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2006 Entrepreneurs of the YearMinority Entrepreneurs of the Year: Rohan Scarlett & Miron Ebanks-Scarlett Minority Entrepreneurs of the Year:
Rural Entrepreneur of the Year:
High-Tech Entrepreneur of the Year:
Female Entrepreneurs of the Year:
Manufacturer of the Year:
Environmental Entrepreneur of the Year:
Start-Up Company of the Year:
Veteran Entrepreneur of the Year:
Entrepreneurial Educator of the Year:
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Rohan Scarlett spent 20 distinguished years with the New York City Police Department while harboring a life-long dream of owning his own business. He and his wife, Miron, wanted to open a Golden Krust Bakery and Grill Franchise featuring Caribbean baked goods. It was his good fortune that the Golden Krust company had a special outreach program for minorities, especially Hispanics. With the assistance of Cleavan Daniel, Assistant Director of the Bronx SBDC, the Scarletts developed a winning business plan and financial proposal. The result was $300,000 in financing—comprising an SBA-guaranteed loan, and owner equity. The new Golden Krust franchise opened in a multi-ethnic area of the Bronx in December 2003 and the Scarletts project revenue of $800,000 in the next year. The fact that the franchise’s employee base mirrors the ethnic diversity of the community, and the product mix addresses the needs of the residents, has contributed to its success. Scarlett provides his services as a part-time consultant to the franchisor. 
Douglas and Todd Shelmidine, with their father Donald, have operated Sheland Farms—600 acres and 500 dairy cows in southern Jefferson County--for more than 40 years. The family’s concern about rising energy costs led to research into new technology that converts manure into methane gas to power electric generators. This technology not only reduces greenhouse gases but recycles dried manure extract into animal bedding and improves water quality by reducing manure runoff. Jefferson Community College Business Advisor Ann Durant worked with the Shelmidines to request grant funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, USDA’s Rural Development Agency, and Empire State Development’s Environmental Investment Program. Jefferson County Industrial Development Corporation (JCIDC), and Development Authority of the North Country (DANC) also provided funding for the project, which amounted to more than $1.5 million. On November 10, 2005, NYS Senator Jim Wright participated with other dignitaries in a groundbreaking ceremony at Sheland Farms. Electricity will be generated beginning spring 2006, a benefit for the farm’s profitability and to the environment. 
Matrix Imaging Solutions, Inc. (MIS), in Sanborn, New York has grown steadily over the last 12 years under the direction of principals Alan Olivero, Richard Profeta, David Basta, and Daniel Hare. MIS specializes in developing software and electronic data transfer systems to manage and mail customer billing and other documents for firms large and small. MIS also produces the software systems needed for bar-coding consumer products. In 1997, when MIS needed to expand production facilities, the SBDC helped prepare a business plan that secured financing from a commercial lender and Niagara County Industrial Development Agency. In 2001, when MIS acquired contracts expanding its bar-coding applications, the SBDC once again helped the company secure the necessary financing. By 2003, MIS needed to expand to a new 35,000-square-foot facility, and Business Advisor Deanna Brennen helped prepare a new plan, and the company secured financing of $1,965,000 from a savings and loan for the building, from the Niagara Economic Development Fund for equipment, and company equity. Twenty jobs were created and 42 were saved. MIS is currently developing a “Vision System” that verifies the contents in envelopes by comparing the contents to a data base. 
