ALBANY, N.Y.—The Business Council of New York State, Inc. today announced the winners of this year’s Annual Meeting awards. The Annual Meeting is the Council’s signature event, held each year at The Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing, NY. Each year the event attracts hundreds of the state’s top thought leaders in the worlds of business, politics and media. This year’s agenda is highlighted by a keynote address from Mr. Bob Woodward. Called “the most celebrated journalist of our age” by The Wall Street Journal, Bob Woodward has established himself as a journalistic icon who gained international attention when he and Carl Bernstein broke the disturbing news of the Watergate scandal during the Nixon administration. Their book about the scandal, “All the President’s Men”, won a Pulitzer Prize and was featured on TIME magazine’s list of the all-time 100 best non-fiction books as “perhaps the most influential piece of journalism in history.”
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Award Winners
Corning Award:
This year’s winner of the prestigious Corning Award, presented each year by Corning Incorporated to the individual who best demonstrates an outstanding level of accomplishment in their chosen discipline, as well as a deep and sustaining commitment to the people of New York, is none other than Michael Doyle of the Pleasant Valley Wine Company. Not only is Mr. Doyle a highly respected businessman who has a long history of philanthropy and public service that he has passed on to his children, he is also the longest-tenured member of The Business Council’s Board of Directors.
“Mike Doyle exemplifies all the qualities that we look for in a Corning Award recipient,” said G. Thomas Tranter, Chairman of the Board of The Business Council of New York State, Inc. and the President of Corning Enterprises. “From his devotion to family, philanthropy and business, to his pioneering spirit, Mr. Doyle sets an example that all of us would do well to follow. Personally, I have the honor of calling Mike a dear friend and consider it a real honor to be able to celebrate his passion and hard work by announcing that he is this year’s recipient of the Corning Award.”
Mr. Doyle, and all of this year’s honorees, will be presented with their awards on the evening of Thursday, September 22.
Corporate Member of the Year:
This year’s honoree is Verizon Communications Inc. Employing around 20,000 fellow New Yorkers, Verizon is one of the state’s leading corporate citizens. Whether it’s mobilizing resources after a storm, or working hard to provide employment opportunities to our nation’s veterans, or investing in critical technology and infrastructure upgrades, Verizon is leading the way in improving the quality of life and opportunities for all New Yorkers. Accepting this year’s award on Verizon’s behalf is Leecia R. Eve, Vice President of Government Affairs for Verizon Communications and a member of The Business Council’s Board of Directors.
“I am honored and humbled to accept the 2016 Corporate Member of the Year on behalf of Verizon Communications,” said Leecia Eve, Vice President of Government Affairs for Verizon Communications and a member of the The Business Council’s Board of Directors. “Heather Briccetti and her team are the voice for business in New York State. Their tireless advocacy and ability to deliver results are simply unmatched. This award means a tremendous amount to our company, our staff and to me personally. I want to thank The Business Council for this honor and I look forward to maintaining and strengthening our relationship for years to come.”
Member of the Year:
This year’s honoree is an individual who is very familiar to anyone who regularly attends Business Council events. Not only is he the founder of one of the state’s largest and most successful Public Relations firms, but he is a well-known philanthropist and is deeply involved in the Central New York community. Congratulations to Mr. Eric Mower on winning this year’s Member of the Year Award.
“In all of my 30 years of activity with The Business Council of New York State, it never occurred to me that I would be cited for recognition as Member of the Year. I am proud to accept and humbled by this year’s designation,” said Eric Mower, chairman and chief executive officer of Eric Mower + Associates (EMA), and Council vice-chair and a member of The Business Council’s Board of Directors’ Executive Committee. “As a three-decade member of The Business Council, I can attest to the tremendous good this organization has done and continues to do for New York State’s business community. We all know the many challenges of our state’s economic realities, which exist within the larger realities of both the national and global economic stages. We are fortunate that The Business Council’s staff, under the leadership of Heather Briccetti, and with the support of a stellar board of directors, is always ready to advocate for businesses of all sizes and from all corners of the state. I accept this award on behalf of my colleagues at EMA who also assist The Business Council and thank the Council and its members for recognizing our good works.”
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