About

ABOUT STELLA

Biography, Education, and Professional Experience

1969-Born in Calabria, Italy

1970-Immigrated to United States of America and settled in Syracuse

1987-Graduated from Henninger High School

1990-Graduated from Onondaga Community College with an associate degree in Early Childhood with High Honors.

1992-Graduated from SUNY of Oswego with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.

1994-Open first childcare center in East-Syracuse with a capacity to care for 32 children ages 6 weeks to 12 years old (after school program)

1995-Grew and expanded the East Syracuse center to care for a capacity of 63 children.

1997-Expanded the East Syracuse center to provide care for a capacity of 103 children.

2001-Purchase an existing child care center in the Town of Manlius, with a capacity to care for 108 children in Town of Manlius on Rt. 92 and Enders Rd

2001-Awarded and named “Entrepreneur of the Year” in Onondaga County by the New York State Small Business Development Center.

2002-2004-Secure a $75,000 in grant for various health & safety projects from NYS-OCFS (Office of Children & Family Services).

2006-Secure a NY state funded grant for $145,000 from NYS-OCFS for equipment for the new center.

2006-Designed and constructed a new childcare center in East Syracuse with a capacity to care for 135 children. The center is “first of a kind center in Upstate NY” with radiant heat, two indoor gyms, four outdoor playgrounds and many amenities for children.

2007-Received “Contribution to Inclusion Award” from Enable. A local special needs organization for challenged children and business partner of Shining Stars Daycare Centers, Inc.

2008-Shining Stars Childcare Centers, Inc. is inducted into the “NYS Small Business Hall of Fame”. Only three small businesses throughout New York State receive this honor each year. Awarded with a Resolution by the Honorable Senator John DeFrancisco in the Senate chambers of the New York State Capitol.

2008-Awarded and receive “Women in Business” award from Syracuse Chamber of Commerce

2008-Receive approval from Onondaga County Industrial Development Agency for various sales tax and property tax exemptions. Savings for new center construction was approximately $150,000.

2009-Design and constructed a new childcare center in Salina, with a gym size of 2500 sq. feet and capacity to care for 155 children, ages 6 month to 12-year-old for after school program

2010-With only fifty awarded nationally, was awarded the 2010 New York State Small Businessperson of the Year by the United States Small Business Association. I was honored in the White House Rose Garden, along with fellow awardees from across our nation by President Obama

2013-2016-Served on the Board of Directors for the Onondaga County Child Care Council

2014-Awarded and named a 2014 “Alumni Face” and inducted onto the Onondaga County College “wall of fame” for professional achievements and contributions to Onondaga Community College and the community of Onondaga County

2017-Designed and constructed a new 16, 000 ft., sate of the are childcare center in Manlius, NY with a gym size of 5,000 sq. feet, and licensed to provide care for 135 children

2018-2022 – Awarded contracts from Liverpool School and Fayetteville-Manlius Districts to provide Pre-Kindergarten education for children in their respective school districts.