ELLICOTTVILLE, N.Y. – The SUNY Jamestown Community College Foundation honored John Whelpley as its 2022 John D. Hamilton Award recipient at its annual awards gala held Nov. 9 at Holiday Valley’s Yodeler Lodge.
The Hamilton Award was established in 1995 to recognize individuals whose contributions exemplify those of Hamilton, a past president and trustee emeritus of JCC.
Hamilton Award by the JCC Foundation.
Whelpley retired this year from his position as senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of Cutco Corporation and president and chief operating officer of Vector Marketing Corporation in Olean.
A graduate of St. Bonaventure University, Whelpley began at Cutco in 1981 as an accounting intern and computer programmer. He was promoted many times over his 40-year career with the organization.
While working for Cutco, Whelpley contributed time and energy to several organizations by serving in various roles for The Direct Selling Association in Washington D.C., The Boy Scouts of America at the local and district levels, the school boards for Southern Tier Catholic and Archbishop Walsh Academy, and several youth sports teams. He also served the Jamestown Community College Foundation for more than 12 years in several roles.
Many of Whelpley’s roles in the community were joint efforts with his wife Karen and supported the interests and activities that engaged their sons Erick and Ryan.