Keli DiRisio, a graphic designer, and her neighbor, Leslie Summerson, a fourth grade teacher, were dissatisfied with the quality of standard educational software available to their children. They wanted to create DVDs to help kids progress from pre-kindergarten through elementary school. Their collaboration led to the creation of One Smart Cookie Productions (
For 17 years, Chris and Carolyn Clemans manufactured high-quality custom cabinetry in Old Forge, NY, specializing in kitchen cabinets, built-in bookshelves, and custom furniture. In 2004, customer demand for their cabinets had increased to such a degree that the Clemanses began looking for an opportunity to expand and get closer to suppliers. They located a former foundry building in the Empire Zone of Syracuse that needed renovating and contacted the SBDC at Onondaga Community College for help with financing. Senior Business Advisor Joan Powers reviewed their business plan and coordinated meetings with representatives of the SBA’s 504 loan program, Onondaga County Economic Development, the City of Syracuse Economic Development Corporation, the New York State Empire Zone program, and a commercial lender. The result was funding from a local bank through SBA’s 504 loan program, with which the Clemanses renovated the building and purchased machinery. They also received two grants from National Grid--one for Main Street/Commercial District Revitalization program, the other an Energy Efficiency in an Empire Zone grant. CabFab—short for The Cabinet Fabrication Group—had a grand opening at their new facility on October 2005, secured a contract to supply parts for a large national specialty closet manufacturer, and hired six employees.
Approximately two billion gallons of waste oil is generated in the US each year. Twenty six percent is discarded in drains, fields, and other inappropriate sites, and the other 74 percent is reclaimed as grease and formulated oils, a process that often involves expensive and hazardous transportation of contaminants. Daniel Montiegari and Otto Jacobi developed and manufactured a Waste Energy to Oil Converter (WOTEC), which disposes of waste oils on site and produces usable fuel. Their Global Energy Recovery Corporation, located in West Babylon, New York, made its first sale to a mine in Nevada, which recovered its investment costs in three months. When Global needed marketing help, Gloria Glowacki, Business Advisor at the Stony Brook SBDC, helped them develop a comprehensive business and marketing plan, including pursuit of government contracts. She is working with the partners as they negotiate with a company in Alaska to purchase 35 WOTECs at over $1 million. Global is also negotiating a contract to mass-produce smaller versions of the system for use by trucking companies, service stations, and others. 
Rachel and Norman Karp were planning to open a restaurant, with the help of the North Country SBDC, when an automobile accident deprived Norman of his sight. The Karps changed their plans and settled on opening a video rental store. Business Advisor Karen Stehlin helped them revise their business plan and cash flow projections for the new business. The Karps secured funding support from The Commission for the Blind and the Adirondack Economic Development Corporation, and invested their own funds. Video Storm opened in Chateaugay on July 1, 2005, and is going strong. Norman uses a computer program called JAWS, operated by keystrokes that scans data and reads it back to the user. The Commission for the Blind provided a portable scanner. The JAWS program enables Norman to create and maintain financial spreadsheets for all day-to-day operations, and to do all the bookkeeping. 
Vietnam veteran Daniel Burritt has operated Acts II Construction, a heavy highway construction company, in Gouverneur, NY since January 2000. Canton SBDC Business Advisor Michelle Collins helped prepare the loan application and business plan that helped the company acquire a micro-enterprise loan that enabled Acts II Construction to increase the bonding necessary to bid on state and municipal projects. Over the next four years Acts II enjoyed steady growth with average annual sales of $3.5 million. In the fall of 2004, when Acts II needed to restructure existing debt, the SBDC helped Burritt prepare the worksheets and the pro forma financials that resulted in $460,000 in commercial financing guaranteed by the SBA. Currently, Acts II Construction has three projects at regional airports, a five-year contract on the Fort Drum Army Base, and several contracts with various municipalities and state agencies. With a work force of over 20 people during the construction season, Acts II is poised to increase sales to $5 million a year by the year 2008.
JoAnn Bagnoli, who teaches Entrepreneurship, Business Economics, Intro. to Occupations, and e-commerce classes at Fort Plain Central High School, is committed to educating young people about business. Ms. Bagnoli helped oe2 revise EntreSkills exercises and activities to meet NYS Department of Education Career Development and Occupational Studies (CDOS) standards. She also developed a curriculum map - a tool educators can use to determine which parts of EntreSkills meet New York State Learning Standards. We especially appreciate that Ms. Bagnoli has helped raise the profile of EntreSkills among her colleagues. She worked with another teacher to develop a session about EntreSkills for the 2004 Business Teachers Association of New York State (BTANYS) annual conference, and at their 2005 conference was named Outstanding Business Educator.
