Recognized on August 11, 2021
P rog r a m ag e n da Welcome Ally Peters, Reporter & Anchor, News 8 WROC
Remarks
Bob Duffy, President & CEO, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce
Keynote Speech
Nicole VanGorder, CEO & Co-Founder, Upstate Special Needs Planning & 2020 Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award Winner
CLIMB Program Graduation Ceremony
Alanna Stage, FLAC Co-Chair & Senior Manager, Enterprise Campaigns, Paychex Joe Sayre, FLAC Co-Chair & Vice President, Flower City Gaming, LLC
2021 Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award Finalist Showcase Presentation of the Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award Closing Remarks
S e l e ct i o n C o m m i t t e e
c el e br ati ng ro c h est er's yo u n g le a de rs Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is pleased to present the 3rd Annual Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award. This award honors young leaders who strive toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, excel in their chosen field, devote time and energy to their community, and forge paths of leadership for others to follow. They have lit a spark that contributes to a bright future for our region. The individuals profiled in this Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award publication represent a wide variety of sectors of our business community. Each of these young leaders’ contributions to their organizations and community have produced exceptional results, and their collective impact is immeasurable. As the Greater Rochester area enters a new era of economic growth and prosperity, it will be thanks to the hard work of these young leaders. As you read and learn more about our finalists, we know you will agree that they are exemplary in all that they do. I would also like to congratulate the 22 young leaders graduating from our CLIMB leadership development program at today’s ceremony. I can’t wait to see the paths that these leaders will take and the outstanding accomplishments and accolades I am sure they will earn in the coming years. We are honored to invite them to continue to learn and lead on the Future Leaders Advisory Council, a Greater Rochester Chamber Board committee with a growing list of accomplishments. A resounding thank you is owed to all of our CLIMB Executive Mentors for selflessly giving of their time and talent to engage in a two-way dialogue with our young leaders, along with Andrew Brady of The XLR8 Team, whose thoughtful and engaging leadership curriculum is such a valuable facet of the CLIMB program. Finally, we appreciate the tremendous generosity of our participating members, whose support allows us to continue to present the Greater Rochester IGNITE Award and CLIMB mentoring programs each year. Best of luck to all, and we look forward to seeing your continued impact on Greater Rochester and beyond!
B o b Du ffy
President & CEO Greater Rochester Chamber
Sarah Comper, SYNACT Inc.
Tyrone Reaves, Nicole VanGorder, Truform Manufacturing Upstate Special Corp Needs Planning Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award | 3
2021 greater rochester chamber IGNITE AWARD FINALISTS Ja m i e B u c c i , A I A, L EED AP B D + C
Project Architect/Associate, SWBR
A ma n da b u r ns
Partner, Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy
e m i ly r .l . c o h en
Senior Associate, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
c h e lsea c onway
CEO & President, Conway Beam Truck Group
v e r on i ca das h er
Regional Manager - Government and Community Relations, RG&E
s h ei l a d u n n e
Co-Founder and President, Dunne Goodwin
j e r e m i a h G ryc z k a
Co-founder & CEO, Mountain House Media
j e n n i f e r h u n g at e
Vice President, Robert F. Hyland and Sons, LLC
J u st i n f. ma r cu s
Quality Improvement Business Partner, Wemans Food Markets
m e g a n r i n au do
Financial Advisor, Thorley Wealth Management, Inc.
j e s s i ca wa de , a ia
Project Architect/Associate, SWBR
Jamie bucci, AIA, LEED AP BD + C Project Architect/Associate, SWBR
As a Project Architect, Jamie loves having the opportunity to design buildings and spaces that suit the clients’ needs and wants. Currently in the Education studio at SWBR, Jamie’s focus is on K12 projects in the public & private sector, though he has worked in various studios at the firm; giving him experience on several project types. He is a friendly, honest, and thorough team member that listens to his clients in order to deliver them a product they'll be happy with. In recent years, Jamie has been a vital part of the design team that has delivered successful award winning projects, which include the Wegman Family Science and Technology Center at McQuaid Jesuit and RJSCB John Walton Spencer School #16. Jamie has also been recognized as the Emerging Architect of The Year by AIA Rochester in 2019, and received the Outstanding Mentor Award in 2016 for his continued involvement with the ACE Mentor Program of Rochester. The ACE Mentor Program of Rochester is the local affiliate of a National notfor-profit organization that strives to mentor High School students with an interest in Architecture, Construction and Engineering.
