Distinguished Alumni 2010 Canisius College recognized six graduates with its Distinguished Alumni Award. Presented annually, it is the Alumni Board’s preeminent award and recognizes graduates who are leaders in their chosen professions. The 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award honorees are:
Anthony J. (A.J.) Bellia Jr. ’91
Professor of Law | Notre Dame Law School
Anthony J. Bellia Jr. believes that life is a journey, not a guided tour. “You have to chart your own way because every path is different,” he says. Bellia shares these words of inspiration with his students at Notre Dame Law School, where he is a professor of law and the Notre Dame Presidential Fellow. While in law school at Notre Dame, A.J. interned with Judge William M. Skretny ’66 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York in Buffalo. He was the first intern Skretny ever invited to return as confidential law clerk. A.J. proceeded to clerk for the Ninth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals and then for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. After two years with a private firm in Washington, he joined the faculty of Notre Dame Law School in 2000. First job: Part of a summer landscaping crew at Canisius, while in high school. Best career advice: “Chart your own course. Work hard. Build capital in yourself.” Anna Marie Rooth Cellino ’75
President National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation
When Anna Marie Cellino was elected corporate secretary of National Fuel Gas in 1995, she became the company’s first female officer. Now as president of National Fuel Gas Distribution, she is the first woman to head its utility segment. Cellino joined the company as an attorney after graduating from the U.B. School of Law in 1981 and steadily climbed the ranks. Promoted to senior attorney in 1988, Cellino advanced to general manager of the Consumer Business Division in 1991, to assistant vice president in 1992, and vice president in 1994. She was elected secretary of National Fuel Gas Distribution in 1999, promoted to senior vice president in 2001, and to president in 2008. Cellino is a director of the Northeast Gas Association, she sits on the leadership council of the American Gas Association, and serves on the Wehle School of Business Advisory Council. Best career advice: “Treat everyone like they’re the CEO.” Interesting fact: All of Cellino’s siblings (she has four brothers) graduated from Canisius College. Mark J. Czarnecki MBA ’91
President | M&T Bank
With more than $68 billion in assets, M&T is one of the nation’s 20 largest banks and one of the most highly regarded. At the helm is Mark J. Czarnecki, president of Buffalo’s largest publicly traded company since 2007. Czarnecki started at the bank 30 years prior, as an assistant branch manager. His intentions were to save money for law school but “I decided I liked banking and M&T.” Throughout his bank career, Czarnecki advanced through managerial posts in retail banking, business banking and commercial lending. He joined the Investment Group in 1994, and became president of M&T Securities in 1995. Appointed executive vice president two years later, Czarnecki assumed responsibility for the entire Investment Group, comprised of M&T Securities, M&T Insurance, MBD, and the Trust and Investment Services Division of M&T Bank. In 2003, he added oversight of M&T’s retail banking network. First job: Worked for the Town of Amherst running golf courses in the summer. Best career advice: “It’s not what you’re doing now, it’s the ability to constantly learn and adapt that distinguishes who is successful.”