Congressman Nick LaLota Joins Celebration of Successful SBDC Clients

Congressman Nick LaLota (R District 01) joined the Stony Brook Small Business Development Center (SBDC) — a member of Stony Brook University’s Economic Development organization — along with Economic Development senior management to celebrate a small cross section of successful small businesses that were assisted by the SBDC in the Congressman’s District on Long Island. The Congressman congratulated the entrepreneurs on their successes and encouraged continued economic independence that comes along with being an entrepreneur and making our communities a vibrant place to live and work.

“Visiting the Stony Brook University Small Business Development Center was a great opportunity to see firsthand the vital work they do to help small businesses across Long Island thrive,” said Congressman LaLota. “With rising costs and overregulation making it harder for these businesses to succeed, it’s more important than ever to support initiatives like this, which provide the tools and resources necessary to overcome these challenges.”

Small Business Development Centers would not exist if not for the support of the United State Congress, and with that, a heartfelt thanks was extended to the Congressman for his commitment to government service and to small business communities.

Martha Stansbury, regional director for the Stony Brook Small Business Development Center, opened the event with a warm welcome to Congressman Nick LaLota, as well as to Economic Development senior management, Kevin Gardner, vice president of research; Michael Kinch, chief innovation officer; and Peter Donnelly, associate vice president of technology partnerships. Stansbury welcomed and congratulated the small businesses present and invited Gardner to extend his welcome to all.

“It was incredible to hear the great success stories from these local entrepreneurs, and to hear how the SBDC has assisted them along the way. Starting a successful business is not just about having a great idea, but about the relentless pursuit of turning that idea into reality,” said Gardner. “Stony Brook University’s SBDC is here to support and guide these young businesses and help them succeed to become the heartbeat of our community.”

Companies present:

• Joe Ambrosio of UES (Unique Electric Solutions Inc.) Mfg. for the vehicle electrification retrofit business
• Ellie and Lenny DePaul of ODark30, a manufacturer/distributor of tactical clothing and supplies
• Dr. Honghai Song, founder and CEO, Magnet Energy Inc., Long Island High Tech Incubator, superconducting magnets
• Elaine’s Restaurant and Bar, Elaine and Enzo Micali
• Olivia Napoli, Livwell Foods, Inc., vegan and gluten-free sauces

The Stony Brook SBDC, one of 20 centers in New York State, has been in service to entrepreneurs for almost 40 years. Its mission is to strengthen the small- and medium-size business community by providing customized business solutions through free and confidential one-on-one business advisement, education, research and advocacy.