Annual Dinner

 Tom Buffamante has been selected to receive the “L.O.U.I.E.” awards at the Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce (GOACC) Annual Dinner on Wednesday, November 2. The Annual Dinner begins at 6 PM at Premier Banquet Center.

Larry Sorokes, GOACC board president, said, “The L.O.U.I.E. is presented annually to an exceptional person who epitomizes the enterprising spirit and the qualities embodied in the life of Louis Marra; Tom is deserving of that award and recognition.”  GOACC’s L.O.U.I.E. Award stands for ‘Love of Olean United in Enterprise.’

The 2011 “Business Enterprising Awards” will be presented this year to Napoleon Engineering Services and the Paul Brown Motors. The Business Enterprising Award was established as a way to recognize GOACC members for continually and generously giving and positively impacting our communities.  The Enterprising Business Award is the highest distinction for a business given by the Chamber's 718 members.

An informal reception will start at 6 PM, with the dinner slated for 7 PM.  Tickets for the event are $42 with a menu of Chicken Invaltini.  Patron dinner tickets for $52 and corporate tables of eight for $500 are also available to reserve. Patrons and corporates receive a listing in the dinner program. Please call Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce at 372-4433 or e-mail info@oleanny.com for reservations by October 28 or more information on the dinner ceremony.
 

GOACC

 

 

The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce will honor the contributions of Thomas E. Buffamante with the 2011 L.O.U.I.E. Award during GOACC's upcoming Annual Dinner.  The award (Love of Olean United In Enterprise) will be the 22nd presented since its inception and is bestowed upon an individual who symbolizes the enterprising spirit for the greater Olean community, qualities that were embodied in the life of Louis Marra.  Thomas E. Buffamante, CPA is a shareholder and director of Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro, P.C. a certified public firm with offices in Olean, Jamestown, and Orchard Park.  Tom was born and raised in Salamanca.  He is a graduate of Salamanca City Central School District.  He continued his education at the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated in 1974 with a degree in accounting.  Tom has practiced public accounting continuously since that time, joining his firm, Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro, P.C. in February 1979.  
 
Tom has a diversified background that reflects knowledge in many areas of accounting, taxation and consulting. His strengths are primarily in the area of business tax planning and consultation. In addition, Tom has insight in the areas of individual tax planning, estate planning, and business and personal financial planning.  Tom's professional memberships include the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants.
 
Tom’s community involvement is extensive.  He has selflessly dedicated many years of service to our communities, including the Upper Allegheny Health System, the Olean General Hospital Foundation, the Cattaraugus County IDA, and the Challenger Learning Center of the Twin Tier Region. 
 
Tom has served and continues to serve on the Olean General Hospital Board of Directors. He served for 10 years and then, after only a one-year hiatus, during which he remained on the Finance Committee, Tom again accepted the Hospital Board’s invitation to return to serve yet another term. He served for two more years until the integration of Olean General Hospital and Bradford Regional Medical Center, which created Upper Allegheny Health System, where he has served for the past two years.  Presently he serves as chairman of the Upper Allegheny Health System’s Governance Committee and also serves on the Finance, Investment, Audit and Compliance and Executive committees.
 
In 2003, Tom was elected to the Olean General Hospital Foundation’s Board of Directors where he has served for 9 years.  Throughout this time, he has served as the Foundation's treasurer and as a member on the Finance, Nominating and Executive committees.
 
In addition to giving his time, Tom also gives from his treasure. He was one of the first to support Olean General Hospital’s Vision 2000 Building Campaign with a leadership gift. He was one of the first members of the Mabel Norton Adams planned giving society and he faithfully supports the annual campaign generously.  The Olean General Hospital Foundation has raised $37 million since inception.
 
Each Board would testify that Tom is one of their most well respected, devoted and hard working members.  He misses few meetings and supports many initiatives. He is admired for his attention to detail and ability to think strategically.  He is quite an extraordinary and exceptional person.
 
