If you were wearing the colors of NOCO Energy Corporation last night at the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Buffalo, and you put in a particularly good finishing time, you have a day to yourself in the future.

So says Michael Casciano, NOCO’s President and Chief Operating Officer.

“J.P Morgan Corporate Challenge is an opportunity for Buffalo’s business community to come together in an energizing way and one of the reasons why NOCO, as a locally owned and operated company, has been a regular participant throughout the years,” said Casciano. “It’s a chance for our team to not only engage with other businesses, but to laugh and have fun with their colleagues outside of the office. And for the second year in a row, I’m again offering to any employee that beats my time, they will receive an extra day off!”

NOCO and most of the most recognizable businesses in Western New York have been coming to Delaware Park on Thursday nights in early June regularly since the 1980s. The 43^rd edition of the 3.5-mile (5.6km) Corporate Challenge in Buffalo on this lovely night attracted a crowd of 7,701 entrants from 252 companies. This represents an increase in total attendance from 2024 (7,209 participants).

The 10 largest participating companies in terms of entrants were Moog (321 participants), Buffalo Public Schools (307), Kaleida Health (269), Erie County Medical Center (191), M&T Bank (165), Citi Group (162), Kenmore Town of Tonawanda School District (158), ACV Auctions (152), Excelsior Orthopaedics (122), and National Fuel (119).

“Kaleida Health is proud to participate in the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge,” said Jacqueline Bett, Director of Communications. “For more than two decades, this event has given our employees an opportunity to come together – along with our affiliate organizations – to celebrate health and wellness and benefit a deserving organization within our community. This event is certainly one that our entire workforce looks forward to every summer, and it truly creates a sense of camaraderie among our staff who work throughout the eight counties of Western New York.”

ACV Auctions’ participation not only included its Western New York employees, but also visiting colleagues from Canada, France, and India.

“The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge is one of ACV’s favorite local events - it is a perfect blend of fun, fitness and team spirit!” said Tara Weis, the ACV Auctions team captain. “We love seeing our amazing teammates come together to connect, cheer each other on, compete, and celebrate. From the race to the after party, the Corporate Challenge is the ultimate way to mingle, network and kick off the summer together as one ACV team.”

Lynn Waclawek, Senior Employee Experience Program Manager at M&T Bank, describes the Corporate Challenge as “more than just a race.” She feels it’s a true celebration of Buffalo.

“At M&T, we believe in fostering connections, both within our organization and with the city we call home,” Waclawek said. “Participating in this event allows us to strengthen our bonds with colleagues, engage in a healthy and spirited competition, and show our support for initiatives that bring people together. The Corporate Challenge is a perfect opportunity to reflect our values of collaboration and community involvement, and we’re proud to be part of an event that has such a lasting impact."

And even though it is called the “Corporate” Challenge, participation in this 3.5-mile event also is embraced by the public school systems. On the starting line this year with its largest team ever was the Kenmore-Town of Town Tonawanda School District.

“It is always our goal to improve the health and wellness of our employees while fostering a positive district culture, having a direct impact on student success,” said Sabatino Cimato, Superintendent of the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District. “The Corporate Challenge represents this mindset and is a great way to come together as a family, promoting physical activity, and building morale.  We are so excited to see our team continue to grow year after year.”

While Buffalo has a lot of folks who walk and lightly jog the 3.5-mile course, there are also some top runners at the front of the pack. The three fastest on this night were the individual winners: Tom Appenheimer, representing M&T Bank, earned the male division title with a time of 16:55, Kassandra Nolet, representing Mount Saint Mary Academy, was the top female in 21:09, and the University at Buffalo’s Loren Pilcher took the non-binary title, breaking the tape at 23:48.

As Appenheimer, Nolet, and Pilcher were honored with their awards, hundreds of companies enjoyed delightful post-race hospitality. One of them was an annual Corporate Challenge entrant, the Buffalo office of Lactalis, the world’s largest dairy company.

“Lactalis has been participating in the Corporate Challenge for several years and has grown to 100 participants in 2025,” said Kim Taton, Senior HR Generalist. “This event promotes company culture through food, conversation and community engagement as well as having some fun, fresh air, and physical activity for our employees both for runners and supporters.”

Event owner and operator JPMorganChase donated in celebration of all Corporate Challenge participants to FeedMore WNY, the hunger-relief nonprofit formed from the merger of the Food Bank of WNY and Meals on Wheels for Western New York. This is the first year that the Corporate Challenge has partnered with FeedMore WNY. The United Way of Buffalo & Erie County was the 2024 beneficiary.

Bob Toft, a long-time team captain for Moog, having registered thousands of his colleagues in the past two decades, feels like the charitable element of the Corporate Challenge “resonates with (Moog’s) community focused culture” and is a big reason the motion control company comes out in big numbers each year.

“Taking part in the Corporate Challenge has become a tradition for us,” Toft said. “It’s a fantastic way to strengthen team spirit and promote a healthy, active lifestyle among our employees. At Moog, we value collaboration and well-being, and this event brings both together in a fun and meaningful way.”

Multinational investment bank Citi was also inspired to participate in part through the FeedMore WNY partnership.

“The Corporate Challenge is an event circled on our calendar every year because Citi employees love competing and giving back,” said Tony Vazquez, Citi Buffalo Site President.  “Corporate Challenge represents the best of a community coming together, regardless of business interest, to improve the place we all work and live.  Citi is proud to stand with other Buffalo businesses in support of FeedMore WNY.”

This was stop number eight in the 49^th year of the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge Series, including previous New York state visits to Rochester (May 22) and New York City (May 28-29). The 16-stop Series churns on next week, visiting Boston on Wednesday, June 18.