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Brookdale Community College
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NJSBDC at Brookdale Community College invites entrepreneurs to attend a no-cost, high-impact Foodiepreneur event. This free workshop will be focused on people growing or launching a food business in New Jersey. If you are in the restaurant, food truck, commercial food product development, and /or artisan goods industry – then this one’s for you!
About Foodiepreneur
For the past seven years, the Foodiepreneur event has given new and potential food entrepreneurs candid insights from some NJ’s leading food industry entrepreneurs. Foodiepreneurs in the food industry.
There will be a panel discussion with Matt Wysokinski (Monmouth County Health Department), Florence Dennis (Flows Tasty Treats), Show Islam (Middlesex County Office of Business Engagement) and Aleksandr Zhdanov (Owner, 3BR Distillery) – who will all offer valuable information to attendees about the industry. There will also be resource partners on site to provide information on funding opportunities available to attendees. Find out more information about this food business event here.
A Q & A exchange will conclude this event
Click Here to Register to call 732-842-8685
*Seating is limited for this free event and spots will go fast.
Meet the Food Industry Experts
Esther Luongo Psarakis – Foodpreneur
In her role as the Senior Market Linkages and AGOA Expert (African Growth & Opportunity Act) for West Africa Trade and Investment Hub, and for the US State Department, Esther Luongo Psarakis assisted the successful market entry of partner companies into the US market. This expertise has been honed over 30 years. Creator of Foodpreneur®, a strategic sales/marketing and educational consultancy, she saw a need to better address the business needs of entrepreneurial food, beverage, consumer, and personal care companies. With international companies, ranging from Italy, Togo, Cote D’Ivoire, Tunisia, El Salvador, Ecuador, Brazil, Canada, Greece, Jordan, Mexico, Australia, Nigeria, Botswana, Kenya, Saud and other countries, she has crafted effective sales/marketing strategies for US launch.
She is an advisor with the US Small Business Development Centers. Her strong skill set on mentoring, concept development, business plan and sales strategies and execution has been applied to a wide range of companies. Examples include extra virgin olive oil, olive products, bakery products, espresso coffee, cashews, macadamias, cocoa, shea butter, spices, healthy frozen meals, baby food, ethnic foods, healthy beverages, popcorn, jams, dips, and vegan foods, toothpaste, oral care and natural skin care. One of her business plans was selected for publication in the “The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Business Plans” As a coach and mentor with Rising Tide Capital, she has worked with numerous early-stage companies. She has created a special curriculum for food and consumer centric product launches for their clients.
Esther founded a Meetup group specifically focused on New Jersey’s Food and Beverage Entrepreneurs and Professionals creating networking and opportunities. Her former TV Show, Foodpreneur-Tasty Tales Climbing Up & Down the Gourmet Food Chain had aired on Princeton TV. She is a founding member of the New Jersey Policy Think Tank for the Food Industry & Restaurants based at Montclair University.
Esther has been a speaker/educator for organizations, including the US State Department, Specialty Food Association, Institute of Food Technologists, St. Joseph’s University, Rutgers University Food Innovation Center. She has been featured in The New York Times, New Jersey Monthly, USA Today. Awards include, NJSBDC Success Award, Somerset County Business Partnership Small Business Economic Vitality Award, BPeace VERA Award, NJ Association Women Business Owners Leading Women Entrepreneur, and Sam’s Club Emerging Women Entrepreneur.
Esther held leadership roles in international sales, strategic planning, training, and global account management with American Express and Citigroup. As an entrepreneur, Esther launched Taste of Crete, which imported Greek food products. She holds a Certificate in International Market Entry from the US Department of Commerce. She has a BA in Communications from Douglass College, Rutgers University and is a graduate of the Rutgers Graduate School of Business Entrepreneurial Pioneers Initiative Program. She has an MBA/ Master’s in Food Marketing from St. Joseph’s University. From Cornell University she completed a Certification in Rethinking Retail and Brands and another Certification in Agrotech and Food Tech with Innovation Experience Israel 360. Esther is a life-long learner who seeks to stay on top of the latest developments that can be beneficial to the success of her clients.
Matt Wysokinski – Monmouth County Health Department
Matthew Wysokinski is a Principal Registered Environmental Health Specialist (REHS) with the Monmouth County Health Department, bringing over 11 years of experience in environmental health and food safety. Assigned to the City of Asbury Park, a destination recently recognized as New Jersey’s biggest “foodie draw”. Matthew plays a pivotal role in ensuring public health and safety within this vibrant and growing culinary hub.
