Multiplex Biosciences, and its owners,
Dominic Eisinger
and Laurie Stephen of
Lake Placid
,
N.Y., have been selected as the 2007
New York
State
Small
Business
Development
Centers (SBDC) High-Tech Company of the Year. The entrepreneurs were honored May 1 at the SBDC Entrepreneurial Awards Banquet in
Utica
,
NY
.
Entrepreneur of the Year awards honor New Yorkers who have overcome significant obstacles and exercised vision and persistence to launch their businesses.
The awards ceremony, which takes place during the annual conference of statewide SBDC professionals, celebrated the conference theme of Looking to the Future through Education, Entrepreneurship and Economic Development
.
Eisinger and Stephen were nominated by the
North Country
SBDC. They were selected for this honor from among hundreds of SBDC clients across the state.
'Starting a biotech business has lots of challenges.
It was great to have support from our families and local agencies such as the SBDC, Senator (Betty) Little, Empire State Development and the
Lake Placid
Village,' said Stephen. Eisinger added, 'We were quite surprised and honored to receive the award.
The North Country SBDC is a great resource to help drive entrepreneurial growth in Upstate New York.'
When Eisinger and Stephen decided to start a biotechnology company, one of their first stops was the
North Country
SBDC. Business Advisor Tony Maglione helped them write a business plan and develop detailed financial projections. The
North Country
SBDC also counseled the clients on different business structures, as well as the issues involved in taking on additional equity investors.
As a result, Eisinger and Stephen attracted enough funding to start the company (including a loan from
Lake Placid's Revolving Loan Program.) In April 2006, they began renovations on an old warehouse in
Lake Placid.
The lab was completed in June and the company hired its first two employees on July 1, 2006.
Today, Multiplex Biosciences, Inc., (MxB) is a New York State C-Corporation, providing R&D and manufacturing services to biotechnology companies and institutions worldwide in the field of multiplex immunoassays, a method to simultaneously measure multiple types of novel protein biomarkers in a single drop of blood. The field of protein biomarkers is a rapidly growing segment of the biotechnology industry that holds great promise for disease diagnosis and treatment.
In August 2006, MxB signed an agreement with BioLayer Corp. of
Australia
to collaborate on product development, technical support and licensing.
In November 2006, MxB, Inc. announced it was merging with Rules Based Medicine, Inc. (RBM) of
Austin
,
Texas
.
RBM is the leading multiplexed biomarker testing laboratory for the life sciences industry.
This merger will allow MxB to extend its research and development capability in multiplex assay product development and expand its customer base.
MxB has just added its fifth employee in April and is expecting additional employment growth in the near future.
'When Upstate Bio shut its doors in Lake Placid and moved to California, Dominic and Laurie, both highly acclaimed scientists in their field, decided they were not going to uproot their families and follow them, nor go elsewhere,' said Maglione. 'They demonstrated true entrepreneurial spirit by making a commitment to start their own biotechnology firm in
Lake Placid.
A year later, things have gone even better than optimistic expectations, and they are now well positioned for several years of rapid growth.'
Douglas Ferris
, owner of Earth Science Engineering, P.C. (ESE) was honored at the 9th Annual Small Business Excellence Awards luncheon May 7, 2007 at the
Desmond
Hotel
and
Conference
Center
in Colonie.
'Doug Ferris is a sterling example of a North Country native who returned to his hometown to make a difference in the community,' said,
Dee Clark
, Regional Director of the
North Country
Small
Business
Development
Center
at SUNY Plattsburgh, who nominated Ferris for the award.
Based in the town of
Willsboro
, Ferris' company performs civil and environmental engineering services for individuals and commercial, industrial and municipal organizations.
His company is an innovator in one of the region's most important economic and environmental service sectors.
By successfully restoring land sites and improving area environments, ESE has positively impacted the region.
The Small Business Excellence Awards luncheon is one of many events in local communities across the nation that celebrates National Small Business Week.
Small businesses are the driving force behind
America
's tremendous growth and job creation.
They employ 51 percent of the private-sector workforce, or 57 million Americans.
They create two out of three new jobs and produce 51% of the private sector output.
During the ceremony,
Teresa Sayward
, Assemblywoman (R-NY, 113), surprised Mr. Ferris with a New York State Assembly Proclamation highlighting his commitment as an entrepreneur that gives back to the community.
Remarking on the proclamation, Doug Ferris said, 'Having Teresa there was an honor, and to receive this proclamation from her in front of an
Albany
crowd...well, it was more than I could have imagined.'
Doug has a vision to improve the economy of one small town in upstate
New York.
He and his brother recently invested in the former Willsboro Lanes, reopening the facility and renaming it the
Willsboro
Bowling
Center.
Future plans include development of a restaurant, a gift shop, professional office space and relocation of ESE.
Most recently, he merged with Steve Benway of S.K. Benway Construction to form Zebra-Tech, L.L.C., a design/build general contracting firm specializing in Civil and Environmental construction, wetlands mitigation, ponds, retaining walls, foundations, storm water pollution prevention projects, and onsite septic disposal.
'As a community-minded individual, Doug has taken a leadership role in many local organizations,' said
Clark. 'He has paved the way for one international Afghani student to come to Willsboro, to live in his home and to obtain a scholarship for him from St. Lawrence University.
Doug's philosophy is that there are '
pearls in your own backyard'
and has proven so by making a difference.'
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Spotlighting Successes...
Multiplex Biosciences, Inc. (MxB) (Lake Placid)
Earth Science Engineering, P.C. (Willsboro)