Ann-Marie Scheidt is a one-woman economic engine, one of the most vital cogs in Long Island’s entire socioeconomic apparatus. A relentless innovator and supporter of innovators, she is personally responsible for more than $25 million in federal and state funds flowing into regional economic-development proposals she herself authored or co-authored.

And that barely scratches the surface for this Yale University graduate and Stony Brook University PhD, now the director of economic development at the university where she earned her PhD in History of American Foreign Relations. Occupying too many director’s board and advisory board positions to list here and a slew of past and present executive roles at organizations ranging from Women Economic Developers of Long Island to the New York State Business Incubator Association, the self-described “godfounder” of the Long Island Angel Network is a true champion of new enterprise development.

In today’s conversation, Ann-Marie joins Spark host Gregory Zeller to discuss SBU’s comprehensive commercialization ecosystem and her thoughts on Long Island entrepreneurship during the pandemic, and beyond.