LETTER FROM CO-CHAIRS Dear Sponsors and Guests, Welcome to What She's Made Of! We have co-chaired this event for two virtual years now and it has been remarkable to see how a community can come together around a cause, even during unprecedented times like these. Throughout 2020 and 2021, we've seen how a pandemic disproportionately impacts women. The work of the WNY Women's Foundation is more critical and urgent than ever before. The Foundation has responded to COVID-19 by creating a critical resource guide, working with employers to reinvent the workplace for women, and launching a crowdsourced women-owned business directory to spotlight and lift our female entrepreneurs. Thanks to your support, the WNY Women's Foundation is an advocacy leader advancing funding and policy essential to keep women in the workforce, including securing $2 million in state funding for a new child care subsidy program. Your support of the women in our communities has never been more important. As Co-Chairs of this event, we would like to thank our amazing Executive Director, Sheri Scavone, her staff, and our Committee, whose dedication and passion brought this beautiful event to life. Thank you also to our Board members, especially Chair Andrea Vossler, for their commitment to our mission of creating a culture of possibility for all women. Most of all, we thank you—our sponsors and guests. Your support funds our efforts to create significant change in the lives of women in Western New York and beyond. We believe this is a unique and special time in history for women, and tonight we celebrate the incredible strides that are possible when women join together. Your Co-Chairs, Teresa Bair & Susanna Schenk
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Today only, when you donate to the WNY Women's Foundation in any amount, you will entered to win this beautiful pearl necklace, inspired by Carla Harris' "Pearls of Intentional Leadership." To enter the drawing, you can also email wnywfdn@wnywfdn.org
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Necklace generously donated by
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS PRESENTING SPONSOR
GLASS CEILING SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS TRAILBLAZER SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS CHANGEMAKER SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS REVOLUTIONARY SPONSORS
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS REVOLUTIONARY SPONSORS
ELLEN GRANT ALICE JACOBS
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS EVENT SPONSORS
RED CARPET TICKET HOLDERS Elisa Appelbaum Teresa Bair Kristin Bauer City Year Mary Ann Coulson Donnelly Financial Solutions
Rosa Gonzalez Sally Marks Katherine Mohney Toni Vazquez Willis Towers Watson
PROGRAM 3:45pm
Welcome Remarks
3:50pm
Spotlight on WNY Women #1
3:52pm
What Would Be Missing if the WNY Women's Foundation Did Not Exist?
3:58pm
Performance from WNYWF Partner Girl Scouts of Western New York
4:00pm
Introducing Carla Harris
4:05pm
"Pearls of Intentional Leadership" Keynote by Carla Harris
4:40pm
Live Q&A Moderated by Sujata Yalamanchili
5:00pm
Spotlight on WNY Women #2
5:04pm
Performance from WNYWF Partner Hayati Dance
5:07pm
What's Next? Closing Remarks
Restaurant Partners Women-owned restaurants across the region will be offering discounts when you mention the WNY Women’s Foundation. These offers are good for dine-in and take-away, with many available the full week of May 17. So support a woman entrepreneur and enjoy a delicious meal!
Buffalo Tap House 85 W Chippewa St | (716) 332-2433 | www.buffalotaphouse.com Offer: 10% off checks of $50 or more How: Mention the WNY Women's Foundation Available: Week of May 17, 2021
Casa azul 128 Genesee St | (716) 331-3869 | www.casaazulbuffalo.com Offer: $6 margaritas if you come in after What She's Made Of How: Mention the WNY Women's Foundation Available: May 17 only
cheesy chick 5385 Main St, Williamsville | (716) 817-9559 | www.thecheesychickbuffalo.com Offer: 10% off How: Mention the WNY Women's Foundation Available: Week of May 17, 2021
Restaurant Partners khari's cafe 128 Fargo Ave, Buffalo | (716) 248-1373 | www.khariscafe.com Offer: 10% off How: Mention the WNY Women's Foundation Available: Week of May 17, 2021
parkside meadow 2 Russell St, Buffalo | (716) 834-8348 | www.parksidemeadow.com Offer: An order of warm and chewy pretzels with homemade cheese sauce and any house glass of wine or a 16oz beer or any bottle of beer for $5. How: Mention the WNY Women's Foundation Available: May 19-22, 2021
Visit the WNY Women-Owned Business Directory at https://wnywomensfoundation.org/wny-women-owned-business-directory for a full list of women-owned businesses in our region.
