Rochester Business Hall of Fame announces Class of 2026

Listen to this article

Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York and the Rochester Business Journal announced that three business leaders will be inducted into the Rochester Business Hall of Fame in 2026, joining 155 others who previously have been honored for their contributions to Rochester.

The new inductees will be:

• William H. Goodrich, Chairman & CEO, LeChase Construction Services, LLC
• Edward J. Pettinella (posthumous award), Former President and Chief Executive Officer, Home Properties, Inc.
• James Sydor, Chairman, Sydor Optics, Inc.

The 2026 Rochester Business Hall of Fame induction dinner will take place on Monday, October 19, 2026, at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Goodrich has worked at LeChase since 1985, progressing from vice president and partner in 1995 to chief operating officer in 1997, president in 2002, CEO in 2007, managing partner in 2008 and Chairman and CEO in 2024. Goodrich has served on the boards of the Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce, Greater Rochester Enterprise, ROC2025, CMAC Performing Arts Center, and the New York State Trooper Foundation. In 2021 he served as the campaign chair for United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes.

Pettinella, who died in January at age 76, started his career in banking at Community Savings Bank and later served as president of Charter One Bank of NY and executive vice president of Charter One Financial Inc., as well as in several management positions with Rochester Community Savings Bank. In 2001, Pettinella joined Home Properties, serving first as executive vice president and then president and CEO. He then served on the boards of Life Storage, Inc., Manning and Napier, Inc. and Royal Oak Realty Trust, Inc. His philanthropic efforts included Syracuse University, SUNY Geneseo, the YMCA, United Way and Golisano Children’s Hospital.

Sydor serves as chairman of Sydor Optics and has spent more the shaping the precision-optics industry. He has served as President of the American Precision Optics Manufacturing Association and received the SPIE President’s Award this year. Last year, Sydor Optics donated $3 million to Monroe Community College’s optics program.

Established in 2001, the Rochester Business Hall of Fame is presented annually by Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York and the Rochester Business Journal. Honorees are selected by the Hall of Fame Committee, which is advised by an independent group that includes past inductees.

Proceeds from ticket and sponsorship support  Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York, providing local JA students with financial literacy, entrepreneurial and career readiness skills that enable economic mobility and  lifelong success.

For sponsorship or ticket information, contact Junior Achievement of Central Upstate New York, (585) 327-7400, email info.jacuny.org or visit cuny.ja.org.