Annual Dinner
The Chamber's Annual Dinner will be held Thursday, November 4, 2010.
L.O.U.I.E. Award -- Victor "Vic" Vena -- The Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce honored the contributions of Victor A. Vena with the 2009 L.O.U.I.E. Award during GOACC's Annual Dinner. The award (Love of Olean United In Enterprise) will be the
20th 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. Vic Vena is a product of Olean educational system -- he attended St. John's Grade School, Archbishop Walsh High School and graduated Ferris State University in 1975. He was pharmacist at CVS from 1975 to 1980 and at St. Francis Hospital from 1980 to 1985. In 1985, 25 years ago, he opened Vic Vena Pharmacy and added The Wellness Store in 1999. In 2003, he acquired Allen's Wine & Liquor; and in 2005, began Misty Meadows Alpaca Farm.
Vic and his wife, Bonita, have been married 30 years and are parents of four children; all four are graduates of Olean High School and St. Bonaventure University.
Since 1985, Vic has been a longtime sponsor of McKean County Raceway and numerous race teams in a multitude of classes. He is a huge supporter of Little League, girl scouts, boy scouts, benefits, girls' softball, youth soccer, high school teams, churches, child services, multi-area volunteer fire departments.
At present, Vic is the Pharmacy Consultant for Cattaraugus County Health Department; a board member of Quality Care Pharmacies, Mount Irenaeus, and Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce. He is a dedicated active member in the National Community Pharmacists Association, the Pharmacy Association of WNY, the Pharmacist Society of NY and on the National Advisory Committee for Pharmacy First. Named the WNY Pharmacist of the Year in 1996 and again in 2006, he was named to the list of national “Independent Pharmacy Superstars” three times and in three difference categories in “Drug Topic,” a national magazine.
Through the years, he started Olean Community Schools Shoe Fund, was a founding member of Olean General Hospital Heart Beat Club, and Mercy Flight, taught religious education at St. Bonaventure Campus Parish and St. John's Roman Catholic Parish, was chairman and is a long time sponsor of Santa Claus Lane and is active in several local charities.
Vic had the first pharmacy computer system in Olean; he was first in area to counsel patients; first to develop a special counseling area; first in WNY with RX 30 pharmacy software; first robotics prescription processor; first pharmacy to volunteer for the Cattaraugus County SMART Team; first registered pharmacist vaccinator (developing mobile vaccine van); only pharmacist/member of the Olean Area Wellness Consortium; and, first “Southern Tier Symphony Maestro for the Moment” triumphing over Jean Sayegh through his ruthless campaign manager, Father Greg.
Enterprising Business Award -- Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro, PC has been named recipient of the 2009 Enterprising Business award given by Greater Olean Area Chamber of Commerce. The award honors those who exemplify the enterprising spirit of community and commercial growth in the greater Olean community and will be presented at the GOACC 104th Annual Dinner scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5, at Premier Banquet Center. The Enterprising Business Award is the highest distinction for a business given by the Chamber's 705 members. The Award is given annually to a privately owned business in the greater Olean area that demonstrates a well-planned, thorough and serious approach to business development and exemplifies the unique “hometown” charm of the area in manners of administration, customer service and quality of product.
Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro, P.C. was founded in 1971 by Francis J. Weinaug in Olean, New York. The firm experienced steady growth and opened a second office in Jamestown, New York in 1978. In 1993 the firm merged with John F. Whipple, Jr., CPA and in February 1999 the firm acquired GFC Business Systems, a full service payroll company. The firm formed the multi-faceted business consulting and advisory firm, The Vineyard Group, LLC in August of 2004.
The firm moved from across the street to the new Lincoln Park Office Suites (old YMCA building) in May 2007. In December of 2007, Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro, P.C merged and combined practices with Lloyd and Company, CPA, of Jamestown, NY. In the fall of 2008, the firm opened it's third office location in Orchard Park, NY and moved their Jamestown location into the newly built BWB Center, located in downtown Jamestown, in November 2008.
Today, BWB has over fifty professionals and paraprofessionals on staff, including 25 CPAs (26 employees in the Olean office location), more than doubling in size in the last two decades. The firm offers wide ranging assistance in the areas of accounting, auditing, tax and advisory services with special expertise in governmental entities and not-for-profit organizations, as well as several well developed niches in the for-profit industry, including manufacturing and insurance. BWB's continued growth can be attributed to the loyalty of their clients and their staff's strong commitment to them and the region's business community.
“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. Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro, PC (BWB) has substantiated history as an established business; has sustained expansion, addition of territories, growth in square footage occupied and has seen a growth in number of employees. BWB and their employees should also be recognized for their contributions to community-oriented projects,” said Jim Stitt, Jr., GOACC Board President.
GOACC
| 2008 Annual Dinner | |
| 2007 Annual Dinner |