Meet the Bronx Small Business Development Center at Lehman College

**This event will be online only**

The Small Business Development Center at Lehman College in the Bronx is one of 20 campus-based centers and outreach offices across New York State.

The SBDC centers provide free business advising and free and low-cost training to startups, entrepreneurs, and small business owners with goals to grow and stay competitive in NY. The NY SBDC is part of America's SBDC, the association that represents America's nationwide network of Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs). NY SBDC is administered by the State University of New York and funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York, and host campuses.

About the Presenters:

Vanessa Joseph, Regional Director | Business Educator | Small Business Champion

Vanessa Joseph is the Regional Director of the Bronx Small Business Development Center (SBDC), where she leads initiatives that foster entrepreneurship, economic growth, and community impact. With more than 18 years of experience in banking and business management, Vanessa has built a career dedicated to helping clients achieve financial and strategic success. Her work now focuses on equipping entrepreneurs with the tools, training, and strategic guidance needed to grow sustainable businesses in today’s competitive landscape.

Vanessa holds a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, which she leverages to bring deep expertise in organizational growth to her work supporting New York’s diverse entrepreneurial community. Vanessa is recognized for her results-driven leadership and is committed to empowering others through education, innovation, and inclusive economic advancement. When not advising businesses, you’ll likely find her creating new workshops, mentoring future changemakers, or learning her next guitar.

Patrick Saul, Senior Business Advisor, Small Business Development Center at Lehman College

Dr. Patrick Saul is a results-driven finance leader with a proven record of transforming complex financial strategies into measurable business growth. Formally trained in credit and investment banking by Wells Fargo and the Royal Bank of Scotland, he brings deep expertise in strategic planning, M&A, liquidity optimization, risk management, and P&L leadership. Over a 25-year career spanning top-tier financial institutions, including J.P. Morgan and Fidelity Investments, Dr. Saul has specialized in asset-based lending, EBITDA valuation, and middle-market growth financing—consistently delivering high-impact transactions and innovative financial solutions.

He holds a BBA, MBA, and DBA in Finance and is an alumnus of The George Washington University. His published research includes “The Rising Popularity of Special Purpose Acquisition Companies: Hidden Dangers, Regulatory Changes, and a Looming Bubble” (Global Journal of Business and Integral Security, 2022), "Narrative, Flows, and Concentration: Why the Contemporary AI Equity Surge Warrants Bubble Concern“ (2025), AI’s New Frontier: Transforming Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition, Small, and Micro Businesses” (2025), and “Breaking Barriers: The Political, Economic, and Capital Access Challenges Constraining Small Business Formation in the Bronx” (2025).

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