New York SBDC

08/28/2026

📍The Bronx | New York SBDC Client Awards Roadshow 🚙

Yesterday we stopped in the Bronx and were especially proud to honor Olga L. Perez, CEO & Founder of MVP Lifeguards as the New York SBDC's Woman Entrepreneur of the Year! 👏🏽✨State Director Sonya Smith MBA presented her with this deserving award.

Founded in 2017, MVP Lifeguards is a Bronx-based business creating pathways to opportunity for the community through aquatics training and workforce development. The company has trained more than 3,000 people and currently employs 50+ team members with operations in 8 NYC public schools.

🤝Through the support of the Bronx Small Business Development Center at Lehman College, Olga worked with Senior Business Advisor Patrick J. Saul to navigate certification requirements and identify opportunities for business growth and government contracting.

Following the celebration, Sonya shared, “Olga Perez exemplifies perseverance and community-minded leadership we celebrate through the NYSBDC Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Her success in growing MVP Lifeguards, earning state certification, and expanding her impact through MVP Swimmers, a nonprofit initiative designed to expand access to swimming instruction and water-safety education for children, demonstrates how entrepreneurship can build both a strong business and stronger communities. We are proud to recognize Olga and to support her continued journey.”

Her story is a powerful example of what’s possible when entrepreneurship, opportunity, and the right support come together.

🌟 Congratulations, Olga! We are proud to celebrate your success, leadership, and lasting impact in the Bronx and across New York State!

08/27/2026

Leaving a federal career to become a full-time entrepreneur was a major transition for Chelan Vanno. She had a clear vision for The Portal - Utica: a place where individuals, teams, and organizations could step outside their usual environments and approach growth and change in new ways.

The Portal Utica is a creative leadership and innovation studio in Utica's historic Bagg's Square district, offering strategic facilitation, immersive experiences, professional development, and wellness-based practices.

As the studio moved from build-out into early operations, Chelan faced the less visible work of turning that vision into a sustainable business. She worked with Mohawk Valley Small Business Development Center Business Advisor James Willey to think through pricing, use of the space, and which early client opportunities could help establish the model.

When budget concerns arose around an early corporate engagement, James encouraged Chelan to treat it as a strategic pilot rather than reduce the experience itself. Chelan offered the first employer cohort a lower price while preserving the full immersion. The engagement led to additional work and helped demonstrate the value of the studio's approach. Chelan also developed a three-month nonprofit intensive that became a long-term partnership, helping stabilize revenue and build visibility.

"Having the support of the SBDC made the transition from my federal career into full-time entrepreneurship feel significantly more stable," Chelan shared.

"As a small business owner, you're often making decisions in isolation, and having experienced guidance makes a real difference."

Entering its second year, The Portal Utica is continuing to grow through the same kind of thoughtful, intentional decisions that helped shape its launch.

08/26/2026

Programs expand what business owners can learn. Partnerships expand what they can access.

The Programs and Partnerships section of our 2025 Impact Report highlights 558 webinars and workshops reaching more than 11,123 attendees, along with 83 internal training events that strengthened knowledge across our network. It also brings together work in international trade, Grow with Google, entrepreneurship education, cybersecurity, and statewide collaboration.

Explore the section: https://bit.ly/NYSBDC_2025_ImpactReport_Programs

08/26/2026

08/25/2026

⭐ August's Gold Star Goes To… ⭐

Nicole Golden, Business Advisor at our Lower Hudson Valley SBDC!

Nicole's colleagues recognize her for the leadership, initiative, and attention to detail she consistently brings to her work. She recently led the planning of a business accelerator initiative that supported more than 50 local entrepreneurs. She oversaw participant communications, coordinated judges and event logistics, developed program materials and resources, and provided individualized business advising throughout the program.

Nicole has also strengthened the center's storytelling and visibility by coordinating a recent client success story video series. The videos give participating entrepreneurs professional content to share while helping the center bring their journeys and the impact of SBDC support to life.

Whether guiding entrepreneurs through an intensive program or helping clients share their stories, Nicole brings care and follow-through that extend the value of each effort well beyond the center.

Congratulations, Nicole, and thank you for all you do!

08/25/2026

2026 Regional Symposium in Buffalo! 🎉

Small businesses across New York share many common goals, but the challenges and opportunities they face can look very different from one region and community to the next.

This year, we held our first NYSBDC Regional Symposium in Buffalo, bringing Business Advisors from across the state together to learn more about Western New York’s small business landscape. They heard from regional leaders, talked with colleagues, and dug into the challenges and opportunities shaping small businesses in the region. They also shared ideas and best practices they can bring back to the businesses and communities they serve.

A special thank you to the Greater Buffalo Small Business Development Center team for hosting our first regional symposium and helping colleagues from across the state get to know the region firsthand. Thank you as well to Buffalo State University and the team at the Jacqueline Vito LoRusso Alumni and Visitor Center for welcoming us, and to everyone who spoke, participated, and shared their knowledge and ideas throughout the two days.

Here are a few moments from our time together in Buffalo.

08/24/2026

Good decisions start with good information.

The Data and Research section of our 2025 Impact Report highlights how the NYSBDC Research Network and Data Hub turn information into insight. It brings together statewide counseling, training, and financial impact; results by county; and industry trends that help us better understand New York's evolving small-business landscape.

Explore the Data & Research section: https://bit.ly/NYSBDC_2025_ImpactReport_Data

08/21/2026

Through the LIA-AI Growth Academy, 50 local ventures are in an intensive training program designed to turn AI daunting concept into a toolkit for success.

08/20/2026

"Visibility is not vanity. It's access."

A New Vision, A Stronger Voice explores why building awareness of the New York SBDC matters. Through a refreshed identity, stronger communications, community outreach, and more intentional storytelling, we are working to make sure entrepreneurs across the state know where to find no-cost, expert support.

Read the feature in our 2025 Impact Report: https://bit.ly/NYSBDC_2025_ImpactReport_Vision

08/19/2026

📰 Hot off the presses: the 2025 New York SBDC Impact Report.

This year's report brings together the people, programs, partnerships, and results that shaped our work with small businesses across New York. Over the next two weeks, we will share a closer look at four sections that reflect the reach and character of our statewide network.

View the full 2025 Impact Report: https://bit.ly/NYSBDC_2025_ImpactReport