Wyoming County BEC

Each month, a new paragraph will update members and other stakeholders of the BEC's ongoing projects, celebrations, and future plans. Simply scroll down to find each month to check in on where we've been, and then see where we are going!

The new school year is underway, and the Wyoming County Business Education Council is continuing to create stronger connections between our schools, businesses, students, and community organizations. This fall, our focus is on turning those relationships into meaningful opportunities—from career exploration and workforce readiness to civic engagement and work-based learning.

BEC Services Expand Across Wyoming County Schools

This fall, the BEC shared its Career & Civic Readiness Continuum with Wyoming County school districts, providing schools with a menu of opportunities that can be adapted to meet local student needs.

The continuum includes career days and industry panels, classroom speakers, workplace tours, mock interviews, professional communication workshops, job shadowing, internships, employer-connected projects, and civic and leadership experiences. These opportunities are designed to help students progress from asking “What opportunities exist for me?” to “How do I prepare?” and ultimately “How do I apply my skills in the real world?”.

For our business partners, this creates more ways to engage directly with Wyoming County students. Businesses interested in hosting a workplace tour, participating in a career panel or mock interview, speaking with students, mentoring, or exploring internship and work-based learning opportunities are encouraged to connect with the BEC.

Civic Action Fellowship Launches This Fall

Recruitment is underway for the first year of the BEC Civic Action Fellowship. Supported by a $5,000 grant from the Wyoming Foundation, the program will connect Wyoming County students with local government, nonprofit, and community partners for meaningful civic experiences.

The Fellowship is part of the civic engagement and leadership pillar of our Career & Civic Readiness Continuum, alongside the Wyoming County Youth Leadership Academy and future initiatives such as GLOW Serve & Lead.

For community organizations and local institutions, the Fellowship creates another opportunity to invest directly in young people. By bringing students into authentic community work, we can help them understand not only how their communities function, but also the role they can play in their future.

How Can BEC Serve Your Business?

One of our priorities this year is making BEC membership increasingly valuable to Wyoming County employers.

Our role is not simply to ask businesses to support schools. We want to create partnerships that work both ways. Employers provide students with real-world knowledge and experiences, while BEC helps businesses build relationships with schools and introduce young people to the careers, skills, and opportunities available here in Wyoming County.

Depending on membership level and the needs of the business, opportunities include connections through GLOW With Your Hands, partnerships with schools for internships, Civic Action Fellowship partnerships, invitations to participate in career panels, speaking engagements and mock interviews, inclusion on the BEC website, the Annual BEC Breakfast, and updates about educational practices affecting our future workforce.

Interested in getting more involved? Whether you can give students an hour for a classroom conversation or explore a longer-term work-based learning partnership, we want to hear from you. Strong school-business relationships help students see that meaningful career opportunities exist close to home.

Welcome, Hulme Construction Inc.!

We are pleased to welcome Hulme Construction Inc. as a new Tier 2 member of the Wyoming County BEC.

Our business members are an important part of building the bridge between education and employment. Their participation gives students greater exposure to local industries and helps employers develop relationships with the young people who will become our future workforce.

We appreciate Hulme Construction’s investment in this work and look forward to developing opportunities to connect their industry experience with Wyoming County students.

Wyoming County’s Voice in a Regional Conversation

The BEC is also participating in the Nonprofit Advisory Council convened through Impact HQ fueled by NSG in partnership with the WNY Forward Fund.

The initiative brings nonprofit leaders together from across Western New York to help shape a broader effort around public understanding of the nonprofit sector, civic engagement, and the collective impact nonprofit organizations have on the communities they serve.

BEC’s participation provides an opportunity to ensure that rural communities have a voice in that regional conversation. Wyoming County's nonprofits, schools, businesses, local governments, and civic organizations are deeply interconnected. Sharing that perspective while learning from organizations across Western New York can help us strengthen relationships and bring useful ideas back to our county.

As we begin another school year, our goal remains straightforward: create connections that lead to opportunities.

When a business opens its doors to students, when a community organization gives a young person a meaningful role, when an educator connects classroom learning to the workplace, or when a student begins to see a future for themselves here, Wyoming County becomes stronger.

Strong students build strong communities—and strong partnerships give them a reason to build their future here.

Taking Time to Recharge

This summer, I was fortunate to spend some time in the Adirondack Mountains with my family—a chance to slow down, recharge, and enjoy time together. In the midst of busy schedules and important work, I hope everyone finds time to do the same with the people who matter most.

Summer has been busy for the Wyoming County Business Education Council. Each new partnership and student experience has advanced our mission of connecting schools, businesses, government, and community organizations to prepare young people for the workforce and strengthen the future of Wyoming County.

