FACES of WNY 2023

THE FACE OF

LEADERSHIP IN GIRLS’ EDUCATION

BUFFALO SEMINARY

From the moment I walked into SEM as a prospective student, I knew it would become my home. Though I was terrified of public speaking and worried about what others would think of me and who I wanted to be, I quickly realized that at SEM, we are given space to work through those worries and encouraged to be our truest selves.

As a freshman, I watched the Student Government Association (SGA) President stand at the chapel podium every morning to welcome us into a new day, as a community. I knew immediately I wanted to do that. At SEM, everyone is given the opportunity to become a leader, and we know leadership is demonstrated in many ways: people lead in clubs, teams, and classes.

As a school designed to support girls, we lift each other up and help each other reach our goals. For example, I knew I wanted to try theater, but I had the worst stage fright. However, I was given the space to try and now I’m working on my sixth production at SEM, and I speak in front of the entire school every morning. SEM creates leaders and people who are unapologetically themselves, and I’m proud to see how much everyone has grown from their first day at Buffalo Seminary to their last. –Faith Wendel, SEM senior and SGA President

205 Bidwell Parkway, Buffalo 14222; 716-885-6780, buffaloseminary.org, admission@buffaloseminary.org

Photo by Dan Cappellazzo

THE FACE OF REAL ESTATE EXCELLENCE

DEODATA M. CAMMILLERI

How long have you been in business?

I have been in real estate since 2011.

As a licensed real estate sales agent, my job is to help people buy, sell, and rent homes. I am proud to work for Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, the number one family-owned and -operated broker in the country. Howard Hanna not only demonstrates its dedication to improving the quality of life for others, but also reinforces the belief that a strong community is built on compassion, generosity, and collaboration.

Does your company have a favorite charity it supports?

In 2012, the Howard Hanna Children’s Free Care Fund (HHCFCF) was created

to support the free care funds of our children’s hospital partners and pediatric programs through yearly fundraising campaigns in all Howard Hanna’s market areas. HHCFCF receives donations, fundraising and sponsorships that support local children’s hospitals and regional pediatric free care programs, which provide children with necessary and life-saving medical care, treatments, and services..

What do you hope customers think of you?

As a trusted advisor who is knowledgeable about current market conditions and has a thorough understanding of the buying process to help them through one of the most important decisions of their lives. Customer satisfaction is my top priority.

What’s your favorite season?

Spring. Sunshine, birds chirping, trees and flowers budding, and the smell of fresh cut grass. Spring is the promise of new beginnings.

What’s your favorite holiday tradition?

Making fresh baked cookies and sharing them with family and friends.

What are your WNY go-tos?

My favorite go to wing joint is Bar Bill Tavern and favorite wings are Cajun Honey Butter barbecue. Flats of course! My favorite gelato flavors are cioccolato fondente and pistachio.

Photo by Stephen Gabris

CHEF’S RESTAURANT

Chef’s celebrates 100 years in the same iconic downtown Buffalo location. Over a century, our restaurant has become the place “Where Family and Friends Meet to Eat” before sporting events, live performances, business functions, and family celebrations. Chef’s Italian-American specialties are made onsite daily from fresh, quality ingredients using original recipes that have become a staple for generations of Western New Yorkers. Join us as we celebrate Chef’s focus on family, friends, and community.

291 Seneca Street, Buffalo, 14204; 716-856-9187; www.ilovechefs.com

Photo by Dan Cappellazzo

THE FACES OF KIND, COMPASSIONATE NURSING; A LEGACY OF HOPE AND HEALING

ERIE COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER (ECMC)

What does your business/company do?

