Monday, February 24, 2020
Schedule
3:30-4:30PM | NETWORKING AND COCKTAILS
4:30-4:40PM | GUEST WELCOME AND EXPLANATION OF EVENT
4:40-6:30PM | ONE-ON-ONE MENTORING PROGRAM
#mentoringmonday @bflobizfirst A Word from our Sponsor
Girl Scouts of the usa
We’re 2.5 million strong—more than 1.7 million girls and 750,000 adults who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)™ to change the world.
Our extraordinary journey began more than 100 years ago with the original G.I.R.L., Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, she organized the very first Girl Scout troop, and every year since, we’ve honored her vision and legacy, building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
Sylvia Acevedo | CEO We’re the preeminent leadership development Girls scouts of the USA organization for girls. And with programs from coast to coast and across the globe, Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure, and success.
Mentors
TABLE OF CONTENTS Mary Ann Coulson | TABLE 8 Samantha Affolter | TABLE 1 Senior vice president, branch manager, Morgan Manager - tax advisory group, Dopkins & Stanley Company LLP
Patricia Deibel | TABLE 9 Molly Anderson | TABLE 2 Vice president of finance, Walsh Duffield Executive director, UB Center for Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness (CLOE) Rebecca Farbo | TABLE 10 Chief marketing officer, Phillips Lytle LLP Dottie Austin | TABLE 3 Principal, Career Partners Judy Feldman | TABLE 11 President, BIA Consulting Services LLC Olivia Belter | TABLE 4 Community affairs director, Univera Gretchen Fierle | TABLE 12 Retired healthcare executive, marketing and Francine Brooks | TABLE 5 communications strategist. Leadership author, President, FB Displays & Designs Inc. Gretchen Fierle Consulantants
Trina Burruss | TABLE 6 Regional vice president & community Rachel Foley | TABLE 13 Chief financial officer and treasurer, Lake Shore relationship officer, Northwest Bank Savings Bank
Betsy Constantine | TABLE 7 Executive vice president, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo Mentors
TABLE OF CONTENTS | CONTINUED
Mary Ellen Frandina | TABLE 14 Erin Moss | TABLE 26 Executive vice president and chief Owner/Licensed mental health counselor, Erin M. administrative officer, Evans Bank Moss Mental Health Counseling Private Practice
Karla Gadley | TABLE 15 Kim Navagh | TABLE 27 Senior vice president, community development Director of people strategy and recruitment, officer, Five Star Bank Lawley
Holly Gagnon | TABLE 16 Ann Rensel | TABLE 28 CEO, Seneca Gaming Corp Associate dean of the College of Business Admin- istration, director of Graduate Business Programs, Amy Hemenway | TABLE 17 Niagara University Partner, Harter Secrest Emery Catherine Roberts | TABLE 29 Holly Hubert | TABLE 18 Senior vice president, program administration, Founder & CEO, GlobalSecurityIQ LLC Community Action Organization of Erie County, Inc. Jillian Jones | TABLE 19 Director of advancement, Pamela Say | TABLE 30 Albright-Knox Art Gallery Vice president for institutional advancement, D’Youville College Kathleen Kogut | TABLE 20 Project manager - architecture, Sheri Scavone | TABLE 31 LaBella Associates Executive director, WNY Women’s Foundation
Tracy LeBlanc | TABLE 21 Susan Schubbe | TABLE 32 Vice president of marketing and development, Chief human resources officer, Curbell Inc. BestSelf Behavioral Health Julie R. Snyder | TABLE 33 Judy Jack Lewis| TABLE 18 Senior vice president, chief marketing and Licensed associate real estate broker, communications officer, chief of staff, BlueCross HUNT Real Estate ERA BlueShield of Western New York
Mary Kate Loftus | TABLE 22 Alyson Spaulding | TABLE 34 Director of digital banking, M&T Bank General counsel, Kaleida Health
Althea Luehrsen | TABLE 23 Michelle Sullivan | TABLE 35 CEO, Leadership Buffalo Inc. Director, Freed Maxick CPAs
Joyce Markiewicz | TABLE 24 Alison Wilcox | TABLE 36 Executive vice president & chief business CEO, Girl Scouts of WNY development officer, Catholic Health Sujata Yalamanchili | TABLE 37 Cindy Miller | TABLE 25 Partner, Hodgson Russ LLP CEO, Cindy Miller Inc. Pietra Zaffram | TABLE 38 Partner, Harris Beach PLLC Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES
1 Samantha Affolter |TAX MANAGER, DOPKINS & COMPANY Area of expertise: Tax Experience: Samantha is a tax generalist and her areas of work include auto dealerships, real estate professionals, high-net-worth individuals, cooperatives, trusts, nonprofits. Pet peeve in the office: Coming to work sick Her advice: Always ask questions.
