Below are the bios of our featured alumni who will be speaking at this event.
Therese Deutschlander '03
Therese Deutschlander graduated from Buffalo State with a degree in English in 2003. She always loved customer service and the ability to connect with individuals on a day-to-day basis. This led her to the idea of opening Thin Ice Gift Shop in 2006, with the goal of supporting local artists and the local economy. 17 years later, Thin Ice carries over 230 local artists and regularly adds new artists to their roster of talent showcased in the store. Therese is the volunteer Board President of the Elmwood Village Association and started the Elmwood Strip group for the purpose of supporting and promoting businesses in the Elmwood Village. Through these efforts, Therese is able to stay connected and organize events to bring people to the area to support the small businesses that make up the Elmwood Village.
Therese credits her wonderful team at Thin Ice for the welcoming, supportive environment when you come to visit. When she is not spending time at Thin Ice or volunteering for the Elmwood Village Association, Therese works towards her degree as a registered Gemologist. She lives in the Elmwood Village with her cat: Marshmallow's son, Simon the Terrible and has a wonderful network of friends and family.
Photo credit by recent Buff State Alumni Olivia Gianadda
As the President of Small Business Consulting (SBC), Dennis Scovazzo is not just a leader but a catalyst for positive change. Dennis graduated from Buffalo State with a degree in Business Studies in 1999. He is also armed with an MBA focused on strategic planning, and certifications like a Six Sigma Black Belt and Intuit ProAdvisor, Dennis brings over 25 years of operational expertise to the table.
After a 15-year tenure with a major corporation, Dennis discovered his true calling: empowering small businesses. This epiphany led to the launch of SBC, a consulting firm that has been a game-changer for numerous small businesses for over a decade.
Dennis's entrepreneurial journey extends beyond SBC. Alongside his friend Kevin Reinhart, he co-founded Cigar Mafia, a unique platform dedicated to cigar aficionados. This venture blends his business savvy with a personal passion, offering a curated selection of premium cigars and accessories.
In 2019, Dennis added "best-selling author" to his list of accomplishments. His debut book soared to number three on Amazon's weekly best-sellers in the business category, providing readers with invaluable insights into achieving both business success and personal fulfillment.
When the workday comes to an end, Dennis shifts his focus to his family. He cherishes every moment with his wife, Nicole, and their two sons, Tyler and Dylan. An active parent, Dennis coaches various sports to connect with his boys, making the most of their formative years.
Stephen Forman '92
Stephen Forman is currently the Regional Executive Chef for Delaware North Sportservice, in Buffalo N.Y. Beginning with Delaware North in 2015, Chef Steve was the Executive Chef at the Key Bank Center. From there became Interim Executive Chef of Highmark Stadium of the Buffalo Bills. Then in 2022, became Regional Executive Chef for Buffalo Sportservice market; Overseeing Highmark Stadium, Key Bank Center Arena, as well as Blue Cross Arena in Rochester.
A graduate of S.U.N.Y Cobleskill State College for Professional Chef, and Buffalo State College for a B.S. in Food Systems management in 1992, as well as 30 years of Professional experience, Chef Forman’s passion pushes him to develop other chefs.
Besides his professional career, Chef Forman is an Entrepreneur. He Started Thyme-N-Honey in 2020 during the Pandemic, and has increased his presence of the Cooking class operation into many homes.
Thyme-N-Honey’s Thursday evening live demonstrations on their FB platform has developed a following that enjoys their many Culinary Tips and Techniques to improve the home enthusiast’s culinary repertoire.
Stephen is very active member in his community. He serves as the Pastor of Christ Crusaders Assembly Church for 26 years. He leads a Mentorship program as well for students 11-16yrs of age, besides supporting other local mentoring programs. Chef Steve has partnered with other community organizations, assisting them in programing, such as Saturday Academy within the Buffalo Public school system; Candles In the Sun Mentorship Program, where he offers cooking classes for the mentees.
When he is not busy, Stephen is a board member for the Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo. He is a father of 3 children with his wife, Ranita Forman, of 23 years.
Abby Spindelman is the co-owner and key collaborator at Five Points Framing. Looking to expand her career in a way that supports creativity & empowering women, she divinely stumbled upon Five Points Framing.
Abby graduated from Buffalo State in 2008 with a degree in Design. This education led her to focus on interior design and creativity, all while running a small business. She was looking for a new opportunity in 2020, and found that with a friend, Chelsea. Together, they co-own Five Point Framing.
She has a passion for helping people think outside the box when it comes to creativity - we may not all consider ourselves artists, but we all have a unique way of expressing ourselves and reimagine what’s possible to accomplish through utilizing the right tools. Her innovative spirit, unique design eye, and friendly nature helps foster a welcoming shop for clients. While her growth mindset, business experience, and attention to detail helps the behind the scenes processes.
When Abby is not at Five Points Framing, she can be found traveling, supporting social justice movements, and playing with her dog Indy.