southeast queens business incubator (1)

A MESSAGE FROM RDRC

Kevin W. Alexander, President & CEO

Established in 2024, the Southeast Queens Business Incubator (SEQBI) was created to assist growing businesses located in Southeast Queens with the tools, professional support, and access to procurement opportunities in large scale development projects such as the $20 Million JFK Redevelopment Project, $5 5 Million Resorts World NYC Casino Expansion Project, and a host of large-scale mixed-use development projects happening throughout Queens County.

We appreciate the trust Resorts World NYC and NYS Senator James Sanders, Jr., has bestowed upon RDRC as the administrator of SEQBI. In partnership with York College, Pace University, Farmingdale Small Business Development Centers, Modern Community Capital, and Queens Public Television, we are constantly seeking ways to provide businesses with the best possible experience

Finally, the success achieved by SEQBI thus far is due to the diligence of TEAM RDRC lead by Renee McWilliams, Dr. Lola Ojomu-Kayoes, Tashera Tucker, Junor Barnett, Kimberly Isaac, and Daniel Austin.

ABOUT SEQBI

A key component of SEQBI is a vigorous eight-week course that is offered 3 times per year. The curriculum specifically designed for businesses seeking to strengthen their business acumen. Topics include:

Business Planning and Introduction to Live Plan

Marketing, Technology, and Digital Presence

Procurement Basics & Anchor Institution Requirements

Loan Readiness & Financing Options

Operations & Financial Management

Procurement Part 2: Quotes, Proposals & Bidding

Strategic Growth Planning & Final Presentations

KEY FEATURES & BENEFITS

In addition to the SEQBI course students, or Fellows will receive free-of-charge:

Three month paid subscription to LivePlan, a proven business planning software trusted by 1M+ entrepreneurs to write a business plan, build financial forecasts, and manage business performance

Up to eight hours of one-on-one business advisory services by one of our SBDC partners.

Exclusive updates on upcoming contract, procurement, and business opportunities.

Inclusion in weekly group meetngs to answer questions about covered topics via SEQBI Cafe Hours.

Assist with NYS MBE, WBE, DBE, ACDBE certification applications.

Assist with identifying and securing financing for business growth through our network partners

Opportunities to meet with key business leaders and decision-makers.

Membership in the SEQBI Fellows Alumni Program that incudes professional networking opportunities.

Opportunities to vend/exhibit at business tradeshows and expos.

SEQBI GRADUATION & PITCH COMPETITION

Fellows meeting all requirements for graduation will have the opportunity to compete for $12,000 in business grants via the SEQBI Pitch Competition. Graduation requirements include:

Attend minimum of seven of eight classes. Submit growth plan.

Registration with NYS Empire State Development Corporation for applicable statecertifications.

Registration with Resorts World NYC.

Registration with NYS Small Business Development Center (York College, Pace, or Farmingdale).

Complete SEQBI feedback surveys.

OUR PROGRESS

Since our Fall 2024 launch, SEQBI has completed five cohorts that have:

Successfully graduated 78 business owners.

Provided complimentary LivePlan membership to 70+ businesses. Created 76 comprehensive business growth plans.

Assisted 23 businesses obtain NYS MBE, WBE, DBE certification.

Awarded over $90,000 in contracts to SEQBI members.

Awarded over $60,000 in business grants to SEQBI Pitch Competition winners.

Sponsored complimentary exhibitor and trade show opportunities to dozens of SEQBI Fellows to promote their businesses

Established the SEQBI Alumni Association to continue our support of fellows through professional networking, marketing and branding services, and business to business opportunites.

SEQBI FEEDBACK

The SEQBI experience has been invaluable in the growth of my business. The knowledge I gained about how to run a business, especially focused on creative arts greatly helped me understand how to better plan, present, and price my business. I highly recommend SEQBI for any business owner serious about growing their business.

SEQBI was a great experience for my business. It provided me with the opportunity to reimagine my business model using tools such as LivePlan. The instructors and guest lecturers were genuinely interested in my success, as were my SEQBI Fellows. I also appreciate the opportunites that RDRC continue to provide SEQBI graduates through the SEQBI Alumni association

SEQBI COURSE FACILITATOR

Demond Wilkerson, President Modern Community Capital

Demond Wilkerson is the Chief Lending officer of Modern Community Capital. He’s a commercial credit trained finance and banking veteran with over 20 years of experience with Santander Bank and HSBC. His experience includes small business lending, economic development finance, implementing fintech lending programs for CDFI’S, commercial real estate, and tax credit advisory services. Modern Community Capital is licensed real estate broker firm.

