With the NBA season just getting started, here are some related references...
Detroit:
https://www.nba.com/player/1630191/isaiah-stewart/bio (Rochester/attended McQuaid Jesuit before going to prep school La Lumiere in IN)
Denver:
https://www.nba.com/player/1629618/jalen-pickett/bio (Rochester/attended Aquinas Institute before going prep to SPIRE Academy in OH/also attended Siena College in the Albany area)
Milwaukee:
https://www.nba.com/player/1641748/andre-jackson-jr/bio (Amsterdam/Albany Academy)
Miami:
https://www.nba.com/player/1628418/thomas-bryant (Rochester/attended Bishop Kearney before going to prep at Huntington Prep in WV)
Indiana:
https://www.nba.com/player/1629670/jordan-nwora/bio (Buffalo/The Park School)
Houston:
https://www.nba.com/stats/player/1631466 (Rochester/attended UPrep Charter before going prep to Prolific Prep in CA)
New York(assistant coach):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Brunson (born in Syracuse, father of star point guard Jalen, also of the Knicks, comes from big Basketball family in the city/area)
Orlando(assistant coach):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Chalmers (from Albany/attended Bishop Gibbons in Schenectady and Albany High)
I didn't do this earlier, but here are some references in the NFL...
Green Bay:
https://www.packers.com/team/players...aiah-mcduffie/ (Buffalo/actually attended Olmsted, but played for Bennett(co-ops with Olmsted among a couple of other schools) where his father is the head coach)
Buffalo:
https://www.buffalobills.com/team/pl.../daquan-jones/ (Johnson City/Johnson City)
https://www.buffalobills.com/team/pl...tavius-murray/ (Nedrow/Onondaga Central)
Pittsburgh:
https://www.steelers.com/team/player...adree-ollison/ (Niagara Falls/Canisius HS(Buffalo))
Washington:
https://www.commanders.com/team/play.../derrick-gore/ (Syracuse/Nottingham and prepped at Milford Academy in New Berlin)
New England:
https://www.patriots.com/team/player...e-wheatley-jr/ (attended Fayetteville-Manlius and Canisius HS(Buffalo))
I think that is it, but may add more later, if I come across or think of others.
Also, a professional reference related to a Wayne County company:
https://rbj.net/2023/10/25/tolefree-...9376@yahoo.com
From the article: "Erin Tolefree has been named CEO of Baldwin Richardson Foods.
Tolefree has been with the company for nearly 23 years, most recently serving as president, a role she will retain in addition to being CEO.
The Macedon, Wayne County-based company is a manufacturer of food and beverage ingredients and one of the largest African American family-owned and operated businesses in the food industry.
Eric Johnson, board chair and outgoing CEO, said under Tolefree’s leadership, Baldwin Richardson Foods has grown its customer base to include some of the world’s most iconic global brands.
“Erin represents the third generation of entrepreneurial leadership in our family, and her promotion to CEO is confirmation of our commitment to continue our journey as a privately-owned family business,†Johnson said in a release.
Tolefree joined the company in 2001 as a national account manager. That same year, she led the launch of the Baldwin Richardson Foods Industrial Ingredient business. Her role was expanded with the acquisition of the Industrial Products Division of the J.M. Smucker Company in 2005 to senior manager of national accounts.
In 2014, Tolefree was promoted to vice president of sales and began to also expand her role into the manufacturing and product development process. She was promoted to executive vice president in 2015 and president in 2020.
In 2023, Tolefree led the acquisition of Aseptic Solutions USA Ventures, which has expanded the company’s geographic footprint and manufacturing capabilities to include high-demand aseptic products.
“We celebrate the accomplishments that have contributed to our successful and consistent growth, and I’m honored to lead the charge in advancing Baldwin Richardson Foods’ evolution as an industry leader,†Tolefree said in a release. “As we look to the future, we will continue to lead by ensuring that service to our customers, innovation, accountability and performance remain at the forefront of our relationships with our strategic partners as we create flavorful innovations that delight consumers. We will embrace the need to be agile to continue to thrive sustainably in our industry and continue to make a positive impact on our community.â€
Tolefree’s community and local business involvement includes service on the boards of ESL Federal Credit Union, ROC2025, Rochester Regional Health and the Rochester Advisory Board for Excellus BCBS. She is also a member of the Finger Lakes Regional Economic Development Council.
Additionally, Tolefree supports the local Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester and was recently inducted into the National Black College Alumni Hall of Fame Foundation for Business."
Here is the history of the company:
https://brfoods.com/who-we-are/our-story/
More information:
https://brfoods.com/who-we-are/our-locations/ (the facilities in Williamson and Macedon are both in Wayne County, east of Rochester and west of Syracuse)
https://brfoods.com/
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Here is a new sports reference rundown...
