Williamsville accounting firm Tronconi Segarra & Associates LLP won a Stevie Award in the 2008 American Business Awards competition. The award, for best newspaper ad campaign, was presented June 12 in New York City.

Tronconi Segarra beat out two other finalists: LifeLock of Tempe, Ariz., and Leisure Care LLC of Seattle, Wash.

"It's quite a thrill for our firm to receive this honor, considered the Oscar of the business world," David Werth, the firm's lead marketing partner, said in a press release. Tronconi is the first business in the Buffalo area to win a Stevie Award.

The three ads Tronconi Segarra submitted for consideration, part of a larger 2007 campaign, featured the following headlines:

• "Looking for more than meets the eye from an accounting firm?"

• "Looking for a CPA firm that leaves no stone unturned?" and

• "Are you leaving money on the table when it comes to valuations?"

Stevie Awards were presented in more than 40 categories. Tronconi Segarra was also a finalist in the Best Overall Company category for businesses with up to 100 employees.

Finalists were chosen by business professionals nationwide during preliminary judging in April and May, and a selection panel picked the winners.