BUSINESS ADVISORS

Harry Wells, Regional Director

Business Advisor

Business Advisor

ADVISORS & INSTRUCTORS

Lauren I. Linakis, Assistant Director

Farmingdale State College SBDC

Lauren Linakis joined the Long Island SBDC (Farmingdale) in 2019. Prior to joining the SBDC, she served as Associate Director of the LaGuardia Community College APEX Accelerator (formerly PTAC), where she helped small businesses navigate government contracting and effectively market their goods and services to government agencies

In addition to her expertise in government contracting, Lauren has completed the North Star Cybersecurity Certification Program and supports small businesses in understanding and implementing cybersecurity best practices

Lauren holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Barnard College and a Master’s degree in Economic Development from Columbia University.

Pierre Lespinasse, Certified Business Advisor

Farmingdale State College SBDC

Pierre has over 25 years of business experience in Management Accounting and Financial Reporting at global banking institutions. His expertise ranges from financial forecasting to cost analysis and internal transfer pricing.

Pierre joined NYS SBDC at Farmingdale State College after several years of association with the SBDC at Stony Brook University.

Mr. Lespinasse holds a BS in Management from Adelphi University and an MBA from Long Island University.

Rawle Brown, Certified Business Advisor

Pace University SBDC

Rawle Brown is an NYS-certified Business Advisor at the Pace University Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Rawle has served as an SBDC Business Advisor for twenty years and assists existing businesses and entrepreneurs with business plan development and obtaining financing from banks and other non-bank financial institutions.

Rawle has a BBA in Accounting from Howard University and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.

SEQBI JUDGES

The SEQBI exoerience is hightlighted by Fellows applying classroom training into place by presenting their business growth plans. The top four evaluated pitches are then advanced to the SEQBI Pitch Competition Finals. A panel of experienced judges that includes a past SEBQI Pitch Competition winner (Richard Adofo) are then tasked with evaluating and ranking the top three presenters to receive a toatal of $12,000 in grant awards.

THANK YOU TO OUR JUDGES

Richard Adofo, Space Agey Leather Goods/SEQBI Alumni

Mark Alleyne, Spartan Demolition Company

Hank Balle, Resorts World NYC

A. Rashaun Banjo, Prolific Consulting Services/SEQBI Alumni

Stephanie Berwick, Pastazerts/SEQBI Alumni

Jason Clark, NY Empire State Development Corporation

Dianna Rose & Associates

Elena Sel, Chase Bank

Michael J. Tiseo, Resorts World NYC

SEQBI PITCH COMPETITION WINNERS

SPRING 2025 COHORT

1st Place - Shaleem Bush, Being Egypt, LLC

2nd Place - Stephanie Berwick, SBR Provisons, LL DB Pastazerts

3rd Place - Jyoti Jaiswal, Kush Oasis Enterprises, LC

SEQBI PITCH COMPETITION WINNERS

FALL 2024 COHORT

1st Place - A. Rashaun Banjo, Prolific Consulting Services

2nd Place - Tashea Younge, Cooking with Honcho

3rd Place - Shenna Vaughn & William Bentley, Vaughn

Bentley Creative

SEQBI PITCH COMPETITION WINNERS

SUMMER 2025 COHORT

1st Place - Sharmeika Davis-Boyd, La’Ron Boyd QikyKids, LLC

2nd Place - Richard Adofo, Space Agey Leather Goods

3rd Place - Khaliliah Johnson, Kreations by Kaye & Charmaine Fisher, Mingles Event Space

SEQBI PITCH COMPETITION WINNERS

FALL 2025 COHORT

1st Place - Chelsea Charles, Rosegold Krystal Solutions LLC

2nd Place - Keegan Superville, Superville Estates

3rd Place - Tanisha Adjo, Success Level Ventures

SEQBI PITCH COMPETITION WINNERS

WINTER 2025 COHORT

1st Place - Jaydan Philogene, Energy Fencing, Inc.

2nd Place - Jessica Edouard McDonald, JUSS PUDD’IN

3rd Place - Charlene DuBarry, C. B.Elite Services, LLC

ABOUT RDRC

Established in 1978, Rockaway Development & Revitalization Corporation, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) not-forprofit corporation located in Far Rockaway, Queens, NY. Our mission is, “To promote the revitization of the Rockaways economic base and neighborhoods, and to secure an improved quality of life for its residents”.

Our human capital investments include a robust adult workforce development program that offers:

Employability skills training - resume writing, internet job searching, mockinterviews.

Certified vocational skills training - customer service, OSHA, and over 40

certification courses via our partnership with Google.

Financial management - banking, budgeting, credit, retirement.

