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Local CNY entrepreneurs graduate from SBA’s Emerging Leaders Initiative

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Syracuse District Office recently honored the 15 participants in its Emerging Leaders Initiative at a graduation ceremony at SUNY ESF.

The program provides more than 40 hours of advanced management training. It’s a collaboration of the SBA Syracuse District Office, CenterState CEO, CNY TDO, City of Syracuse Office of Neighborhood and Business Development, Downtown Committee of Syracuse, MACNY, Onondaga SBDC, SUNY ESF, Syracuse SCORE, Syracuse University, The Falcone Center, The Tech Garden, and the WISE Women’s Business Center.

“With tailored curriculum, limited class size and small mentoring groups, the Emerging Leaders initiative creates an environment for the entrepreneur to take a critical assessment of their business in today’s economy,” SBA Syracuse District Director Bernard J. Paprocki said in a news release. “By strengthening these small businesses, I can tell you that the program will affect more than our 15 graduates. The Emerging Leaders experience will continue to impact their companies, employees, customers and communities for months and years from now.”

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At the Nov. 5 graduation ceremony, current and past graduates shared their experiences during the Emerging Leaders program and how it directly affected their business operations and plans for growth, the SBA said in its release.

The Emerging Leaders initiative targets small companies that have the potential for rapid expansion and job creation. Firms need an operational track record of three years or more. Syracuse is one of 27 participating cities nationwide. To learn more about the Emerging Leaders program, visit www.sba.gov/ny/syracuse.

The 2014 SBA Syracuse District Emerging Leaders Initiative graduates are:

Mathew Barber, owner, managing partner
Barber Financial Management, East Syracuse

Jessica Cosentino, manager
Cosentino’s Florist, Auburn

Sherry DePerno, president and CEO
Advanced Tool Inc., Marcy

Herbert Dwyer, president and CEO
ASI Energy, Ithaca

Sally Fedrizzi, owner
Vagabond Tour and Travel, Baldwinsville

Shawn Ferguson, CEO
Indian Springs Mfg. Co., Inc., Baldwinsville

Matt Godard, owner
Café Kubal, Syracuse

Theresa Himes, president and CEO
Bosco and Geers Food Market LTD., Oswego

Andrew Kettell, president
C. M. E. Corp., Syracuse

Sara Morris, co-owner
Mello Velo Bicycle Shop, Inc., Syracuse

Margaret Morin, president
4M Precision Industries, Inc., Auburn