Honor Retiring Chamber Leader

Assembly Resolution No. 782 BY: M. of A. Walter COMMENDING Colleen C. DiPirro upon the occasion of her retirement as President and CEO of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce after 36 years of invaluable public service WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the quality and character of life in the communities across New York State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community and its citizenry; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend Colleen C. DiPirro upon the occasion of her retirement as President and CEO of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce after 36 years of invaluable public service; and WHEREAS, This auspicious milestone will be celebrated at a Retirement Party held in her honor on Thursday, February 1, 2018, at Park Country Club in Williamsville, New York; and WHEREAS, Colleen C. DiPirro majored in marketing at Alfred State College; she furthered her education by attending the Institute for Organizational Management at Notre Dame, and later, the University of Delaware at Newark; and WHEREAS, Prior to joining the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, Colleen C. DiPirro worked for the Erie County Legislature, and held the positions of retail manager and US Air Flight Attendant; and WHEREAS, In 1981, Colleen C. DiPirro began her illustrious career with the Amherst Chamber of Commerce as the single staff person; under her luminous leadership, the Chamber has seen an increase in membership from less than 200 members to over 3,000, representing more than 1,300 businesses; in addition, the annual budget has grown from $24,000 to over $1.9 million; and WHEREAS, Currently, the Amherst Chamber of Commerce employs eight full-time, professional staff members and operates out of a suite of offices in Centerpointe Corporate Park in Williamsville, New York; and WHEREAS, Throughout her tenure, Colleen C. DiPirro has accomplished numerous goals; with her guidance, the Chamber assisted the University at Buffalo's Athletics Department in attaining Division 1 status; and WHEREAS, Colleen C. DiPirro is also proud of the role the organization plays in alerting its members of public policy issues; and WHEREAS, In addition to her work with the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, this dynamic woman was the first President of the WNY Chamber Alliance, an organization for Chamber Executives serving an eight-county region; in 1999, she served on the Board of Directors of New York State Chamber of Commerce Executives; and WHEREAS, Colleen C. DiPirro was selected by Ralph Wilson, the late owner of the Buffalo Bills, to serve on the Project 21 initiative, and today, serves as event and sponsorship coordinator and a member of the Advisory Board for the Buffalo Bills Alumni; and WHEREAS, Colleen C. DiPirro was a participant of the Transition Team for several Erie County Executives, and was a member of numerous not-for-profit and community boards of directors including WNY Autism Foundation, Hospice Playhouse Project, Executive Women International, Buffalo Prep, Unyts, and Williamsville Sweet Home Junior Football Association, as well as Shea's Performing Arts; moreover, she held the title of the first Chairman of the University of Buffalo Leadership Development Program; and WHEREAS, Former Governor George Pataki appointed Colleen C. DiPirro to serve as a Commissioner on the Peace Bridge Authority and to the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct, and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo appointed Colleen to the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council, a position she has held since it was created; in 2016, Governor Cuomo appointed her to the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Board of Directors; and WHEREAS, Colleen C. DiPirro is also a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of Independent Health and was appointed to the Erie County Industrial Development Agency Policy Committee by County Executive Mark Poloncarz; and WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of her community service, a period of constructive involvement, Colleen C. DiPirro has stood constant in dignity, good grace and humor; and WHEREAS, For her steadfast and unremitting commitment to Erie County, Colleen C. DiPirro was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Western New York by Business First several times, and one of the Top Ten Most Influential Women in 2016; and WHEREAS, Colleen C. DiPirro was also the first woman honored as the Executive of the Year by the Buffalo Sales and Marketing Executives in

1998; in that same year, Daemen College named her their Citizen of the Year; and WHEREAS, In 1999, Colleen C. DiPirro was the recipient of the Governor's Award for Excellence in Business, and in 2009, she was recognized as the Buffalo Bills Citizen of the Year; and WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her two sons, and her four grandchildren, all of whom have shown her love and support and rejoice in her many achievements; and WHEREAS, During her much deserved retirement, Colleen C. DiPirro plans on serving as a consultant for economic development and public policy at the Chamber, and will be available to lend her expertise when needed; and WHEREAS, As President and CEO of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, Colleen C. DiPirro served with loyalty, honor and distinction, earning her the admiration, esteem and affection of her colleagues and the community-at-large; and WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individual for the benefit of others which Colleen C. DiPirro has displayed throughout her life; and WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body that those who enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend Colleen C. DiPirro upon the occasion of her retirement as President and CEO of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce after 36 years of invaluable public service, and to wish her continued success in all her future endeavors; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Colleen C. DiPirro.