Meet the CEL Team

Susan Steffan
Executive Director

Steffan brings to her role extensive experience from business and academia, and decades of work with small businesses as a volunteer and through her consulting practice. As executive director, she provides strategic direction and program oversight to support the CEL’s mission to unlock human potential, create jobs, inspire wealth and invigorate the greater Western New York economy and community through entrepreneurial development.

Kate Moody
Director of Operations

Moody directs the operational and customer-facing facets of the center. She also manages the Core, Class Connections and Continuing Education programs and team. An entrepreneur herself, Moody is a 2012 graduate of the CEL's Emerging Entrepreneur program.

Sean Ryan
Community Outreach and Program Support Coordinator

Ryan oversees the CEL’s community engagement efforts and provides program support and marketing for the center’s activities. He also coordinates the CEL’s M&T Bank Emerging Entrepreneurs program. Ryan brings extensive experience in theatrical performance, presentation skills and relationship-building to his role.

Lori Sullivan
Events Coordinator and Office Manager

Sullivan oversees all office procedures, payables and receivables. In addition, she is responsible for classroom preparation and technology, and coordinates the logistics of the CEL’s retreats and off-site events.

Anthony DeSimone, CPA, CMA
Facilitator and Instructor

 In addition to teaching the Mastering Your Financial Reports program and facilitating Class Connections groups, DeSimone is a CEL executive coach and facilitator of a Mastery Forum group. He previously served as the CEL’s interim executive director and is the founder of You’re The Expert Now LLC.

Alan Pawlowski, MBA, MPA, CMAA
Facilitator and Instructor

An expert in strategic mergers, acquisitions and turnarounds, Pawlowski shares his deep operations and financial expertise with CEL program participants through a variety of chalk talks and workshops, and as a Mastery Forum executive coach and group facilitator. He is a partner at Next Point LLC and founder of Pace Management.

John Hogg
Facilitator

Hogg is a progressive supply chain professional with more than 30 years of experience delivering results through effective leadership. His expertise includes integrated supply chain management, business process design and lean manufacturing experience. In addition to serving as a Class Connections facilitator for CEL, Hogg is the founder of Straight Forward Consulting and is a graduate of the CEL’s Core program.