Achievement Awards

The School of Management Alumni Association recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves professionally or in service to others. 

At our annual awards event, achievement awards are presented to individuals in the following categories.

Buffalo Niagara Executive of the Year

Established in 1949, this award honors an individual who either resides in or has a significant impact on the Buffalo Niagara region and has distinguished himself or herself in a career marked by executive success, a proven willingness to assume a leadership role in civic affairs and demonstration of a high degree of personal integrity.

  • 2025 - Scott Bieler
  • 2024 - Event moved to spring 2025
  • 2023 -Centennial Awards Event
  • 2022 - Rene F. Jones
  • 2021 - WNY Vaccination Hub Leaders:
    Dr. Michael E. Cain
    Thomas J. Quatroche Jr.
    Mark A. Sullivan
  • 2020 - No award
  • 2019 - John R. Scannell
  • 2018 - Clotilde Perez-Bode Dedecker
  • 2017 - Mark J. Czarnecki †  
  • 2016 - Candace S. Johnson
  • 2015 - Jody L. Lomeo
  • 2014 - William G. Gisel Jr.
  • 2013 -  Christopher H. Koch
  • 2012 - Dr. Michael W. Cropp
  • 2011 - James R. Kaskie
  • 2010 - John R. Koelmel*
  • 2010 - Donna M. Fernandes*
  • 2009 - Robert D. Gioia
  • 2008 - B. Thomas Golisano
  • 2007 - Louis P. Ciminelli
  • 2006 - John N. Walsh III
  • 2005 - Carl J. Montante
  • 2004 - Marsha S. Henderson
  • 2003 - Randall L. Clark
  • 2002 - William E. Swan
  • 2001 - Frank J. McGuire
  • 2000 - Robert T. Brady
  • 1999 - Luiz F. Kuhl
  • 1998 -Brian J. Lipke
  • 1997 - Reginald B. Newman II
  • 1996 - Frank L. Ciminelli
  • 1995 - Larry P. Castellani
  • 1994 - Bernard J. Kennedy
  • 1993 - Charles M. Mitschow
  • 1992 - No award
  • 1991 - Robert G. Wilmers
  • 1990 - Sal H. Alfiero
  • 1989 - Seymour H. Knox III
  • 1988 - Burt P. Flickinger Jr.
  • 1987 - Randolph A. Marks
  • 1986 - Wilfred J. Larson
  • 1985 - Jeremy M. Jacobs
  • 1984 - Robert E. Rich Jr.
  • 1983- Paul A. Willax
  • 1982 - Ross B. Kenzie
  • 1981 - Robert J. Donough
  • 1980 - Paul L Snyder
  • 1979 - Andrew B. Craig III
  • 1978 - Armand J. Castellani
  • 1977 - A. Neville Proctor
  • 1976 - Daniel G. Ransom
  • 1975 - David J. Laub
  • 1974 - Joseph Manch
  • 1973 - Leonard Rochwarger
  • 1972 - William D. Hassett Jr. 
  • 1971 - Hendry H. Coords
  • 1970 - John L. Hettrick
  • 1969 - Daniel A. Roblin Jr.
  • 1968 - William H. Wendel
  • 1967 - John. M Galvin
  • 1966 - Robert E. Rich Sr.
  • 1965 - Gerald C. Saltarelli
  • 1964 - Charles R. Diebold
  • 1963 - Franz T. Stone
  • 1962 - Whitworth Ferguson
  • 1961 - Harland J. Swift
  • 1960 - Alfred Kirchhofer
  • 1959 - Robert B. Adam
  • 1958 - Harris Snyder
  • 1957 - Welles V. Moot
  • 1956 - Leston P. Faneuf
  • 1955 - John R. Oishei
  • 1954 - Ralph F. Peo
  • 1953 - Lewis G. Harriman
  • 1952 - J. Federick Rogers
  • 1951 - Charles H. Diefendorf
  • 1950 - Wade Stevenson
  • 1949 - Melvin H. Baker 

* Co-Honorees
  Awarded posthumously

Alumni Achievement Awards

Industry Leadership

Given to an alumnus who is at the forefront of his or her industry and whose career has been exemplary.

  • 2025 - No award
  • 2024 - Moved to Spring 2025
  • 2023 - Centennial Awards Event
  • 2022 - Abigail Maines
  • 2021 - Ridzki Kramadibrata
  • 2019 - Judy Vredenburgh
  • 2018 - Barry Goldstein
  • 2017 - Jeffrey Jacobson
  • 2016 - Bob Swan
  • 2015 - Gregg S. Fisher
  • 2014 – No award
  • 2013 – Richard R. Floersch (Human Resources)
  • 2012 – James P. Lederer (Wireless Technology)
  • 2011 – Toshio Matsutani (Fashion)
  • 2011 – C. Angela Bontempo (Health Care)
  • 2010 – No award
  • 2009 – Ajit B. Pendse (Communications Technology)
  • 2008 – No award
  • 2007 – Donna L. DeCarolis (Energy)
  • 2006 – Victor H. Brown (Accounting)
  • 2005 – Margaret E. Grayson (Cybersecurity)
  • 2004 – Frank J. Colantuono (Health Insurance)
  • 2003 – Margaret H. McGlynn (Pharmaceutical)
  • 2002 – Glenn A. Fosdick (Health Care)
  • 2001 – Howard D. Koenig (E-Commerce)
  • 2000 – No award
  • 1999 – Stephen H. Shepsman (Real Estate)

Contributions to Entrepreneurship

Recognizes an alumnus of the School of Management or the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership who is a successful entrepreneur and has helped to advance the spirit of entrepreneurship.

