Donna Williams
Donna Williams is an Albany SBDC client advisor with almost 30 years of experience working at start-ups and in the food industry. Prior to joining the SBDC, Donna Williams founded Field Goods after she completed agriculture economic development consulting work for Greene County, NY. Field Goods was an inevitable outgrowth of this work, her belief in the positive power of local food and small business, and her new venture experience in consumer health, e-commerce, and the natural food industry. Donna earned her MBA from Columbia Business School and a BA in Economics from Mount Holyoke College.
Ric Orlando
Ric Orlando is the founder of the acclaimed New World Home Cooking restaurant and the founder of the Ric Orlando’s best a line of seasonings and condiments developed from the recipes he used in his restaurant.
Shannon Prozeller, Cornell Agritech Food Science
An Extension Support Specialist at the Cornell Food Venture Center, Shannon provides process review and consultation to new and established food entrepreneurs, processors, and farmers, with expertise in cured and fermented meats, Reduced Oxygen Packaged foods, and other Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) regulated food products. She coordinates workshops and outreach programs for the CFVC, and conducts educational training in product development, food processing, microbial safety, and regulatory compliance for entrepreneurs bringing new food products to market. Shannon has a background in sustainable food systems and community health and is currently a graduate student in the Master of Public Health Program at Cornell University and holds certifications in HACCP for Meat, Juice, Dairy, and Seafood, SQF Safety and Quality Systems, and Cured Meats. She is a Produce Safety Alliance Trainer in the FSMA Produce Safety Rule and a Preventive Controls Qualified Individual.
Cynthia James, MSFS, Cornell AgriTech Food Science
As an Extension Support Specialist at the Cornell Food Venture Center, Cynthia works with the Process Authority in helping to validate value-added packaged food products for safety and stability and consults with manufacturers about the steps they need to take to bring a safe product to market. Cynthia also managed the content development and currently facilitates the online “Food Product Development” certificate program through eCornell, which covers product ideation, food safety and quality, packaging & processing, regulatory compliance, and commercialization. Cynthia has been working in the field of sustainable food systems for over 20 years with extensive experience in organic food production for direct-to-consumer markets in both urban and rural settings, as well as developing and conducting education programs for new farmers, urban gardeners, food processors, adult learners, college students, and youth. Cynthia holds certifications for Better Process Control School, HACCP, PCQI, cGMPs & the Science of Yogurt and Fermented Dairy Products.
Jim Hyland, Kitchen Table Consultants
Jim Hyland is a Senior Consultant at Kitchen Table Consultants, a firm that uses real world experience to help farms and food artisans build lasting, profitable, locally-focused businesses. Jim specializes in food production, supply chain and building management teams. Jim was the founder of The Farm Bridge, the Hudson Valley's premier specialty/local food manufacturer that served both farms and food entrepreneurs. Jim helped commercialize hundreds of recipes and local food concepts, combining his passion for local food with a drive to execute real change in the local food system.
Ed Mcguire, Business Development Specialist, NYS Center of Excellence for Food and Agriculture, Cornell AgriTech
Ed works with small businesses and globally-recognized companies, in roles as diverse as product development, quality assurance, plant management, information technology, business to business brand management and corporate strategic planning. He has more than 40 years’ experience in the food manufacturing sector. Ed holds a degree in chemistry and mathematics from Clarkson University and Elmira College
Daniel Wintschel, Recipe Cost Calculator
Daniel is the founder and CEO of Recipe Cost Calculator, a software platform that provides powerful tools for recipe costing, production planning, inventory management, nutrition and more. He is the co-founder for Kitchening & Co., a wholesale bakery specializing in French macarons.
Stephen Ridler, Manager Troy Farmers Market
Steve is the manager of the Troy Farmers Market, located in Troy, New York. The largest farmers market in the New York’s Capital District, the market has close to 100 local, producer-only vendors, and a year-round marketplace.
Reuben Schwartz, Vital Eats
Reuben is the gastro alchemist at Vital Eats, producing and marketing bold foods, flavors, and packaging. First offering prepared foods and sauces at local farmers markets with his cousin, they then moved into wholesale and development of a small packaging facility. Vital Eats now offers co-packing to other small businesses, startups and fellow food nuts.