2 Molly Anderson | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, UB CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP AND ORGANIZATIONAL EFFECTIVENESS Area of expertise: Leadership, nonprofits, community, global experiences, networking Experience: Molly has extensive management and leadership training. She has held executive roles in a variety of organizations and served on more than a dozen nonprofit boards. Before joining University at Buffalo, she was president and CEO of Leadership Niagara, which she transformed into a national award- winning program. She has traveled to many countries including Ghana, Russia, Singapore and Haiti. She is a member of Buffalo Business First Leadership Trust and is a past recipient of Business First Women of Influence. Pet peeve in the office: Wasted talent. People who do not realize or are not developing their maximum leadership potential. Also, I’d like to ban this word: “bandwidth.” Her advice: Expand your world view. Serve others.
3 Dottie Austin | OWNER/PARTNER, CAREER PARTNERS INTERNATIONAL BUFFALO | NIAGARA Area of expertise: Career development and transition Experience: Dottie is a talent management professional specializing in career development, executive coaching and life planning for 55+. She creates opportunities to reinvent and reignite during transition and beyond. Her focus is to create resiliency in the 21st century workplace. She helps to deliver effective solutions to meet both business and individual needs with a down-to-earth, practical approach. Dottie says her life work centers around coaching people through life transitions. Pet peeve in the office: Too many meetings. Not enough action. Her advice: Create a lifestyle for your life stage.
4 Olivia Belter Linke | COMMUNITY AFFAIRS DIRECTOR, UNIVERA HEALTHCARE, Area of expertise: Community affairs, public relations, promotions, community health Experience: After earning a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Buffalo State, Olivia joined Univera Healthcare in 1998. She is responsible for community affairs, public relations for community health improvement initiatives, grants, corporate partnerships, special events and employee engagement. Olivia has been honored with multiple leadership awards from organizations such as Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. She is a Buffalo Business First 40 Under 40 Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES
winner. The initiatives she has led received more than 70 awards, including top honors from America’s Health Insurance Plans. Olivia is a member of the Public Relations Society of America and volunteers with Our Lady of Hope Home School in Buffalo and the United Way Girls in Sports program. She has sat on many community boards. Pet peeve in the office: People who aren’t kind Her advice: You should always give your best.
Francine Brooks | PRESIDENT, FB DISPLAYS AND DESIGNS INC. 5 Area of expertise: Team building, marketing Experience: Francine knows that highly collaborative teams will achieve greater productivity, higher morale, less counterproductive conflict and better customer relations. She continuously works with teams to achieve these goals and helps her staff work as a cohesive group where all members feel invested in the direction and accomplishments of the team. She says the marketing function in a business aims to establish the requirements of actual and prospective customers and promoting the company’s products or services. And the sales department actively sells the company’s products to customers. One cannot function without the other. The primary goal of marketing is to look at the big picture and promote the company, product or service, and brand. For sales, the focus is to hit quotas and sales volume goals and these tend to be shorter term. Pet peeve in the office: Drama, victims Her advice: Take responsibility for all your actions and always take the high road in all situations. Be generous and gracious with your words and actions.
6 Trina Burruss | REGIONAL VICE PRESIDENT & COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIP OFFICER, NORTHWEST BANK Area of expertise: Relationship building, connector Pet peeve in the office: Too many emails & inefficient meeting Her advice: Always work for the job you want not the job you have.