Karen webber
Founder & President, Webber CPA PLLC
Ryan Zegarelli, AIA
Project Architect/Associate, SWBR
Amanda burns
Partner, Ward Greenberg Heller & Reidy Amanda Burns is a partner at Ward Greenberg where she has distinguished herself as a leader - heading the firm’s Insurance Law practice group and as one of the leaders of the Labor & Employment Law practice group. She provides risk mitigation counsel and represents corporate, educational, and institutional clients in Business Litigation, Labor & Employment, Insurance Recovery, and Tort Defense. Amanda further oversees the firm’s hiring, diversity and new associate training initiatives, as well as serving as a mentor. As a Board Member for the Legal Assistance of Western New York and InterVol, Amanda is committed to helping people in need of legal services locally, and sharing desperately needed medical supplies across the globe. Amanda earned her J.D. at the University at Buffalo Law School and her B.A. in Political Science at the University of Rochester. While attending law school, Amanda interned as a law clerk for the Honorable Michael A. Telesca and volunteered as a tutor for Lawyers for Learning. More than anything, Amanda values relationships and works hard to guide her clients, colleagues, family and community so that they can navigate legal and life challenges with confidence, knowing that she’s got their back.
Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award | 5
E m i l y R. l. c o h e n Senior Associate, Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
An attorney with Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, Emily R.L. Cohen represents clients on a variety of transactions in connection with debt and equity financings, mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, tax-exempt bonds, and large multi-bank or syndicated transactions. Emily is a member of the Board of Trustees for The National Susan B. Anthony Museum and House, an active member of Monroe County Bar Association, and a pro bono volunteer with JustCause (formally known as Volunteer Legal Services Project of Monroe County, Inc.). Prior to joining Harter Secrest & Emery, Emily worked in New York City at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson and Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. She received her B.A. from University of Rochester and her J.D, magna cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University School of Law.
v eRegional r o nManager i c a - Government d a s h eandr Community Relations, RG&E
Veronica Dasher is an enthusiastic, young professional who participates in a variety of programs and initiatives to enhance the Greater Rochester area. As Regional Manager of Government and Community Relations for New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E), Veronica oversees engagement between the companies, local government, and community stakeholders. Veronica graduated from Monroe Community College with an associate degree in Liberal Arts then earned her bachelor's degree in Organizational Management from Roberts Wesleyan College. In 2018, she was selected as one of Rochester Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 award recipients. Veronica launched a startup, Dasher, in September 2020 aimed at helping students and parents navigate through the new remote learning environment by providing them access to individuals who can assist children with their classwork virtually. She was also a finalist for the ATHENA International Young Professional Award in 2021. In her free time, Veronica enjoys spending time with her two children, Jaden and Jael, and serving the community through various volunteer roles. Her favorite volunteer activity is coaching youth cheerleading. Through coaching, Veronica shares amazing and unique experiences with her team while making a positive impact on young women’s character development.
Ch elsea Conway CEO & President, Conway Beam Truck Group
sCo-founder h e i l&aPresident, d u Dunne n n eGoodwin
Chelsea Conway is the Chief Executive Officer and owner of Conway Beam Truck Group, a 4th generation commercial truck dealership with five locations throughout Upstate NY with 250 employees. Over her tenure, the organization has experienced a 25% growth in personnel, territory, and facility expansions. Chelsea and her customer focused team continue to look toward investing in new technology and process improvements. In 2019, Chelsea diversified the organization's portfolio by opening a real estate and rental division named Big Sky Luxury Vacations.
