CEL graduates business leaders from Core program

By Jacqueline Molik Ghosen

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Another class of established entrepreneurs is 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 Core program graduates were honored on June 11 in a joint virtual ceremony with another CEL class, the Allstate Minority and Women Emerging Entrepreneurs program.

Audrey Hall, co-owner of Eco Serve Pest Services, 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 2020 CEL Core graduates are:

• Cheri Alvarez, Compeer
• William Andrews, Monofrax LLC
• Jeff Benty, Just Holster It
• Nicholas Calandra, Hearts for the Homeless
• Kathleen Chiavetta, Chiavetta’s
• Dieter Clauss, Clauss & Co. Insurance
• James Clouse, BGI Millwork
• Lisa Coppola, The Coppola Firm
• Ethan Cox, Community Beer Works
• Kathleen Flynn, Longevity Financial/New York Life
• Bo Gurney, Gurney Becker & Bourne
• Audrey Hall, Eco Serve Pest Services
• Jordan Lema, Lemur Studios
• Michael Lignos, Hays Construction Services
• Andrew Lloyd, Hatchets and Hops LLC
• Andrew Nyhart, Lind-Hart Logistics
• Larry Piegza, SmartEvals.com
• Jeff Rathman, Silo City IT
• Jean-Michel Reed, SEI/Holzbau/Reed Realty
• Joulet Roger, Eric Roger MD PLLC
• Kim Sauer, Sit n’ Stay Pet Services Inc.
• Cindy Stando, Hearing and Speech of WNY
• Tim Weibel, Super Teacher Worksheets
• Nicholas Yu, Clarence Deli

Applications are now open for the next CEL Core program, beginning this fall. Individuals interested in learning more about the curriculum and speaking candidly with Core alumni can register for a virtual informational session, to be held at 8:30 a.m. on July 22 and August 25, 2020. To sign up for the open house or apply to the program, contact the CEL at 716-885-5715 or mgt-cel@buffalo.edu.