Merrill Lynch

Press release:

Genesee Cancer Assistance, Inc., is proud to acknowledge Merrill Lynch as a $5,000 corporate sponsor in recognition of the nonprofit agency's 25 years of serving cancer patients in Genesee County.

A 25^th Anniversary Celebration is scheduled for Nov. 20 at the Park Place Banquet Room at Batavia Downs Gaming & Hotel. Doors open at 4:30 p.m., with appetizers at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m., followed with a special recognition program and music.

Tickets are $35 each and include $25 in free play at the casino. Tickets are presale only and available for purchase until Nov. 12 by calling the office at (585) 345-0417 or online at: https://gca-25th-anniversary.eventbrite.com/.

More information can be found at www.geneseecancerassistance.org.

The event will be an acknowledgment of GCA’s community supporters, dedicated volunteers and the cancer patients it serves.

Photo: From left, Cal Klemmer of the Merrill Lynch office; GCA Executive Director Sue Underwood, volunteers Shirley Puleo and Teresa Potrzebowski, and GCA Board President Nickie Fazio. Photo by Alecia Kaus.

From the Batavia office of Merrill Lynch:

Given today’s health concerns and restrictions related to large gatherings as well as the economic challenges faced by many businesses and individuals, we feel it’s in the best interests of all to cancel the GLOW Corporate Cup for 2020.

We thank you for your understanding and very much appreciate all of your support over the first seven years of what has turned into a terrific community event.

We did consider a virtual format for this year, as some other long-standing races have done, but felt that the uniqueness of our event’s AfterGLOW celebration could never be virtualized.

Our plan is to make the event even bigger and better for 2021…and we hope you will help us make that happen.

Merrill Lynch will still be making a donation to the GLOW YMCA during this year of heightened need. We invite our past sponsors and participants to join us in that effort as all gifts this year will help send a child to camp.

The GLOW YMCA recognizes the growing need for financial assistance and they do not want any child to miss out on this year‘s educational and fun-filled summer.

A variety of upgrades to this year‘s camp program will make it unlike any other, especially because campers will all participate in a hands-on STEAM* project to prevent summer learning loss!

To make a donation, click here.

Congratulations to you if you have been training for the GLOW Corporate Cup and we encourage you to keep it up.We all know how regular exercise helps us mentally just as much as it does physically.

Again, thank you for your continued support -- we hope all of you and your families enjoy a safe and healthy summer.

* STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics

File photo from the 2016 GLOW Corporate Cup, when they had 1,000 participants in the race.

Merrill Lynch today announced John Riter has been appointed resident director of Merrill Lynch’s Batavia office. Riter will lead the Batavia office’s team of dedicated Merrill Lynch financial advisors to continue to deliver wealth management strategies to local area individuals, families, and businesses.

“John’s proven leadership and outstanding reputation make him the perfect candidate to lead our Batavia local office,” said Jeff Adams, managing director and market executive. “John’s 29 years of experience will enhance our ability to offer the highest quality of service that Batavia’s sophisticated investors have come to expect from Merrill Lynch.”

Riter, a resident of Batavia, N.Y., joined Merrill Lynch in 2008.

Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management

Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management is a leading provider of comprehensive wealth management and investment services for individuals and businesses globally. With 14,552 financial advisors and $2.1 trillion in client balances as of September 30, 2016, it is among the largest businesses of its kind in the world. Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management specializes in goals-based wealth management, including planning for retirement, education, legacy, and other life goals through investment, cash and credit management. Within Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management, the Private Banking and Investment Group focuses on the unique and personalized needs of wealthy individuals, families and their businesses. These clients are served by more than 175 highly specialized private wealth advisor teams, along with experts in areas such as investment management, concentrated stock management and intergenerational wealth transfer strategies. Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management is part of Bank of America Corporation.

MLPF&S is a registered broker-dealer, member Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC) and a wholly owned subsidiary of Bank of America Corporation. 
© 2016 Bank of America Corporation. All rights reserved.

With 840 runners and walkers, 51 company teams and 42 corporate tents set up in Batavia's Centennial Park, the third year of the GLOW Corporate Cup proved to be the biggest yet.

The event, organized primarily by executives with the Merrill Lynch office in Batavia, will have raised more than $20,000 for the GLOW YMCA once receipts are tallied.

Batavia City Schools fielded the winning team and Corey Brown of Crickler Vending posted the race's fastest time at 17:42.

The organizers got a lot of positive feedback, said Joshua Dent, a VP with Merrill Lynch.

"If they're serious runners, the racers are very happy with the course Steve Tufts set up," Dent said. "It runs like a professional race. Then, unlike most races, there is this incredible after-party that makes it unique and different. The environment is fun. So we get the serious runners who are happy with the event, and then the businesses who participate and send walkers and then get to hang out after and listen to a band and they're satisfied as well. Those two aspect help make it a successful and unique event."

Dent looks forward to seeing the event grow, especially as the promoters work to attract more corporate teams from Orleans, Livingston and Wyoming counties.

It's gratifying to see the hard work of Tufts and John Ritter pay off in a big way for the GLOW YMCA, Dent said.

"It obviously means a lot to be able to give that much back to the community," Dent said. "The support of all the volunteers means so much. There's just an incredible amount of work that goes into putting this together. John Riter and Steve Tufts worked tirelessly to pull this off.