Sheila Dunne is the co-founder and COO of Dunne Goodwin, a creative agency helping brands stand out online in an increasingly saturated digital world. Launching the business in 2017 at Colgate University, Sheila and her team have since worked with 85 clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies. Sheila has a background in computer science and economics and experience leading marketing campaigns across industries including healthcare, hospitality, automotive, and consumer products.
Chelsea is the President of a National Automobile Dealers Association 20 Group, where she leads fellow leaders to discuss best practices and industry trends. She Chair’s the Cystic Fibrosis Rochester Finest Program, which fosters leadership skills in young professionals, while fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. In 2018, Chelsea aided in the foundation of the Future Leaders Advisory Council for the Rochester Chamber of Commerce and cochaired the council for two years, after participating in the first CLIMB program.
Sheila is also the co-host of Claw Convos, a progressive media company producing weekly podcasts and newsletters interviewing top business minds across the globe. Alongside her sisters and mom, Sheila started an aromatherapy brand, Chandini, to help support survivors of domestic violence. As a young entrepreneur and Asian-American woman in business, Sheila is passionate about making a difference in the local community and beyond.
Chelsea is an avid athlete in multiple sports and placed 10th in the USATF 2020 Tokyo Olympic Trials in the 20km Racewalk and placed 59th in the USAT 2019 Triathlon Age Group Nationals.
Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award | 7
jeremiah Gryczka Founder & CEO, Mountain House Media
Jeremiah Gryczka is the Founder & CEO of Mountain House Media. He began a successful wedding video & photo business at the age of 17, which rapidly developed into working with non-profit organizations on documentary content for fundraising. His involvement in non-profit fundraising helped shape the identity and mission of what would become MHM. In 2017, while enrolled at RIT, Jeremiah founded Mountain House Media, with the mission to elevate our clients' impact. In 2019, Jeremiah was selected to be a Gap Year Fellow within RIT's School of Individualized Studies. He graduated that summer with a B.S. in Applied Arts & Sciences with a concentration in video production, photography, business and advertising. Through his work at Mountain House Media Jeremiah has helped raise over a million dollars in the past 5 years and has had the opportunity to work with brands & companies like Mountain Dew, Rochester Regional Health, RIT, and the Young Presidents Organization. MHM has also produced content seen on Fox Business, Science Channel, and Nat Geo. In 2021, through his leadership, Jeremiah led MHM to open the first virtual production stage in Upstate NY, making Hollywood film production technology accessible in Rochester. Most recently he has joined the RIT Sentinel Society to support incoming students in SOIS and the College of Art & Design.
j u s t i n F. m a r c u s Quality Improvement Business Partner, Wegmans Food Markets
Justin F. Marcus has worked in various sectors of the Food Industry, moving from restaurants to agricultural consulting, food safety and now quality improvement. Currently working for Wegmans Food Markets, his diverse background gives him a unique perspective when approaching process design and product development initiatives. Justin has worked in Wegmans’ Quality Assurance department for the last 5 years, focusing on food safety and product improvement on private label products. Like his employer, Justin has a keen interest in community involvement. This commitment spans from volunteering with Community-On-Tap, being elected as Treasurer of Western New York’s chapter of the Institute of Food Technologists, to working part time at Chick N’ Out as a line cook. In February he had his first scientific publication on his research of creating value-added products from upcycled waste of dairy manufacturing. Achieving a B.S. in Biology from Elon University, NC, a Master’s in Food Science from Cornell University, NY and becoming a Certified Food Scientist (IFT) in 2021, Justin has a diverse education in the physical sciences. Staying in tune with the beat of the city, Justin lives in downtown Rochester, NY, where he frequents local eateries.
