Thursday, January 19
One of COSE’s founders and a long time serial entrepreneur in our community passed away last week. Jack Bares was the founder of Milbar Corporation and one of the organization’s strongest supporters. What started with Jack and a dozen or so other entrepreneurs creating a resource to help each other has grown into the country’s largest regional small business support organization with more than 15,000 members.
I got to know Jack well in my first 10 years in this role and spent about a year working with him closely when he served as an entrepreneur in residence with us. Jack has left a legacy of service and support that has touched individual entrepreneurs and our community as a whole. Jack was the most talented of entrepreneurs and will be greatly missed. I thought it would be appropriate to provide a few thoughts on Jack that I shared with a couple hundred small business leaders and members assembled last night at our annual meeting to mark his passing.
“When you think about our history, there is a long list of great entrepreneurs whose ideas and hard work have shaped the organization. I was made aware yesterday that we lost one of COSE’s great champions and pioneers early last week. I’d like to take just a moment to recognize Jack Bares of Milbar Corporation who died last week at the age of 91. Jack was there at the beginning of COSE and was there in person or in spirit every day supporting the organization and its support of small business. It woudl be silly to list his work with the organization because he was involved with everything. But perhaps one of the best legacies of his involvement, beyond the overall success of the organization, is COSE’s Strategic Planning Course. The course was Jack’s idea and true to form, he wrote the first check to make it a reality. Now, after 35 years and close to 1,000 successful alumni growing businesses all over this community, it is a great reminder of the value and impact one good idea can have for everyone. We appreciate Jack’s leadership and his support for all things small business.”
Jack has not been around COSE much in the last five years, living in Ellicotville, New York. But every couple of years he would show up and he always had an idea to share or a suggestion for the organization. Jack will be missed and we appreciate the legacy he leaves behind.
Jack’s obituary can be found here.
Posted by:Steve Millard