34 business leaders graduate from CEL Core program

By Kevin Manne

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Thirty-four established entrepreneurs are armed with the skills to move their businesses forward after graduating from the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) Core program in the University at Buffalo School of Management.

The graduates were honored at a joint ceremony for five CEL programs on June 1 at UB’s Center for the Arts.

Paul Tesluk, dean of the School of Management, and Charles F. Zukoski, UB provost and executive vice president for academic affairs, delivered opening remarks.

In addition, Joseph Smith, president of Woodsmith Fence Corp., received the C. Taylor Kew Entrepreneurial Excellence Award, which recognizes graduates for entrepreneurial excellence and exemplifying the principles for which the late Kew stood. An energetic advocate for the CEL, Kew created and operated several companies and donated his time to several civic organizations before his tragic death in a seaplane crash in 1992.

The new Core graduates completed a peer-based, mentor-driven program to help grow, refocus or better manage their businesses. During the 10-month course, the entrepreneurs performed an in-depth analysis of their businesses, while developing expertise in such key areas as strategic planning, capital acquisition, employee relations and marketing.

The 2016 CEL Core graduates are:

• Rebecca Almeter, Hodgins Engraving
• Gary Andalora, MBMS Inc.
• Petros Aronis, Olive Tree Restaurant
• Yves-Richard Blanc, YR Blanc & Co. LLC
• Lynne Bona, Mallare Enterprises Inc.
• Jeffrey Buzyniski, Buzyniski Electric Inc.
  
• Arnold Collier, Iroquois Bar Corp.
• Michelle Cortese-Manfredo, Cortese Construction Services
• Gail DeGrood, Rucker Lumber Inc.
• Ilio DiPaolo, Ilio DiPaolo’s Restaurant
• Lee Fang, LF Engineering PLLC
• Tracy Farrell, Wrights Corners Self Storage
• Antoine Jackson, Jani King
• Randy Jaroszewski, Lakeshore Hardware & Tool Rental by Artie
• Levino Johnson, Executive Investigation & Security
• Amandeep Kandola, White Rabbit Frozen Yogurt
• Brian Kelley, Mach Architecture
• Patrick Koch, WTF Chef LLC
• Ronald Kostorowski, Sparcz Engineering
• Christopher Kurtz, ATM Restyle LLC
• Rocco Lamparelli, Lamparelli Construction Co. Inc.
• Thomas Lombardo, Ristorante Lombardo
• Joseph Manzella, Novum Medical Products Inc.
• Michael Masman, Buffalo Embroidery & Silkscreen LLC
• Joseph Morgante, IDG Marketing & Graphics Inc.
• Jeffrey Pastore, JPP Express Logistics
• Bill Peppes, Forestview Restaurant
• Jacob Sam, Agricultural Transport
• Matthew Schuster, Schuster Construction LLC
• Joseph Smith, Woodsmith Fence Corp.
• Andrea Veres, The W Spa
• Eon Verrall, EDoctrina
• Bailie Williams, Ohlson’s Bakery & Cafe
• Paul Winzig, Young & Swartz Inc.

Applications are open for the next CEL Core program, beginning this fall. For more information or to apply, contact the CEL at 716-885-5715 or mgt-cel@buffalo.edu.

Established in 1987, the CEL provides participants with individualized and interactive education in entrepreneurship. More than 1,300 CEL alumni employ more than 22,000 Western New Yorkers, and their businesses are worth more than $2 billion to the local economy. For more information, visit mgt.buffalo.edu/cel.