CLN to Honor Four Individuals During ‘Leaders of the Year’ Awards Program on Aug. 13

Clockwise from upper left: McKenzie Watson, Brad Raak, JCC Small Business Development Center, Mayor Wilfred Rosas. 

MAYVILLE – The Chautauqua Leadership Network, developed in 1993, will honor four outstanding recipients at their annual Leaders of the Year Awards on Tuesday morning, Aug. 13 at Chautauqua Suites in Mayville.

Registration for the open-to-the-public event begins at  7 a.m. with the program beginning at 7:30 a.m. The event is sponsored by Purina and The Resource Center. Ticket cost is $25 per person or $250 for a table sponsorship.

Recipients

McKenzie Watson, a 2019 Jamestown High School graduate, will receive the CLN Student Leader of the Year Award which is presented to a student(s) kindergarten through college who has distinguished him or herself through service to their school and the community. This individual (group) has demonstrated excellence, leadership, scholarship, personal integrity, and dedication to their school.

The CLN Volunteer Leader of the Year Award honors Brad Raak, a former customer field representative for the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities a dedicated volunteer at the National Comedy Center and the Lucy Comedy Festival who sadly passed away in January 2019. This award is presented to an individual who as an active volunteer has demonstrated outstanding volunteer leadership by contributing their time and talent at either the local or the county level.

Jamestown Community College’s Small Business Development Center will be recognized with the CLN Community Development Leader of the Year Award. This award is presented to an individual or organization who demonstrates an ongoing and deep commitment to community development by providing meaningful service or learning opportunities. The SBDC delivers high quality business counseling and training to clients looking to start a business or improve the performance of an existing business.

Mayor Wilfred Rosas of the City of Dunkirk will receive the distinguished CLN Leader of the Year Award. This award is presented to an individual or organization who leads, inspires, and engages other members of their community for the betterment of Chautauqua County. Mayor Rosas is honorably retired from the New York State Police after 20 plus years of service and has worked in many areas throughout the State. He also worked in different units within the NY State Police, including the (S.I.U.) Special Investigations Unit, Recruitment Team and was certified as a (S.R.O.) School Resource Officer. Upon his retirement from NYSP in 2007, Mayor Rosas began working for (C.O.I.) Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc. as their Emergency Services Manager.

Past CLN Leader Recipients from 1998 to 2018 were Dr. Lillian Ney, Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Daniel Bratton, Gregory Peterson, Esq, Gebbie Foundation Board of Directors and Staff, Dr. Robert Berke, R. Bard Schaack, Esq., Kurt W. & Mark R. Maytum, Jamestown Area Medical Associates, LLP, Vincent W. Horrigan, Thomas J. Whitney, Michael P. Sullivan, Dr. Susan F. McNamara, Dr. Dennis L. Hefner, Larry Robinson, Penelope Hutton, Dr. Gregory DeCinque, Gary R. Lynn, Kristy B. Zabrodsky, Tom and Jane Becker, Thomas Benson, Asha DeHarder, Bob Crane, Jennifer Gibson, Andy Goodell, Kids with a Cause, Richard Rupprecht and Jeff Kroon.

For more information, contact Katie Young, coordinator, by e-mail at kyoung@chautauqualeadership.org or by phone at 716-338-1555.