[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2018)] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages E118-E119] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] HONORING COLLEEN C. DiPIRRO ON HER RETIREMENT AS AMHERST CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT AND CEO ______ HON. BRIAN HIGGINS of new york in the house of representatives Tuesday, January 30, 2018 Mr. HIGGINS of New York. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Colleen C. DiPirro, a visionary pioneer who began her career 35 years ago as a single staff person and is now retiring as the President and CEO of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce having overseen the explosive growth of membership from less than 200 members to more than 3,000, representing more than 1,300 businesses. She grew its annual budget from $24,000 when she started to more than $1.9 million with a full-time professional staff offering 50 plus annual events, business services, advocacy, economic development strategies and an Emerging Business Leaders forum. Colleen's career is filled with firsts. She was the first President of the WNY Chamber Alliance, an organization for Chamber Executives spanning an eight county region; the first woman honored as the Executive of the Year by the Buffalo Sales and Marketing Executives, and in 2009, the first woman named the Buffalo Bills Citizen of the Year, the second recipient behind Ralph Wilson. Colleen is a builder. Her tools were not brick and mortar, but a consummate ability to build a business advocacy organization with teamwork, tenacity, compromise and consensus and at times, leading with only the courage of her convictions. Recognized for her hard work, heart, humanity and humor, she was identified as one of the top 100 most influential people in Western New York by Business First several times. In 2016, she was listed in the Top Ten Most Influential Women and named Citizen of the Year by Daemen College. A leader, a legend and a true friend, Ms. DiPirro's legacy will be her tireless dedicated service to her community and beyond its borders. I can attest to that as my first interaction with Colleen as a Congressman was in 2005 when we took up the fight with the New York Power Authority (NYPA). As a first year minority member of Congress, we had few allies in this battle. And then a call came from Colleen DiPirro who in her role as President of the WNY Chamber Alliance invited me to speak to the Alliance Leaders about why I was fighting NYPA for the Buffalo waterfront. After our roundtable discussion, Colleen asked if I would be willing to debate a NYPA representative before the invited membership of the Alliance at WNED studios. That November afternoon debate made possible by Colleen's outreach to provide a neutral forum to promote understanding of the issue helped further galvanize our community to stand up and fight for itself and contributed to our ultimate victory of a $300 million settlement that continues to fuel the redevelopment of the Buffalo waterfront. I didn't represent Amherst at that time but that didn't matter to her as she understood what was good for Buffalo's waterfront was good for all of Western New York. Others have certainly shared my appreciation and respect for her abilities as she received the Governor's Award for Excellence in [[Page E119]] Business and served on the Board of Directors of New York State Chamber of Commerce Executives in 1999. Colleen serves as event and sponsorship coordinator and as a member of the Advisory Board for the Buffalo Bills Alumni and was selected by Ralph Wilson, the late owner of the Buffalo Bills, to serve on the Project 21 initiative. Her engagement in developing public policy positions was duly noted on both sides of the aisle as she served on the Transition Team for several Erie County Executives. Governor Pataki selected Colleen as a Commissioner on the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority and to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. Governor Cuomo appointed Colleen to the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council, a position she has held since it was created to develop a regional strategic plan and ensure its coordinated implementation. He also appointed her in 2016 to the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Board of Directors. Colleen currently is a member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors of Independent Health and was appointed to the Erie County Industrial Development Agency Policy Committee by County Executive Poloncarz. Her extensive professional and community involvement extends beyond her duties as President and CEO as she served on a variety of committees, boards and associations in leadership and active roles including the WNY Autism Foundation, Hospice Playhouse Project, Executive Women International, Buffalo Prep, Unyts, Williamsville Sweet Home Junior Football Association and Shea's Performing Arts. Additionally, she served as the first Chairman of the University of Buffalo Leadership Development Program. Mr. Speaker, thank you for allowing me a few moments to recognize Colleen C. DiPirro as the Amherst Chamber of Commerce including staff, board members, family and friends gathers on Thursday, February 1st to celebrate the work and wisdom of this most influential woman. She is most deserving of these heartfelt acknowledgements that reflect her career of almost 40 years of helping businesses, countless individuals and a growing community reach their full potential. We extend all best wishes for continued good health and happiness to Colleen and her sons, Kevin and Keith, and her four grandchildren, Joey and Kaylee, Drew and Luke, as a new chapter begins for her and the Amherst Chamber of Commerce. ____________________