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Bradford, Kanaley honored with Citizen of the Year awards

by jmaloni
Fri, Apr 1st 2011 02:00 pm

The Grand Island Chamber of Commerce has announced the Citizen of the Year award recipients, including two profiled in the Island Dispatch: Civic award recipient Dr. Sherry Bradford, and Businessperson recipient Thomas J. Kanaley, general manager for Fuccillo Chevrolet

The annual Citizen of the Year award banquet will be held Thursday, April 28, at the Holiday Inn Grand Island Resort and Conference Center, 100 Whitehaven Road. The event begins at 6 p.m. with cocktail hour, followed by dinner at 7 p.m.

Citizen of the Year: Civic

Sherry Bradford, Ph.D.

Dr. Sherry Bradford decided long ago to specialize in the field of cancer research and treatment, determined to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those faced with the disease.

She attended undergraduate school as a single parent, while working full time at Roswell Park, and was awarded a full tuition scholarship to pursue her graduate degree from the University of Buffalo. Bradford has a Ph.D. in medical biochemistry-oncology from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Division of SUNY at Buffalo School of Medical and Biomedical Sciences. She is the founder of three companies: Advanced Cancer Theragnostics LLC, Advanced Cancer Theragnostics, International, Advanced Research in Cancer LLC, and the inventor of the various patents and trademarks that the companies hold. She is a member of many major professional cancer organizations including, ASCO, AACR and AAAS. As chief scientific officer, she guides the day-to-day research directives as well as the clinical laboratory operations.

"Guiding the testing, providing an individualized treatment regimen thus helping the cancer patient, provides and instills a profound sense of human compassion and humility," Bradford says.

Advanced Cancer Theragnostics provides an annual Effective Leadership Award to a woman who has "contributed outstanding support in the development of professional skills, personal-excellence, personal-wellness and leadership to women in our community."

Bradford was the recipient of the Award for Excellence in Research from the American Federation for Clinical Research, Award for Excellence in Research - SUNY at Buffalo, and has authored many scientific papers and book chapters, and been an invited speaker at various international scientific meetings.

She is a retired (2009, honorable discharge) major in the New York State Guard 209th Military and Civic Medical Unit and received a Knighthood at West Point for her contributions to the guard and science.

In 2003, Erie Community College presented her with their Distinguished Alumni Award.

In 2008, she was nominated for the Athena Award. This esteemed award recognizes outstanding women in business.

Last year, Business First named her one of the top 10 "Who's Who in Medicine," and later that year was awarded their prestigious "Women of Influence" award in the field of innovation.

Dr. Bradford also is an adjunct professor at Erie Community College, the University at Buffalo, and at Bryant and Stratton, teaching anatomy and physiology.

Albeit she enjoys the day-to-day business connections, she also enjoys getting involved in her community and giving back to the community. She does so on behalf of her family.

She serves as an executive board member of Hope For Two - Women Pregnant with Cancer. This foundation provides support, strength, courage and hope throughout the world for women who are pregnant and undergoing chemotherapy.

She is a member of the Grand Island Business and Professional Women's Organization and has held the position of president for many years. The organization promotes and encourages the creation of a successful workplace that embraces and practices diversity, equity, and work-life balance. The GI chapter provides scholarships for Grand Island High School scholars, clothing for women going back into the workforce, and donations to the Grand Island Neighbors Foundation.

She founded The PROI Foundation, which funds research in cancer, provides money for women who wish to attend medical school for an M.D. or medical Ph.D., and money for those who could otherwise not afford to have chemosensitivity and resistance testing.

She currently proudly serves on the executive board of the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce as secretary since 2009 and has been a director since 2003. She also serves as the chair on various committees for the board.

She is the very proud mother of John (Jennie) Fuhrman and Shannon (John) Olivier and grandmother to Jacob and Jordan Furman. She is also the very proud sister of James (Kandy) Bradford, Vicki (AJ) Smith, Bruce (Eileen) Bradford, and twin sister of Patricia (George) Cameron.

Dr. Bradford notes that Grand Island has truly been and continues to be a "fine place to live."

Citizen of the Year: Businessperson

Tom Kanaley

Tom Kanaley, general manager of Fuccillo Chevrolet, has been with Billy Fuccillo since the Whitehaven Road dealership opened in 2000. This year, Kanaley begins his 34th year in the automotive industry, a career that encompasses his first job as a service advisor at a local Volkswagen dealership in 1978 that led to an opportunity to become a zone operations manager for World Wide Volkswagen, the distributor of Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi automobiles in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Sales management jobs followed in Syracuse and Buffalo with several manufacturers, including Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen, Cadillac, Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile and Chevrolet. As the general manager of Fuccillo Chevrolet, being the highlight of his career, Kanaley has the opportunity to have full control of all operations for the 60-plus-employee dealership.

Kanaley grew up in the Town of Tonawanda, one of eight children, four boys and four girls, of Mike and Marcella Kanaley. His father was the sports editor of the Buffalo Courier Express, his mother an executive assistant and full-time mom.

After attending St. John the Baptist grammar school in Kenmore, Kanaley followed the family footsteps to St. Joe's, where he graduated in 1975. He continued his education at Canisius College and Bryant and Stratton.

During his career, Kanaley has received numerous achievement awards from several manufacturers for exceeding sales and service goals. In October 2004, Fuccillo Chevrolet was honored by General Motors for being the top-selling dealer in the entire United States, delivering nearly 1,000 vehicles in 31 days.

Being involved in this community, Kanaley is a past director on the Grand Island Chamber of Commerce, and sponsored several events and organizations to include Relay For Life, Grand Island School and Business Alliance, Grand Island Shadow Day, Grand Island phone book, and Youth Ambassadors programs, Corporate Bowl, Ken-Ton BOCES and Variety Kids Day. Kanaley also co-chaired several successful golf tournaments that raised thousands of dollars for deserving family's time here on Grand Island.

Kanaley resides in Amherst with his fiancĂ© Gina Buckley. A September wedding is planned. Kanaley is the proud father of Tom Jr., Kerri Ann and Erin Marie Kanaley.

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