003, Stuart made the transition into Arthur Treacher's corporate offices and was responsible for nationwide franchise sales of 4 Quick Service Restaurants. In 2005, Stuart joined the Kensington Company & Affiliates in their Franchise Sales and Development office. Stuart has forged relationships within the community and has helped match dozens of franchise buyers to right franchise opportunity. Currently Stuart is working towards completing is Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) Status as well as his Certified Business Intermediary (CBI). Stuart is a Co-founder of the JAG Foundation, a recognized charitable organization that supports Cancer Research as well as College Scholarship programs in the Long Island Community and currently serves on its Board of Directors. Nancy Rasmussen, President, Expert Events With over 20 years of public relations, trade show and event management experience, Nancy Rasmussen formerly served as Director of Corporate Sponsorships and Events for NEC USA, Inc., where she was directly responsible for major national and international functions including PGA TOUR golf tournaments; Davis Cup tennis; Boston Symphony Orchestra touring activities, Opening Nights at Tanglewood; Carnegie Hall and Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts concerts; multi-subsidiary trade show coordination; groundbreakings; new facilities openings and executive press conferences and business outings. As president of Expert Events, a full-service event planning company, Nancy offers her clients a standard of excellence, by providing creative direction and management to businesses or not-for-profit organizations seeking to enhance branding, corporate identity, community/public awareness; to introduce new products or services, or to motivate or recognize employees. John Mangione, Franchise Owner, The PRstore Owner of the PRstore franchise rights to Long Island and the five New York Boroughs, John Mangione works hard towards helping small businesses with their marketing needs. From marketing consultations to leading his own business development seminars, Mangione provides small business owners with the knowledge they need to grow their business. In addition to working hard in the quest to develop over twenty PRstore’s in the New York area, Mangione serves on the board of the Needler’s Foundation, a philanthropic organization, responsible for raising money for children’s charities. He also donates his time to his local parish, where he directs the children’s choir. His talents range from professional musician to New York certified high school band director to avid golfer. He has a lovely wife Rose, and two children, Deanna 9 and Nicole 7. Dudley Blossom, PhD, Assistant Department Chair, Business Department, Farmingdale State College Dudley Blossom, PhD is a self-proclaimed entrepreneur and educator. He has started, developed and sold companies in the US and Europe. Dudley is currently a partner in two brand development and marketing strategy companies in Europe focusing on developing market entry, market defensive and brand development strategies. Dudley completed his PhD at the University of Arizona as well as a MBA in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. Until January 2007, Dudley was chair of the Eastern European Chapter of the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals. He has lectured on emerging market strategies and internationalization at the American University in Bulgaria, The University of Stockholm, Leon Kozminski Academy of Entrepreneurship and Management, Center for Entrepreneurship & Executive Development, CeBit, Amsterdam RAI, as well as lecture series in Switzerland, Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. In addition to his consulting activities, Dudley is currently on the faculty of Farmingdale State College where he is Assistant Department Chair of the Business Department. Scott Passeser, Director of Industrial Outreach, Stony Brook University – Economic Development Creator
and Host of “Jobline,” a weekly Long Island business
television program broadcast weekly on News 12 Long Island since
1989. Lee Goldberg, Regional Vice President, PRIME Visibility LLC Lee Goldberg is a Regional Vice President and Senior Pay-Per-Click Specialist with PRIME Visibility LLC. Active in the Search Marketing industry since 2002, he has successfully worked with both Fortune 500 companies and entrepreneurial startups to put together high performance organic and paid search campaigns. Lee is a Google Adwords Qualified Individual, a Yahoo! Sponsored Search Ambassador, and a Microsoft adExcellence Member, and is a published author on several industry websites. A graduate of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University, Lee is a frequent guest lecturer on Venture Financing, Closed-Loop Internet Marketing, and Search Engine Optimization. Brian Fried, Facilitator, Inventors & Entrepreneurs Club of Suffolk County; Board of Directors, New York Society of Professional Inventors; President, Think Up Designs and Inventor & Entrepreneur Brian
has been the owner of www.promotionsdepot.com, an ad specialty
company, for over 13 years. For the past 4 years Brian has been
an active inventor and entrepreneur, turning his hobby into a
business by bringing to life his inventions portfolio. As President
of Think Up Designs, Inc., he currently holds two issued utility
patents, six other patent pending inventions and has twelve more
in development. Another part of his company creates and licenses
brand art properties, mostly targeting the teen and tween market.
