November 10, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Jennifer Tavares, CEcD, President & CEO
Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce
T: 607-273-7080
E: jtavares@tompkinschamber.org
Rochelle Layman, Regional Director
NY Small Business Development Center Binghamton University
T: 607-777-4024
E: rlayman@binghamton.edu
New Small Business Advisor for Tompkins County
Ithaca, NY- The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Development Center regional office at Binghamton University are pleased to announce that a new part-time Small Business Advisor will be available to counsel a variety of small businesses, microenterprises, and agricultural businesses in Tompkins County.
Steve Messmer has been appointed as a new Small Business Development Center advisor in the Tompkins County area. He will be meeting clients in the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce office located in Ithaca, which will also facilitate client access to many supporting services available through the Chamber, the Small Business Development Center, and other local business development partners.
Mr. Messmer will offer a diverse group of new and returning clients small business counseling services based on years of experience in both public and private sectors. "We were impressed with Steve's background in engineering, small business, farming, food manufacturing, and even non-profit development-as well as his approach to developing small business plans and financial projections," said Jennifer Tavares, Chamber President and Search Committee member.
Locally, Mr. Messmer is most known for his personal small business experience as co-owner of Lively Run Goat Dairy, which he owns with his wife Susanne, and two sons Peter and David. Lively Run was recently recognized by the New York SBDC as the New York State Agricultural Business of the Year. Steve and his family have operated Lively Run for over 20 years, during which time they have seen a ten-fold growth in operations including expansion of the product line to include cow milk cheeses, and development of an active on farm tourism program.
"I look forward to working with area entrepreneurs to assist in the process of converting their visions to realities, which bring new jobs and opportunities to our area," said Messmer.
In addition to Lively Run, Steve's career has included a decade of public service as a military engineer overseas, and 20 years of private sector engineering consulting with various architect and engineering firms. Finally, Steve has been active in public service volunteer work, throughout his career beginning with founding and leading a faith based volunteer refugee relief organization that operated for six years in Germany during the cold war.
"We expanded our presence in Tompkins County over a year ago, and have found the vibrant start-up and business community here to require a greater investment of our resources," said Rochelle Layman, Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center. "We are very excited to create this additional part-time position to meet the business expansion needs of Tompkins County."
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About the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce With nearly 700 active members, the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to making our county a great place to live and work. We are a progressive, forward thinking organization dedicated to promoting business in our region by being the community's nexus. The Tompkins Chamber works to forge links between and among business and government, community organizations, local residents and institutions. Our mission is to advocate for the free enterprise system and sound economic development, foster success for its members, and promote a high quality of life in Tompkins County through strong leadership, dynamic partnerships and timely information. We promote Tompkins County through creative and innovative marketing by the Convention and Visitors Bureau and work to attract and retain a well-matched and talented workforce.
About the Small Business Development Center Binghamton Small Business Development Center The New York State Small Business Development Center (New York SBDC) provides expert management and technical assistance to start-up and existing businesses across the state. Because the New York SBDC is administered by State University of New York and funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York, and host campuses our services are Free to our clients. Binghamton University's SBDC provides no-cost, confidential services to small businesses in Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties. Our mission is to provide customized solutions through one to one advisement, education research and advocacy for Entrepreneurs, Innovations and the Small and Medium Enterprise community. Since our start in 1984, the expert advisors of the Binghamton University's SBDC have worked directly with 14,293 businesses, helping them to invest $214,328,846 in the area's economy, and create or save 11,227 jobs.
Contact: Jennifer Tavares, CEcD, President & CEO
Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce
T: 607-273-7080
E: jtavares@tompkinschamber.org
Rochelle Layman, Regional Director
NY Small Business Development Center Binghamton University
T: 607-777-4024
E: rlayman@binghamton.edu
New Small Business Advisor for Tompkins County
Ithaca, NY- The Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Development Center regional office at Binghamton University are pleased to announce that a new part-time Small Business Advisor will be available to counsel a variety of small businesses, microenterprises, and agricultural businesses in Tompkins County.
Steve Messmer has been appointed as a new Small Business Development Center advisor in the Tompkins County area. He will be meeting clients in the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce office located in Ithaca, which will also facilitate client access to many supporting services available through the Chamber, the Small Business Development Center, and other local business development partners.
Mr. Messmer will offer a diverse group of new and returning clients small business counseling services based on years of experience in both public and private sectors. "We were impressed with Steve's background in engineering, small business, farming, food manufacturing, and even non-profit development-as well as his approach to developing small business plans and financial projections," said Jennifer Tavares, Chamber President and Search Committee member.
Locally, Mr. Messmer is most known for his personal small business experience as co-owner of Lively Run Goat Dairy, which he owns with his wife Susanne, and two sons Peter and David. Lively Run was recently recognized by the New York SBDC as the New York State Agricultural Business of the Year. Steve and his family have operated Lively Run for over 20 years, during which time they have seen a ten-fold growth in operations including expansion of the product line to include cow milk cheeses, and development of an active on farm tourism program.
"I look forward to working with area entrepreneurs to assist in the process of converting their visions to realities, which bring new jobs and opportunities to our area," said Messmer.
In addition to Lively Run, Steve's career has included a decade of public service as a military engineer overseas, and 20 years of private sector engineering consulting with various architect and engineering firms. Finally, Steve has been active in public service volunteer work, throughout his career beginning with founding and leading a faith based volunteer refugee relief organization that operated for six years in Germany during the cold war.
"We expanded our presence in Tompkins County over a year ago, and have found the vibrant start-up and business community here to require a greater investment of our resources," said Rochelle Layman, Regional Director of the Small Business Development Center. "We are very excited to create this additional part-time position to meet the business expansion needs of Tompkins County."
###
About the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce With nearly 700 active members, the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce is dedicated to making our county a great place to live and work. We are a progressive, forward thinking organization dedicated to promoting business in our region by being the community's nexus. The Tompkins Chamber works to forge links between and among business and government, community organizations, local residents and institutions. Our mission is to advocate for the free enterprise system and sound economic development, foster success for its members, and promote a high quality of life in Tompkins County through strong leadership, dynamic partnerships and timely information. We promote Tompkins County through creative and innovative marketing by the Convention and Visitors Bureau and work to attract and retain a well-matched and talented workforce.
About the Small Business Development Center Binghamton Small Business Development Center The New York State Small Business Development Center (New York SBDC) provides expert management and technical assistance to start-up and existing businesses across the state. Because the New York SBDC is administered by State University of New York and funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York, and host campuses our services are Free to our clients. Binghamton University's SBDC provides no-cost, confidential services to small businesses in Broome, Chenango, Cortland, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga, and Tompkins Counties. Our mission is to provide customized solutions through one to one advisement, education research and advocacy for Entrepreneurs, Innovations and the Small and Medium Enterprise community. Since our start in 1984, the expert advisors of the Binghamton University's SBDC have worked directly with 14,293 businesses, helping them to invest $214,328,846 in the area's economy, and create or save 11,227 jobs.
Contact:
Jennifer Tavares, President
jtavares@tompkinschamber.org, (607) 273-7080
