Chamber News Release

Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce presented Faziri Ndahiro Renzaho with its 6th annual IGNITE Award at a ceremony on Thursday, June 6th at Locust Hill Country Club. The IGNITE Award recognizes a young professional aged 21 to 35 who strives toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment, excels in their chosen field, devotes time and energy to their community in a meaningful way, and forges a path of leadership for others to follow.

Faziri has been a leader in the not-for-profit human services field for more than seven years. In 2022 Renzaho founded Renzaho Prime Express LLC, an interstate trucking company based out of Rochester, NY. He additionally works closely with the refugee and New American community in the Greater Rochester region. In partnership with the Mayor’s Office, Faziri started the New Americans Advisory Council and he additionally plans the UN Rochester World Refugee Day each year to promote economic and social engagement and integration of New Americans into our community. Faziri graduated with an Associate Degree in Human Service from SUNY Monroe Community College and a Bachelor of Art in Political Science and International Studies from SUNY at Brockport College.

Bob Duffy, President & CEO, Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce said, “Congratulations to Faziri and to all twelve of our exemplary IGNITE Award finalists! The important work that each of these young professionals does in our community is a testament to our region’s bright future and continued reputation as a hub for innovation and progress. We are proud to come together to celebrate the ways that they are moving the needle for their organizations and making our community a better place for its residents. Thank you to our IGNITE Award sponsors, partners, attendees, and finalists for coming together to make tonight’s celebration possible.”

A full list of our 2024 Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award finalists is as follows:

• Miguel Baique, Ed.D., MPA, Director, University of Rochester David T. Kearns Center for Leadership and Diversity in Arts, Sciences and Engineering
• Pamela Breedlove, Outreach and Education Specialist, In Control, a program of Planned Parenthood of Central and Western New York
• Lindsay Connelly, President & Founder, Linden Digital Marketing, LLC
• Ericka B. Elliott, Esq., Associate Attorney, Underberg & Kessler LLP
• John Howe-Wemett, CFP®, Vice President – Wealth Management Advisor, Generation Capital Management
• Zahira Jimenez, Director, Employee Engagement, Pathstone Corporation
• Andrew Moran, Community Outreach Manager/Data Manager, Rochester Victory Alliance at URMC
• Faziri Ndahiro Renzaho, Founder/CEO, Rochester Global Refugee Services & CEO, Renzaho Prime Express LLC
• Amanda Sanfilippo, Senior Talent Management and Communications Specialist, L3Harris Technologies
• Joe Sayre, Manager, Economic Development – RG&E & NYSEG, Rochester Gas & Electric/Avangrid
• Megan Storm, Director of Fiscal Intermediary Services, Starbridge
• Katie Wawrzaszek, Major Gifts Officer, United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes

For more information on each of our finalists, please see the 2024 Greater Rochester Chamber IGNITE Award Magazine. The judges, consisting of a diverse group of professional leaders from the Rochester and Finger Lakes business community, determined the finalists and recipients based on submitted nominations.

For more information about the IGNITE Award, please see here.