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2026 Annual Message

2026 Annual Message

by | Apr 3, 2026 | Chamber News, Events, News

Chamber focuses on connection and growth in 2026

Annual Meeting Message delivered by Executive Director Victoria Sturman during the Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Business Excellence Awards on March 25, 2026

Good evening everyone,

Thank you all for being here tonight. Truly. In a world where everyone is busy and pulled in a hundred different directions, the fact that you chose to spend your evening here—celebrating one another and our business community—means more than you know.

Tonight isn’t just about awards. It’s about connections. It’s about recognizing that none of us are doing this alone.

And if I can borrow a little inspiration from a galaxy far, far away… this room is full of people who understand the power of alliance. Because when businesses come together, support each other, and share ideas, that’s when the real magic happens.

This year marks our 81st anniversary as a Chamber. Eighty-one years of supporting businesses, advocating for our communities, and helping to create the kind of place people want to live, work, and play.

That doesn’t happen by accident.

It happens because of all of you.

Over the past 12 months, the chamber has seen incredible momentum and watched ideas grow into something real. We’ve welcomed new businesses into our community, celebrated grand openings, expansions, and milestones.

We’ve also continued to build opportunities for connection—whether it’s through networking events, workshops, or simply making the right introduction at the right time.

Because sometimes success isn’t about a big moment.

It’s about a conversation. A connection. A door opening that you didn’t even know existed.

The Chamber has expanded how we support and promote our members—through marketing opportunities, increased visibility, and the sharing of your stories with a wider audience. And its those – Your stories – that matter. They are what make our community unique. They’re what draw people in and keep them coming back.

The Chamber also continued our work behind the scenes—advocating for businesses, navigating challenges, and making sure your voices are heard. That work isn’t always visible, but it is essential.

Because strong businesses build strong communities.

And strong communities… well, they tend to be a pretty powerful force.

Now, I won’t say we’ve mastered the Force… but I will say we’ve gotten pretty good at working together to move things forward.

And that’s what makes this Chamber special.

It’s not just an organization. It’s a network of people who genuinely want to see each other succeed.

People who show up.

People who support each other.

People who believe that when one business does well, it lifts the entire community.

That mindset is what has carried us through the past year—and it’s what will carry us into the future.

As we look ahead, there’s a lot to be excited about. Next year, we’ll celebrate the 80th anniversary of these Business Excellence Awards. An incredible milestone that speaks to the long-standing tradition of recognizing the people and organizations who make a difference here.

And tonight, we continue that tradition.

To our honorees—thank you for the work you do every day. You are innovators, leaders, and community builders. You set the bar high, and you inspire the rest of us.

To our members—thank you for your continued support of the Chamber. Everything we do is possible because of you.

To our sponsors and partners—thank you for investing not just in events like this, but in the future of our community.

And to everyone in this room—thank you for supporting each other.

Because at the end of the day, that’s what this is all about.

Not competition—but collaboration.

Not going it alone—but building something together.

So tonight, let’s celebrate. Let’s recognize the achievements in this room. And let’s keep building the kind of community we can all be proud of.

Right now, I’d like to introduce some of the 2026 Board of Directors of the Chamber and thank them for their dedication and passion for the Chamber and for their continued support of all we do.

  • Chairman Ja Smith of Vision Financial Group
  • Past Chairman Jeff Leyonmark of the Wolf Agency
  • Board Members
    • Jess Armbrust of the East Aurora Cooperative Market and Aurora Town Board
    • Shannon Beiter of The Bonadio Group
    • Andrew Emborsky of Talmud Law
    • Melissa Ferrara of MMF Business Solutions
    • Alan Justin of Hartloff Benefit Solutions

Thank you all for the hard work and support you give throughout the year. It is very much appreciated.

This evening wouldn’t have happened without the support of our membership, and I’d like to thank the following businesses for their sponsorship of this event.

