Syracuse District Office Success Stories

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Lavender Business Is Blooming For WBC Client

When Karen Wheeler-Lockwood wanted to grow some lavender for her wedding bouquet in 2003, she never knew it would turn into a business idea. Her long-time dreams of owning her own business found the perfect match in lavandula and the fertile fields...

Chobani Selected as SBA’s 2012 National Entrepreneurial Success of the Year

The story of Chobani is as simple as the idea for a better tasting and healthier yogurt, and yet so much more. Sitting in the yogurt section of nearly every grocery chain in the nation today is their flagship product, Chobani Greek Yogurt. Chobani...

Mary Warren, PE, president of Black Horse Group General Contractors

Engineer's Most Important Build: Her Own Business

“In 2005, I was working as a civilian for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and spent six months on a construction project in Afghanistan. While I was over there, on my down time I would sit and think how I was going to...

Family Firm Has Farming Roots, Hospitality Branches

The Emmi/Mangano family businesses began in the 1940’s when Antonio Emmi purchased a 30-acre farm in Liverpool. Crops of corn, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries and blueberries were sold to local markets and directly to customers at the family...

The Next Generation: Liehs & Steigerwald

Shortly after arriving in the U.S. in 1936, Ludwig Steigerwald teamed with fellow German immigrant Curt Liehs, Sr. to open a butcher shop in downtown Syracuse. The duo launched a successful startup in the midst of the Great Depression by providing...

e200 Syracuse Graduation Nicole Samolis, president of The Events Company

Full Circle: The Events Company

Canton native Nicole Samolis didn’t set out to become a successful small businesswoman, but her firm The Events Company is tangible evidence of her passion and persistence on the path of entrepreneurship. Samolis earned her degree in fashion...

Eco-Entrepreneurs Dive Into Small Business Success

Milfoil and Asian clams are two invasive aquatic species that are creating havoc in lakes across the country as they overwhelm native species, damage ecosystems and reduce fishing, boating and other lake tourism activities. Left untreated, invasive...

SBDC Procurement Assistance Center Helps Sturges Manufacturing, Inc.

Founded by Henry Sturges, Sturges Manufacturing, Inc. began producing suspenders in Utica, NY in 1909. Today, Sturges is an ISO-9001 certified manufacturer of custom-designed engineered straps and webbing for the safety, firefighting, military and...

Joan Ford, owner of Hummingbird Highway, LLC

Entrepreneur Designs Her Own Future

Joan Ford’s home is more than where her heart is---it’s also the location of her quilt design company, Hummingbird Highway, LLC. Ford’s business is one example of a growing small business sector: more than one out of 10...

Stable Owner Along for the Ride

Over a dozen years ago, Wendy Washeleski gave her coworker’s niece a horse riding lesson at her home. What started out as a hobby is now the 300-acre Fall Brook Stable, a successful small business in Taberg, New York. Washeleski left her...

SBA Recognizes Syracuse Daycare For Small Business Success

Stella Penizotto received an Associate’s Degree with Honors from Onondaga Community College in Early Childhood Education in 1990 and her Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education in 1992 from SUNY Oswego. Soon after graduation, Stella...

Architect Drafts Design for Downtown Digs

As an architect, Anthony Catsimatides spends his days translating residential and commercial client design concepts into reality. As a small business owner, Anthony has been his own toughest customer during the renovation of Open Atelier’s...

Young Restaurateur Is On A Roll

Eric Jiang has more experience in running a successful small business than his 26 years would imply. Eric learned the sushi business from the inside out, starting as a sushi chef assistant by slicing cucumbers and making nishiki rice in a Japanese...

The Little Limo That Could…

In 2008, U.S. Navy veteran Leonard Lehman saw a television news broadcast about an upcoming veterans business conference called Operation: Start Up & Grow. Leonard had been driving limousines for other companies for 17 years, and since he had...