ABOUT CARLA HARIS Carla’s passion lies in helping others. As she says, “we are blessed, so that we can be a blessing to others.” While climbing the corporate ladder, Carla had her own personal missteps amidst numerous victories. She vowed that when she reached senior management and people came to her for advice, she would provide them with the tools, strategies, and pearls of wisdom honed by her own experience. “Carla’s Pearls” have become the centerpiece for her many speeches and television appearances. Carla is a Vice Chairman, Managing Director and Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley. In August 2013, Carla Harris was appointed by President Barack Obama to chair the National Women’s Business Council. Carla was named to Fortune Magazine’s list of “The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America,” U.S. Bankers Top 25 Most Powerful Women in Finance, and to Essence Magazine’s list of “The 50 Women Who are Shaping the World." Prior to joining Morgan Stanley, Carla received an MBA from Harvard Business School and an AB in economics from Harvard University. She is the past Chair of the Board of the Morgan Stanley Foundation and of The Executive Leadership Council, and sits on the boards of Sponsors for Educational Opportunity (SEO), A Better Chance, Inc, and St. Vincent’s Hospitals. Carla is also a gospel singer and has performed five sold out concerts at Carnegie Hall. Carla is the author of the books Strategize to Win and Expect to Win.
ABOUT SUJATA YALAMANCHILI A member of the WNY Women's Foundation Emeritae Advisory Board, Sujata Yalamanchili is a partner at Hodgson Russ LLP where she focuses on business and commercial real estate law. She is a graduate of the University at Buffalo, where she remains the chair of the School of Management Dean's Advisory Counil. Before attending law school, Sujata worked as a financial analyst for a Fortune 50 company, where her responsibilities included cost accounting, project analysis, budgeting, and forecasting. At Hodgson Russ, Sujata previously served as a member of the firm's board of directors and is a former chair of its Committee for Attorney Recruitment, Development, and Diversity. Sujata also writes a monthly column for Tax Notes State called “Real Assessment." Sujata is a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers and Co-Chair of the Leasing Committee of the Real Property Section of the New York State Bar Association. She serves on many local philanthropic boards, including Summit Educational Resources, the Williamsville Education Foundation, and the Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site Foundation. She is also a former co-chair of What She's Made Of!
SPOTLIGHT ON WNY WOMEN In conjunction with What She's Made Of this year, we honor the incredible women of Western New York! Each woman listed here had a donation made in her honor to the WNY Women's Foundation. Let's shine a spotlight on these unsung, everyday heroes in our lives. View a full gallery, including photos, on our Facebook page. Barbara Hayes Buffalo Seminary honors Barbara Hayes and her family. The Hayes family is committed to providing exceptional educational opportunities for young women in Western New York. We thank them for their support and vision! Debbie Roll & Marion Washington Imagine Staffing would love to highlight two amazing women that sit in our main Buffalo office and do their best every single day! Marion Washington is our Payroll Manager and Debbie Roll is our Account Specialist. While both women are not on the frontlines communicating directly with our clients, Marion and Debbie do a fantastic job at managing all internal processing necessary for our business to run smoothly and successfully. They bring great joy to our office and help make Imagine Staffing continually grow from hire to higher. Amanda Oldfield Life Storage is happy to spotlight Amanda Oldfield, VP of HR Operations. Amanda has made significant enhancements to the organization’s HR processes, including payroll, benefits, and recruiting functions. Amanda continually looks to gain efficiencies and enhance additional HR functions for the benefit of all the organization’s employees, all in support of Life Storage’s strategic vision. Danielle Shainbrown Danielle E. Shainbrown is the President and Chief Business Officer of McGuire Development Company where she combines extensive real estate and property management experience together with legal expertise and business acumen to design solutions for clients of all sizes. Danielle also lends her knowledge and passion to our community as a board member for several organizations. She chairs the board of directors for ARC Erie County, NY (formerly Heritage Centers) as well as the YMCA Buffalo Niagara’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, together with sitting on that agency’s Board of Directors. Additionally, she sits on the Board of the Buffalo Bills Foundation and Brookfield Country Club. Danielle's effort to promote community development on multiple levels is admirable.
