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Farmingdale SBDC Staff
Lucille Wesnofske, Regional Director
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.
Lloyd Clarke, Business Advisor
Lloyd has 21 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 and several post graduate Certificates in Communications and Multimedia from N.Y.U.
John Narciso, Business Advisor
Specialties: Veteran's Assistance
John is an advanced certified business advisor and has 18 years of experience working with the Brooklyn and Farmingdale SBDCs. Prior to working for the SBDC, John was a consultant/account executive for a Long Island consulting firm where his primary area of expertise was in management training. John has graduate degrees in Government Management, Educational Leadership, and Human Resources. John was named 2004 Veteran's Advocate of the Year by the SBA, and 2004 NYS SBDC Star Performer by the ASBDC. John was recently honored as NYS SBDC's Counselor of the Year 2007, and as one of the top two NYS SBDC Business Advisors in 2006 and 4th Runner-Up for Advisor of the Year 2011.
John is a retired Navy Captain with 30-years of active duty. John is currently the New York State Small Business Development Center Regional Coordinator for the Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC), whose focus is to help veterans, including disabled veterans, in their business ventures.
Walter Reid, Business Advisor
Specialties: Inventions, Import/Export
Walter 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 New York State Star Performer Award in 2007 and 2010. This is the highest award given by National Association of Small Business Development Centers to Advisors throughout the country He also won the NY State SBDC Counselor of the Year Award in 2006. 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.
Mr. Reid has advised over 2,000 businesses since his tenure with the SBDC which resulted in the formation of 480 new small businesses creating 1,400 jobs and investing over $57,000,000 into the local 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.
He 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 and his family reside in Farmingdale.
John Steinhoff, Business Advisor
After a long career in Banking, John joined the Small Business Development Center at Farmingdale State. He currently advises at the Farmingdale SBDC's Satellite Office at the C.W. Post Campus of Long Island University. John holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from New York University and received his bank credit training in the Global Credit Development Program of a major New York Bank. John has been active for a long time in a number of Long Island's business organizations, including Long Island Association, Long Island Forum for Technology, Long Island Action, and the Long Island Venture Group.
Erica Chase, Business Advisor
Specialties: Government Procurement
Office Staff
- Keri Franklin, Assistant to the Director
- Maria Darrow, Administrative Assistant
