Cayuga County
SATELLITE LOCATION
Cayuga County
PLEASE NOTE: We are NOT accepting walk-ins at this time. We are currently offering clients the option to have appointments virtually, by phone, or in person BY APPOINTMENT ONLY (following OCC COVID-19 Safety Plan and Procedures and CDC Guidelines).
sbdc in Cayuga County:
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The Onondaga Small Business Development Center (SBDC) works with entrepreneurs and small business owners in Cayuga County out of our satellite office at the Cayuga County Chamber of Commerce.
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Book an Appointment:
ROBERT GRIFFIN
SBDC Regional Director
BIO
Education:
Community Involvement: Long-time involvement in multiple non-profits, including arts organizations, a historical society, and the Boy Scouts of America. What is your background in business? I spent 20 years in the hospitality industry, as Director of a small Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, as a marketing director in the contract food service industry, and director of sales and marketing for a convention center. What are your areas of expertise? Most of my specialty is in marketing and food service operations. In recent years, I have developed skills in both financial modeling as well as advising business owners on succession planning strategies. What drew you to work at SBDC? I love helping people. Whether it is assisting people with a new business idea or helping existing business owners with the challenges of entrepreneurship, I love the idea of being a critical part of the team that helps someone achieve or sustain their dream. What’s your best advice for someone thinking about starting their own small business? Never be too proud to seek the advice and counsel of others. What do you enjoy about the work you do? Every day is a different day…some of what we discuss with our clients may be similar, but every client presents a distinctly new and refreshing experience. What makes you unique? Calm under pressure. David Allen called it, “Mind like water”. What are your personal interests? Hiking, the outdoors, travel, technology and spending time with family. I also have a mean chili recipe. If you won the lottery tomorrow, what sort of business would you found? Along with staying with the SBDC, of course! Great question. I probably would start a firm that specialized in detailed guidance for business owners looking to sell their businesses. It’s a difficult process that requires extensive planning to get the best results. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? Always be willing to challenge your system. Just because it works today does not mean it’s the best system for tomorrow. |
NANCY ANSTETH
NYSBDC Certified Business Advisor
BIO
Education:
Community Involvement:
What is your background in business? I worked in industry, at General Motors and in the brewery industry, which gave me insight into the average workday for an industrial worker. When I left industry, I got into the small business realm by taking SEAP (Self Employment Assistance Program) classes at the Onondaga SBDC. Later, I was hired as an advisor. After leaving for a couple years, I came back on a part-time basis, which eventually turned into a full-time position. What are your areas of expertise? Creating business plans, identifying target markets and helping people establish budgets and cash flows. What drew you to work at SBDC? Being able to present and break down the information presented through the Fast Track and SEAP Programs; assist people in making their decisions. It’s an achievement in itself to help clients determine whether it’s the right time for a particular business or, whether being a business owner is for them. What’s your best advice for someone thinking about starting their own small business? Don’t try to work in a vacuum. You need as much input as you can get. Talk to other people, particularly those who have started their own businesses or attempted to start their own businesses, to identify obstacles that are likely to present a stumbling block for you. What do you enjoy about the work you do? Talking with people and hearing new ideas and new ways of looking at old things. I also enjoy encouraging people not to give up and helping them realize they have to do some research. They have to take ownership for every step of starting the business. What makes you unique? I’m a good listener and I like listening for the passion, too. If it’s there, it comes through. I also think I’m good at helping people see and identify both their own strengths and their less-developed attributes. What are your personal interests? I’ve developed a personal interest in gardening. I’m working toward becoming a master gardener right now. If you won the lottery tomorrow, what sort of business would you found? Along with staying with the SBDC, of course! I would start a couple of foundations — for domestic animals and for children who are in orphanages, who never got a sense of inclusion. The foundations would primarily be to educate people about those issues and eradicate those situations. What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? To be true to yourself and not doubt yourself because of somebody else’s criticism or opinion. — Past teacher |
