Chamber Alliance award honors Guglielmo's legacy: Here are its first recipients

Edward Harris, Observer-Dispatch
·2 min read

The Mohawk Valley Alliance of Chambers of Commerce will present eight area businesses with the inaugural William K. Guglielmo Award next month at its 26th annual meeting and luncheon, said Ray Durso, president and CEO of the Genesis Group.

Guglielmo, a Rome business icon, died earlier this year at the age of 74, a few weeks after announcing his retirement from the Rome Area Chamber of Commerce, after serving for 50 years. He had served as president of the chamber since 1996.

“The Chamber Alliance wanted to find a way to keep his legacy alive,” said Durso, who was a longtime friend of Guglielmo.

About Guglielmo

Guglielmo, a lifelong Roman, began his career at the chamber in 1973 – during the Richard Nixon administration. His first chamber job was as a staff assistant.

He announced his retirement from the chamber around the turn of the new year.

He worked his way through the ranks, including stints as director of government affairs and membership development, administrator, executive vice president and finally president in 1996.

Guglielmo lived in Rome with his wife, Luba. He graduated from Rome Free Academy in 1967, from Morrisville College in 1969 and earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Buffalo in 1971.

He graduated from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Organization Management in 1979.

Former Rome Mayor Joseph Fusco declared Feb. 19, 2013, “Bill Guglielmo Day.”

Legacy award

The inaugural William K. Guglielmo Award will be presented Wednesday, May 3 at a luncheon to be held at Hart’s Hill Inn in Whitesboro.

The award is to honor Guglielmo’s memory and will be given to local businesses that positively impact the community.

The inaugural recipients are:

  • Sherrill Manufacturing

  • Coldwell Banker Faith Properties

  • Giotto Enterprises

  • Hummel's Office Plus

  • Mohawk Valley Garden Corp.

  • Indium Corp.

  • Utica Coffee Roasting, Co.

  • A&P Master Imaging

“It’ll be a great way to have Bill’s legacy go on forever,” Durso said. “... We are honored to be able to do this.”

This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Chamber Alliance award honors William Guglielmo's legacy in Rome, NY