Grow for Entrepreneurs & Business Owners

The go-to conference to achieve rapid growth put dreams into action.

Breakout Session Tracks:

JUMPSTART YOUR BUSINESS
BOOST YOUR MARKETING & SALES
FOCUS ON INFRASTRUCTURE MANAGEMENT
FAST-TRACK YOUR FINANCING

Schedule of the Day

7:45 to 8:15 am

Breakfast and Registration

8:15 to 9:00 am

Welcome and Keynote Address

9:15 to 12:00 pm

Workshops & Panels

12:00 to 12:30 pm

Lunch & Networking

12:30 to 1:30 pm

Panel of Entrepreneurs and Business Owners

1:30 to 3:00 pm

Workshops & Panels

12:00 to 3:00 pm

B2b Opportunities

3:00 pm

Program Ends

9:15 to 10:30 pm

Workshops & Panels

So you have an Idea for a Business? - Persephone Zill

If you are thinking of starting your own business, this workshop is for you. Our speaker will give you
a comprehensive overview of what you need to consider before you put your time and money on
the line. The discussion will help you make sure that you have fully considered every aspect of
entrepreneurship and will enable you to do an entrepreneurial self-assessment.

Business Plan Bootcamp (LAB) Holly Perlowitz, Calvin Chin

Join us for this all-day business plan bootcamp (during the 3 workshop sessions: 9:15 to 10:30; 10:45
to 12; 1:45 to 3:00) and walk away at the end of the day with a draft business plan that will address
marketing, operations, financial performance and more. You know you need one use this
opportunity to create your roadmap for a successful future.

Franchise Ownership: Is this the right path for me? Frank Dunne
Join this workshop to discuss the concept of franchising and how it does compare to other business
models. Learn about Franchise ownership and the rewards & risks of owning one. Find out about
the Franchise Myths Dispelled/Surprises Uncovered. Leave the room knowing what are franchising's
costs and financing options. And learn how to find the franchise that is a right fit for you through
tools, resources and methodologies shared in this workshop.

Social Media Lab Jann Mirchandani & Kalynn Amadio

Want to use social media to market your business but unsure of how to develop a successful
strategy? Do you wonder which channels are best for you? Would you like some expert help in
polishing your business page and professional profile? Attend this two-part session workshop and
leave the lab with your own social media tools in place.
Session 1: (9:15 to 10:30) will cover strategy development including time management tools so you
can get it done!
Session 2: (10:45 to 12:00) will provide participants the opportunity to use classroom computers to
login to existing social channels, ask specific questions about your profiles and get expert advice on
how to make them shine.

High Impact First Encounters: An Elevator Pitch to the C-Suite Jim Coleman
Entrepreneurs will learn how to deliver a powerful first impression on all of their first encounters
with all stake holders including; prospective and current customers, investors, vendors and
employees. Come ready to create your best pitch and put it into practice right away!

Growing your Business with Free Media - Britta Vander Linden

In todays competitive marketplace, paid advertising is rarely enough. An effective profile in an

unbiased, respected media outlet with a viewership of target consumers can work miracles in
building a companys brand, name recognition, and credibility. A public relations expert with
extensive political, non-profit, and government experience, has secured widespread media
coverage for small businesses as part of Westchester County Executive Rob Astorinos
communications team. Britta will share her techniques for using interpersonal and marketing skills
to maximize business exposure, impact and success and how to do it for free!

A Guide to Business Structure & other legal matters Alan Dillon, Esq
Are you unsure of what type of legal structure would be better for your business? Do you have
partners but no partners agreement? Do you need to incorporate? Whats an LLC? Join this
workshop and discuss the legal structure that is best for starting or growing your business and get
your questions answered.

Show Me the Money: Exploring the Options to Financing Your Business - Kimberlie Jacobs,
Peter Mintz, Sandford (Sandy) Wollman, The Westchester Bank
This session will include a brief presentation about the best types of financing to use to finance the
start or growth of a business including traditional bank loans, alternative lenders, crowdsourcing,
friends and family, angel investors and venture capital. The panel will then be available for one on
one meetings with participants about their specific financing needs.

10:45 to 12:00 pm Workshops & Panels

Refining your concept - Natasha Roukos

How do you take a creative idea and turn it into a profitable business? Our expert will take you
through the maturing journey of defining the products or services you are offering, understanding
who are your target clients, and why they would choose you, and growing your sales.

10

Buying an existing business Michael Wieser, Esq

When considering the purchase of an existing business, there are many factors to evaluate. Our
speaker will highlight the benefits of buying an existing business vs starting a new business or buying
a franchise. He will cover what to look for as you investigate the prospective company and he will
share tips and tricks to hold the seller accountable to his representations. Learn effective
negotiation strategies to ensure that you end up paying the best price possible.