m eg an r i nau d o
j en n i fer h u ng at e
Financial Advisor, Thorley Wealth Management
Vice President, Robert F. Hyland and Sons, LLC
Driven by her passion for construction and design, Jennifer Hungate brings a wealth of knowledge and experience as Vice President of Robert F. Hyland and Sons, LLC and Owner of Hungate Properties, LLC. Jennifer earned her bachelors of science degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology and has since hit the ground running. As chapter President of NAWIC (National association of women in construction), Jennifer believes in educating and supporting the advancement of women in a typically male-dominated field. Jennifer serves on the Flower City Habitat for Humanity board of directors as well as FCHH governance, gala and women’s build committee. She believes in giving back to the community and continues to assist in other philanthropic organizations such as the Women’s Foundation of Genesee Valley and the Women’s Council. Jennifer is driven by the love and support of her family, Husband – Nate and sons – Connor & Logan.
Before joining Thorley Wealth Management in 2019, Megan was a financial advisor at Merrill Lynch. Her desire to further her career and embrace a deeper passion for financial planning led her to Thorley Wealth Management. It is Megan’s compassion, empathy, and the genuine way she cares about helping our clients prepare for their future that makes her a valuable member of our team. Megan holds her FINRA Series 6, 63, 65, and 7 securities registrations and is insurance licensed in life, accident, and health in New York. To expand on her capacity as a financial advisor, Megan obtained her CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification in 2017.
Megan loves to volunteer her time. She currently sits on the Planned Giving Advisory Council and serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Advisors for the American Cancer Society. Megan is a member of the Estate Planning Council of Rochester, Rochester Area Community Foundation’s NextGen committee, Fairport Rotary Club, and volunteers with Junior Achievement and Fairport Music Festival. Megan and her husband, Jason, live in Fairport with their two dogs, Abby and Lola. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, spending time in the Finger Lakes, and cheering on her beloved Buffalo Bills.
Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award | 9
jessica wade, AIA Project Architect/Associate, SWBR
Jessica Wade joined SWBR in 2012 after earning her Bachelor’s of Science in Architecture from the University of Buffalo and Masters of Architecture from Illinois Institute of Technology. A talented and collaborative Designer and Project Manager, she designs spaces that impact the way people live and work. As part of SWBR's Housing studio and is responsible for managing and coordinating document sets on a variety of affordable housing projects for DePaul Properties, Rochester Management Inc., and Providence Housing. From 2012-2018, Jessica was an active mentor for the ACE Mentor Program of Rochester, a not-for-profit organization that provides mentors to high school students with an interest in Architecture, Construction or Engineering. She currently volunteers at Gigi’s Playhouse of Rochester, a non-for profit achievement center for children and young adults with down syndrome. She also is a yoga instructor at Breathe yoga studio of Greece and during COVID provided online yoga classes to raise funds for Gigi’s Playhouse. She’s been a guest lecturer/critic for the RIT Master’s Program for the last 7 years. Her role is to advise students on their projects, presentation skills and portfolio. She actively mentors 5 younger staff at SWBR and is dedicated to promoting their growth both professionally at SWBR, but personally in the community. She also is an active board member as part of SWBR’s toastmasters program and Women’s Forum, promoting networking, public speaking and career growth among the women of the firm.
ryan zegarelli, AIA Project Architect/Associate, SWBR
As lead designer and Architect on several award-winning projects, Ryan Zegarelli works in the Education studio at SWBR. A sample of his projects include MAGIC Spell Studios at RIT, SUNY Morrisville’s Alternative Energy Building, and Roberts Wesleyan’s Science and Nursing Center. His design talents extend to other arenas as well, most prominently the restoration of Our Lady of Victory Church in downtown Rochester for which Ryan coordinated an international team. Beyond his projects, Ryan invests his time and talent in multiple volunteer efforts. He coordinates learning experiences for younger staff, manages his firm’s participation in the United Way’s Day of Caring, and spent years as an ACE mentor as well as a Habitat for Humanity volunteer. He’s also actively involved with the Latin Mass Community in Irondequoit. One of Ryan’s greatest professional joys is getting to know his clients as well as the craftsmen who make his designs reality. He listens to what his clients ask for and tries to give them more than they. He actively learns from experienced contractors and craftsmen, acquiring new skills and perspectives to continuously self-improve for future projects. Ryan is an accomplished architect, but more importantly is a husband, and father of three.
