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](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2014/12/patrick-kaler-205x205.jpg)
Patrick Kaler
President/CEO
716-961-0200
kaler@visitbuffaloniagara.com
![David Marzo](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2014/12/dave-marzo-205x205.jpg)
David Marzo, CPA
Chief Financial Officer
716-218-2935
marzo@visitbuffaloniagara.com
![Michele Butlak](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2014/12/michele-butlak-205x205.jpg)
Michele Butlak
Accounting and Benefits Manager
716-218-2923
butlak@visitbuffaloniagara.com
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2024/02/vbn-jennifer-bialek-1x1-1-205x205.jpg)
Jennifer Bialek
Executive Assistant to President & CEO
716-218-2938
bialek@visitbuffaloniagara.com
Convention Sales & Services
![Michael Even](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2014/12/michael-even-205x205.jpg)
Michael Even, CDME
Vice President of Sales & Services
716-218-2927
even@visitbuffaloniagara.com
![Meaghan Zimmer](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2019/01/Meaghan-Zimmer-500x500-205x205.jpg)
Meaghan Zimmer
National Sales Director
716-218-2947
zimmer@visitbuffaloniagara.com
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2022/06/karen-cox-500x500-1-205x205.jpg)
Karen Cox
Director of Convention Services
716-218-2925
cox@visitbuffaloniagara.com
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2023/10/meredith-walsh-staff-portrait-1x1-1-205x205.jpg)
Meredith Walsh
National Sales Manager
716-218-2940
walsh@visitbuffaloniagara.com
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2024/02/vbn-temekia-powers-1x1-1-205x205.jpg)
Temekia Powers
National Sales Director
240-502-0126
powers@visitbuffaloniagara.com
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2024/02/vbn-marisa-urbano-1x1-1-205x205.jpg)
Marisa Urbano
Convention Services Coordinator
716-218-2945
urbano@visitbuffaloniagara.com
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2024/02/vbn-brooke-chavanne-1x1-1-205x205.jpg)
Brooke Chavanne
Administrative Sales Assistant
716-218-2941
bchavanne@visitbuffaloniagara.com
Tourism Sales
![Leah Mueller](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2014/12/leah-mueller-205x205.jpg)
Leah Mueller
Director of Tourism Sales
716-218-2936
mueller@visitbuffaloniagara.com
Sports Commission
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2023/02/greg-gelinas-205x205.jpg)
Gregory Gelinas
Director of Sports Development
716-218-2929
gelinas@buffalosportscommission.com
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2014/10/lauren-vargo-205x205.jpg)
Lauren Vargo
Sport Services Manager
716-218-2920
vargo@buffalosportscommission.com
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2021/09/VBN_James-Adler_9.1.21_NancyJParisi_5417-392x392-1-205x205.jpg)
James Adler, MSA, SDLT
Director of Sports Sales
716-218-2928
adler@buffalosportscommission.com
Marketing
![Karen Fashana](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2014/12/karen-fashana-205x205.jpg)
Karen Fashana
Vice President of Marketing
716-218-2931
fashana@visitbuffaloniagara.com
Drew Brown
Director of Media & Content Strategy
716-218-2937
brown@visitbuffaloniagara.com
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2022/06/kate-scaduto-205x205-1-205x205.jpg)
Kate Scaduto
Marketing & Social Media Manager
716-218-2922
scaduto@visitbuffaloniagara.com
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2023/02/michelle-kearns-205x205.jpg)
Michelle Kearns
Director of Communications
716-218-2939
kearns@visitbuffaloniagara.com
Destination Experience
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2023/02/Renata-Toney-portrait-205x205.jpg)
Renata Toney
Vice President of Destination Experience
716-218-2943
toney@visitbuffaloniagara.com
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2017/03/JoAnn-Blatner-205x205.jpg)
Jo Ann Blatner
Industry Relations Assistant
716-218-2926
blatner@visitbuffaloniagara.com
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2024/02/vbn-nicklaus-householder-1x1-1-205x205.jpg)
Nicklaus Householder
Destination Experience Specialist
householder@visitbuffaloniagara.com
Research & Operations
![Heather Nowakowski](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2018/12/Heather-Nowakowski-500x500-205x205.jpg)
Heather Nowakowski
Director of Research and Operations
716-218-2932
nowakowski@visitbuffaloniagara.com
![](https://www.visitbuffaloniagara.com/content/uploads/2024/02/vbn-nick-tronolone-1x1-1-205x205.jpg)
Nick Tronolone
Research and Operations Assistant
tronolone@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
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
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
Michelle Urbanczyk
CEO, Explore & More Children’s Museum
Gail Wells
President, CopperTown Block Club
Founder, Buffalo Freedom Gardens