Students Explore Health-Care Careers

Three Wyoming County students participated in Medical Camp through our partnership with the Genesee County Business Education Alliance. Students began at the Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office, where they learned about emergency response and public safety. They also visited WNY Rural AHEC, Rochester Regional Health in Genesee County, and Wyoming County Community Health System.

We extend a special thank-you to Mrs. Renee Duquette-Sheer for assisting with transportation for students traveling from Warsaw and to Warsaw Central School District for supporting student participation. These authentic experiences introduced students to local health-care and public-service careers while strengthening communication, teamwork, problem-solving, and other skills connected to New York State’s CDOS standards.

BEC Civic Action Fellowship Receives $5,000 Grant

The BEC was honored to join the Wyoming Foundation at the Glen Iris Inn for a beautiful evening celebrating its 50th anniversary. For five decades, the Foundation has served as a cornerstone charitable organization, supporting initiatives that strengthen the fabric of Wyoming County. It is especially fitting that this milestone comes during our nation’s 250th anniversary year—a reminder of the important role local institutions and associations play in building strong communities. We are deeply grateful for the Foundation’s $5,000 grant, which will help launch our Civic Action Fellowship this fall. The fellowship will connect students with local government and community institutions while helping them work toward the New York State Seal of Civic Readiness. Career readiness is civic readiness. By helping young people listen, collaborate, solve problems, and take informed action, we are preparing them to contribute to the future of the communities they call home.

Growing Our Network and Services

We are pleased to welcome several new BEC members:

• Advanced Rubber Products — Tier 1

• Young & Wright Architecture — Tier 1

• Wyoming County Community Health System — Tier 3

• Koike Aronson, Inc. — Tier 1

These members bring valuable industry and community perspectives to our work. Their involvement will help students better understand local career pathways while helping employers build connections with their future workforce.

The BEC has also developed a continuum of services for our component school districts, ranging from career awareness and classroom speakers to workplace tours, mock interviews, job shadowing, and civic-action experiences. We are working with Wyoming County to support goals within the County’s Comprehensive Plan and will soon begin visiting businesses throughout the county to listen to employer needs and identify new opportunities for students. These efforts directly support the BEC’s goals of expanding partnerships, summer programming, career exploration, and civic readiness.

Sharing Wyoming County’s Work

The BEC has been invited to present at the Listen First national summit on student civic action and constructive dialogue in the workplace. Listening across differences, asking thoughtful questions, managing disagreement, and finding common ground are important skills for both workplace success and community leadership.

In August, we will also participate in a nonprofit leadership workshop and serve on an advisory council supporting the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. These opportunities will allow us to share Wyoming County’s rural perspective, strengthen regional relationships, and bring new ideas and resources back to our community.

Summer 2026 has demonstrated what is possible when local institutions work together. Strong students build strong communities, and strong partnerships help both thrive.

May was quite the ride for the BEC!

The Wyoming County Business Education Council recently hosted its Annual BEC Breakfast, bringing together educators, business leaders, and community partners from across Wyoming County to celebrate the strong relationships that help prepare students for future success.

The event welcomed 45 attendees and highlighted the importance of collaboration between schools, businesses, and the community in building workforce readiness opportunities for local students.

Throughout the morning, attendees had the opportunity to connect, share ideas, and discuss the future of career exploration and student engagement across the county.

A special part of the breakfast was recognizing this year’s Business Partners of the Year for their continued support of students, schools, and workforce development initiatives:

• Cummins Professional Restoration - Recognized by Letchworth CSD

• Act 4 Books - Recognized by Perry CSD

• Edward Hulme Inc. - Recognized by Warsaw CSD

• Hi-Land Farms- Recognized by Wyoming CSD

• Mugs and More- Recognized by Attica CSD

We also appointed our 2026/2027 Slate of Officers as well:

• Todd Campbell - President
• Bri Stone - Vice President
• Daryl McLaughlin- Treasurer
• Emily Herman - Secretary
• Norb Fuest - Member at Large

We are grateful for the businesses and community members who continue to invest in Wyoming County students and help strengthen the connection between education and the workforce. These partnerships play a critical role in helping students explore career pathways, develop workplace skills, and see opportunities within their own communities.

The breakfast also served as an opportunity to share new BEC initiatives, future programming, and upcoming membership opportunities as we continue expanding partnerships and career-connected learning experiences throughout the county.

We encourage community members to visit our newly updated website at wycobec.us to learn more about the work being done to support students and strengthen our local communities.

Over the past month, I’ve continued working to strengthen partnerships and expand opportunities that connect students, schools, businesses, and the broader community across Wyoming County and the GLOW region.