karen webber
President & Founder, Webber CPA, PLLC An internship in graduate school led forensic accountant Karen Webber to becoming an international expert on financial exploitation. Karen began her career at a public accounting firm, striking out on her own at the age of 27 to build what she saw as a niche and much-needed practice area given the growing population of older adults. Today, she and her staff at Webber CPA, PLLC, serve over 45 counties and boroughs across New York State by assisting law enforcement, attorneys, government agencies, and other organizations with investigations of financial abuse perpetrated against the vulnerable. Karen has consulted in the UK and Canada, providing training on indicators of exploitation and best practices for forensic accountants. In 2020, Karen began her biggest project yet, FraudFindr.com, a first-of-its-kind forensic accounting software to automate financial exploitation investigations. Karen holds degrees in Accounting and Forensic Accounting from SUNY Brockport. She serves on the Boards of the Brockport Foundation and the YWCA of Rochester & Monroe County, and is President of the Genesee Valley Club Board of Governors. Karen and her husband, Blake, reside in Rochester with their dog Mia.
Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award | 11
Presenting the 2020-2021
c li m b Pro g r a m g raduat es
CLIMB brings together the most talented young members of the Rochester/Finger Lakes business community to learn and grow together, making connections and acquiring insight that will help them ascend to new heights of leadership and success within their organizations and community. Upon successful completion of the program, CLIMB graduates are asked to join the Future Leaders’ Advisory Council (FLAC) to provide key insight and engagement with Greater Rochester Chamber leadership.
L i n d sey bad g er Constellation Brands
K y l e Ban ks RG&E
n i c k ca r l eto n WeldWorks
m y er s fo r set t
Thank you to our 2020-2021
c l i m b E XE C U TI V E M E NTO RS
One of the four main components of the CLIMB Program is one-on-one executive mentoring. Participants are matched with an executive from the business community, forming a partnership designed to explore specific leadership challenges and foster a two-way dialogue between seasoned and emerging leaders in the Rochester/Finger Lakes region. We want to extend the biggest thank you to all of our participating executive mentors–this program and our graduates' success would not be possible without you and your support.
n o n s o n wa n z e
K i m A lle n Dixon Schwabl
CAUSE + EFFECT Strategy
J oy P i e r ce
Dave B e i n e t t i
Yas m i n Mattox
r o b e rt p o lt r i n o
Dr . H i lo n i B havsa r
Rochester Regional Health
Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Skull Diamond and Heart Capital, LLC
SWBR
Rochester Regional Health
Anchin, Block & Anchin LLP
Rochester Regional Health
fa r r a h qa dr i
St e ve B lowe r s
r o b ert h og g a r d
julie riley
Ju li e Ca m a rdo
l au r en i u r a n i c h
courtn ey brooke santiago BE Innovations
Lifespan of Greater Rochester
w i l l i am l ei n en
E l i sa b e t h stoj kov i c
Rochester Institute of Technology
Casana
Ward Greenberg
t i m ly nc h Idex
ca r o l i n e m c c l en d o n
Paychex
Cameron Community Ministries
do u g l as t h o ma
Broccolo Garden Center
b ry n v i r k l e r
Finger Lakes Donor Recovery Network
Bryn Virkler Communications
m at t h ew m u r ph y
k i a r a wa r r e n
ESL Federal Credit Union
k ai na m es da Pennant Ingredients
City of Rochester
co l i n yo u n g Sage Rutty
The Arc Wayne
Jo h n Lou ry Arkatecht
R e n e e M i na r i k
Rochester Court of Claims
A a ro n N ew ma n
CloudCheckr/BlocWatch
Wa de Norwood
Zweigle's
Common Ground Health
A n n M a ri e C o o k
Sujatha Ramanujan
S haq ua n a Dive rs
T yr o n e R eav es
Excellus BCBS
Ba rb E g e n ho f e r
Luminate Accelerator
Truform Manufacturing Corp
Ja i m e Sau n d er s
Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce
United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes
A m y Gu rs k e
Do n na S h u ltz
Human Integrated Insights
Sa n jay H i ra n a n da n i
MSM, Inc.
