ABOUT US
We Exist to Help Prosper
Buffalo Niagara
Invest Buffalo Niagara is the region’s nonprofit, privately funded economic development organization representing the eight counties of Western New York.
Our mission is to attract new employers to the Buffalo Niagara region; to support business attraction, expansion, and entrepreneurship. To do so, Invest Buffalo Niagara collaborates with existing local businesses, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, and elected officials at the federal, state, and local levels to deliver a unified response to regional economic development opportunities.
The team of professional economic development consultants at Invest Buffalo Niagara provides free and confidential services to companies considering the Buffalo Niagara region, particularly for the first time.
Our Investors
Shaping the Future of Business
Our investors are more than just financiers; they are partners in progress, deeply committed to nurturing growth and innovation in the Buffalo Niagara region. From supporting cutting-edge startups to revitalizing established industries, these leaders are at the forefront of creating a vibrant, sustainable business ecosystem where companies of all sizes can flourish and succeed.
Our Partners
Invest Buffalo Niagara's Key Partners
Great partners make all the difference. And we’ve got some that really shine. Their efforts are critical to sustaining our local economy.
New York State Economic Development
Local Economic & Industrial Development Agencies
Development Corporations
Workforce Development
Economic Development Associations
Visitor and Convention Bureaus
Our Impact
Transforming the Business Landscape
- Custom site location assistance
- Detailed site/building information
- Labor market analysis and demographics
- Tailored market research
- Facilitation of state and local incentive programming
- Personal community and site tours
- Introductions to professional service providers and partners
- Meetings with community and business leaders
- Assistance with workforce and recruitment training needs
Wins & Success Stories
See of our clients wins & success stories!
Success Story

Cimolai
Cimolai is a worldwide designer, supplier, and builder of complex steel structures including bridges, stadiums, utility structures, and more. The company has worked on the new Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, the Hans Wilsdorf Bridge in Switzerland, and more. The company was founded in 1949 and grew exponentially in a post-war, industrialization era.
Incentives: NYPA ReCharge, Empire State Development Excelsior Jobs Program, and Cattaraugus County IDA sales tax abatement
Success Story

Viatran
Viatran is a subsidiary of a publicly-traded, out-of state parent company, operating as a separate division in the Buffalo Niagara region. Viatran manufactures pressure sensors and transmitters, servicing a wide variety of industries. Viatran manufactures new products and repairs legacy product in a rapid response environment based on lean manufacturing and advanced electronic commerce capabilities. The company’s lease was coming due and at the same time the division was poised for a significant expansion, making their previous facility inadequate for the growing demand. The local leadership team was tasked with conducting a global search for the most appropriate venue to expand their operations, including other corporate facilities with capacity in Massachusetts, Texas, and Malaysia..
Success Story

Larkin Express Logistics
Larkin Express Logistics is a startup third party logistics (3PL) company, providing traditional 3PL logistics services, focused primarily on connecting shippers with carriers (truck owners). The team in Buffalo will include business development, operations, and account management professionals. The Larkin Express Logistics equity holders have experience starting and growing 3PL companies in the past. Several of the project decision makers are based in Knoxville, Tennessee, which was strongly considered for the company’s location. However, Buffalo Niagara’s talented and dedicated workforce helped convince decision makers that the project should be in Buffalo. The company has leased 2,500 square feet of office space in the City of Buffalo and expects to hire over 50 people.
Success Story

Worksport
Worksport is a publicly traded Canadian company that manufactures tonneau covers for trucks. The company was manufacturing their products overseas but was looking for a site in North America to onshore production. Worksport had a list of requirements they were searching for throughout the process including a suitable building preferably near their Canadian headquarters, access to cross border expertise, and government incentives to make the project possible.
Success Story

