UTICA — The Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce will honor both Frank DuRoss and Robert Esche as its 2013 “Business Person of the Year” at the organization’s annual membership meeting on April 22 at Hart’s Hill Inn.
Both men are part of the management of the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL). DuRoss is the team’s chairman and Esche is president.
The event will also feature J.D. Foster, deputy chief economist at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, as the keynote speaker.
In addition, Erin Hamlin of Remsen, a bronze medalist in luge at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, will hold a meet-and-greet, sign autographs, and offer brief remarks during the program, the chamber said.
DuRoss has spent much of his career as the owner of professional sports teams, including the Mohawk Valley Stars of the Atlantic Coast Hockey League in the early 1980s. He also served as president of the AHL’s Utica Devils, which played in Utica between 1987 and 1993; and co-owner of the Maine Mariners, which later became the Providence Bruins, according to the chamber news release.
He has owned or started 18 “successful” business ventures, including the Rochester Rhinos soccer team, DuRoss Realty Corp., Oneida Asbestos Removal, and Oneida Building Services, the chamber said.
As the executive director of Institutional Advancement at Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), DuRoss oversees the MVCC Foundation.
It awards more than $250,000 annually in scholarships to more than 200 students, the chamber said.
DuRoss and the MVCC Foundation also assisted in initially funding and leading the ThINCubator, a “home for innovative new companies”, located in the Bagg Square West section of Utica, according to the chamber.
The co-recipient, Robert Esche, is a native of Whitesboro, who spent in the National Hockey League.
He played goaltender for the Phoenix Coyotes from 1998 until 2002, and then for the Philadelphia Flyers from 2002 until 2007.
Esche was also one of three goaltenders for the U.S. in Torino, Italy during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy.
He completed his professional career with teams in the former Soviet Union and Switzerland.
Upon returning to the Mohawk Valley, Esche helped launched business ventures, including Aqua Vino Restaurant, Esche’s Family Farms.
Last spring, he also worked with DuRoss to launch Mohawk Valley Garden, Inc., which oversees the Utica Memorial Auditorium and manages the Utica Comets.
Esche also founded the Save of the Day Foundation and has already raised over $1 million for terminally ill children in the Mohawk Valley, the chamber said.
Those interested in attending the Greater Utica Chamber’s annual membership meeting are asked to RSVP by April 15 by visiting greateruticachamber.org, or by calling 315-724-3151.
Tickets for the event cost $40 each or $320 for a table of eight, the chamber said.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com