2016 Small Business Excellence Award – Daughter For Hire, LLC
The Women’s Business Center of New York State selected Daughter For Hire, LLC as their 2016 Small Business Excellence Award Winner. Co-owners, Kathleen Rutishauser and Denise Flihan established Daugher For Hire, LLC in 2012. This non-medical senior companion care service provides caring, compassionate and dependable assistance to seniors who want to stay in their own homes for as along as possible. The services allows their clients to age in place, without having to more to assisted living or a nursing home. Daughter For Hire, LLC provides independence for their client, peace of mind for their family and an overall better quality of life.
2015 Small Business Excellence Award – RM Irish Jewels
The Women’s Business Center of New York State selected RM Irish Jewels of Saratoga Springs, NY as their 2015 Small Business Excellence Award Winner. RM Irish Jewels is owned and operated by Ronnie McCluskey since 2012. Ronnie imports artisan jewelry from Ireland, France and Wales.
If you knew you couldn’t fail what would you do? Ronnie McCluskey would sell artisan Irish jewelry. After a trip to Ireland Ronnie considered importing this beautiful jewelry to America; something designers had never done before. After 35 years in corporate sales, Ronnie gave it all up to do what she loved – selling Irish artisan jewelry through her company, RM Irish Jewels. In a short time, Ronne has made an impact on the community, expanding to France and Wales and has made a name for herself and RM Irish Jewels.
When Disaster Strikes, Is Your Business Ready?
On September 19th, twenty-six business owners came together and learned about Disaster Preparedness. The Women’s Business Center of NYS and the Small Business Administration Syracuse District Office hosted “When Disaster Strikes, Is Your Business Ready? as part of September’s Disaster Preparedness Month. Bernadette Quenneville and Al Tahan, owners of Joe Tahan’s Furniture spoke about the several disasters that they overcame as a business. Their main focus was to let business owners know that they should have a Disaster Plan and be proactive not reactive. “Plan ahead!” Also presenting at this event were Rachael Stanton, SBA Syracuse District Office Public Affairs Specialist, who spoke about SBA and what services they provide business owners during a disaster, and Nik Rebovich of the American Red Cross of the Mohawk Valley, who gave the audience Disaster Preparedness Tips.
Mello Testa, Director of Purchasing for Oneida Country addresses the participants on how to sell to Oneida County.
Opening Doors to Government Contracting Workshop Huge Success!
May 20, 2014 over 80 people came out to learn about Government Contracting. SBA Syracuse District Office along with many resource partners sponsored this half day workshop. The Women’s Business Center of NYS, Utica SCORE Chapter and MV Small Business Development Center were instrumental in putting this workshop together. Participants were able to attend various sessions on Federal Contracting, Marketing to State Agencies, Marketing to Oneida County, Cities of Utica and Rome and NYS MWBE Certification. There was also a Small Business Owners Panel from two area businesses that explained how they did it.
WBC of NYS Wins WBC Excellence Award
The WBC of NYS under the direction of Donna Rebisz was awarded the U.S. SBA’s Syracuse District 2012 Women’s Business Center Excellence Award and also the SBA’s Region II Regional Women’s Business Center of Excellence Award. These awards were presented to the WBC of NYS at the 14th Annual Small Business Excellence Awards luncheon in Syracuse on May 4, 2012. The WBC of NYS had to compete against other WBC’s from Region II which encompassesNew York State,New Jersey,Puerto Ricoand the U.S. Virgin Islands. Jorge Silva-Puras, SBA’s Regional Administrator presented the WBC Excellence Award to the WBC of NYS.
Small Business Excellence Awards Winner 2012 –
The DeClutter Coach, New Hartford was selected by the Women’s Business Center of New York State to receive the 2012 Small Business Excellence Award. Deborah Cabral is the sole owner of The DeClutter Coach, a firm she started in March, 2010. She offers her services as a professional organizer and efficiency and productivity coach. The DeClutter Coach helps residential customers in organizing their homes, including a home office, or living environment. Deb also helps residential customers with scheduling and managing their time better. For the firm’s corporate clients, Deb works with the business owner and employees to figure out ways to become more efficient and productive. In January of this year, Deborah Cabral, diversified her ever-growing business to better serve corporate clients by launching DC Efficiency Consulting – the new corporate-specific company under the Cabral Enterprises, LLC umbrella.
Small Business Excellence Awards Winner 2011 –
Van Meter & Van Meter, LLC in Little Falls was selected by the Women’s Business Center of New York State to receive the 2011 Small Business Excellence Award. Christine and David VanMeter started their full service finanical business in 2007. They are dedicated to providing a full range of investing and income tax servcies and products, primarily in the southern tier of Herkimer County and the Greater Utica area. Their mission is to help their clients achieve their financial goals and preserve their wealth. This is accomplished through a comprehensive review of the client’s investment objectives, combined with a conservative, long-term approach to investing, prudent tax advice, and superior service. The firm seeks to build lasting relationships based on conservative practices, stability, integrity, honesty and understanding the individual needs of each client.
Little Falls Small Business Graduates
Standing: Dr. Pat, Mike Luppino, Alicia Carroll, Randy McCaw, Richard Rebisz, Dave VanMeter, Rachael Stanton. Seated: Anne Santry, Patricia McVeign, Margaret Carrol (Alicia’s daughter)l, Jayne Ritz, Chris VanMeter. Missing from picture: Bill & Barb Brewer and Christine Shahin.