SPOTLIGHT ON WNY WOMEN M&T Bank is proud to salute Megan Donovan, Vice President and Business Risk Manager. Megan is a Business Risk Manager within Risk and previously served as a recruiter for M&T Bank’s Management Development Program. She is an alumna of Niagara University for both her undergraduate degree and MBA. Megan is also an executive volunteer for the “Families Touched by MS”. As a colleague, Megan is devoted to growing and coaching her direct reports, supporting their career ambitions and is a model student of Servant Leadership here at the Bank. * Melissa Baumgart salutes her mother, Patricia Garman. Patricia was a founder of the WNY Women's Foundation and our legacy giving society bears in her name as a tribute to her vision, passion, and leadership. Melissa writes, "She was my north star and with her quiet strength always showed others "What she was made of"." * Terri Bair salutes Roxanne Sorensen. Roxanne, who is the owner and founder of Elder Care Solutions of WNY, leads a passionate team of Aging Lifecare Professionals who specialize in advocating and implementing services for older adults and their caregivers with a key focus on dignity, compassion, and respect. During Covid-19, Roxanne and her team have provided vital guidance and assistance to hundreds of WNY families and their elderly loved ones. * Buffalo Seminary honors Tara VanDerveer '71. Tara is the head coach of the 2021 NCAA National Champion Stanford women's basketball team. She has been empowering and inspiring her players for thirty five years. Most recently, Tara was among the first to speak out against the disparity in facilities for mens' and womens' teams at the NCAA basketball tournament, and continues to fight for gender equality in college athletics. * Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham LLC salutes our client, Tricia Barrett, as an inspiring leader. As the Chief Operating Officer at Praxis & Crowley Webb, Tricia’s dedication to an above and beyond mentality is ever-present in her professional and personal relationships. Whether she’s mentoring young women, volunteering, or showing her Buffalo pride, it is clear to anyone in her presence she is “made of” spirit, thoughtfulness and grace.
SPOTLIGHT ON WNY WOMEN Ellen Burkhardt, Vice President of Administration, Harmac Medical Products, Inc. Ellen has been part of the Harmac team since 1996 and a main contributor to the company’s growth. She oversees the Finance, Accounting, and IT functions for Harmac’s North American facilities, and the Human Resource and Warehousing teams at its Buffalo headquarters as well. Together with President & CEO John Somers, she has been deeply involved in the Bailey Green Initiative, a community-led partnership which Harmac began in 2008 to improve and support the area around its east side headquarters where many of its employees reside. This unique, public-private collaboration is focused on stabilizing and transforming a neighborhood that has faced considerable challenges and decades of neglect. With dozens of partners having now joined their efforts, their vision is becoming a reality. Ellen also serves as Treasurer of the board of the Population Health Collaborative, which works to improve the community’s health throughout Western New York. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Medaille College and an MBA from the University at Buffalo. She is a Western New York native and lives in Kenmore with her husband. * Life Storage is happy to spotlight Hilary Taylor, Director of Accounting. Hilary leads the team that handles the financials for the company’s third-party management and joint venture partners in addition to the Accounts Payable team. Since joining the organization, Hilary has also played an integral role in the automation of many accounting processes, which has benefitted the team through the company’s continued growth. Hilary is also the mother of three young children who have been homeschooled throughout the pandemic. * Harris Beach is proud to spotlight Karen Fiala, Vice President and Assistant Treasurer of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency (ECIDA). Karen has tirelessly worked for the ECIDA for 38 years, providing exceptional business incentive guidance and management to hundreds of Erie County businesses encouraging new investment, job retention, and new job creation. She has had a hand in almost every business attraction and expansion project in Erie County over her tenure, including the Jemal Seneca One revitalization project, the 500 Seneca project in Larkinville, the Conventus Project, the Sabres’ and Bisons’ stadium projects, almost every new adaptive reuse project in Buffalo, and large and small manufacturing projects too numerous to mention. She also works closely with local assessors to understand and apply our various incentives. She has, for decades, quietly and competently, creatively deployed ECIDA programs and encouraged public private partnership all for the betterment of our community. We are all better off due to Karen’s outstanding efforts and commitment to Erie County.
