SYRACUSE — Central New York Sales and Marketing Executives (CNYSME) has chosen Allen Naples, senior VP and regional president of M&T Bank (NYSE: MTB), as the winner of the 2016 Crystal Ball Award. 

CNYSME bestows the award annually to a local businessperson for contributions to the sales and marketing profession as well as work in community development and support. 

“I was totally surprised … especially when you look at the previous recipients of this award … some pretty significant and outstanding community individuals … it’s an honor,” says Naples. He spoke with CNYBJ on Dec. 7.

He learned CNYSME chose him as the latest recipient about a month ago. 

The organization will present Naples with the 2016 Crystal Ball Award at the 40th Annual Crystal Ball/Sales & Marketing Excellence Awards Ceremony. It is set for April 21, 2016, at the newly renovated Marriott Syracuse Downtown, the new name of the former Hotel Syracuse at 500 S. Warren St. in Syracuse.

Naples will join a list of past Crystal Ball winners that includes the 2015 recipient, Robert Daino, president and CEO of WCNY, the area’s public broadcaster; and the 

2014 winner, Howard Dolgon, owner, president, CEO, and team governor of the Syracuse Crunch minor-league hockey team.

Other past winners include Peter Belyea, president of CXtec and TERACAI in 2013; Debbie Sydow, former president of Onondaga Community College in 2012; John Stage, founder and CEO of Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in 2011; Peter Coleman, the publican of Coleman’s Authentic Irish Pub in 2010; and Edward (Ed) Levine, president and CEO of Galaxy Communications in Syracuse in 2009, according to the CNYSME website.

Board membership

Naples has placed a “strong” emphasis on community service, currently serving at the executive or chairman level for a several organizations, according to the CNYSME news release. 

In Naples’ mind, it’s a “personal way to give back.”

“I can give back what I’ve learned over 42 years in banking, hopefully add some value to the various [boards] that I’m on,” says Naples.

He serves as chairman of the Onondaga Community College board of trustees, as a member of the New York Business Development Corp.’s executive committee, member of the SRC Inc. board of trustees, and member of the Wells College board of trustees, according to CNYSME.

“With the size and scope of M&T Bank, we have an awful lot of influence in the marketplace, and to me, by being on these boards and serving in executive positions, 

I can help direct the framework and the strategy as to how to improve and make the local economy in the community better,” he adds.

M&T Bank ranks number one in deposit market share in the Syracuse metro area.

M&T has officers on 121 boards throughout the Central New York community, he says.

The bank has also worked with CenterState CEO in sponsoring its business competitions, which have evolved into what’s now known as the Germinator.

“We’ve had an awful lot of growth and seen a lot of growth in terms of potential new companies that are coming into the marketplace. The new Germinator takes it to 

a new level,” says Naples. 

Background

Before Naples joined M&T, he served six years as executive VP and regional president of HSBC Bank USA. 

Throughout Naples’ 24-year career with HSBC, he has served as regional president, senior corporate lender, senior project manager, and area executive.

Naples has worked in the banking industry for 42 years, he says.

Naples is a 1969 graduate of Jamesville-DeWitt High School. He then spent three years at Alfred University before transferring to Syracuse University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in personnel and industrial relations in 1973.

As his career progressed, Naples also participated in training and earned banking certificates at the West Point Management School of Career Development; University at Buffalo; University of Virginia Graduate School of Retail Bank Management; and the Hong Kong Shanghai Corporate Center for Advanced Management Skills, according to the CNYSME news release.