Thank you to our:

  • Investors Circle Annual Sponsors Delevan and Loptr LLC
  • Interstellar Impact sponsors
    • Bonadio Group
    • Delevan
    • HDE Electric
    • Loptr LLC
  • Cosmic Cocktail Sponsors
    • Fisher Price
    • Go Net Speed
  • Hyperdrive Sponsors
    • Bank of Holland
    • East Aurora Living
    • Hartloff Benefits
    • Little Finch Party
    • McDermott Consulting
    • Sana Physical Therapy Pilates & Wellness
  • Galaxy Rising Sponsors
    • Aurora Players
    • County Legislator Lindsey Lorigo
    • The Columns Banquets
  • Out of This World VIP Experience Raffle Donors
    • Cellino Plumbing
    • HDE Electric
    • MMF Business Solutions
    • The Heart of Music Festival
    • Vidlers & 10
    • Wood Funeral Home

And lastly, I’d like to take a moment to give a very special thank you to Carrie Evans.

This year, we challenged Carrie to take this event to the next level—and she didn’t just meet that challenge, she completely exceeded it. What she created tonight went far beyond anything we imagined.

Because of her vision, creativity, and an incredible amount of hard work behind the scenes, this has become one of the largest and most memorable award events we’ve had in recent years.

Carrie, your dedication to this Chamber and this community truly shows in everything you do. We are so grateful for you.

Thank you for making tonight so special.

2026 Business Excellence Awards

2026 Business Excellence Awards

by | Apr 1, 2026 | Chamber News, News

Message from Executive Director

A Galaxy of Connection: Greater East Aurora Chamber Celebrates Business Excellence and the Power of Community

There are a lot of ways to measure a successful event—attendance, energy in the room, how smoothly everything runs. By all those standards, this year’s Business Excellence Awards: The Galactic Gala was a success.

But what stood out most to me on March 25 wasn’t any one moment. It was the feeling in the room.

In a world where everyone is busy and pulled in a hundred different directions, people chose to show up for each other. And that’s really what this event, and our Chamber, is all about.

Yes, the evening was about recognizing outstanding businesses, organizations, and individuals. But more than that, it was about connection. It was about the reminder that none of us are doing this alone and that, when we support each other, we all move forward.

This year is especially meaningful for us as a Chamber. We’re celebrating our 81st anniversary, more than eight decades of supporting businesses, advocating for our communities, and helping create a place where people want to live, work, and play.

That kind of longevity doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because of the people who make up this business community.

Over the past year, we’ve seen incredible momentum. The Chamber welcomed new businesses, celebrated expansions and milestones, and continued to create opportunities for people to connect, whether that was at an event, in a workshop, or through a simple introduction.

Sometimes the biggest impact doesn’t come from a big moment.

It comes from a conversation. A connection. A door opening that you didn’t even know existed.

We’ve also continued to expand how we support our members, through increased visibility, marketing opportunities, and sharing your stories. And your stories matter. They’re what make this community unique. They’re what draw people here and keep them coming back.

At the same time, a lot of our work happens quietly in the background, advocating for businesses, helping navigate challenges, and making sure your voices are heard. It may not always be visible, but it is essential.

Because strong businesses build strong communities.

And when you have a strong community, you have something powerful.

What makes this Chamber special is that it’s not just an organization. It’s a network of people who genuinely want to see each other succeed. People who show up. People who support one another. People who understand that when one business does well, it lifts the entire community.

That mindset is what carried us through this past year—and it’s what will carry us forward.

We’re also looking ahead to an exciting milestone. Next year marks the 80th anniversary of our Business Excellence Awards, a tradition that reflects just how long this community has been committed to recognizing those who make a difference.

This year’s honorees set the bar high and inspired all of us. At the end of the day, this year’s Business Excellence Awards reflected who we are as a business community.

Not competitors, but collaborators. Not going it alone but building something together. And if this event was any indication, we’re headed in a very good direction.

Supreme Court Tariff Ruling Update

by | Apr 1, 2026 | Chamber News, News

Message from the Executive Director

What Small Businesses need to know after the recent Supreme Court’s Tariff Ruling

Small business owners plan for a lot of things: staffing changes, supply chain delays, Western New York weather, etc. What they do not generally anticipate is the possibility that a federal policy affecting their costs could later be determined to be unlawful.

Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the Trump Administration’s tariffs that were imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In short, the Court determined that those tariffs were not legally authorized under the statute.

For hundreds of thousands of small businesses across the country, including many in our immediate area, that decision is significant.

