Leading EDGE Awards (LEA)

The Leading EDGE Awards were instituted in 1998 to recognize companies in the Mohawk Valley who were leaders in their industrial sector and the regional economy. In the last two decades, we have welcomed a variety of area businesses and organizations to these events; both as award winners and as attendees. We hope the success of the Leading EDGE Awards may continually represent the breadth of our region’s economic institutions and professional sectors.

We also continue to remember, honor, and celebrate a founding EDGE Board member Christopher Destito each year at this event.  He was a community champion who believed in the potential of the entire region.  The Christopher Destito Award was created to honor an individual who possesses the same characteristics as Chris. Among others, previous Destito Leading EDGE award winners include Charles Sprock, Charlie Constantino, Tom Clark, Nick Matt, Gene Quadraro, and Marolyn Wilson.

2022 Leading EDGE Awards

On Monday, November 7th five area organizations were honored during our 21st annual Leading EDGE Awards ceremony at Turning
Stone’s Shenandoah Clubhouse. Our honorees represent those at the cutting edge of innovation, economic growth, and leadership. We were proud to recognize the companies located in the Mohawk Valley who expand the region’s economy through investment and job growth. This event provided the best of previous Leading EDGE events– networking with seated dining and awards ceremony. Through the formal program, EDGE President Steven DiMeo and Board Chairman Elect Justin Hummel spoke to each awardee’s story and standout accomplishments.  Keynote speaker, Margaret Chadwick of Wolfspeed, noted the Mohawk Valley’s resilience by way of the Marcy Nanocenter and the Mohawk Valley fabrication facility.

Above all, we celebrated those generating an impact on the economic landscape. We were glad to have the support of our local media partners with Townsquare and WKTV leading up to this event. For those interested in learning more about our honorees, see here!

2022 HONOREES

Honorees spanned tourism, manufacturing, and other sectors, as individuals from Enchanted Forest Water Safari, Orgill Distribution Center, Cold Point Corporation, Lahinch Group, and Wolfspeed accepted their awards. This year’s Christopher P. Destito award, commemorating the founding MVEDGE Board Member and community champion Christopher Destito, was posthumously awarded to William (Bill) Macartney III of Indium Corporation.

LEA: From Past to Present