On Tuesday, June 5, Sandy Parker, president and CEO of the Rochester Business Alliance, attended the Buffalo Niagara Partnership's annual meeting where she was presented with the annual Honoring Excellence Award.

Parker said she was honored to receive the award on behalf of the Rochester Business Alliance for its work on Unshackle Upstate, a coalition founded in 2006 by both organizations to seek legislative relief from a series of state orders that hinder economic revival, causing high business costs and impaired job growth.

Andrew Rudnick, president and CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, confirmed his gratitude by accrediting the growth of Unshackle Upstate to the leadership of Parker and the collaboration of the two companies.

What started with just the Rochester Business Alliance and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership has now expanded to over 60 business and trade groups throughout Upstate. "If that number doesn't impress you," Rudnick states, "these 60 organizations represent upwards of 32,000 companies that employ more than 1 million people."

Parker graciously accepted the award declaring, "I am very proud of the work that the Rochester Business Alliance, Buffalo Niagara Partnership and the entire Unshackle Upstate coalition have done to draw attention to, and point out solutions for, the economic issues affecting our region. Never before has business been this united; this focused. And we are beginning to see results."