YBPA honors community members for unique talents and contributions to village

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

The Youngstown Business and Professional Association recognized three community members last Tuesday for their many notable and unique contributions to the community.

The gathering at the Niagara Frontier Golf Club featured tributes to Michael S. Sanchez, owner/operator of A/M Automotive as YBPA’s Business of the Year; the Youngstown Garden Club received the Community Service Award; and nationally renowned sculptress Susan Geissler earned the YBPA’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Town of Porter Councilman Tim Adamson praised the excellent service, generosity and compassion of Sanchez and his family-run automotive service center, located at 201 Lockport St.

“He provides a quality service for the local people, for travelers. For emergency services, you name it. Mike is there to help you and make things better. Not only does he do that, he employs a lot of people,” Adamson said. “He gives back a lot to the community; he gives donations. He helps people; he's done a real-life (service) for the community.

“Mike, you helped make the quality of life we have here in Youngstown much better. We need what you have, and you provided a great service.”

Adamson recalled when Sanchez went out of his way to help family members who became victims of Hurricane Helene in 2024. A single mom and two children had lost their home and were forced to sleep in tents. Sanchez donated his time and efforts to help Adamson’s family in Youngstown, which was seeking help to transport a large camper unit and assist the hurricane victims in their time of need.

“Mike Sanchez donated about … two weeks of time to take it down there and set it up. You gave this woman a home. We appreciate it,” Adamson said. “And what I heard – the rumor is – you did that many more times after it.”

Village of Youngstown Trustee Catherine Stella spoke of the love and dedication of Youngstown Garden Club members in their service to the community.

“There's so much to say about the Youngstown Garden Club. … You just get out there, you do make our village beautiful,” she said. “You do the annual ‘Christmas in the Village’ to decorate our wonderful Ontario House for the tours. You tend to all the gardens. You do all of Main Street. You do everything – the ‘Welcome to Youngstown’ planters.

“I would like to present this to the Youngstown Garden Club (in) recognition of the many outstanding gardening and floral contributions efforts undertaking and provided to enhance the quality of life in our village. We are so blessed to have you ladies.”

YBPA’s Cheryl Butera spoke of the “wonderful humor and wit” of Geissler, a longtime village resident, and her unique ability to tell a story in her creations.

“Susan Geissler is a nationally recognized sculptor from Youngstown, New York, known for creating large-scale bronze monuments and public art, often depicting human figures and historical narratives, such as the Freedom Crossing Monument in Lewiston, New York, and the ongoing Lockport Tender tribute,” Butera said. “She has been a professional artist since 1984 and operates a studio in Youngstown, creating works found throughout Western New York and across the United States. She studied fine arts and has background in anatomical illustration, graphic design, and art history. … Her studio in Youngstown serves as her creative port, where she produces her works described as an outpost of quality, integrity, and the love of sculpture science.

“She is recognized as one of the premier designers of human figures in the United States. She has a significant presence in Western New York, with many commissions.”

Butera added, “Let me just say it's an honor to know her. She is Youngstown. We are blessed to have her as a member, and that she chose to stay local when the sky would be the limit. A woman (who) is absolutely, to me, remarkable.”

Sculptress Susan Geissler, pictured with YBPA Board member Cheryl Butera and Rick Stortecky, deputy mayor of the Village of Youngstown. (Photo by Kevin and Dawn Cobello, K&D Action Photo and Aerial Imaging)

Town of Porter Councilman Tim Adamson with Michael Sanchez of A/M Automotive. (Photo by Kevin and Dawn Cobello, K&D Action Photo and Aerial Imaging)