Team / Board Members

El-Java is a small business development and management consultant, working with aspiring entrepreneurs and start ups in a variety of industries including retail, food production, service provision, and social enterprise. He provides technical and business assistance to clients in new idea generation, market analysis and feasibility, operations, business plan development, and new venture creation. He presents talks on entrepreneurship and small business ownership as the key to economic development for local groups including business consultants, social service providers, nonprofit organizations, as well as  educational institutions, and conferences throughout the country. El-Java has a vast knowledge base and experience with challenges and opportunities related to self employment in marginalized populations such as minorities and women, individuals with disabilities, veterans, and
survivors of domestic violence. He is fascinated with the immigrant and refugee communities’ propensity towards entrepreneurship and their ability to navigate traditional and nontraditional funding sources, and access to startup capital.

As an adjunct Professor of Practice in the Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises department, El-Java is also the director of the South Side Innovation Center (SSIC), a business incubator and small business service center in the City of Syracuse, which houses 30 resident clients in its’ 60,000 square foot facility and provides consulting services to another 350 unique small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs per year. The SSIC, a project of the Whitman School of Management also houses the New York State Entrepreneurial Assistance Program (EAP), which has helped over 54 businesses to incorporate, obtain funding, and collectively generate more than $35 million in revenue over the past 4 years. In 2012, El-Java was a recipient of the Minority Small Business Champion of the Year Award from the U.S. Small Business Administration, given for his commitment to entrepreneurship.

Winfield Warren Prass holds a Masters degree in Clinical Social Work from Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts, and has over 10 years of service working with at-risk and disadvantaged youth.  Mr. Prass is currently the Senior Case Manager at Children Children Children Inc., a nationally recognized youth services agency, located in Washington DC.  He works as a staff supervisor, and extensively as a youth mentor and tutor.  He has prior experience as a Career Counselor at the South Bronx Job Corps Academy, in New York City, and as a Counselor at the renowned Wediko Children’s Services, in Hillsboro, New Hampshire.  As an entrepreneur, Mr. Prass is also the co-founder and managing partner of New York Inflatables Inc., a leading children’s entertainment businesses in the New York City metro area.

Originally from New York City (Spanish Harlem & The Bronx), Sunny relocated from the Bronx about 10 years ago to Syracuse New York. Sunny is very connected to the community and gives her heart to help affect change in her new community of Syracuse NY. With more than 9 years of Hospitality experience, Sunny’s personality and spirit is what allows her to connect with people and be the face of a mission to uplift.

As a resident of the city of Syracuse and a mother of two teenage sons and a young daughter, Jennifer Holland knows all too well the need for community support for our youth.  She has always wanted to work with youth. Initially when she decided to further her education, she took up the criminal justice major with a concentration in juvenile studies. Later, she would move more towards the science side of the law as she realized the need and importance for ethically sound scientists in the justice field. Outside of school and work, Jennifer has always been involved in the lives of the youth in her community.

Although working towards her 3 degrees over the last 8 years has kept her from participating in the capacity she desired, she has finally settled into a position as a forensic scientist for Onondaga County and aspires to become a forward thinking leader making a real difference in the community. With an abundance of research, data collection, report writing and presentation experience, problem solving skills, connection to the community and a commitment to learning new skills to adapt to the needs of the foundation, she hopes to make that aspiration a reality as an essential part of The Good Life Foundation.

Gostin founded Sensis in 1985, growing it into a market leader in sensors and information technology for military and civilian aviation used, with equipment deployed in more than 25 countries. Previously, he was a program general manager with the General Electric Corp.’s Radar Systems Department, leading the development of advanced air defense systems. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in electrical engineering from Dartmouth College.

Named “Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2003 by Syracuse University School of Management’s Entrepreneurship and Emerging Enterprises Program, Jud is extremely passionate about sharing his entrepreneurial spirit.

Jonathan M. Cerrito counsels sponsors of multi-employer and single-employer plans, companies, tax-exempt entities and executives on all matters of tax, ERISA, employee benefits, non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements and the employee benefit aspects of mergers. Jonathan was named by the Whitman School of Management of Syracuse University as one of the 2009 “40 Under 40” based on extraordinary achievement in his career and contributions to the community.

Jonathan regularly advises on the design, operation, merger and termination of tax-qualified pension plans and welfare benefit plans. His practice includes advising ERISA fiduciaries on the investment of plan assets, reporting and disclosure, prohibited transaction rules and tax matters. He also advises tax-exempt organizations on employee benefit issues and unrelated business income tax (UBIT).

In addition, Jonathan has significant experience handling ERISA controversies with a focus on investigations by the U.S. Department of Labor concerning fiduciary matters and alleged statutory violations. He has handled over one dozen such investigations and has also been involved in audits conducted by the Internal Revenue Service and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.

Affiliations

American Bar Association (Tax Section and Labor and Employment Section), New York State Bar Association (Tax Section and Labor and Employment), Connecticut Bar Association, Onondaga County Bar Association (Tax Section and Labor and Employment)