SPOTLIGHT ON WNY WOMEN The women of Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York are made of grit, passion, and creativity. Meet Heather Gresham and Lisa Arnet, two dynamic leaders both in our workplace and the community. Heather Gresham, Esq., SPHR, SHRM-SCP, supports the organization’s position as a leading employer in Western New York. As our director, talent acquisition, she oversees programs that enhance our ability to attract, assess, select, and onboard best-in-class talent. A natural problem-solver always looking for better solutions, Heather leads our Diversity and Inclusion Council and was named one of Business First’s People on the Move. She inspires us daily. Lisa Arnet specializes in growth, culture-building, and HR development for the organization. Our director, talent and organizational development, her approach centers on cultivating loyalty by focusing on the individual experience. Lisa’s energetic and innovative leadership skills have won awards, including Business First’s Women of Influence. An active member of our Diversity and Inclusion Council, she constantly aspires to help make a difference. * KeyBank is proud to spotlight LaVonne Ansari, PhD CEO, Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc. Board Chair, Community Health Care Association of New York State. LaVonne has been a longstanding passionate advocate and leader addressing issues of poverty and oppression in underserved communities within Buffalo and WNY. As the CEO of Community Health Center of Buffalo, she is continuing and extending the core mission of Community Health Centers nationwide as they provide comprehensive primary care in our communities. She has lent her voice and expertise as an African American woman and educator as she has called on all of us to show our human excellence as we as a nation have confronted issues of entrenched institutional racism is in this country and as we have confronted the disparate impact that COVID-19 has had on those historically underserved by healthcare. * Athenex is proud to spotlight Meghana Kalluri, Aseptic Manufacturing Engineer at Athenex. Meg oversaw the implementation of a new system for serializing finished goods, which was essential for the commercial launch of Athenex’s first approved proprietary product, tirbanibulin ointment. This required managing multiple vendors, doing the validation herself, and spearheading the new SOPs to be followed. This was a cross-functional effort, which Meg orchestrated with grace, even when timelines were moved up.
SPOTLIGHT ON WNY WOMEN Kaitlyn Koehn, Engineering Supervisor, Harmac Medical Products, Inc. Kaitlyn joined Harmac as a Product Development Engineer in 2008 and was promoted to her current role in 2017. She leads a team of two engineers and oversees a major product line at Harmac. Kaitlyn has shown a commitment to continuing education – a highly valued part of Harmac’s culture – by completing the Harvard Business School Management Development Program in 2019. She was also a graduate of the Leadership Buffalo Class of 2019. In addition to her engineering, business, and leadership skills, Kaitlyn has a true passion for community service, as seen in her volunteer efforts for Meals on Wheels of WNY. She took her personal commitment to that organization and amplified her effectiveness exponentially by championing a company-wide volunteer program at Harmac. She is also a member of The Kevin Guest House’s Giving Hearts young professionals program. Kaitlyn holds a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Vermont. She and her husband reside in Buffalo with their two children. * ARC Building Partners spotlights Maria Eliza Domingo (aka Apple), New American Director at Jewish Family Services of Buffalo & Erie County. Human rights is one of the most important rights afforded to a person, yet, that is not the reality of the world today. This is what has led Maria to her instrumental role in Refugee resettlement. Adapting to a new, and often incomparable, culture is a tremendous challenge for many refugees. Maria meets with the refugees at their transition point to help them adjust in the safest way possible. * Jeanne Ernst spotlights her daughter Meredith Ernst, writing: "She is going to do great things some day!" * Athenex is proud to spotlight Lori Nasca. Lori is at the heart of the Athenex organization, making sure that everything is running smoothly and that everyone has what they need. A talented planner, organizer and all-around people person, Lori’s enthusiastic initiative, can-do attitude and absolute professionalism always lead to positive experiences and good vibes for those around her. She also plays a vital role in Athenex’s community initiatives, including the WNY Women’s Foundation’s What She’s Made Of event!
