Franasiak selected as leader of the year

Leadership Niagara awarded Kenneth M. Franasiak, CEO and chairman of Calamar, with the Leader of the Year Award at its recent awards luncheon at the Niagara Falls Country Club.

Leadership Niagara's mission is to strengthen regional leadership. The program attracts business, nonprofit, government, and academic leaders committed to strategic planning, leadership training, and serving the community.

Franasiak was honored his vision and drive to grow a successful business in Niagara County as a premier builder and developer that has afforded many new and existing businesses to grow in the region, along with his extensive commitment to the community.  

Calamar is a full service real estate organization comprised of construction, development, management and finance and investment divisions that has been in Niagara County since 1990.  Calamar developed The Woodlands Corporate Center Class A Business Park in Wheatfield that is home to regional and international companies and has grown its organization to include operations in Canada and the Mid-West. 

Franasiak's dedication to the community includes the Niagara Area Foundation, which he was instrumental in creating, as well as the development, funding and implementation of an early childhood educational program for Niagara County. Franasiak also serves on the SBA Advisory Board, the Town of Wheatfield Economic Development Committee, Niagara USA Chamber and the Niagara County Workforce Investment Board among others.

"I am greatly humbled to have been selected as Leader of Year," Franasiak said.  "This prestigious award is truly a privilege, especially seeing the list of past nominees. I am grateful to be able to work with so many wonderful people from various organizations that also enlist their time, money and efforts to make the programs we are involved with possible and work tirelessly to make our communities better places to live and do business."