Western New York Energy, LLC becomes Official Supporter of USA Luge

Relationship has its roots in annual I Love BBQ & Music Festival

It’s said that sometimes business relationships begin from the most unlikely circumstances.

In the case of Western New York Energy, LLC (WNYE), becoming an Official Supporter of USA Luge, that genesis occurred in Lake Placid at the annual I Love BBQ and Music Festival.

The event, organized by USA Luge and other community partners, is a summertime fundraiser for the local Shipman Youth Center. WNYE President and CEO Michael Sawyer has been a participant in the festival for many years. Conversations with USA Luge Marketing Manager Dmitry Feld, the coordinator of the Shipman fundraiser, subsequently led to the two barbecue friends forging a new relationship that will benefit WNYE and USA Luge.

"WNYE is looking forward to this relationship with USA Luge, the only Olympic federation based in New York State," said Sawyer. "We partner with hard-working farmers in our region, to produce clean, renewable energy. In a similar way, we are now involved with a sports federation that thinks creatively and aggressively to get itself to the finish line faster than others.

"This is our first venture into the sports world, and we are happy to achieve that entry with the U.S. luge team."

WNYE, based in the Orleans County village of Medina, is just 10 years old, but their $90 million facility was the first operating ethanol plant in the northeast United States.

The plant processes approximately 20 million bushels of corn into over 55 million gallons of fuel grade ethanol which is blended with gasoline throughout Western New York.

"It’s important for our organization to be associated with a company that is local, like we are, and interested in developing their renewable assets to their fullest in helping other industries," said Jim Leahy, CEO and Executive Director of USA Luge. "It’s also nice to see two New York businesses helping one another."

Other New York State and local entities to assist USA Luge are the Uihlein Foundation, High Peaks Dental and CW-X.

"When we found out that WNYE promotes sustainability, it got us more excited about forging ahead," continued Leahy. "Furthermore, given how this all started, it’s a perfect example of a good deed being paid forward."

The relationship enables WNYE to use the marks and symbols of USA Luge in its promotional materials, as well as the "Official Supporter" designation in its marketing and communications strategies.

For more information on the Fastest Sport on Ice®, log on to www.usaluge.org

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