Recently, I attended the Wyoming County Planning Board of Supervisors meeting and will continue participating in upcoming discussions to help ensure workforce readiness, career exploration, and community development remain connected priorities throughout the county.

I have also remained actively involved in planning efforts for the upcoming GLOW With Your Hands event through the School Engagement Committee and have recently stepped into a co-chair role for the event’s marketing efforts.

In preparation for future programming and professional development opportunities, I also participated in a webinar training with the Constructive Dialogue Institute focused on workplace dialogue and communication skills. As workforce expectations continue to evolve, these types of skills—communication, collaboration, listening, and constructive problem-solving—are becoming increasingly important for students and employers alike.

Finally, as we continue growing the work of the BEC, we’ve expanded membership opportunities to provide additional value for local businesses and organizations. Our updated Tier 2 and Tier 3 memberships now include opportunities such as priority participation in career events, workplace visits, workforce initiatives, customized presentations, and professional learning opportunities connected to workforce readiness and education trends. These partnerships not only strengthen connections between schools and employers, but also help support the long-term vitality of our rural communities and future workforce. Please visit our Join Us webpage to learn more.

Spring has officially arrived in Western New York, and here’s hoping the coming weeks bring the right balance of sunshine and rain for our farmers, outdoor school programs, and spring athletics. As always, this season reminds us how connected our schools, businesses, and communities truly are across Wyoming County.

April was a very busy month for the Wyoming County Business Education Council, and we have an exciting May ahead.

We’re kicking things off with our Annual BEC Breakfast on May 12 at East Hill Creamery. Catering will be provided by Old Souls, and each of our participating school districts will recognize a Business Partner of the Year for their continued support of students and workforce readiness initiatives. During the breakfast, I will also share updates on the future direction of the BEC, upcoming initiatives, and important developments related to New York State education and career readiness efforts. Registration for this event has passed, but feel free to reach out to hear more about the day!

Planning is also well underway for the 2026 GLOW With Your Hands Day. As Executive Director of the Wyoming County BEC, I will be serving as the regional point person for Wyoming County and participating on several planning committees connected to the event. This work helps ensure that our students, school districts, and local businesses are fully represented and positioned to benefit from expanded regional workforce and career exploration opportunities.

Career exploration remains one of the most important ways we help students connect classroom learning to real opportunities within our communities.

Summer camps are also quickly approaching. Due to the transition period within the BEC this year, our summer programming timeline was compressed. Thankfully, our colleagues in Genesee County generously opened additional opportunities for Wyoming County students, and I’m happy to report that many students have already signed up for these outstanding experiences.

Families can learn more about available camps and opportunities on our website (click for registration), and we encourage community members to continue sharing these opportunities with students and families.

Looking ahead to Summer 2027, we hope to bring a Camp Hard Hat site directly to Wyoming County while also exploring additional career-focused camps, including healthcare and skilled trades experiences.

As we continue moving deeper into the BEC transition process, we are also rebuilding and strengthening our membership network. If you have been a member in the past, we encourage you to reconnect with us as we relaunch annual partnerships and membership opportunities.

This transition provides an opportunity to introduce new membership benefits, strengthen school-business collaboration, and better align our work with the evolving workforce needs of Wyoming County. I’m especially eager to hear directly from businesses about how the BEC can better support workforce development, student engagement, and community partnerships.

You can learn more about membership opportunities, including expanded Tier 2 and Tier 3 partnership benefits, through our website and membership materials (click here to visit and become a member).

I would also like to recognize and thank our newest BEC members for their support and partnership:

• Tompkins Bank - Workforce Partner

• Marquart Companies - Engagement Partner

• Gateway Home - Community Partner

• Hidden Valley Adventures - Community Partner

• Wyoming Co. IDA - Community Partner

• Wyoming Co. Business Inc. - Community Partner

• Wyoming Co. Chamber of Commerce - Community Partner

• Appletree HR & Safety Consultants - Community Partner

Their support helps strengthen career readiness opportunities and connections for students throughout Wyoming County.

On April 16, I had the opportunity to attend the Community & Career Day at Attica Central School District hosted by Dustin Gardner. Dustin and I go back to our time together at Holley CSD, and it was great to reconnect and see the tremendous work he has done organizing this event.

Throughout the day, students engaged with organizations and employers from across our region to learn more about career pathways, educational opportunities, and the many ways they can build successful futures right here in Wyoming County and the greater GLOW region.

As always, it is truly a privilege to serve Wyoming County, our students, schools, businesses, and community partners. Strong students build strong communities, and I remain grateful for the opportunity to continue strengthening the partnerships that help prepare our young people for future success.