Since those tariffs were initiated in early 2025, the federal government has collected approximately $130 billion under IEEPA. In its filing with the Court, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Department of Justice stated that if the tariffs were found to be illegal, the government would refund them. Now that the Court has ruled, commitment matters.

What does this mean for our local small businesses?

It potentially opens the door for refunds. “The normal course of action is that people should get refunds for the tariffs that they paid. The federal government collected these taxes illegally; they now must refund them to people,” explained Neil Bradley, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Chief Policy Officer, during a recent briefing to chambers across the United States.

But this is important; there is currently no official process in place for businesses to file a claim for reimbursement.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is urging the administration to make the refund process as straightforward and accessible as possible. And that’s critical. Small businesses don’t have in-house trade attorneys or compliance teams. They need a clear, transparent system.

“We saw that the administration was raising some questions about how (refunds) would work, about how long it would take, and whether there would be litigation, so one of the things we’re really encouraging is for the administration to make this a simple process for small businesses. Hundreds of thousands of small businesses paid these tariffs last year; the tariffs were illegal according to the Supreme Court, and so people should get a refund, and we should make that process as simple as possible,” Bradley said.

And as you might expect, figuring out whether your business qualifies and how much you may have paid won’t necessarily be simple. Many of these tariffs were often embedded in import costs, invoices, and supply contracts. Untangling that will require clarity from the federal government.

There’s also an unfortunate reality we need to acknowledge: scams have already begun to surface.

Because there is no official refund process yet, no one can legitimately file a claim on your behalf at this time. If you are contacted by someone offering to “secure your tariff refund” for a fee, that is a red flag. Do not pay anyone to reclaim funds when there is no formal mechanism in place.

It’s also important to note that tariffs themselves have not disappeared.

“The long story short is that tariffs haven’t gone away, they’ve simply shifted the legal authority for those tariffs,” according to Bradley.

While the Supreme Court struck down the tariffs imposed under IEEPA, other tariffs remain in effect under different legal authorities. So, this decision does not mean the end of tariffs altogether. It means a specific set of tariffs was found unlawful.

As business leaders, what should you do right now?

  • Stay informed.
    • Review your records so you understand whether you paid IEEPA-based tariffs.
    • Be cautious about third-party offers.
    • Watch for official guidance from federal agencies.

For many businesses, margins are tight and cash flow matters. If refunds are issued, they could represent meaningful dollars coming back into our local economy. Dollars that can be reinvested in employees, inventory, expansion, or simply stability.

Our role has always been to advocate for a fair and predictable business climate. At the Chamber level, we’ll continue to monitor developments and share updates as soon as there is clarity.

In the meantime, stay cautious, stay patient, and don’t let anyone rush you into a “solution” that doesn’t yet exist.

Sincerely,

Victoria Sturman
Executive Director
Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce

Loptr LLC

Loptr LLC

by | Mar 18, 2026 | Chamber News, Member Blog, News

Loptr LLC Names One of Buffalo’s Best Places to Work

East Aurora-based Cybersecurity Firm Loptr LLC Awarded Second Place in Competition

Loptr LLC, an East Aurora-based cybersecurity services company, has been recognized as one of the region’s Best Places to Work by Buffalo Business First. The 15-member firm, founded in 2013 by local East Aurora resident Dave Newell, took home second place in the Micro category (companies with 10-24 employees).

The Best Places to Work award honors organizations that demonstrate exceptional workplace culture, employee engagement, and a strong commitment to supporting their teams.

At Loptr, employees work together to deliver advanced cybersecurity services that help
organizations strengthen their defenses and navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape. The company’s collaborative environment, focus on innovation, and commitment to professional growth have helped create a workplace where employees thrive.

“This recognition is a reflection of the incredible people who make Loptr what it is,” said Dave Newell. “Our team’s dedication to both our dozens of clients and each other is what drives our success.” Loptr is also known for its colorful 5-suite office space, where creativity meets technical prowess. 

Loptr is proud to contribute to Buffalo’s technology community and remains committed to investing in its people and mission. Learn more at www.loptrllc.com.

