UB School of Management honors Dedecker, alumni leaders

By Matthew Biddle

BUFFALO, N.Y. — The University at Buffalo School of Management honored Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker, president and CEO of the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, as the 2018 Buffalo Niagara Executive of the Year and recognized several alumni business leaders at an awards reception on Oct. 17.

Dedecker, who leads the region’s largest philanthropic organization, accepted the award at the 69th Annual School of Management Alumni Association Awards Banquet at the Statler in Buffalo.

Established in 1949, the Buffalo Niagara Executive of the Year award is presented annually to an individual who resides in or has a major impact on the region, and whose career has been distinguished by executive success and civic leadership. Dedecker was selected by a vote of past honorees and the alumni association’s board of directors, who lauded her as a strong, inclusive leader and force for positive change in the community.

“Clotilde is a bold leader who has dedicated her career to making philanthropy in our region more impactful,” Paul Tesluk, dean of the UB School of Management, said during his remarks. “By finding points of collaboration, she is moving our community toward a progressive vision and helping it become more than the sum of its parts.”

In addition, the School of Management honored the following alumni for their impact on the community, the school and their industry:

• Jonathan A. Dandes, president of Rich Baseball Operations, for his service to the Western New York community. Dandes also serves as president of Be Our Guest Ltd. and the Canalside and Outer Harbor management groups, and chairs several community boards.
• Barry Goldstein, MBA ’80, chairman and CEO of Kingstone Cos., for industry leadership.
• Julia Jornsay-Silverberg, BS/MBA ’12, social media director at Telesco Creative Group and founder of Bravery Beats, for early career achievement.
• Christopher P. Maugans, BS ’10, JD/MBA ’14, associate at Goldberg Segalla, for his service to the School of Management.
• Denise M. Neamon, CEL ’13, partner at The Bonadio Group, for entrepreneurship.