7 Betsy Constantine | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY FOUNDATION FOR GREATER BUFFALO Area of expertise: Foundation management, business development, change management Experience: For nearly a decade, Betsy has led efforts for the foundation’s business-development efforts, more than doubling the foundation’s assets during that time (from $180 million to more than $500 million). This has included redefining the foundation’s business model and our approach to cultivating relationships with the individuals, families, foundations and organizations that give through us to make the impact they desire. To support that growth, our team has changed and expanded significantly over the last decade. Pet peeve in the office: Gossip Her advice: Look for solutions, not scapegoats. Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES 8 Mary Ann Coulson | SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, BRANCH MANAGER, MORGAN STANLEY Area of expertise: Finance, management, networking, nonprofit board development and community involvement Experience: With over 30 years of experience, Mary Ann offers seasoned, well-rounded professional expertise with in-depth knowledge of the financial landscape. As a branch manager, she works directly with financial advisers, providing them with the proven skills, tools and resources to take their business to the next level.She holds the designations of Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst, which enables her to provide expert advice to clients and help them to create sound, thorough financial plans. Mary Ann is very active with charitable organizations, reflecting her commitment to “Giving Back”, one of Morgan Stanley’s core values. Her advice: Be enthusiastic. Lead with integrity.
9 Patricia Deibel | VICE PRESIDENT - FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION, WALSH DUFFIELD COS. INC. Area of expertise: Finance, accounting and administration Experience: Tricia manages agency support services that include finance, accounting systems and processes, and IT. Her human resources responsibilities include supervision of recruiting, employee benefits and payroll, and employee relations. Her advice: Success is dependent on effort. Focus on the solution to a problem.
Rebecca Farbo | CHIEF MARKETING OFFICER, PHILLIPS LYTLE LLP 10 Area of expertise: Marketing and business development Experience: As chief marketing officer, Becky provides the overall vision and leadership for all areas of marketing and business development for Phillips Lytle’s nine offices. Her focus is on brand strategy and management, client feedback, business development, client teams, practice teams, attorney and client training, advertising, social media, public relations, marketing communications and events, firm culture and corporate responsibility. In her role, Becky looks to collaborate with Phillips Lytle attorneys to ensure every aspect of client service excellence. In all cases, the client is at the center of everything we do. Pet peeve in the office: Identifying a problem without suggesting solutions. Everyone has the ability to be creative whether you believe it or not. There is a solution to everything; you just need to take the time to figure it out. Her advice: Go outside your comfort zone.
CIO, VALUECENTRIC 11 Judy Feldman | Area of expertise: Technology, leadership, small-business startups Experience: Judy is happy to help women in two areas: leadership advice in technology and running a woman-owned business. Both leverage the intersection of business strategies and technology. Judy’s goal is to help businesses reach their strategic goals through selective use of technology. The implementation spans people, process and technology solutions. Pet peeve in the office: Wasted time waiting for people to join online meetings. Her advice: Take the leap. Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES
12 Gretchen Fierle | FOUNDER, NORTHLINK LLC AND GRETCHENFIERLE.COM Area of expertise: Leadership development Experience: Retired from the corporate world and having held executive roles for 17 years, Gretchen now pays it forward by helping to develop the next wave of leaders through her retreats, workshops, authored books and talks. Her goal is to strengthen the middle core of management so they are well prepared to lead and to replace those who weren’t mentored or taught the skill sets and responsibilities that come with leading others. Pet peeve in the office: Too many to list. But culture starts and ends at the top. Her advice: Hold the ladder for others.
13 Rachel Foley | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND TREASURER, LAKE SHORE SAVINGS BANK Area of expertise: Financial reporting, accounting, project management, digital banking, risk management Experience: Rachel has been CFO of Lake Shore Savings Bank for nearly 14 years and controller for six years prior to that. Her responsibilities include oversight of financial reporting, day-to-day accounting activities, liquidity management, asset/liability management, regulatory reporting and oversight of certain digital banking activities. Prior to working at Lake Shore Savings Bank, she worked in the Internal Audit department at M&T Bank. Her advice: Take a chance on new opportunities.
