 | Our team keeps growing! Help us welcome our newest staff member Steve DeMaio, Vice President of Business Development Services and Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Director. Steve will be busy heading up the team that helps make the dream of being a small business owner a reality. If you or someone you know is looking to start a business or grow an existing operation, reach out to the SBDC here. They can offer assistance to entrepreneurs in all stages of the business lifecycle including no-charge one-on-one counseling centered on the business planning process, including financing, market research, marketing strategies, and management and cash flow analysis. Keep reading to learn more about Steve and leave a comment to welcome him to the TRCC. |
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in New York City. After coming to the Midwest for college, I moved to Chicago where I worked in banking for twelve years and, after returning to school, practiced as an attorney. When my wife and I and our two daughters relocated to Toledo five years ago to be closer to family, I started a consulting practice advising small business owners on succession planning and strategies for successful business exits.
What brought you to the Chamber?
My work with business owners has driven home the importance of entrepreneurship and, particularly, small business as the lifeblood of our economy. Through local organizations and volunteer work, I have worked alongside Chamber members and SBDC staff. Seeing and hearing their commitment to the Chamber’s mission to create economic opportunities convinced me that this is somewhere I could make an impact.
What do you hope to accomplish in your role at the Chamber?
As SBDC Director, I hope to continue the award-winning service our Center has provided to the community. The Center must continue to respond to the new challenges and changing landscape faced by our clients. The Toledo region’s economic and civic well-being is tied to the success of local small businesses as employers, producers, and builders.
What do you look forward to doing in your role?
I look forward to meeting with individual clients to learn about their ideas, plans, and the problems they encounter, then working with them and our team to create a path toward success. From a broader perspective, I want to collaborate with the Chamber team to ensure members and local entrepreneurs have access to the services and support needed to survive and thrive.
What is your proudest career achievement?
I felt immense pride when I received the check for the first project I completed as the owner of my own business.
And now to get a little more personal...
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I grew up in the Bronx and then lived in Chicago for more than 20 years. Before moving to Ohio, I never had a yard or lived in anything other than an apartment or condo.
What is your favorite book or movie?
I love a wide range of movies, but one of my favorites is The Hunt for Red October.
What is your favorite meal or food?
I am still trying to recreate my grandmother’s “Sunday gravy” tomato sauce with pasta and meatballs but I don’t think it will ever be as good as I remember.
Tell us about some of your favorite hobbies or things you are passionate about.
I love traveling, cooking, and spending time at our lake house with family and friends. I am passionate about (but don’t always love) New York sports teams and Notre Dame athletics.
I was born and raised in New York City. After coming to the Midwest for college, I moved to Chicago where I worked in banking for twelve years and, after returning to school, practiced as an attorney. When my wife and I and our two daughters relocated to Toledo five years ago to be closer to family, I started a consulting practice advising small business owners on succession planning and strategies for successful business exits.
What brought you to the Chamber?
My work with business owners has driven home the importance of entrepreneurship and, particularly, small business as the lifeblood of our economy. Through local organizations and volunteer work, I have worked alongside Chamber members and SBDC staff. Seeing and hearing their commitment to the Chamber’s mission to create economic opportunities convinced me that this is somewhere I could make an impact.
What do you hope to accomplish in your role at the Chamber?
As SBDC Director, I hope to continue the award-winning service our Center has provided to the community. The Center must continue to respond to the new challenges and changing landscape faced by our clients. The Toledo region’s economic and civic well-being is tied to the success of local small businesses as employers, producers, and builders.
What do you look forward to doing in your role?
I look forward to meeting with individual clients to learn about their ideas, plans, and the problems they encounter, then working with them and our team to create a path toward success. From a broader perspective, I want to collaborate with the Chamber team to ensure members and local entrepreneurs have access to the services and support needed to survive and thrive.
What is your proudest career achievement?
I felt immense pride when I received the check for the first project I completed as the owner of my own business.
And now to get a little more personal...
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I grew up in the Bronx and then lived in Chicago for more than 20 years. Before moving to Ohio, I never had a yard or lived in anything other than an apartment or condo.
What is your favorite book or movie?
I love a wide range of movies, but one of my favorites is The Hunt for Red October.
What is your favorite meal or food?
I am still trying to recreate my grandmother’s “Sunday gravy” tomato sauce with pasta and meatballs but I don’t think it will ever be as good as I remember.
Tell us about some of your favorite hobbies or things you are passionate about.
I love traveling, cooking, and spending time at our lake house with family and friends. I am passionate about (but don’t always love) New York sports teams and Notre Dame athletics.
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