The ECMC Corporation was established as a New York State Public Benefit Corporation and since 2004 has included an advanced academic medical center with 573 inpatient beds, on- and off-campus health centers, more than 30 outpatient specialty care services and Terrace View, a 390-bed longterm care facility. ECMC is Western New York’s only Level 1 Adult Trauma Center, as well as a regional center for burn care, behavioral health services, transplantation, medical oncology and head & neck cancer care, rehabilitation, a major teaching facility for the University at Buffalo and, since 2008, a strong partner in providing highquality healthcare services with both UB and Kaleida Health through the Great Lakes Health System of WNY.

How long have you been in business? 105 years

Tell us about a memorable customer experience.

During the course of the 2022 Christmas Eve Blizzard, ECMC provided shelter to

approximately 150 civilians (on top of the approximately 500 inpatients in the main hospital and 370 residents of ECMC’s Terrace View Long Term Care facility), including many children who lived in homes nearby that had lost power. On the morning of Christmas Day, in an effort to bring some level of added comfort to the civilians, ECMC nurses provided breakfast and gave the children Christmas presents our caregivers had gathered throughout the hospital.

What do you hope customers think when they think of your company?

That ECMC nurses and their colleagues provide nationally recognized care across multiple service lines (e.g., orthopedics, transplantation, behavioral health, oncology, emergency, and critical care services) in a safe, state-of-the-art environment.

What’s your favorite part about what you do?

Working in ECMC’s supportive and nurturing environment, our nurses, providers, and support staff are committed to helping our community at any time for any healthcare need.

Tell us a fun fact about your company.

In the 1960s, Anita Dorr RN worked as an operating room nurse at then Meyer Hospital (now ECMC), and that experience shaped her career as one of the most influential emergency medicine nurses in the nation. Founder and executive director of the Emergency Department Nurses Association (ENA), now an international organization with over 40,000 members, it was her invention of the crash cart that secured her legacy. The crash cart is now used in hospitals throughout the world, and is considered an essential component of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, endotracheal intubation, and the treatment of lethal arrhythmias. Dorr and her husband developed and built the red-painted wooden prototype at their suburban Buffalo home in the mid-1960s. With wheels and a laminate top, it was designed to hold essential tools and drugs needed in a medical crisis, particularly cardiac arrest. Originally known as the Dorr Cart or crisis cart, today it is essentially a steel cabinet on wheels with drawers containing defibrillators, advanced cardiac life support drugs, and other necessary medical items.

Does your company have a favorite charity or foundation they support?

ECMC Foundation

Photo by Dan Cappellazzo

THE FACE OF OPPORTUNITY

TODD P. DANNI

“It all starts with real estate.” Whether you are leasing, purchasing, or developing, real estate is the beginning! For more than twenty years, Todd Danni has been at the forefront of some of the most creative redevelopment projects in WNY, including brokering the sales of 500 Pearl, “Ridge” brewery, and the Monroe (former Record Theatre on Main). As a seasoned broker with Envision Commercial Real Estate, developer/owner of Shear Madness, and investor with his own portfolio, Todd and his team at Danni Real Estate & Development have become the go-to for investment-centered type real estate, taking redevelopment to the next level. Specializing in commercial, redevelopment, residential, multifamily, leasing, and franchise sites, he is not your average broker! todd@envcommercial.com; 716-465-1282, dannirealestate.com

Photo by Dan Cappellazzo

THE FACE OF RETIREMENT

FOX RUN AT ORCHARD PARK

These FACES are trendsetters. The original “pioneers” of Fox Run at Orchard Park. These trailblazers moved in the week our doors opened. Their lives for the past 16 years at Fox Run have been carefree, vibrant, and convenient. The inviting and welcoming feeling when you step onto our campus started with them, and they are responsible for the culture we pride ourselves on today. Pioneer staff pictured as well.