14 Mary Ellen Frandina | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT & CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, EVANS BANK N.A. Area of expertise: Human resources, information technology, project management Experience: Mary Ellen joined Evans Bank in 2011 as executive vice president of organizational development and employee experience. Her responsibilities expanded in 2016 to lead the information & technology and project management teams, in addition to human resources. Her prior experience includes leadership positions at North American Breweries, Anheuser-Busch InBev, Labatt Breweries of Canada and Brock Schechter & Polakoff LLP. She is certified as a Society of Human Resource Management – Senior Certified Professional (SHRM - SCP), Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), a certified lean professional, a Six Sigma green belt and in DiSC. Pet peeve in the office: Needing to refill the stapler at that critical stapling moment Her advice: Be true to yourself.
15 Karla Gadley | SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, FIVE STAR BANK Area of expertise: 38 years of experience Experience: Karla is responsible for overseeing, coordinating and providing strategic direction for Five Star Bank’s Community Reinvestment Act-related programming throughout the bank’s footprint. She engages with civic, business and government leaders and serves as liaison between Five Star Bank and the community at large to administer programs that meet the credit and banking Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES
needs of low- and moderate-income individuals and small businesses. My pet peeves in the office: When others are unresponsive to emails. Talking too loudly on the phone. Her advice: Never stop learning. Persevere – don’t give up. Stop dreaming; start doing. Don’t sell yourself short. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable.
16 Holly Gagnon | CEO, SENECA GAMING CORPORATION Area of expertise: Finance, strategy, IT, hospitality, gaming operations Experience: Holly has 28 years in the gaming industry and has achieved senior positions in all of the above areas of expertise. She has been named to Western New York’s Power 250 annually since 2017 and to the Power 125 Women. Pet peeve in the office: Negativity Her advice: Find a way to say yes.
17 Amy Hemenway | PARTNER, HARTER SECREST & EMERY LLP Area of expertise: Labor and employment law Experience: Amy is a trusted adviser and fierce advocate for her clients. She assists employers in complying with laws and regulations that have an impact on the employer-employee relationship. She represents non-union and union employers and management in employment and labor law, including workplace policies, discrimination and harassment, and workplace investigations. Her practice includes representing management in collective bargaining and defending grievances and arbitrations. Amy works with federal contractor clients to develop affirmative action programs and provide counsel on compliance with executive orders and OFCCP regulations. Amy represents clients in federal and state courts, as well as administrative proceedings and audits before federal and state agencies including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, state Division of Human Rights, federal and state Departments of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs and National Labor Relations Board. Pet peeve in the office: Coffee spills on the counter Her advice: Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves.
18 Holly Hubert | CEO, GLOBALSECURITYIQ LLC Area of expertise: Leadership, cybersecurity, crisis management Experience: Holly was an FBI agent for 25 years, retiring as Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) in the FBI Buffalo Division where she had executive oversight of all cyber, terrorism, counterintelligence, intelligence and criminal programs to include all crisis management and SWAT assets. She founded the FBI Buffalo Cyber Task Force and the WNY Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory, one of only 17 FBI Laboratory Division-affiliated facilities dedicated to the science of digital forensics. In 2017, Holly founded GlobalSecurityIQ, a cybersecurity company that helps organizations assess and harden themselves from cyber-related threats. She is an international speaker in the areas of cyber, leadership and crisis management. Her advice: Carefully make decisions based on data, not emotion. Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES
19 Jillian Jones | DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT, ALBRIGHT-KNOX ART GALLERY Area of expertise: Fundraising, arts and culture management Experience: Jillian has served in the fundraising/nonprofit management arena for 14 years, and in the arts and culture space, specifically in museums, for a decade. Her experiences run the gamut from relationship management, project management, event management and capital campaigns to business development and financial resource development. Jillian has raised gifts ranging from $10 to multimillion-dollar commitments and has built fundraising operations from scratch. Pet peeve in the office: Socializing is important, but not during meeting times when a pressing agenda is at hand. Her advice: From time to time, I vacuum the office. No job is too small!
