Monday Session Descriptions

Microsoft Excel

Robin Bridson, New Horizons Computer Learning Center of Albany and Syracuse

Long Lake

Monday, 9:00-10:15

Program Description: EntreSkills was first developed in 2001 as a paper-based tool for NY State educators. Today it is available in 3 online versions – EntreSkills for Educators, for Entrepreneurs, and for Veteran Entrepreneurs. We will discuss what it is and how to use it with your clients, and provide you with a sneak peak of the latest version under development. We also want to hear from you – what works and what doesn’t, how do you use it, and what would you like to see in future versions.

Presenter Information: Kathy joined the SBDC’s Central office in September 2013. She provides training and support for EntreSkills users, and has been working on revamping and updating the entire program. She also coordinates webinar trainings for SBDC staff. Kathy has a background in staffing and training, and has experience running a small business.

Ed has 20 years of experience writing business applications for telecommunications, financial, and manufacturing companies. He earned his Computer Science degree at Fulton Montgomery Community College in 1996, and is a Certified Java developer and a Certified Microsoft developer. Ed has been with the NY SBDC’s Central office since May 2014.

Both Ed and Kathy are avid cat collectors.


NYS Taxes

Mwisa Chisunka, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, NYS Department of Taxation and Finance

Long Lake

Monday, 10:30-11:45

Program Description: This presentation will cover the latest developments at the NYS Department of Taxation and Finance.

Presenter Information: Mwisa Chisunka is currently the Special Assistant to the Commissioner for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance and the Business Ombudswoman – Director of Business Tax Services and Education for Empire State Development and the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.

As the Special Assistant to the Commissioner, Mwisa serves as a key advisor to assist with furthering the Commissioner’s “proactive taxpayer service program” agenda (resolving issues upfront; promoting voluntary compliance; assisting businesses). She also assists the Commissioner in building and managing his relationship with the various stakeholders as it pertains to economic development and the business community. As the New York Business Ombudswoman, Mwisa educates businesses about tax laws, rule and regulations: provides consultation and options for issue resolution. She works closely with the Department of Taxation and Finance’s and Empire State Development’s executive teams and participates with legislative and executive branch leadership in identifying business tax related policy and compliance initiatives and facilitates implementation. She serves as a tax expert on business deals through the entire economic development cycle from inception to implementation; utilizes business experiences to create a process to identify systemic issues and structures administrative and/or legislative solutions. She also acts as a clearinghouse for business grievances - investigating and resolving issues/complaints.

Mwisa has a diverse background in the public sector, having worked as a Senior Tax Analyst for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, a Policy Operations Coordinator/Senior Analyst for the New York State Senate, an Auditor for the New York State Comptroller’s Office and a Project Coordinator for the Progressive Adolescent Vocational Exploration Center. She has also worked in the private sector for Project Navigator, Ltd.

Mwisa has received various awards for her contributions to New York State government including: the New York State Center for Women in Government and Civil Society Fellowship for 2005, an Internal Revenue Service Outstanding Public Service Award for 2009, and a Certificate of Recognition from the New York City Department of Consumer Affairs for 2009. In 2010, Mwisa received Internal Revenue Service Partnership Award and the Latino Association of Tax Preparers Certificate of Recognition Award. She received a Certificate of Recognition from the Metropolitan Black Bar Association in 2011.

Mwisa’s academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree from Colgate University, and a Masters’ degree from the Nelson A. Rockefeller School of Public Affairs and Policy.


Web MQS

Al Scher, Information Specialist, SBDC Central
Brian Goldstein, Director of Operations, SBDC Central

Blue Mountain

Monday, 2:00-3:15

Program Description:The Web MQS session is geared toward new users and anyone wanting to review system fundamentals and functionality. Topics covered will include Entering a Case, Entering a Training Event, Updating Your Profile, reports available to Advisors such as: Individual Counselor Summary, Open Client List, Ad Hoc, Strategic Plan Tracking and other available reports. There will be time for Q & A after the presentation.

