Hauppauge, NY - November 2, 2016 - Twenty-eight small business owners from New York and Long Island graduated from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Emerging Leaders program, a “mini-MBA” training initiative for local businesses looking to expand.
This is the second cohort to finish the SBA New York District Office’s seven-month executive education series. The program focuses on building sustainable businesses and promoting economic development within urban communities. It includes approximately 100 hours of classroom time, connects small business owners with a network of industry experts and peers, and supports the creation of a three-year strategic growth action plan.
“The SBA Emerging Leaders program is a dynamic initiative supplying entrepreneurs with the tools to expand and strengthen their small businesses,” SBA Regional Administrator Kellie LeDet said. “The program offers great returns: Every $200 the SBA invests in Emerging Leaders, a new job is created, which builds our region from the bottom on up.”
Since the SBA started offering the Emerging Leaders program in various locations across the country, graduates have created thousands of new full-time jobs, accessed millions of dollars in new financing, and secured federal, state, local and tribal contracts worth more than $1 billion. More than two-thirds of graduating business increase their annual revenues.
New York SBA District Director Beth Goldberg participated in the Emerging Leader graduation ceremony which was held in Hauppauge, Long Island. Goldberg said, “Participants had the opportunity to engage in a different, free training module each week. These modules challenged them to see their businesses from a different point of view. Participants learned to work on their businesses rather than in them. It’s a really great program which represents what the SBA offers the American workforce: job creation, business knowledge, leadership and initiative.”
Dr. Jillian Finker of Finker Wellness, Inc. practices Naturopathy medicine in Bellmore, Long Island. She applied to Emerging Leaders to learn more about business management. “I knew how to work on the body, but nothing about working on a business,” she said. Finker said that after the SBA’s mini-MBA, she feels more confident managing the administrative side of her business.
The 2016 graduates from the New York City/Long Island class represent the Restaurant and Hospitality, Adult Home Care, Swimming Pool Maintenance, Floral, Public Relations and Media, Real Estate, Green Energy, Wine, Construction, Landscaping and Childcare industries.
“This program gave me the help I needed to make my business big,” said Mary Stetson of Stetson Real Estate, Mamaroneck. “We started as masters of our trades. Now we own our own businesses. Our teachers and the SBA gave us a great plan to grow our businesses and succeed.”
The following are the 2016 SBA Emerging Leaders New York City/Long Island class graduates:
New York Class
- Shamilla Mansingh – AHM Contractors – Staten Island
- Richmond Asamoah – C&J Mechanical Services LLC - Bronx
- Fanell Alerte – Citi Health Home Care Services, Inc. - Brooklyn
- Rupavilas Patel – Doughnut Plant – Long Island City
- Erica Fite Horvath, Katie Keating – Fancy LLC - Manhattan
- Thomas de los Santos – Hawkeye Security - Harlem
- Jiangyue Lin – ICN TV Network - Manhattan
- Ian Minerve – Green Power Associates - Brooklyn
- Chapman Manzer – Manzer’s Landscape Design & Development - Crugers
- Carla Tellez – Our Children First, Inc. - Bronx
- Gregory Prato – Prato Capital Management – White Plains
- Mary Stetson – Stetson Real Estate - Mamaroneck
- Michelle Huff Elliott - Strategic Heights Media - Manhattan
- Natalia Postrigan – WineZetta - Yonkers
- Mihail Dragomanov – Z-DAR Contracting - Scarsdale
Long Island Class
- Stuart Andrews – Shennicock Pools Inc. - Southampton
- Jillian Finker – Finker Wellness – Bellmore
- Linda Karatzas – Commack Florist and Gifts - Commack
- Susan Williams – SL Williams & Associates, Inc. - Miller Place
- Cynthia Leventhal – Miro Management LLC - Plainview
- Lefteri Gjezo – Jones Beach Hotel Group - Wantagh
- Ann-Marie Connor – Angel Home Care, Inc. - Farmingville
- Asgeir Asgeirsson – G. Willikers Locust Valley, Inc. – Locust Valley
- Yan Pogorelsky – OrthoSnap Corporation - Westbury
- Nancy Rowe – Practive Provider Corp. - Hauppauge
- Olusoji R. Ojeyemi – Reflective Exits, Inc. – Central Islip
- Ben Sadgrove – Tradeview Markets – Manhattan
For more information about the Emerging Leaders initiative – including applying for the 2017 class – visit online, or email Jennifer Jackson of the New York District SBA Office.
About the SBA New York District Office:
The SBA New York District Office delivers its programs and services throughout New York City, Long Island and the downstate counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster and Westchester. Our Long Island Branch Office Services Long Island. Visit www.sba.gov/ny for more information including resource partners, lenders, workshops, success stories and other resources to help businesses start, grow and succeed.