SPOTLIGHT ON WNY WOMEN Siobhan Smith is proud to spotlight her colleague Marsha Koelmel. Siobhan writes, "She is living her life-long dream of leading Catapult, an Executive Consulting organization, with a team of six amazing colleagues." * Harris Beach is proud to spotlight Mary Ellen Frandina, Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Vice President at Evans Bank. She is a dynamic and energetic leader who heads up Evans’ employee experience practice and oversees the bank’s talent management efforts. Relentlessly upbeat, she has made it both a focus and a passion of hers to mentor women and help them advance their careers. Under her leadership, Evans Bank has attained gender parity in compensation among its staff of more than 400 people statewide. * ARC Building Partners spotlights Marcella Moslow, LCSW, private practice clinician and co-founder of Adoption Perspectives, LLC. In her private practice as a licensed clinical social worker and trauma therapist, Marcella helps children, adolescents and adults heal from traumatic experiences. She is particularly focused on those impacted by foster care and adoption, an underserved population that she supports through clinical work and her consulting firm. * Sarah Wilson is an AmeriCorps Member serving with City Year Buffalo. Along with supporting sixth grade students as a tutor and mentor at Buffalo Collegiate Charter School, Sarah facilitates a disability affinity and advocacy group to inform her colleagues on disability justice issues. Sarah identifies as disabled and became passionate about disability justice while studying at Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. She graduated in 2020, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies. Sarah will be coming back to serve a 2nd year with City Year Buffalo as a Service Leader. In this role she will be leading a team of first year AmeriCorps members in their service experience, helping to build a school partnership in collaboration with CY staff members and leading a variety of initiatives at our site and City Year headquarters. She hopes to find a career in youth media production. * Catherine Earle honors her mother, Angela Tong, writing, "I am honoring my mother today in recognition of her service to others. My mother ran her own private school in Trinidad and I recall that when parents could not afford the tuition, she always found a way to keep the student enrolled in classes and created opportunities for youth to learn and grow. She also cooked large quantities of food on weekends and went to the local church where she fed the homeless."
