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Dottie Gallager, CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, and Donna DeCarolis, recently retired president of National Fuel

The Buffalo Niagara Partnership hosted its 2025 Economic Development Summit on Oct. 9 at Resurgence Brewing Co. – the culminating event of this year’s Industry Leaders Forum (ILF) series. This was the BNP’s largest summit since launching the event in 2023, bringing together more than 100 business and community leaders from across the region.

Here are the highlights from this year's summit:

Building a sustainable future

Throughout 2025, sustainability was the guiding theme of the ILF, sponsored by Bank of America. Across every sector – from manufacturing and energy to healthcare and logistics – BNP members explored how businesses can drive growth while protecting our region’s environmental and social well-being. Through focused discussions, data-driven insights and real-world examples, participants identified barriers to progress and highlighted practical strategies that make sustainability a competitive advantage.

The series convened more than 300 companies, 50 regional and national thought leaders and 15 strategic partners this year across nine individual forums representing the industries driving Western New York’s growth. The Economic Development Summit built on these conversations, focusing on how to translate shared insight into action for our region’s long-term success.

Insights and perspective

Ted Janicki, Bank of America

The summit reflected the core themes that have defined this year’s ILF: long-term growth, responsible investment and positioning Buffalo Niagara for a sustainable economic future.

Ted Janicki, Bank of America’s Buffalo Niagara President, opened the program with a 2026 financial forecast, providing valuable perspective to help employers plan for both the short- and mid-term future.

Stephen McAllister, Vice President for the Eastern Region at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, then led a dynamic discussion on how emerging federal policies and national developments are shaping the business landscape for companies of all sizes and industries.

Honoring excellence and impact

The Economic Development Summit concluded with one of the BNP’s most meaningful traditions – the presentation of the Industry Leader Award, which recognizes individuals who exemplify leadership within their industry and serve as stewards of Buffalo Niagara’s business community.

The BNP was proud to honor Donna DeCarolis, recently retired president of National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation, with the 2025 Industry Leader Award. Over her 40-year career, Donna was a vocal advocate in Albany for customer affordability and energy reliability, championing policies critical to New York’s business competitiveness amid the state’s evolving climate and decarbonization legislation. Beyond her professional achievements, she has been a dedicated community leader, serving on several local boards and inspiring generations of leaders across Western New York.

Past award recipients have included:

• 2024: Scott Bieler, President & CEO, West Herr Auto Group
• 2023: John Persons, CEO, Northeast Grocery, Inc.

Looking ahead

As the BNP continues its mission to build a stronger, more competitive and more connected Buffalo Niagara, the 2025 Economic Development Summit served as both a reflection of our progress and a springboard toward the future.

The BNP and its members are ensuring that our region's growth remains sustainable, inclusive and built to last. We are looking forward to keeping these meaningful conversations going in 2026.

The 2026 Industry Leaders Forum will begin in January. Click here to learn how to join or become a sponsor.

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