Entrepreneur of the Year

Every year, WEDI staff and its board of directors chose WEDI's Entrepreneur of the Year, a business owner from WEDI's Economic Development client portfolio that demonstrates a stable revenue base, year to year growth, and community impact. The winner is announced at WEDI's annual gala, WEDIfest.

Meet our Entrepreneur of the Year Awardees

2025: Lee and Lavenia Thomas, owners of Radah Baked Goods

Radah Baked Goods began their business in fall 2020, shortly after the start of the covid pandemic. After the owners, Lee and Lavenia Thomas, built a strong following online, they believed that a physical presence would allow their business to further their network and create new opportunities for sales. The West Side Bazaar was the ideal space for them to make these connections and Radah Baked Goods began their business inside WEDI's West Side Bazaar in June 2021.

While operating out of the West Side Bazaar, Radah Baked Goods stuck to its plan and formed numerous corporate partnerships to grow its catering and events revenue streams. Just one year later, Radah Baked Goods had saved enough money to graduate from WEDI's West Side Bazaar. In June 2022, Radah Baked Goods began building out its new facility located along the Amherst commercial corridor of Black Rock while using its strong catering and events revenue to cover their costs. Nine months later, Radah Baked Goods had its grand opening and ribbon cutting at 247 Amherst Street, Buffalo, officially marking the opening of its retail location to the community.

Radah Baked Goods hours are 9 am - 10 pm Monday-Saturday.

2024: Htay Naing, owner of Nine & Night Thai Cuisine

Originally from Burma, Htay arrived in Buffalo in 2013. Htay learned about the West Side Bazaar from former West Side Bazaar tenant Maung Maung Saw, owner of 007 Chinese Food, with whom he worked with in Malaysia. With his earnings from dishwashing and bussing tables at the Original Pancake House in Williamsville, he opened Nine & Night Thai Cuisine in 2016 at the West Side Bazaar, previously located at 25 Grant Street, Buffalo. During his time at the bazaar, he worked on his business acumen and customer service skills, easily becoming a bazaar customer favorite. When covid hit in 2020, he pivoted his business to accept online orders and in April 2022, he was featured in Bon Appétit. After the fire that displaced the businesses at the West Side Bazaar on Grant Street in September 2022, Htay took some time off to be with his family as his wife gave birth to his second daughter. In August 2023, he reopened Nine & Night Thai Cuisine at Buffalo State University’s Campbell Student Union during its 2023 fall semester for students and customers to enjoy his savory dishes. In March 2024, Htay was able to launch his own restaurant at 414 Amherst Street, Buffalo – a dream realized after years of determination.

Nine & Night Thai Cuisine's hours are Monday-Saturday 11 am - 8 pm.

2023: Dale Holt, Tina Grant-Holt, and Reginald Ingram, owners of Manna @ Northland

Dale, Tina, and Reginald opened Manna @ Northland (also known as Manna Culinary Group) in 2019 in the ground level of the Workforce Training Center on Northland Avenue. The trio brings decades of combined catering and restaurant management experience. The restaurant is known for its incredible service and of course, its high-quality food. Tina, Dale, and Reggie have long recognized the food apartheid that exists in areas surrounding their restaurant, which is why the concept of healthy prepared foods for reasonable prices is the key feature. Tina and Dale have also shown their commitment to community support through their involvement in WEDI's Capital Campaign leadership, which they co-chair. Their involvement as co-chairs has been integral to WEDI's ability to build the new West Side Bazaar on Niagara Street.

Manna @ Northland is located at 683 Northland Avenue, Buffalo and open Tuesday through Thursday from 9 am to 4 pm, Friday from 9 am and 6 pm, Saturday from 8 am to 2 pm, and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm.

2022: Novi Paluch, owner of Sasmita Batik

Novi Paluch opened Sasmita Batik more than nine years ago in WEDI’s West Side Bazaar. Since then, she has offered a fine selection of handmade traditional Indonesian batik. After Sasmita Batik graduated from the West Side Bazaar in 2014, she sold in several retail locations including the Market Arcade, and is now in her own space at 43 1/2 Allen Street. Since 2019, Sasmita Batik has shown at the prestigious NYC Fashion Week. This past year, Novi was proud to highlight several new collections she designed and made available from Sasmita Batik. She is looking forward to using this recognition to inspire other entrepreneurs and encourage everyone to have confidence in themselves and their skills.

2021: Christine Uwimbabazi, owner of Prime Care Transportation

Christine Uwimbabazi is the founder and co-owner of Prime Care Transportation-founded in 2017. She has been immensely successful in growing Prime Care Transportation and created one of Western New York's leading medical transportation companies. After the pandemic disrupted the normal ways of life and the economy, Christine's steady and resourceful leadership provided Prime Care Transportation with true resiliency. WEDI wishes Prime Care Transportation many more future successes under the leadership of Christine Uwimbabazi.

2020: Tommy Summage, owner of A1 Express

A self-starter with a strategic mind and inner drive, A1 Express business owner Tommy Summage has grown his business to five cars has shown revenue growth each year. He named his business A1 Express so when someone searched for a transportation service, it would always be alphabetically first. Engaged, gracious and always the professional, his positive attitude makes everyone’s day and he accepts all constructive feedback that benefit his business goals. His focus to offer the best service possible to build a positive professional network has made itself apparent in his business growth and his multitude of professional relationships.

2019: Denise Serio, owner of 50/50 Marketing Partners

With over 30 years of experience in the marketing field, Denise Serio opened 50/50 Marketing Partners to help organizations fill the gaps in their marketing strategy with an experienced team of designers, copywriters and service providers. Her goal is simple: to help her clients grow through sales increases, market expansion, or improvement in ROI. To give small businesses access to big agency marketing services without the cost is what Denise enjoys the most about her job. Denise also gives back with her time and talent as a WEDI mentor. The support and encouragement from WEDI give her the confidence to be a successful business owner and Denise is honored to receive this recognition.

2018: Zaw Win, owner of Westside Value Redemption

Zaw Win, originally from Burma, opened his first business, a laundromat called The WASH Project, in 2010 as a safe place for refugees to do laundry. After the success of that business venture, Zaw opened Westside Value Redemption, the first can and bottle redemption center in West Buffalo, where, to further help the refugee community, he offered employment to the Buffalo refugee community. In 2018, he expanded Westside Value Redemption to a second location. Zaw Win and his wife, Naing, demonstrate an exemplary entrepreneurial spirit and are passionate about helping the refugee population succeed. Because of his skills as a business owner and leadership and dedication to the betterment of refugees in Buffalo, Zaw Win was named WEDI’s Entrepreneur of the Year. He is thankful for WEDI’s help to him and to the people in his community.

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