In the classic fable, a shepherd encounters a lion while out with their flock. Instead of attacking, the lion moans in pain, nursing a swollen paw. The shepherd discovers a large thorn embedded deep in the fleshy paw of the lion and gently removes it.
Years later, when the shepherd is unjustly captured and thrown to his supposed death in the arena, the very same lion recognizes him as a friend and licks his hand instead of devouring him.
This story of mutual aid and strategic compassion mirrors our approach to systems: identifying the pressure points in our economies and ecologies to foster resilient and life-sustaining partnerships.
Program Management & Project Implementation
Fractional management and leadership with comprehensive project oversight.
Business Advising & Technical Assistance
Expert guidance on cooperative structures, governance, and financial models.
Concierge Business Services with Legacy Business Owners at Welcome to Chinatown in New York City.
Community Relationships, Education, & Events
Community of practice facilitation, training, education, and ecosystem.
Founding and Producing the New York Cooperative Summit, now in it’s 5th year coming to Schenectady in 2026.
Reflections
Frank has been an excellent colleague to work with in cooperative development over the years. I’ve greatly appreciated his leadership in the space of “Workers to Owners,” a national business conversions to cooperatives network. His professional background in policy, cooperatives and education came through in developing relevant content and constructively facilitating a diverse array of people, geographies and professions in the network.
I watched Workers to Owners flourish and grow into needed new arenas under his facilitation. He thoughtfully-incorporated the network’s input into the content and structure of Workers to Owners, including the creation of an active DEI Committee. I’ve appreciated his expertise in facilitating a business conversion from start to finish and his connecting me as a lender with cooperators across the ecosystem of support. I have always appreciated Frank’s warmth and constructive approach in cooperative endeavors!
Esther West, Cooperative Organizer, and Loan Officer at Shared Capital Cooperative.
I’ve worked with Frank as a co-organizer of the New York Cooperative Summit for over a decade. He does the work that keeps grassroots groups effective – setting up shared workspaces, timelines, reminders, and decision-making processes that make it easy to plug in, be heard, and make progress. Every year he has led the event, more people have volunteered their time and ideas, knowing they have support.
Joe Marraffino, Loan Officer, Cooperative Fund of the Northeast.
I met Frank at a national America’s Small Business Development Center conference in 2022 where he led a presentation promoting employee-owned cooperatives and business transitions. I was impressed by his wealth of knowledge and ease of communication with anyone he met. I was grateful the next year to work with him as he transitioned out the ASBDC where for years he chaired the Employee-Ownership and Business Transitions Committee. He single-handedly managed a national committee of business advisors and directors, providing a platform for partner presentations, case studies, and group strategizing on how to bring forth these unique business models. Frank is highly motivated, easy to work with, and innovative.
Isa Fernandez, SBDC Business Advisor at University of Texas-San Antonio; Co-Chair ASBDC National Special Interest Section for Employee Ownership & Business Transitions.
Frank is an amazing resource in the field of business counseling, employee ownership options and general exit planning. His knowledge, personal commitment to excellence and impact show as I worked with him. However, what sets Frank apart from many people in the field of business transitions and employee ownership is his ability to develop long-range plans through collaborative leadership, and his strength in creating and maintaining programs and tools shared on a variety of platforms. He does all this seamlessly.
Diana T, College Educator and Business Leader Working with over 1000 Businesses Throughout Career.
I’ve had the privilege of working alongside Frank for several years through the Cooperative Federal Credit Union, where I witnessed firsthand the impact of his leadership as former Board Chair. Frank has also been one of my mentors, and I’ve learned a great deal from his integrity, strategic thinking, and unwavering commitment to serving others. He has been one of the leading voices advancing cooperative thinking in Syracuse and has helped shape conversations and initiatives that have influenced the cooperative movement well beyond our community. I wholeheartedly recommend Frank to anyone looking for a principled, visionary leader who has dedicated his career to strengthening organizations and empowering people through cooperation.
Moise Laub, MPA, President, Syracuse Cooperative Federal Credit Union.
Frank is a thoughtful and generous connector who is genuinely committed to, and knowledgeable about, cooperative ownership. When I was new to the employee ownership field, he helped me find my footing, introducing me to a network of thoughtful, mission-aligned people. That early support made a lasting difference for me, and was especially meaningful in this field that can otherwise feel hard to break into.
Frank shows up with kindness, patience, and a collaborative mindset.
Marion Champoux-Pellegrin; Facilitating employee ownership buy-outs in Colorado, Utah, and the American West
Happenings
National Reach & Impact
From coast to coast, Lionhearted fosters resilient growth through strategic consultancy and community empowerment. Explore our impacts.
