SBDC Day is a national, collective proclamation of the impact America’s SBDCs have on the success of America’s small businesses. It unites the nearly 1,000 Small Business Development Centers across the country, and the hundreds of thousands of clients they serve by sharing in real time, the success stories and notable impacts SBDCs collectively have on the small business community at large. The seventh annual SBDC Day takes place on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 and the centers across the country are planning different ways to acknowledge how the SBDCs have helped entrepreneurs’ start-up, grow and expand their small businesses across America. Essentially, SBDCs have helped our clients, small businesses, to “Reimagine Main Street”
In honor of Women in History Month, we have decided to focus on Women in business. Did you know that over half of SBDC clients are women? Throughout 2022 our New York SBDC network supported 10,447 women-owned small businesses. These female entrepreneurs benefited from over 46,000 hours of one-on-one FREE business advising by NYSBDC experts, who helped these business owners get $68 million worth of loans, grants, and other investments in their businesses, right here in New York State!
Sonya Smith, State Director of the NYSBDC, said, “With the challenges that most small businesses encounter, it is important that the NYSBDC is a connector and resource for these individuals. There are programs in most states that focus on promoting equity by helping to level the business playing field, and MWBE certification is one avenue which makes that possible in New York State.”
On Staten Island, women have been an essential part of the borough’s economic environment for decades. In fact, in the 12 months ending 2/28/23, the Staten Island Small Business Development Center has counseled 2,028 clients, of which 989 or 49% were women-owned. SBDC Regional Director, Dean Balsamini said “To acknowledge the positive impact women-owned businesses and women leaders have had in the business community of Staten Island, the SI SBDC will be highlighting four prominent women in business and celebrating their contributions to our local economy.”
STATEN ISLAND WOMEN IN BUSINESS
Teresa Rampulla, Founder and CEO, She Media NY, LLC
Teresa, born and raised in Staten Island, attended the College of Staten Island and worked for several large advertising and marketing firms in Manhattan. In the mid 1990’s she transitioned to her Staten Island roots when she started “The Writer’s Edge”, a PR and Marketing firm, while also working at the SI Advance. It was her work with The Writer’s Edge that caught the attention of David Rampulla, owner of then Communication Associates (now Ferry Ads). David asked Teresa to join him as Marketing Director and in 2001, they were married.
Teresa, already a client with the SI SBDC met with her Advisor, Edward (Ed) Piszko to discuss the creation of a women-owned, women focused agency, and through the years Ed has continued to advise her on various aspects of her business. She Media NY offers a full range of advertising and marketing, public relations, media planning and buying and consulting. She Media NY is also certified as an Airport Concessions Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (ACDBE), a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) and a Women Business Enterprise (WBE).
She Media NY, LLC partnered with Clear Channel Airports (CCA) in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, and became its ACDBE/DBE/WBE local sales subcontractor in CCA’s airport bid to the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ); the largest airport advertising and sponsorship contract in the U. S. She Media NY focuses its efforts on helping local and regional advertisers reach passengers arriving into the region and the surrounding area.
Teresa was awarded the MWBE Recognition Award in 2018- selected and presented by the five borough Chamber of Commerce coalition and more recently, she was recognized by the SI Center for Independent Living as having a positive impact on the S.I. community. In February 2023, Teresa was honored with a Louis R. Miller Leadership Award for the Established Businessperson category.
Linda Baran, President & CEO, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
Linda has worked at the SI Chamber of Commerce since August 1986 when she answered an ad for a bookkeeper position. In May 2004 Linda was elected by the Chamber’s Board of Directors as the first woman President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization, since its inception in 1895. Prior to being elected President and CEO, Linda worked in many other positions at the SICC. “I was the constant that really paid attention to everything, especially the finance and operations of the Chamber.”
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Linda worked relentlessly to provide information and resources to the Staten Island businesses affected by the storm. The SICC was involved in the revitalization of the Bay Street corridor in downtown Staten Island. During the recent pandemic, Linda advocated on behalf of small businesses at the Federal, State and City levels for much needed relief for Staten Island.
Linda is invested in the future of the young, therefore, she launched the Chamber’s Young Entrepreneur Academy (YEA!) in 2013 to ensure the success of the next generation of business leaders. The program combines a dynamic, proven curriculum with the experiences of local leaders of industry, educators, community members and entrepreneurs. The Staten Island SBDC is a proud 2023 Investor Panel Sponsor of the program.