Community Members enjoy upscale, worry-free independent living, a beautifully manicured 54-acre campus, peace-of-mind for their loved ones, and a lot of fun celebrating our 15th anniversary! Fox Run at Orchard Park is the premier continuing care retirement community in the Southtowns. One Fox Run Lane, Orchard Park, 14127; 716-662-5001; foxrunorchardpark.com

Photo by Stephen Gabris

THE FACE OF BACK-UP POWER

GEN-TECH

The power goes out, it’s freezing outside, and the temperature is dropping inside your home. It’s getting dark and you are worried about your family. How can you protect them when you feel powerless? Gen-Tech Power Systems specializes in the service and installation of emergency standby generators. Gen-Tech is a local, family-owned business that’s proud to serve Western New York. Created by a father and son duo, Gen-Tech has since grown to include a team of highly qualified generator technicians—and one adorable four-legged mascot! 61 Innsbruck Drive, Suite C, Cheektowaga 14227; 716-648-7208, gentechpower.com

Photo by Dan Cappellazzo

CAROL A. ESPOSITO Licensed Real Estate Salesperson

Carol epitomizes integrity, energy, and hard work in every detail of your real estate transaction. Raising five children, she developed an impressive ability to multitask and adapt to unexpected situations to get the job done. She works tirelessly around the clock for her clients and the results show. Carol had over $28 million in sales in 2022 and is a top agent at Howard Hanna Buffalo Niagara Region as well as a top producer from 2012 to 2022. She is ready to assist you with every aspect of residential real estate, representing buyers, sellers, and investors. 5462 Sheridan Drive, Williamsville, 14221; 716-864-0478, carolesposito.howardhanna.com

Photo by Adore Studio

HOME FURNISHINGS

CALVIN’S FURNITURE

&

LEATHER GALLERY

What does your company do?

Calvin’s Furniture and Leather Gallery is a local, family-owned furniture store that has been in business for more than seventy years. We are known for our vast selection of top-quality furniture at fair and competitive prices. We sell furniture for every room of the house, including an extensive amount of US-made furniture. We also have WNY’s largest leather gallery. Our showrooms have something for everyone!

What do you hope customers think when they think of your company?

When we meet a customer for the first time we often hear things like “we always thought your store was so expensive” or “we had no idea you had so many choices,” so we want everyone to know we strive to offer the best selection, better quality, and biggest discounts around.

What’s your favorite part about what you do?

Shopping at Calvin’s is much more than buying furniture. Having been in business for so long, we have the advantage of working with multiple generations of customers. We build long-lasting relationships with people who come into our store and they usually end up coming back with a family member, raving about their experience. Our customers become like family.

Tell us a fun fact about your company. Not only is Calvin’s Furniture and Leather Gallery a great place to shop, it’s also a great place to work. In addition to five family members involved in the business, we also have a great number of staff who have been with us for over twenty years. We use our own experienced and knowledgeable delivery teams who provide customers with peace of mind because they know their deliveries are handled by experts.

Tell us about a memorable customer experience.

Several years ago, we had a contest offering a reward for the customer who could provide us with the oldest Calvin’s receipt, and that was an incredible experience. Seeing how many people were proud to show off receipts and share memories about our store is something we will never forget. To this day, customers still bring in receipts and reminisce about their first purchase with us. It just goes to show that when you buy quality furniture, it lasts.

Who’s your favorite Buffalo Bills’ player?

All of them. They are incredibly talented and hard-working. If any Buffalo Bills players need furniture, you know where to find us! Our furniture will hold up to even the biggest football players!

Photo by Dan Cappellazzo

THE FACE OF

MICHELLE WINER

ESTATE

How long have you been in real estate?

I have been servicing all of Western New York for the past eighteen years. I have learned to work with the market not by adapting to it but by being proactive.

What makes you different from the competition?

I understand that success comes from educating both myself and my clients. My focus on education and service are integral to business and setting me apart from my peers.

What would potential customers be surprised to learn about you?

It may sound old-school, but the customer is always right! I strive to make sure my clients are 100 percent happy and satisfied with my services.

Describe your business methodology in five words or less. Resiliency, expertise, referrals, service, accountability

What do you hope customers think when they think of you?

My dedication to them. Clients are ecstatic when I sit them down and explain the process from beginning to end so they’ll know what to expect.

What is your favorite part about what you do?

Meeting new people. I love this aspect of the real estate business. Every day presents an opportunity to meet someone new and put my interpersonal skills to work.

What is your biggest accomplishment? Being recognized as the number one producing agent for Hunt Real Estate in 2018 and 2020 to 2022.

Photo by Dan Cappellazzo

Photo by Dan Cappellazzo

THE FACE OF CONSUMER AND COMMERCIAL BANKING

JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A.

What does your company do?

Chase provides millions of people with financial services, including personal banking, credit cards, mortgages, auto financing, investment advice, small business loans, and payment processing. With our firm’s benefits, we proudly drive economic growth in Buffalo.

What do you hope customers think when they think of your company?

A dedicated team that not only serves the financial needs of each community in Western New York but also empowers people with comprehensive banking resources. Our goal is to provide not just convenience but also financial empowerment, ensuring our customers

have the tools they need to achieve their financial goals.

What’s your favorite part about what you do?

It is gratifying to build strong relationships with customers and witness how our banking services contribute to their financial well-being, which then strengthens the financial fabric of our community.

Does your company have a favorite charity or foundation they support?

JPMorgan Chase proudly supports Say Yes Buffalo, an organization dedicated to removing barriers to education and economic mobility for Buffalo students. The firm is a longtime and meaningful

sponsor of the Say Yes breakfast fundraisers and members of our team engage in Say Yes events and the student mentoring program.

What’s your favorite winter WNY activity?

Our employees enjoy winter activities in Western New York, including skiing, ice skating, and attending Buffalo Bills and Sabres games.

What’s your favorite summer WNY activity?

Western New York offers a fantastic array of summer activities and our employees make the most of them. These include exploring local trails and hiking spots and indulging in lake activities.

Photo by Dan Cappellazzo

INTERIOR DESIGN

JULIE MUSCATO HOME | GIFTS

What does your business/ company do?

Julie Muscato Home and Gifts is a furniture showroom and design center that carries curated lines of furniture, fabric, wallcoverings, and window treatments. We are also a lifestyle store offering gifts, clothing, and home accessories. We are all about marrying that essence of home with a unique shopping experience.

How long have you been in business?

Thirteen years

What’s your favorite part about what you do?

The customer experience is

paramount to our team; we love serving our clients. Whether you are buying a gift or decorating a whole house, you’ll get our attention to detail and clear customer communication. We are so proud to have won a Spree Best of WNY award four years in a row!

Tell us about the customer experience. Walk through our doors and you will be met with beautifully designed furniture vignettes that excite the senses! Our gift shop offers gifts for the home, a few of them are jewelry, handbags, women’s clothing, candles, and so much more to accessorize your home or yourself! Our customers

tell us time and time again that we are their “happy place!”

What’s your favorite season?

Hands down, Christmas! Our showroom comes alive with the beauty of the holidays! The glitter, colors, and music excites the soul.

What is your company’s ultimate goal?

The honor of return business. Nothing is more humbling and gratifying than to see our customers return for either the gift shop or to start their next room!

Photo by Dan Cappellazzo

THE FACE OF

Photo by Dan Cappellazzo

THE FACE OF WOMEN’S HEALTHCARE

SUBURBAN WOMEN’S HEALTHCARE

What does your business/ company do?

Suburban Women’s Healthcare is a privately owned all female physician practice specializing in Women’s Health and Wellness. Our practice addresses normal women’s medical concerns as well as nutritional support, weight loss guidance, and diabetic counseling. We also offer aesthetic services ranging from laser hair removal, facial/body rejuvenation, Botox, and fillers.

How long have you been in business?

Our practice has been serving patients for more than twenty-five years, from all over Western New York. We are centrally located in Amherst and easily accessible from Route 290.

