2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame Inductees

VISIONARY LEADERSHIP UNLOCKING BOUNDLESS POTENTIAL

HALL OF FAME 2017

1 Your curiosity helped pave a path to success.

RMSC Congratulates the 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame Inductees. The RMSC celebrates your innovation, inspiration and dedication to our community. As we help educate the next generation of thinkers, you are providing a guiding light.

Visit the Rochester Business Hall of Fame Exhibit at RMSC Supported by

+ Science Museum + Strasenburgh Planetarium + Cumming Nature Center 2 657 East Avenue, Rochester NY, 14607 • 585.271.4320 • RMSC.org Table of Contents 4 Junior Achievement unlocking the 12 Victor Salerno next generation’s boundless O’Connell Electric Company Inc. has doubled potential its business under Salerno, and has extended its reach beyond the Rochester area. 6 Christine Whitman Driven to learn, Whitman has led local 14 Rob Sands Sands has maintained his family’s legacy, companies to success. Today she is chairwoman growing Constellation Brands to a more than and CEO of Complemar Products. $7 billion company and contributing time and money to local organizations. 10 William Levine Levine’s business skills led him to philanthropic 16 Pursuing creativity, endeavors. Over the last 20 years of his life, the William & Mildred Levine Foundation they built Rochester donated more than $20 million to local charities.

Publisher: Suzanne Fischer-Huettner; Editor: Ben Jacobs; Associate Editor: Lisa Granite; Special Products Editor: Colin Hogan; Copy Editor: Bill Alden; Reporters: Amaris Elliott-Engel and Mike Costanza; Sales Coordinator: Jessica Sims; Account Managers: Jean Moorhouse, Michelle Sanfilippo and John Sousa; Special Projects Manager: Kady Weddle; Advertising Design Supervisor: Sarah Sansom; Graphic Designer: Michael Duntz; and Business Manager: Maria Kelly.

Cover design by Michael Duntz. Submitted photos. © 2017 by Rochester Business Journal Inc. All rights reserved. Congratulations Christine Whitman on your induction into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame from your employees at

3 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame ▪ OCTOBER 6, 2017 3 Unlocking the next generation’s boundless potential

By PATRICIA LEVA iors. But when harnessed and inspired, it can lead to hope, optimism and empower- There is not a week that goes by where ment—and ultimately, successful futures. I do not hear some inspiring story of JA’s sequential K-12 programs are a young person who, against all odds, designed to both instill knowledge and reframes his or her vision of the future inspire youth. Focused on financial and gains the belief that he or she can and literacy, career awareness, work readiness will be successful. This personal sense of and entrepreneurial thinking, the JA self-efficacy (or “I can” attitude) is one experience provides students with the op- of the most important elements in the portunity to practice life skills needed to complex variables that contribute to a be successful alongside an adult who can student’s ability to achieve. provide relevant examples and encourage At the core of Junior Achievement’s them to follow their dreams. mission is the belief in the boundless This past academic year, JA mentors potential of today’s young people. reached more than 14,000 students in Regardless of socioeconomic situation, Rochester, Syracuse, Binghamton, Elmira PHOTO BY KIMBERLY SIMPSON and Corning. In Monroe County alone, Patricia Leva says Junior Achievement believes that every we believe that youth are born into this student, no matter their background, has boundless potential world with unlimited energy. When JA partnered with nearly 500 educators, and can follow in the footsteps of the Rochester Business purposeless, this energy can turn toward Hall of Fame laureates. mischief, crime or other negative behav- Continued on page 5

2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame inductees

Ron Ricotta and Mike Nuccitelli

4 4 OCTOBER 6, 2017 ▪ 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT Continued from page 4 reaching over 8,000 students, more than half of which were from the Rochester City School District. While focusing in the RCSD is certainly a priority, we believe that every student needs to read and write financially, think entrepreneurially and be ready to compete in the world of work. Un- til these life skills are required for high school grad- uation, we will continue to see many high school seniors unable to pass a basic financial literacy test — and employers continuing to provide soft skill training at a high opportunity cost. One of the most important issues facing our community today is the lack of skilled workers for the in-demand jobs available here. There has been much research on the rich capabilities and assets of the Finger Lakes region and the key industry clusters important to transforming our economy, such as optics/photonics/imaging, next generation manufacturing, agriculture, higher education and research, and others. Many parents, teachers and SUBMITTED PHOTO guidance counselors may not have careers in these JA’s BizTown and Finance Park “discovery centers” throughout the country are inspiring fields on their radar. youth to be prepared and engaged in their local economies. JA curriculum and mentors can play a significant role in exposing students, at a young age, to these laboratory in Eastman Business Park that will al-life decisions that are made every day by adults. opportunities of the future. In the coming months showcase the best of our Finger Lakes economy. We know that no one organization alone can you will hear more about the bold vision for the After 13 lessons in the classroom, students in JA have impact on the many important issues in our future of JA in Monroe County, one that involves Biz Town® become “citizens,” running the economy community today. We are fortunate to operate in bringing a scientifically-proven JA model to Roch- of our future: creating and obtaining jobs, making a community that embraces collective impact, and ester to address these workforce and financial issues financial decisions, paying taxes, electing a mayor JA is well positioned and eager to do our part. We head on, while bringing authentic, memorable and and even donating to charity. believe that every student, no matter their back- experiential learning to an entirely new level. A few years later in JA Finance Park®, youth ground, has boundless potential and can follow Two sequential programs, JA Biz Town® in fifth leave behind their lives as students and take on life in the footsteps of the Rochester Business Hall of grade and JA Finance Park® in middle/high school, in this mini-city, with a career, credit score, debt, Fame laureates that we proudly celebrate this year. will be implemented in our region. This launch will family and financial obligations. They quickly learn Patricia Leva is president and CEO of Junior include the construction of a hands-on learning the importance of a career to a lifestyle and the re- Achievement of Central Upstate New York Inc.