On Tuesday, October 26, 2010, twelve entrepreneurs graduated from the Women’s Business Center’s Small Business Training Program that was conducted in Little Falls, New York. These twelve entrepreneurs will soon be changing the face of Main Street, Little Falls.
The graduates were Barbara and Bill Brewer, Alicia Carroll, P. Michael Luppino, Randy McCaw, Patricia McVeign, Richard Rebisz, Jayne Ritz, Anne Santry, Christine Shahin, Christine and David VanMeter.
These graduates completed six weeks of intensive training and each completed their business action plans.
To help with graduation, Rachael Stanton, Business Development Specialist and Public Information Officer of the US Small Business Administration Syracuse District Office, spoke about the services that the SBA provides to small business owners and she assisted WBC Director, Donna Rebisz in presenting the students’ Certifications of Completion.
Some of the businesses to be opened in the near future are a gift shop, a catering company, dog groomer/boarder, handy man, restaurant, indoor farmer’s market and grocery store.
New Business Opens –
MaryAnn’s Mother’s Designs
Mohawk, NY…On Thursday, July 15, 2010 Mayor Sweet cut the ribbon to offically open MaryAnn’s Mother’s Designs. MaryAnn Gordon with the assistance of the Women’s Business Center of NYS opened her alterations and dress making shop. Being a life-long resident of Mohawk, MaryAnn wanted to stay local so at 130 Main Street in Mohawk, New York MaryAnn’s dream came true. The business will be open on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm. MaryAnn has over ten years of sewing and design experience. She is offering full service alterations, creation of re-enactment apparel, custom made wedding and formal attire, handcrafted bridal accessories, bridemaid’s dresses, floral arrangements and more. In the fall MaryAnn will begin offering sewing classes. For more information you can call MaryAnn’s Mother’s Designs at (315) 866-0959 or stop in and see all the beautiful designs!
Small Business Excellence Awards Winner 2010 –
Mary Schmidt from Die Hard Excavation & Technologies Inc.
Die Hard Excavation and Technologies, Inc. is a NY State Women’s Business Enterprise and a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise specializing in underground utility work. Their services include Directional Boring, Hydro-Excavation, Conduit Systems and Manhole Installation/Santizing, Pipe Sleeving, Excavation, Lawn Restoration, Tree Removal, Water and Sewer Systems, Fiber Installation, and Cell Tower Utility Installation.
Mary Schmidt is a graduate of the Small Business Training Program offered by the Women’s Business Center of NYS. She owns and operates Die Hard Excavation & Technologies Inc. (Die Hard). Her company was established as an LLC in 2006. Mary did not have A Business Action Plan and the local Loan Officer recommended that she enroll in the WBC’s Small Business Training Program, if she wanted a bank loan, which she did. She completed her Business Action Plan returned to the bank and got her loan.
Die Hard is located at 1020 Railroad Street in Rome, New York at a safe site with a large construction yard, ample office space and plenty of parking. There is sufficient room for future growth. This company is solely owned and operated by Mary Schmidt who has extensive experience and expertise in roadwork and construction. Die Hard was originally conceived to fill the need for contractors to do the specialized work that is required in numerous Federal and New York State construction contracts.
Small Business Excellence Awards Winner 2009 –
Gina Trzepacz-Timpano from Yorkville Memorials, LLC
This is truly a success story of a woman who was not only handicapped, but unemployed at the time that she participated in the 2008 Women’s Business Center’s Small Business Training Program. Gina continues to call or visit the WBC every week to give us updates or ask for additional assistance and guidance.
Gina states “The WBC’s training and ongoing mentoring was and still is vital to the success of my business. I will always turn to them for further guidance that gives me peace of mind in my role as a business owner”.
In 2008, Gina participated in all of the WBC sixty-hour training and developed her Business Plan, with the assistance of the WBC staff. She wanted to purchase a local business called “Yorkville Memorials”. This business provided headstones for the deceased. She then began going to local banks seeking a $30,000 loan. She became very discouraged because no financial institution would grant her a loan due to her unemployment status.
Gina then came back to the WBC for any additional guidance that could help her buy this business. We suggested that she ask the current owner, who wanted to retire, that perhaps, she could pay the purchase price out of the upcoming earnings of this company. He agreed and within nine months the $30,000 purchase amount was fully paid from revenues of $140,000 thus far this year.
Next, Gina sought our help in expanding “Yorkville Memorials”. We suggested not only selling headstones, but other services related to the care of monuments and grave sites. Together, we created the expansion strategies and she began contacting her former customers. She asked if she could care for the grave sites and oversee the continuing cleaning and care of the monuments themselves. Most of the readily agreed, having “peace of mind’ by knowing that she would care for the things that were so important to them as family members of their beloved deceased. In addition, these expanded services are now part of the initial meeting when families come to purchase monuments.
Currently, Gina has paid off the purchase price of $30,000, hired three employees and has current revenues of $140,000 thus far this year. She states: “I owe this all to the WBC staff training, guidance and continuing support. Without them, I could never have succeeded in becoming the successful business owner that I am today”.
Funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All Opinions, Conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA.