The Founder
SAMUEL P. “PAT” BLACK, III
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
With a vision to help revitalize Erie with a return to a booming manufacturing sector, Samuel P. “Pat” Black, III, founded Lake Erie Biofuels dba HERO BX in 2005. HERO BX bears witness to the commitment of Mr. Black to investing, creating and managing companies with innovative products to capitalize on economic opportunities in the Lake Erie region and beyond with a focus on the creation of manufacturing jobs. It is Black’s visionary leadership that has helped to create companies such as Erie Management Group, Black Interests Limited Partnership, S.P. Black Family Holdings, Kold-Draft Industries, SB Alabama Properties, 1525 East Lake Road, LLC, SB3 Properties, SB3, LLC., Blackstone Ranch Institute, SB3 Holdings, Samuel P. Black & Associates, Inc. as well as HERO Diversified Associates, Inc., Calypso Enterprises and HERO BX Alabama.
Mr. Black envisioned a company that would create meaningful jobs, spur technological innovation and produce eco-friendly products. Black is an innovator in the field of alternative energy production. Responsible for building the largest biodiesel plant in the Northeastern United States, he has created a company focused on quality, one that harnesses technology to produce useful products that serve as an alternative energy source. With manufacturing facilities in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Moundville, Alabama, today HERO BX is one of the nation’s leading biodiesel producers. HERO BX also operates a distribution terminal in North Hampton, New Hampshire, offering biodiesel blends for heating oil and transportation fuel applications.
Always with his home community of Erie in mind, Pat Black has furthered the legacy of his father Samuel P. Black, II, through their work with the Black Family Foundation, infusing tens of millions of dollars into the greater Erie community with a focus on initiatives that drive educational attainment and self-sufficiency. Of the more notable contributions, Black continues to sustain and support the legacy started by his parents – the Sam and Irene Black School of Business at Penn State Erie – The Behrend College started through a $20 million grant, and continues to fund countless scholarships for students within its walls and the Elizabeth Lee Black School at the Barber National Institute honors his late sister. Additionally, Wellsville USA recognizes Mr. Black as its largest funder in its provision of an interactive and energetic approach to healthy living. Wellsville promotes sound nutrition, regular physical activity, positive self-esteem and healthy lifestyle choices through a weekly television show, interactive website, school and community programs and a physical activity/nutrition DVD series.
Most recently, Black has launched the Idea Fund, an effort targeting minority, women and Veteran entrepreneurs to fill the ‘developmental gap’ – the lack of pre-seed money available to transform ideas into young companies that could eventually attract angel investors or venture capitalist money. As part of the Idea Fund, The Starting Line seed-money competition will begin taking entries on at the end of September 2017 for local entrepreneurs to compete for $20,000 in pre-seed funding.
In September 2017, Pat Black was awarded the coveted Commitment to Erie Legacy Award, a recognition of his extraordinary contributions in the areas of business and philanthropy over a sustained period.
