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Routing #: 221381867

Business Development

Get a No-Cost Consultation (Alternatives membership not required)

We understand the unique challenges small businesses face and are dedicated to helping you move through the roadblocks.

Our consultants can help you with a variety of topics including:

  • Marketing
  • Website development
  • Management Skills
  • Bookkeeping
  • Logo Development
  • Applying for a business loan

Meet Our Consultants 

Eileen graduated with a B.S. in Organizational Management from Keuka College. She began her career in business as the Director of Sales and Marketing for an East Coast company before transitioning to outside sales for several Central New York businesses. Eileen has worked with companies of all sizes and in various capacities. Her industry knowledge and ability to identify what businesses need, how she can help, and what will work stem from her education and extensive experience in the field.

In 2018, Eileen opened her own marketing business, stating, “I truly enjoy helping people grow their business. It becomes a community-wide investment because when one business starts to grow, so does the community around it.”

Eileen received the “Shining Star” award from the Southern Tier Binghamton Business Meet-Up in 2015 and the “Networker of the Year” award in 2016. From 2015 to 2018, she served as an Ambassador for the Watkins Glen Chamber of Commerce, chairing the Ambassador program from 2016 to 2018.

Eileen enjoys volunteering and ran the children’s after-school program for Fusion (now City of Light) from 2015 to 2018, working with children in Chemung County. When she is not working, she spends her time driving teenagers to their travel sports events and occasionally hiking with her dogs.

Marlowe Jannelle is an accomplished artist, graphic designer, and small business consultant from the Finger Lakes region of New York. She began her work with Alternatives Federal Credit Union in 2023 as a contracted designer and small business consultant, designing custom logo designs and branding materials for small business owners. This position eventually led to her current position as Business Development Coordinator.

Marlowe holds an MFA in Fine Arts from UNC Greensboro and a BFA from SUNY Plattsburgh. With over twenty years of experience, Marlowe has worked on numerous regional public and private art projects and commissioned works. She has helped to design, facilitate, and create community murals throughout the Finger Lakes region, including locations in Elmira, Avoca, Trumansburg, and at Corning Community College. Her passion for teaching also led her to teach classes at UNC Greensboro, The Center for Visual Art in Greensboro, North Carolina, and SUNY Plattsburgh, as well as various community and private mural programs.

After completing her education, Marlowe started her career as a designer in Printing Services at GST BOCES in 2016, designing and executing large scale printing projects for numerous school districts in the Southern Tier. Marlowe began working as an independent artist and graphic designer in 2019. Her design skills and sculptural background led her to creating and selling unique, one-of-a-kind jewelry pieces incorporating ethically sourced natural elements, recycled stained glass, and sustainably sourced materials under the name Morpho Design. Marlowe’s connection to the natural world has fueled her passion for sustainable practices, emphasizing waste reduction and the use of recycled materials in her artistic and business endeavors. Marlowe currently owns and operates a small business focused on sustainable practices in design and instruction.

Online Business Resources

Alternatives has partnered with the nonprofit, Northern Initiatives, also a CDFI like Alternatives, to bring you their comprehensive online learning portal for business, Initiate. This tool focuses on topics small business owners need most – Startup, Money, Marketing, and Management. Every resource in Initiate is in English and Spanish/Todos los recursos están en inglés y español. Create an account and login today!

Civil Advocacy Project

Civil Advocacy Project (CAP) provides legal advocacy and advising to income qualified small businesses, on a sliding scale basis. CAP can assist in matters such as the formation of LLCs of other entities, thinking through the adoption of appropriate business policies, or adopting contract templates.

For additional information and to schedule an appointment, please contact Veronica Johnson at veronica@civiladvocacyproject.org.

You may also contact Business Development Manager, Eileen Peet, epeet@alternatives.org or 607-216-3425 to learn more.

Support Our Mission!

Unlike traditional banks, we specialize in lending to individuals, organizations, and businesses in under-resourced communities, offering financial education, business coaching, and low-interest rate loans that increase economic potential and help build wealth.

Join Us!

Speak with a Financial Coach

No need to figure it out yourself, coaches can provide help with money management, paying bills, building credit and housing issues. Speak with a financial coach through our non-profit partner, Balance.

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