“If your actions inspire others to Congratulations! dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader.” 2017 -- John Quincy Adams Rochester Business Hall of Fame Inductees

Communicating your image®

200 Lucius Gordon Dr. • Rochester, NY • 585.424.3880 www.hammerpackaging.com • @hammerpackaging James E. Hammer, President & CEO 2008 Hall of Fame Inductee 5 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame ▪ OCTOBER 6, 2017 5 Finding purpose in breaking boundaries Driven to learn, Christine Whitman led local companies to success

By AMARIS ELLIOTT-ENGEL Her dedication paid off handsomely: Over the next decade, Whitman grew the business tenfold, Christine Whitman calls herself an “accidental achieving $100 million in revenues. In 1999, CVC entrepreneur.” was acquired by Veeco Instruments Inc. Whitman “I just wanted to work for a company that I was served as the president and CEO of Veeco during proud of,” Whitman says. that transition before retiring to found her own in- As an undergraduate at Syracuse University, vestment partnership, CSW Equity Partners LLC. Whitman studied psychology and biology. Her Not just an accidental entrepreneur, Whitman first job was as a research assistant in the University also “accidentally fell into a role that was extremely of Rochester’s biochemistry department, where she male-dominated. I think it was because I started separated materials to be able to distill samples for at the University of Rochester. I didn’t feel any use in research. gender bias there, so I never felt as though gender Then she moved to CVC Inc., a supplier of was going to hold me back.” thin-film process equipment for semiconductor and It was a wake-up call to enter the corporate data-storage companies, in 1978. There she applied her world in the technical field, she says. experience with the University of Rochester to a prod- “I had to work much harder than all the males uct that was distilling large-molecule weight materials. around me. I was constantly trying to learn more She worked her way up to become CVC’s vice about the business at hand. I probably way over- president for marketing, sales and research and de- compensated for it,” Whitman continues with a velopment. The people running the company at the laugh. “I did know more than anybody else.” time wanted to retire, and Whitman says she felt A product of her dedication to learning, CSW there was no one else besides her to ensure CVC Equity Partners LLC has been investing in startups would continue to grow and survive. In 1990, she for the last 15 years. Some of those investments led a buyout by management and became CVC’s have included technology companies that focus on president and chief executive officer. natural language and voice automation technology.

SUBMITTED PHOTO As the CEO, Whitman had to do a lot of trav- Now Whitman is the chairman of companies CSW When she became CEO of CVC, Christine eling to Silicon Valley and to Asia. She also had to Equity Partners LLC has invested in and grown, Whitman taught herself the business: “I was teach herself a business involving material sciences including Soleo Communications, VoicePort and constantly trying to learn more about the and engineering when her background was more in OneStream Networks. business at hand,” she says. “I probably way In a change of pace from investing in new overcompensated for it.” the social sciences. So, Whitman took night cours- es to give her the background she needed and used companies, CSW took on Complemar Products as her time on airplanes to study as much as possible. She also hired experts to assist her. Continued on page 8

Congratulations to the 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame inductees. We thank you for your contributions to our community.

6 1600 Bausch & Lomb Place, Rochester, NYRochester 14604 ■ Buffalo hselaw.com ■ Albany ■ Corning ■ New 585.232.6500 York City 6 OCTOBER 6, 2017 ▪ 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame UP CLOSE & DEVOTED For half a century, Fisher alumnus Vic Salerno ’66 has set an extraordinary example of the virtues of goodness, discipline, and knowledge. His tireless efforts and generous gifts have transformed the way our School of Business students learn at Fisher and succeed in the community. His inclusion in the Rochester Business Hall of Fame is also a testament to his inspiring leadership as the CEO of O’Connell Electric, a tenure characterized by his passion for business, his ability to create trusting partnerships with customers, and his belief in building strong relationships among his employees. sjfc.edu On behalf of our students, Vic, we proudly salute you for this most deserving honor. 7 Whitman’s company, CSW Equity Partners LLC, invested in Complemar Products in part to help “preserve and create jobs that pay higher than minimum wage and pay health care benefits in a safe environment on a busline,” providing easy access to work, she says.