Presenter Information: Brian Goldstein joined the SBDC and quickly became an integral part of the Senior Staff, first with the SEAP program, and then with disaster response and recovery efforts in NYC after September 11, 2001. In 2002, he became the program’s Director of Operations, tasked with oversight of operations at the regional centers, MIS and MQS, and numerous other special programs. Before joining the SBDC, Brian was in corporate sales at Kinko’s and was a career services coordinator at Bryant & Stratton Business Institute. He has a B.S. from SUNY Oneonta and an M.P.A. in Public Management from Russell Sage Graduate School.

Al Scher has been with the SBDC since 2003. In 2015 he was promoted to Assistant Director of MIS. He spends most of his time working on Web MQS. Al joined the SBDC after successfully holding a series of web development positions in the Capital District. He is a 1992 graduate of SUNY Potsdam and a 2000 graduate of Hudson Valley Community College.



Better Business Bureau

Warren Clark, President and CEO of Better Business Bureau
Hank Sokol, Director of Corporate Relations/BBB Military Line

Blue Mountain

Monday, 9:00-10:15

Monday, 3:30-4:45

Program Description: How BBB works to establish trust in the marketplace and assists accredited businesses with programming.

Presenter Information:Warren Clark has been active with BBB for over 35 years. He started as a board member on the BBB executive committee and served as secretary, treasurer, vice chair and board chair. He served on the national level as treasurer of the North American board from 2002 to 2010. He was elected president/CEO of the BBB serving Upstate New York in June 2012. Clark also serves as president of Temple Beth Zion Board of Trustees. His other involvement includes Erie County Disaster Preparedness Advisory Board, Canisius College Advisory Board, Western New York CrimeStoppers, Villa Maria College Advisory Board and the New York State Assembly Subcommittee on Small Businesses. Warren was born and raised in Western New York and earned a BA in Business/Economics at State University of New York at Binghamton.

Hank Sokol is Corporate Relations and Military Line Director for Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York. Hank works directly with BBB’s large businesses on partnership opportunities, business assistance and the accreditation process. As Military Line director, he educates BBB’s corporate partners on the values of having veterans in the workforce. Before joining BBB, Hank spent 30+ years in corporate America. He is also extremely active in the community, serving on several boards, volunteering with veterans and homeless assistance organization. He also serves as the President of the Canisius Women’s Business Center board. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University and completed the University of Pennsylvania-Wharton School Executive Development Program.


Financial Projections
Sam Kandel, Advanced Certified Business Advisor, SBDC Mid-Hudson

Long Lake

Tuesday, 9:00-10:15

Program Description:Learn the methodology behind preparing sound financial projections, the backbone of a complete and meaningful business plan. See how the basic financial statements, P&L, Cash Flow and Balance Sheet interact. Sound financial projections are the test of any business model and are essential tools in guiding clients to making good decisions… bankers love them too!

Presenter Information: Sam Kandel is an Advanced Certified Business Advisor with the Mid-Hudson Small Business Development Center. Since 2002 he has spearheaded the outreach efforts in the Catskill Region as the primary advisor for clients within the Catskill Watershed. In 2005, 2010 and 2012 he was the recipient of the top honor of New York State Business Advisor of the Year award. In 2006, he received the prestigious ASBDC Star Performer award, and in 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013 he was recognized as one of the top 5 counselors in the State. In 2015 he once again received the prestigious ASBDC Star Performer award.

In his almost 14 year tenure with the SBDC, he has counseled more than 2,000 clients who have generated over $105,000,000 in economic impact and has in turn saved or created over 2,200 jobs.


Research Network

Darrin Conroy, Director of the Research Network
Amelia Birdsall, Assistant Director of the Research Network,
Josee Fonseca, Library Information Specialist
Roger Green, Library Information Specialist

Blue Mountain

Tuesday, 10:30-11:45

Program Description: In light of changes that have taken place in the past few years, the Research Network will re-visit its popular “How to Ask a Better Question” presentation. They’ll also talk about the updated RN Advisor Handbook and future developments for the library.

Presenter Information: The Research Network is a group of four professional librarians: Amelia Birdsall, Darrin Conroy, Josee Fonseca, and Roger Green. Since 1992, it has provided value-added research for a wide variety of clients on an enormous range of subjects. In addition to responding to nearly 200 requests every month, the librarians are heavily involved in developing knowledge management strategies, exploring new resources, testing new communication technologies, maintaining website content, overseeing the SBDC listserv and many other fun things.


