LEADERS & CHANGE MAKERS

The Board of Directors, Emeritae Advisory Board, and staff share their passion, insights, and unique skills to create opportunities for each woman in Western New York to thrive.

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Staff

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Sheri L. Scavone

CEO

A native Western New Yorker, Sheri is honored to have joined the WNY Women's Foundation in January 2014.

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    A tireless advocate for girls and women with over 30 years of experience leading and growing nonprofit organizations, Sheri volunteers her time to serve on the Board of Directors of SEFCU and the Gay and Lesbian Youth Services of WNY, as well as the Steering Committee of Save WNYCPC, Russell Sage College Annual Fund, and as a member of Leadership Buffalo.


    Sheri is a licensed physical therapist (Russell Sage College), earned an M.S. Executive Leader degree in health systems administration (Rochester Institute of Technology) and has an advanced post-graduate certificate in palliative care (The Sage Colleges).


    She is currently in the Health Foundation of WCNY Health Leader Fellowship and Trauma Informed Champion programs. Former roles include: Director of Cancer Services for the NYS Department of Health/Centers for Disease Prevention and Control; President/CEO of Gilda's Club Capital Region; Chief Development Officer at Bellevue Women's Hospital; VP/COO WNY Physical & Occupational Therapy Group; and Senior Administrator-Surgical Oncology at Roswell Park Cancer Institute.


    As a women's college graduate and mother of twins, Ms. Scavone is passionate about harnessing the incredible resources of women to strengthen our community.

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Suzanne D'Amico

Director of Development

Suzanne D'Amico is a dedicated nonprofit leader with over 12 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, and community engagement.

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    As Director of Development at the WNY Women's Foundation, she leverages her strategic vision and event planning expertise to advance initiatives that empower women and drive social change.


    Her career in nonprofit development began with the Hearing Loss Association of America, where she coordinated large-scale fundraising events, significantly expanding participation and revenue. She later served as the Director of Development for Kids Escaping Drugs, spearheading major fundraising campaigns, securing high-profile corporate sponsorships, and elevating the organization's brand and outreach.


    Suzanne's background in the arts, including a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Voice from Carnegie Mellon University, has shaped her ability to perform under pressure and bring creativity to her work. She remains active in the arts as a private piano and voice instructor and as Musical Director for MoonMaxx Productions.


    A proud wife and mother, Suzanne resides with her husband of 25 years, John, and celebrates the success of her two daughters, who attend Bentley University and the University of Connecticut. Passionate about making a difference, she is honored to contribute to the mission of the WNY Women's Foundation and collaborate with its inspiring team.

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Hannah Leslie

ALL IN Coordinator

Driven by a deep commitment to community advocacy, Hannah is proud to join the WNY Women's Foundation as the All In Coordinator.

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    With a passion for community growth, mission-driven work, and supportive leadership, Hannah brings nonprofit experience in both the child care and medical fields. She is excited to blend these experiences to foster equitable leadership opportunities for women and gender minorities in Western New York. In addition to her nonprofit work, she specializes in building unique partnerships through collaborations with the Western New York Service Learning Coalition and the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Greater Buffalo.


    Hannah holds a Bachelor's degree in English Adolescent Education from SUNY Fredonia and a Master's degree in English Literature from the University at Buffalo, where she focused on the intersectionality of motherhood, race, and ability.


    A lifelong member of the Western New York community, Hannah is dedicated to this work with the support of her husband, Chris, and their young son, Jude, whom she is proud to raise as a gender-equity ally.

Economic Mobility Coordinator

Coming Soon!

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    Bio Coming Soon!

Communications & Development Coordinator

Coming Soon!

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    Bio Coming Soon!

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Cynthia Huebsch

Administrative Assistant

Cynthia has a history of organizational results at People Inc., Uniland Development, and Rich Products, as well as a degree in Business from Villa Maria College.

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    She and her husband reside in Amherst and are proud parents of two adult children and four grandchildren.

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Mara Montante

Knowledge Management Coordinator


As the Knowledge Management Coordinator, Mara conducts research, collects and analyzes data, and organizes information to support the work of WNY Women’s Foundation

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    Her role is critical to WNYWF’s data-driven approach to advocating for policies that promote gender equity and economic mobility on a local and national level.


    Mara holds a bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College in Government and a master’s degree from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service in Public Administration with a concentration in Public Policy. Her professional career has included positions at Planned Parenthood of NYC and the Social Services Task Force in the NYC Office of Management and Budget.


    In addition to her role at WNYWF, Mara serves as the director of People’s Park, a community park on Main St., and as a board member of Gardens Buffalo Niagara, chairing the Lunenfeld Beautification Grant program.


    Outside of work, Mara enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking, and spending time with her family. She is excited to join the WNY Women’s Foundation and use her experience and skills to help make a difference for women in WNY and beyond.

