BUFFALO, NY – The Canisius University Board of Regents will present Scott Bieler, president of West Herr Automotive Group, with its Distinguished Citizen Achievement Award at the 49th annual Regents Scholarship Ball on Saturday, May 9 at the Hyatt Regency Buffalo. The evening begins with cocktails at 6:00 p.m. The awards presentation takes place at 7:30 p.m. Dinner will immediately follow. The Distinguished Citizen Achievement Award is presented by the Canisius University Board of Regents and recognizes an individual for his/her contributions to the civic, cultural and/or economic well-being of the Western New York region.
A native of Orchard Park, Bieler began his career at West Herr in 1975. Hired as a salesman, he rose through the ranks – from manager to general manager and partner, president and then majority owner in 2000. Since then, Bieler has grown West Herr to become the largest auto dealer in New York State and the 24th largest in the nation, selling nearly 40,000 new and used vehicles, annually, and employing 1,800 individuals whom he says are “dedicated to absolute excellence.”
Time and again, West Herr is recognized for superior customer experiences, sales and service by nearly every major vehicle manufacturer it represents. Business First named West Herr a “Best Place to Work” for the past 11 years. The Buffalo News similarly lauded West Herr as a “Top Workplace” in 2014. The company is a six-time recipient of the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for Marketplace Ethics and winner of the Buffalo Niagara Business Ethics Award, presented by the Society of Financial Services Professionals.
The company is a model of integrity and excellence, much like the man who spearheads it.
Each year, Bieler’s civic efforts - both personally and on behalf of West Herr – touch more than 700 local organizations including Erie Community College, St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy and Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
As co-chair of the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation’s most recent campaign, Bieler helped secure millions of dollars needed to construct the new Clinical Sciences Center which, upon completion, will be vital to Roswell’s growth, development and treatment of cancer patients. Earlier partnerships he pioneered between West Herr and RPCI, including the “Ride for Roswell,” have raised countless dollars for cancer research and capital improvements: The West Herr Tree of Hope Plaza is a park-like respite for patients and their families. The West Herr Comprehensive Cancer Resource Center serves as an oasis of support for patients, their families and friends.
Bieler was also among the first to reach out to St. Luke’s Mission of Mercy when it opened in 1994 to serve the city’s addicted, disabled and destitute. He helped the mission secure financing for its first van, when no one would, and continues to assist St. Luke’s residents in their efforts to establish good credit so they may purchase their own vehicles. Bieler is also a faithful volunteer at the mission, serving meals and delivering pick-up trucks full of food and canned goods whenever possible.
Bieler is similarly generous with his time and resources at Erie Community College. The loyal alumnus credits his college education for launching his professional success. To help ensure the same opportunities for continued generations, Bieler sponsors six undergraduate scholarships, annually. Yet his support goes beyond the monetary. Bieler personally mentors his scholarship recipients throughout their college experience and guides them at the onset of their young careers.
The Regents Scholarship Ball is the principal fundraiser for the Canisius University Board of Regents Scholarship Fund, which provides financial support to promising young students who otherwise would not be able to take advantage of a Canisius education.
Canisius Regents Annette Dispenza-Kajtoch ’88, MBA ’90 and Brian Murphy ’95 are co-chairs of the event. Independent Health is the presenting sponsor. Tickets for the Regents Scholarship Ball are now on sale. Tables for 10 are available at the Leadership Level for $5,000; the Gold Level for $3,000; and the Griffin Level for $2,000. Young alumni pricing (classes of 2005-2014) and individual tickets are also available.
To purchase tickets or learn about sponsorship opportunities for the ball, click here or contact Cecelia Gotham, assistant director of stewardship and events, at 716-888-8228 or at @email.
Canisius is one of 28 Jesuit universities in the nation and the premier private university in Western New York.
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