Rochester Business Journal Leading source of business news and information in Rochester, N.Y.

Had it not been for the recession in 1974, or for a creepy orange-colored slime seeping into the Genesee River around the same time, who knows where Larry Smith would be today. Maybe he’d have his own furniture company or ...

As of March 1, Shira May is the new president and CEO of the Center for Dispute Settlement (CDS). May, 45, is replacing Frank Liberti in the leadership role at the organization. Liberti, who has been with CDS for about ...

Laurie Baker did not have much time to settle into her role as president and CEO of The Summit Federal Credit Union last February before the start of a once-in-a-century global pandemic. “Taking on the role of CEO at the ...

Ten two-letter words help define James Lines’ philosophy about life in general and work in particular: If it is to be it is up to me. “If you want something, go after it; don’t wait for it to happen. Set ...

When Mark Esposito enrolled at the University at Buffalo in 1999, he had plotted out a study path in architecture. Buildings appealed to him, from design to construction. But just one semester into his collegiate education, he altered course. “I ...

Mark Murphy had a successful career of almost 20 years as an executive in the high-tech communications industry, with a track record that would have probably led to even more lucrative top-tier job opportunities that would provide long-term financial security ...

You could say it was Tamara Davis’ childhood that prepared her for entrepreneurship. Davis’ parents died when she was young, so she spent some time in the foster care system. Ultimately, though, Davis and her siblings were raised in Florida ...

When his classmates at Aquinas Institute were heading off to football practice or some other after-school activity, Mark Gionta was on his way to work in one of the shops at Rochester Colonial. “The rest of us were doing our ...

John Gilmore is not a lawyer. As the founder of BarkerGilmore, the legal recruiting firm based in Fairport, it makes sense that the first question most people ask him is if he’s a lawyer. Gilmore received his bachelor’s degree and ...

Deborah Stamps’ desire to pursue a career in nursing began to take root when her grandmother, Gwendolyn, underwent open heart surgery. Stamps was around 12 years old at the time and found herself in close communication with the nursing staff ...

It isn’t often that an entrepreneur is as well known for his business acumen as he is for his involvement in the arts. But Marc Iacona epitomizes both. As president and CEO of Simcona Electronics Corp., Iacona spends his days ...

As a commercial lender, it’s critical to understand the intricacies of accounting and finance. You’re not going to be of much use to the bank if you don’t have extensive knowledge of economic principles. Conversely, however, you don’t need to ...

Randi Proukou wants the members of GRAWA (Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys) to let their guard down a little. As president of the Greater Rochester Association of Women Attorneys Proukou wants to know about all the stresses and struggles ...

In August of 1976, Ms. magazine made history when it became the first national magazine to focus its content on domestic violence. The symbolic cover photo was of a woman, battered and bruised. It was that cover story that led ...

Considering Greg Constantino’s love for baseball, he surely was sleeping in his crib with a toy baseball bat before he was 6 months old. “I have pictures of me in diapers swinging the most huge red bats, hitting the ball ...