In 2018, Matthew was honored with the prestigious New Jersey Environmental Health Association (NJEHA) REHS of the Year Award. He was recognized for his commitment and leadership in the field. He has shared his expertise as a speaker at the New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference, discussing best practices for managing large-scale food events.
Matthew believes that the health department’s role extends beyond enforcement and compliance; it is essential to educate owners, management, and staff. He emphasizes that the health department should be seen as a valuable resource, available to help businesses owners navigate the complexities of retail food code (N.J.A.C. 8:24), from the plan review process through routine annual inspections.
Each year, Matthew conducts over 400 retail food inspections, spanning a diverse range of establishments, including brick-and-mortar restaurants, food trucks, weekly market vendors, and temporary food events. His extensive experience and dedication to public health ensure that the community remains safe while enjoying the many culinary experiences Monmouth County has to offer.
Florence Dennis – Flows Tasty Treats
Florence Dennis is the founder and CEO of Flows Tasty Treats LLC, a company dedicated to bringing visibility to African cuisine through the simple joy of snacking. Concurrently, she works for the New York City Department of Education as Director of Career Readiness within the Office of Multilingual Learners.
Since starting her business in 2017, Ms. Dennis has participated and benefitted from several business training and mentorship programs in New Jersey. These include the Virtual Incubator Program by the Union County Economic Development Corporation; the Entrepreneurship Pioneers Program by Rutgers University; the Community Business Academy by Rising Tide Capital; and the The Back Office Support Program for Micro & Small Businesses (Bookkeeping) by Greater Newark Enterprises Corporation. She is currently enrolled in Invest Newark’s StreetWise MBA Program and the Inner-City Capital Connections Program.
In 2020, her business was selected as one of the two finalists for the New Jersey Devil’s Buy Black Program. Through this program, Flows Tasty Treats received invaluable marketing and advertising exposure. It also led to an opportunity to have her flagship product “Toasted Corn and Peanut Mix” sold at the Prudential Center. Last October, Flows Tasty Treats made history as one of the few black owned brands to launch a product at Costco. The company was also selected by Walmart as part of the 11th annual Open Call event in 2024 to sell its products in Walmart stores and online.
While Ms. Dennis prides herself in working hard to achieve her dreams, she knows that her success wouldn’t be possible without the village that supports and believes in her. She loves giving back and desires to build a company that makes the world a better place by providing college scholarships through her company’s Impact Box Initiative.
Learn more about Flows Tasty Treats!
Sho Islam – Middlesex County Officer of Business Engagement 
Bio Coming Soon!
Learn more about the Middlesex Office of Business Engagement!
Aleksandr Zhdanov – 3BR Distillery
Aleksandr Zhdanov is the co-founder and head distiller of 3BR Distillery, an award-winning craft distillery in Keyport, NJ, known for pushing the boundaries of traditional spirits with innovative ingredients and bold flavors. Inspired by his family’s bootlegging roots and a passion for experimentation, Aleks has made 3BR a destination for spirit enthusiasts looking for something beyond the ordinary.
Aleks was recognized by the American Craft Spirits Association (ACSA) – the largest craft spirits association in the world – for his use of unconventional ingredients. His expertise earned him a spot on a select two-person panel for an e-Class on experimental distilling techniques, where he shares his knowledge with fellow innovators in the field.
With an impressive lineup of certifications, Aleks brings both technical mastery and creative vision to his craft. He holds a WSET Level 2 in Spirits, a certification in fermentation science from Cornell, and a distilling certification from the prestigious Institute of Brewing and Distilling in Scotland – all of which fuel his relentless pursuit of the next great spirit. Whether he’s refining a recipe or exploring unexpected flavor combinations, Aleks brings a creative and technical edge to every spirit he crafts.
William Spear – New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC)
Mr. Spear started with the State of New Jersey in 1998 after 15 years of private sector experience. He serves presently as Manager of the Office of Export Promotion within the New Jersey Department of State, Business Action Center. He is also Director of the New Jersey State Trade Expansion Program (NJ STEP). Both support NJ firms selling goods and services into foreign markets.
Spear is an alumnus of the Business Administration program at Saint Elizabeth University (previously College of Saint Elizabeth) in Morristown, New Jersey. He is also an alumnus of the Computer Science program, with a concentration in Data Processing, at Union County College in Cranford, New Jersey.