11

From Customer to Brand Ambassador Sherry Bruck

What does it take to not only get new customers, but convert them to loyal brand ambassadors
who do the selling for you? The first step is understanding how your brand is perceived in the
context of the competitive alternatives. With this in mind, making sure this brand position is
meaningful to your target audience. Then knowing the best way to reach them, and how to hit their
hot buttons. Only at this point will they comment, share, like, pin, retweet, snapchat, review! Join

this workshop and you'll leave with a clear outline of the steps to create a brand strategy and
messaging plan.

12

Building your team Greg Chartier

Its all about people! Finding and developing the right people to help you run your business is key
to your success. Your business is only as strong as its weakest link. Our Human Resources
professional will explore the finer points of interviewing, setting compensation, creating a job
description and finding the right person. Leave the room with all the tools you need to buid your
team.

13

Trademarks, Copyrights and Patents -- How to Protect Your Intellectual Property, Create
Valuable Assets and Gain A Competitive Advantage Yuval Marcus, Esq. and Michelle
Levin, Esq.
Do you have a great idea? Have you protected it properly? Learn the basics about how to protect
your brands, your inventions and your creative expression. Join this workshop and learn about the
process of filing trademark, copyright and patent applications. The first 2 participants to join this
workshop will get FREE assistance in filing a trademark application during the workshop
(Government filing fees extra).

14

Your Tax Preparer is Not Your Accountant - Steve Bender, Joe Bernava, Moderator:
Tamara Underwood
Your tax preparer says you made X and your accountant says you made Y whos right? Our
expert will give you an inside look into the different approaches tax preparers and accountants may
take your financial statements and the serious impact it can have on your ability to grow or event
sell your business. Come learn what a tax preparation service can and cannot do for your business.
Learn the importance of accurate and thoughtful accounting for tax time, for demonstrating your
success to lenders and investors and for being able to retire and/or sell your business in the future.

12:30 to 1:30 pm Panel of Entrepreneurs & Business Owners

Learn from a terrific panel discussion featuring entrepreneurs from different industries who will
share the challenges they face every day to make their companies a long term success. From
services, to consumer product, from technology development to manufacturing processes you
will be surprised how much these business owners have in common as they share their daily
challenges.
Panel: Nick Califano, Yonkers Brewing Company - Sunny Cover, Peekskill Coffee House - Irwin
Gillian, Irwin's Barber Shop - William Abram, former president of Pragmatix - Ryford Estores,
Selfcut System - Mod: John Ravitz)

1:45 to 3:00 pm Workshops and Panels

15

Hatching Your Great Idea - Bob Kotch & Nina Mattikow

By entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs! Come and stimulate your thoughtful ideas, and interact to
define the Great Idea. Learn how to do a REAL competitive analysis, and then create your
business, sales and marketing strategy. Learn how successful entrepreneurs work SMART, as well
as hard. This is a hands on, interactive workshop that will help you create a fact based, realistic path
to realizing your dream.

16

You are a Brand Nathan Grau

17

To Buy or not to Buy Dealing with Indecisive Sales Prospects Jay Spielvogel
More than ever, sales people are faced with risk aversion and status quo issues when selling. In this
program we will explore why prospects get stuck and why conventional sales approaches actually
compound the issue.
Participants will be introduced to a brand new approach and takeaways that can be implemented
for helping existing opportunities regain momentum and new opportunities get traction.
DISCOVER:

Why prospects get stuck in the comforts zone

Defense mechanisms that prospects use to protect the status quo
Mistakes made when selling that create greater internal conflict for a prospect
How to help a prospect overcome their ambivalence and commit

LEARN HOW TO:

Help a prospect reconnect with the issues, concerns and vision that drove their initial interest
Work with a prospect to overcome their ambivalence
Leverage self-actualization theory to shorten sales cycles and improve close ratios
Establish a mind-set that is more collaborative and creates a partnership with prospective clients
Reset a relationship with a prospect that has gone dark
Create rapport and trust with prospective clients that will lead to more referrals

18

Marketing:

Your

#1

Business

Generator

Barbara

Moroch,

Mike

Dardano

Find out about the key role marketing can play in building your bottom line! Learn the differences
between various marketing tools - advertising, promotion, social media and others - and how to put
them to work for you. You'll come away with a innovative ideas of effective and affordable ways to
increase the visibility of your business, retain current clients and attract new ones.

19

Speed Coaching Coaches Sandford (Sandy) Wollman, Jeff Loehr

Are you an entrepreneur, an aspiring entrepreneur or a business owner looking for advice?

20

Do you have questions related to the strategy of your business, your product/service, your
market or any other aspect of your business and you would value an outside opinion?
Take advantage of our network of small business experts who will offer their professional
advice in a short speed coaching session. Coaches will come from a range of disciplines and
you will have an opportunity to speak to them in the course of this workshop session.

