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

kaler@visitbuffaloniagara.com

David Marzo, CPA

David Marzo

Chief Financial Officer

716-218-2935

marzo@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Jennifer Bialek

Executive Assistant to President & CEO

716-218-2938

bialek@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Heather Nowakowski

Heather Nowakowski

Business Intelligence Manager

716-218-2932

nowakowski@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Michele Butlak

Michele Butlak

Accounting and Benefits Manager

716-218-2923

butlak@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Destination Experience

Renata Toney

Vice President of Destination Experience

716-218-2943

toney@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Jo Ann Blatner

Industry Relations Assistant

716-218-2926

blatner@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Marketing

Edward J. Healy

Edward J. Healy

Vice President of Marketing

716-218-2930

healy@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Karen Fashana

Karen Fashana

Senior Director of Marketing

716-218-2931

fashana@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Drew Brown

Drew Brown

Director of Media & Content Strategy

716-218-2937

brown@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Kate Scaduto

Marketing & Social Media Specialist

716-218-2922

scaduto@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Michelle Kearns

Communications Manager

716-218-2939

kearns@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Convention Sales & Services

Michael Even, CDME

Michael Even

Vice President of Sales & Services

716-218-2927

even@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Meaghan Zimmer

Meaghan Zimmer

National Sales Director

716-218-2947

zimmer@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Karen Cox

Director of Convention Services

716-218-2925

cox@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Emma Carlo

National Sales Manager

716-218-2940

carlo@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Marisa Urbano

Convention Services Coordinator

716-218-2945

urbano@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Meredith Walsh

Administrative Sales Assistant

716-218-2941

walsh@visitbuffaloniagara.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

Sports Sales Manager

716-218-2928

adler@buffalosportscommission.com

Tourism Sales

Leah Mueller

Leah Mueller

Director of Tourism Sales

716-218-2936

mueller@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Board of Directors

Cindy Abbott-Letro (Chair)

Business Manager

Law Offices of Francis A. Letro

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

Patrick J. Kaler (President)

President and Chief Executive Officer

Visit Buffalo Niagara

Thomas Long

General Manager

The Westin Buffalo

Kimberley Minkel (Vice Chair)

Executive Director

Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority

William Paladino

Chief Executive Officer

Ellicott Development

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

Donald Spasiano

Professor Emeritus

Erie Community College Hospitality Management

Huseyin Taran (Treasurer)

General Manager

Buffalo Marriott HARBORCENTER

Michelle Urbanczyk

CEO, Explore & More Children’s Museum

Gail Wells

President, CopperTown Block Club

Founder, Buffalo Freedom Gardens