Douglas Boyce, Regional Director

He has 16 years of experience in helping New York state small businesses. Having over 12 years of "big" business experience, he has served as General Manager of a $12 million a year company and Corporate Credit Manager of a $400 million a year corporation. Previously an owner of a small manufacturing business and then a partner in a franchised advertising firm, Doug also has the "small" business experience necessary to aid with the myriad of financial and operational problems facing New York’s small business owners.

Sergius Spak has been with the Center since its inception. Serge’s background in small business is extensive. He was employed in the Southern Tier as a branch manager with a national business management service, counseling small businesses in management and tax issues. Before that he was a program administrator with Link Simulation Company. Serge serves as the interface between the SBDC and the local SCORE Chapter and is business instructor for the Transitional Services program at Camp Georgetown Correctional facility

In addition to being a full-time Business Advisor at the Center for over three years, Ginny Robert is also the Coordinator of the Women Business Owners' Roundtable, a training and networking opportunity for current and prospective women business owners. In addition, Ginny is co-chairperson of the annual Celebrating Women in Business Conference, which is sponsored by WBO. Also self-employed since 1988, Ginny writes and publishes business workbooks and delivers business training programs.

Working for New York State and New York State Electric and Gas Corporation, Gary Barnfather has over 25 years of experience in the Economic Development field. He has participated in projects ranging from start-up companies to Fortune 500 corporate entities. Gary’s background also includes business assistance activities with the NYS Department of Economic Development and direct veterans counseling with the Disabled American Veterans. Gary is a Business Advisor with an emphasis on veteran owned business.

Ginny Thompson joined the SBDC as a business advisor in May of 2001. In addition to her counseling duties and to further meet the needs of SBDC clients, Ginny designed and now spearheads a 20-hour Small Business Start-up Class. This class has taken on a life of its own and has been well received by both start-up clients and existing business owners. Ginny has owned her own resume and job search support business for over 14 years. Additionally, she worked as a technical recruiter for 7 years in a highly competitive industry. Experience provides Ginny with excellent perspectives and she is able to draw upon her first hand experiences in assisting clients through the challenges of investigating a business' potential and start-up.

Kenneth Homer has been a Business Advisor at the Center for more than eight years. Working with over 150 clients each year, Ken assists both start-up and existing businesses with business plan development, production planning, human resources, financial analysis, and cash flow management. With a Masters in Accounting from Binghamton University, Ken is likely to work with those more complex and extensive cases identified at the Center. Ken is also a graduate of the Broome Leadership Institute, Class of 2000.

She is usually the first friendly voice you hear when calling the SBDC for business assistance. She coordinates the activity of the Center, maintains client records and monitors the activities of the advising staff. Lynne has been with the Center for 10 years. After graduating with a BA in English from Ithaca College, she has worked as a radio copywriter, sales secretary for a local television station, and prior to joining the Center, for a local economic development agency, Partnership 2000.