CEL Advisory Council and Founders

The CEL Advisory Council provides guidance and strategic insight to support the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership’s mission of empowering business owners and leaders. Council members share expertise, offer feedback on programs and initiatives and help strengthen CEL’s connection to the regional business community.

Stuart Angert
Independent Health Foundation
Chairman

Thomas Beauford Jr.
The Buffalo Urban League
President

David Cervi
Personal Touch Food Service, Inc.
President

Kathleen Chiavetta                                         
Chiavetta's Catering & Chicken BBQ
COO

Sherry Dellebovi
Lumsden McCormick LLP
Partner

Deborah Di Matteo
M&T Bank
Sr. VP Business Banking Relationship Manager

Joe Fox
TrainSmart
President

Craig Garner
Ivoclar Vivadent
Director of Operational Excellence

Jim Ginnane
Planned Futures Financial Group LLC
Managing Member

John Hogg
Straight Forward Consulting
President

Laurie Irish-Jones
Irish Companies
Director

Ananth Iyer
UB School of Management
Dean

Jordan Lema
Lemur Studios
Owner, CEO

Denise Neamon
The Bonadio Group
Partner

Dr. Sonya Noor
BEVSA & Access Care
Owner, Managing Partner

Thomas Palmer
TAP Advisors
President

Alan Pawlowski
Pace Management
President

Tom Quinn
WNY Impact Investment Fund
CEO

Kathy Snyder
Beaver Hollow Conference Center
CEO

Susan Steffan
UB School of Management
Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership
Executive Director

Randy Strauss
StraussGroup Inc.
Managing Partner

Cynthia Walawander
Woley Analytics
President

Contributing Founders

Salvatore Alfiero
Paul Snyder
Stuart Angert

Fred Saia
Stephen Hunt
Keith Stolzenburg

Honorary Founders

Franklyn S. Barry Jr.
Dan Brown
John D. Cannon
Frank L. Ciminelli
Randall L. Clark
Tom Culligan
William P. Hart
James A. Hoover

Laurence A. Levite
Gerald S. Lippes
Herb Mennen
Carl J. Montante
Frank R. Nero Sr.
Henry P. Semmelhack
Joseph E. Wolfson

Founding Policy Council Members

Joseph Alutto

Paul Willax