Linda was nominated by the SI SBDC and received the SBA Women’s Small Business Champion Award for advocacy of Staten Island women-owned businesses. In 2022, Linda was honored with a Louis R. Miller Business Leadership Award in the Not-For Profit Businessperson category. The awards are presented by the SICC and the Staten Island Advance in honor of the memory of Louis R. Miller, a businessman and W. Brighton resident, who was a community leader.
Jaclyn Tacoronte, Founder and Owner JMT Media, LLC
Jaclyn is the founder and owner of JMT Media, LLC, a boutique marketing, public relations and design firm based in Staten Island, New York. Jaclyn started her company in February 2015 with the goal to “help navigate your story to life.” An award-winning marketing and public relations professional with over 18 years of experience, Jaclyn has advised several Fortune 500 Companies, including Canon, Puma, Harley Davidson and Proctor & Gamble.
Jaclyn’s background encompasses an array of awards, as well as many volunteer efforts within the metropolitan area and more exclusively in the Staten Island small business and cultural communities. Jaclyn served as the 2019 Emcee for the Staten Island Light the Night Walk, a National fundraising effort for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, and was awarded the Valued Media Partner in January, 2020 by LLS, NYC Chapter. She was also honored by the Staten Island Children’s Museum with the Circle of Friends Award, which is given to those who demonstrate extraordinary dedication and leadership toward making Staten Island a better place for children and families.
Jaclyn received a B.A. in Communications, focused on International Business from the University of Texas and San Antonio, and a M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix, Austin Texas campus. Jaclyn served as the Marketing Director at The Young People's Chorus of New York City, and she is the former Director of External Affairs & Business Development for Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden.
Jaclyn worked with the SI SBDC in 2017 to update her MWBE Status & Certification, and the company is currently a New York State and New York City certified Minority-Women Business Enterprise certificate holder, and the first Native American certified from Staten Island, New York.
In 2020, Jaclyn was nominated by the Staten Island SBDC, and received the SBA New York Small Business Champion Award for having a positive effect on our community. On April 20, 2022 Jaclyn was recognized nationally at the 2022 Social Impact Awards, presented by PR News. She received a Special Recognition Award for Indigenous Persons Pioneer and was nominated for the Women’s Empowerment Champion Award. At the time, Jaclyn said “For the past two decades, I have dedicated everything I do to support women and my community.”
Maryann Piazza, Co-Founder and Owner Majestic Vending & Services, Inc.
Majestic Vending and Services, Inc. is co-owned by Maryann and Stephen Piazza. From its humble beginnings as a simple gumball machine at a construction site, Majestic Vending has grown into a company that serves the NYC area with vending, office coffee, bottled water delivery and safety gear. One of its subsidiaries brings fresh, high quality ingredients together to use unique raw and organic sweeteners and/or herb savory flavors to glaze or roast nuts for onsite events or shipped direct to the home.
Majestic suffered many hardships, especially financially as a result of Super Storm Sandy, but despite that, the Piazza’s have not only been able to continue their business, but also have been able to expand and diversify. A highlight of this is when Majestic was chosen by the NY/NJ Super Bowl Host Committee Business Connect, as an Official Participant to prepare and distribute several products and services the day of the first ever two state (NY-NJ) hosting the Super Bowl. Maryann even met Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and one of Shark Tank’s investors.
In 2016 Stephen and Maryann Piazza won the National Phoenix Award for Outstanding Small Business Disaster Recovery after being nominated by the SI SBDC. Majestic Vending, along with the owners exemplified the resilience and courage that this award represents.
Additionally, Maryann has been the recipient of the Business Leadership Award from the West Brighton Community LDC • The Making NYC Better for Women Award by the NYC Commission on Women’s Issues • The Women Business of the Year Award from the SIEDC • The Enterprising Women of the Year Award Honorable Mention by Enterprising Women Magazine • Small Business Success Award from the SBA • JoAnn Regan Award from the BOC Women’s Business Center, and the Louis R. Miller Leadership Award in the Established Business category. Maryann has had a significant impact upon the Staten Island community.
MEET THE STATEN ISLAND SBDC TEAM
From Left: (Top Row) Marketing Advisor, Bonnie Arciero, Certified Senior Business Advisor Joseph Bottega, Regional Director Dean Balsamini, Business Advisor Joseph Muller, Certified Senior Business Advisor Edward Piszko, Business Advisor Debra Denmark and Office Manager Angela Chuppe (photo taken at the CSI Campus)
To schedule an appointment with one of our Advisors Contact Us: Tel: 718-982-2560 sbdc@csi.cuny.edu www.sisbdc.org