LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Drew Cerza upon the occasion of his
designation as the 2012 Tourism Executive of the Year on May 10, 2012

WHEREAS, Individuals who give of their time and energies and serve the
best interests of their communities are an asset beyond remuneration and
cannot be sufficiently extolled; and
WHEREAS, Drew Cerza has given not only of his time and energies but
also of his competence, intelligence and leadership and consequently has
been designated for special honor; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Drew Cerza
upon the occasion of his designation as the 2012 Tourism Executive of
the Year to be celebrated at the Second Annual National Travel and Tour-
ism Beacon Awards luncheon on Thursday, May 10, 2012, at the Buffalo
Niagara Convention Center in Buffalo, New York; and
WHEREAS, Drew Cerza has been called upon to contribute his time and
talents to countless civic and charitable endeavors and has always given
of himself unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, Founder of the Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival, Drew Cerza's
novel idea of a summer festival dedicated to chicken wings has grown
tremendously; and
WHEREAS, From its inaugural 2002 festival, the Buffalo Chicken Wing
Festival has grown from 40,000 people who consumed 20 tons of wings, to
now 91,000 people from 49 states and 35 countries consuming 40 tons of
chicken wings; and
WHEREAS, A natural promoter, Drew Cerza has spent his entire life in
the food industry; his father worked in marketing for a Buffalo grocery
chain, and Drew would accompany him on Saturdays; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, Drew Cerza founded RMI Promotions Group, a national
food promotion agency for local and national retailers as well as
national food manufacturers, including Hershey's, General Mills, and
Price Pasta; he would retire his role as president in 2005 to focus on
his festival work; and
WHEREAS, Through RMI, Drew Cerza helped raise significant funds for
various nonprofit groups; and
WHEREAS, Moreover, Drew Cerza's Buffalo Chicken Wing Festival has also
raised numerous funds for local charities during its ten years; and
WHEREAS, Drew Cerza's Wing King alter-ego was first created in 2004;
he was set to travel to five major cities in the United States to
distribute Anchor Bar wings in honor of its 40th anniversary; and
WHEREAS, Since then, The Wing King has garnered Drew Cerza a lot of
press, making him one of the city's most beloved ambassadors; and
WHEREAS, As the Wing King, Drew Cerza has been a spokesman for Pizza
Hut's Wing Street restaurants, and he has promoted the Festival, and
Buffalo, on CNN, The Today Show, The View, Live with Regis and Kelly,
the Travel Channel, and five different appearances on different Food
Network programs; and
WHEREAS, Now, people plan their vacations in the Buffalo/Niagara
region, visiting cities and checking out the architecture, the culture,
and especially the food; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the entire period of his community service, a
period of constructive involvement, Drew Cerza has stood constant in
dignity, good grace and humor; and
WHEREAS, Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individ-
ual for the benefit of others which Drew Cerza has displayed throughout
his life; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-

tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Drew Cerza upon the occasion of his designation as the 2012 Tour-
ism Executive of the Year; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Drew Cerza.