PHOTO COURTESY OF COMPLEMAR Complemar CEO Christine Whitman presents a recognition award to employee George Smith.

Whitman says. Her co-investors and she are “trying include support for a business accelerator cooper- WHITMAN to preserve and create jobs that pay higher than ative that will move into the old Sibley building Continued from page 6 minimum wage and pay health care benefits in downtown this winter and creating a business plan a safe environment on a busline” providing easy contest called “Luminate” for photonics companies. a turnaround venture of an existing company that access to work, she says. While Rochester has lost a lot of large em- was struggling. Whitman is serving as chairwoman Whitman also is serving as the first woman to ployers, Whitman believes there is hope for the chair Rochester Institute of Technology’s board future. and CEO of the company, which she calls a “mini of trustees. Her partnership with RIT has been a “Hopefully these types of companies will be part Amazon” that packages and fulfills product orders long one, as she has been recruiting employees with of the solution to replace the manufacturers that for third parties and manages their returns. technical skills for her businesses for several years. have left town,” she says. Part of the reason CSW invested in Comple- In her spare time, Whitman is an “evangelist” for Amaris Elliott-Engel is a mar was to protect jobs in the Rochester area, growing business in Rochester. Her future projects Rochester-area freelance writer.

www.rit.edu

Rochester Institute of Technology congratulates Christine B. Whitman, chair of RIT’s Board of Trustees, on her induction into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame. We commend her leadership, integrity, and commitment to excellence. She serves as an inspiration 8 to RIT and the greater Rochester community. 8 OCTOBER 6, 2017 ▪ 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame Rob Sands on your induction into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame! Congratulations ofYour volunteer selfless servicecommitment and support to building to Rochester strong communities is evidenced through your years

Regional Health.

Sincerely,We are so grateful and proud. Your 17,000 family members at

Rochester Regional Health

Clifton Springs Hospital & Clinic Newark-Wayne Community Hospital Rochester General Hospital United Memorial Medical Center Unity Hospital 9 His ‘hobby’ helped the region’s children William Levine’s business skills led him to many philanthropic endeavors

By MIKE COSTANZA “Abe was a cap-maker—he would sit at a machine William’s prodigious business skills were also and sew. Bill was really the person that had the business memorable. The late William Levine had a kind of unusual mind,” explains Todd, who began calling his grandfa- “He had an unbelievable math mind,” Todd says. hobby. ther “Bill” after joining the family-owned company. “He was notorious for being able to figure everything “He used to always say ‘My hobby is to make Abe and William got their first break in 1935, out in his head before anybody could do it on a money and give it away,’” says Todd Levine, presi- when Champion Products, which was then a local calculator.” dent and CEO of Alleson Athletic. William, Todd’s company, hired their firm to make sports clothing. Atop that, Todd’s grandfather brought a com- grandfather, co-founded the Henrietta-based sports monsense approach to his work. apparel company almost 85 years ago. “He saw through the difficult and confusing to William appears to have thoroughly enjoyed see the main points,” Todd says. that “hobby.” By the time he died in 2013, he In 1933, in the midst of the Not content to limit his business activities, had built Alleson Athletic into a brand known William also invested in Rochester-area real estate, throughout the United States and Canada. Acting Depression, William joined and even became involved in banking. on his desire to “give it away,” William devoted a “He started the First National Bank of Roches- great deal of time, energy and money to helping his father, Abe, to found ter,” Todd says. “He did it with a few friends and local institutions serve the needs of the region’s ended up taking it public.” children. He was also a dedicated family man who Alleson of Rochester — M&T Bank acquired First National in 1999. was married to his wife, Mildred, for nearly 60 At the same time, William sought to give back years until her death in 2002. the name is an amalgam to his community—especially its children. In the William was born in Brooklyn, one of two 1980s, he created the William & Mildred Levine children of Russian émigrés. The family moved to of ‘Abe Levine and Son.’ Foundation and began following his philanthropic Rochester, where William obtained his diploma aims with greater vigor. from Benjamin Franklin High School. He went on “Bill’s foundation, over the last 20 years of his to graduate from Niagara University. One of his life, gave over $20 million to charities in the Roch- classmates was the late Robert Wegman, who made The firm started its own sports apparel brand ester area,” Todd says. Wegmans Food Markets Inc. the envy of grocery in about 1965, and now does business as Alleson Many well-known local nonprofits have benefit- chains worldwide before his death in 2006. Athletic. ed from that foundation’s largesse. In 1933, in the midst of the Depression, Todd joined Alleson in 1994, and William took “He bought the original land for Camp Good William joined his father, Abe, to found Alleson him under his wing. Todd jokes that the experience Days for them,” says Todd, the foundation’s current of Rochester—the name is an amalgam of “Abe left him with “a million Bill-isms,” or sayings that president. Levine and Son.” Day after day, the pair sewed his grandfather used. Camp Good Days and Special Times is a recre- men’s caps and apparel in the basement of a down- “You have to be able to take care of your people. ational facility for children who are suffering from town Rochester warehouse. William was the firm’s If you can’t take care of your people, get out of first president. business,” Todd says, quoting William. Continued on page 11

