UB Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership Introduces New Executive Education Breakfast Sessions

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership (CEL) in the University at Buffalo School of Management is offering a series of executive-education breakfast sessions to be held monthly beginning in January.

The sessions are designed to give area professionals an opportunity to broaden their knowledge of leading-edge practices and network with other members of the business community. They will be held in Room 106 in the Jacobs Management Center on the UB North (Amherst) Campus.

Breakfast co-sponsors are Advantage Energy, Inc.; CEL Alumni Association; Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP; M&T Bank; Phillips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine & Huber LLP; Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP; Twelve/Three Marketing, and FrontRange Solutions.

Ten different sessions will be offered:

o "Understanding Tax Law Changes" will be held Jan. 31 from 8-10 a.m. The session will be facilitated by Mick Penizotto and Cheryl Hall, tax partners at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP.

o "Avoiding Common Employment Law Pitfalls" will be held Feb. 28 from 8-10 a.m. The session will be led by Philip H. McIntyre, an attorney with Jaeckle Fleischmann & Mugel, LLP.

o "How to Turn Around Your Business Performance -- Before It's Needed" will be held March 14 from 8-10 a.m. The session will be led by Gerry Murak, a turnaround performance specialist and owner/principal of Murak & Associates, LLC.

o "How to Land and Retain Top Talent" will be held April 25 from 8-10 a.m. The session will be led by Sharon Randaccio and Amy Pearl, both of Performance Management Partners, Inc.

o "Navigating Through the Maze of Banks and Agencies to Find the Best Possible Financing Terms" will be held May 30 from 8-10 a.m. The panel session will be moderated by Mark Martin, vice president and sales manager at M&T Bank. Panel participants will be Frank Sciortino of the U.S. Small Business Administration; Paul Leone of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency; and representatives from the New York Business Development Corporation, Buffalo Economic Renaissance Corporation, and Rural Opportunities, Inc.

o "Using IT to Drive Company Growth" will be held June 27 from 8-10 a.m. The panel session will be moderated by Gerry Murak of Murak & Associates, Inc. Panelists will be Geoffrey Boulden, founder/owner of Twelve/Three Marketing; Duane Madyun, president of Cardservice of WNY; Gwen McIvor, president of BridgeLight Group, and Joseph McMahon, president/engineering manager of Oxygen Generating Systems Inc.

o "Buying and Selling a Business in New York" will be held July 25 from 8-10 a.m. The session will be led by Frederick Attea, David Horan, Annabelle Irey, and David Murray, partners in the corporate department of Phillips, Lytle, Hitchcock, Blaine & Huber LLP.

o "EQ (Emotional Intelligence)" will be held Aug. 29 from 8-10 a.m. The session will be led by Judith Spear, principal consultant/president of The Spear Group, Inc.

o "Maximize Your Company's Most Valuable Resource" will be held on Sept. 26 from 8-10 a.m. The session will be led by Robert Romeo, vice president of M&T Bank.

o "Looking Out for #2: A Point-by-Point Guide to Getting Your Marketing Together" will be held on Oct. 31 from 8-10 a.m. The session will be led by Marc Adler and Mitch Flynn of Flynn & Friends advertising agency.

The cost for each session will be $40, which will include all program materials and light breakfast, and $350 for all 10 sessions. Discounts are available to CEL alumni and to organizations enrolling more than one employee. Space is limited for each session, those interested are encouraged to register early by calling the CEL Office at (716) 645-3000.