Farmingdale SBDC Staff
Lucille Wesnofske, 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 14 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 a certified business advisor and
has 13 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.
With a 30-year naval career, John is the
New York State Small Business Development Center Regional Coordinator
for the Veterans Business Outreach Program, whose focus is to help
veterans, including disabled veterans, in their business ventures.
Most recently one of John's clients was named NYS SBDC Veteran's Small Business
of the Year (2007).
Walter Reid,
Business Advisor
Walter has been a Business Advisor with
SBDC since 1998. He came to the Farmingdale State College
Regional SBDC in 2002. During that time he has been responsible for
assisting over 1330 clients, creating or retaining 758 jobs, and achieving over
$32.4 million in economic impact.
Walter was recently named the 2007 NYS SBDC's Star Performer by the ASBDC and
was the 2006 NYS SBDC Counselor of the Year. 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. For this
effort he recieved the NAMTAC Award for the "Outstanding Project of the Year" in
2000.
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 three businesses: New York Business Brokers Inc., R and M
Toy Sales, and KWR Seafood. He received a B.B.A. from
Hofstra University in 1972.
As the Defense Economic Transition
Assistance (DETA) coordinator for the Farmingdale SBDC, Walter focuses
on providing business assistance for residents of areas affected by
defense industry cutbacks.
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.
Ritu S. Wackett, Business Advisor
Specialties: Day Care
Centers,
Women and Minority–Owned Businesses
Ritu joined the Farmingdale SBDC in March 2002 with
experience in economic development and political community relations.
As well as being a certified Business Advisor, Ritu serves as the
Farmingdale SBDC's grant writer and Spanish speaking advisor. Additionally, she authored both Business Basics and
The
Business Plan Guide, publications extensively used by the
SBDC. Prior to joining the SBDC, Ritu was most recently employed
by the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy’s Manhattan-based
Good Jobs New York Project, where she researched corporate retention
subsidies and wrote Development Subsidies in New York: A Research
Manual for Activists.
Ritu has a B.A. in political science and psychology from the State
University of New York at Albany, an M.A. in political science from
the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and an M.A. in public
policy from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, where she
also completed two years of doctoral coursework. Ritu is a
founding board member of the United States Women's Chamber of
Commerce, New York affiliate. She currently serves on the boards
of the Child Care Council of Nassau, Inc. and Suffolk County Executive
Steve Levy's Asian American Advisory Board, and is an active member of
the Suffolk County Women's Business Enterprise Coalition.
Dona R. Lyman, Business Advisor
Dona
has over 14 years of experience working with small businesses and
entrepreneurs. Her extensive background in sales, marketing, and
customer service has proved to be a valuable asset when working with
the Small Business Development Center's clients. Dona's work
experience includes several Fortune 500 companies. Most recently
she was employed by an international firm whose specialized tools and
resources helped accountants and financial advisors grow their
practices. Dona worked on an individual basis with her clients
helping to create, build and grow successful, lucrative and rewarding
practices. Dona specializes in business coaching, and uses her
extensive hands-on experience to assist her clients in attaining their
professional goals.
Dona has a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from the State
University of New York at Plattsburgh. She currently is an
active member of The National Association of Women Owned Business
Owners (NAWBO) and the Suffolk County Women's Business Enterprise
Coalition (SWBEC).
Office Staff
- Maria Darrow, Administrative Assistant
- Dorothy Harris, Office Manager
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