NYS Small Business Development Center Announces Advisory Board Appointments

 

ALBANY, N.Y. (March 24, 2010) -- The New York State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) today announced the appointment of new Advisory Board officers and members.

Loretta Kaminsky, development director of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, has been elected chairperson. Kaminsky previously served as assistant director of the Canisius College Women�s Business Center. She also created and managed Lou-Retta�s Custom Chocolates, a highly successful, nationally recognized manufacturer of quality chocolates. Kaminsky is active in the Western New York business community and has served on many boards including the National Small Business Development Center Advisory Board and the White House Delegation on Small Business. Loretta is the recipient of numerous awards and accolades for her contributions to the small business community, and has served on the SBDC Advisory Board for 15 years.

�Loretta Kaminsky provides a wealth of knowledge to the Advisory Board. We are extremely happy that she will be serving as the Chairperson of the Advisory Board and helping steer our efforts to support New York State small businesses,� said James King, state director.

Brad Rosenstein, president of Jack�s Oyster House in Albany, has been elected vice chairperson. Brad has served as proprietor of Jack�s since 1984, carrying on the family tradition which began in 1913. Rosenstein has received a number of accolades during his distinguished career in the hospitality industry, including the New York State Restaurant Association Excellence in Hospitality Award, and the New York State Restaurant Association Restaurateur of the Year Award. In 2005, Brad was inducted into the Fine Dining Hall of Fame. In 2008, Rosenstein was elected Chairman of the Board for the New York State Restaurant Association � the leading business association for the restaurant and hospitality industry in New York State, representing more than 628,000 employees, and sales of approximately $27 billion.

�We are pleased that Brad, in light of his contributions to small businesses and to the SBDC, will be joining Loretta in leading the Board� said King. �Brad excels in providing community service and is a valued member of the Advisory Board.�

In addition to the new officer appointments, the following have been named as new SBDC Advisory Board members:

Steven Cohen, deputy commissioner - Division for Small Business, Empire State Development, NYC; Carl Figueroa, president, CCF Consulting, Bronx; Cathy Pokines, SBA project officer, Syracuse; Rick Sherwin, senior vice president, KeyBank, Albany; John Wicke, general manager, Penski, Inc., Potsdam.

�The Advisory Board is privileged to have small business leaders from across New York volunteer to help guide the critical services needed by entrepreneurs and small business owners in today�s challenging economy," said King. �These leaders have stepped forward to assist the SBDC program, as well as the thousands of small businesses that create job opportunities throughout New York State each year.�

As one of the premier business assistance organizations in New York, the NYS SBDC assists existing businesses with stabilization and expansion, while helping entrepreneurs launch new ventures through expert management and technical assistance programs.

The SBDC Advisory Board serves the program by providing insight, guidance, and support to the state director and the network of regional centers. The Board comprises a diverse group of small business owners and others with small business interests, and meets throughout the year to discuss SBDC and small business issues.

About the SUNY SBDC
The SBDC, administered by the University at Albany, has 24 regional service centers located throughout the New York State on SUNY, City University of New York (CUNY) and private university campuses. Since inception in 1984, the SBDC has provided small business advisement services to more than 312,500 New Yorkers. The SBDC also provides training and business research to existing business owners and entrepreneurs. SBDC clients have invested more than $4 billion in NY, impacting more than 141,600 jobs.  
 
The SBDC is funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York, local communities and host campuses. As a result of this leveraged support, the SBDC staff provides confidential one-on-one business advisement services at no direct cost to the citizens and entrepreneurs of New York.

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