NYC Small Business Month Expo 2025
Workshops + Speakers
Pitch Perfect: Pitching Your Business to Achieve Results
11 a.m. (Workshop Area A)
Learn about various pitch competition programs and get tips to develop and make your pitch.
Moderator
Malla Haridat
FastTrac Facilitator and Executive Director for FastTrac
Seth Bornstein
Executive Director, Queens Economic Development Corporation (QEDC)
Charles Devigne
Owner, Harlem Baking Company
Vic Lee
CEO & Co-Founder, Welcome To Chinatown
Winnie Siclait
Programs Manager, Brooklyn Public Library (BPL)
Making Government Your Next Customer
11 a.m. (Workshop Area B)
Learn the steps to becoming certified as a minority and/or woman-owned business enterprise (M/WBE) and how to begin contracting with NYC government.
Rogina Coar-Smith, Executive Director
APEX Accelerator and M/WBE Vendor Services, NYC Department of Small Business Services
The Secret Sauce for Retaining Restaurant Talent
11 a.m. (Workshop Area C)
Learn strategies that any restaurant or foodservice business can use to create a more intentional, supportive, and productive new hire experience resulting in higher retention rates. A more intentional approach to hiring, onboarding, and training your new hires will make them feel welcome, confident, and able to succeed. Every step matters in this process!
Steven Picker
Executive Director, NYC Food & Beverage Industry Partnership, NYC Department of Small Business Services
Laura Magali
Senior Client Services Director, Empowered Hospitality
Smarter, Faster, Stronger: Using AI to Grow Your Small Business
12 p.m. (Workshop Area A)
Artificial Intelligence is reshaping how businesses operate — and small businesses can benefit too. This dynamic panel will explore how AI tools can streamline operations, improve customer engagement, and unlock new growth opportunities.
Moderator
David Lubetkin
Chief Information Officer, NYC Department of Small Business Services
Dr. Danielle Wozniak
Vice President for Global Strategy and Business Development, Yeshiva University
Rachel Van Tosh
Workforce and Economic Development Industry Lead, Accenture
Small Biz, Big Talent: Hiring Help with Workforce1
12 p.m. (Workshop Area B)
Learn how to grow your team with confidence. This session will introduce free, expert hiring support available through NYC’s Workforce1 Career Centers which are designed to help small businesses find the right talent, fast.
Charmaine Bourbon
Vice President, Brooklyn Workforce1 Career Center
Monique Cole-Green
Director, Workforce1 Industrial & Transportation Career Centers
Choosing a Business Legal Structure
12 p.m. (Workshop Area C)
During this workshop, you will learn:
- Factors to consider when choosing a business entity structure
- Pros and cons for each entity type
- Legal considerations when hiring employees
- Protecting intellectual property
Nick Aquino
Staff Attorney, Volunteers of Legal Service (VOLS)
Rolando Gonzalez
Senior Staff Attorney, Legal Aid Society
Funding Your NYC Small Business
1 p.m. (Workshop Area A)
This workshop will provide guidance for businesses interested in applying for funding, tips to consider before taking on debt, an overview of documents commonly required to apply for a loan, and a summary of other loans and grants that are currently available for NYC small businesses.
Lauren Giordanella
Director, NYC Business Solutions Staten Island Center
Owning the Night: Expert Tips for Nightlife Businesses
1 p.m. (Workshop Area B)
Whether you’re new to the industry or looking to elevate your venue, hear firsthand from experienced nightlife owners and operators who navigate the daily operations of a nightlife business in New York City. Learn strategies for creating safe, inclusive spaces, along with insider tips to enhance the customer experience, build strong community relations, and thrive in NYC’s competitive nightlife scene.
Moderator
Jeffrey Garcia
Executive Director, NYC Office of Nightlife, NYC Department of Small Business Services
Alfredo Angueira
Principle Partner, Hoodspitality
George Karavias
CEO, Dream Hospitality
Golen Perez
Owner, TocoShi
Megan Rickerson
Owner, Someday Bar (Brooklyn) & Founder, Save NYC Bars
Contracting Opportunities with NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) Projects
1 p.m. (Workshop Area C)
The NYC Department of Design and Construction (DDC) manages more than 500 projects to enhance communities and improve the lives of more than 8.5 million New Yorkers.