Chamber announces launch of new quarterly newsletter

Chamber announces launch of new quarterly newsletter

by | Jan 8, 2026 | Chamber News, News, Newsletter

We’re excited to introduce the Chamber Compass—the Greater East Aurora Chamber of Commerce’s new quarterly e-newsletter designed to keep our members connected, informed, and visible.

Each issue will spotlight what’s happening across our Chamber network and communities, including:

  • Member news: Events, promotions, press releases, grand openings, milestones, and more from our members.
  • Chamber updates: Upcoming programs, networking opportunities, and advocacy news.
  • Community highlights: Key regional events and important business information.
  • Member moments: Welcomes to new members and thank-yous to renewing members.

We’re also adding a fun, high-visibility feature: Member Social Spotlights.

One or two social media posts from Chamber members will be randomly selected and featured each quarter. To be eligible, simply follow the Chamber on Facebook (@eastaurorachamber) and on Instagram (@eachamber). Then tag us in your posts—it’s an easy way to amplify your message to a broader audience.

Chamber Compass will be delivered the first month of each new quarter to more than 3,000 contacts, including Chamber members and our wider business and community list—providing meaningful exposure well beyond our membership.

To have your information included in upcoming issues, please be sure to submit your content by the deadlines, which will be clearly listed in each issue.

Want a little more exposure? By an advertisement in an upcoming issue! For more information, please reach out to our Executive Director, Victoria Sturman, at vsturman@eanycc.com or 716-652–8444.

We can’t wait to share your stories and help keep our region moving forward—together.

Welcome aboard!

Try Cross-Country Skiing at Byrncliff Golf Resort & Banquets in Varysburg

Try Cross-Country Skiing at Byrncliff Golf Resort & Banquets in Varysburg

by | Jan 7, 2026 | Member Blog, News, Newsletter

We have a lot of snow, and we know that you want to enjoy the outdoors as 2026 kicks in.  You want to go skiing, but downhill skiing can be expensive.  Have you tried cross-country skiing?  It is a great sport where you exercise at your own pace, enjoy beautiful and quiet nature.

Byrncliff Golf Resort & Banquets, a public golf resort in Varysburg, just 35 minutes South of Buffalo and a short drive east of East Aurora, is now a winter playground ideal for cross-country skiing.

Byrncliff stands out as one of the region’s only cross-country centers featuring PistenBully-groomed trails, delivering world-class conditions for both classic skiing and skate skiing. With more than 12 miles of scenic terrain stretching across rolling hills, woodlands, and a beautifully maintained golf course, skiers can expect reliable grooming and a consistently smooth, enjoyable experience.  Byrncliff also offers night skiing trails from Thursday through Saturday to 8 pm: a fun and different experience!

“Cross-country skiing remains one of the most affordable ways to enjoy winter, stay active, and get outside,” said Lindsay Eddy, VP of Sales & Marketing at Byrncliff.  A daily ski pass ticket costs just $22 as opposed to much more for a downhill ski pass.  “We’re excited to welcome both newcomers and returning guests to experience the quality of our grooming, the beauty of our trails, and the warm hospitality that makes Byrncliff special.”

Byrncliff offers full rental equipment, including classic skis, skate skis, and snowshoes, making it easy for first-time visitors to step right onto the trails. Lessons are available for individuals or small groups who want to learn the basics or improve their technique.

After a day in the snow, guests can enjoy Byrncliff’s restaurant, bar, and cozy lodge, or book a winter getaway with the resort’s overnight packages. The all-inclusive packages pair trail access with a warm meal and accommodations at the on-site hotel—perfect for romantic winter escapes, family outings, or snowmobile-friendly weekends.

“With the rising cost of downhill skiing, cross-country skiing is a refreshing alternative that’s accessible, peaceful, and great exercise,” Eddy added. “We’re proud to continue offering a high-quality, affordable winter experience right here in Western New York.”

More details and Trail conditions are updated daily at www.Byrncliff.com.

About Byrncliff Golf Resort & Banquets

Byrncliff Golf Resort & Banquets is a four-season destination in Varysburg, NY, offering an 18-hole golf course, hotel, restaurant, bar, outdoor pool, and extensive winter activities including cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Situated in the rolling hills of Wyoming County, Byrncliff has welcomed outdoor enthusiasts for more than 50 years with year-round hospitality and scenic beauty.