"It's not a one-day process. It's days and days and days. So to see the culmination, to see all the businesses that participate and do something that is fun and good for you and get the chance to hang out on a beautiful day and network, it clicked on all points."

• For individual race results, click here.
• For team results, click here.

UPDATE: Photos posted previously were from last year.

Top photo: City fire's team.

If you have photos to share, e-mail them this morning to howard@thebatavian.com

Upstate Toyota's team.

Three photos below, from Genesee Community College.

Photo from Elizabeth Downie

The Crickler Vending team. Photo submitted by Bob Brown.

Reader submitted, but company ID not included. Will try to update when we get it.

This is the fourth in our series of profiles of the 2014 Chamber of Commerce Award winners. The awards will be presented at a dinner at the Clarion Hotel on Saturday.

The Batavia office of Merrill Lynch isn’t your typical financial services firm. Sure, it has a passion for helping clients with their financial matters — a passion that makes it one of Merrill Lynch’s top-ranked offices. But it also has a passion for good corporate citizenship. It’s this passion for giving back — and in a big way — that makes it standout.

Merrill Lynch was named the 2014 Innovative Community Contribution of the Year Award by the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce, the key reason being that employees invest thousands of volunteer hours annually assisting local nonprofits and community groups. The employees freely give both their time and their financial expertise. Organizations like the Genesee Healthcare Foundation, the Batavia Area Jaycees, and the Salvation Army have all benefited from Merrill Lynch’s help.

Supporting the GLOW YMCA

Merrill Lynch’s relationship with the GLOW YMCA -- a nonprofit group in a four-county region comprised of Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties -- is a fine example of how the Batavia office makes a difference in the community. Each year the local office supports the Y’s Camp Hough by sponsoring an annual golf tournament at the Silver Lake Country Club in Wyoming County. The 18-hole tournament kick-starts the sponsorship campaign to benefit the resident camp for kids in the GLOW Region. Last year’s tournament drew more than 90 golfers.

In 2013 the Batavia office organized and helped launch the first GLOW Corporate Cup 5K Race and AfterGLOW office party at Centennial Park in Batavia. Modeled after the Buffalo Corporate Challenge, the GLOW Corporate Cup encourages local businesses to form racing teams to compete in a fun atmosphere. The AfterGLOW party serves as a great networking event for local businesses.

A big hit with the community, the Corporate Cup is a great fundraiser for the Y. Last year the event had 24 teams and about 500 runners, which raised about $12,000 for its programs. This year’s race had more than 40 teams and about 800 runners, which generated upwards of $15,000 for the Y. In addition, 40-plus local businesses set up corporate tents -- a big jump from last year's 27 tents.

Filling a Void in Batavia

The Batavia office is one of four Merrill Lynch offices in Western New York. Housed in a first-class facility at 21 Masse Place, the office fills a void left by the departure of many competing financial services firms. Merrill Lynch, the wealth management division of Bank of America (BoA), saw an opportunity here. So it established the Batavia office in 2012, staffing it with financial people that had strong local ties to the community. Since then, the Batavia office has grown and prospered. It’s’ now among Merrill Lynch’s most productive locations.

The Batavia location offers in-depth financial expertise to meet its client’s diverse needs. It provides financial planning, commercial, retirement counseling, and wealth management services. Meanwhile, its team of financial consultants has over 200 years of combined experience working together in Western New York. They have clients in 36 states and seven countries. Each consultant has highly specialized financial skills. 

“Our clients get the best of both worlds from us,” says Josh Dent, who manages the Batavia office and spearheads one of the office’s financial advisory teams. “Thanks to our heritage, we’re able to provide clients with the banking convenience afforded by BoA and the investment insights of Merrill Lynch — the world’s largest brokerage firm. Our passion at this office is helping clients identify, pursue, and realize financial and personal goals at every stage of their lives.”

The YMCA has a new best friend -- the Batavia Office of Merrill Lynch. The investment banking and wealth management company donated $5,000 toward the inaugural GLOW Corporate Challenge -- a 5K team race that's intended to connect the community and give back to it.

Proceeds will benefit the Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, Wyoming (GLOW) YMCA (similar to the Chase Corporate Challenge that takes place in bigger cities).

The goal is for local businesses to form racing teams, compete in a fun atmosphere, and crown a winner of the GLOW Corporate Cup. Following the race is the region's largest “office party,” where Batavia’s own, the OHMS Band, will perform. Companies are encouraged to set up tents, bring refreshments and prepare to have a good time at this major networking function.

Steven Tufts from the Batavia Office of Merrill Lynch is thrilled with the level of participation.

“We have 14 sponsors and expect more than 400 participants," Tufts said. "The money from the sponsors, after expenses, will go directly to the GLOW area YMCA. Judging from this year’s response, next year should be even bigger.”

The local Merrill Lynch office worked with city officials about location and logistics and set the event for 6:30 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1, starting -- and ending -- at Centennial Park. Check-in is at 4:30. In the event of inclement weather, the race and concert afterward will still go on.

Registration is $25 per person and you must be 18 or older to participate.

The route has been certified as a USA Track and Field Course and there will be EMS by the finish line for any runner/walker who may need assistance.

Ellicott Avenue will be closed from Washington to Richmond from noon to 10 p.m. the day of the race. Street parking is available, along with parking at the Batavia City Centre on Main Street and the Jerome Center on Bank Street.

You can register online at www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1247322 or call 585-344-1664.