 SMALL BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Last Shot Distillery was not named by accident. Chris Uyehara had often thought about the business he would like to start. It takes a lot of juggling to get all the pieces to fit: product, location, funding, equipment, viable partners, etc. But, Chris recognized when the time was right and consulted the SBDC and worked with Nancy Ansteth on his business plan.
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 Take two creatively talented people, add a historic abandoned site with equal portions of imagination and vision, et voila: the answer to ‘where will we hold it?’ ‘where will we find the right ambience?’ ‘who makes stuff like that?’
When Katie Peck visited the SBDC at Onondaga Community College, she had a cornucopia of thoughts running through her mind.  The US Small Business Administration has celebrated America’s small businesses through this celebration for more than 50 years.
In conjunction with that, the Small Business Development Center at Onondaga Community College is taking the time to recognize outstanding small businesses from each of the six counties served by the agency. Each business has at some time leveraged the no-cost assistance provided by the team of business advisors to start or grow their small businesses.  There will always be firsts as long as there is change, and Shawni Davis of Luminary Electrical Contractor, LLC is proving that by being the first black woman LGBT-owned MWBE Certified Master Licensed electrical contractor in Syracuse, NY. Luminary performs both commercial and industrial electrical work and brings 15 years of electrical experience to the field.
 “The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” – Martial artist, actor and philosopher Bruce Lee.
When Luke Nicolette approached the Onondaga Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at Onondaga Community College close to two years ago, one thing was apparent. Like many successful people, Luke is a young man with a singular, laser-like focus on the task at hand. He had a concept for a new business in Central New York and our job at the SBDC was to clear away the “speed bumps” and help him get his business from point A to point B. With Luke’s focus and work ethic, and with the help of the SBDC, he was able to open Syracuse’s first and only Acai shop offering healthy bowls, smoothies, juices and salads.  This is a story about opportunity, stepping up to challenges and persevering in the face of adversity. The year was 1972. Al Barbagallo and his brothers had been picking vegetables and tomatoes on his father’s farm for several summers, even into their adult years.
 Since 1980 The Skaneateles Festival-world class music by the lake, has brought classical music to the Finger Lakes region. Renowned talent has drawn audiences from the far reaches of the area. Venues have varied, with each providing just the right ambience. Whether in a barn, a library hall, an open field, or a vineyard, audiences have been treated to the uppermost levels of entertainment.
 Lydia Montgomery’s long-time vision of opening her very own sewing education and seamstress business was finally realized with the opening of “Lydia’s Daily Thread” in the Gear Factory at the corner of West Fayette and South Geddes streets in the westside of Syracuse.
 Up until now, Stephanie McCall has created custom quilts as a one woman show. However, COVID shutdowns made her re-imagine her customers’ experience.
While the part of Stephanie’s business that required in-person consultations suffered very early on in the pandemic, she was able to adapt by changing her procedures. She re-organized her processes and notified her customers so that they would be aware that she was doing the very best she could to keep their product(s) safe.  What do you do when the Covid-19 pandemic literally shuts down your whole operation?
You get creative and pivot to an operation where you are staying relevant while fulfilling your mission. This is the situation faced by the Center for the Arts of Homer - and the approach they took to deal with that trying business period. |
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Email: sbdc@sunyocc.edu
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Phone: 315-498-6070
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Onondaga Small Business Development Center. Partnership Program with the SBA, administered by the State University of New York. Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions or recommendations expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. All SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a nondiscriminatory basis.
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