Jim Biltekoff Receives Ann Holland Cohn Award
Buffalo Jewish Federation will present the Ann Holland Cohn Community Impact Award to Jim Biltekoff, at the Award Ceremony and Annual Meeting on Wednesday, December 7. Established in 2017, the Cohn award celebrates a person, couple or family who leads boldly and with determination and has made a significant impact in the greater Buffalo community. Ann Holland Cohn was a mentor to many and an extraordinary leader in the Jewish Community. She was the ultimate role model, and bestowing this award in her name is another way to keep her memory and spirit alive.
Jim Biltekoff graduated from Nichols School, Yale and Harvard Business School. He returned to Buffalo and joined his family business, Bison Foods Company, makers of Bison cottage cheese, yogurt, and Chip Dip. Over the next 25 years, Jim led a number of start-up companies and turnaround situations in the United States and Canada as owner or CEO, including Elan Foods, Inc., Astro Dairy Products Ltd., and Alfresh Beverages Canada Corp.
Jim has served on the Boards of the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo, the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, and the Buffalo Jewish Federation. At Federation, he advocated and helped to sponsor Federation’s Human Capital Fund, for investment in volunteer and staff development, Board diversity, and young leadership development.
Jim is also Director Emeritus and past Chair of Hauptman-Woodward Institute, and served on the boards of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Shaw Festival, the Buffalo chapter of AIPAC, and the Buffalo Convention Center Management Corporation.
In both his commercial and not-for-profit activities, Jim has made a profound impact in the areas of strategy, operations, finance, and governance, never afraid to ask hard questions and push each venture to excel. Previous Cohn awardee Lana Benatovich, said of Jim: “He is an extraordinary Leader who truly does not seek recognition for the many efforts he makes to meet the goals and needs, not only of our Jewish Federation, but of many other vital WNY organizations, as well. We are so fortunate that Jim and his wife Joanne are here in Buffalo and quietly and effectively support programs, people and progress every day.”
The Biltekoffs spend their time in Buffalo and Naples, Florida. They have two children, Katy, a middle-school science teacher living in Oregon, and Leslie, who works for Lusha, an Israeli tech company, and four grandchildren, Max, Isaac, Ella, and Nate.
Join us on Wednesday December 7, 2022 as Jim receives his award at the Buffalo Jewish Federation & Foundation for Jewish Philanthropies Annual Award Ceremony and Business Meetings. RSVP: bit.ly/celebratejewishbuffalo2022
