Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Holds Graduation

By Jacqueline Molik Ghosen

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Forty-three Western New York business owners, operators and high-level managers have graduated from the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) Core program in the University at Buffalo School of Management.

The graduation ceremony was held June 8 at the Center for Tomorrow on the UB North Campus. Speakers included Arjang A. Assad, dean of the School of Management; John Cinquino, first vice president/Western New York banking team leader at First Niagara Bank and chair of the CEL Advisory Board; and Paul Buckley, president of Applied Sciences Group Inc. and chair of the CEL Alumni Association.

Core program graduates completed a 10-month program for experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders who wish to grow, refocus or better manage their businesses. They performed an in-depth analysis of their own businesses while developing expertise in key areas such as strategic planning, employee relations, capital acquisition and marketing.

The CEL graduates are:

Wayne Abbott, president/owner, Abbott and Crew Inc.; Michael Angelucci, CFO, Angelucci Wealth Management LLC; Marie Battaglia, president, Battaglia & Associates; Timothy Bennett, general manager, Holland NASCAR Motorsports Complex; David Burnette, owner, Daburn Corp.; Dan Daddario, president, Get Noticed Promotions; Steven Davis, vice president, Tapecon Inc.; Kevin Dawidowicz, president, mzsynergies Inc.; Kelly Duguay, owner, Signature Salon and Day Spa; Scott Eggleston, owner, Mr. Automax; Joseph Ervolina, president, Cornerstone Capital Wealth Management Inc.

Also, Jerry Fasolino, president, Alternative Rubber & Plastics Inc.; Patrick Finan, president, Block Club Magazine/Block Club Creative; Kevin Fitzpatrick, president/owner, Omni OB/GYN; MaryAnne Furlani, director, Hearing & Speech Center of WNY PLLC; Patrick Gould; Keith Hetrick; president, Niagara Frontier Equipment Sales Inc.; Kenneth Jezioro, president, SHIELD Security Systems; Mary Jezioro, vice president, SHIELD Security Systems; Maria Kahn, owner, Tastings; Jeffrey Kandefer, office manager, Kandefer Plumbing & Heating Inc.; Susanne Kelley, president, Sienna Environmental Technologies LLC.

Also, Brian Laible, vice president, Advanced Wealth Management Group; Paul Lee, MD, Retina Consultants of Western New York; Mark Lesinski, CEO, TV City Inc.; Kathleen Lewandowski, president, Inside Designs Buffalo Inc.; Michael Maywalt, broker/owner, Maywalt Realty Group; John Midgley, president/managing partner, Avalon Legal Technologies; Terry Myers Kelly, president, LBM Construction Inc.; Natalie Neumann, president, Riverside Men’s Shop; Brian Pokorski, president, Chiropractic Lifestyle Family Practice P.C.; Allen Richards, president, Niagara Coatings Services Inc.; David Rowe, president, DMR Contracting Inc.

Also, Jason Rupp, owner, Empire Distributing; Ronald Sadler, managing partner, Inspire Dental Group; Scott Smith, general manager, Skate Great; Adam Switzer, manufacturing manager, Precision Manufacturing Group; Daniel Tirone, partner/CPA, MyBooks LLC; Mark Utech, president, Utech Basement Waterproofing; Sharada Varanasi, CEO/president, Healthcare Solutions WNY LLC; Paul Voytovich, owner, Paul D. Voytovich, CPA; Adam Wilson, president, SoCorp Inc.; and David Yanko, president, HVR Advanced Power Components.

Patrick Finan received the Taylor Kew Award, for his outstanding commitment to the CEL program as demonstrated by working with his CEL mentors and making the necessary changes to move his business to the next level.

Established in 1987, the UB Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership promotes business growth through leadership development and experiential learning.

“The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership provides a crucial link between these businesses and the School of Management,” said Thomas Ulbrich, executive director of the CEL. “The relationship building and sharing of expertise that takes place in the core program are invaluable to both the school and participants.”

Nearly 800 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 or contact the CEL at 716-885-5715 or mgt-cel@buffalo.edu.

The UB School of Management is recognized for its emphasis on real-world learning, community and economic impact, and the global perspective of its faculty, students and alumni. The school has been ranked by Bloomberg Businessweek, the Financial Times, Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and The Wall Street Journal for the quality of its programs and the return on investment it provides its graduates. For more information about the UB School of Management, visit mgt.buffalo.edu.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB’s more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.