20 Kathleen Kogut | ARCHITECTURAL PROJECT MANAGER, LABELLA ASSOCIATES Area of expertise: Architecture Experience: Kathleen has been an architect for 35 years. She has experience in all areas including, public, private and commercial projects. Pet peeve in the office: Not being treated with the respect I should be treated with. Her advice: Be proud and strong. Be professional but play and love equally
21 Tracy LeBlanc | VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING & DEVELOPMENT, BESTSELF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH Area of expertise: Marketing, events and fundraising Experience: Tracy has more than 40 years of experience in marketing, event management and fundraising. BestSelf Behavioral Health is the largest community-based behavioral health organization in WNY providing mental health and substance abuse treatment. Previously, she was a partner in an advertising agency for 18 years and worked with clients such as Kissing Bridge, Erie County Fair, Walt Disney’s World on Ice, Trico Products and Marineland. She was general manager of the Friendship Festival in Buffalo and Fort Erie and worked at Niagara College in Welland, Ontario, in the foundation and alumni relations office. Pet peeve in the office: People who never admit they’re wrong. Her advice: Today’s failures create tomorrow’s successes.
22 Judy Jack Lewis | ASSOCIATE REAL ESTATE BROKER, HUNT REAL ESTATE ERA Area of expertise: Residential real estate sales Experience: Judy offers customers and clients her more than 30 years of knowledge and experience in real estate sales. She focuses on superior marketing strategies, contract negotiation, customer service and a dedication to lifetime clients. Pet peeve in the office: My office is my car, so traffic is my pet peeve. Her advice: Surround yourself with supportive people.
Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES
23 Mary Kate Loftus | DIRECTOR, DIGITAL, M&T BANK Area of expertise: Digital technology Experience: Mary Kate has 20-plus years in retail banking with experience in digital, strategy and distribution. She is a diversity champion who enjoys helping women and others who are underrepresented to advance their careers. Mary Kate is a United for Women Advisory Board member of United Way of Buffalo & Erie County and a supporter of Buffalo Women in Agile. Pet peeve in the office: When someone forgets to put themselves on mute on a conference call. Her advice: Be fearless, authentic and present.
24 Althea Luehrsen | CEO, LEADERSHIP BUFFALO INC. Area of expertise: Nonprofit leadership, entrepreneurship, public speaking, networking, strategic thinking, communication, board governance Experience: Althea’s work as CEO of a nonprofit provides her with the opportunity to lead the organization (running it like a business), to network with many in our community and to represent Leadership Buffalo at events through public speaking. The organization has doubled in revenue in the last eight years which requires effective strategic thinking to achieve this. Althea serves on several boards in the community and is a founding member of the CharitySTRONG advisory board, providing board governance knowledge and expertise. Pet peeve in the office: Clothing choices Her advice: Never ask of others to do something you wouldn’t do yourself, especially those you lead. Speak the truth but be kind. Understand that everyone has a story.
25 Joyce Markiewicz | EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, CATHOLIC HEALTH Area of expertise: Health Care Experience: Health Care new business growth and development. Strong operational and turn around experience. Pet peeve in the office: Asking for 5 minutes and taking 20 Her advice: Think beyond your educational degree
26 Cindy Miller | CEO, CINDY MILLER INC. Area of expertise: Teacher, coach, corporate trainer Experience: Cindy says she inspires and challenges individuals, teams and corporations to unlock potential and improve performance. Her three-step process teaches the WHY, WHAT and HOW to Own “IT” – Your business. Your Sport. Your Life. Pet peeve in the office: Backstabbing and gossip Her advice: It’s never too late to be what you might have been. Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES
27 Erin Moss | OWNER/LICENSED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR, ERIN M. MOSS MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELING PRIVATE PRACTICE Area of expertise: Mental health, community presentations, career mentoring Experience: As a licensed therapist, Erin meets with individuals who seek counseling support in a private practice setting. Treatment modalities include individual and family psychotherapy. She specializes in anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, abandonment, trauma, self-esteem building and multicultural concerns. Her treatment approach includes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Person-Centered, Multisystemic. Pet peeve in the office: Lack of schedule flexibility. When employees have some control of their schedule, they can create a better work/life balance. This leads to less stress on the job and reduces staff turnover. Her advice: Believe in something greater than yourself. When one door closes, a bigger one opens. Always lead with authenticity. Get out of your own way. Set realistic and obtainable goals.