  • 2025 - Dorian W. Mullens
  • 2024 - Moved to Spring 2025
  • 2023 - Centennial Awards Event
  • 2022 - Eric Reich
  • 2021 - George Chamoun
  • 2019 - Stuart Angert
  • 2018 - Denise M. Neamon
  • 2017 - Angie Kleeh
  • 2016 - Kathy Snyder Egan
  • 2015 - Mike Shatzel
  • 2014 – Marnie B. LaVigne
  • 2013 – Edward J. Tierney
  • 2012 – Mary Collins Sanborn
  • 2011 – Leonard S. Gaby
  • 2010 – Laurie J. Irish-Jones
  • 2009 – Jeff Kryszak
  • 2008 – Francine Brooks
  • 2007 – David C. Berghash
  • 2006 – Thomas A. Palmer
  • 2005 – John F. Dunbar Jr.
  • 2004 – Fredrick B. Saia
  • 2003 – No award
  • 2002 – Richard E. Page
  • 2001 – Joseph E. Wolfson
  • 2000 – No award
  • 1999 – Charles S. Tirone, MD

Service to the School of Management

Given to an alumnus for outstanding service to the School of Management.

 
 
  • 2025 - Kathleen Chiavetta
  • 2024 - Moved to Spring 2025
  • 2023 - Centennial Awards Event
  • 2022 - John H. Shellum (posthumously)
  • 2021 - Sarah Tanbakuchi
  • 2019 - Marc A. Adler
  • 2018 - Christopher P. Maugans
  • 2017 - Sudha Bommidi
  • 2016 - Mark C. Rizzo
  • 2015 - Thomas P. Cogan
  • 2014 – Sharon D. Randaccio
  • 2013 – Daniel P. Penberthy
  • 2012 – Erin K. O'Brien
  • 2011 – David A. Cervi
  • 2010 – Sujata Yalamanchili
  • 2009 – William A. Hamilton
  • 2008 – Jay J. Schwartzkopf
  • 2007 – David F. Simon
  • 2006 – Gerald E. Murak
  • 2005 – Michael D. Deakin
  • 2004 – Frank H. Clement
  • 2003 – Charles C. Swanekamp
  • 2002 – No award
  • 2001 – Burton Notarius
  • 2000 – No award
  • 1999 – Larry R. Drake

Service to the Western New York Community

Recognizes an alumnus who has demonstrated an exceptional level of service and commitment to the community.

  • 2025 - Sammy Violante
  • 2024 - Moved to Spring 2025
  • 2023 - Centennial Awards Event
  • 2022 - Del Reid
  • 2019 - Tamara Owen
  • 2018 - Jonathan A. Dandes
  • 2017 - Anthony C. Conte
  • 2016 - Michael Weiner
  • 2015 - Marylou Borowiak
  • 2014 – Patrick J. Whalen
  • 2013 – Dottie E. Gallagher-Cohen
  • 2012 – Keith M. Stolzenburg
  • 2011 – Robert M. Zak
  • 2010 – Gerard T. Mazurkiewicz
  • 2009 – Robert L. Montgomery Jr.
  • 2008 – David T. Hore
  • 2007 – Douglas C. Bean
  • 2006 – June W. Hoeflich

Alumni Engagement

Recognizes a School of Management faculty member who provides exceptional real-world learning to students by engaging alumni in the classroom or through academic programming.

  • 2025 - Michael Krupski
  • 2024 - Moved to Spring 2025
  • 2023 - Centennial Awards Event
  • 2022 - James Lemoine
  • 2021 - Dorothy Siaw-Asamoah
  • 2019 - David Murray
  • 2018 - Dianna Cichocki
  • 2017 - Harold Star
  • 2016 - Nick Everest
  • 2015 - No award
  • 2014 – John M. Thomas
  • 2013 – Alex B. Ampadu
  • 2012 – Dr. Arun K. Jain

Emerging Leader

Recognizes a School of Management alumnus who is a graduate of the last decade and who has achieved substantial professional growth and exemplified leadership in the workplace.

 
  • 2025 - Alexandra McLeod
  • 2024 - Moved to Spring 2025
  • 2023 - Centennial Awards Event
  • 2022 - Akruti Babaria
  • 2021 - Danielle Vazquez
  • 2019 - Brandon Glasgow
  • 2018 - Julia Jornsay-Silverberg
  • 2017 - Rody Damis
  • 2015 - Samantha Bonano

Contact Us

Alumni and External Engagement
School of Management
University at Buffalo
108 Jacobs Management Center
Buffalo, NY 14260-4000

Tel:  716-645-3224
mgt-alumni@buffalo.edu

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