SPOTLIGHT ON WNY WOMEN Ingram Micro is excited to spotlight Kaely Kwitek for her commitment to our Buffalo campus. Outside of her responsibilities as a Financial Analyst she has taken on many leadership roles. These include onboarding new associates and mentoring new coaches, working with the Young Professionals Committee in our Womens Forum Group, and taking part in our Women’s Leadership Cohort for 2021. Kaely is focused on community giving and gives back to the WNY community as a co-leader for our Community Engagement team. They lead give back initiates from in-kind drives to donations to blood drives throughout the year for our employees to take part in. Outside of the campus Kaely is also involved as a Co-Founder of her own charity, Kaely’s Kindness Foundation. They provide practical, peer and social support to teenage girls living with cancer. This was inspired by her diagnosis of Stage 4 cancer. Her charity has touched the lives of over 80 young adults dealing with a cancer diagnosis. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, Kaely! * M&T Bank salutes Stephanie Tisdale – Assistant Vice President, Treasury Strategic Initiatives Analyst; Think Green – WNY Resource Group Leader. Stephanie is a Strategic Initiatives Analyst in the Treasury Division and is deeply engaged in Diversity and Inclusion’s strategic initiatives and achieving bank-wide goals for equity, inclusion, and workforce parity. She is an alumna of Syracuse University, member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority and recently completed her PMBA Program at SUNY Buffalo and a board member of Field and Fork Network. As a colleague, Stephanie is generous in feedback, counsel, and connecting others to help others grow their careers and is an example of the bank’s next generation of leaders. * Harter Secrest & Emery salutes Toni Vazquez. Toni is the Chief Systems Officer of GBUAHN, and coowner and practice administrator of Urban Family Practice. This health care organization and medical facility serve over 14,000 patients annually from the West Side of Buffalo. Vazquez is a philanthropist and has served on various committees and boards including: The Raul and Toni Vazquez Foundation, Williamsville Central School District Board of Education, Buffalo Zoo Board of Directors, Amherst Diversity Commission, Visit Buffalo Niagara Board of Directors, and the Buffalo/Niagara Convention Center Board of Directors. She is a member of The National Black MBA Association and the Higher Heights’ Founders’ Circle. Toni and her family have gone above and beyond for the community, specifically as it relates to healthcare and education as well as equity initiatives with respect to testing and administering vaccines throughout the pandemic. She is tireless and transcendent in her efforts to help our communities save lives and is truly an inspiration.
SPOTLIGHT ON WNY WOMEN On behalf of the entire team at McGuire Development Company, we are thrilled to recognize Jackie McGuire Gurney, Director of Community & Investor Relations, as one of our exceptional women nominations for the What She’s Made Of Event. Jackie is integral to the implementation of McGuire Development’s mission, vision, and values by facilitating positive involvement and contributions to our projects and the Western New York community. Jackie’s ability to nurture relationships and represent McGuire Development externally is a central role on our team. As The McGuire Group’s recent ownership transition over to VestraCare has concluded, Jackie’s main focus has been to carry forward McGuire Development Company’s commitment to a transparent and focused real estate vision in WNY and beyond. Jackie’s unwavering commitment to interfacing and increasing McGuire Development’s reach and positive impact with vital community groups produces reliable and effective results. We’re lucky to call her our Director of Community & Investor Relations. For our second nomination, we would like to recognize the hardworking, dedicated females who make up 50% of McGuire Development’s Team! These powerful women are driving business development, property management, project management and construction oversight, development and acquisitions, accounting, and marketing efforts every day for our company! Thank you to: Danielle Shainbrown, Esq., Catherine Panczykowski, Jennifer Teach, Kim Gleason, Crystal Guash, Olivia Basile, Laura Cannon, Lynsee Osadchuk, Maria Owens, Esq., Nicole Komin, Esq., Christine Moore, Serena Thomaidis, and Tina Courtemanche. * Ingram Micro honors Theresa Cross. As a Program Operations Manager, focused on change management, she is involved in many projects and helps herd all the cats involved. Outside of projects and automation efforts she is on the board of the Onboarding Peer Coach Network, facilitates new hire classes, sits on the core group for Womens Forum, a member of the Women’s Leadership Cohort and most recently became a trainer for our DE&I discussions. She brings her whole self and commitment to her work every day, along with a smile. We are happy to have had her almost seven years at Ingram and can’t wait to see what the future holds for her! * Lynne Marie Finn donated in honor of her daughter Sarah Finn, writing, "This donation is made as a tribute to my daughter, Sarah, for her empathy and compassion. I’m so proud of her going back to school to become a licensed therapist so that she can professionally help people with their mental health."