He has eight art brands in development and currently holds over
150 trademarks in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Lisa Renee Pomerantz, Attorney at Law Lisa has more than twenty-five years of varied legal experience. After graduating cum laude from Radcliffe College of Harvard University and from Boston University Law School where she was on the Law Review, Lisa spent a year as a law clerk to a federal court judge. Following a stint as a litigation attorney in private practice, she worked for more than fifteen years as a senior level in-house attorney for a major corporation. Her responsibilities there included transactional matters, compliance initiatives, dispute resolution and counseling clients on a broad variety of corporate, employment, antitrust and intellectual property matters. Since 2003, Lisa has had her own practice in Sayville. She works with innovative and creative enterprises to structure and foster successful business relationships and to resolve disputes amicably and cost-effectively. She also develops and presents creative and effective interactive training programs, and is a popular keynote speaker at business, association and educational events. Lisa is a leader in the legal and business community. In addition to serving as Secretary of the Suffolk County Women’s Business Enterprise Coalition, she serves as Co-Chair of the Suffolk County Bar Association’s recently created Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee. She formerly chaired the Bar Association’s Intellectual Property Committee and has been an Officer and Advisory Board member of the Suffolk Academy of Law. She received the Bar Association’s Award of Recognition in both 2003 and 2004 for her contributions to continuing legal education and as Committee Co-Chair. She also is a member of the American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Neutrals as a Commercial Mediator and Arbitrator. Sima A. Ali, Esq., Alan B. Pearl & Associates, P.C. SIMA A. ALI joined the firm as an associate in 2005. Sima was admitted to the New York bar in 1997, and is a graduate of Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations and the George Washington University School of Law. She is admitted to the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and was previously employed at labor and employment law firms on Long Island as well as a large municipal union. Sima's practice includes all areas of labor and employment law in both the private and public sector. She also provides counseling, advice and training to businesses on labor and employment law and human resources issues. Sima is a member of the Suffolk County Bar Association, the New York State Women’s Bar Association, the Nassau County Bar Association and the Huntington Lawyer’s Club. Rich Kruse, Executive Vice President, The Intelligent Office of Garden City Rich Kruse is one of the most recognized and respected business leaders on Long Island, has played an integral role in the growth of Long Island as a center for business and technology. Through a combination of entrepreneurial savvy, networking, public relations and charitable goodwill, Mr. Kruse has been a driving force in developing alliances and business organizations that have helped distinguish Long Island as a dynamic place to live, work and play. Mr. Kruse started his Long Island technology career in 1995 at Computer Associates International, where he managed strategic corporate clients in the marketing and sales division of the CA Unicenter software team. In 1996, Mr. Kruse joined a Long Island based consulting firm, where he formed computer networking and software divisions, and went on to become president. In 2001, Mr. Kruse served in a multifaceted role at Long Island’s premier Internet & eSolutions Provider, Invision.com, as the president of their new venture, as well as being the "rainmaker" for the entire Invision corporation. He helped Invision become the top Internet Hosting and Web Development Company on Long Island, as well as making Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Fastest Growing Tech companies. Invision went on to win Ernst & Young’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. In 2003, he went on to do marketing and business development consulting. Recently, Mr. Kruse joined The Intelligent Office of Garden City as Executive Vice President, where he is helping the small and mid-size business community gain a professional image and increase their opportunities, no matter where they are located. Mr. Kruse is one of the six Co-Founder’s of the highly acclaimed organization – LISTnet (The Long Island Software & Technology Network), which is an integral part of the Long Island technology, business and educational community, based at the Long Island Business & Technology Center. Started ten years ago, LISTnet reached over 1000 member companies. Mr. Kruse, in March of 04, started another not-for-profit business association called ExecuLeaders, of which he is the Founder & President. In less than three years, ExecuLeaders has signed up 200 member companies, with 650 associate members & sponsors, including such companies