The SBDC at Bergen County Community College
2006 Success Award Steve Estrellado
Christian Estrellado
Estro Entertainment, LLC
21 Hollywood Avenue
Emerson NJ 07630
201-206-5779
www.estroentertainment.com

It’s not everyday that an entrepreneur walks into an SBDC office and says that their relatively new company has a list of prospective investors and buyout offers from bigger players; a steady stream of revenue; full and part time job seekers; proposals for business partnerships; a client list of mostly Fortune 500 companies; and a phone that never stops ringing. When and if that ever happens, the SBDC staff’s first question is “How can we possibly help someone who is already this successful?”

That is exactly what Jeanmarie Tenuto, Assistant Regional Director, asked herself when Steve Estrellado walked in the SBDC office at Bergen in June of 2005. Steve was 26 years old and had recently graduated from Rutgers with a degree in Marketing. Prior to graduating, he launched Estro Entertainment, a full service marketing and promotional agency for nightclub entertainment venues in New York City and the tri-state area that specifically targets the coveted Generations X and Y market segments. In addition to the obvious success of his venture as noted, Steve’s effectiveness and expertise in the field of promotional marketing are further evidenced in his team of five full-time employees and cadre of 300 subcontractors, who operate out of a beautiful office in Paramus.

According to Jeanmarie, Steve has never been one to lack motivation, high energy, an ability to excite people, or an understanding of how to drive sales. However, a growing feeling that he needed to get the company better organized is what led him to seek out the advice and guidance of the SBDC. After a few meetings with the SBDC, Steve teamed with professionals who assisted him in solidifying business and marketing plans, and organizing his company’s financial accounts. Steve best expresses his sentiments about the help he received to run his fast paced business from the SBDC through a familiar adage: “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime. The NJSBDC is the number one tool to starting and operating a successful business.”

While it is never easy for any SBDC to select only one success award winner, Jeanmarie offers her rationale for making the distinction in Steve’s favor. "Steve Estrellado has made an outstanding contribution to the entrepreneurial spirit through business, economics, and marketing… and his profound persuasiveness, high ethical standards and sincere personality to succeed. Steve has developed a world-class operation in promotions, sampling and marketing. He is postured to become a leader among his generation by his dedication to positively nurturing his company, his clients and his employees while staying steady and true to his vision."