Businessperson of the Year Luncheon Honors Local Developer

Release date: June 10, 2008

Poughkeepsie, N.Y. – Almost 200 guests, including members of the local business community and civic and cultural leaders, attended a luncheon at Dutchess Community College on June 10 to help honor Joseph A. Bonura, Sr., who was presented with the 2008 Poughkeepsie Journal Businessperson of the Year award.

Bonura is a well-respected businessman and restaurateur. He trained and worked as an accountant before beginning a restaurant career in the Hudson Valley in the 1970s. He opened several Perkins Pancake House locations, and later established Anthony’s Pier 9 in New Windsor, which has grown to be one of the largest catering facilities in the region.

In 1994 Bonura and business partner Cosimo DiBrizzi purchased the Radisson Hotel, which was in financial difficulty, and developed it into the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, a popular venue for weddings and other events. In 2007, Bonura opened the Grandview catering and conference center and the adjoining Shadows on the Hudson, taking a big step in the waterfront revival process.

Now, Bonura is working toward office, hotel, and retail mixed-use projects on two other riverfront sites that are expected to take shape in the coming years.

The Poughkeepsie Journal Businessperson of the Year Award is presented annually to recognize an individual whose leadership, hard work, and dedication made a measurable impact on the economic viability and vitality of the region and the surrounding community. The award recipient is selected by a panel of judges from all sectors of the community, including the previous year’s winner.

The award luncheon was co-sponsored by the Poughkeepsie Journal, the Dutchess Community College Foundation, and the law firm of Corbally, Gartland, and Rappleyea.

For more information, call the Dutchess Community College Foundation at 845-431-8400.

Founded in 1957, Dutchess Community College is a two-year community college with more than 50 years of service to the residents of Dutchess County. It is part of the State University of New York and is one of 30 community colleges in the state system. The College offers a wide variety of associate degree programs, as well as career programs in major technical, human service and business areas. The College also offers non-credit courses through its Office of Community Services to meet the continuing education needs of civic, cultural, business and professional groups and the community at large. The main campus is at 53 Pendell Road in Poughkeepsie, while the Dutchess South extension site is in Hollowbrook Park, Building #4 at 31 Marshall Road in Wappingers Falls.

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