as The NY Islanders/Dragons, Commerce Bank, Festo, RivkinRadler, Invision & Long Island Business News. Mr. Kruse, a native of Yonkers, NY - moved to Deer Park, Long Island in 1972, where he still resides with his wife Catherine, of twenty-six years, and their two children, Alexandra (21) and Tyler (13). After Deer Park High School, he went on to Suffolk County Community College and then to the prestigious American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Shakir Farsakh, Director, Long Island Office for U.S. Commercial Service, Department of Commerce Shakir Farsakh is the Long Island office Director for the U.S. Commercial Service, Department of Commerce, a post he has occupied since October 2006. He first joined the U.S. government as a staff member on the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) in 1990. Later, he worked as Associate Director for the Middle East for the Commerce Department in Washington DC. Then, Shakir transferred to Boston and ultimately Manhattan to counsel high tech companies on exporting as an International Trade Specialist for the Commercial Service. During his public service career, he has helped organize Middle East missions for U.S. Commerce Secretaries Brown and Evans, and run the U.S. commercial office in the United Arab Emirates as a temporary duty commercial officer. Shakir briefly left the government to develop international strategic alliances for an internet company in Boston from 2000-2001. He speaks Arabic and French, and holds an MA in International Relations from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, DC. Thomas P. Cummings, Northeast & Mid-Atlantic Regional Director, Export-Import Bank Thomas P. Cummings is the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for the Export-Import Bank. He has been at Ex-Im Bank for the past 14 years. He is responsible for the banks sales and marketing to small businesses in a sixteen state territory. Prior to joining Ex-Im Bank, he was employed by the Foreign Credit Insurance Association for 14 years, in various positions in marketing, underwriting and claims. Prior to FCIA, he was employed by Westinghouse Electric Corporation for 7 years in various positions in project finance and trade finance. Adina Genn, Editor, Author, Writer, Journalist Adina Genn is an award-winning journalist recognized with several press club awards for her news and feature work. In 2007, she was named Journalist of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration (New York District). She is the co-author of SO, YOU WANT TO FRANCHISE YOUR BUSINESS (Entrepreneur Press, August 2008), along with “Franchise Guru” Harold Kestenbaum, and the coauthor of EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW IN BUSINESS I LEARNED AT McDONALDS (McGraw-Hill, 2008), along with Paul Facella, a former McDonalds vice president who now runs Inside Management in Lynbrook. A small-business expert, Ms. Genn spent seven years covering entrepreneurship for the weekly Long Island Business News. She currently writes for Long Island Magazine, Long Island Press, Canvas, Newsday’s Long Island Weddings, Building Long Island and more. Her articles have also appeared in the New York Times. Prior to becoming an author and writer, Ms. Genn worked in book publishing as an editor. Now, in addition to writing books and articles, Ms. Genn helps executives communicate their ideas in print. Thomas J. Grech, Assistant Professor of Business, Farmingdale State College Tom Grech is a 1984 graduate of the University of Scranton, Scranton, PA with a BS in Accounting. He received his MBA in International Business from Manhattan College, Bronx, NY. His career has spanned the printing industry over the past 20 years with both RR Donnelley and Merrill Corporation in operations, sales and management. He also was VP of Sales and Operations at the internet start-up www.xlibris.com during the dotcom boom. He is currently employed by Virtudocs, Inc, a document management firm headquartered in NYC and is an adjunct at Farmingdale State College teaching Entrepreneurship. Further activities include serving on the Board of a nonprofit, www.foundationforgrievingchildren.com as well as an adviser to the social networking start-up, www.thecollegenitelife.com and Secretary for the University of Scranton Alumni Board of Governors. Lloyd Clarke, Business Advisor, SBDC Farmingdale State College Lloyd has 14 years of experience as an SBDC business advisor specializing in business and marketing plans. He has conducted many business seminars using motivational techniques that encourage entrepreneurs. His prior experience as Plant Manager, Director of Distribution, and Terminal Manager for Continental Trailways brings a wealth of practical knowledge to his counseling skills. Lloyd has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Baruch College, a diploma in Credit Analysis from New York University and four postgraduate certificates in Communications and Multimedia from New York University. Armando D'Accordo, President, Computer Support Solutions, Inc. Armando D'Accordo brings more than 22 years of experience to the support industry. As