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.
Located in Utica’s historic Bagg’s Square district, The Portal Utica is a creative leadership and innovation studio 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.