SPOTLIGHT ON WNY WOMEN KeyBank salutes Mary Szabat! Mary has been a great advocated for volunteerism, and actively sought ways to help during the pandemic. Mary partnered with a group call Words & Warmth, which assists in purchasing blanket making kits, Mary was able to distribute the kits through a partnership with the Buffalo South Town’s managers (14 Blankets) and with our local KEWN(Key Executive Women’s Network)(26 Blankets). Mary conducted virtual sessions and 40 volunteers made the tie blankets in their offices or homes. Mary then collected the completed blankets and they were then donated to the Buffalo Peacemakers, St. Luke’s Mission and St. Gerard Place. Mary always puts other first giving her time and energy to the clients she helps, the people she works with and the Buffalo community in which she is a part of! * Marissa Jackson currently serves as CY Buffalo's People and Operations Director. She manages the day-to-day operations of CY Buffalo's site, supports strategy, and works closely with our Executive Director to create events and initiatives to further our partnerships in the community. Marissa has been with City Year for the past nine years serving six years in City Year Los Angeles as a corps members, team leader and Program Manager. She has been City Year Buffalo for the past three years during their start up and founding year. Marissa volunteers with Compeer as a mental health mentor to a high school student, where she provides support to her mentee on her schoolwork and life experiences. Marissa is also a 2020 graduate of the Emerging Leaders program through Open Buffalo. She attended Hope College in Holland Michigan obtaining a degree in Social Work and a minor in dance. * Latus Medical Care salutes Taryn Spencer, MD and Samatha Olewnick, PA-C. As a dedicated Preventive Care physician, Dr. Spencer brings a respect for patient preference to every aspect of their care. As a leader of our personalized care team, Taryn embodies the Latus mission of providing patient centered care to everyone she serves. And Samantha’s dedication to her patients is rooted in a deep passion for medicine and fueled by love of helping others. She collaborates with the Latus team to create the most comprehensive care plans focused on helping patients live their healthiest lives. * Berardi Immigration Law is proud to salute Sonya S. Noor, MD, FACS. Dr. Noor is an established Vascular Surgeon in Buffalo, New York who has over 13 years of experience in her field. Dr. Sonya Noor’s acclaimed career in medicine began in 1992 when she graduated from Calcutta Medical College in Calcutta, India. After moving to the United States, she completed a residency at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, followed by her fellowships at the University at Buffalo and Arizona Heart Hospital. Dr. Noor remains a distinguished member of the American Medical Association, the Western New York Vascular Society, and the Eastern Vascular Society. Moreover, she has earned the coveted title of Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.
SPOTLIGHT ON WNY WOMEN Rosa Gonzalez is proud to salute her daughter Tatiana Amica. Tatiana is an alignment and expansion coach, a best-selling author, podcast host, and a mother of 3. She began her own business from home after deciding to stay home with her first child, built a very successful business, and decided to help other women do the same - to go after their dreams & desires, and build a business they love! She helps women reunite with their uniqueness so they can share it with the world, and step into their power to create the reality they desire. * Linde is proud to spotlight Joan Geary, a Senior Program Development Manager and 18-year veteran of our company. Joan is an experienced research and development manager, skilled in process control, quality management, root cause analysis and project management, among other things. A talented and accomplished chemist, she also gives a large amount of her time to leading the Linde STEAM Team, an employee volunteer group that goes into the community to promote inclusive and approachable STEAM initiatives, encouraging students of all ages to explore and embrace a career in STEAM fields. An avid community supporter, Joan also serves on the Board of Directors for WNY STEM Hub and is the Team Captain for Linde’s Empire State Ride fundraising team, where members ride more than 500 miles to raise awareness and funds for Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Congratulations, Joan! Linde also salutes Natalie Henry, who was recently named HR Director, Global Functions, and is responsible for leading the HR business partner and talent acquisition team for all of Linde’s Global Functions. She is an accomplished, talented member of Linde’s Leadership Team, and her efforts were instrumental in helping our site as well as her global team navigate the various changes that came as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. When Natalie isn’t providing above average HR support, she also volunteers her time across various employee-led initiatives, including serving as a group mentor for Linde’s Connections program, which helps female employees network and enhance their business acumen, and as a member of Spectrum, Linde’s LGBTQ+ & Ally Employee Resource Group. Congratulations, Natalie! * Helen Cappuccino salutes her mother Ann Giardina Hess, writing, "My mom gave me the moral and emotional foundation to compete and succeed in a world that is often neither fair nor supportive of women. She taught me through her own example- of being a professional, working mom. She began as a high school chemistry teacher, and then broadened her horizons by attending law school later in life (while I was in medical school). At a time when I felt challenged to the point of pondering leaving my training (because of a particularly sexist program chair in surgical residency) she inspired me to stay by reminding me my choices would always be lessons to my children, especially my daughters. I never looked back. I owe who I am to my mother."
