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

Jennifer Ahrens is so passionate about her work as an architect that she recently bought half-ownership in the company for which she works, Bero Architecture PLLC, and now shares the title of co-partner. Bero Architecture has a strong reputation throughout ...

Jared Lusk would be the first to tell you his path to being named the newest managing partner at Nixon Peabody LLP’s Rochester office was out of the ordinary. Most partners at the firm start at the bottom and work ...

Danny Hoskins adds fresh take to city’s Blackfriars Theatre Although it was more than 25 years ago, Danny Hoskins still remembers walking slowly across the gymnasium floor to inform his basketball coach he was leaving the team. “I was in full makeup ...

As president and CEO of Rochester Area Community Foundation, Jennifer Leonard shies away from discussing her personal accomplishments, instead preferring to discuss the success of the organization she oversees. Fortunately, those who know her are happy to speak on her ...

Coe Bockmeier was raised to see things through, no matter how difficult the task might be. Growing up in Oregon, Bockmeier’s first job as a preteen was picking strawberries. He jokes it taught him he did not want to pick ...

From an early age, Sameer Penakalapati knew he had to rely on one thing to design his future: his own willpower. Growing up humbly in Anantapur, India, his parents—both teachers—taught him the way to better himself was to hold himself ...

Many years ago, Tina Baughman would travel throughout Monroe County, sitting in the passenger seat with pen in hand, while her husband, Steve, took the wheel. As he nimbly navigated street after street, she estimated the cost to seal each ...

Rama Yelkur has high expectations. That might be because there have always been high expectations of her.

It was more than a decade ago when members of the local optics community traveled to a trade event in San Diego and spent some free time riding the Pacific Ocean on boats that raced in the America’s Cup.  

A trip to Walt Disney World’s Epcot Center in Orlando for many children is a chance to take a trip around the world. For Wendi Heinzelman, it was a glimpse into her future as well.  

Ray Brown learned the hard way how to overcome adversity and make the most of a tough situation. For years, he raised bees. And in doing so he had been stung hundreds of times. Then one day he developed an ...

After six months of vacation, the 8-year-old had had enough. Alex Zapesochny was ready to return to school, return to his life in Russia. His parents, however, had American dreams and had framed the trip to Zapesochny as a long ...

Pietro Giovenco enjoys a challenge. He has spent a large part of his time at Bergmann Associates working with municipal officials and the public, providing input on projects that were proposed in the areas where they lived. He relished the ...

Hard work is a way of life for Monroe County Executive Cheryl Dinolfo and it always has been. She gave birth to her eldest son while in law school and only missed one day of class. She got four days ...