Hard working. Visionary. Dedicated. Successful. Many words can be used to describe tonight’s honorees, who have each put their stamp on our local business community. LeChase congratulates the 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame inductees.

10 205 Indigo Creek Drive | Rochester, NY 14626 | lechase.com 10 OCTOBER 6, 2017 ▪ 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame LEVINE Continued from page 10 cancer. Year-after-year, children and their families have come to the nonprofit’s Keuka Lake campus to enjoy the outdoors and rest up for combating the dread disease. Another substantial contribution from the Wil- liam and Mildred Levine Foundation helped create the William and Mildred Levine Pediatric Surgical Suite at UR Medicine’s Golisano Children’s Hospi- tal. The suite, which opened in 2006, is specifically designed to provide pre-and-post-operative care for children. Though Todd was unable to state the exact amount of the foundation’s donation as of press time, he says it “easily” came to $1 million. More recently, $1 million of foundation funds supported the construction of the Golisano Chil- dren’s Hospital’s Neuromedicine and Behavioral Health Center. The three-story building houses a number of pediatric clinics, including the William and Mildred Levine Autism Clinic. Designed to accommodate autistic children, that clinic opened its doors this year. From the way Todd speaks, such projects are just the beginning. “My grandfather’s foundation will go on in per- petuity to continue the mission he started, which is to promote health care and well-being for children in our community,” Todd says. Though William loved working, he and his wife also deeply enjoyed traveling the world—especially with their family. The couple took their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to such far- flung locales as Israel, Egypt, China and Thailand.

“Imagine about 20 of us trekking to all these SUBMITTED PHOTO places all over the world,” Todd says. Haiti, those employees turn out team uniforms un William Levine, who died in 2013, used to William continued to work at his family’s com- der the company’s own brand and for such firms as say, “My hobby is to make money and give it pany into his early ’90s, when a fall left him unable Under Armour Inc., and New Balance Athletics Inc. away,” according to his grandson Todd Levine. to do so. He died in 2013, at the age of 94. The firm has warehouses in Henrietta; Memphis, “He let his actions and his successes speak loud- Alleson Athletic has come a long way from its Tenn.; and McAllen, Texas, and sells its products origins in a Rochester basement. Over 1,250 are on throughout the United States and Canada. er than his words,” Todd says. the firm’s payroll worldwide — including 250 in the Not that William Levine would have bragged Mike Costanza is a Rochester-area Rochester area. Working at factories as far away as about his accomplishments. freelance writer. Joining forces for an important cause.

KPMG LLP is proud to support Junior Achievement and congratulate tonight’s honorees who make outstanding contributions to the Rochester community, while serving as role models for young people.

kpmg.com

© 2017 KPMG LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership and the U.S. member firm of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. The KPMG name and logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International. NDPPS 710706 11 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame ▪ OCTOBER 6, 2017 11 SUBMITTED PHOTO Victor Salerno credits those he works with for helping make O’Connell Electric Company Inc. what it is today: “You have to have a great Improving team, or you’re not going to accomplish anything,” he says. the Rochester region and beyond Under Victor Salerno’s leadership, O’Connell has doubled its business

By MIKE COSTANZA

For Victor Salerno, business growth is essential. “If you’re not growing, you’re having problems,” says the 73-year-old CEO of the O’Connell Electric Company Inc. Salerno’s leadership of the Victor-based firm has helped to more than double its business, as well as extend its reach far beyond the Rochester area. In addition to heading O’Connell, he sits on the company’s board of directors and is one of its six stockholders. Salerno was born at Fort McClellan, a now-defunct U.S. Army post in Alabama where his late father, Victor Salerno Sr., was stationed during World War II (Salerno does not use the title “junior”). One of four children, he attended Eastridge High School and then went on to St. John Fisher College. After graduating from college in 1966 with a bachelor of business administration in accounting, Salerno took a position in the Xerox Corp.’s accounting department. The job lacked the challenges he desired. “I hated it — had nothing to do there,” the Pittsford resident says. “I swear they were stockpiling people; they were growing so fast.” Less than six months in, Salerno applied to the firm that is now Deloitte LLP.

Continued on page 13

VISION, LEADERSHIP AND INSPIRATION Congratulations

99 Garnsey Road Victor E. Salerno Pittsford NY 14534 from your friends at Harris Beach 585-419-8800 harrisbeach.com

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12 Harris-Beach_2017-Roc-Hall-Fame.indd 1 9/21/2017 3:02:07 PM 12 OCTOBER 6, 2017 ▪ 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame SALERNO Continued from page 12

“I answered a blind ad that a friend of mine had sent me, because I was complaining to everybody,” he says. Deloitte hired Salerno as a junior accountant. As a CPA for the firm, he performed audits and provided tax and business advisory services. In 1971, Salerno headed to greener pastures: as a vice president for O’Connell. He seems to have found the challenges of the construction business to his liking. “Construction is a high-risk,-high-reward type of industry,” he asserts. Salerno took O’Connell’s helm in 2006. Under his leadership, the full-service electrical contracting firm has nearly doubled sales, which totaled just under $160 million at the end of its last fiscal year. It appears poised to do even better this fiscal year. “The way things are trending in our backlog, we’ll do over $200 million,” Salerno says. The company has grown in a physical sense, as “We sent 30 bucket trucks and over 60 linemen PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. JOHN FISHER COLLEGE well. From a 2006 payroll of no more than 40 peo- to Florida to help with the anticipated hurricane Victor Salerno, family members and school ple, O’Connell has risen to employ over 650, most officials at the ribbon cutting ceremony for damage restoration,” Salerno says. the building named in his honor at St. John of them at five New York State locations. About 60 Salerno credits those he works with for helping Fisher College. of those in its pay are located at the firm’s Albany make O’Connell what it is today. offices, which opened in 2015. “You have to have a great team, or you’re not a big part of it was graduating from St. John Fisher.” “There’s a lot of opportunities in that area — going to accomplish anything,” he says. The 27,000-square-foot building, which opened a lot of government work, which we do,” Salerno said. In addition to steering O’Connell, Salerno has in 2013, houses the college’s School of Business. You don’t need to go far to find one of O’Con- also sought to give back to his community. During Salerno has lent his leadership skills to other nell’s projects. The firm did the electrical work the three years he chaired St. John Fisher College’s nonprofits, and at one point chaired the Rochester for the $145 million Golisano Children’s Hospi- Board of Trustees, he helped pick the institution’s Museum and Science Center’s Board of Trustees. tal, which opened in 2015, and just finished an current president: Gerald Rooney, who took office He is the executive board member and treasurer of approximately $40 million job for the New York in July of 2015. the Rochester Builders Exchange, and is involved State Electric and Gas Corp. Right now, O’Con- “It was quite interesting,” Salerno says. “We had with other organizations as well. nell is in the midst of a $2.5 million electrical about 50 or so candidates that were qualified.” When not at work or volunteering, Salerno likes upgrade of the boilers of the Eastman Business Salerno’s generosity to his alma mater has to spend time with his wife, Eileen, and family at Park’s powerhouse, which is slated to be complet- exceeded gifts of his time. His $2 million donation the couple’s vacation home on Canandaigua Lake. ed by the end of this year. helped fund the building of the Victor E. Salerno The avid golfer also enjoys working on his game. Reaching beyond New York State, O’Connell Center for American Enterprise. “I’m getting very, very close to breaking 100,” has worked on projects up and down the East “My wife and I discussed it, and very quickly Salerno says. “It’s one of my goals: breaking 100.” Coast. On Sept. 7, the firm dispatched crews to came to the conclusion we should do it,” Salerno Mike Costanza is a Rochester-area tackle the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. says. “We’ve been very fortunate and successful, and freelance writer.

Leading the way Deloitte is proud to support Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York and this year’s Business Hall of Fame inductees Vic Salerno, Rob Sands, Chris Whitman and William Levine. Their contributions to free enterprise and the Rochester community have set new standards for our current and future business leaders. Copyright © 2017 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved. 13 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame ▪ OCTOBER 6, 2017 13 From humble beginnings to a worldwide brand Family business values remain the same with Rob Sands at the helm

By BEN JACOBS “It means a lot to me to be able to join my father and brother in the Business Hall of Fame,” Rob Sands had big shoes to fill when he took Rob Sands says. “I think it’s a nice affirmation of over as president and CEO of Constellation our long-standing community involvement, our Brands in 2007. His father, Marvin Sands, and work through the Sands Family Foundation and brother, Richard Sands, had already built the com- Constellation Brands, as well as my work through pany into the largest wine company in the world. the chamber. That success has not slowed at all, as Constel- “We are committed to our roots in this community.” lation reached $7.3 billion in sales this year and Rob Sands has been interested in more than just employs nearly 9,000 people worldwide. following in his father’s footsteps as a success- “We’ve come a long way from our humble ful businessman. He also strives to continue his beginnings in 1945 as a small wine producer father’s philanthropic spirit. Last year, the Sands in upstate New York,” Rob Sands says. “What Family Foundation donated $61 million to the excites me most about the future of our company Rochester Area Community Foundation. is reaching more consumers, creating more jobs, “Our family feels fortunate to be able to give supporting more communities, and driving lead- back to the community where we live and conduct ing industry growth.” business,” Rob Sands says. “When it comes to our Constellation has relentlessly acquired brands family’s legacy, what matters the most is that we’ve worldwide in an effort to stay ahead of its com- honored the founding principles my father set petition and provide options across the alcohol from the very beginning, most importantly, giving categories—wine, beer and spirits. back to our community.” “It starts with our consumers,” Rob Sands says. In addition to donating money, Rob Sands also “We understand our consumers and strive, not donates his time and expertise. He is chairman of only to meet their current drinking preferences, the board of the New York Wine and Culinary but also to anticipate and respond to what they’ll Center and the Greater Rochester Chamber of SUBMITTED PHOTO be reaching for next. Commerce. “We’ve come a long way from our humble “We have the high-performing brands across all Rob Sands didn’t join the family business beginnings in 1945 as a small wine producer in three categories and can deliver on what consumers straight out of school. After earning his law degree upstate New York,” says Rob Sands, president are looking for.” and J.D. from Pace University School of Law in and CEO of Constellation Brands. Rob Sands’ Rochester Business Hall of Fame 1984, he began his career as an associate with Har- induction continues a family trend. Marvin Sands ter Secrest & Emery in Rochester. He joined Con- and Richard Sands were members of the first induction class in 2001. Continued on page 15

For All You Bring Our Community We salute you, ROB SANDS. Congratulations from your friends at HB Cornerstone.

99 GARNSEY ROAD, PITTSFORD, NY 14534 | 585-419-8907 | HBCORNERSTONE.COM HB Cornerstone is a subsidiary of Harris Beach PLLC.

14 Cornerstone_2017-Roc-Hall-Fame.indd 1 9/21/2017 3:06:35 PM 14 OCTOBER 6, 2017 ▪ 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame SUBMITTED PHOTO Rob Sands, middle, and Constellation Brands employees at Obregon Brewery in Mexico this year.

our next level of success,” Rob Sands says. “Mostly, dedication to their work and their community. SANDS I think the rigor of the law practice was great “Our company has many successes, but none Continued from page 14 preparation for meeting the demands of leading a of them would be possible without our people,” growing Fortune 500 company.” he says. “They are an example to me and to this stellation—then Canandaigua Wine Co. Inc. — in Rob Sands worked his way through the ranks as community because of their unending capacity and 1986 as general counsel overseeing legal affairs. Canandaigua Wine Co. Inc. became Canandaigua commitment to reflect and honor our family busi- Brands Inc. in 1997 and then Constellation Brands ness values both at work and in the communities “When I started at Constellation, I was in a Inc. in 2000. He became executive vice president where we live and operate. newly created role as in-house counsel. My job and general counsel in 1993, then chief executive “People are our most valuable assets and people was to focus on the legal aspects of growing the officer of Constellation International in 1998. are one of our core values.” company and bring many of the skills I gained to Throughout all of the growth under his leader- Ben Jacobs is the editor of the our growing family business and help launch us to ship, Rob Sands has prized his employees for their Rochester Business Journal.

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RIVERWOODTECHCAMPUS.COM 15 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame ▪ OCTOBER 6, 2017 15 Pursuing creativity,

