BUSINESS|ADVISORY
Start-ups, Growth, Sustainability, Transition.
From drafting robust bylaws to modeling financial sustainability, our approach ensures your organization is democratic by design and financially resilient by default.
Democratic decision-making frameworks tailored to your cooperative model.
Bylaw development ensuring long-term legal and structural resilience.
Board structuring and training for effective, transparent oversight.
Conflict resolution protocols embedded in governance documents.
Financial transparency models that build member trust.
1,722 small business clients and entrepreneurs in Central New York across Oswego, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Madison, and Cortland counties,
as well as co-counseling multiple clients from other SBDC centers in the state of New York and nationwide,
12,161 Contact and Prep Hours
591 Training and Prep Hours
285 Impact Clients
520 Jobs Created
230 Jobs Saved
$9,847,316 Economic Impact
“The work of champions such as Frank Cetera of the Onondaga Small Business Development Center in Syracuse, NY and Leyanis Diaz at the Temple SBDC in Philadelphia has helped to worker co-ops stay open, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. They provided crucial information and support in accessing resources in a time of great need for all businesses. In particular, Frank’s work in leading the charge of SBDC education and peer learning regarding worker ownership is critical to ensuring that our cooperative businesses have access to supports that are offered through SBDCs. The work of these on-the-ground consultants to help small businesses form, grow, and thrive is a hugely untapped resource for business owners across the country. As we fight for cooperatives to have access to the same SBA resources as all other small businesses, it is heartening to know and work with these experts to expand their knowledge of worker co-ops.”
– Mo Manklang, Policy Director at the U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives.
Advising IMPACT
15 years as a Senior Business Advisor with the New York SBDC (Small Business Development Center) at Onondaga Community College in Syracuse, NY, to 3 years as the lead for client contacts through the W2O Collaborative’s Becoming Employee Owned portal, Frank has assisted thousands of small to medium sized business enterprise clients (for-profit, not-profit, cooperative, and other) which has resulted in millions of dollars of economic impact and investment in your communities.
BUSINESS TRANSITIONS Advising PROCESS
LionHearted uses the EASES framework from the Workers To Owners Collaborative which Frank led nationally from 2023-2026. His expertise and experience with the model ensures that it is structured yet flexible, ensuring grounding in resilience and community impact.
Start Your Advisory Relationship
Service Coverage: National Reach — Remote & On-site
Direct Outreach: Available for scheduled strategic sessions
Active Hours: Mon-Thu: 9:30 AM – 4:30 PM EST
