Workshops | WEDI

Entrepreneurship Assistance Center

The WEDI Entrepreneurship Assistance Center (EAC) is made possible by a grant from Empire State Development. As one of New York State's 26 EACs, WEDI offers 60 hrs of business support through our "EAC Training Series", tailored for new and existing small business owners. This training series will include workshops by various business experts and one-on-one coaching to help you work on a Business Model Canvas.

The Spring EAC Training series begins April 14.

The Spring EAC Training Series is scheduled to run from April 14 to May 21 from 5:30 PM–7:30 pm. There will be 10 virtual sessions and 2 in-person sessions. Registration is free.

In-person sessions will be held in the Learning Lab located on the second floor at the West Side Bazaar (1432 Niagara Street, Buffalo).

NEW THIS TRAINING SESSION: PITCH COMPETITION! Get ready to showcase your ideas, ambition, and innovation! Our EAC Pitch Competition brings together bold entrepreneurs who will take the stage to pitch their ventures to a panel of expert judges and a live audience. In just a few minutes, each competitor will share their vision, demonstrate impact, and make the case for why their business deserves to win. Cash prizes will be awarded. More information is forthcoming.

Spring 2026 Workshop Series

Tuesday, April 14 - Plan for Success Using a Business Model Canvas

Presenters: Antionette McClain, WEDI, Purnima Mohan, WEDI, and Ann Enger, Ibero Business Center

Thursday, April 16 - Business Law Basics

Presenter: Arthur Mussarra, Small Business Legal Clinic

Tuesday, April 21 - Budgeting and Cashflow

Presenter: Adam Goldfarb, Goldfarb Financial

Thursday, April 23 - Small Business Marketing Made Simple

Presenter: Rachel Rumbold, Rumbold Consulting, LLC

Tuesday, April 28 - Basics of Business Insurance

Presenter: Carl Chisolm, Marketplace Agency, Inc.

Thursday, April 30 - Finding and Accessing Capital to Your Small Business

Presenters: Crystal Morgan, Hope Rwigamba, Cydney Sanders, and Yahaira Zapata, Capital Connect

Tuesday, May 5 - Business Model Canvas session (in-person)

Presenters: Antionette McClain, WEDI and Purnima Mohan, WEDI

Thursday, May 7 - Topic TBD

Presenters: Ted Galantowicz, SCORE and Susan McCartney, Small Business Development Center

Tuesday, May 12 - Library Resources and Bookkeeping 101 for Small Business

Presenters: Carol Kowalik and Anne Cordero, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library

Thursday, May 14 - Topic TBD

Presenter: TBD

Tuesday, May 19 - Topic TBD

Presenter: TBD

Thursday, May 21 - MWBE Certification for Small Businesses and How to Pitch Information (in-person)

Presenters: Lyndsay Michael, Small Business Legal Clinic, Onice Castro, Coach & Assist, LLC, and Antionette McClain, WEDI

Meet Your Spring 2026 EAC Presenters

Onice Castro, Founder of Coach & Assist, LLC.

Onice Castro, known as Coach Onyx, is a life coach, speaker, and founder of Coach & Assist LLC in Buffalo, NY. She focuses on accountability coaching, helping individuals turn their goals into actionable steps. Through workshops and community-based initiatives, she empowers others to stay focused, build confidence, and grow into their best selves.

Carl Chisholm, Insurance Associates Marketplace Agency, Inc.

Carl Chisholm is a 16-year veteran of the insurance industry, specializing in Property & Casualty insuraBnce for both businesses and individuals. As the third generation owner of Insurance Associates Marketplace, he represents a long established small business that’s been a part of his community for more than sixty years. A Buffalo native, Carl holds bachelors degrees in both psychology and political science, including having lived in Canada for several years with his now-wife Amanda. His hobbies are mostly quiet – he collects books, can’t resist a garage sale, and acts as assistant/taste tester for his wife’s bakery.

Anne Cordero, Buffalo Museum of Science

Anne Cordero is the Controller of the Buffalo Science Museum and a financial professional with a strong passion for numbers and small business support. As a certified QuickBooks ProAdvisor, she specializes in helping organizations implement and optimize QuickBooks through setup, training, troubleshooting, and data clean-up. She also assists clients with establishing internal controls and managing financial records efficiently and accurately.

In 2020, Anne founded her own consulting business, where she works with startup entrepreneurs to provide comprehensive bookkeeping and accounting services. Her work includes general ledger maintenance, financial statement preparation, payroll entry recording, account and bank reconciliations, and a variety of special financial projects tailored to client needs.

Anne earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from D’Youville University in 2014, graduating Magna Cum Laude. She is also an inductee of the Pinnacle Society, which recognizes outstanding academic achievement.

Outside of her professional work, Anne enjoys baking, jewelry making, and reading.

Ann Enger, Director of Ibero Business Center of Western NY

Ann Enger is director of the Ibero Business Center – WNY, a division of Ibero American Action League, with an office in Niagara Falls at the Naz716 Business Center. The IBC offers business training programs in English and Spanish and is part of a network of 26 Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers (EACs) across NY State, funded in part by Empire State Development. Ann has worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs over the years, helping new business startups and existing businesses become successful.