the vice president of service delivery and executive support for Cendant Corporation, he has delivered quality service in help desk, desktop, Email, outsourcing, operational security, and data investigations. With the dissolution of Cendant complete, Armando has become an independent consultant and is currently working on his own IT services start-up company. Armando was selected as the STI Knowledge 2001 Customer Support Director of the Year, and has many IT industry certifications. He has received extensive training in business management, customer service, sales and quality assurance from the University of Michigan, the AMA, Disney, Citibank and GE. Armando has presented at many conferences and symposiums and is an accomplished and entertaining speaker, as well as an industry leader. Mark Russak, Executive Producer, Media Dreams, Inc. Mark has successfully worked in television, film, corporate media and advertising for the past 20 years. He has developed and created commercials, infomercials, training and sales videos from Fortune 500 companies to leading small businesses. He has also produced and marketed material in Latin America and Asia. His roles have extended from creative & technical director to writer and producer. Mark has also produced many hi profile live staging events, overseeing staging, video and film lighting, television and radio transmission as well as managing six figure budgets. His work has ranged with such companies as Coca Cola, Mercedes Benz and Colgate Palmolive to small business products and services in the areas of nutrition, fuel catalysts, skin care, medical services and much more. Mark is currently the executive producer for Media Dreams, Inc: a full service television, film and video production company in New York. Trevor
Davis, Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer,
Community Development Corporation of Long Island Michael Martino, Managing Editor, Long Island Press Michael Martino is the managing editor of the Long Island Press. For over 10 years, Martino was a public relations executive in both LI and Manhattan, and built a career executing plans that including media outreach, crisis communications and community and government relations for clients ranging from nationally renowned law firms and local not for profits. As the Managing Editor of the Press, Martino oversees all news content written for both the print and online editions of the paper. In addition to his managerial responsibilities, Martino also writes feature, news and cover stories as well as his award-winning weekly column, Dry Martino. Lucille Wesnofske, Director, Small Business Development Center, Farmingdale State College Lucille Wesnofske has over 21 years experience in small business consulting. She has been the Director of the New York State Small Business Development Center at Farmingdale State since 2001 and has helped hundreds of entrepreneurs realize the dream of becoming a business owner. She specializes in and is most committed to assisting women-owned enterprises and is known statewide for her business expertise in the child care industry. Her work for the Small Business Development Center has resulted in millions of dollars of economic impact for the Long Island economy. In May 2007 Ms. Wesnofske was named one of the "Top Fifty Most Influential Women in Economic Development on Long Island", by Long Island Business News and in April 2007 she was honored by Execuleaders as "Champion of Small Business". In May 2006 she received the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Public Service for the State University of New York. Ms. Wesnofske was the first business advisor in New York State to achieve advanced certification from the New York State Small Business Development Center. She received the "Star Performer Award" from the National Association of Small Business Development Centers. The Town of Brookhaven Office of Women Services recognized her for her outstanding service to the community in government. In addition, the software authored by Ms. Wesnofske, "Building Blocks Child Care Business Planner," won LISTNET's LISA award. Ms. Wesnofske earned her B.A. in Liberal Arts and Masters in Public Policy from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and her A.A.S from Farmingdale State University of New York. Arthur Garritano Jr., Commercial Real Estate Broker & Owner, Garritano Realty Group LLC Art Garritano has been in the commercial real estate business since 1979. In 2002, Art founded Garritano Realty Group which specializes in commercial brokerage and development with an emphasis on retail locations and development property. Art's vast experience with trade zones, traffic, expansion, and lease negotiations has helped him service organizations such as Blockbuster, Boston Market, McDonalds, Taco Bell, CVS, Walgreen, Commerce Bank, Duane Reade, Rite Aid, Eckerd, Sleepy’s, AT&T and North Fork Bank. Lisa
Albinowski, New York State Licensed Real Estate Broker,
SRES, Associate Broker at Garritano Realty Group LLC, Suffolk
County Women's Business Enterprise Coalition Board of Directors
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