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
SWS Warning Lights Inc.
SWS Warning Lights Inc. (SWS) is a Canadian-based advanced manufacturing company that assembles safety warning lights for the construction industry. Their product is often found on snow plows, construction vehicles, and road construction signage. As SWS grew, they saw significant opportunities in the U.S. market, especially since their raw materials were being sourced from the U.S. An expansion to the U.S. would also help the company penetrate the larger U.S. market, establish a Made in the USA product, and reduce overall operating costs.
Success Story
AMDOR
Headquartered in Burlington, Ontario, Whiting Group is an advanced manufacturer with multiple divisions and facilities including Lancaster, NY. The company needed to expand its AMDOR division, which manufacturers roll up doors for fire apparatus, ambulances and other specialty vehicle applications. AMDOR considered expanding at its existing facility in Burlington, or establishing its first U.S. site in Buffalo Niagara, Wisconsin or Florida.
Success Story
Microart
Microart, a company out of Markham, Ontario, manufactures circuit boards used in the aerospace, medical device and electronics industries. The company has a growth mindset, which has allowed the Canadian headquarters to grow to 279 employees and helped drive the need for a U.S. expansion. Acquiring a U.S. company was Microart’s preferred way to start their U.S. operations and they identified a company in Buffalo that was well suited to their operations and needs.
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
MedBio
In August 2020, MedBio – a company headquartered in Michigan – acquired Polymer Conversions, a plastic injection molder operating in Buffalo Niagara. The company was specializing in highly technical medical devices and components with 125 employees. Polymer Conversions (now operating as MedBio Orchard Park, spoiler alert!) needed to expand its footprint and was considering doing so in either Western New York or Michigan.
Incentives: NYPA – Hydropower Allocation, Empire State Development Excelsior Jobs Program, Erie County IDA sales tax abatement
Success Story
AML RightSource
AML RightSource is the nation’s leading firm solely focused on Anti-Money Laundering (AML)/Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and financial crimes compliance solutions. The company headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, currently has more than 1900 employees around the globe, with a growing presence in the Buffalo area. The company’s rapid growth across the globe and specifically in the U.S. northeast created the need for expansion. AML’s CEO Frank Ewing is a University at Buffalo law school graduate, entering Buffalo Niagara into the location search.
Expansion Project: 75 jobs | $3M investment
Incentives: Excelsior Jobs Program
Our Team
Meet the Invest Buffalo Niagara Team
Our staff brings a wide range of expertise across economic development including business and talent attraction, client service, research and data analysis, marketing and communications, and public and investor relations.
Jenna Kavanaugh
President & CEO
As President & CEO of Invest Buffalo Niagara, Jenna leads the region’s privately funded business attraction organization, working with companies and community partners to support business growth and attract investment to Buffalo Niagara.
Jenna previously spent nearly two decades with Invest Buffalo Niagara, ultimately serving as Chief Operating Officer. She led strategy, operations, and governance, helping grow net assets and advancing initiatives in site development, talent attraction and entrepreneurship.
Most recently, Jenna served as Economic Development Principal for Western New York at National Grid, where she worked across a ten-county region. She managed approximately $4 million annually in strategic investments and worked with businesses, municipalities and regional partners on site development, infrastructure, and community growth.
Her industry experience spans economic development, utilities, and manufacturing. Jenna has been recognized by Consultants Connect, Buffalo Business First and the International Economic Development Council. Jenna is a graduate of Canisius University and lives in Western New York with her family.
Jenna Kavanaugh
President & CEO
Erin Sinclair
Operations & Administration Manager
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.
[email protected]
Erin Sinclair
Operations & Administration Manager
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.
[email protected]
Matthew Hubacher
Sr. Vice President
Rob Leteste
Vice President, Talent & 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.
[email protected]
Rob Leteste
Vice President, Talent & Sector Strategy
Sarah Larson
Vice President, Brand & Marketing Strategy
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.
[email protected]
Sarah Larson
Vice President, Brand & Marketing Strategy
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.
[email protected]
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.
[email protected]
Kathy Stout
Business Development Manager
Jelicia Jimenez
Public & Investor Relations Manager
With more than a decade of experience in nonprofit leadership and cross-sector collaboration, she brings a unique ability to translate community needs into scalable investment opportunities. Her work bridges public-private partnerships with narrative-driven strategy to build trust, attract capital, and position Buffalo Niagara as a model for equitable development.
Jelicia holds a Master of Library and Information Science from the University at Buffalo and a B.S. in Secondary English Education from SUNY New Paltz. Her career has included executive leadership at the KORP Foundation, co-founding the literacy nonprofit Black Boys Read Too, and supporting school-community partnerships at Say Yes Buffalo. She is a proud recipient of the Changemakers 30 Under 30 Award, the Buffalo Bills MVP Teacher Award, and the New York State Outstanding Librarian Award.
With a deep commitment to equity, culture, and impact, Jelicia continues to shape stories and strategies that move people and places forward.
Jelicia Jimenez
Public & Investor Relations Manager
Cassidy Malough
Business Development Manager
Prior to joining Invest Buffalo Niagara, Cassidy served as Senior Program Manager at Goodwill Industries of Western New York, Inc., where she helped develop and launch workforce development programs. She also worked at Launch NY as a Program Manager, supporting early-stage startups in preparing for funding.
Cassidy holds a Master of Business Administration, a Master of Social Work, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from the University at Buffalo. She is a proud Buffalo & Niagara Falls Workforce Leadership Academy fellow and a recipient of Buffalo Business First’s 30 Under 30 award. In addition, she serves as Vice Chair of the Habitat for Humanity Young Professionals Group.
A lifelong Buffalo resident, Cassidy is deeply connected to the community and passionate about driving positive change. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, kayaking, and rock climbing.
[email protected]
Cassidy Malough
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
Sujata Yalamanchili, Partner – Hodgson Russ LLP
Treasurer
Dave Bauer, National Fuel
Board of Directors
AAA Western and Central New York
Susan Was
Acara Solutions Inc.
Pete Petrella
Amherst Industrial Development Agency
David Mingoia
Buffalo Niagara Partnership
Grant Loomis
Buffalo Business First
John Tebeau
Buffalo Urban Development Corporation
Becky Gandour
Buffalo News
Katie Mulligan
Chautauqua County Industrial Development Agency
Mark Geise
City of Buffalo
Mayor Sean Ryan
Ciminelli Real Estate
Kyle Ciminelli
Clarence IDA
Chris Kempton
Delaware North Companies
James Obletz
Exxpress Tire
David Simons
Erie County Government
Dan Castle
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
Amy Hemenway
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
Lippes Mathias LLP
Kevin Cross
Lockport Industrial Development Agency
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
Andrea Klyczek
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
Paul Valley
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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