Anne E. Joynt, Esq

Chair

Lipsitz, Ponterio & Comerford, LLC, Partner

Marta Rogers

Secretary

Community Volunteer

Patty Farrell

Vice Chair

Community Volunteer

Natalie Fischer

Treasurer

National Fuel Gas Company, Director of Investor Relations

Siobhan Smith, MSOD, CPCC

Vice Chair

Siobhan Smith Executive Consulting LLC, Founder and Principal

Board Members

Jessica M. Baker, Esq.

Evergreen Health

Chief Legal Officer

Cynthia Bass, MBA

Erie County Medical Center

Chief Diversity Officer

Jamie Batt, Esq.

Rupp Pfalzgraf LLC

Partner

Stacy L. Beauford

Retired Lieutenant, Buffalo Police Department
Community Volunteer

Allison Brashear, MD, MBA

UBMD Physicians' Group, University at Buffalo

President and CEO

Jody E. Briandi, Esq.

Hurwitz Fine PC

President / Managing Partner

Emily Burns Perryman

Invest in Others Charitable Foundation

Head of Marketing and Communications

Lisa M. Ceglia

M&T Bank

Senior Vice President, Government Relations

Kelly Corbi

Kaleida Health

EVP & System Chief Operating Officer

Nancy Cox

The Bonadio Group

Construction and Real Estate Industry Leader

Breauna Crumpler

Community Volunteer

Candace Darby

Community Volunteer

Latrica Davis

West Herr Automotive Group

Director of Inclusion

Lenora B. Foote-Beavers, Esq.

Evergreen Health

Chief Health Equity Officer (Retired Judge)

Sue Gannon

Highmark Western and Northeastern NY

Vice President, Market Executive

Nickole Garrison, CPA

Garrison Murphy Wealth Management, LLC

Partner & Chief Client Service Officer

Petrina Hill-Cheatom

Canisius University

Associate Dean / Title IX Coordinator

Kirsti A. Hunt

NOCO

Chief Administrative Officer

Erin Johnson

Moog

Vice President, Human Resources

Arlene F. Kaukus

SUNY at Buffalo

Office of Alumni Engagement

Stacy Knapper

University at Buffalo Foundation

Chief Executive Officer

Alanna Pokorski, PT, DPT

Excelsior Orthopedics

Director of Physical Therapy and Urgent Care Services

Carmen Snell, Esq.

Community Volunteer

Lorrie Turner

Community Volunteer

Joleigh Wylucki

Inspections of Buffalo (Compressed Natural Gas), Love

Owner

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Emeritae Advisory Board Members

Teresa Bair, Esq.

Kura Oncology, Inc.

Chair Emerita; Chief Legal Officer

Jennifer Balbach

Summer Street Capital Partners LLC

Partner

Kristin Bauer

Community Volunteer

Christine Bonaguide, Esq.

Hodgson Russ LLP, Partner

Helen Cappuccino, MD

Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Attending Surgeon

Rebecca Collins

Collins Design Consultants, Co-Founder

Betsy Constantine

 Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, President/CEO

Katherine Conway-Turner, Ph.D.

Community Volunteer

Jackie Culliton

First Niagara Bank

Retired Senior Vice President

Clotilde Dedecker

Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo

Community Volunteer (Retired)

Amber Dixon

Community Volunteer

Ann Evanko

Community Volunteer

Chair Emerita; Retired, Hurwitz & Fine PC

Dorothy Ferguson

Ferguson Family Foundation, President

Darby Fishkin, CPA

CBRE Upstate NY

Chief Operating Officer

Sue S. Gardner, Esq.

Chair Emerita

Gretchen Geitter

Community Volunteer, Retired Buffalo Bills

Rosa Gonzalez, Ph.D.

RGonzalez Consulting, President and Principal Engineer

Ellen Grant, Ph.D., LCSW-R

 Community Volunteer

Jane F. Griffin, Ph.D.

Community Volunteer

Retired, Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute

Carolyn Human

Carolyn Human Communications

President

Mary Jo Hunt

James H. Cummings Foundation

Chair Emerita; Executive Director

Alice Jacobs, Esq.

Innovation Philanthropy

Chair Emerita; Partner; Philanthropist & Strategist

Cammy Johnstone Rostron

Distinguished Honorary Emerita

Allison Kupferman

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Gia Manley

Imagine Staffing

Chief Executive Officer

Sally Marks

Marks Family Foundation

Nicole E. Nobel, LCSW-R

Private Practice

Private Practitioner, Therapist

Cindy Odom

New City Kids, Inc.

Chair Emerita; President & CEO

Marcia O'Neil-White

Community Volunteer

Paula Joy Reinhold

Joy Family Foundation

Anne Rimmler, Esq.

Paul Williams Beltz PC

Partner

Jeanette Robe, CPA

Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority

Executive Director

Anne Saldanha, MD

Community Volunteer

Retired Expert Pathologist

Tricia Semmelhack, Esq.

Chair Emerita

Retired Attorney

Michele Trolli

Community Volunteer

Retired, M&T Bank

Carolyn Valenti, CPA

LVBW LLP

Principal

Andrea H. Vossler, Esq.

Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP

Chair Emerita; Partner

Sujata Yalamanchili, Esq.

Hodgson Russ LLP

Partner