Montante is 2005 Niagara Frontier Executive of the Year

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Carl J. Montante, president and managing director of Uniland Development Co., has been named the 2005 Niagara Frontier Executive of the Year by the University at Buffalo School of Management.

The award will be presented to Montante at the 56th annual UB School of Management Alumni Association awards banquet at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 2 in the Millenium Airport Hotel Buffalo.

Montante was selected for the award based on a vote by the board of directors of the alumni association and past honorees, who cited his career success, civic leadership and professional integrity.

A native of Buffalo, Montante and his four siblings were raised on the city's West Side by Georgia and Michael Montante. He received an economics degree from Canisius College, a degree from the University at Buffalo Law School in 1967. He practiced law prior to founding Uniland Development Co. in 1974.

Uniland has since grown to become the largest developer of commercial business space in the Buffalo-Rochester corridor, with a developed portfolio of more than 10 million square feet of city and suburban business space. Montante leads a team of 100 professionals at Uniland who staff in-house departments, including planning and design, construction management, finance, leasing and sales and property management.

Montante is active in many community organizations in the Buffalo-Niagara region, serving as chairman of the board of directors at Catholic Health System, and on the board of directors of the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership. He also is chairman of the Holy Angels Academy Capital Campaign, and a board member of The BISON Scholarship Fund and the Foundation of the Diocese of Buffalo. He is past chairman of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Annual Fund and Sisters Hospital Foundation.

He has received recognition from a variety of community organizations, including the Western New York Philanthropist of the Year Award from the American Federation of Fundraisers, the Humanitarian Award from the Niagara Lutheran Health System and the President's Award from the National Association of Industrial and Office Parks. He also has received the Distinguished Law Alumni Award from the University at Buffalo, the Distinguished Alumni Award from Canisius College and was honored by the City of Buffalo as Buffalonian of the Year.

Montante resides in Clarence with his wife, Carol Ann. They have four children, Laura, Carl Jr., Michael and Timothy, and 10 grandchildren.

Established in 1949, the Niagara Frontier Executive of the Year Award is presented annually to a resident of the Niagara frontier. Past recipients include Robert E. Rich Sr.; Paul L. Snyder; Robert E Rich Jr.; Jeremy M. Jacobs; the late Burt P. Flickinger Jr.; the late Seymour H. Knox III; Sal H. Alfiero; Robert G. Wilmers; Bernard J. Kennedy; Reginald B. Newman II; Luiz F. Kahl, and Frank McGuire. Last year's honoree was Marsha S. Henderson.

For further information about the awards banquet, contact John Shellum, assistant dean in the UB School of Management, at (716) 645-3224.