Andy Guelcher '03

Andy Guelcher '03 leads 400 employees, co-owns an Arena Football team and runs one of the most decorated Chevrolet dealerships in the country. This past June, Mohawk Chevrolet in Ballston Spa, N.Y. — which he co-founded near Saratoga Springs at age 39 — earned Chevrolet Dealer of the Year honors, a distinction fewer than 3 percent of dealers ever receive. It's a long way from the skinny left-handed pitcher who emailed college coaches hoping someone would give him a chance to keep playing ball.

That chance came from Pitt-Bradford's Coach Bret Butler, who drove to Harrisburg to watch Guelcher pitch when no one else would. The discipline and accountability Butler demanded left a lasting impression — not always an easy one, but an invaluable one. After his playing days ended and a brief pursuit of professional baseball proved financially impractical, Guelcher channeled those same competitive instincts into sales, rising to general manager of Ciocca Honda in Harrisburg at just 27.

Beyond the dealership, Guelcher has found another way to honor the athlete's journey as co-owner of the Albany Firebirds in Arena Football One. He knows firsthand what it means to dream of playing professionally, and he's built a culture around both opportunity and community service — players and coaches regularly visit schools and Special Olympics events. It's the same standard he holds at Mohawk Chevrolet: show up, compete, and give back.

"Playing baseball for Coach Butler was one of the best life experiences I've had as far as what I've been able to do professionally and as a father."