What's in your wallet? - Ellen Rose, Felicia Sternbach

Every business needs a solid, realistic, forward thinking plan to reach future goals. The heart of a solid
business plan includes the financial strategies and goals you set for your business. Our presenters are
CPAs with a large practice of small business owners who will help you learn how to develop a 3-5 year
financial projection to use as a budgeting tool, to monitor the progress of your financial goals to obtain
financing to grow the business. At the close of this workshop you will have a viable financial projection
to include in your business plan or take to the bank!!

B2B OPPORTUNITIES
12:00 TO 3:00

Meet vendors from the Government and Private Sector

BIOS

Thomas J. Deierlein
Tom Deierlein is a West Point graduate, successful serial entrepreneur, Airborne Ranger, combat
wounded military veteran, and philanthropist who co-founded the TDFoundation
(www.tdfoundation.org). He is passionate about leadership development, business ethics, sales,
overcoming adversity, and helping others less fortunate both locally and globally.
Tom was recently named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year, Greater Washington and is the cofounder and CEO of ThunderCat Technology (www.thundercattech.com) a systems integrator that
specializes in data center solutions for the Federal government. Tom has been a single digit employee

and C-level executive at many successful start-up and early stage companies including Chief Operating
Officer of both Simulmedia, a start-up focused on Targeted TV ads using set-top-box data, and
Dynamic Logic, a digital media start-up he helped to bring from a 7-person operation with less than
$1M in revenues into a 125 person, clear market leader. Tom started his career in sales working for
Johnson&Johnson and Parametric Technology Corporation in the mid-90s. Tom is also a partner in a
real estate investment firm Bull Run Properties, LLC based in Kansas City.
A Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient, Tom is a retired U.S. Army Major and Operation Iraqi
Freedom Vet. Graduating from United States Military Academy, West Point in 1989, Tom spent nearly
five years in the military first earning his Airborne Ranger qualification and then onto various
leadership positions with the Berlin Brigade. In late 2005, Tom was recalled to active duty serving as a
Civil Affairs Officer in East Baghdad. In September of 2006, he was shot by a sniper and critically
wounded. After 8 months of intensive care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the VA
Polytrauma Spinal Cord Rehab Center in Tampa Florida, Tom returned to the business world in June
2007.
In Fall of 2006 a foundation was started by Tom and others to assist Iraqi and Afghan Children. TD
Foundation provides aid to children directly affected by war in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as to
children of wounded warriors and fallen heroes here in the US.
Tom earned a Masters of Science in Systems Management from University of Southern California in
1993 and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business in 2000. He lives with his wife and three boys in
Garden City NY.

Bill Abram
Former president of Pragmatix
William Abram, MBA has been the driving force behind a broad range of high quality technology
solutions designed for Fortune 500 companies, small businesses and not-for-profit organizations. A
thought leader in information technology for more than 25 years, Bill has designed and implemented
a wide range of software, networking, security, virtualization, and managed hosting solutions across
many industries. Most recently, Bills work has concentrated in the areas of security, compliance,
managed hosting, and disaster recovery/business continuity.
Bill began his career in the healthcare industry, working for several large NYC teaching hospitals,
leading to a senior consulting and project management role within the healthcare systems division of
McDonnell Douglas. In 1983, Bill founded a software company that developed custom applications for
the healthcare and telecommunications industries.
In 1992, Bill founded Pragmatix in order to take advantage of new technologies in the area of utility
computing (as it was called then). Pragmatix focused on custom software applications for improving
business operations and compliance reporting, and managed services for improving IT security,
reliability, and resiliency. In 2014, Bill took advantage of industry consolidation and sold Pragmatix to
Anexio, Inc.

Kalynn Amadio
Principal, ikalynn.com

Kalynn Amadio is a digital marketing mentor for baby boomer entrepreneurs who are tired of wasting
their time on social media with minimal success. She specializes in guiding savvy and motivated
boomers to succeed at building a profitable business. She is the creator and host of ACT LOCAL
Marketing for Small Business podcast on iTunes and Principal of Ikalynn, LLC a digital marketing
consulting, training and coaching firm in New York.
Author of the upcoming book, The Boomers Ultimate Guide To Social Media, Kalynn speaks regularly
in the New York City Tri-state area on various aspects of digital marketing. Her realistic solutions and
unexpected ideas have been featured on many business podcasts and radio shows where she shares
her best secrets for success.

Steve Bender
Liverzani & Bender CPAs
Steven E. Bender is a CPA, CFP with an MBA in taxation. Steven has his office in Mt. Kisco, NY. He has
over 30 years of experience advising closely held businesses and individuals on tax and other business
related matters. Stevens experience includes 8 years as a Chief Financial Officer of a $150m closely
held company which he helped the owners sell to a private equity firm. Prior to having his own
practice, Steven was the tax partner in charge of a 15 person tax department that was part of a 65
person accounting firm as well as having worked for a large national and a large regional CPA firm.
Steven lives in Westchester County with his wife and four children.

Joe Bernava
Financial Consultant, AXA Advisors
Joseph Bernava is a Financial Consultant with AXA Advisors in the White Plains office and a SCORE
counselor. A resident of Yonkers for more than twenty years, and with more than twenty five years of
past experience as a credit officer, Joseph understands the needs of both business owners and
individuals and is dedicated to providing the highest level of service for them. His philosophies are
simple: respond to clients needs with products and services that are right for them, and consistently
demonstrate his commitment to ethical practices and rationale. Joseph is dedicated to helping clients
build secure financial futures by mapping out their financial goals, and creating benchmarks for
success. IRS Enrolled Agent. NYS Athlete Agent

Sherry Bruck
Brand Strategist & Creative Director, Harquin Creative Group
In 1992, Sherry co-founded Harquin Creative Group (www.harquin.com), a brand strategy and
marketing communications firm based in White Plains, NY. Sherry has been a trusted source of

effective marketing and design solutions for a wide range of organizations and academic institutions
for more than 20 years, helping educators, hospitals, libraries, government agencies, non-profits, and
businesses communicate their brand vision with breakthrough campaigns.
Under Sherry's leadership Harquin has won countless awards and has been featured in Graphic Design
USA, The NY Times, 914 Inc., The Westchester Business Journal, Forbes, Inc. The Journal News and
more. Sherry was proud to receive the Norman Liss "Best of Public Service" award for the Ossie Davis
Theater Signage in the New Rochelle Public Library.
She has also been a contributor to 914Inc., Westchester Business Journal, Philanthropy Today,
Advancing Philanthrophy, and Forbes on topics from the Basics of Brand-Building to Branding in the
Digital Age.
If a brand isnt realizing its full potential, Sherry thrives on digging deep and figuring out how it fits
into peoples lives.

Nick Califano
Co-founder Yonkers Brewing Co
Yonkers Born and Raised, Nick attended Iona Prep HS in New Rochelle before sailing off to Fairfield
University in CT where he Graduated with a Bachelors in Finance and Accounting.
In 2006 Nick became an official member of the rat race, joining General Electric in CT as an Analyst
in their Financial Lending Program. Knowing a return to NY was a must, Nick Migrated back to the Big
City joining Artio Global Investors in 2007- a boutique Asset Management Firm in Manhattan. Getting
lost in the hustle and bustle of Finance, it wasnt until 2011 that he realized he wasnt truly satisfied
with what he was doing. So he asked himself how he could change all that
I love Sales, and I love Beer. Why not combine the two and bring it home? So, in 2012 he CoFounded the Yonkers Brewing Company.

Jim Coleman
Executive Director, Westchester County Industrial Development Agency and
Local Development Corporation
From his familys farm in Lexington Kentucky to Wall Street, Jim Coleman has delivered stellar results
over the last 32 years with Oscar Mayer & Co., Pepsi Cola Company, Altria Corporation, American
Express, several entrepreneurial ventures, the New York State Senate and now Westchester County.
Since his appointment by County Executive Rob Astorino to be the head of Westchesters Industrial
Development Agency and Local Development Corporation in April 2014, Jim has become one of
Westchester Countys premier business advocate and deal maker, issuing over $353 million in tax
exempt bond financing and tax incentives to support 20 large commercial projects whose private
investment totaled more than $560 million and created or retained more than 4,777 permanent and
construction jobs.
Sunny Cover

Gregory Chartier, Ph.D. SPHR

Principal, Office of Gregory J. Chartier
Gregory J. Chartier is Principal of The Office of Gregory J. Chartier, a Human Resources firm. His
practice is based on the Business Partner Model of Human Resources, with an emphasis on
outsourcing and the use of technology to gain efficiencies and to improve managerial skills.Dr.
Chartiers seminars are customized to reinforce company mission, vision, values; and culture and the
content is practical for team leaders, managers, supervisors and executives. His philosophy is simple:
Management is a skill and you can be a better manager by developing your skills.Dr. Chartier has a
BA from the Military College of South Carolina, an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a
Ph.D. in Human Resources Management from Madison University. He is certified by the Society for
Human Resources Management as a Senior Professional in Human Resources and as a Global
Professional in Human Resources.

Calvin Chin
Principal, 2CBig Ventures
Calvin Chin heads his own strategic advisory firm, 2C Big Ventures, which serves small to medium size
organizations in the for profit and not-for-profit sectors. He provides organizational development and
design services and fundraising strategy.
Prior to starting his own firm, he spent six years as the first Director of Redeemer Presbyterian Church
(NY) Entrepreneurship & Innovation Program or (EI) in Manhattan. This innovative not-for-profit
program uses the volunteer resources of the 6,000 member church community to support the growth
of entrepreneurs, their ventures and their stakeholders, to contribute to the greater good of New York
City and beyond.
Prior to helping launch the EI Program in 2007, Calvin worked in the finance industry for seventeen
years. He was an Associate Managing Director in the investment banking group of Burnham Securities,
Inc., a venerable firm founded by I.W. Burnham. His clients were mostly small to medium size private
companies. He began his career in the investment advisory arena at Chase Manhattan and Sanford C.
Bernstein & Co., where he served high net worth individuals and small businesses by managing their
credit, stock, and bond portfolios.

