Sonwil Distribution Center recently announced that its vice president of sales and marketing Jim Manno recently presented at the Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce Ontario Business Summit. Manno participated in a panel discussion entitled “Growth Through Export – How to leverage skills, marketing, transportation and innovation to get your product to a global audience,” and discussed various regional trade and logistics issues, as well as his role as the board president of the newly formed Buffalo Niagara International Trade Gateway Organization (ITGO).

“It was an honor to be invited to such a marquee event and speak on the challenges and opportunities of international trade between the U.S. and Canada,” said Manno. “Based on current trends in North American transportation and trade, there is widespread belief that the coming years will bring an opportunity for added attention to the logistics capabilities of our bi-national Buffalo Niagara region.” 

Since its founding more than two centuries ago, Buffalo, N.Y. has been home to innovators and entrepreneurs—and that legacy continues today. 43North—The World’s Largest ($5 million) Business Idea Competition—has teamed up with Buffalo Niagara Enterprise and Paget Films to tell the story of a forward-looking city with a proud past in an inspiring new video.

Titled “Next Things Now” and clocking in at just under five minutes in length, the video highlights dozens of bright moments in Buffalo’s history, ranging from the opening of the Erie Canal to the first successful skin graft to today’s groundbreaking genomic research.

This fast-paced, emotional video is narrated by 25 members of the next generation of Buffalo leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs (see credits below).

Buffalo’s economic growth over the past decade was described as transformational by Mayor Byron W. Brown as he pointed to the city continuing its positive momentum with a strong, workable plan at a recent lecture held at Daemen College.

As featured speaker on Sept. 2 in the college’s latest Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series, Brown talked about major economic development efforts that have improved the city’s vitality and the overall impact the revitalization has had on the region.

“There are visible signs of progress and growth throughout the city, which has experienced $4.4 billion in economic development since 2012, with more than 12,000 new jobs expected to be created over the next few years,” said Brown. “These major investments are changing the city for the better and making it a destination where people want to work, live and play.”