Leadership Buffalo celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Values Awards Luncheon. This event, at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo, honored four individuals for the manner in which they lead and one company who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership. Last year a sellout audience listened as our honorees shared their compelling stories of how the LB values—service, diversity, inclusion, and openness to change—guide their leadership. Our honoree’s stories again demonstrate how crucial one’s values are to success in leadership.
Anthony J. Baynes, CEO of Extra Mile Transportation, has a tireless work ethic which he applies to his professional and personal life. In addition to founding and leading the AJ Baynes Group, one of the leading third-party transportation logistics companies in the U.S., he serves as the chair of the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority. Numerous community organizations have benefited from his expertise, including Buffalo State College Foundation, the Bison Scholarship Fund, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the New York State Economic Development Council, and the New York State Small Business Advisory Board. He has also chaired fundraisers for institutions such as Women and Children’s Hospital and the March of Dimes. Anthony has been recognized as the Buffalo News’ Outstanding Citizen of the Year, the March of Dimes Volunteer of the Year, the Burt P. Flickinger Volunteer of the Year by Women and Children’s Hospital, and the Italian American of the Year, as well as being a 40 Under Forty honoree. Other award recipients included: Diversity Award – Joseph J. Abdallah, Chief Development Office for the Greater Niagara Frontier Council of the Boy Scouts of America; Inclusion Award – Gail E. Johnstone recently retired from the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo and Openness to Change – Howard Zemsky, Managing
Partner of Taurus Partners LLC.