28 Kim Navagh | DIRECTOR OF PEOPLE STRATEGY, LAWLEY INSURANCE Area of expertise: 25-plus years of experience in sales (staffing services industry), purchasing/buying (former upscale Buffalo retailer) and recruitment/ HR (financial services) Experience: Kim is currently a director of people strategy and recruitment at Lawley. Overseeing the people strategy area includes human resources, recruitment (hands-on), compliance, learning and development, compensation (hands-on) performance management, onboarding, career development and internal communications for 450 associates in 11 branches. Kim has a background in sales, purchasing and recruitment/HR. She is probably best known for recruitment expertise in WNY. Pet peeve in the office: People not using their calendars effectively. Her advice: Professional patience. Practice saying yes.
29 Ann Rensel | ASSOCIATE DEAN AND DIRECTOR OF GRADUATE BUSINESS PROGRAMS, NIAGARA UNIVERSITY Area of expertise: Organizational skills, personnel management, information technology, data analysis and interpretation Experience: I have worked as a bench chemist, laboratory supervisor, quality control supervisor in my earlier life. Currently I am responsible for much of the operation of a 27-person academic organization, with a larger academic structure. Much of what I do now is based upon data and analysis and using that insight to guide decision making, as well as day-to-day operations. Pet peeve in the office: People who are not held accountable for the performance of their assigned jobs/tasks. Her advice: Remain calm, lean into the wind with your head up, always be nice and pleasant, smile, care about what you do. Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES
30 Catherine Roberts | SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY ACTION ORGANIZATION OF WESTERN NEW YORK INC. Area of expertise: Nonprofits, organizational leadership, program administration, marketing/personal branding, community engagement Experience: Catherine’s area of expertise is nonprofit management, program development, leadership skill-building and to help inspire and effect real change. Additionally, with well over 25 years of experience as a marketer, she knows the value of branding and the need for a professional identity that will leave a lasting impression. Pet peeve in the office: The lack of mentoring opportunities for professionals early on in their career. Building a sustainable network of mentors to help develop talent and leadership is key to any organization’s growth and success. Her advice: When you truly know your value, take ownership of it and align yourself with individuals who recognize and appreciate it, too. Never compromise your integrity.
31 Pamela Say | VICE PRESIDENT FOR INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT, D’YOUVILLE COLLEGE Area of expertise: Fundraising, marketing, and leading high performance teams Experience: Pamela, MBA, CFRE is a sought-after, nationally published author, speaker, higher education administrator, and small business owner. She was the youngest appointee to the President’s Executive team at Trocaire College in 2014. Her award winning work in fundraising, marketing, and leading high performance teams commands international attention. Say was featured recently in Advancing Philanthropy Magazine, a global publication of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, about discovering your personal best leadership. Her book, “Five Strategies to Increase Annual Fund Revenue” was highlighted in the national Wiley Journal Fundraising Success. Pamela has raised millions of dollars for non-profit missions. She has inspired staff to smash through marketing metrics and coached best-in-class teams. Pamela has presented at many conferences as a keynote speaker. Pet peeve in the office: Lack of solution-based thinking Her advice: Get to know yourself deeply
32 Sheri Scavone | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WNY WOMEN’S FOUNDATION Area of expertise: Ideation, strategic leadership, nonprofit governance, policy and advocacy Experience: Sheri has 35-plus years of organizational leadership with a focus on nonprofits. She enjoys connecting causes and people for the greater good and she’s not afraid to ask “What if?” She specializes in policy and advocacy work to advance systems change at local and state levels. Pet peeve in the office: Gossip and jealousy Her advice: Lift others. Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES
33 Susan Schubbe | CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER, CURBELL INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES Area of expertise: Human resources strategy, organizational development, corporate giving and organizational brand building Experience: Susan has more than 30 years of senior HR and people- management experience in executive leadership and organizational development. She has in-depth experience in business strategy, executive compensation, talent development, employee engagement, corporate giving and organizational brand building. Her accomplishments include the strategic development and delivery of a high-performance culture at Curbell driven by organizational values, engagement of the workforce and a corporate brand strategy resulting in the ability to compete and retain top talent above industry benchmarks. Susan holds SPHR certification (Senior Professional Human Resources) from the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) and SHRM-SCP from the Society for Human Resource Management. She is a volunteer instructor for Junior Achievement of WNY, corporate lead for the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County and a volunteer for Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Erie & Niagara County. Pet peeve in the office: A cluttered desk Her advice: Commit yourself to constant improvement.