If you ever have questions, ideas, or partnership opportunities to discuss, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Over the past month, we successfully launched the new Wyoming County BEC website at wycobec.us. While the rollout took slightly longer than anticipated, the site is now largely complete and will serve as an important tool for communication, partnership development, and sharing opportunities with our schools and community. I appreciate everyone’s patience and encourage you to explore the site as we continue refining and improving it.

I have also revised our BEC membership packet to better reflect our current direction and to strengthen how we engage business and community partners in our work. We are actively reaching out to invite more employers to become members right now!

One of our most exciting updates is the return of the BEC Breakfast, scheduled for May 12th, with doors opening at 8:00 AM and programming beginning at 8:50 AM. The event will be catered by Old Souls Bakery and will provide an important opportunity to reconnect with partners, share our vision, and continue building momentum. You can RSVP a variety of ways by filling out this form by clicking here , reaching out to me at ndamuro@gvboces.org or connect with an Executive Board member for ticket information, or heading to our main website page.

I recently attended the Wyoming Foundation Kick-Off event and will be pursuing grant funding opportunities to support and expand our programming. Strengthening our funding base remains a critical component of ensuring long-term sustainability and increasing student access to meaningful career-connected experiences.

We are continuing to move forward with the development of the GLOW Work & Learn Portal, and on April 8th we will be hosting regional employers to gather direct feedback. This step is essential in ensuring the platform is aligned with workforce needs and provides real value to both students and businesses.

I am especially grateful to Brianna Stone for facilitating introductions to key Wyoming County stakeholders. These conversations have already led to stronger communication and new opportunities for collaboration. In addition, Jennifer Sealy and the Chamber of Commerce have been instrumental in helping share our message and promote our renewed direction.

I also attended the Chamber Job Fair, where I had the opportunity to connect with local businesses, strengthen relationships, and invite new partners to become involved with the BEC. These interactions are critical as we continue to build a strong network committed to preparing students for the workforce.

With support from of BEC President Todd Campbell of Letchworth, I have begun outreach to school administrators, guidance counselors, and other key stakeholders across Wyoming County. Several schools have already engaged in follow-up conversations, and we are beginning to schedule meetings to explore how the BEC can support their students through career exploration and work-based learning opportunities.

While I was unable to attend the GLOW With Your Hands Healthcare Event in March, I did assist with event setup and appreciated the opportunity to learn more about its impact. It was encouraging to see strong participation from Wyoming County schools and students actively engaging in hands-on career exploration.

Looking ahead, I will be presenting at the Wyoming County Planning Subcommittee on April 1st to introduce our GLOW Civic Fellowship initiative and explore opportunities for collaboration in strengthening civic pathways for students.

We will also be partnering with Livingston County for their Junior/Senior Career Expo on April 16th, continuing our commitment to regional collaboration and expanding access to career readiness experiences for students.

I am honored to serve as the Interim Director of the Wyoming County Business Education Council. In addition to my current role, I look forward to working closely with our schools, businesses, and community partners to continue strengthening the connections that support our students’ growth and future success.

I firmly believe that students are the foundation of strong communities—especially in our rural small towns. When we invest in their development, civic responsibility, and career exploration, we strengthen not only individual futures but the vitality of our local communities as well. I am excited to engage in this work, build meaningful partnerships, and help ensure that our young people see clear pathways to contributing, leading, and thriving right here at home.

I recently met with our accountant to review current financials and ensure the continued fiscal health and stability of the BEC. Maintaining strong financial oversight is an important part of sustaining and growing our impact.

I have also been meeting with the Livingston and Genesee County Directors to strengthen coordination and ensure our BEC is well aligned in supporting upcoming GLOW events. I will be serving in a role at both events this year and look forward to expanding our regional collaboration.

Work has begun on the development of a new Wyoming County BEC webpage. This refreshed platform will serve as a central location for updates, resources, and partnership information moving forward.

We are continuing to build the GLOW Work & Learn Portal and are actively gathering educator feedback to ensure it is practical, user-friendly, and impactful. Our goal is for the portal to become a central hub connecting employers, educators, students, and families—clearly outlining internship, career exploration, and post-graduation opportunities available to students in our region. You can click on the image on the right to check out our prototype or visit glow.onthejob.school !

In addition, I am working to establish regular meeting structures for the BEC Board to strengthen communication, strategic planning, and organizational momentum.

The week of March 2nd I met with several local organizations and began the process of inquiring about grants to support our work.

Finally, I have begun meeting with regional educators to build relationships and better understand how the BEC can support their work in preparing students for career and community success.

Nick D’Amuro

Coordinator of School Improvement

Interim Director Wyoming County BEC

Genesee Valley BOCES

80 Munson Street

LeRoy, NY 14482

Cell: 716.201.9494

Email: Ndamuro@gvboces.org