Panel Discussion: Successful Business Owners Share How to Re-start Your Business Post-COVID
Duration: 2 hours
EVENT OVERVIEW
Challenged by 2020 and its changing business landscape? Ready to be inspired by success stories of small businesses that thrived during that time? This webinar is what you need!
Every year you set goals, like getting more customers, making more money, expanding your reach. Then extraordinary circumstances upend your best laid plans. Suddenly it looks as if you cannot reach your goals through absolutely no fault of your own.
But some businesses actually thrived even in a very tough year because they changed their business model and pivoted to reflect the new normal. Our panelists are success stories: they recognized the need to make changes, how and what to change and then went out and did it.
They met their goals in these uncertain times. You can do the same!
Our panel, moderated by SCORE Mentor Sue Shapiro, will consist of 3 business owners who will discuss:
- What their business looked like in January 2020
- How the pandemic impacted their business
- What steps they took to adapt to the changing business climate
- What worked and what didn’t
- To what degree they were able to achieve their goals
- What they will be doing going forward despite or because of our changing times
Small business owners providing services or products and challenged by 2020 events who are looking for ways to adapt their business so they can get on a growth track in 2021.
Moderator: Sue Shapiro 
Formerly, President and CEO of a very large international travel consortium that markets travel products to agency clients, and today, a travel writer. Experienced in development of marketing materials, negotiations, customer databases, and Web sites. Expert in outbound marketing, strategic alliances, sales, event planning, and public relations.
Thuy Petersen
Thuy Petersen is a NY native and the owner and 
creator of House Of Playful Soul (HOPS), a children's learning and development playcenter. As a mom of three under 6, Thuy saw the need for a space that supported parents of young children primarily 0-3 years old. HOPS opened in March 2020 and offers families a place that cultivates learning, creates connections and gives back to our community. Thuy spends her days straddling the responsibilities of a mom (supporting remote school, a toddler and a baby), her corporate job in ad tech and managing operations or teaching at HOPS.
Jyll Hubbard Salk
Jyll Hubbard Salk is the founder of Urban Asanas LLC, 
the only black-owned yoga studio in Crown Heights. She has been doing yoga for 30 years and teaching it for 20 years, and has had her own studio for 10 years. She opened a wellness studio adjacent to the yoga space offering acupuncture, facials, massages, reiki, and some other modalities. Asanas is diverse physically and economically and has a policy to NEVER turn anyone away because of finances.
Stacey Toussaint
Stacey Toussaint, a Brooklyn native of Haitian descent and Columbia University School of Law graduate, founded Inside Out Tours in 2010. Her passion for history, tourism and New York City are complimented with a background that encompasses the artistic, legal, and academic world. Stacey started her career as an assistant producer of documentaries for a major television network and as an assistant adjunct professor of New York City History. She has served as a small business consultant and educator for NYC Small Business Solutions and the Brooklyn Public Library. She worked for 10 years as a commercial litigation and securities lawyer before pursuing her true love and launching Inside Out Tours. She now serves as Managing Director of Inside Out Tours, an award-winning NYC tour operator that provides specialty tours and classes focusing on hidden history, team-building, diversity and inclusion.
Dominique Padurano, Founder, Crimson Coaching 
Dominique Padurano, Ph.D., founded Crimson Coaching LLC to teach students the academic, organizational, and emotional tools they need to thrive. She herself coaches privately: analytical and application essay writing; test prep, including SAT; Math, History, English, Spanish, and French; and time management and study skills. A high school teacher for over a decade, Dr. P. now also serves as adjunct professor at CUNY.
Misty Skolnick 
Misty Skolnick co-owns Uncle Jerry's Pretzels with her father, Jerry, who started the business more than 30 years ago. Uncle Jerry’s Pretzels provides all natural and handmade sourdough pretzel to pretzel lovers throughout the country. Uncle Jerry's products are distributed nationally and sold in grocery stores of all sizes, from Whole Foods Markets to small specialty shops, and directly to customers through the website. Misty joined the company 13 years ago after working in community and workforce development. Misty has a BA in International Affairs and Anthropology and a MA in US Foreign Policy from the George Washington University.
Please note this webinar will be presented from 2pm to 4pm,
Eastern Daylight Time (11am to 1pm Pacific Time).