Carl J. Montante and the entire Montante family have played an integral role in the advancement of Canisius College.
Carl Montante is a 1964 alumnus of Canisius and a 2004 honorary degree recipient. As managing director of Uniland Development, which he founded in 1974 with partner Nancy R. Dobson, Carl has grown the company to become the area’s largest developer of office and industrial real estate. Moreover, Uniland is at the forefront of development revitalization efforts in downtown Buffalo.
At Canisius, Carl’s leadership on the Board of Trustees and Board of Regents has helped advance the college’s vision, to ascend into the top ranks of comprehensive universities in the Northeast.
In 1998, he and his wife, Carol (Lyons), donated $1.5 million to the Imagine Canisius capital campaign for the renovation of the former St. Vincent de Paul Church into a magnificently restored performing arts center, which now bears the Montante name.
Most recently, Carl and the entire Montante family contributed $5.1 million toward A Legacy of Leadership: The Campaign for Canisius College. The largest gift in Canisius history, it will be used for the creation of a state-of-the-art interdisciplinary science center.
In addition to his service to alma mater, Carl serves in numerous leadership roles throughout Western New York. He is a founding member of the Buffalo Niagara Enterprise, chairman of Western New York’s Catholic Health System and a trustee for the Foundation of the Diocese of Buffalo. In 2008, Canisius recognized Carl’s contributions to the civic, entrepreneurial and economic welfare of Western New York by presenting him with its Distinguished Citizen Achievement Award.
The Montantes reside in Clarence and have four children: Laura, a 1986 alumna of Canisius and Board of Trustee member; Carl J. Jr.; Michael J., a 1991 alumnus of Canisius and past annual fund cabinet member and volunteer; and Timothy I.
Carl Montante is managing director of Uniland Partnership of Delaware, Ltd., the company that Canisius purchased the BlueCross BlueShield complex from in October 2002.