Our Team
Our Team
Leadership
We guarantee that through our tailored "3 Ms" approach and institutional partnership, your business will move from a dormant online presence to being fully prepared to bid for competitive contracts with primes and developers within your first 6 months. We are committed to ensuring you have the strategic visibility and management foundation needed to secure a seat at the table.
Larry Levy
Executive Dean of Suburban Studies
Lawrence “Larry” Levy is Executive Dean of Suburban Studies and Vice President of Economic Development and Professional Studies at Hofstra University. As a key faculty member of Ascend Long Island, he brings extensive experience in economic development, regional policy, strategic partnerships, and community engagement.
Levy founded Hofstra’s National Center for Suburban Studies in 2007 and has helped establish research and consulting partnerships with universities, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government agencies. Under his leadership, the Center has generated nearly $4 million in grants, gifts, and contracts. He has also co-authored major regional initiatives, including the LI2035 Sustainability Action Plan, Long Island Regional Economic Development Council plans, and post-Sandy recovery reports.
Before joining Hofstra, Levy spent 35 years as an award-winning journalist, including serving as senior editorial writer and chief political columnist for Newsday. A Pulitzer Prize finalist, he covered seven presidential campaigns and 15 national conventions. He is a graduate of Boston University’s College of Communication.
Dr. Richard Hayes
Executive Director, Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Dr. Hayes is an Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship in the Frank G. Zarb School of Business at Hofstra. He's primary entrepreneurship professor, advisor to the entrepreneurship club (Hofstra University Startups) and director of the Entrepreneurship Challenge, an innovative partnership between Hofstra and Capital One Bank.
Dr. Richard Hayes
Executive Director, Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Dr. Hayes is an Associate Professor of Management and Entrepreneurship in the Frank G. Zarb School of Business at Hofstra. He's primary entrepreneurship professor, advisor to the entrepreneurship club (Hofstra University Startups) and director of the Entrepreneurship Challenge, an innovative partnership between Hofstra and Capital One Bank.
Wanda Almonte-Williams, MBA
Program Director
Wanda Almonte-Williams, MBA, is the Program Director for Ascend Long Island. She previously served as Project Director of the Liberty Partnerships Program at Hofstra University's School of Education. Earlier, at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra, she supported student success initiatives as Program Coordinator. Wanda earned her MBA in finance from Hofstra's Frank G. Zarb School of Business and is a first-generation Dominican American.
Dean Bennett
Senior Procurement Consultant
Dean Bennett is the founding President of J.K. Bennett and Associates, a New York-based management consulting firm. Dean has served as Executive Director for the Empire State Development Division of MWBE, and as Director of EEO and Deputy Director for the Office of Minority Affairs for Nassau County.
Marlon Watson
Business Development Counselor
Marlon Watson is a business development and compliance professional with expertise in M/WBE/DBE outreach, business financing, construction compliance, and workforce development. Since 2019, he has served as a Business Development Officer with the Business Outreach Center Network (BOCNET), where he helps minority- and women-owned businesses secure financing, build growth strategies, and pursue new opportunities.
Dean Bennett
Senior Procurement Consultant
Dean Bennett is the founding President of J.K. Bennett and Associates, a New York-based management consulting firm. Dean has served as Executive Director for the Empire State Development Division of MWBE, and as Director of EEO and Deputy Director for the Office of Minority Affairs for Nassau County.
Marlon Watson
Business Development Counselor
Marlon Watson is a business development and compliance professional with expertise in M/WBE/DBE outreach, business financing, construction compliance, and workforce development. Since 2019, he has served as a Business Development Officer with the Business Outreach Center Network (BOCNET), where he helps minority- and women-owned businesses secure financing, build growth strategies, and pursue new opportunities.
Devanshi Manojbhai-Shah
Student Assistant
Devanshi Shah is an MBA student at Hofstra University, specializing in Business Analytics. She currently supports Ascend Long Island, ideHUb and contributes to its efforts to empower and connect local entrepreneurs and business owners.
Testimonials
Hear directly from local business owners and regional partners on how Ascend Long Island drives measurable growth and supply chain opportunities.
“Ascend offered much more than business education. It gave me access to people, resources, mentorship, and a community of entrepreneurs who understood both the excitement and the challenges of building a business.”
Janna Rodriguez
Founder / The Innovative Daycare Corp (IDC)
"The guidance, encouragement, and introductions we received have made a lasting difference in our company’s journey. We were able to expand from private-sector work into public-sector projects and achieve a 100% increase in sales over the past 12 months."
Stefano Modugno
Zephyr Interiors
