In August 2025, Merchants Insurance Group proudly announced that President & Chief Executive Officer, Charles Makey, was named a recipient of Buffalo Business First‘s 2025 C-Level Executives Award, which recognizes 24 of Western New York’s most effective leaders, according to the publication.
VIEW MERCHANTS INSURANCE GROUP’S FULL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM AUGUST 2025
On October 9, 2025, Makey attended Buffalo Business First’s “C-Level Executive and Hall of Fame Awards” event at The Powerhouse. The event included a cocktail hour, dinner, and awards ceremony.
Makey attended the event alongside his wife Karen Makey, his son Connor Makey, and eight Merchants colleagues.
Merchants was provided the opportunity to surprise Makey with a congratulatory 15-second video to play at the event when Charlie went on stage to receive his award—Makey was indeed surprised and touched! The video, featuring some of the Merchants colleagues Makey works closely with, is below:
C-Level Executive Award recipients were also interviewed by Buffalo Business First prior to the event, asking question about topics such as the recipients’ backgrounds, goals, and advice to others. Clips from their filmed interviews were played at the event.
Merchants was proud to be a silver sponsor of the event and extends heartfelt congratulations to all the impressive award recipients from throughout the local Western New York business community.