34 Julie R. Snyder | SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, BLUECROSS BLUESHIELD OF WESTERN NEW YORK Area of expertise: Marketing, public relations and communications Pet peeve in the office: Holding meetings and having individuals in attendance say nothing. If you are in the room, participate! Her advice: Don’t burn a bridge you may need to cross in the future.
35 Alyson Spaulding | GENERAL COUNSEL, KALEIDA HEALTH Area of expertise: Health Law, Corporate Law, Litigation Experience: Alyson worked in private practice for the first portion of her career, defending medical professionals and practicing in other areas of health law. She then became in-house attorney at Kaleida Health and continued to work in those areas and eventually led all legal services including corporate law which involves business transactions and corporate litigation. Alyson also serves as counsel to the board of directors and advises on matters of governance and enterprise risk management. Pet peeve in the office: In a large organization, one has to rely on email rather than personal or face to face interactions. My pet peeve is not being able to interact directly with colleagues and Her advice: Listen and think carefully before you speak.
36 Michelle Sullivan | PARTNER, FREED MAXICK CPAS PC Area of expertise: Audit, Accounting and business consulting Experience: Michelle A. Sullivan, CPA is a Director in Freed Maxick’s Assurance and Advisory Practice. She has more than 25 years’ experience specializing in the Not-For-Profit, Employee Benefit Plan, and Real Estate practice areas. Mentors
BIOGRAPHIES Michelle is involved in the Firm’s development initiatives and co-leads the Employee Advancement and Retention Network (E.A.R.N.) program. The E.A.R.N. program was developed to provide mentoring and development opportunities for employees both personally and professionally. Michelle leads the overall steering committee and is responsible for ensuring that the program is meeting Firm needs and producing measurable results on an annual basis. She is also a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee, Trustee Committee and the Marketing Committee. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Board of Directors, Board of Trustees for Hilbert College Board of Directors, Buffalo Zoological Gardens Board of Directors, Buffalo Zoo Foundation Pet peeve in the office: Confidence vs Competence Her advice: Leave the comfort zone.
36 Alison Wilcox | CEO, GIRL SCOUTS OF WESTERN NEW YORK Area of expertise: Leadership, careers and empowering women and girls Experience: Alison leads the Girl Scouts of WNY, the pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls and young women. She is a lifelong champion of girls and women with more than 20 years of international experience in business and nonprofit organizations. Her expertise and passion areas include: company culture, nonprofit management, board leadership, leading change and transformation, career mentoring and empowering women and girls. She also enjoys reading and travel planning. Pet peeve in the office: Negativity. Life is too short to work where you’re not happy. A great organization welcomes your feedback – offer them up. Her advice: Be fearless. Raise your hand.
37 Sujata Yalamanchili | PARTNER, HODGSON RUSS LLP Area of expertise: Real estate law Experience: Sujata works in transactional real estate and finance law. This involves drafting contracts, evaluating real estate projects and negotiating deals. Pet peeve in the office: Disingenuous people Her advice: Have mentors throughout your career.
38 Pietra Zaffram |PARTNER, HARRIS BEACH PLLC Area of expertise: Public finance, economic development, Opportunity Zones, tax controversy Experience: As a partner in the Buffalo office of Harris Beach and a member of the public finance and economic development law team, Pietra assists companies and clients in obtaining tax savings through industrial development agencies. In connection with her economic development practice, she provides counsel to clients regarding the federal Opportunity Zones program. She represents clients in federal and state tax disputes from the audit level through the appellate process. Pietra was named to the 2019 Buffalo Business First Legal Elite of WNY. Pet peeve in the office: Reply All on emails. Meetings with no agenda. Her advice: Take on a stretch assignment. Thank you
NATIONAL SPONSOR
NATIONAL PARTNERS