Mike Dardano
Founder and CEO BuzzPotential
Mike Dardano brings 36 years of marketing and sales experience to BuzzPotential. His company
focuses on communication services that help small businesses grow their revenue and community
awareness.
Prior to forming BuzzPotential, Mike was a Senior Vice President at Co-Communications where he
oversaw day-to-day operations, account management, strategic and new business development,
media planning, research, and event management. Mike held senior positions in marketing and
advertising sales at Burst! Media, Editor and Publisher, Media Passage, and The Los Angeles Times.

Mike is an active member of The Business Council of Westchester and Rising Tides Alliance. Mike
believes in supporting local charities and has recently helped raise funds for Support Connection,
Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley, Scarsdale Public Library and North Castle Public Library. He and his wife
Susan, were recently awarded the Support Connection Maria Rubino Jennings Spirit of Caring Award
for their charitable work on behalf of the Yorktown based charity.
He graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a B.A. in Speech Communications.

Alan Dillon, Esq

Co-Founder, Dillon & Dillon LLC
Alan E. Dillon, Esq. is a founding member of the law firm of Dillon & Dillon, L.L.C. and has been in
practice in New York and Connecticut for over fifteen years. In addition to advising small businesses,
Mr. Dillons areas of practice include real estate, buying and selling businesses, and civil and
commercial litigation.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Dillon was a realtor in the East End of Long Island and continues
to work as an independent real estate broker.
Mr. Dillon currently serves on the following boards: the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of
Commerce; Alzheimers Association of Westchester/Rockland/Hudson Valley; Bedford Riding Lanes
Association; Mr. Dillon is past president of the Bedford-armonk Rotary Club and past president of the
Hispanic Business and Professional Association, Inc. Mr. Dillon is a graduate of Pace University Law
School.

Frank Dunne
Franchise Fit/Placement Specialist - Frannet
Mr. Dunne is a franchise specialist, and owner of FranNet of Hudson Valley - franchise coaching's
oldest and most recognized franchise consultancy.
He provides counsel on the benefits, costs, and risks of franchise ownership to: aspiring business
owners, those in career transition, veterans and others in opportunity-exploration mode. In addition,
he helps match leading franchises that best fit each clients goals, skills, and interests - utilizing cuttingedge profiling, and 1:1 consultative processes. Client services are at no risk/no cost, as all funding is
subsidized by select franchisors.

Ryford Estores

Marsha Gordon
President & CEO, Business Council of Westchester

Dr. Marsha Gordon is President and CEO of the Business Council of Westchester, a leading
business organization throughout the region and New York State. As a proven expert in and
advocate for business growth, Marsha has created a powerhouse for Westchester business,
building bridges to opportunities for growth, learning, advocacy and economic development.
Marsha has been called on to lead many key initiatives including the Governors Regional
Council for Economic Development, where she co-chaired the strategic planning committee
and serves on the Executive Committee. She also serves on the Health Insurance Exchange
Advisory Council. As President of Build the Bridge Now, her leadership resulted in the
replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge, with construction beginning this spring. Dr. Gordon is
a graduate of Brooklyn College, has an MBA from Marist College and a Doctorate from Pace
University. She also is a Ford Foundation Fellow in Regionalism and Sustainable Development.
Irwin Gillian

Nathan Grau

Kimberlie Jacobs
Executive Director, Community Capital New York
Kimberlie Jacobs is the Executive Director of Community Capital New York, an SBA Certified Lender for
the Hudson Valley, the Bronx and Fairfield County, CT. Community Capital is an enthusiastic supporter of
small businesses and has provided loans to foster the start-up and growth of hundreds of entrepreneurs
in our region. In addition, Community Capital supports business owners with over 3000 hours of technical
assistance, coaching, scholarships and support annually. Community Capital was recently awarded $1
million in new loan capital by the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council to expand the
types of assistance that they can provide to small business owners throughout the Hudson Valley.
Previously, Ms. Jacobs served as the Deputy Director of Rochester Downtown Development Corporation
and as an Economic Development Specialist for Monroe County, Rochester, NY. She spent her formative
years working in her parents main street hardware store which gave her a deep appreciation for small
business owners.

Bob Kotch
Founding Partner, North Salem Partners LLC.
Bob is a Founding Partner of North Salem Partners LLC. His background includes serving as a CFO, CIO
and strategy director at a Fortune 50 company, and 19 years of consulting, helping both entrepreneurs
and established companies build business plans, business and technology strategies and business
processes that beget business success. He is a great believer in a thorough risk assessment and

strength/weakness/opportunity and threat analysis .More information about Bob is available on

LinkedIn or at www.simassoc.biz.