Tom is also currently the chairman of the Board of Directors of the Cattaraugus County Industrial Development Agency, where he has served for 10 years.  He is a board member and treasurer of the Challenger Learning Center of the Twin Tier Region, which he has served for 5 years, and also serves on their Finance and Executive committees.  He is an active member of the Our Lady of Peace Church and serves on their Finance Committee.  An avid golfer, Tom is a long time member of the Bartlett Country Club and member and treasurer of Elkdale Country Club. 
 
Tom has been married to his wife, Kay for 36 years.  They reside in Great Valley, NY and have 2 grown sons, James and Joseph.  James and wife Christy have a daughter named Jordan and a son named Thomas. Joseph and wife Lindsey have a daughter named Sidney and are expecting a second child in January.
 
Larry Sorokes, GOACC board president, said, “The L.O.U.I.E. is presented annually to an exceptional person who epitomizes the enterprising spirit and the qualities embodied in the life of Louis Marra; Tom is deserving of that award and recognition.”

 

 

Paul Brown Motors was incorporated in 1952 as a Dodge car and truck dealer. The business was sold by Mr. Paul Brown to John Brairton in 1984.  John was formerly a Chevrolet dealer in Honeoye Falls, NY but knew Olean well as a graduate of St Bonaventure University.  Terry Brairton joins the family business in 1994.  Business grows steadily during the 90's and helps them land the Jeep franchise in 2003.  Since 1998, Paul Brown Motors has received the prestigious "Five Star Award for Excellence" in sales and service from Chrysler Corporation for  13 years and counting.  In a move to diversify their product line and offer an import car line to the Olean market, Paul Brown Kia opened at 1211 East State Street in December 2010.  February 2011, Paul Brown Motors adds the Chrysler brand to their Dodge and Jeep lines, accompanied by an extensive facility renovation at 1145 East State Street.  April 2011, Paul Brown Kia renovates1211 East State to become a 'Kia Image " facility.  The company employs 28 people.

Erick Laine, who nominated Paul Brown Motors, stated, “Paul Brown has been very successful in maintaining a strong and growing sales business and took the steps to make certain their growth continued.  In addition, they have completed major upgrades to their facilities and in my view, this indicates a very strong loyalty to the area and the determination to remain a major factor in its growth.”  “Small businesses make a big impact. It’s their activity that keeps the area vibrant, supplying valuable jobs and delivering the goods and services that make our lives a bit easier.  Paul Brown Motors has substantiated history as an established business; has sustained expansion, and has seen a growth in number of employees,” added Larry Sorokes, GOACC Board President.

PHOTO CAPTION – Terry Brairton, President Paul Brown Motors (seen back row, second one in on left) is very proud of his employees and the new KIA facility.

 

 

Napoleon Engineering Services (NES) began operations in Olean June 1997.  The company is a custom bearing manufacturer that also provides bearing inspection programs, bearing testing, component manufacturing and grinding, and failure analysis and bearing design.  Growing out of its initial space, NES moved to an Adams Street building in 2000 and then in 2004 added additional space, with a building on South Union Street.

In 2006, NES began plans on construction of a new facility.  They found a new home on a 2.5-acre building site in the brownfields area at the former location of Van Der Horst Plant No. 2.  The 20,000-square-foot manufacturing facility is located on Johnson Street in Olean.  They currently employ 40 people.

A lifelong resident of Allegany, NY, Chris Napoleon, President and Chief Engineer of Napoleon Engineering Services knew that the Olean area could sustain and expand his business as his decision to stay/build in the area.  He executed a well-planned, thorough and serious approach to its (continued) development.

“The combined products and services that have been developed at NES are truly some of the most unique in the industry. Their commitment to the development of bearing technology and manufacturing excellence for advancements in product, process and application capabilities is the primary reason for their continued success,” said Larry Sorokes, GOACC Board President.

PHOTO: Ed Treat, Chris Truman, Chris Napoleon, Ray O’Brien, Mike Halpainy – Team of Engineers from Napoleon Engineering Services