SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Owner Shawni Davis says the summer is always the busiest season for Luminary Electrical. She noted that the electrical contractor is doing work for the new stadium project for the Buffalo Bills, a project at the Corning Museum of Glass, and the ongoing work on rest stops along the New York State […]
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Owner Shawni Davis says the summer is always the busiest season for Luminary Electrical.
She noted that the electrical contractor is doing work for the new stadium project for the Buffalo Bills, a project at the Corning Museum of Glass, and the ongoing work on rest stops along the New York State Thruway.
“So, we’re pretty busy,” Davis said in speaking with reporters on Sept. 29.
She spoke after the New York State Small Business Development Center (SBDC) recognized her with its 2023 Minority Entrepreneur of the Year Award.
Luminary Electrical operates on the second floor of the Lincoln Building at 109 Otisco St. on Syracuse’s Near Westside.
Sonya Smith, state director of the New York SBDC, presented the award to Davis during a noon-hour ceremony at Luminary Electrical. Davis is a client of the SBDC at Onondaga Community College (OCC).
“With women still being recognized as vastly underrepresented in decision making, whether it’s in politics, business, or communities, this is really important for an award to show the strong leadership … her [staff] and team being here to support her, the community itself, but then also the SBDC and [OCC] and SBA,” Smith said in her remarks before presenting the award.
Luminary Electrical has 15 years of experience performing commercial and industrial electrical work, per an OCC announcement. Luminary Electrical is a minority & women-owned business enterprise certified master licensed contractor, and a member of the National Electric Contractors Association, the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce, and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
“I am the face of the company but quite honestly, without my staff … this would not be possible, so I really want to just take the time to appreciate you all for what you do,” Davis said in her remarks. “You make us shine.”
Bob Griffin, regional director of the SBDC at OCC, opened the ceremony, referencing a March 2022 article about Davis on the SBDC website.
Davis had reached out to the New York SBDC regional office at OCC in October 2020 for basic startup information. At the time, she was assigned to work with senior business advisor Frank Cetera who talked her through a review of startup mechanics and logistics, business planning, and developing a cash-flow budget, Griffin explained.
“As the startup progressed, Shawni returned to speak with Frank about MWBE certification in January 2021. Frank discussed the process, provided direction, which Shawni then ran with to gain her certification. In August ‘21, Frank continued to work with Shawni on developing an updated business plan, financial statements, and a basic audit review of her marketing materials and website. And then they turned to submitting their first application for line of credit financing,” Griffin said.
He went on to say, “What is so meaningful to us … is that we were able to play a small role in being there to help.”
The Small Business Development Center at OCC offers no-cost, confidential business-advisement services to people and companies throughout its six-county region.
The New York SBDC is administered by SUNY and funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York, and host campuses, per the SBDC website.
Daniel Rickman, director of the Syracuse-Upstate New York office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), was among the attendees at the event.