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Economic Development Commissioner for the City of Rochester
National Chair, A Legacy of Leadership: The Campaign for Canisius College
R. Carlos Carballada brought nearly 50 years of business savvy, success and credibility to the job when he was named economic development commissioner for the city of Rochester in 2006. At the time, Carballada was semi-retired and served as director of M&T Bank Corporation and M&T Bank and chairman of the Rochester Fund of the M&T Charitable Foundation. Referred to by Rochester Mayor Robert Duffy as “an icon in the business community,” Carballada made his mark in the banking industry where he held key posts at M&T Bank, Rochester’s Central Trust Co. and First National Bank of Rochester.
Carballada’s name is synonymous not only with success in business, but also with educational reform and community service. In 1978, Carballada became the first Canisius graduate to be elected to the New York State Board of Regents and the first Western New Yorker to serve in an at-large position on the board. By a unanimous vote, he was named chancellor and served in that capacity from 1991 to 1994.
Awards for his community and professional involvement are extensive and include nearly every honor Canisius bestows upon its graduates, including an honorary degree. Currently a member of the college’s Board of Trustees, Carballada is the national chair of A Legacy of Leadership: The Campaign for Canisius College. The Carballadas’ generous $1 million gift to Canisius established the Virginia and R. Carlos Carballada ’56 Scholarship Fund, which will help deserving students attain a Canisius education for many years to come.
“A Jesuit education from Canisius College provides you with a philosophy of how to live your life,” says Carballada. “It is a philosophy of responsibility, not only to yourself but also to others. It is a responsibility to live the philosophy of right and wrong, not only on Sundays but also in business and in life. And it creates a responsibility to manifest this philosophy in your professional life and in the larger community in which you live.”