Awards
bnsme celebrated the Executive of the Year and elite sales & marketing awards on MONday, April 27 2026!
Each year at our annual awards gala, BNSME honors a prominent industry leader from Western New York as the Executive of the Year. This leader is someone whose efforts have produced economic rewards for their organization and for our community, as well as advanced the sales and marketing profession.
BNSME was thrilled to recognize our 2026 Executive of the Year honoree:
Donald Boyd
President & Chief Executive Officer
Kaleida Health
The Executive of the Year Award is bestowed at the BNSME Executive of the Year and Elite Sales and Marketing Awards* gala each year.
check out our 2026 event photo gallery
*The Elite Sales & Marketing Awards (ESMA) allows Western New York companies the opportunity to publicly recognize the achievements of local sales and marketing professionals. This award is given to individuals who have excelled in representing their companies in the sales and marketing arena.
Your top achievers deserve to be honored! Each ESMA recipient receives:
- Public recognition of your company and award recipient in Buffalo Business First.
- Attendance at awards dinner for award recipient and one guest, plus your company representative and one guest (4 total).
- Personalized professional award and event photo.
BNSME will also honor one college or university student who is majoring in business or marketing and has already made an impact in the industry. The Collegiate Award includes a $500 scholarship check payable to the award recipient.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Presenting Sponsor: West Herr Auto Group
Gold Sponsors: Kaleida Health | Tops Friendly Markets
Silver Sponsor: Kelton Enterprises, LLC 
Bronze Sponsors: Buffalo Bills | Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield | LeChase
Advertising Sponsor: Buffalo Business First
Print Sponsor: Marketing Tech
Photography provided by Lovely Day Photo, LLC
2025 executive of the year: kevin nephew
check out our 2025 event photo gallery
Past Executive of the Year Honorees
2026 Donald Boyd, President & Chief Executive Officer, Kaleida Health
2025 Kevin Nephew, President & Chief Executive Officer, Seneca Gaming Corporation
2024 John Persons, Chief Executive Officer, Northeast Grocery Inc.
2023 Dr. Satish Tripathi, President of the University at Buffalo
2022 Rhonda Frederick, President and Chief Executive Officer for People Inc
2019 Jody L. Lomeo, President, Chief Executive Officer, Kaleida Health and Great Lakes Health System of WNY
2018 David J. Nasca, President, Chief Executive Officer, Evans Bancorp, Inc.; Evans Bank, N.A.
2017 Carl J. Montante, Managing Director, Uniland Development Company
2016 Jeremy M. Jacobs, Chairman, Delaware North Company
2015 Frank Downing, Jr., President, Towne Automotive Group
2014 Rocco Termini, President, Signature Development LLC
2013 Althea Luehrsen, Executive Director, Leadership Buffalo
2012 Russell J. Salvatore, President & CEO, Russell's Steaks, Chops & More and Salvatore's Grand Hotel
2011 Dr. Donald J. Trump, President & CEO, Roswell Park Cancer Institute
2010 John R. Koelmel, President & CEO, First Niagara Bank, N.A.
2009 Scott Bieler, President, West Herr Automotive Group
2008 Carl Paladino, CEO, Ellicott Development Company
2007 Brian J. Lipke, CEO, Gibraltar Industries
2006 Christopher H. Koch, CEO, New Era Cap Company
2005 Stuart H. Angert, President, Fiserv Automotive Solutions
2004 Andrew W. Dorn, Jr., President & CEO, Greater Buffalo Savings Bank
2003 Gene Vukelic, CEO, Try-It Distributing Company, Inc.
2002 Marsha Henderson President, KeyBank of WNY
2001 Rev. Vincent M. Cooke S.J. President, Canisius College
2000 Paul Ciminelli President, Ciminelli Development Inc
1999 Peter F. Hunt President & CEO, Hunt Real Estate Corporation
1998 Erland Kailbourne Retired Chairman, Fleet National Bank
1997 Colleen DiPirro President & CEO, Amherst Chamber of Commerce
1996 Ronald K. Zoeller President & CEO, North American Health Plans, Inc.
1995 William Swan President & CEO, First Niagara Bank
1994 William McHugh Executive Vice President, Independent Health
1992 Michael J. Billoni Vice President, General Manager, Bison Baseball, Inc.
1991 Thomas M. Daley President, C.J. Tower
1990 David N. Campbell Board Chairman & CEO, Computer Task Group, Inc.
1989 Burt P. Flickinger, Jr Senior VP, Government Relations, Scrivner, Inc.
1988 William P. Polian General Manager & VP Administration, Buffalo Bills
1987 Savino Nanula President & CEO, TOPS Markets, Inc.
1986 D. Ward Fuller President & CEO, American Steamship Company
1985 Wilfred J. Larson President, Westwood Pharmaceuticals
1984 Robert E. Rich, Jr President, Rich Products Corp
1983 Ross B. Kenzie Chief Executive Officer, Goldome Bank
1982 Paul L. Snyder Chairman & CEO, Snyder Group
1981 Raymond D. Stevens Chairman & CEO, Pratt & Lambert, Inc
1980 William G. Gisel Chairman & CEO, Bell Aerospace-Textron
1979 Robert J. Fierle Chairman & President, American Precision Industries
1978 Robert D. Adam President, Adam Meldrum & Anderson Co, Inc
1977 Armand J. Castellani Board Chairman, Niagara Frontier Services Inc
1976 Frank R. Nero President, Westwood Pharmaceuticals Inc
1975 A. Neville Proctor President & CEO, Dunlop Tire Corp
1974 Colon R. Brown Board Chairman, National Gypsum Co
1973 Henry R. Coords President, Fisher Price Toys
1972 Daniel A. Roblin, Jr Chairman & President, Roblin Industries, Inc
1971 David R. Newcomb President, Buffalo Forge Co
1970 William H. Wendel President, The Carborundum Co
1969 Charles W. Cox Area Manager, Sears, Roebuck & Co
1968 Robert E. Rich, Sr Founder & President, Rich Products Corp
1967 Gerald C. Saltarelli Chairman & President, Houdaille Industries, Inc
