Phil Yawman Honored as Business Person of the Year Award
Pittsford, NY, August 1, 2023—Cooley Group, Inc., an industry leading branded solutions provider in promotional, print and fulfillment for over 75 years, is proud to share that its President, Phil Yawman, has been selected by the Small Business Council of Rochester, New York as the Business Person of the Year.
Since 1983 the Small Business Council, a Greater Rochester Chamber affiliate, has honored accomplished individuals within the for-profit business sector in Greater Rochester. These individuals are recognized for their exceptional achievements, expansion, effective leadership, and contributions in both civic and professional domains.
Yawman joined Cooley Group in 2018 as the President and Board Chairman. During his tenure, the company has earned numerous awards for customer satisfaction and employee engagement, including the “Best Companies to Work For” designation from the New York State Society for Human Resource Management. In recent years the company has seen tremendous growth—2022 was a record year, achieving the highest revenue and net income in the employee-owned company’s 78-year history.
Yawman’s expertise lies in strategic planning and positioning; executive leadership coaching and mentoring; start-up, expansion, and growth management; marketing, sales and business development. He previously held executive positions at Annese and Associates and co-founded Choice One Communications, a telecom start-up which grew rapidly under his leadership.
Yawman serves as the Vice Chair of the St. John Fisher University Board of Trustees and sits on the boards of Monroe Community College Foundation and Constellation Brands Performing Arts Center (CMAC). He was also on the Executive Committee of the 2023 PGA Championship, which put Rochester in the national spotlight and brought hundreds of millions of dollars to the local economy.
Expressing gratitude for those who have supported him both personally and professionally, Yawman said, “I am extremely thankful for the great mentors I have had throughout my life and career who modeled the value of purposeful work, community service and who defined success as making an impact on the growth and achievements of the entire organization.” He went on to add, “It was important to me to bring these values to Cooley Group, and I am extremely proud of the success the company has achieved in the past several years. As a lifelong resident of this community, thank you to the Small Business Council for acknowledging the contributions and accomplishments of small businesses in our area.”
Sarah Compter, President, Small Business Council said, “Congratulations to Phil and all of our finalists! Your extraordinary achievements have inspired us all. As we look back on 40 years of the Business Person of the Year award it is exciting to consider the growth to come in our community and together, we will build a brighter future!”
Bob Duffy, President & CEO, Greater Rochester Chamber said, “Small businesses play a crucial role in our local economy, contributing to job growth, fostering innovation, and shaping our unique region. The Business Person of the Year Award recognizes those who have made noteworthy contributions to our business community, while inspiring others along the way.”
By Cooley Group, Inc. — Cooley Group is a leader in customized promotional, print and fulfillment solutions. With its mission to “Showcase Your Brand”, Cooley Group customizes products and services which drive brand awareness and growth for its clients. Founded in 1945, Cooley Group is an employee-owned company that is recognized for award-winning client service and has been named a “Best Company to Work For in New York State”. The company has offices in Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Utica and the Hudson Valley area. To learn more about Cooley Group and how we can help your business, visit www.cooleybrand.com. Contact: Patricia Lipari: [email protected]