What do you hope customers/ patients think when they think of your company?

We hope patients who come to us know we have their best interests at heart. The providers here are women experiencing the same things our patients do. There are so many factors affecting women today ranging from work, taking care of families, and trying to measure up with what social media tells them to. We hope our patients find our practice provides a supportive network they can trust and rely on as they navigate life.

What’s your favorite part about what you do?

We enjoy building strong physician patient relationships that blossom into long lasting bonds that go beyond coming in once a year for exams. We are honored that our pregnant

patients entrust us with bringing their children into the world. The greatest compliments we receive are patient referrals to family and friends.

Tell us a fun fact about your company.

Halloween is one of our favorite holidays. Our staff ditch normal uniforms for costumes and a huge candy dish sits on our reception desk to welcome patients with a treat. We have a tradition to post pictures of costumed staff on Facebook and encourage our patients to post their pictures too.

What are some of your favorite things?

Starbucks orders, Souvlaki lunches, flavored creamers, lunch themed birthdays, and Buffalo Bills attire on dress down Fridays!

Photo by Dan Cappellazzo

THE FACES OF

ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Rich’s Catering & Special Events is heralded as the premier caterer in Western New York. Distinguished by longstanding commitment to exquisite cuisine and extraordinary service, this team of passionate hospitality professionals delivers memorable events that leave a lasting impression and are marked by an unparalleled level of polished planning and execution. Frost Artisan Bakery is poised to deliver an indulgent ending to any event with a delectable menu of custom creations guaranteed to delight the most discerning palate.

Rich’s Catering & Special Events & The Powerhouse by the Rich Entertainment Group; 716-878-8422; richscatering.com; 716-878-8821; frostartisanbakery.com

Photo by Dan Cappellazzo

MEDICARE ASSISTANCE

MCDERMOTT CONSULTING

What’s your favorite part about what you do?

Our licenses in Accident, Life, and Health, as well as AHIP certification, enable us to assist individuals aged sixty-five or disabled find Medicare Plans at no cost through numerous local and national carriers. We take pride in simplifying Medicare, starting two years before age sixty-five. We ensure clients are well-prepared and help them find the right Medicare plan.

What sets you apart from others in your field?

We are a woman-owned firm, and our growth is driven by referrals. We maintain an impressive 90 percent first-call resolution rate. Our service safeguards clients and Medicare beneficiaries, helping them avoid costly mistakes.

Tell us a fun fact about your company.

As leader and Board President for a Student Exchange Program, I straddled the equator line, welcoming seventeen international daughters into our home over twenty years.

716-880-7026; mcdermott-consulting.com

DRAGON SNACK GAMES

How long have you been in business?

Over fifteen years! At this location, over five years.

What does your company do?

We specialize in non-electronic games. We not only sell them but also teach you how to play them. We teach you how to play Pokémon, Digimon, Yu-Gi-Oh, and all types of magic. We are an eclectic group that loves helping customers of all ages and walks learn new things. We want to provide a safe place for everyone. We are very LGBTQ+ inclusive.

Tell us a fun fact about your company.

Dean, our owner, used to be a pro wrestler referee, and Rick Steiner, one of the biggest wrestlers in the late eighties and 3908 Maple Rd., Buffalo, 14226; 716-833-0740, facebook.com/dragonsnackgames THE FACE

early nineties, almost knocked him out with a botched knee to the chest during a match that Dean was reffing. We also at one point almost all had the same blood type, O positive.

What’s your pizza crust and topping?

We love Old World Pizza at Franco’s; that’s our go to. We also love Papa Leo’s pickle pizza!

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

The kids. We love their enthusiasm and watching them learn new games. Our Pokémon kids club on Saturday mornings not only teaches them how to communicate better with each other but also with their parents, so the parents can learn to play too.

Photo by Kailey Elhaddad

WNY

Photo by Peyton Fullam

Photo by Dan Cappellazzo