Greg Chanese, Certified Business Advisor, UAlbany SBDC
For well over 15 years, Greg Chanese has been a professional in the Capital Region of New York, having worked for governmental entities, nonprofit organizations, as both small and large private companies. With all organizations, Greg has utilized his marketing, business management, and technological skills to enhance their mission and goals. In his personal life, Greg lives in upstate NY with his wife & children, where he enjoys exploring everything the Adirondacks has to offer.
Kate Baker, Director UAlbany SBDC
Kate Baker is Interim Director of the Small Business Development Center at the University at Albany. As the Interim Director, Kate oversees a team of Business Advisors that work directly with current and future small business owners and entrepreneurs to establish, grow and expand their businesses. In addition, she oversees the Albany SBDC’s disaster assistance programs, training initiatives, SEED, procurement assistance and SBIR/STTR grant assistance programs. Kate’s specialty areas include general business development, business mentoring, marketing plan development, procurement and certification assistance, crisis management, financial management, and customer service.
Prior to joining the SBDC, Kate was a corporate troubleshooter for a national hospitality company for 15+ years. She was actively involved in her family’s small business for 23 years and has an Associate degree in Hotel Restaurant Management from Paul Smith’s College and a Bachelor degree in History from Plattsburgh State.
Todd Erling - Executive Director, Hudson Valley Agri-Business Development Corp
With an academic background in environmental design and planning from Miami University and the Pratt Institute, years of experience in community and economic development, and growing up in the family orchards, Todd brings a holistic approach to agribusiness development. Todd lives on his wife’s family farm in Southern Columbia County and has hands-on knowledge of the challenges to the Valley’s agriculture while applying practical Economic Development programs and projects to protect and preserve open space by keeping farmers in business. With HVADC’s Board of Directors, Todd has developed the first regional entity to focus on farms and local food business as economic development in the Hudson Valley. HVADC has grown to having multi-year service contracts with 8 counties’ economic development offices and raising over $10 million since 2007 for programs and service to assist ag-related/ag-dependent businesses in the region. HVADC has assisted projects in accessing over $40 million in funding.
Tamika Dunkley, Co-owner of Seasoned Delicious Foods
Tamika Dunkley is co-owner of Seasoned Delicious Foods – a Caribbean cuisine company that specializes in manufacturing spices, seasonings, and condiments. Seasoned Delicious Foods, formed in 2014, focuses on providing a range of delectable, health-based food products to the Hudson Valley and beyond. In September 2020, Tamika and her husband opened up a brick and mortar business called the Seasoned Delicious Cafe in the heart of midtown Kingston, and in 2021 they opened their Seasoned Delicious Foods restaurant in Lake Katrine.
Kathryn Bamberger - International Trade and Investment Specialist for Empire State Development
Kathryn Bamberger is the International Trade and Investment Specialist for Empire State Development, responsible for assisting Northeastern New York’s manufacturers with both exporting and attracting foreign firms to establish manufacturing in New York. Prior to that, she was the International Trade Specialist with the New York Department of Agriculture and Markets for nearly 13 years. She has managed the New York Pavilion in dozens of national and international trade shows and has led several delegations and trade missions. Ms. Bamberger has been the primary liaison between New York Food Producers and Food Export USA-Northeast, a membership organization of the 10 Northeast States. Food Export USA organizes activities to enhance and grow sales by conducting activities such as International Buyer Missions, Trade Show Support, Trade Lead dissemination, Market Research, and more.
Michele Bleichert - Co-owner of Fat Crow Gourmet,
Michele Bleichert is co-owner of Fat Crow Gourmet, a small, women-owned business located in Troy, NY producing gourmet mustards, bbq rubs, sauces, jams, and scone mixes. Her background is in operations and risk management, spending a number of years working in the renewable energy industry. In 2010, Michele and her husband decided they wanted to strike out on their own, eventually opening the first modern day brewery in Binghamton, NY. In 2019 they sold the brewery to move back to the Capital Region to be near family. That same year Michele and her sister formed Fat Crow Gourmet, starting with a couple mustards and sauces that were on the menu at the brewery and eventually expanding up to 22 products (at current count). In December 2021, Fat Crow Gourmet opened a retail store and commercial kitchen at 362 Congress St in Troy. Michele's passion is animal rescue and volunteers for a cat rescue and occasionally does dog transports for another. She and her husband John and their brood of cats live in Colonie, NY.