Michelle Levin, Esq.

Associate, Leason Ellis LLP
Michelle (Dorman) Levin practices in all aspects of domestic and foreign trademark prosecution. Her
experience extends to a wide range of industries including luxury goods, publishing, electronics and
food and beverages.
Michelle has conducted all phases of trademark prosecution and maintenance before the U.S. Patent
and Trademark Office, including preparing and filing responses to Office Actions in all types of
substantive refusals. Michelle has also conducted trademark searches and drafted opinions regarding
the availability and registrability of trademarks, counseled clients regarding registration requirements
in the U.S., negotiated license agreements, and conducted intellectual property due diligences.
Michelle has also assisted in copyright, trademark, and patent litigations, including extensive legal
research, and prepared and filed documents for trademark opposition proceedings before the
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. She has also registered and maintained domain name registrations,
handled UDRP proceedings, and prepared and filed copyright applications.

Jeff Loehr
Partner, Stratalis Consulting

Jeff Loehr is a strategist and business leader with experience in helping companies of all sizes develop
their strategy and vision then execute effectively. He has deep experience with strategy and business
creation having helped companies develop products, expand into new markets and optimize their
operations.
He has been working with start-up companies for nearly two decades. He has started two consulting
companies, advised various startups in Germany, the US and South Africa and been involved in
evaluating companies and management teams for acquisition. He is personally an investor in early
stage companies and continues to look for opportunities to invest in and work with promising
businesses

Yuval Marcus, Esq

Partner, Leason Ellis LLP

Yuval H. Marcus, the chair of the litigation practice at Leason Ellis, is a litigator with 20 years of
experience in federal courts throughout the country. He specializes in all types of intellectual property
disputes, including litigating copyright, trademark, trade dress, patent, false advertising, domain name
and trade secret matters, and has consistently achieved favorable results for his clients. Working
closely with his clients, he offers them practical strategies to strengthen their intellectual property

rights and to avoid potential conflicts. He also routinely conducts IP due diligence in connection with
potential acquisitions and investments.
Yuval has been selected to the New York Metro 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Super Lawyers in the
category of Intellectual Property Litigation. He is a Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property, Computer and
Telecommunications Law Committee of the Westchester County Bar Association and a member of the
Intellectual Property Advisory Committee of the Westchester/Fairfield County Association of
Corporate Counsel (WESFACCA). He sits on the Boards of The Business Council of Westchester, the
Westchester Business and Professional Division of UJA Federation and is Board Chair of Kids X-Press.
A frequent speaker and author, he represents companies from many different industries, including
technology, financial services, software, publishing, entertainment, restaurant, hotel, apparel, toy,
jewelry, luxury goods, cosmetics and consumer goods.

Nina Mattikow
Founding Partner, North Salem Partners LLC.
Nina is a Founding Partner of North Salem Partners LLC. Her successes as a business owner and
entrepreneur bring our clients a rich array of product development, marketing, sales, sourcing,
licensing, IP protection and manufacturing skills that enhance their business prospects. As owner and
CEO of her own business, she created and established content, innovative packaging and unique and
successful sales and marketing strategies. More information about Nina is available on LinkedIn.

Peter Mintz
President Fleetwood Research, Professor King Graduate School, Monroe College

Peter is the founder and President of Fleetwood Research. He has three decades of experience as a
Financial Professional and Business Consultant. Prior to forming Fleetwood, and establishing a The
Alternative Board franchise in Southern Westchester, he served in various research capacities at
several prominent Wall Street companies.
In 1998, Mr. Mintz founded his own firm, Fleetwood Research, to provide additional research
coverage in certain situations, as well as provide support services to both public companies and
financial services firms such as due diligence on investment banking clients, and the production of
business plans for private companies seeking capital.
In 2002, Mr. Mintz began teaching Financial Statement Analysis at the New School as an adjunct
professor. Peter has been an adjunct Professor at the King Graduate School of Monroe College in New
York since 2009 where he teaches courses on Financial Statement Analysis and Managerial Finance,
Financial Markets and Institutions, Mergers and Acquisitions and Entrepreneurship, as well as the core
Financial Foundation workshop.
Mr. Mintz holds and M.B.A. in finance from the Bernard Baruch business school in New York City and
a B.A. in political science and economics from the University of Rochester, in Rochester, New York.

Jann Mirchandani
Owner, Westchester Marketing Cafe LLC

Jann is the principal and creative engine behind Westchester Marketing Cafe LLC. Jann is an awardwinning website designer specializing in online marketing strategy and implementation for small and
mid-sized businesses and nonprofits. Jann joins her 20-plus years of marketing experience with the
technical expertise to execute online marketing strategies for the real world.
She is a frequent speaker to business groups on leveraging social media and inbound marketing. She
is an active member of the Business Council of Westchester and the Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber
and has previously served on the board of AAUW New York State.

