SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University announced it has appointed Meghan Florkowski as director of the WISE Women’s Business Center (WBC), effective Nov. 11.
Florkowski replaces Joanne Lenweaver, who retired earlier this year.
WISE is short for Women Igniting the Spirit of Entrepreneurship.
Florkowski previously led a portfolio of entrepreneurship training programs at Syracuse University’s Institute for Veterans and Military Families. Those programs reached more than 30,000 military service-connected individuals.
One “notable” program in this portfolio was for women veterans (V-WISE), which Florkowski grew into a “nationally-recognized” program that reached more than 2,000 women veterans across 49 states, according to a Whitman School news release.
In this position, she oversaw a budget of more than $5 million, was successful in collaborating with the U.S. Small Business Administration, raised significant outside funding, led a team of six people, and created and managed an advisory board.
“Meghan brings a positive attitude, strong work ethic, an ability to lead collaboration among diverse stakeholder groups, and outstanding leadership to the position,” Alex McKelvie, associate dean for undergraduate and master’s education at the Whitman School, said in the release. “We’re delighted to welcome her to the Whitman family as leader of the WISE WBC.”
Florkowski also worked in employer relations at Le Moyne College, as an operations manager for the USO (United Service Organizations), as a military transition career training leader in Europe, and as a captain in the U.S. Army.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in engineering psychology from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a master’s degree in exercise science and health promotion from California University of Pennsylvania.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
Photo credit: Martin J. Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University