New Advisors Forum

Michelle Collins, Business Advisor, SBDC Canton
John Halleron, Advanced Certified Business Advisor, SBDC Watertown
Sarah O’Connell, Advanced Certified Business Advisor, SBDC Watertown
Walter Reid, Advanced Certified Business Advisor, SBDC Farmingdale
Brian Yeung, Business Advisor, SBDC Queens/York

Lake George South

Session 1: Wednesday, 9:00-10:15

Session 2: Wednesday, 10:30-11:45

Program Description: During this panel discussion experienced SBDC advisors share their best practices as Business Advisors including resources that they utilize in client advisement, time management, outreach and overall customer service.

Panelist Information: Michelle joined the SUNY Canton SBDC as one of its first advisors in 1999. She has a BA in Writing from SUNY Plattsburgh and her M. Ed. from St. Lawrence University. Prior to joining the SBDC she worked in journalism and marketing for nearly a decade. In 2003 she received the New York State SBDC’s State Star award and was also honored with the agency’s Lead by Example award in 2007. Since 2006 Michelle has worked in partnership with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe’s Office of Economic Development to bring SBDC services and training programs to entrepreneurs in the Akwesasne community. She also previously taught Small Business Management as an adjunct instructor at SUNY Canton for five years.

John Halleron obtained his BA in Business and Communications from the State University of New York at Plattsburgh, NY and AA in Banking from the American Institute of Banking in Syracuse and has 21 credit hours towards an MBA from LeMoyne College in Syracuse. John has held management positions in area banks for seventeen years and utilized that experience to direct small business lending and training programs for a Credit Union south of Syracuse for four years. He joined the SBDC in July, 2002.

Sarah O’Connell has been with the Watertown SBDC since March 2000. She received her Advanced Certification in May 2012 with a specialty in marketing. Sarah is a graduate of Clarkson University with a B.A. in Technical Communications and is the former owner of a used bookstore. She coordinates the annual Business of Women networking conference and writes a bi-monthly column for a local business magazine, as well as administering the center’s Facebook page and sending out the newsletter.

Walter Reid has been a Business Advisor with SBDC since 1998. He originally worked at the Staten Island office and has been at the Farmingdale SBDC since January 2002. Walter was twice the recipient of the highest awards given by the New York State SBDC system, winning the New York State Star Performer Award in 2007 and 2010. He also won the NY State SBDC Counselor of the Year Award in 2006 and again recently for 2014. In 2000 he was recognized by the Staten Island Advance and the Staten Island Chamber for his role in a project that resulted in amending a federal regulation. This accomplishment was credited with impacting the continued operation of 32 small businesses and saving 190 jobs along the northeast corridor from Maine to Maryland. For this effort he received the NAMTAC Award for the "Outstanding Project of the Year" in 2000. He has been credited with advising over 2,000 businesses since his tenure with the SBDC which resulted in over 800 new startup businesses creating 2,500 jobs and investing over $135,000,000 of economic impact into the economy. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Suffolk County Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club, The Long Island Business Exchange, The Business Resource Group, the Nassau County Inventor and Entrepreneur Club and The Safe Water Source, a charitable organization. Walter obtained advanced certified advisor status with the SBDC in May of 2011. Before joining the SBDC, he worked for many years in the toy industry as a retail store buyer. He has also been a principal partner in two businesses: New York Business Brokers Inc., and R and M Toy Sales. He received a B.B.A. from Hofstra University in 1972, he resides with his family in Farmingdale.

Brian Yeung has been an SBDC business advisor since 1997. During that time he has been responsible for assisting hundreds of clients, creating or retaining hundreds of jobs and achieving millions of dollars in economic impact. Brian received his basic certification in 2005 and his advanced certification in 2013. He received the Global Business Professional Certification (NASBITE CGBP) in 2011. In 2015, Brian was awarded the Certificate of Appreciation and Commendation for his assistance in helping small businesses in the Hurricane Sandy recovery. Before he came to the SBDC, Brian was a loan originator at the Abacus Federal Savings Bank in New York City.