WNY WOMEN'S FOUNDATION LEADERSHIP BOARD OF DIRECTORS Andrea Vossler, Esq., Chair Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP
Betsy Constantine Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
Lisa Kirisits, CPA, MBA Kirisits & Associates
Teresa Bair, Esq., Chair Elect Athenex
Katherine S. Conway-Turner, Ph.D. SUNY Buffalo State
Gia Manley Imagine Staffing
Helen Cappuccino, M.D., Vice Chair Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Mary Ann Coulson Morgan Stanley
Paula Joy Reinhold Joy Family Foundation
Jeanette M. Robe, CPA, Treasurer Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority
Jackie Sanchez Culliton Community Volunteer
Allison Sagraves M&T Bank
Hon. Lenora B. Foote-Beavers, Secretary Buffalo City Court
Catherine Earle Community Volunteer
Susanna Schenk SUNY Buffalo State
Tiffany Adams Hunt Real Estate
Nickole Garrison Garrison Murphy Wealth Management
Siobhan Smith Catapult
Jamie Batt Rupp Baase Pfalzgraf Cunningham
Gretchen Geitter Buffalo Bills/Buffalo Bills Foundation
Toni Vazquez GBUAHN & Urban Family Practice, PC
Christine Bonaguide, Esq. Hodgson Russ LLP
Carolyn Human Carolyn Human Communications
Laura Zaepfel Uniland
Shonda Brock B&C United Home Care
Kawanza Humphrey KeyBank
Emily Burns Perryman Daemen College
Alice Jacobs, Esq. Delaware North
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WNY WOMEN'S FOUNDATION LEADERSHIP EMERITAE ADVISORY BOARD Jennifer Balbach Kristin Bauer Rebecca Collins Carolyn Coppola Clotilde Dedecker Amber Dixon Ann E. Evanko, Esq. Dorothy Ferguson Darby Fishkin, CPA Sue Gardner, Esq. Rosa Gonzalez, Ph.D. Ellen Grant, Ph.D., LCSW-R Jane Griffin, Ph.D. Mary Jo Hunt Gail Johnstone Arlene Kaukus Allison Kupferman Michele Lee Sally Marks Alex Montante Margery Nobel Nicole Nobel Cindy Odom Marcia O’Neil-White Anne Rimmler, Esq. Anne Saldanha, M.D. Tricia Semmelhack, Esq. Kristin Somers Michele Trolli Carolyn Valenti, CPA Sujata Yalamanchili, Esq.
EVENTS COMMITTEE Teresa Bair, Co-Chair Susanna Schenk, Co-Chair Elisa Appelbaum Christine Bonaguide Shonda Brock Michele Brown Emily Burns Perryman Kristen Busch Elise Cloutier Rebecca Collins Caitlin DeRose Catherine Earle Mallory Edwards Gretchen Geitter Lauren Jenkins Anne Joynt Lindsay Macaluso Dana Marciniak Toni Vazquez Cindy Zachau
FOUNDATION STAFF Sheri Scavone, Executive Director Corey Fabian-Barrett, Director of External Affairs Aster Hathaway, ALL IN Coordinator Cynthia Huebsch, Administrative Assistant Brandy Loveland, Achievement Coach Melanie Jaskolka, CFRE, Director of Development
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