M at t Ti p p l e
Bluespout
J.P. Morgan Private Bank
Ray Isa ac
J e r o m e U n d erwood
Isaac Heating and Air Conditioning
Action for a Better Community
Visit bit.ly/CLIMB2021 to apply to the 2021-2022 CLIMB Program! Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award | 13
Future Leaders Advisory Council A Greater Rochester Chamber Board Committee
The Greater Rochester Chamber Future Leaders Advisory Council consists of CLIMB alumni in all segments of the Greater Rochester business community who work to advise Greater Rochester Chamber leadership and interface with our community on important issues. CLIMB alumni are uniquely poised to serve Greater Rochester Chamber as a voice of progress and leadership.
FLAC Community Impact Conversation with the Candidates Series
FLAC partnered with the Emerging Leaders Society, Rochester Young Professionals, Rochester Black Young Professionals, and RocCity Coalition to put on the Conversation with the Candidates series leading up to the June 2021 elections. This gave young professionals direct access to change makers in our community through conversations with candidates for all offices in Rochester.
CampusROC & CollegeFEST
The CampusROC initiative was championed by the FLAC beginning in 2019, with the mission of driving economic growth in Rochester by retaining the talented young individuals that graduate from our 19 local colleges. The initiative gained traction and was absorbed into the ROC2025 working groups focused on economic growth. CampusROC is excited to host the first ever CollegeFEST event on September 18, 2021 at Innovation Square, bringing students downtown to directly interact with employers, restaurant, retail, & cultural opportunities. Visit @CampusROC on social media for more info!
Interested in joining CLIMB and FLAC in the future? Email CLIMB@GreaterRochesterChamber.com for more information.
Join the 2021-22 CLIMB Class! Perspective.
Collaboration.
Growth.
Positive`Impact.
Can you see yourself or somebody you know here next year, celebrating graduation from the CLIMB Program? You're in luck–applications for the 2021-2022 CLIMB Program are still open!
Experiential Learning
Through an in-depth exploration of the regional economy, including intimate conversations with star CEOs and executive teams, participants learn the strategies that fuel the success of these organizations, and better understand the opportunities and challenges in the regional and global marketplace.
Personalized Leadership Development Participants receive yearlong personalized leadership development training from Andrew Brady of The XLR8 Team, focusing on the critical internal foundation that allows great leaders to motivate and inspire.
One-on-One Executive Mentoring
Participants are matched with an executive from the business community, forming a partnership designed to explore specific leadership challenges and foster a two-way dialogue between seasoned and emerging leaders in the Greater Rochester and Finger Lakes regions.
/RocFutureLeaders @Roc_FutureLdrs
Future Leaders' Advisory Council Upon successful completion of the program, CLIMB graduates are asked to join the Future Leaders’ Advisory Council (FLAC) to provide key insight and engagement with Rochester Chamber leadership. FLAC members are afforded opportunities to make a difference on issues like equity, education, health care, economic development, and talent strategy – and to provide ongoing key insight to Rochester Chamber leadership.
Visit bit.ly/CLIMB2021 for more information and to apply before the August 18 deadline! Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award | 15
Exploring the future of business, people, & technology Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with our member technology companies, is proud to launch the brand new ROC on Tech 2021 full day conference on Wednesday, October 13 from 7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Floreano Convention Center. We invite you to be inspired and challenged as you explore how the latest technology can elevate you and your organization! Join us for this exciting event unlike anything the Greater Rochester community has ever seen featuring keynote speaker Steve Wozniak, Apple co-founder!
Visit us online at ROCon.tech or contact Cassidy.Franklin@GreaterRochesterChamber.com for details regarding sponsorships & ticket sales!