Niagara Food Specialties
Niagara Food Specialties (NFS), incorporated in 2001, is a food processor, distributor and wholesaler, specializing in the production of prosciutto ham for the foodservice (restaurants & hotels) industry and gourmet retail markets. NFS adds value to raw pork, producing artisanal quality charcuterie, including prosciutto, capicola, pancetta, salami, guanciale, and sausage. This family operated business is currently headquartered in Niagara Falls, ON. NFS began to investigate US expansion when they faced with growth limitations due to border crossing restrictions and rules on imported meats to the US.
Success Story

One Touch Direct
OneTouch Direct, LLC (OTD) is an outsourced business-to-consumer direct marketing services firm headquartered in Tampa, Florida. The Company provides both inbound and outbound agent-based call center services including customer service, customer acquisition, and customer retention programs to many Fortune 500 companies. Dominant industry sectors include financial and banking, cellular, insurance and healthcare. OTD has three facilities in Tampa and one international location in St. Catherine’s, Ontario.
Our Team
Meet the Invest Buffalo Niagara Team
Our staff brings a wide range of expertise in business development, client service, real estate, finance, research, marketing, event planning, graphic design, and public and investor relations.


Thomas Kucharski
President & CEO
“This is a region where life works both professionally and personally. The quality of life and the people are unmatched by any others I’ve experienced elsewhere. And where else could I have sailed in the morning, played golf in the afternoon and skied in the evening – all in the same day?”
Thomas Kucharski
President & CEO


Erin Sinclair
Senior Administrator
Before joining the Invest Buffalo Niagara team, she worked as an administrative assistant for a real estate company. Outside of work, Erin coaches’ soccer to children aged three to six years old. She also plays rec soccer for a local team. Erin enjoys checking out the Buffalo food scene as well as going to Buffalo Bills games.
Erin Sinclair
Senior Administrator


Matthew Hubacher
Sr. Vice President
Before joining Invest Buffalo Niagara in 2007, Matthew worked on Capitol Hill as a Legislative Assistant for former U.S. Congressman Tom Latham for five years. Matthew holds a master’s in Education Policy from the University of Maryland-College Park and a bachelor’s in Secondary Education from Niagara University. He lives in Clarence Center with his wife and three daughters and is active in his community, most notably serving as Commissioner of the Clarence Girls Softball League.
Matthew Hubacher
Sr. Vice President


Rob Leteste
Director, Sector Strategy
Rob was brought to UB to coordinate the Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences’ NYSTAR Center for Advance Technology (CAT) and STARTUP NY programs. In this role, he supported entrepreneurs and business leaders to convert innovation and incentives into economic opportunity. With these new opportunities top of mind, Rob was recruited to SUNY Erie to manage multiple Career & Technical Education grants which funded curricula updates to better prepare students for work.
In recent years, Rob has pursued extensive training in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. This education began with programming sponsored by the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo, and was expanded upon with his participation in the national Education Pioneers fellowship. Rob holds a strong belief that an equitable community will expand the economic prosperity in every corner of WNY.
Rob received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Economics from UB in 2009. He also completed his master’s degree in Education from UB. He is an alum of Americorps and Education Pioneers. Rob calls Buffalo’s Elmwood Village home, and is a fond patron of its many cafes.
Rob Leteste
Director, Sector Strategy


Sarah Larson
Brand & Creative Director
Sarah first joined InBN as the organizations Senior Graphic Designer and Website Manager, before earning the privilege of leading a talented, three-person marketing department, its operations, budget, and effectiveness as Marketing Manager. Before joining InBN in 2004, Sarah spent more than five years as a Graphic Designer at WKBW-TV.
Sarah has a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Graphic Design from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She channels her creative energy as well as her passion for education and children through volunteerism. Sarah has spent many years serving her local Parent Teacher Organization board, the towns Baseball and Softball board, coaching travel softball, teaching religious education, and serving on the Ralph C. Wilson Explore & More Children’s Museum board. When not working or volunteering, Sarah can be found spending quality time with her husband and three children.
Sarah Larson
Brand & Creative Director


