Our Expert Staff
Martha M. Stansbury, MBA - Regional Center Director
MBA - Fordham University
BA - Boston College
President, Women Economic Developers of Long Island (WEDLI)
Three Village Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees
Martha has served as Center Administrator for the Stony Brook Small Business Development
Center for the past 6 years managing State and Federal budgets, grant management,
civic and economic development engagement and legislative outreach. Martha has experience
in financial and operations management within manufacturing and non-profit sectors.
Her responsibilities have ranged from budget preparation and analysis, comprehensive
policies and procedures development and implementation to business development, grant
writing and project management. Martha holds an MBA in Finance from Fordham University.
Robert B. Harrison, MBA/CPIM - NYS Certified Senior Business Advisor Specializing
in Manufacturing 
MBA - Stony Brook University
CPIM - APICS Certified Production Inventory Manager
NYS Certified Business Advisor
LeanLaunch Instructor Certified
Stony Brook Liaison to HIA-LI Manufacturing Committee
Has over 30 years of operating experience at four Long Island manufacturing companies
including a profitable start-up enterprise. Daily hands-on experience included inventory/production
control, production planning, shop floor control/expediting, bills of materials/materials
requirements planning, assembly operations, zero defects/Statistical Process Control,
Lean Manufacturing, cost reduction methodologies, fixturing, machine shop prototying,
product design/development, domestic/international shipping, sales/business development/customer
service, and marketing/trade shows. Bob's goals include adding value to existing manufacturers
by helping to provide a range of support services to improve their product, process,
and profit. Bob acquired his MBA from Stony Brook University.
Gifty Oduro-Ostrander, NYS Certified Business Advisor
MHA - Stony Brook University
Grad Cert., Business Analytics (GCBA) - University of Maryland Global Campus
MBA - Dowling College
BA - Chancellor College, University of Malawi
Gifty has twenty years of experience in business development and planning, working
in both government and private sectors. Her expertise includes business and financial
management, with an emphasis on analyzing market research data, preparing financial
statements, financial analysis, strategic planning, and budgeting. She joined the
SBDC in 2013 to manage the coordination of the NY Rising grant. She led a team of
professionals to assist small businesses in obtaining disaster grants from the Governor’s
Office of Storm Recovery. In 2015, Gifty received a Certificate of Appreciation and
Commendation from NYS SBDC in recognition of her outstanding dedication and efforts
to assist small businesses impacted by Hurricane Sandy. She received recognition for
her work with the New York Rising Marina Task Force group. Gifty was selected as one
of the top five Business Advisors in New York State in 2016 and 2017 and received
Business Advisor of the Year Awards from the NYS SBDC. She was an award nominee for
Business Advisor of the Year in 2019, at the Annual NYS SBDC Conference. In 2022,
Gifty was a recipient of the Director's Award for Excellence in Service to Public
Health, Program in Public Health at Stony Brook University. Gifty is a member of
the National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS). She is also a member of the
Suffolk County Women's Business Enterprise Coalition (SCWBEC) and the Long Island
African American Chamber of Commerce (LIAACC).
Willa Smith - Advanced NYS Certified Senior Business Advisor
MPS Concentration in Human Resource Management - Stony Brook University
BA - Suny Oswego
Willa re-joined the SBDC team in 2020 after spending the past nine years as a credit-trained
commercial lender for Citibank, Chase and Gold Coast Bank, delivering specific expertise
in credit underwriting guidelines, risk assessment, and financial analysis.. Deepening
her expertise in lending policy and loan originations has afforded her the ability
to provide specific guidance to business owners in how to obtain the financing needed
to maintain healthy business operations, purchase real estate, equipment and other
business assets. Bridging back to her prior eight years as a NYS Advanced Certified
Sr. Business Advisor, she offers clients a well-rounded expertise as a skilled advisor
with demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and provide thoughtful planning and tactical
leadership within the business community. Willa has been a featured presenter and
panelist at many workshops and seminars in the Tri-State area, and delivered the College
of Business's capstone "Entrepreneurship" course to upper level undergraduates as
an adjunct professor at Stony Brook University. Willa has a Masters in Professional
Studies, with a Concentration in Human Resource Management, from Stony Brook University,
along with a Bachelor's degree from SUNY Oswego. In 2009, Willa was honored with
the SBU Dr. Deborah C. Hecht Award for her Masters Thesis entitled, 'Strategies for
Ensuring Success in Small Business'. Willa is a participating member of the Moxxie
Network for Professional Women and the HIA's Business Development Committee.
Ree Wackett, MPP - NYS Advanced Certified Senior Business Advisor
MPP - Stony Brook University
Trade Promotion Coordinating Council/SBA International Trade Certified
Joined the Stony Brook University SBDC in 2012 after a ten year tenure at the Farmingdale
State College SBDC. While at Farmingdale she authored both Business Basics and The Business Plan Guide and was the center’s grant writer. In 2007, she led a study in collaboration with
the Child Care Council of Nassau and the Child Care Council of Suffolk, which examined
the concept of shared services in the child care industry. After completion of the
research she authored Shared Services in the Long Island Child Care Community: an Exploration , a seminal publication. Ree is an advanced certified senior business advisor, and
while well versed in all sectors, she specializes in women entrepreneurs, procurement,
international trade and child care. As an avid and enthusiastic member of the small
business community, she was honored by Long Island Business News in 2008 as one of the “Top 40 under 40” people in business. She was again honored
in 2009 as the Valedictorian of her “40 under 40” class. Ree is a frequent lecturer
on campus at Stony Brook University, as well as in the community, on issues related
to entrepreneurship. She was honored with the statewide "Lead by Example" award in
2024.
Brenda Zhang, CPA - NYS Certified Business Advisor
Master of Accounting/Minor of Finance - University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign
CPA - New York State
Brenda brings to the SBDC online retail marketing expertise and broad knowledge of
cost and revenue accounting and financial analysis with her past work at Caterpillar
Inc., Motorola Solutions, and Stony Brook University. In 2014, Brenda started her
small business selling mobile accessory products online and expanded her experience
to small business management, including online retail marketing, service outsourcing,
OEM/ODM manufacturing, international shipping, and accounting service for small business.
Brenda holds a Masters degree in accounting from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign.
Administration
Leslie Rurup - Intake Coordinator
Leadership and Mentoring Professional Development Program
Leslie's duties as Front Desk Intake Coordinator are assisting individuals seeking
business counseling with NYS Certified Advisors and is the primary interface with
clients. Leslie handles administrative, logistics and technical AV assistance for
workshops and seminars, as well as assists on various special projects. Leslie interviews,
hires and trains front desk student interns; and manages client organization including
related record-keeping. At the StonyBrook SBDC since 1996, Leslie brings an extensive
administrative background from 19 years at Grumman Aerospace.