Weekly Program: Byron Brown, CEO of WROTB
Batavia Rotary welcomed Byron Brown, former Mayor of Buffalo and current President and CEO of the Western Regional Off-Track Betting Corporation (WROTB), as this week’s program speaker. Brown began his remarks by thanking Batavia Rotary for the many ways our club supports the local community.
Brown shared his long-standing connection to Rotary, noting that he participated in Rotary’s Young Professionals Study Exchange in Central America in 1990. He added with a smile that he would gladly volunteer for an “Old Professionals” exchange if the opportunity ever arises.
WROTB is a public benefit corporation jointly owned by 17 municipalities across Western New York. Since joining the organization about a year ago, Brown said 2025 has been a year of exceptional growth, reform, and strong revenues. He noted that approximately $10 million is expected to be distributed to member municipalities by year’s end, with Genesee County already receiving $173,000.
Brown also highlighted increased patronage from both Genesee County and Erie County, WROTB’s contributions to education, and the many local organizations supported throughout the region. With 440 employees, WROTB is the fifth-largest employer in Genesee County.
Looking ahead to 2026, Brown shared WROTB’s continued focus on growing returns for its member municipalities, with the top priority being expansion, including plans to build a state-of-the-art conference and event center.
Read more about Byron Brown’s visit The Batavian News Article and The Daily News Article