Barbara Moroch
Write on NY
Barbara Moroch is marketing media professional with over 15 years of experience as a writer, editor
and communications expert. She was formerly Director of Marketing Communications for The Journal
News Media Group, a division of Gannett Co. Inc. Her specialties include creating integrated marketing
solutions for large and small businesses, project management, writing, editing, graphic design,
presentations, and identifying opportunities for clients.

Holly Perlowitz
Business Development Manager Community Capital NY

Holly Perlowitz, CPA, serves as Business Development Manager. An experienced

financial services professional with expertise in lending, operations, compliance
and accounting/finance, Holly began her career in public accounting with Deloitte, followed by Chase
and then Emigrant Bank, where she held a senior management role at Emigrant Mortgage Company.
She holds a Bachelors Degree in Accounting from St. Thomas Aquinas College and an MBA from
Fairleigh Dickinson University and has served on the Board of Family Services of Westchester and
chairs a committee for the Relay for Life Event in Ossining.

Nickay Piper
President, Market Grub Media, LLC

Nickay Piper is a Speaker, Instructor and President of NYC based Digital Marketing Agency, Market
Grub Media LLC. Nickay has wowed companies small and large with her already paramount
accomplishments and impressive know how within the Social Media Marketing arenas. She currently
serves Fortune 500 and middle market companies in the New York Metropolitan.
Nickay is able to share her passion for education and small business development as an Adjunct
Professor at SUNY Westchester Community College, where she has developed one of the colleges
first Social Media Marketing for Businesses certification courses.
Nickays is a recipient of the National Academic Award of Excellence from former President Bill
Clinton, The JP Morgan Chase Urban Debate League Scholarship. She received her Bachelors Degree
in New Media Communications from SUNY Purchase.

John Ravitz
Executive Vice President, The Business Council of Westchester
As Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, John oversees the Business Councils
legislative, government affairs and community relations, and plays a key role in developing and
expanding membership services.
Prior to joining the Business Council team, John, who is a former New York State Assemblyman, was
Chief Operating Officer of the Greater New York Region of the American Red Cross and Chief Executive
Officer of the American Red Cross in Westchester County. He also once served as Executive Director
of the New York City Board of Elections.
John was elected six times to the State Assembly representing the East Side of Manhattan. In his 12
years as a state legislator, he was ranking member of the Health Committee, and served on the Higher
Education, Education, Mental Health and Children and Families committees. As Assistant Minority
Leader he coordinated key legislation before the Assembly and as Assistant Minority Whip he directed
floor debate for the 52 members of the Assembly Minority Conference. As a community advocate,
John has organized more than 60 town hall meetings on a wide range of issues.
He is the recipient of numerous awards including the Mayors Action Committees Legislative
Recognition Award, the New York City Councils Community Service Award, the New York State
Conference of Mayors Good Government Legislative Award and the Burden Center for Agings
Lifetime Recognition Award.

Ellen Rose
Founder Sternnbach & Rose CPAs

Ellens experience includes over twenty-five years of Public Accounting, Corporate Audit, Operational
Audit, Internal Controls Audit and Fraud Investigation. Member of; Senior Management Team,
Information Technology Steering Committee, Project Leader, Systems Conversion Team,
FDICIA/COSO/Sarbanes-Oxley Implementation Team; of various organizations.
Member of the AICPA, Professional Women of Westchester, Professional Women of Putnam,
Professional Networkers of Westchester, Volunteer for Womens Enterprise Development Center and
member of National Conference of CPA Practitioners.
Ellen has a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Arizona, a Double Major in
Accounting and Management Information Systems and she is a Certified Public Accountant and
Certified Internal Auditor.

Natasha Roukos
Chairman, Score Westchester

Natasha Roukos is the Chairman of SCORE Weschester. SCORE is an all-volunteer organization that
helps small businesses start and grow. Ms. Roukos has 33 years of experience in
engineering, management consulting, and mergers and acquisitions, working in both small and large
firms. She recently retired from IBM where she was an executive in charge of integrating newly
acquired companies into IBM and growing their business. She believes that there are are 3 essential
elements for successful sustainable growth, both personally and on the organizational level: passion,
discipline and the willingness to evolve; and those are her guiding principles at SCORE Westchester.

Jay Spielvogel
Venator Sales Group
Jay serves as the CEO and Vice President of Sales for Venator Sales Group. He utilizes his vast
experience in sales and sales management to work with each client rolling out a team along with
targeted messaging and sales processes. After graduating from the Bentley College in Waltham, Ma,
Jay began a career managing the metro NY sales territory for the digital imaging division of Mitsubishi
International. Several years later, he went on to become a regional sales manager responsible for
both corporate and reseller sales for the northern US region. Following his tenure at Mitsubishi, Jay
founded and eventually sold a multi-million dollar graphic equipment and software business. Prior to
starting Venator Sales Group, Jay spent several years selling enterprise software as well as consulting
and coaching sales and sales management teams on sales process re-engineering. Throughout his
career Jay has sold solutions to corporations of all sizes from small start-up ventures to large fortune
1000 corporations

Felecia Sternbach
Founder Sternnbach & Rose CPAs
Felecias experience includes over twenty-five years of Public Accounting, which includes audits of
financial statements for both SEC and non-SEC clients, internal audit reviews and risk assessments,
compliance and third-party audits, income tax preparation for businesses, individuals, and non-profits,
and income tax planning.
Member of the AICPA, Professional Women of Westchester, Professional Women of Putnam,
Professional Networkers of Westchester, Volunteer for Womens Enterprise Development Center,
member of National Conference of CPA Practitioners.
Felecia has a B.B.A. in Accounting from Dowling College, Oakdale, NY and she is a Certified Public
Accountant.

Tamara Underwood
Vice President, New York Business Development Corporation
Tamara has twenty years international and US experience working in the small business lending and
enterprise support field. Tamara is the NYBDC Loan Officer for Westchester and Rockland counties.
NYBDC was formed by and for the banks of New York State in 1955 to facilitate access to capital for
small businesses unable to secure conventional financing from their bank of account. NYBDC

participates with banks, provides direct loans and obtains SBA 7(a) guarantees where needed.
NYBDCs sister company Empire State CDC is certified to provide financing under the SBA 504 Loan
program which assists small businesses in the acquisition of real estate, equipment purchase and
improvement of owned or leased real estate. Tamara has an MA in International Economics from
Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a BA from UC Berkeley.

Britta Vander Linden

Communications Specialist/Economic Development Liaison
Office of County Executive Robert P. Astorino
Britta Vander Linden is an accomplished communications strategist, currently managing press and
public relations for Westchester County Executive Robert P. Astorino. In this capacity, Britta focuses
primarily on building awareness about the county executives economic development programs and
promoting the countys resources to the business community.
Among the beneficiaries of Brittas strategic communication efforts is Westchesters Industrial
Development Agency, which achieved a record level of activity in 2014, supporting 16 commercial,
residential and retail projects that will create more than 3,800 permanent and construction jobs.
Britta also focuses her efforts as the author of Lymphedema Diary," a health advocacy blog that is
followed by readers from more than 100 countries. As a result of Brittas contributions and
accomplishments, she was awarded the prestigious Business Council of Westchesters 2014 Rising
Star 40 Under Forty honor. Britta holds a Master of Public Administration degree from Pace
University, graduating as an Edwin G. Michaelian Excellence in Government Scholar. Britta and her
husband Luke live in Bedford Hills.

Michael J. Wieser, Esq.

MJ Wieser Law | Legal Counsel for Business Growth
After 23 years as both a small business lawyer and a 5-time serial entrepreneur (including a
multimillion dollar tech business), everything Michael experienced lead him to creating a unique law
practice to work with innovative entrepreneurs helping them launch, reach their goals and achieve
their full potential. Michaels clients retain him to be part of their teams as their outside general
counsel. Whether buying an existing business, launching a new company from an idea or buying a
franchise, clients benefit from Michael's counsel toward creating stability, protection and the proper
foundation that enables the company to successfully grow and achieve its business goals. Finally,
through his proprietary Legal Managed Services Program, Michael has done away with hourly billing
and works with clients effectively and affordably. Michael can be reached at 914-462-3850 or
mjw@mjwieserlaw.com.

Sandy Wollman
President & Founder SBAA
Sandford (Sandy) Wollman is the hands on President and Founder of the Small Business Advisory
Alliance (SBAA), a non-profit organization created to help small business owners and their employees
in our community. Having over 25 years of experience as a business owner, financial planner and
investor, Sandy has experienced it all. Through the SBAA, Sandy will share his knowledge and

experience to help start up and existing small business owners succeed and to provide financial
literacy in our community. By closing his financial planning practice Sandy is able to devote his full
time to the SBAA and other community pro bono programs.

Persephone Zill, MBA

Program Director, Womens Enterprise Development Center (WEDC)
Persephone Zill has been with the Women's Enterprise Development Center (WEDC) for the last 6
years and has a strong background in entrepreneurial program development, event management and
business counseling. Prior to WEDC, Ms. Zill served as the Director of Training at the former American
Woman's Economic Development Corporation (AWED) in New York City. In addition, she devoted
more than ten years to supporting women entrepreneurs through her own coaching practice in
Westchester County. She also served as the Co-leader of the Westchester/Rockland International
Coaching Federation (ICF) Chapter. Ms. Zill earned a BA degree from Barnard College in American
Studies and has an MBA in Management/Entrepreneurship from Baruch College of the City University
of New York.