Rochester Business Hall of Fame inductees by year: they built Rochester

2001 2003 n John Jacob Bausch and Henry n Burton and Charles August, Lomb, who co-founded global brothers and co-founders of Monro eye-care leader Bausch & Lomb Inc.; Muffler Brake Inc., an industry leader; n Chester Carlson, whose n Patrick Barry, who co-ran Mt. revolutionary invention launched Hope Garden and Nurseries, helping Xerox Corp.; to develop it into the world’s largest n George Eastman, who built such operation; Eastman Kodak Co., one of the most n John D. Brush, who built Sentry recognizable brands in the world; Group from a Depression-era start; n Frank Gannett, founder of media n Bal Dixit, founder and chairman giant Gannett Co. Inc.; of Newtex Industries Inc., who built a n James Gleason, who has made global firm on his substitute for Gleason Corp. a world leader in gear asbestos; production technology; n George Ellwanger, who n Kate Gleason, a trailblazer in established and co-ran the world- manufacturing and real estate; famous Mt. Hope Garden and n Thomas Golisano, Paychex Inc. Nurseries in the 19th century; founder and Rochester’s first n James Wilmot, who founded billionaire; 2001, Chester Carlson Wilmorite Properties Inc. in 1950; 2003, James Wilmot n Marvin and Richard Sands, the and politician and newspaper publisher chairman of Nothnagle Realtors and father-and-son team whose n Louise Woerner, CEO and of international renown; founder of Nothnagle Home Securities Constellation Brands Inc. is the chairwoman of HCR Home Care, n Jacob Freeman, an orphaned Corp., the first nonbank mortgage world‘s largest wine company; which she founded in 1978. Hungarian immigrant, and Jeremiah lender licensed in New York; n Austin Steward, a pioneering Hickey, who co-founded Hickey- n E. Philip Saunders, who has businessman and abolitionist; Freeman, one of the most successful steered a wide range of enterprises, n Robert Wegman, creator of the 2004 clothing manufacturers of its time; including the Sugar Creek chain of Wegmans Food Markets Inc. n Martha Matilda Harper, founder n Ralph Cantisano, whose family supermarket empire; and convenience stores, W.W. Griffith Oil of the country’s first franchising introduced the popular Ragu brand Corp. and Truckstops of America; and n Joseph Wilson, who led Xerox to of pasta sauce and who formed and operation and a proponent of women n F. Ritter Shumway, who worldwide growth and renown. led Cantisano Foods Inc.; in business; assembled a manufacturing empire n Howard Coles, whose newspaper, n Nelson and Norman Leenhouts, that culminated in the creation of the Frederick Douglass Voice, gave 2002 brothers and co-founders of Home Sybron Corp. Properties Inc., a real estate Rochester’s African-American n Matthew Augustine, owner of investment trust that operates on the community its public voice; Eltrex Industries, founded as a response East Coast; n Max Farash, who transformed a 2005 to Rochester’s 1964 race riots; n Nathaniel Rochester, founder of commercial air-conditioning business n Ernest Del Monte, chairman and Rochester; and into one of the region’s leading n Ezra Andrews and James Briggs, CEO of E.J. Del Monte Corp.; n Hiram Sibley, founder of construction and real estate the early leaders of Lawyers n Frederick Douglass, a former Western Union Telegraph Co. development firms; Cooperative Publishing Co.; slave who became an orator, n Philip Nothnagle, owner and n Ronald Fielding, who helped FEARLESS IS BEING A LEADER 16 16 OCTOBER 6, 2017 ▪ 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame Congratulations ROB SANDS ON YOUR INDUCTION INTO THE ROCHESTER BUSINESS HALL OF FAME

Cheers! FROM YOUR CONSTELLATION BRANDS FAMILY

SOMETIMES, OUR HIGHEST HEIGHTS HAPPEN LONG BEFORE TAKEOFF. Proud to support Junior Achievement of Rochester.

17 transformed the firm his great- 2008 grandfather founded into one of the n Arunas Chesonis, who built Paetec largest commercial construction Holding Corp. into a telecom force; companies in the Northeast; n James Hammer, whose Hammer n Ferdinand and Gregory Smith, Packaging Corp. became a global who have built Jay Advertising into a printing powerhouse; nationally known firm; and n Raymond Hickok, who led n Ford and Subaru dealer Kitty Van Hickok Manufacturing, the world’s Bortel, whose Subaru franchise ranks largest maker of men’s belts, and the among top U.S. dealers for sales. Young Presidents’ Organization; n Robert Hurlbut, a pioneer in the nation’s shift from traditional nursing 2010 homes to senior living facilities; n Thomas Bonadio, founder of the n Elliott Landsman, who created Bonadio Group, one of the first three successful real estate and public accounting firms in New York construction companies; and to expand beyond auditing and n John “Jack” Wehle, who grew accounting to business advisory and Genesee Brewing Co. into one of the financial services; top breweries in the nation. n Harlan Calkins, chairman and 2005, John Riedman CEO of Rochester Midland Corp., a cleaning and disinfectant company pioneer changes that made n Dennis and Laurence Kessler, 2009 founded by his grandfather with municipal bond funds popular who created an eatery empire with n James Cunningham, whose operations in five dozen countries; nationwide; nearly 70 restaurants; luxury carriage firm was the largest n Abraham Feinbloom and William n Francis and George French, n T. Carl Nixon and Thomas employer in Rochester in the 1880s; Feinbloom, founders of Champion whose ingenuity made French’s Hargrave, who guided the growth of n John LiDestri, who leads a $500 Products Inc., an athletic wear Mustard an American food classic; the city ‘s largest law firm; and million food company with strong company, and pioneers in garment n Thomas Gosnell, who expanded n Walter Parkes, who built one of local roots; manufacturing; Lawyers Cooperative into the New York’s largest electrical n Thomas Judson Jr., who has second-largest law book publisher in contractors. the United States; n R. Wayne LeChase, who grew his firm into one of the top 20 2007 construction companies in the n Ronald Bittner, who led Northeast, and Rochester’s phone company as it n John Riedman, who built one of doubled in size to nearly $2.5 billion the nation’s top privately held in revenue; insurance companies. n Richard Dorschel, who built a car dealership into a $300 million business with 500 employees; 2006 n George Hamlin, who nurtured a n Morton Adams, who helped a community banking institution with partnership of small canners and a more than $1 billion in assets; farmers’ cooperative grow into a n David Kearns, who encouraged nearly $1 billion business; diversity and quality as CEO of Xerox n Laurence Glazer and Harold Corp.; and Samloff, who built Rochester’s n William Stolze and Herbert largest real estate developer and Vanden Brul, co-founders of RF property management firm; Communications and champions of entrepreneurship. 2007, George Hamlin

18 18 OCTOBER 6, 2017 ▪ 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame Congratulations to Victor E. Salerno, Rob Sands and Christine Whitman from your friends at M&T.

