The Montante Family, the founders of Uniland Development Company, Buffalo’s largest and most reputable commercial real estate developer, have been proud of their close ties to Canisius College, Buffalo’s Catholic, Jesuit college, and is the largest private college in Western New York, where generations of their family have been educated.
Uniland CEO Michael J. Montante, an alumnus of the Canisius Class of 1991, was honored with the Dr. Richard A. Shick Award, which recognizes a member of the Canisius community who has made important contributions to the success of the Richard J. Wehle School of Business and the college. Mr. Montante leads Uniland with executive oversight that spans from site selection, development and tenant negotiations to asset management of Uniland’s broad portfolio of office, industrial, retail, residential, and hospitality development.
Over his career, Mr. Montante has had a key role in some of the Buffalo region’s most impactful projects, including The Delaware North Building, an award-winning mixed-use facility anchored by Delaware North’s global headquarters in downtown Buffalo, and Avant, Buffalo’s first mixed-use development that kicked off a renaissance downtown.
His work at Uniland has played key roles in landmarks across the Canisius campus, including the Science Hall and the Village Townhouses student housing, as well as his family’s generosity that is reflected in the Montante Cultural Center.
In addition to Mr. Montante’s leadership of Uniland, he is board president of the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation, and serves on the boards of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, The Buffalo Club, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House, as well as the past chair of Canisius’ Business Advisory Council for the Richard J. Wehle School of Business. He is s former Trustee of Canisius College as well as the former board president of the Upstate New York Chapter of NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association.
Mr. Montante holds a master’s degree in real estate development from Columbia University. Inspired by the Jesuit, Catholic education that has shaped generations of his family, he holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Canisius College. Mr. Montante is also an alumnus of Canisius High School, where Uniland led the construction of the Kennedy Field House, and will be leading the construction of the Madden Center for Global Learning.
Mr. Montante was honored at the Canisius College Business Awards Dinner. Additional honorees included Uniland clients Rhonda Frederick, president and CEO of People Inc., with the Dr. Bernard L. Martin Award and Mark A. Sullivan, president and CEO of Catholic Health, with the Business Executive of the Year Award. Stephen F. Jackson, a member of EY’s International Tax and Transactions Services, also received the Dr. Richard A. Shick Award.
