Visit Buffalo Niagara 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
[email protected]
David Marzo, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
716-218-2935
[email protected]
Michele Butlak
Accounting and Benefits Manager
716-218-2923
[email protected]
Jennifer Bialek
Executive Assistant to President & CEO
716-218-2938
[email protected]
Convention Sales & Services
Leah Mueller
Vice President of Sales & Services
716-218-2936
[email protected]
Karen Cox
Director of Convention Services
716-218-2925
[email protected]
Meaghan Zimmer
National Sales Director
716-218-2947
[email protected]
Temekia Powers
National Sales Director
240-502-0126
[email protected]
Marisa Urbano
National Sales Manager
716-218-2945
[email protected]
Brooke Chavanne
Administrative Sales Assistant
716-218-2941
[email protected]
Ben DiStasio
Convention Services Coordinator
716-218-2927
[email protected]
Travel Trade
Meredith Walsh
Travel Trade Manager
716-218-2940
[email protected]
Sports Commission
Gregory Gelinas
Director of Sports Development
716-218-2929
[email protected]
Lauren Vargo
Sport Services Manager
716-218-2920
[email protected]
James Adler, MSA, SDLT
Director of Sports Sales
716-218-2928
[email protected]
Marketing
Karen Fashana
Vice President of Marketing
716-218-2931
[email protected]
Brian Hayden
Senior Director of Marketing & Communications
716-218-2922
[email protected]
Drew Brown
Senior Creative Director
716-218-2937
[email protected]
Michelle Kearns
Director of Communications
716-218-2939
[email protected]
Kate Scaduto
Marketing & Social Media Manager
716-218-2922
[email protected]
Tala Harden
Marketing Specialist
716-217-0983
[email protected]
Kelly Rosenfeld
Graphic Designer
716-217-5956
[email protected]
Destination Experience
Renata Toney
Vice President of Destination Experience
716-218-2943
[email protected]
Nicklaus Householder
Destination Experience Specialist
[email protected]
Research & Operations
Heather Nowakowski
Senior Director of Business Intelligence
716-218-2932
[email protected]
Hailey Muscarella
Administrative Assistant of Business Intelligence
[email protected]
Board of Directors
Cindy Abbott-Letro (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
General Manager
The Reikart House
Dottie Gallagher
President & Chief Executive Officer
Buffalo Niagara Partnership
Mark Glasgow
President, Buffalo Urban League Young Professional Group
Brian Gould
Deputy Mayor
City of Buffalo
Patrick J. Kaler (President)
President and Chief Executive Officer
Visit Buffalo Niagara
Bob Karmazyn
General Manager
Embassy Suites by Hilton
Thomas Long (Treasurer)
General Manager
The Westin Buffalo
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
Steven P. Ranalli, PE
President
Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation
Mary Roberts (Immediate Past Chair)
Executive Director Emerita
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House
David Schutte
President, Schutte Hospitality Group
Founder, Buffalo Freedom Gardens
Michelle Urbanczyk
CEO, Explore & More Children’s Museum