My Town Spotlight – Peter Newman

To paraphrase Walt Disney, the greatest moments in life are not concerned with selfish achievements but rather with things we do for the people and community we love and esteem.  This has always been the theme for the recipient of our Spotlight stories and this month that honor is passed to Peter Newman, the SVP and Regional President of M&T Bank’s Southern NY region.

His story begins with how he came to call Binghamton his home.

Peter met his wife Jacquelyn during their senior year at Bucknell University. “About a week after, we both landed jobs — me in North Carolina and Jacquelyn in Johnson City (for GE).   After graduation, we decided to stay together, even though we were living 580 miles apart. We wrote each other a letter every day from the beginning of June until well after I asked her to marry me, only one year and a week after we first met.”  Because Jacquelyn is a Broome County native, Peter relocated to be by her.  “Our kids, Peter, Andrew, and Louis, have grown up here. We’re proud to call this community home, and we’re committed to doing our part to helping our hometown become an even greater place to live and work.”

Peter says “Binghamton is a great place to do business because of the great people who live here and their willingness to collaborate and work together to strengthen our community. The region is home to outstanding companies that are innovative and community-focused, and for entrepreneurs, this is a great place to build a business from the ground up.  Broome County has so much to offer. Our arts community is vibrant and growing. Area entertainment options continue to expand. Nearby farms, food producers, restaurants and breweries have made the region an agritourism destination. And, there’s an array of outdoor recreation opportunities with hiking, biking, winter sports and more.”

“One thing I love about Binghamton is how resilient it is. The community has taken on its fair share of challenges, but through it all, we have kept pushing forward — refusing to give up and working together to make a positive impact. With ongoing collaboration, I believe there are great things to come.” And Peter is continually committed to making that positive change happen.  “I believe in the importance of serving others. As the Regional President of our company, I put serving others at the heart of my leadership style”; efforts that include sponsoring the M&T Bank Broadway Season, BU’s Celebrating Women’s Athletics Luncheon, July Fest, Tri-Cities Opera, Binghamton Philharmonic and so much more, including funding to support the establishment of the Broome County Arts Council’s Artisan Gallery and the Kopernik Science Park.  And on a more personal level Peter remains active in the community serving on a number of Boards, including his roles as chair of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of the Broome Talent Task Force. He also serves on the boards of the Food Bank of the Southern Tier, UHS Senior Living at Ideal, Church of the Holy Family, Mercy House of the Southern Tier, Broome Community College Foundation and the UHS Hospitals Board of Directors.

My Town is proud to have Peter as our Spotlight story. He is a true inspiration in our community.