Meet the Team

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

Patrick Kaler

President/CEO
716-961-0200
[email protected]

David Marzo

David Marzo, CPA

Chief Financial Officer
716-218-2935
[email protected]

Michele Butlak

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

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

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

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