Senate Resolution No. 1190

BY: Senator BRESLIN

HONORING Michael Cocca, Jr., Founder and CEO of
the Franklin Hospitality Group, upon the occasion of
his designation as recipient of the 2017 Corporate
Partners of the Year Award by the Northeastern
Association of the Blind at Albany on April 8, 2017

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize that
the quality and character of life in the communities across New York
State are reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those
individuals who would devote themselves to the welfare of the community
and its citizenry; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Michael
Cocca, Jr., Founder and CEO of the Franklin Hospitality Group, upon the
occasion of his designation as recipient of the 2017 Corporate Partners
of the Year Award by the Northeastern Association of the Blind at
Albany, to be celebrated at its Annual Visionary Gala, on Saturday,
April 8, 2017, at the Franklin Plaza Ballroom in Troy, New York; and

WHEREAS, Since 1908, the Northeastern Association of the Blind at
Albany (NABA) has provided comprehensive services and programs to
residents of the greater Capital Region who are blind or visually
impaired; in 2016, they helped over 900 individuals of all ages across
11 counties adapt to vision loss, maximize remaining vision, achieve
their goals, and expand their independence; and

WHEREAS, In addition, NABA offered screenings to over 3,640 children
between 18 months and five years of age for possible vision problems;
and

WHEREAS, Michael Cocca, Jr. is a longtime friend of the NABA; for
the past several years, he has graciously devoted his time and energies
to helping the NABA fulfill its mission of providing critically needed
support, guidance and assistance to the blind and visually impaired
across the Capital Region; and

WHEREAS, Michael Cocca, Jr. was born to Michael and Marian Cocca in
Green Island, New York; through their example, he began a life-long
career of servitude as a youth peer leader at the local community
center; and

WHEREAS, In 1976, Michael Cocca, Jr. graduated from SUNY Cobleskill
with a degree in restaurant management; shortly thereafter, he purchased
his aunt's diner where he established Michael's Catering Service;
through his attention to detail, delicious food and dedicated staff, the
venture became very successful; and

WHEREAS, Michael's Catering Service catered weddings, bar mitzvahs,
corporate events, and private parties; not only did they deliver food,
they also delivered memories through unparalleled cocktail hours,
impeccable service, fine china, elaborate dessert stations and
innovative style and decor; and

WHEREAS, A true visionary, Michael Cocca, Jr. purchased the Marine
Midland Bank in 1992; he transformed the bank into the Franklin Plaza,
Capital Region's most elegant and grand ballroom; and

WHEREAS, In 2001, Michael Cocca, Jr. decided to broaden his horizons
and purchased the old Super 8 Motel located across the street from the
Franklin Plaza and transformed it into the Franklin Square Inn and
Suites; this Best Western Plus hotel has been awarded the perfect score
of a 1000 point hotel for 10 years in a row; and

WHEREAS, Michael Cocca, Jr. then decided to buy the former Mario's
Theatre and Banquet House on Campbell Avenue in Troy, and created what
is now known as the Franklin Terrace Ballroom; and

WHEREAS, Michael Cocca, Jr. is a proud member of the Chaine des
Rotisseurs - Bailliage de Albany, the Escoffier Society and the American
Culinary Federation; he has also served on many worthy local Boards of
Directors such as the New York State Restaurant Association, the Capital
Chamber of Artists, the Aids Council of New York State, the SUNY
Cobleskill Food Service Advisory Committee, the Knights of Columbus
Third Order, the Italian Fraternal Society of Green Island, and the Troy
BID as well as the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall; and

WHEREAS, This remarkable man has been the recipient of several
prestigious awards including the Father Flannigan Humanitarian Award,
the John R. (Jack) Dwyer Award, and the Monsignor Mulqueen Award; in
addition, he was named the Restauranteur of the Year by the New York
State Restaurant Association, the Hudson Valley Magazine Caterer of the
year three times, the Metroland People's Choice Caterer of the year five
times, and served as the Grand Marshall of the Flag Day Parade in Troy;
and

WHEREAS, Dedicated to the community in which he lives and works,
Michael Cocca, Jr. and his team provide fundraising and charity events
at all of their venues for little or no cost to the non-profit
organizations which provide all levels of services to the community; and

WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of Michael Cocca, Jr. the
success of the Franklin Hospitality Group is in direct correlation to
the efforts of its managing partners Michael Fusco, Joseph Galuski, and
Greg Cushman, and its staff, whose involvement is, and always has been,
characterized by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and
an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of
the institution and the community it serves; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the quality of life in their community and have shown a long and
sustained commitment to the maintenance of high standards in their
profession, certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all
the citizens of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Michael Cocca, Jr., Founder and CEO of the Franklin Hospitality
Group, upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the 2017
Corporate Partners of the Year Award by the Northeastern Association of
the Blind at Albany; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Michael Cocca, Jr., Founder and CEO, the Franklin
Hospitality Group.