40 Under 40: Meet the impressive class of 2022

Buffalo Business First has honored more than 1,200 40 Under 40 winners over the last 31 years. This week, we added another 40 to the group at the annual awards event held on Nov. 10 at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. These are some of the best and brightest young professionals in Western New York, and they are making a real difference in their workplaces and communities. There was a lot to celebrate:

• The 31st class was chosen from nearly 250 nominations, an increase of nearly 100 over last year.
• The diversity of the community was reflected on stage with honorees from many backgrounds, races and career paths.
• The room was full of friends, family and co-workers who were inspired by the talent we have here.

Click here to meet them all .

— Michelle Cioci Adams

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Real estate deals of the week

• Upstate Niagara sells annex building to Chick-fil-A franchisee
• Former Decorators' Showhouse home sells for $1.69M
• The Junction to replace Tandoori on Transit
• Team behind $10M Black Rock project acquires nearby property
• Clarence home is Erie's 43rd to sell for $1M+ this year

See more of Business First's comprehensive real estate coverage in?Crane Watch

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Four finalists vie for Bills’ stadium concessions contract

Four companies are in the running to serve food and beverages at the Buffalo Bills' new stadium, according to a source close to the project. Team officials hope to pick a concessions provider sometime next month so that the chosen company can work closely with the Bills during the construction of the $1.4 billion stadium in Orchard Park.? |? Read more

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?Highest-paid nonprofit execs

The nonprofit sector isn't always seen as a place where professionals receive a competitive salary and compensation package, especially compared to the corporate or for-profit environment. For those in executive positions, however, there’s plenty of opportunity.

In Western New York, the region’s largest nonprofits paid out millions in executive salaries, with 447 individuals receiving $100,000 or more in the 2020 fiscal year. That includes 103 executives who topped the $200,000 mark and 11 who made more than $400,000.? |? Read more

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Niagara Produce

Niagara Produce Inc.’s third location — a 40,220-square-foot market in Elma, with an attached 37,000-square-foot greenhouse — is finally ready to open, after pandemic-related delays pushed back the original spring goal.? | ?Take an early look inside

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Perfecting your C-suite resume: Tips for grabbing recruiters' attention

C-suite executives looking for new jobs approach the job hunt a little differently. They don’t rely solely on searching sites like Indeed.com, uploading a resume and waiting for a phone call, for example. Most find jobs through networking — it’s all about who you know. That’s why LinkedIn has become such a valuable tool for C-level recruiting.

So, what does that mean for the C-suite resume? Is a traditional resume still relevant when you're seeking a top position? The answer is yes, if it’s a strong resume.? |? Read more

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Canadian restaurateur builds a franchise empire here

When?Muhammad Shoaib?walks through downtown Niagara Falls, he sees opportunity.

The Pakistani native has 11 franchise restaurants in operation on both sides of the border, with plans for half a dozen more in a variety of brands: Papa John’s, Church’s Texas Chicken, Moe’s Southwest Grill. He employs 70 to 90 people at those 11 sites.

While he also has restaurant locations open or in development in the Town of Niagara, Amherst and Buffalo, it’s downtown Niagara Falls — and the millions of tourists who visit there every year — that that really gets him excited. |? Read more

Plus, Anchor Bar heads west and south with five more franchise sites; Chick-fil-A plans its first Northtowns location; a Canadian Asian restaurant group plans its first U.S. site in Amherst; and a local burger chain plans a new site in Buffalo.

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?This Weekly Edition was compiled by Sara Paulson Meehan . Questions? Comments? Concerns??Send them to [email protected].