Greater Rochester Chamber to Honor Colleen Wegman, Julia Tedesco with 2026 Community Stewardship Awards
December 9, 2025 (ROCHESTER, NY) – Greater Rochester Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce the recipients for its 2026 Community Stewardship Awards. Colleen Wegman, President and CEO, Wegmans Food Markets, will receive the award in the for-profit sector and Julia Tedesco, President & CEO, Foodlink, will receive the award for the non-profit sector. Wegman and Tedesco will accept the awards at Greater Rochester Chamber’s 2026 Legislative Breakfast on Thursday, January 15 at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center.
Greater Rochester Chamber’s Community Stewardship Awards honor visionary leaders who demonstrate exceptional commitment to enhancing the civic well-being of our community. This year, we are proud to present these awards to two leaders whose inspirational and collaborative leadership has been transformational for the lives of so many in our community during times of significant uncertainty and change.
Bob Duffy, President & CEO, Greater Rochester Chamber said, “Greater Rochester Chamber is honored to present this year’s Community Stewardship Awards to Colleen Wegman and Julia Tedesco, both of whom are pillars of our Greater Rochester region. The work that Julia and Colleen do behind the scenes, without recognition, to uplift our community and build a better future for all who live, work, and play here is palpable. Within their own organizations and through their longstanding collaborative efforts, these leaders have invested in our community, provided countless opportunities, and truly changed lives. Now more than ever, the unwavering leadership they demonstrate in turbulent and chaotic times deserves to be honored. We appreciate both of their staunch commitments to our region and are proud to recognize them with these awards.”
Colleen Wegman, a fourth-generation leader of Wegmans Food Markets, Inc., has been instrumental in guiding the company’s continued growth and innovation. After joining the family-owned grocery business in 1991, she began advanced through a variety of customer service roles before becoming President in 2005 and CEO in 2017, continuing the legacy of leadership established by her family. Founded in 1916, Wegmans now operates 114 stores and employs more than 54,000 people. The company has earned a spot on Fortune magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list for 28 consecutive years. Wegman has also served as chairperson for the United Way of Greater Rochester’s annual campaign and board and is a member of the Food Marketing Institute’s board of directors.
Colleen Wegman, President and CEO, Wegmans Food Markets said, "Partnership amplifies impact. Wegmans is proud to partner with Julia and Foodlink to expand equitable access to nutritious food across our community. By combining Foodlink’s local expertise with Wegmans’ people—and the generosity of our customers— we can help ensure consistent, meaningful support for our neighbors who need it most.”
Julia Tedesco leads Foodlink, a nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger and building healthier communities across Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes. Since 2008, she has guided Foodlink’s transformation from a traditional food bank into an innovative public health organization addressing the root causes of food insecurity. In 2024, Foodlink distributed over 20 million pounds of food, rescued 10 million pounds from waste, and prepared more than 2 million healthy meals for children. Under Julia’s leadership, Foodlink launched programs like the Curbside Market and the nationally recognized Foodlink Career Fellowship and spearheaded rapid responses to crises including COVID-19. She has overseen major infrastructure projects and is currently leading a $15 million plan to expand capacity by 2027.
"Foodlink is deeply honored to accept Greater Rochester Chamber's annual award that recognizes Community Stewardship — a concept that is integral to our values and our work as the region's sole food bank," said Julia Tedesco, President & CEO, Foodlink. "We are in the midst of a challenging time when thousands of our neighbors face uncertainty. Food banks nationwide have been challenged with addressing a surge in need for emergency food, and I am immensely proud of how Foodlink and our network of partners has responded. It is also a special privilege to be honored alongside Colleen Wegman. Wegmans has been a foundational partner of Foodlink’s for four decades – fueling so much of the impact we have had in our community, and Colleen has been a model of intentional, values-driven leadership and generosity.”
To join us in recognizing these leaders, please see our 2026 Legislative Breakfast Registration page.