Staff

Erica Chase-Gregory joined the Long Island SBDC ( Farmingdale) in 2011 as a Business Advisor.   Mrs. Chase-Gregory was appointed the Regional Director of Farmingdale SBDC in 2015.  During her time with the SBDC the center has assisted over 12,600 small businesses, helping them access $294.9 million dollars to start or to expand their businesses. She is a graduate of Farmingdale State College and is a board member of the Broad Hollow Bioscience Park as well as The Children’s Center both located at the college.  

Erica conducts business workshops for various business organizations as well as being involved with many Long Island business networking groups. Under her leadership the Farmingdale Center has won numerous awards for excellence and the center is a top performing center in NY State.

Lauren Linakis joined the Long Island SBDC (Farmingdale) in 2019. Prior to joining the SBDC, she served as Associate Director of the LaGuardia Community College APEX Accelerator (formerly PTAC), where she helped small businesses navigate government contracting and effectively market their goods and services to government agencies.

Throughout her career, Lauren has specialized in assisting small businesses with government registration, certification, and the contract application process. In recognition of her collaborative efforts supporting clients across the New York SBDC network in the government procurement space, she received the New York SBDC’s Lead by Example Award in 2020. In 2022, Lauren was named one of America’s SBDC Top 40 Under 40 Young Professionals, honoring SBDC staff nationwide for innovation, leadership, and dedication to the SBDC mission.

In addition to her expertise in government contracting, Lauren has completed the North Star Cybersecurity Certification Program and supports small businesses in understanding and implementing cybersecurity best practices.

Lauren holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Barnard College and a Master’s degree in Economic Development from Columbia University.

 

Brandon DeFeo joined the Long Island SBDC (Farmingdale) in July 2024. Since joining, he has advised over 200 clients and helped small businesses secure more than $2.5 million in capital funding through a combination of SBA loans, owner investments, and grants.

Brandon is the center’s lead advisor on implementing AI solutions for small businesses. He attended the ASBDC National Conference, dedicating his time to learning how AI can enhance efficiency, marketing, and operations for entrepreneurs.

Prior to the SBDC, Brandon founded Rudy’s Tees in 2017, a full-service screen-printing and apparel company serving small businesses in the Town of Huntington and selling products online and through local consignment shops. In 2020, he received a Gold Stevie Award from the American Business Association for Student-Run Company of the Year. In 2021, he was honored with the Town of Huntington’s 30 Under 30 Award for his impact on the local community.

Brandon’s experience spans retail management, customer service, inventory control, marketing, and sales. He previously managed a local café and his family’s hardware store, deepening his understanding of small business operations. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management with a minor in Graphic Design from Farmingdale State College.

Pierre has over 25 years of business experience in Management Accounting and Financial Reporting at global banking institutions, including JP Morgan Chase and Credit Suisse.  His responsibilities and expertise have ranged from financial forecasting to cost analysis and internal transfer pricing. 

Joining the NYS SBDC at Farmingdale State College after several years of association with the SBDC at Stony Brook University is a fitting extension of his long-held interest in community based economic development through education and entrepreneurship. 

Mr. Lespinasse holds a BS in Management from Adelphi University and an MBA from Long Island University.

Christina joined the Farmingdale SBDC in 2013. She came to the SBDC as an advisor helping Hurricane Sandy victims with the NY Rising grant applications and succeeded in obtaining over 4 million dollars in grant money for her small business clients. With over 30 years of experience in business, specifically in the areas of Retail, Purchasing, Human Resources, Marketing and Education, she has a myriad of experience to bring to the small business community. In 2016 Christina was awarded with the NY SBDC State Star Award.

Christina holds a M.S. degree from Dowling college in Secondary Education and was NYS certified to teach High School Business. She holds B.S. and A.A.S degrees from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Marketing/Communications and Fashion Buying & Merchandising. Christina is also a John Maxwell Certified Trainer.

Jeff Sherman joined the Farmingdale SBDC in 2023. Jeff brings more than 20 years’ experience as a commercial banker within the Long Island and Metropolitan NY markets. He specialized in commercial lending by securing funding for small business clients in various industries, for working capital, expansion, purchasing equipment, vehicles and commercial real estate.

Jeff’s diverse background in public accounting, internal auditing, owning and operating a small business and his vast banking experience brings valuable benefits to SBDC clients.

Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Brooklyn College.