Recently, DDC awarded contracts to Minority- and Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs) for two projects: the $128 million Roy Wilkins Recreation Center in St. Albans, Queens, and a $22 million project to install six new restrooms in various city parks, including Murphy Brothers Playground and East River Park in Manhattan, Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, and Kissena Velodrome and Brookville Park in Queens.
The Triton-Elite Joint Venture will build the recreation center, while Armand Corporation will construct the restrooms.
We invite you to meet the design-build teams and explore contracting opportunities for these significant DDC projects.
Shamsell Abdill, CCM DBIA
Vice President – Construction Management, Armand Corporation
Leveraging Big Business for Your Small Business
2 p.m. (Workshop Area A)
Small businesses are the backbone of our local economy — and increasingly, a strategic priority across sectors. This panel will highlight how major institutions are evolving their strategies to support entrepreneurs and business owners across New York City. We’ll explore market trends, in-house tools and resources, and innovative public-private partnerships shaping the future of small business.
Moderator
Priscilla Kwak
Managing Director, Strategic Initiatives, NYC Department of Small Business Services
Tiffany Dufu
President, Tory Burch Foundation
Ginger Siegel
NA Small and Medium Business Lead, Mastercard
Dynishal P. Gross
Commissioner, NYC Department of Small Business Services
Steps to Start Your Entrepreneurial Journey
2 p.m. (Workshop Area B)
Ready to start your business but not sure where to begin? This course will help you assess your entrepreneurial strengths, define your goals, and create a clear action plan to launch and validate your business idea.
Felipe Wityk Sanchez
President, Wealthspring Financial Services LLC
Power of Merchant Organizing
2 p.m. (Workshop Area C)
This workshop will cover the basics of what a merchants association is, what benefits merchant organizing brings to a commercial corridor, and broad tips on how to start a merchants association.
Ana Gross
Project Manager, Neighborhood Planning Team, NYC Department of Small Business Services
Eliza Jacobson
Project Manager, Neighborhood Planning Team, NYC Department of Small Business Services
NYC Public Libraries and Your Business
3 p.m. (Workshop Area A)
Libraries build the foundation of our knowledge while unlocking the imagination of what’s possible. In this workshop you will learn about all of the tools and resources that entrepreneurs and business owners can tap into and prepare them for their journey to start, operate, and grow their business.
Moderator
Calvin Brown
Deputy Commissioner of Neighborhood Development, NYC Department of Small Business Services
James Corry
Librarian III, Thomas Yoseloff Business Center, New York Public Library
LaCresha Neal
Business & Career Senior Librarian, Brooklyn Public Library
Berkley Wendell Semple
Assistant Director of the Job and Business Academy, Queens Public Library
Justin Roblero
Entrepreneur Counselor, Queens Public Library
Doing Business Right: Understanding the NYC Human Rights Law
3 p.m. (Workshop Area B)
The NYC Commission on Human Rights is a resource to help NYC businesses be inclusive employers and comply with the NYC Human Rights Law. This training will provide information on the obligations that employers have under the NYC Human Rights Law, which is more expansive than state and federal laws in many instances.
Ryan DuBois
Associate Human Rights Specialist, Native American & Indigenous Communities Liaison, NYC Commission on Human Rights
Prepare Your Business for the Unexpected
3 p.m. (Workshop Area C)
This workshop will help business owners prepare for emergencies by staying aware of local risks, developing mitigation plans, and taking action. Workshop presenters will identify key hazards businesses in NYC face, highlight the benefits and components of creating a business continuity plan, and share free resources including an overview of the NYC Department of Small Business Services Risk Assessment and Grant Program.
Michaela Brocchetti
Project Coordinator, NYC Department of Small Business Services
Ed Koubek
Senior Advisor, AECOM