Brian Palazzolo is a self-made businessman. At age 19, just out of high school and with a business loan of $10,000, he established Albany’s Classe Catering. Today, Classe Catering is a $2.5 million-a-year special events planning and hosting business, employing more than 100 workers and serving hundreds of clients.

Over the years, Palazzolo has shown creativity and leadership by diversifying the business to weather economic swings in the Capital District. This includes developing two additional catering product lines — Gourmet Express and Big KaHoona — which has enabled Classe to maintain steady growth, recognized quality of service and significant market share.

Palazzolo has also served as a role model and mentor for his employees, providing tuition reimbursement, scholarships to encourage students to attend culinary and hospitality schools. He serves on the advisory board to Schenectady County Community College’s (SCCC) nationally ranked Hotel and Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts program and contributes his time and knowledge as a guest speaker at many colleges and organizations including the New York State Restaurant Association, SUNY Cobleskill, SCCC and Hudson Valley Community College.

He has received numerous awards including the Excellence in Small Business Award, the Flavor and Flair Award, the Bronze Medal Salon Award, the SCCC Dedication Award and the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award presented by the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce.