Donna DeCarolis named 2025 Industry Leader Award winner
The Partnership
September 24, 2025
Blog Categories
The Buffalo Niagara Partnership is honored to recognize Donna DeCarolis as its 2025 Industry Leader Award winner. The recently retired president of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation spent more than 40 years of service ascending through several different business areas within the company.
Donna has played an important role as a vocal advocate for customer affordability, energy reliability and the overall impact on New York’s ability to maintain its business competitiveness due to the state’s climate and decarbonization legislation. Her active presence in Albany identified real regional differences with policies that might work downstate but could have a harmful impact on upstate New Yorkers.
She has also been active in her support of the community, serving in leadership capacities on the boards of the Business Council of New York, the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin Martin House Restoration Complex, Leadership Buffalo, Shea’s O’Connell Preservation Guild, the University at Buffalo’s School of Management, Buffalo Sabres Foundation, Niagara University and the African American Veteran’s Monument.
“We are proud to honor Donna with this year’s Industry Leader Award,” said BNP President & CEO Dottie Gallagher. “Throughout her time at National Fuel, Donna has been a tireless advocate for affordability, reliability and fairness in energy policy, ensuring that the voices of Western New Yorkers were heard in Albany. Her leadership, vision and deep commitment to our community have left a lasting mark on both the business landscape and the region as a whole.”
For playing such a vital role in the Buffalo Niagara region, she will be presented the award at our third annual Economic Development Summit on Oct. 9. The culmination event of the 2025 Industry Leaders Forum (ILF) schedule brings together member companies to strategize for the year ahead.
John Persons, CEO of Tops Friendly Markets parent company Northeast Grocery, was the inaugural winner of the Industry Leader Award. West Herr Auto Group President & CEO Scott Bieler received the award last year.
A look back at last year:
Related Posts
Policy focus: Power Trends Report underscores energy concerns
The New York Independent System Operator released its annual Power Trends report, which details the state of New York’s electric grid. The report’s findings are concerning and underscore the need for a more sensible approach to climate and energy policy.
How the State Budget Made Key Investments to Support Tech Hub Efforts
New York State lawmakers recently approved the FY2026 state budget. The agreement included several key wins for the semiconductor industry, building upon the state’s demonstrated support for the SMART I-Corridor.
Where the candidates stand: Key economic issues in the Buffalo mayoral race
On Thursday, May 1, the BNP hosted a Democratic Mayoral Candidate Forum. For the first time since 2006, the City of Buffalo is electing a new mayor. The office has drawn considerable interest, leading to a crowded field of candidates running in the June 24 primary election. To help BNP members meet the candidates and learn where they stand on the issues facing our regional economy, the BNP invited the top three fundraising candidates to participate.
CEOs Speak: A cautious rise in optimism
At our recent CEOs Speak event—the only forum in Buffalo Niagara showcasing the results from the annual Upstate New York Business Leader Survey—local leaders delivered a powerful message: optimism is cautiously rising, but government intervention remains a persistent obstacle to regional economic growth.