News
March 12, 2020Siena Announces 2020 Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Kenneth M. Raymond, Jr. has been named the 2020 Civitella Entrepreneur of the Year by Siena College.
The award is presented annually to an individual who has excelled as an entrepreneur, positively impacted the community, and is driven by the entrepreneurial spirit and Franciscan values of the College.
Raymond accepted his award at a campus reception on March 5.
“Ken Raymond as both a Siena trustee and as the recipient of our Civitella Entrepreneur of the Year award epitomizes what it means to be a Saint,” said Michael J. Hickey ‘83, executive director of Siena’s Stack Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. “He is successful in both his business ventures and community endeavors, and is always willing to lend a helping hand. We are honored that he has agreed to accept this award – he is richly deserving of it.”
This year the College has announced the endowment of the annual award by Antonio Civitella ’91, president and CEO of Transfinder.
“Tony Civitella was our first Entrepreneur of the Year recipient and has continued to be actively involved in advancing entrepreneurship on Siena’s campus and in our community at large,” said Hickey. “We are grateful for his generous gift, which allows us to annually honor successful Capital Region entrepreneurs.”
Raymond’s entrepreneurial career spans over 35 years in the real estate, finance, and hospitality industries. He is the broker/owner of Coldwell Banker Prime Properties, the largest Coldwell Banker residential and commercial real estate franchise operation in New York.
He is a partner of Parc Partners, owner and affiliated with Holiday Inn Express and Hilton Hotels, Indigo hotels, and independent brands. He is also affiliated with SEFCU mortgage services, which acquired Home Funding Finders, the largest residential mortgage banker in its market.
He is the founder and CEO of Prime Companies, and has led the industry in offering a full line of real estate and hospitality services, including facilitating commercial and residential real-estate acquisition and liquidation, raising debt and equity, developing land, and managing ground up projects, including residential sub-divisions, hotels, commercial office buildings, and over 2,000 luxury apartments as well as lifestyle retail.
Raymond is a graduate of Paul Smith’s College and currently serves on their board of trustees. He also serves on Siena’s board of trustees, and is an emeritus trustee for the Albany Boys Club. He is president of the board for Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany, with a strong focus on housing and the reopening of Camp Scully.
He was founder and former president of the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau, and previously served on the board for St. Gregory’s School for Boys in Loudonville and Friends in Adoption. He is active with Coaches vs. Cancer and Real Men Wear Pink, which raises funds for cancer research for the American Cancer Society.
Past recipients of Siena’s Entrepreneur of the Year award are:
2019 James J. Morrell ‘66
2018 Daniel J. Rutnik ’80
2017 Michael M. Hayes ’67
2016 Judy Capano-Michaelson ’87
2015 Michael Barranca ’87
2014 Antonio Civitella ’91