Prior to that, she served as a director of two chambers of commerce in WNY, providing community and economic development support. More information about Ibero Business Center is available at www.iberobusinesscenter.org.

Ted Galantowicz, SCORE

Ted Galantowicz is a SCORE mentor and workshops coordinator for the SCORE Buffalo Niagara Chapter. He has been mentoring small business clients for almost 10 years. He is a licensed customs broker who served as director of the St. Louis Customs District for 13 of his 30-year Customs career. That career also included five years of service on the staff of the World Customs Organization. Following retirement from Customs, he served as Global Trade Compliance Manager for two fortune 500 companies. From 2009 – 1015 he operated a consulting business providing import/export compliance resources and assessments to small and large businesses. Ted is a Buffalo native, a graduate of Canisius University and holds an MBA from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Adam Goldfarb, Goldfarb Financial

Adam Goldfarb, Financial Advisor Raymond James, assists individuals, families, small businesses, nonprofit organizations, and entrepreneurs through important transitional periods in professional and personal development, beyond retirement and succession. He is an active community member serving on the board of the Big Easy in Buffalo and past service with the University at Buffalo’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Alumni Association, Hillel Buffalo, WNY Sustainable Business Roundtable, WNY Planned Giving Consortium, the Rotary Club of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, and the EPA Environmental Financing Working Group. Additionally, he was a founding member of the Raymond James Sustainable Investing Advisory Council.

Carol Kowalik-Happy, Buffalo and Erie County Public Library

Carol Kowalik-Happy is the Manager of System Adult Outreach Services for the Buffalo and Erie County Public Library System, where she leverages over 16 years of public library experience to serve the community. In her role, Carol focuses on engaging with adult patrons, offering valuable resources and services tailored to their needs, including workforce development programming and economic outreach.
Carol works closely with the local small business community. She partners with organizations like SCORE and the Ibero Business Center to provide library resources to entrepreneurs and frequently presents at SCORE’s “Starting and Managing Your Own Business” workshop. As a Small Business Librarian and Patent and Trademark Resource Center Representative, Carol offers specialized assistance and guidance to individuals seeking information on small businesses, patents, and trademarks.

Susan McCartney, Small Business Development Center (SBDC)

Susan McCartney is the Director of Buffalo State’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC). She will discuss the vital role small businesses play in driving economic growth and job creation in Western New York. SBDC provides support to entrepreneurs at every stage, from initial launch to expansion or refining existing operations. Sue McCartney is a strong advocate for entrepreneurship and small business initiatives. She emphasized Buffalo State’s commitment to fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem where businesses not only thrive but also contribute to the culture and economic vitality of the local and regional community.

Antionette McClain, WEDI

Antionette was born and raised in Buffalo and is currently working on receiving her bachelor’s degree in communication. Prior to WEDI, she worked for Massachusetts Avenue Project, and she is currently a member of the board of directors for Gerard Place, and the Tool Library. She also volunteers for both organizations. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, cooking, and listening to music. She also loves to travel and experience different cultures. She lives in Buffalo with her husband and their son.

Purnima Mohan, WEDI

Purnima has lived in Buffalo for 15 years. She holds bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Food & Fermentation Technology from the University of Mumbai, India. Prior to WEDI, she worked for Rich Products and Coca Cola India. Purnima has volunteered with numerous nonprofits and serves as the co-president of her PTSA Council. In her free time she enjoys arts and crafts, singing, dancing, cooking, photography, and volunteering. She lives in Amherst with her husband and son. Purnima was named WEDI's Employee of the Month in January 2022 and September 2023.

Rachel Rumbold, Rumbold Consulting, LLC

Rachel Rumbold is the co-owner of Rumbold Consulting LLC, where she helps small businesses turn ideas into strategy and numbers into growth. Through a blend of financial expertise and practical marketing strategy, Rachel works with business owners to build stronger, smarter businesses.
Her entrepreneurial spirit started young and grew into a career dedicated to helping others succeed. Rachel earned her BS in Management and MBA in Finance from Niagara University. After nearly a decade in Corporate America, she launched her consulting firm to focus on what she’s most passionate about: helping small businesses simplify the complex parts of running a business.

Today, Rachel works with companies by helping owners understand their numbers, improve financial operations, and connect financial strategy with effective marketing that drives real results.

In addition to her company, Rachel is a Certified SCORE Business Mentor, has served as Marketing Chair for SCORE Buffalo Niagara, and currently serves as Treasurer for two nonprofit organizations. She also enjoys spending time with her family and coaching local softball.

Rachel’s mission is simple: equip business owners with the financial clarity and marketing strategy they need to grow with confidence to take their business to the next level.

Our EAC training series is made possible by our presenters sharing their time and expertise and by a grant from Empire State Development.

Please check out the New Community Partner Events Calendar here for more learning opportunities!