Visit Buffalo is governed by the Board of Directors and employs a staff of talented tourism professionals, dedicated to promoting tourism in Western New York. The sales, marketing and services departments design, develop and deploy compelling tourist packages, engaging marketing campaigns, collateral materials and strong relationships with local partners and national media outlets in order to effectively maximize the region’s cultural and historic assets.
Administration
Patrick Kaler
President/CEO
716-961-0200
kaler@visitbuffalo.com
Jennifer Bialek
Executive Assistant to President & CEO
716-218-2938
bialek@visitbuffalo.com
David Marzo, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
716-218-2935
marzo@visitbuffalo.com
Convention Sales & Services
Leah Mueller
Vice President of Sales & Services
716-218-2936
mueller@visitbuffalo.com
Karen Cox
Director of Convention Services
716-218-2925
cox@visitbuffalo.com
Meaghan Zimmer
National Sales Director
716-218-2947
zimmer@visitbuffalo.com
Temekia Powers
National Sales Director
240-502-0126
powers@visitbuffalo.com
Marisa Urbano
National Sales Manager
716-218-2945
urbano@visitbuffalo.com
Ben DiStasio
Convention Services Coordinator
716-218-2927
distasio@visitbuffalo.com
Travel Trade
Meredith Walsh
Travel Trade Manager
716-218-2940
walsh@visitbuffalo.com
Sports Commission
Gregory Gelinas
Director of Sports Development
716-218-2929
gelinas@buffalosportscommission.com
Lauren Vargo
Sport Services Manager
716-218-2920
vargo@buffalosportscommission.com
James Adler, MSA, SDLT
Director of Sports Sales
716-218-2928
adler@buffalosportscommission.com
Marketing
Karen Fashana, MBA
Vice President of Marketing
716-218-2931
fashana@visitbuffalo.com
Brian Hayden
Senior Director of Marketing & Communications
716-218-2930
hayden@visitbuffalo.com
Kate Scaduto
Marketing & Social Media Manager
716-218-2922
scaduto@visitbuffalo.com
Kaley Lynch
Communications Manager
716-218-2939
lynch@visitbuffalo.com
Tala Harden
Marketing Specialist
716-217-0983
harden@visitbuffalo.com
Kelly Rosenfeld
Graphic Designer
716-217-5956
rosenfeld@visitbuffalo.com
Destination Experience
Renata Toney
Vice President of Destination Experience
716-218-2943
toney@visitbuffalo.com
Patrick Cipollone
Destination Experience Manager
716-218-2926
cipollone@visitbuffalo.com
Giovanni Centurione
Visitor Center Manager
716-218-2934
centurione@visitbuffalo.com
Sarah Barker
Destination Experience Specialist
barker@visitbuffalo.com
Research & Operations
Heather Nowakowski
Senior Director of Business Intelligence
716-218-2932
nowakowski@visitbuffalo.com
Katelyn Dawson
Business Intelligence Coordinator
dawson@visitbuffalo.com
Board of Directors
Thomas Long (Chair)
General Manager
The Westin Buffalo
Cindy Abbott-Letro (Immediate Past Chair)
Business Manager
Law Offices of Francis A. Letro
Terry Alford
Executive Director
Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission
Mark Alnutt
Director of Athletics
State University of New York at Buffalo
Thomas Beauford, Jr. (Secretary)
Chief Executive Officer
Buffalo Urban League
Melissa Brown
Executive Director
Buffalo History Museum
Dan Castle, AICP
Deputy Commissioner of Planning and Economic Development
Erie County Department of Environment and Planning
Anthony J.W. Chase
Erie County Executive Appointee
Matthew Chiazza (Treasurer)
General Manager
The Reikart House
Grant Loomis
President & Chief Executive Officer
Buffalo Niagara Partnership
Mark Glasgow
President, Buffalo Urban League Young Professional Group
Patrick J. Kaler (President)
President and Chief Executive Officer
Visit Buffalo Niagara
Bob Karmazyn
General Manager
Embassy Suites by Hilton
Kimberley Minkel (Vice Chair)
Executive Director
Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
William Paladino
Chief Executive Officer
Ellicott Development
Shannon Patch
Vice President, Government Affairs
Delaware North
Michelle Urbanczyk
CEO, Explore & More Children’s Museum
Paris Roselli
President
Richardson Center Corporation
Gary Siddall
President & Chief Executive Officer
Buffalo Museum of Science