Shea's President Anthony C. Conte to Receive Pair of Awards

Anthony C. Conte, the president of Shea's Performing Arts Center since March, 2001, will receive two awards within the next two months. Conte recently announced his retirement effective at the end of this 2015-16 Season at Shea's.

He will receive the Visit Buffalo Niagara Tim Russert Award and will be inducted into the Buffalo Ambassador Hall of Fame at a special luncheon on May 3 at the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, the kick-off to National Travel and Tourism Week. Visit Buffalo Niagara introduced the Ambassador Hall of Fame in 2012 honoring its first inductee Tim Russert. The Tim Russert Award is given to a Buffalonian who demonstrates those qualities possessed by Tim: passion and commitment for the community; a Buffalo booster who uses their status and good fortune to promote Buffalo and a true role model.

In addition, a Shea's Customer Service Supervisor James Sedor was nominated for "Employee of the Year" for the Visit Buffalo Niagara Award that recognizes hospitality and service that will also be presented during the luncheon May 3.

Conte will also be awarded the Joan K. Bozer Award from Working For Downtown at Noon on June 8 during the organization's Annual Meeting and Awards Ceremony at the Pearl Street Grill and Brewery. The Joan K. Bozer Award was initiated in 1995 to recognize an individual who has made a significant contribution to improving Downtown Buffalo. The award is named after Joan K. Bozer who was instrumental in the creation of Working For Downtown. Working For Downtown's mission is to promote and help improve the quality of life in Downtown Buffalo by fostering an interest in civic and downtown development.

President of Shea's for 15 years and a volunteer at the historic theatre in various capacities for 30 years, Mr. Conte is responsible for the successful operation and growth of Shea's Performing Arts Center which includes Shea's Buffalo Theatre, presenting touring Broadway productions with Co-Presenter Albert Nocciolino, family productions, dance programs, concerts, and an education program; Shea's Smith Theatre, a 230-seat theatre presenting off-Broadway musicals and musical comedies as well as the 710 Main Theatre (formerly Studio Arena), a 625-seat theatre presenting dramatic plays produced by several local theatre companies.

Albert Nocciolino, Co-Presenter of the M&T Bank Shea's Broadway Series said," Through Tony's extraordinary leadership as well as his commitment , Shea's has become one of the top one-week touring Broadway subscription markets in the country and has been restored to its original glory providing an exceptional experience for its patrons."

During Mr. Conte's tenure, he has supervised many restoration projects for Shea's Buffalo Theatre, which is in its 90th Anniversary year this year. With a few minor projects left to complete, Conte expects the restoration to be complete by early spring 2016.

Mr. Conte is a graduate of Ohio State University (and an avid fan of the Ohio State Buckeyes!), Fisher College of Business with a B.S. in Finance and of SUNY at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Business where he earned an MBA. His business affiliations are many and include the current President of the Theatre District Association, membership on the Road Labor and Legislative Committees of The Broadway League and as a member of the Advisory Council of the Wehle School of Business at Canisius College. He has been awarded the Business First Western New York Most Influential Business Leaders in 2014, 2013 and 2012, The Buffalo News' 2012 Outstanding Citizen, and the Leadership Buffalo Community Impact Award, 2011, among other awards.

He resides in Amherst and recently celebrated his 46th wedding anniversary to his wife Linda. He has three children and eight grandchildren and said in his retirement, he plans to "travel and spend more time with his wife and grandchildren."

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