The LBA has a purpose-driven mission to grow the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the greater Olean area.
HISTORY
Erick Laine is the former CEO and Chairman of Cutco Corporation, who passed away in December 2020, at the age of 87. Mr. Laine is known for his remarkable entrepreneurial leadership and generosity in the Olean and greater Cattaraugus County community. The Laine Business Accelerator is funded by the Erick Laine Entrepreneurship Fund, a memorial created after his passing, through the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation (CRCF) and administered by Olean Business Development Corporation (OBDC).
CORE VALUES
Give First
The accelerator in a phrase - “Give first mentality.” The group aims to eliminate scarcity mindset in business and ignite and foster entrepreneurial spirit, by creating a sustainable business community that gives first to the community.
Help Others to Fly
The cohort businesses may begin with a goal of individual business growth. However, they grow the most through the community that is formed among everyone in the program. A milestone for one, becomes a milestone for all to celebrate.
Inspire innovation
New ideas don’t easily spark without a group effort. The LBA Community encourages all forms of innovation, the more out of the box idea, the better. The cohort members bounce ideas off of one another and create solutions to each other's challenges that they may not have come up with otherwise.
MEET THE TEAM
Tom Cullen
Co-Founder, Director of the LBA (and director of SBU Innovation Center)
Bob Forness
LBA Managing Team Member (OBDC President & Executive Director)
Courtney Curatolo
LBA Managing Team Member (Director SBDC@JCC)
Sarah Bray
LBA Co-Founder (JCC Associate Professor of Business & Entrepreneurship)
Jake Theodore
LBA Intern (JCC Business Class of 2023, SBU Management Class of 2025)
Steve McClain
LBA Committee Chair-OBDC Board (Digital Marketing Manager-Cutco)
Kathleen Martel
LBA Managing Team Member (JCC - Director of Workforce Development)
Mackenzie Bush
LBA Co-Founder (SBU Marketing Class of 2023)
Sean Campbell
Business Development & Operations Associate (OBDC)
Tripp Breen
LBA Summer Intern (SBU Business Administration Class of 2023)
Jim Stitt
LBA Co-Founder (Board Chairman-OBDC, Board Chairman-Cutco)
Todd Palmer
SBU Management Chair, Professor of Entrepreneurship, Director of SBU C4 Student Consulting
Brianna Shay
LBA Managing Team Member (Coordinator of Innovation and Entrepreneurship @ JCC)
Morgan Wahl
LBA Co-Founder (SBU MBA Class of 2022)
Riley Polizzi
LBA Intern (SBU Marketing Class of 2024)
Saidy Bolya
LBA Intern (SBU Marketing Class of 2024)