It may be smallest city in Series, but Rochester is an annual powerhouse

In terms of population, Rochester, New York, with a little over 200,000 in the metropolitan area, is the smallest location in the 2026 JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge Series.

But it is right at the top in terms of civic pride and durability, and that shines through at the annual 3.5-mile team road race in Downtown Rochester, with a creative post-race party inside ESL Ballpark.

“Eagleview has proudly participated in the Corporate Challenge for more than two decades, and we’re excited to join again this year,” said Robert Locke, President, Government Solutions for Eagleview, a leading provider of aerial intelligence. “Rochester is both my home and the home of our corporate headquarters, so coming together as a team to walk and run alongside our community is a tradition we look forward to every year.”

That feeling of community permeated through a crowd of 4,301 participants from 211 companies at the 34^th running of the JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge Rochester. The event dates back here to 1991 and has hosted over 230,000 participants in a still-thriving lifespan that earlier included events in Highland Park and the Rochester Institute of Technology. It is one of the senior partners in the 50-year history of the worldwide Corporate Challenge Series.

And with that type of longevity, it's no surprise that tradition is another word you hear often when talking with team captains.

“We registered for the JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge because it reflects who we are at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield—a locally based organization that values wellness, teamwork, and community connection,” said Alisa Fanara, the team captain for Excellus. “It’s a meaningful opportunity for our employees to support one another, stay active, and be part of a long‑standing Rochester tradition that brings local companies together for a common purpose.”

L3Harris, an information technology services provider and one of the largest defense contractors in the United States, had the most employees on the starting line with 230. The other largest participating businesses in the top 10 were Wegmans (225), University of Rochester (154), Paychex (140), CooperVision (134), event owner and operator JPMorganChase (101), Rochester Regional Health (91), Canandaigua National Bank (71), St. John Fisher (68), and The Bonadio Group (61).

“The Corporate Challenge is always a great opportunity to get together with old friends while making some new ones,” said L3Harris’ team captain Gary Fino. “It’s one of the few times when L3Harris’ two local divisions can gather in one place and proudly represent the company to all other businesses in our area. It really gets our name out there and increases awareness of our brand.”

Fino correctly pointed out that Rochester has an exceptionally strong running culture, which has successfully sustained the Corporate Challenge for now approaching four decades.

“Rochester is home to a vibrant running community and a longstanding tradition of premier races attracting competitive athletes, dedicated runners, and active community members for an evening of camaraderie,” Fino said. “L3Harris is proud to have been part of the event’s history for many years and to see its employees continue to participate in such strong numbers. Their enthusiasm and involvement remain a source of great pride for the company.”

Bridget Hallman has been captaining the Paychex team annually since its days at the Rochester Institute of Technology and always looks forward each spring to begin recruiting her colleagues to participate. It’s generally not a hard sell.

“Paychex has proudly participated in the Corporate Challenge for 22 years, establishing it as a staple event for our Greater Rochester offices,” said Hallman. “This event exemplifies our commitment to employee well-being by offering opportunities for physical activity and social connection. As Paychex commemorates its 55th anniversary this year, we are thrilled to celebrate the 50th consecutive year of the JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge as a worldwide series.”

There was a first-year beneficiary in Rochester as JPMorganChase donated on behalf of all Corporate Challenge participants to Foodlink. Founded in 1978 with a mission to leverage the power of food to end hunger and build healthier communities, Foodlink is a leading public health organization that administers programs to address the symptoms and root causes of hunger. Foodlink mobilizes a network of more than 350 partners to provide emergency food distributions, in addition to work that includes child and senior meals, nutrition education, an urban farm, a mobile market, and a New York State Cook Apprenticeship training program.

The donation surely resonated with Wegmans, the large grocer headquartered in Rochester that has also participated in the Corporate Challenge for decades.

“At Wegmans, helping our people live healthier, better lives is at the heart of who we are, which is why we’re proud to participate in the JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge,” said Ted Dennee, team captain for Wegmans. “The event brings our people together, supports healthy habits, and reinforces our thriving wellness culture built through initiatives like the EatWell LiveWell Challenge, Know Your Numbers program, Get Moving events and classes, and most importantly, our dedication to exceptional food.”

The competition on the 3.5-mile Downtown course was equal parts familiar and inspiring.

Trisha Byler, representing International Flavors & Design, won the female individual title with a time of 20:16, her stunning eighth consecutive JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge title. Byler is unbeaten since this event moved Downtown and no person in any Corporate Challenge location has ever won eight consecutive races.

In the male division, Scott Loforte, representing Popli Design Group, was first across the line for a second consecutive year with a time of 17:37. Loforte also was last year's winner, the first-place finisher in 2022, and runner-up in 2023.

Event beneficiary Foodlink was also represented in the winners' circle as Ari Whittaker took first in the non-binary category, logging an official time of 30:20.

Rochester was the fifth stop in the 50^th year of the JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge Series and sets the stage for the annual visit to New York City’s Central Park on May 27-28. It all started there, with the very first Corporate Challenge held in the Frederick Law Olmsted-designed masterpiece on July 13, 1977.