2021 ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Bud Heck
Alpin Haus founder, Bud Heck was Siena College Stack Center's Entrepreneur of the Year in 2021. His distinguished career was celebrated via Zoom on May 13th, 2021. Bud Heck's first business venture was selling Christmas trees as a teen. After graduating from Amsterdam High School, Bud went on to graduate from Siena College, NY with an Accounting Degree. Although upon graduation he started working for the New York State Civil Service and Public Service Commission as an accountant, he fueled his entrepreneurial spirit by owning a Sno-Cone business. He used the proceeds from the Sno-Cone truck and Christmas tree sales to open Alpin Haus Ski Shop in 1964, with childhood friend John Daly.
Bud continued to work for New York State full-time, and at Alpin Haus part-time, until 1969 when he made Alpin Haus his full-time career. He led the growth of Alpin Haus from one small A-frame ski shop into the largest Ski Shop in New York State and one of the largest RV dealerships in the United States. Alpin Haus has evolved from a ski shop into a recreational powerhouse also selling RVs, Boats, Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs, Snowmobiles, and even operating a Canvas Shop and a Fitness Center. Throughout his career at Alpin Haus, Bud was active in the Capital District RV Dealers Association, served as Northeast region delegate for the RV Dealers Association, served as an early board member of Priority RV Network, was a board member for Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, St.Mary’s Hospital Foundation, Montgomery County Industrial Development Agency, served on the Parish Council for St.Mary’s Church in Amsterdam and Industries for Amsterdam, and was one of the early members of Ski Merchandising Corporation. Bud’s commitment to his employees, the community, and customers is what has shaped the culture of Alpin Haus for over five decades.
Alpin Haus continues to be family owned and operated with sons Andy ’88 and Greg, daughter Katie ’97, and grandchildren Nicole ’14, Ryan ’16, and Ryan’s wife Colleen ’17 working full-time in the business and grandchildren Matt and Emily working part-time. Bud is currently the CEO of Alpin Haus and is still actively involved in setting the direction of the business.
Bud has been married to his wife Kay for 56 years and they share three children – Andy, Greg, and Katie and six grandchildren.
2020 ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR
Kenneth Raymond
Ken Raymond's successful entrepreneurial career spans over 35 years in the real estate, finance, and hospitality industries. He is the broker/owner of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties, which is the largest Coldwell Banker residential and commercial real estate franchise operation in New York State. He is partner of Parc Partners, owner and affiliated with Holiday Inn Express and Hilton Hotels, Indigo hotels, as well as independent brands.
Ken is also affiliated with SEFCU mortgage services, which acquired Home Funding Finders, the largest residential mortgage banker in its market. Ken is the Founder and CEO of Prime Companies, and has led the industry in offering a full line of real estate and hospitality services, including facilitating commercial and residential real estate acquisition and liquidation, raising debt and equity, developing land, and managing ground up projects, including residential subdivisions, hotels, commercial office buildings, and over 2,000 luxury apartments as well as lifestyle retail.
Ken is a graduate of Paul Smith's College and serves on the Board of Trustees. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Siena College and is an Emeritus Board of Trustees Member for Albany Boys Club. He is President of the Board of Trustees for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, with a strong focus on housing and the reopening of Camp Scully, and is a major contributor to these endeavors.
Ken maintains a strong presence in the community. He was founder and former president of the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau. He previously served on the Board of Trustees for St. Gregory's School for Boys in Loudonville and Friends in Adoption, and is also very active with Coaches vs. Cancer and Real Men Wear Pink, which raises funds for cancer research for the American Cancer Society. In addition, Ken is very active in many other charitable organizations throughout the Capital Region.
Ken is married to Patricia, is a proud father to Mary Ann, Michelle and Michael, and has four grandchildren.
James J. Morrell
James J. Morrell is currently the chairman of Pamal Broadcasting. Since 1987 Pamal operates twenty one radio stations and is ranked as one of the top private individual radio groups in the United States.
In addition Mr. Morrell and his family own Destination Nissan and Destination Kia. They also own ABC Sports and Fitness, ADD Development and Management, the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Latham and various other businesses.
The Morrell family and various enterprises have a long history of civic and community generosity. Following the September 11th, attack on the World Trade Center, ABC gave away 40,000 American flags and raised $120,000.00 and four truckloads of supplies for the New York City family relief efforts. They have contributed millions of dollars to Albany Medical Center, Siena College, 9/11 relief efforts, the VOTEC Institute, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, the Cerebral Palsy Association, Make-A-Wish Foundation and many others. In 2001 the Morrell Science Center was opened at Siena College.
He is currently serves on the a board for Peter Young Housing Industries and Training program, and the Albany Roman Catholic Diocese Finance Council.
He has previously served on the board for the New York State Auto Dealers Association, Albany Auto Dealers, the Center for the disabled, the Chamber of Commerce, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, board of Trustees for Siena College, the advisory council for the Little Sisters of the Poor, and on the Church Council at Our Lady of Assumption.
Mr. Morrell is a graduate of Colonie Central High School and a graduate of Siena College. He has been married for thirty-seven years to Kathleen Morrell, they have four children, James, Amber, Michael and Joseph, and 5 grandchildren.
DANIEL J. RUTNIK ’80
An alumnus who modestly calls himself “an accidental entrepreneur” was named Siena’s 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year.
Daniel J. Rutnik ’80 is the founder and president of Bender Lane Advisory LLC, a multifamily wealth management company based in Albany that has clients throughout the United States.
