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
kaler@visitbuffaloniagara.com

David Marzo, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
716-218-2935
marzo@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Michele Butlak
Accounting and Benefits Manager
716-218-2923
butlak@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Jennifer Bialek
Executive Assistant to President & CEO
716-218-2938
bialek@visitbuffaloniagara.com
Convention Sales & Services

Leah Mueller
Vice President of Sales & Services
716-218-2936
mueller@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Karen Cox
Director of Convention Services
716-218-2925
cox@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Meaghan Zimmer
National Sales Director
716-218-2947
zimmer@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Temekia Powers
National Sales Director
240-502-0126
powers@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Marisa Urbano
National Sales Manager
716-218-2945
urbano@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Brooke Chavanne
Administrative Sales Assistant
716-218-2941
bchavanne@visitbuffaloniagara.com
Travel Trade

Meredith Walsh
Travel Trade Manager
716-218-2940
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
Director of Sports Sales
716-218-2928
adler@buffalosportscommission.com
Marketing

Karen Fashana
Vice President of Marketing
716-218-2931
fashana@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Brian Hayden
Senior Director of Marketing & Communications
716-218-2922
hayden@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Drew Brown
Senior Creative Director
716-218-2937
brown@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Michelle Kearns
Director of Communications
716-218-2939
kearns@visitbuffaloniagara.com

Kate Scaduto
Marketing & Social Media Manager
716-218-2922
scaduto@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

Nicklaus Householder
Destination Experience Specialist
householder@visitbuffaloniagara.com
Jheanelle Kerr Ewansiha
Destination Experience Associate
716-218-2926
kerr@visitbuffaloniagara.com
Research & Operations

Heather Nowakowski
Senior Director of Business Intelligence
716-218-2932
nowakowski@visitbuffaloniagara.com
Hailey Muscarella
Administrative Assistant of Business Intelligence
muscarella@visitbuffaloniagara.com
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