Staff Profiles
Patricia C. Higgins, Director
Pat has over 20 years of experience as a professional manager and is also Director of External Operations at JOBSplus! Pat's career has included serving as acting Vice President and Associate Vice President of Student Services at Onondaga Community College.
Pat has been honored with the "Women in Business" award and also the SUNY "Chancellor's Award for Professional Service."
Pat supports and is a member of many community organizations including the "Make a Wish Foundation of Central New York."
Pat received a B.A. in Human Development from the University of Missouri-Columbia. higginsp@sunyocc.edu
Nancy Ansteth, Certified Business Advisor
Nancy's career has spanned corporate, non-profit and self-employment areas of business. Her focus has been on training and counseling. She continues to assist others in the realization of successful business ownership.
Her community activities include the advisory committee of WHOLE ME, Inc., which services the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and she is also a Junior Achievement volunteer.
Nancy earned her B.A. in languages with education from D'Youville Collge and her M.Ed in Human Resources from Boston University. anstethn@sunyocc.edu
Frank Raymond Cetera, Green Business Advisor/Certified Business Advisor
Frank has over 10 years working with sustainable systems and non-profit business management. He currently administers the Green Business Aware program (http://ournorthside.org/green-business.html) providing assistance to businesses striving for the triple-bottom-line of people, plant, and profits. Other duties include developing a green certification program for regional businesses, and business outreach and coordination on Syracuse's northside with the Northside Collaboratory.
Frank is also the Co-Founder and current Board President of The Alchemical Nursery, a non-profit in Syracuse dedicated to "Regenerative Lifestyles & Landscapes", and the promotion of Permaculture. He is also a founding Steering Committee member of Syracuse Grows - Syracuse's city-wide community gardening network, and a Board Member of Cooperative Federal Credit Union.
Frank holds an M.S. in Sustainable Systems Science from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania; and an M.F. in Forestry from SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. ceteraf@sunyocc.edu
John Halleron, Certifed Business Advisor (Advanced Certification)
John is the primary contact at the OCC Northsite on Rt. 57 in Liverpool, NY. John provides assistance to start up and existing businesses, including assistance with business plans, pro forma statements and loan packaging.
John has an extensive background in banking, having been associated in various capacities with Alternatives Credit union, Merchants National Bank and Key Bank. He has provided instruction for micro-enterprise training sessions and has coordinated Humam Resource audits, Trade Seminars and other business seminars.
John has a B.A. from SUNY at Plattsburgh and is working on an MBA at LeMoyne College. john.halleron@oswego.edu
Tania Hanouille, Certified Business Advisor/Intake
Tania is our Center’s initial contact advisor and office administrator. Tania provides counseling to clients, specializing in start-up mechanics and business skill enhancement. Her work experience has included contract audit work for the Department of Defense. She served as Financial Director for Syracuse University in London, where she implemented an accounting program that is currently being used in all the University’s study-abroad programs. Previously, Tania started a home-based consulting business and was also co-owner of an insurance company specializing in farm insurance.
Tania teaches an online Introduction to Business Start Up class at Onondaga Community College.
Tania received a B.S. in Accounting from LeMoyne College. hanouilt@sunyocc.edu
Thomas J. Moore, Certified Business Advisor
Tom has been with the Small Business Development Center since 1991. Tom’s work experience has included the Onondaga County Division of Management and Budget and was the Director of Administrative Services for the Onondaga County Health Department. Tom has also worked for a local development company as administrator for one of the company’s health care facilities. Tom also currently runs a seasonal small business.
Tom received his undergraduate degree in business from Syracuse University and a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University. mooret@sunyocc.edu
Joan Powers, Certified Senior Business Advisor
Joan has been with the SBDC since 1996. Prior to joining our staff, she worked in the private sector for eighteen years in the accounting department of a Fortune 1000 corporation. Joan received the SBA’s Syracuse District Women’s Business Champion Award for 2004 and the New York State Small Business Development Center 3rd Runner Up for Business Adviser of the Year in 2004. Joan runs our Center’s outreach center in Cortland.
She received her B.A. and M.S. degree in accounting from Syracuse University. powersj@sunyocc.edu