Grow 2017 ConferenceMay 15, 2017 - County Executive Robert P. Astorino invites small business owners and entrepreneurs to attend the 5th annual GROW Conference on Friday, May 19 at the Westchester Community College (WCC) Gateway Center in Valhalla. To register or become a sponsor, visit www.westchestergrow.com.

The Gateway Center is home to the Gateway to Entrepreneurship (G2E) program, a resource center for entrepreneurial development. The GROW Conference is hosted by the G2E program and aims to help small business owners expand their network through a series of workshops that focus on creating business plans, brand promotion and financial planning.

“We are always looking for ways to help our small businesses and entrepreneurs succeed,” said Astorino. “The GROW Conference is a great opportunity for small business owners to participate in workshops that can help them effectively expand their business network.”

The GROW Conference will include a number of speakers that have successful small businesses. The keynote speaker for this year’s conference is John DeCicco, Jr., President of DeCicco & Sons. As the new generation of leadership, John DeCicco, Jr. will discuss how DeCicco & Sons has maintained its core values through the supermarket’s forty-year history.

Westchester Community College students will also have the opportunity to pitch their idea or business to a panel of business leaders for the chance to win one of three prizes.

Sponsors of the 5th annual GROW Conference are the Westchester County Office of Economic Development; Westchester Community College’s Gateway to Entrepreneurship program; DeCicco & Sons; ; PepsiCo.; A.S.A.P. Mortgage Corp.; Tompkins Mahopac Bank; The Business Council of Westchester; The Martinez-Lopez Family; Tomkins Excavating; Women Owned; Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board.

Program Agenda

Registration and Networking – 8:00 a.m.

Welcome – 8:45 a.m.:

  • Dr. Belinda Miles, Westchester Community College
  • Marsha Gordon, President & CEO, Business Council of Westchester
  •  Robert P. Astorino, Westchester County Executive

Small Business Panel – 9:00 a.m.

  • Moderator: Sara James, Senior Vice President, Membership & Programs for the Business Council of Westchester
  • Saroosh Gull, CEO, EventCombo.com
  • Jaime Imperati, President, Professional Woman of Westchester & Professional Women of Putnam
  • Alberta Jarane, Co-Founder, Pik Nik Barbecue Restaurant
  • Maria Valente, Owner, Chocolations

Morning Breakout Session – 10 – 11:45 a.m.

Lunch Break – Noon – 12:45 p.m.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions – 1 - 1:45 p.m.

Closing Address

  • Teresita Wisell, Vice President, Workforce Development & Community Education
  • Kimberly Jacobs, Executive Director, Community Capital New York
  • Joe Connolly, WCBS News Radio 880
  • John DeCicco Jr., President, DeCicco & Sons

Reception – 3 p.m.