M&T also honors the accomplishments and contributions of William Levine.

2010, Harlan Calkins 2009, Kitty Van Bortel

Congratulations to the Rochester Business Hall of Fame Class of 2017

We help your business deliver® 20 decarolis.com 585-254-1169 20 OCTOBER 6, 2017 ▪ 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame 2015, Mark Davitt

Harris, whose family firm Harris employs nearly 800 in the student- Seeds was launched in 1863 and still loan collection business; operates nationwide from Rochester n Partners Arthur Finocchario, Robert 2014, Jane Glazer headquarters; Latour and Donald Tomeny, whose B&L n Robert Morgan, who built Wholesale Supply was ranked one of n Fred Gordon Jr. and Lucius Morgan Management LLC into a Rochester’s Top 100 fastest-growing “Bob” Gordon, whose Mixing 2012 multimillion-dollar real estate private companies 11 times; Equipment Co. became a world n Frederick Berkeley III, who grew ownership firm; and n I.A. “Drew” Morris, who led G.W. leader and innovator in the Graham Corp., co-founded by his n Dilip Vellodi, founder of Lisk Co. Inc. from the Great manufacture of industrial mixers; and grandfather, into an international Sutherland Global Services Inc., Depression to become a leading n John Summers Jr., who grew his company while preserving local jobs; which employs more than 30,000 electromechanical products father’s business, Jasco Tools Inc., n Frank Chiaino and John Purcell, people worldwide. manufacturer; and into a holding company for four Fibertech Networks co-founders, who n Michael Nuccitelli and Ronald firms, including the largest tool-and- expanded the firm in a rough Ricotta, who built up Nationwide die manufacturer in Rochester. economy from five employees to 250; 2014 Precision Products, Parlec Inc. and n Michael Jones and Geoffrey n John Bruning and Robert Century Mold Co. Inc. Rosenberger, founders of Clover Hopkins, optical engineers who as 2011 Capital Management; the leaders of Tropel Corp. were n Joseph Klein, who built Klein n Richard Kaplan, a serial lab-to-market visionaries; 2016 Steel Service Inc. from a tiny family entrepreneur who has guided n Paul DeCarolis, who stepped up n Roger Friedlander, who was a operation into a leading regional companies including Pictometry to lead his father’s trucking company pioneer of next-day delivery and business; International Corp. and Torvec Inc. and built a fleet of more than 2,000 stockless inventory through n David Reh, who made his mark toward growth; and vehicles; Spectrum Office Products; through Gorbel Inc., Retrotech Inc., n Frank and George Taylor, whose n Jane Glazer, founder of QCI n William Konar, whose Clinton Ravenwood Golf Club and other Taylor Instruments focused on Direct, a leading catalog and online Merchandising Inc. was one of the ventures; instrument precision and customer business that carried more than first U.S. chains of discount n Rob, George and John Norris, service at a time when both were rare. 4,000 products; and drugstores; Suzy Hofsass and Anne Wells, n Claude H. Wright, who led a n Partners Salvatore LaBella and third-generation owners of turnaround and explosive growth at Sergio Esteban, whose LaBella Seabreeze Amusement Park, one of 2013 Wright Beverage Distributing. Associates P.C. has been named one the oldest parks in the world; and n Lauren Dixon and Michael of the Top 500 Global Design Firms n Henry Ward, who built Ward’s Schwabl, leaders of Dixon Schwabl by Engineering News-Record; and Natural Science Establishment into a Advertising, founded by Dixon in 1987; 2015 n Amy Tait, who co-founded worldwide provider of science n Joseph Harris, Selah Harris, n Mark Davitt, whose ConServe Broadstone Real Estate LLC and specimens and equipment. Margaret Harris Sheldon and Joseph began as a one-man shop and now grew it into a $2 billion business.

The Rochester, NY Chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) would like to congratulate it’s Board President, Vic Salerno on his induction into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame. 21 2017 Rochester Business Hall of Fame ▪ OCTOBER 6, 2017 21 Bank of America is honored to support Junior Achievement and sponsor the Rochester Business Hall of Fame Thank you for all that you do in Rochester. Your presence here creates connections that enrich our entire community, and we are honored to support the great work you are doing.

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Proceeds from this event will enable students in the Greater Rochester area to participate in Junior Achievement programs focused on financial literacy, workplace readiness and entrepreneurship. 23 WWW.RBJ.NET