SUNY Institute Awards Over 32,000 to Local Entrepreneurs in Business Plan Competition

COBLESKILL — The 2025 Mohawk Valley Entrepreneur Assistance Center (MVEAC) Business Plan Competition, hosted by The Institute for Rural Vitality at SUNY Cobleskill, concluded May 1 with over $32,000 in prize money awarded to local small businesses. Fourteen entrepreneurs presented their innovative business plans to a panel of six judges from the community. Following intense deliberation, six finalists proceeded to the final round, where the top three winners emerged.

Congratulations to the winners:

1st Place - Lovin' Mama Farm Kitchen, Amsterdam ($15,000 award)

2nd Place - Middleburgh Coffee Company, Middleburgh ($8,500 award)

3rd Place - Ghost Light Farm, Cambridge ($8,500 award)

The event, sponsored by the Empire State Development Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers, marked the Institute’s inaugural hosting of the competition, promising a return next spring for another competition featuring a new set of local small businesses.

The Institute for Rural Vitality was awarded $80,000 through Empire State Development to host MVEAC Business Plan Competitions over three years. This funding aims to support and enhance the entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing resources and opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to develop comprehensive business plans. The Institute is one of just five grant awardees across New York State selected to host an EAC competition program of this kind.

“This competition not only provided crucial funding to help these businesses grow, but also created a platform for entrepreneurs to refine their ideas and connect with community leaders and other business owners,” said Dr. Scott Ferguson, Chief Economic Development Officer at SUNY Cobleskill. “The enthusiasm and quality of business plans presented confirm that rural entrepreneurship is thriving in our region. We're excited to continue this initiative over the next two years and further strengthen the entrepreneurial network in the Mohawk Valley."

Participants must have graduated from an EAC 60-hour business plan training course in the last 12 months. The Institute offers its Business Development Bootcamp in a 10-week format held in person and virtually in a synchronous format. Learn more about the program here: www.cobleskill.edu/institute/eac.aspx.

In attendance from Empire State Development were:

Earl Thomason, Vice President, Entrepreneur Development

Bette Yee, Senior Director, Entrepreneur Development

Jingshu Zheng, Senior Program Manager 

Judges for the event were:

Seth Browe, Regional External Affairs Manager at National Grid:

Seth Browe is the External Affairs Manager at National Grid where he focuses on building and maintaining strategic partnerships with municipalities and community organizations. He engages with stakeholders to ensure that National Grid's initiatives align with community needs and priorities.

Nicole Deyo, Vice President of Business Development at Persuit Lending:

Nicole Deyo has been in banking since the early 1990's and she's held every role in retail banking from Teller to Regional Manager. In 2019 she made the move to a lender and started working for Pursuit Community Finance. In late 2022 she moved to the SBA side of the house working solely on business development for the SBA 7(a) program. In this role she works with bankers, economic development leaders, chambers of commerce and various other centers of influence to get capital into the hands of the business owners that need it.

Jim Norton, Vice President of Dairy Plant and Distribution at Stewart’s:

Jim Norton is Vice President of Plant Operations for Stewart’s Shops Corp. and has worked there for the past 23 years. In his role, Jim is responsible for all operations at Stewart’s distribution and manufacturing center in Greenfield, NY. Jim holds a BBA in Accounting from Siena College and an MBA from the College of Saint Rose. In addition, he is a licensed CPA in New York State.

Zach Steffen, Regional Director at Mohawk Valley SBDC:

Zach Steffen is the Regional Director of the Mohawk Valley Small Business Development Center. He oversees the center’s programs and advising and provides business advisement services to a variety of small businesses and entrepreneurs engaged in starting, managing, growing, or purchasing a business. Steffen has been with the Mohawk Valley Small Business Development Center since 2019. Previously, he was the General Manager of North Country Books and the Co-Owner/President of Pyramid Publishing.

Bill Nordenhold, Assistant Vice President and Business Banking Office at NBT Bank:

Bill Nordenhold is an Assistant Vice President and Business Banking Officer for NBT Bank. He services Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie Counties, working with small businesses in the area. He builds trusted relationships with his business banking customers, offering experience in lending and tailored financial solutions.

Chet Opalka, President at Opalka Family Investment Partners, LP:

Chet Opalka, co-founder of Curia Global, formerly Albany Molecular Research, Inc. (AMRI), a full-service pharmaceutical and medical research services company was founded in 1991, in Albany, NY. During his tenure, AMRI discovered the process that enabled the manufacture of Allegra. He retired from the daily operations of the company in September 2000. Chet has been named as inventor or co-inventor in nearly 30 patents, co-authored several scientific publications relating to his accomplishments in the field of pharmaceutical chemistry. Since Chet’s retirement, he has been an angel investor and philanthropist. A community advocate for the greater Albany, NY region, Chet advises and sits on several non-profit boards including, most recently, Russell Sage College, The Community Foundation of the Greater Capital Region, and Saratoga Performing Arts Center.