Greg Pokriki
Communications Manager
Greg Pokriki
Communications Manager


Carlton X. Sanders
Graphic Designer
Before joining Invest Buffalo Niagara Carlton worked for one of the top companies in consumer-based technology. He used his technical knowledge and friendly demeanor to achieve high customer satisfaction year-round.
Being a Buffalo native, he deeply loves and appreciates his community. Carlton enjoys Buffalo’s coffee shops and local comic stores in his free time. He also is a big supporter of Buffalo’s live music scene.
Carlton X. Sanders
Graphic Designer


Kathy Stout
Business Development Manager
With a bachelor’s degree in economics and music from University College Cork, Ireland where she was a Quercus College Scholar, and a master’s in economics from the University of Warwick, UK, Kathy is passionate about economic development as a means to commercial success, as well as greater employment and upskilling opportunities for the local workforce.
Prior to joining Invest Buffalo Niagara, Kathy was an Associate Director at KPMG Ireland where she advised on M&A transactions and corporate strategy. She also has experience with EY, in policy research at the University of Oxford, and infrastructure policy planning at the Economic and Social Research Institute in Dublin.
After an extensive search, in 2024 Kathy and her family decided to call Buffalo, NY “home” given the blend of career and lifestyle opportunities hard to find elsewhere. After her 15-minute commute from downtown Buffalo back to the suburbs, Kathy loves to take her Scottish terrier for hikes in local state parks, if not already attending a pottery class or pickleball league.
Kathy Stout
Business Development Manager
The Invest Buffalo Niagara Board of Directors
Officers
President & CEO
Thomas A. Kucharski, Invest Buffalo Niagara
Chair
Kenneth Kujawa, National Grid
Vice Chair
Michael O’Brien, Key Bank, N.A.
Secretary
Becky Gandour, Buffalo Urban Development Corporation
Treasurer
Dave Bauer, National Fuel
Board of Directors
AAA Western and Central New York
Anthony Spada, Jr.
Acara Solutions Inc.
Pete Petrella
Allegany County Industrial Development Agency
Craig Clark
Amherst Industrial Development Agency
David Mingoia
Buffalo Niagara Partnership
Dottie Gallagher
Buffalo Business First
John Tebeau
Buffalo Urban Development Corporation
Becky Gandour
Buffalo News
Tom Wiley
Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency
Mark Geise
City of Buffalo
Mayor Chris Scanlon
Ciminelli Real Estate
Kyle Ciminelli
Clarence IDA
Chris Kempton
Delaware North Companies
James Obletz
Exxpress Tire
David Simons
Erie County IDA
Tuona Batchelor
Erie County Industrial Development Agency
John Cappellino
Ernst & Young
Marc Izzo
Frey Electric Construction Co
Kent Frey
Genesee County Economic Development Center
Mark Masse
Hamburg IDA
Sean Doyle
Harter Secrest & Emery LLP
Phil Delmont
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Jessica Cox
Hodgson Russ LLP
Sujata Yalamanchili
HSBC Bank
Gregory Duval
Hunt Real Estate
Peter Hunt
Hurwitz & Fine, P.C.
Kevin Zanner
Key Bank, N.A.
Michael O’Brien
LeChase Construction
Chris Kulik
Lockport Industrial Development Agency
Thomas Sy
Martin Group
Matt Davison
Merchant Insurance
Charlie Makey
M&T Bank Corporation
Chris Kania
National Fuel Gas Company
David Bauer
National Grid
Kenneth Kujawa
Niagara County Department of Economic Development
Michael Casale
New York Power Authority
Joseph Kessler
NYSEG Corporation
Jeff Quain
Phillips Lytle LLP
Kim Nason
Schutte Buffalo
Martin Berardi
Sonwil Distribution
Peter Wilson
TM Montante Development
Christian Campos
Tops Friendly Markets
Ron Ferri
Uniland Development Company
Carl Montante, Jr.
Univera Healthcare
Arthur Wingerter
West Herr Auto Group
Scott Bieler
WNY NYSCAR
Amanda Hirsch
Wyoming County IDA
James Pierce
Appointed Directors
Empire State Development Corporation
Karen Utz
State University of New York at Buffalo
Per Stromhaug
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