Presidents of MCC, Urban League Named to M&T Bank’s Rochester Advisory Council
March 10, 2022
Local leaders bring expertise in workforce development, inclusive growth, social justice and more to M&T’s regional board of advisors
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — M&T Bank has appointed Dr. DeAnna R. Burt-Nanna, president of Monroe Community College, and Dr. Seanelle Hawkins, president and CEO of the Urban League of Rochester, to its Directors Advisory Council for the Rochester region. This 20-member panel meets regularly to discuss business, customer and community issues and provides insights to support M&T’s ongoing efforts to develop locally customized service models and solutions to regional challenges.
Since becoming the sixth MCC president in May 2021, Burt-Nanna has worked to expand access to higher education and training and advance the college’s student-focused, innovative approach to lifelong learning and regional workforce development. Hawkins made history as the first woman to serve as president and CEO of the Urban League of Rochester, and now she’s focused on strengthening its future as the region’s leading civil rights organization. She has led the Urban League to exceed its goals for program performance, fundraising and community engagement.
“Our purpose as a company is to make a difference in people’s lives, and we know our greatest impact will be achieved by collaborating with our community. That’s why we’ve built our Directors Advisory Council to serve as a regional coalition of partners who help identify local challenges that require collective action and ensure our banking services are meeting the diverse needs of our customers,” said M&T Bank Rochester Regional President Dan Burns. “Working together, this panel helps us develop new ways to uplift our communities and grow the Rochester economy.
“I’m extremely grateful Dr. Burt-Nanna and Dr. Hawkins have joined the council,” he added. “I admire their commitment to our community and their impressive experience in advocating for social justice, inclusion and equitable access to opportunities. Their leadership and perspectives will strengthen our Directors Advisory Council and ensure M&T is contributing to positive change here in Rochester.”
In addition to Burt-Nanna and Hawkins, M&T Bank’s Directors Advisory Council in Rochester consists of Marlene Bessette, president & CEO of Catholic Family Center; William Buckingham, retired M&T Bank executive; R. Carlos Carballada, retired M&T Bank community relations lead; Danny Chessin, co-president of Hahn Automotive; Chris Czarnecki, president & CEO of Broadstone Real Estate; Sandy Dominach, senior vice president & treasurer of Constellation Brands, Inc.; Timothy D. Fournier, president & CEO of Conifer Realty, LLC; Jocelyn Goldberg-Schaible, president of the Rochester Research Group; Brian E. Hickey, retired M&T Bank executive; Mark Iacona, president of Simcona Electronics Corp.; Laurence Kessler, founder & co-owner of Kessler Group, Inc. & Kessler Family, LLC; Jett Mehta, president & principal owner of Indus Hospitality Group; Kip Palmer, CEO of Palmer Foods, Inc.; Ron Ricotta, CEO of Century Mold Co.; Victor E. Salerno, CEO of O’Connell Electric Company, Inc.; Derace L. Schaffer, M.D., president of Ide Group, P.C.; Sankar Sewnauth, MPA, president & CEO of CDS Life Transitions; and Kevin R. Wilmot, vice president of Wilmorite Management Group.