YBPA to honor leaders in business, community, arts at annual awards dinner

By Terry Duffy

Editor-in-Chief

The Youngstown Business and Professional Association invites the northern Niagara community to its annual awards dinner celebration, to be held 6-9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the Niagara Fronter Golf Club, 1058 Lake Road.

That evening, YBPA will honor A/M Automotive as its Business of the Year for 2025. Located at 201 Lockport St., A/M Automotive was a past business honoree by the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce (Upward Niagara). Owned by Michael S. Sanchez, A/M is a family-operated automotive repair facility offering major and minor diagnostic services and repairs to the Niagara community.

The Youngstown Garden Club is being honored as YBPA’s Community Service Award honoree. A not-for-profit community organization, the Garden Club is recognized for its “civic beautification, conservation and education” endeavors in the village and northern Niagara County. Club projects include the planting and upkeep of village gardens; floral arrangements at the Youngstown Free Library; holiday decorating at Constitution Park; Old Fort Niagara decorations; and numerous village horticultural activities. The Garden Club also offers an annual scholarship and is active in holiday charity donations.

YBPA is celebrating Youngstown’s Susan Geissler with its Lifetime Achievement Award this year. A national award-winning sculptor, Geissler is recognized as one of the premier artistic designers of historical figures and events in the U.S. Her area accomplishments include the Freedom Crossing and Tuscarora Heroes monuments in Lewiston; the Lockport Lock Tenders in Lockport; and the Pfc. Charles DeGlopper memorial on Grand Island.

Tickets for the YBPA awards dinner are priced at $25 per person and include dinner and dessert. There will be a cash bar. For more information or to RSVP, contact Dotty Riordan at 716-745-3004.

“We look forward to seeing you,” Riordan said.