Basic and intermediate computer skills training at our state-of-the art Spectrum Learning Lab.

Employment placement assistance

RDRC provides year-round programs specifically designed to prepare our high-school students for college, employment, and career pathways that offer:

Paid summer and academic year employment and internships to over 1,900 youth annually.

Innovative summer learning via Project-Based

Learning opportunities focused on media, communications, drone aviation, entrepreneurship, mental health and wellness, and more.

College credit courses through partnership with NYC Department of Youth & Community Devlopment and College University of New York (CUNY)

Local and out-of-state travel to colleges, universities, and cultural centers.

Scholarship opportunites for graduating seniors

Michelle Stoddart, Vice President Senior Vice President of Community Development

Matt Anatalio Community Development Manager

RESORTS WORLD NYC EXPANSION PROJECT

The 7 5 billion expansion of Resorts World New York City, has received approval from New York State’s Gaming Facility Location Board, The development, located at the Aqueduct Racetrack in South Ozone Park, Queens, aims to become the largest integrated resort in the United States. Plans include a 350,000-square-foot casino floor, 2,000 hotel rooms in an expanded Hyatt Regency, a 7,000-seat entertainment venue, over 30 dining establishments, a sports and media complex, and additional green space and housing. The project is expected to generate approximately 24,000 jobs and contribute significant tax revenue to the state and the MTA.

2025

MEMBERSHIP

DIRECTORY DIRECTORY

SEQBI MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

Alleyne Consulting Group

com

SEQBI MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

SEQBI MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

SEQBI MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

BUSINESS

JESS PUDD'IN

Jessica EdouardMcDonald jesspuddin@gmail.com 917.204.9247 jesspudin.shop

F&B - dessert specialties

Jetway HVAC Services

Johntines Boutique

Kevin Blaize Inc

Klean n Jiffy/KSOL Solutions

Koolkidzsnowcones.72 LLC

Kreations by Kae Mingles Event Space

Kush Oasis Enterprises, LLC, DBA (OMSutra)

Letty B Creations

Sylvia Cothia jetwayhvacservices@gmail com

Tia Jackson

JohntinesBoutique@yahoo.com

Kevin Blaize kevinblaize@gmail.com 917.858.9478 dogsofthewild.com

Keadian Russ

artsauthor/publisher

keadianruss@kleannjiffy.com 347.942.6487 kleannjiffy.com janitorial svces

Felicia Bachu Feliciabachu1104@gmail.com

Khalilah Johnson & Charmaine Fis kreationsbykae2015@gmail com mingleseventspace@gmail com

Jyoti Jaiswal jyoti@omsutra.com

Leticia Vaughan lettybcreations@gmail.com 631.830.2931 lettybcreations.com

LIGHT THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD Metognisse Folly metognissefolly76@gmail.com

Lovable Parties & Decor

Adana Collins Adana@lovableparties com

NYS MWBE

SEQBI MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

LTownsley Ventures Linette Townsley LTownsley@LTownsleyVentures.com

Ludlow Barrett Associates Aixa Muir aixa@ludlowbarrett.com

Malgorzata Wilson, DBA Focus Structural Engineering Malgorzata Wilson mwilson@focus-se.com

America

O’Ritas Roasters LLC Eric Shane Busuttil Nadia Vega Busuttil ericbusuttil@oritasroasters com nadiabusuttil@oritasroasters com

SEQBI MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

QikyKidz LLC

Rails & Routes

Ridgewood Wireless

Shameika Davis-Boyd La’Ron Davis info@qikykidz.com 929-633-4510 qikykidz.com

Alexiz SmallwoodFoote alexissmallwood83@gmail.com

Ibtisam Hossain ibtisamhossain1738@gmail com

Rockaway Queens Health Solutions Dr.Alison Edinboro alexisedinboro@verizon.net

Rosegold Krystal Solutuons, LLC DBA Pathways Program, Astrvio Chelsea Charles therosegoldkrystal@gmail.com

Pathways-Program.com Astrevio.com educational svces, technology svces

Routes to Roots, Inc.

Tiffany Eason tiffanyesonnyc@gmail.com

Safety Above All LLC Raymond Watts

Savvy Business Inc. DBA Savvy Business Emmanuel Loncke gethelp@savvybusiness

SBR Provisions LLC DA Pastazerts Stephanie Berwick admin@pastazerts.com

Shepsmeri Inc. Onique Oliver info@oniqueoliver.com

Signature Corey Cheryl Bradley cbradley7007@gmail.com

SEQBI MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

SEQBI MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY

SEQBI IN ACTION

SEQBI IN ACTION

SEQBI IN ACTION