Middle Country Businesses Launch Relationships with Stony Brook

More than 50 small businesses attended a breakfast meeting at the Middle Country Public Library on October 11 for a chance to learn how to connect with the Stony Brook campus community and new customers.

The event, “How to Tap University Resources,” was developed through a partnership with the Miller Business Resource Center, the Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce and the Stony Brook University Office of Community Relations. “The meeting not only provided great contacts for doing business with Stony Brook, it also offered one-on-one conversations with the necessary contact who freely gave information to the vendors,” said Greater Middle Country Chamber President Jeff Freund.

Stony Brook’s presentation included information from four speakers: Karin Waslo, Procurement; Andrea’ Lipack, Career Center; Marie McCallion, College of Business; and Angela Agnello, Faculty Student Association. They shared detailed information on many ways local businesses could connect with faculty, staff and the community. Information shared included how to bid on state contracts, hire interns, and be a Wolfie Wallet vendor.

“The presentations from Stony Brook University gave the most concise and jam-packed information regarding how small business owners and entrepreneurs, such as myself, can do business with the University as well as receive assistance in multiple ways,” commented MarciaGrace of The Calm and Creativity Connector. “I received information that I could implement right away.”

In addition to the group presentation, Pierre Lespinasse, a New York State Certified Business Advisor from the Stony Brook Small Business Development Center (SBDC), was on hand to invite the audience to utilize all of the free services they offer. “You don’t have to be a startup to use the SBDC. We work with companies who’ve been in business for years and need to know how to plan for the next steps of growth.”

Other Long Island chambers of commerce have expressed interest in hearing the presentation and plans are underway for Spring 2017 dates.

– Joan Dickinson