About

SBDC Staff 

We service our 12 county region that includes: Broome, Cortland, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Tioga, Chemung, Steuben, Schuyler, Yates, Allegany and Tompkins counties. Our offices have the capability to provide virtual consultations, face-to-face meetings, and phone conferences.

Request Assistance

If you are requesting our assistance for the first time, please complete the online request form at https://www.nysbdc.org/selector/ReqForCons/formo.aspx to sign up. After completing and submitting the form, you will be assigned to an advisor within 2 business days. If you would like to work with a specific advisor, please state on the sign-up which advisor you would like to work with. 

If you would like to schedule an inquiry phone call with one of our advisors, please schedule an appointment at: https://scheduler.zoom.us/d/qrf3520t/sbdc-inquiry-phone-call.

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Liam McMahon, Regional Director

Center Location: Binghamton, NY (Broome County)

Liam joined the SBDC April in of 2018. He has experience working and owning a business in the construction and real estate development fields for a combined 14 years. He has also spent time in academics, where he developed skills in grant writing.

In October 2024, Liam was hired as the Director of the Southern Tier Small Business Development Center (SBDC).

Liam's Expertise Includes:

• Team formation
• Government Procurement
• Construction and Real Estate Development
• Project Management
• Certified Lean Six Sigma Green Belt

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Michelle Catan, Advanced Certified Business Advisor

Center Location: Oneonta, NY (Otsego County)

Michelle started May 2011, bringing 17 years of banking experience and small business retail ownership for over 10 years. 

She brings her expertise in small business commercial lending, business planning, SBA lending and documentation, and financial analysis. 

Michelle is a presenter and trainer for all of our SBDC Oneonta area Small Business and Start-up courses.

Michelle's Expertise Includes:

• Lending
• Quickbooks
• Community Engagement
• Business Plan Development
• Cash Flow/Financial Projections
• Business Valuation
• Training
• Retail

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Susan Buchanan, Business Advisor

Center Location: Painted Post, NY (Steuben County)

Susan began working at the Corning SBDC in 1993, as the Office Manager. As Susan became more involved with the everyday task of answering clients and potential client's questions, she decided to work towards her Bachelor's Degree. She earned her BA through Empire State College as a part-time student in 2009. Shortly thereafter a Business Advisor position became available and Susan was offered the position.

Susan loves working with small business owners. It brings her a sense of pride to see the so-called "underdogs" become successful business owners.

In December of 2016, Susan formed Pawz & Purrz Animal Rescue, a nonprofit organization. Susan holds the title of Chair and oversees the rescue, participates in fundraisers, adoption events and teams up with area schools to educate children on proper care of animals.

Susan's Expertise Includes:

• Business Plan Development
• Web Design

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Jean Carolus, Assistant Director

Center Location: Binghamton, NY (Broome County)

Jean has been assisting New York state small businesses since 2001, first as a business analyst, and now, as an advisor for the Small Business Development Center at Binghamton. Jean is a graduate of SUNY Buffalo and received her Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science.

She began her career as a software programmer / analyst and has migrated to business and financial analysis.  As part of her analysis background, she has been instrumental in helping companies emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  She is passionate about small businesses and enjoys assisting them.

Jean's Expertise Includes:

• Cash Flow and Financial Projections
• Quickbooks
• Manufacturing
• Business Plan Development
• Pivoting in Adversity

 

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Anna Hancock, Certified Business Advisor

Center Location: Binghamton, NY (Broome County)

Anna Hancock joined the Small Business Development Center at Binghamton University in April 2020.  She moved to the Southern Tier in 2007 and received her Bachelor's degree in Marketing & Business Management from SUNY Fredonia. During her time at SUNY Fredonia, she volunteered weekly at the local humane society and interned at the Fredonia Technology Incubator. 

Anna typically provides a broad range of services to her clients, including assistance with digital marketing and website development. For the Binghamton SBDC Center, she provides website updates, event planning, and communication.

Anna's Expertise Includes:

• Digital Marketing
• Branding
• Technology and Innovation
• Customer Discovery / Market Validation
• SBIR/STTR
• Start Up Assistance
• Financial Projections

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Robin Alpaugh, Certified Business Advisor

Center Location: Binghamton, NY (Broome County)

A graduate of SUNY Broome and Binghamton University, Robin previously worked in the New York State Senate, serving as Senator Fred Akshar’s Director of Operations. He has been the Executive Director of the United Way of Broome County and Deputy Regional Director at Empire State Development (ESD), New York State’s Department of Economic Development. Before joining ESD, Robin was the Director of Alumni Affairs at SUNY Broome. Robin is active in the community, and a volunteer at many events, including Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally, Friends of the Forum, and Binghamton Noon Rotary Club.

Robin’s Expertise Includes:

• Business and Government Relations
• Business to Business Connections
• Project Management
• Community Engagement

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Jay Azriel

Center Location: Ithaca, NY (Tompkins County)

Jay joined the SBDC in May 2026, bringing more than two decades of academic, consulting, and community-facing experience to the role.

Prior to becoming a full-time advisor, he built an extensive background as a professor of entrepreneurship and strategic management. Jay specializes in combining structured business frameworks with practical, actionable guidance to help area founders strengthen innovation and support regional economic vitality. 

As a resident of Ithaca, Jay is deeply inspired by walking through the downtown area and seeing firsthand the positive impacts that local small businesses have on the community. 

Jay's Expertise Includes: 

• Business Model Canvas
• Business Plan Development
• Pitching and Market Validation
• Network-Building
• Strategic Management 

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Vance Ferrante

Center Location: Binghamton, NY (Broome County)

Vance joined our team in July 2026. He brings over 20 years of commercial lending experience with multiple financial institutions and maintains a national network of commercial lending professionals for
reference and potential outlets for financing possibilities.He is a graduate of Hobart College with a BA in Economics / Corporate Finance.

Vance is well-versed in financial statement creation and interpretation with prior experience as a Senior Commercial Credit Analyst and played a key role in the startup/establishment of commercial lending platforms for two commercial lenders. 

Vance's Expertise Includes:

• Commercial Lending
• Financial Statements
• Financial Projections