He shared words of advice for Siena students and Bender Lane employees who were gathered for the presentation:
“Enjoy what you do. Don’t ever make it about the money.”
“Surround yourself with good people, because success rarely happens alone. Grab a good person when you see them and figure out what to do with them later.”
“Luck pays a huge role in success. How you respond to good luck and bad luck makes all the difference in the world.”
Rutnik founded his company in 2002 out of his Delmar home, and named it after the street where he lives. Bender Lane provides a range of financial services to a select group of wealthy families, as well as internal accounting and tax services to private investment partnerships. It employs a recently-expanded team of more than 25 with expertise in finance, accounting and law, and has experienced more than 30 percent growth each year since its founding.
Before founding Bender Lane, Rutnik worked for Ayco, and said his willingness “to do jobs others didn’t want to do” enabled him to learn about the various aspects of running a business. He took that trove of knowledge with him when he left to create his own company.
Bender Lane is known for flexible schedules and friendly work environment, and the Albany Business Review took notice last year, naming it one of the Capital Region’s “Best Places to Work” in 2017.
Rutnik graduated from Siena with honors with a B.A. in political science and went on to earn a J.D. from Albany Law School. Siena connections are strong with the Rutnik family: his father, George J. Rutnik, is a 1956 alumnus and his youngest son, Danny, is currently a freshman. The family has held men’s basketball season tickets since home games were played on campus in the Alumni Recreation Center.
“My Siena education was fundamentally important to what I achieved in life,” he said.
MICHAEL M. HAYES '67
Software company founder Michael M. Hayes ’67 was been named the 2017 Entrepreneur of the Year by Siena College.
“The entire Siena College community congratulates Michael Hayes on this achievement,” said Br. F. Edward Coughlin, O.F.M., Ph. D., president of Siena. “His business achievements are impressive, as is his devotion to his family and community.”
Hayes founded the MM Hayes Co., Inc. in 1971, and currently serves as its president and chief executive officer. Headquartered in the Sage Mansion in Menands, N.Y. with a satellite office in Bellevue, Wash., MM Hayes employs more than 50 software engineers and application consultants.
The company develops and markets software solutions for workforce management. The applications include Workforce Timekeeper for tracking time and attendance, and Quickcharge, an employee debit solution. Their software and hardware provide employee convenience and increase business efficiencies.
The company’s software helps organizations improve efficiency and boost employee satisfaction by creating a “one-badge solution,” where employees can use their ID badges for multiple applications, including identification, access, time and attendance and cashless payment in cafeterias and company stores.
MM Hayes has a presence in nearly all 50 states, and their clients include Boeing, the Mayo Clinic and the Cleveland Clinic.
Hayes encouraged the students attending the award presentation to "follow your dreams. Never, never give up. All things are possible with the help of God."
JUDY CAPANO-MICHAELSON ’87
Recognized at an awards ceremony on campus, Ms. Capano-Michaelson in 2011 helped create the college’s iconic tagline, “Siena College: The education of a lifetime.”
After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in marketing and management, Ms. Capano-Michaelson began her career in pharmaceutical and hospital sales for Marion Merrell Dow. After success on the corporate side, she shifted to the agency side, rising through the ranks by developing advertising and marketing strategies for health care firms as executive vice president of Harrison Star and then chief operating officer of McCann Torre Lazur Worldwide. The culmination of her education and these experiences enabled Ms. Capano-Michaelson to start her own firms.
In Ms. Capano-Michaelson’s first firm, Wishbone, she was a partner and chief strategy officer for a full-service pharmaceutical advertising agency. Today, Ms. Capano-Michaelson co-owns Calcium with her husband, Steven Michaelson. Calcium is a rapidly growing full-service pharmaceutical advertising agency and medical device marketing firm with offices in New York City, San Francisco and Philadelphia.
MICHAEL BARRANCA ’87
Barranca began his career as an actuarial analyst for Empire BlueCross BlueShield. He later served as director of finance and actuarial services for BlueShield of Northeastern New York, and as manager of employee benefits for a large independent insurance agency in the Capital District, before incorporating Rowlands+Barranca Agency, Inc. with Bruce Rowlands in 1996. Now in its 19th year, Rowlands+Barranca serves clients throughout the Northeast and beyond, specializing in employee benefits, including the brokering of health, dental, life, AD&D, LTD, STD, and a host of other benefit policies. The company also provides FSA and HRA administration, consolidated billing options, COBRA billing and administration, and enrollment processing.
A native of Albany, Barranca resides in Delmar with his wife Susan, a 1988 graduate of Siena College, and their three children.
ANTONIO CIVITELLA '91
Antonio (Tony) Civitella began his career as a computer software intern with James Forth & Associates, a management-consulting firm. He successfully developed and launched the company’s flagship product, Routefinder Pro. As Vice President and COO of Forth Associates, he purchased the company in December 2000 and became President & CEO. He changed the company’s name to Transfinder to reflect the focus on the products and services associated with pupil transportation. He has successfully led the development of the company’s full product line, management, development, and support teams, growing the company’s employee base to more than 75 professionals today.
His company celebrated its 25th year in business in 2013 and now occupies a new high-tech state-of-the-art headquarters in downtown Schenectady, NY. Under his leadership and recognized for continued growth and expansion during the past decade, Transfinder has been named to the Inc. 5000 for seven consecutive years (2007-2013) as one of the fastest growing private companies in the United States.
His commitment to the local community and support for educational programs offered to students from Schenectady County Public Schools, was recognized in 2013 by the Mayor of the city in naming Tony a Patroon, the highest honor awarded a citizen by the city.