Workforce, Industry & Economic Development

Champions @ Work Directory

The champions at work who are a part of this project have committed themselves to sharing their experience and expertise as the region tackles the opportunities of the future.They are a growing network of business and union leaders working together with public officials and educational institutions to build the high road to opportunity in Western New York. As leaders in the field of employment and workplace change, the Champions at Work Network seeks to extend the successes found in this study throughout the region.

The following is a complete listing of all who participated in the Champions at Work study. These include the Directory of Champions, Directory of Resources, CAST, WNY AFL-CIO Economic Development Group, Buffalo Niagara Enterprise, and other resources for information on the economy and workforce of Western New York.

For additional information, download the Champions @ Work directory.

Directory of Champions

• Jack B. Alonge, General Manager Operations, Empire Specialty Steel Inc.
• Richard Baker, Officer, IUOE Local 463
• Cynthia D. Banks, Human Resources Manager, Honeywell International Inc.
• Warren Bartel, President, Outokumpu American Brass
• Jack Barrett, Vice President of Human Resources, TOPS Friendly Markets, Inc.
• Barbara Bauch, President, CWA Local 1133
• Gary Bichler, President/Chief Operating Officer, Louis P. Ciminelli Construction Co., Inc.
• James Bickhart, Staff Representative, USWA District 4
• Daniel M. Boody, Business Manager/Secretary-Treasurer, Painters and Allied Trades of America and Canada, AFL-CIO-CLC, District Council 4
• Robert T. Brady, President and CEO, Moog, Inc.
• Kevin J. Clarke, Vice President and General Manager, Quebecor World inc.
• Kevin Donovan, Regional Director, UAW Region 9
• Thomas Dziedzic, President/Principal Executive Officer, Teamsters Local 264
• Thomas A. Fentner, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Kaleida Health
• John Friedlander, President and CEO, Kaleida Health
• Herbert D. Fulsom, Shop Chairman, UAW Local 2100, Trico Products
• Joseph E. Goodell, Former Executive Director, The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra; Former President and CEO, Outokumpu American Brass
• Joe C. Green, Executive Vice President/Chief Administrative Officer/Director/Member, Executive Committee, Moog, Inc.
• Debora M. Hayes, Staff Representative, Communication Workers of America (CWA)
• Charles Humphrey, IAMAW - Retired, Local DS-490
• Arvin Jones, Director of Manufacturing, GM Powertrain Engine Plant
• Mark Jones, President/Business Agent, Buffalo Musicians Local 92 AFM
• Clyde Johnston, Business Agent, IUOE Local 463
• Jack Keebler, Human Resource Director, Moog, Inc.
• Mark Kirsch, Business Manager and President, IUOE Locals 17A, B, C, RA, and S
• Robert E. Klinko, Secretary/Treasurer/Business Agent, Teamsters Local 264
• George Koller, Business Representative and Secretary/Treasurer, BCTGM Local 36G
• Kenneth J. Kumiega, General Manager, Trico Products
• Richard Lipsitz, Jr., Director of Labor Programs, Cornell University ILR
• Ron Lucas, Business Agent and Trustee, Teamsters Local 264
• Robert H. Maskrey, Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer/Director, Moog, Inc.
• Angelo Massaro, Esq., Attorney/Trustee, Cement Masons B.I.E.A. of Niagara
• Geraldine Ochocinska, Director, UAW Region 9
• Thomas O'Donnell, Assistant Director, UAW Region 9
• Martin G. Oscadal, Vice President of Human Resources, Catholic Health System
• Jim Oszust, Business Agent/Printing Pressmen, GCIU Local 27C
• Ken Owen, President and Secretary/Treasurer, Buffalo Bindery GCIU Local 17 B
• Jeff Paycheck, Shop Chairman, UAW Local 774
• William Pienta, Sub District Director, USWA District 4
• Stacy Pugh, Former Plant Manager, General Mills Buffalo Cereal Plant
• Paul Reed, Assistant Business Manager, IBEW Local 41
• Mike Scott, VP of Logistics & Strategic Planning, Ahold U.S.A.
• William Stachura, Personnel Director, American Axle, Tonawanda Forge
• Michael Straney, Vice President, American Axle & Manufacturing Europe; President & CEO, Albion Automotive
• Anthony Strusa, Employee Involvement Facilitator, Outokumpu American Brass
• Louis J. Thomas, Director, USWA District 4
• Maurice M. Thibeault, CEO, Empire Specialty Steel Inc.
• Hector Titus, Secretary, Council of Utility Contractors, Inc.
• James Voye, Business Manager/Financial Secretary, IBEW Local 41
• Vernon Wetmore, President, SYSCO Food Services - Jamestown
• Jack Williams, President, USWA Local 593
• Tom Wisniewski, Board of Directors, Buffalo & Erie County Labor Management Council; IAMAW - Retired Business Representative
• Ken Zawistowski, President, Buffalo Paperhandlers GCIU Local 26
• Joe Ziewicki, President, Buffalo Electrotypers

Directory of Resources

Champions Project Team

• Lou Jean Fleron, Director, Cornell University ILR Western Region
• Howard R. Stanger, Ph.D., Business Department, SUNY College at Buffalo
• Eileen L. Patton, Researcher, Cornell University ILR Western Region
• Charles J. Whalen, Associate Economics Editor, BusinessWeek
• Richard Lipsitz, Jr., Director, Buffalo Labor Studies, Cornell University ILR Western Region
• Philip G. Wilcox, Coordinator, WNY AFL-CIO Economic Development Group Substation Electrician for Niagara Mohawk with IBEW Local 97
• Christine M. Kroetsch, Esq., Case Study Interviewer
• Gerry Skrzeckowski, VP & Business Representative, OPEIU Local 212, Case Study Interviewer
• Arthur C. Wheaton, Workplace and Industry Education Specialist, Cornell University ILR Western Region, Case Study Interviewer
• Cliff Suggs, Workplace and Industry Education Specialist, Cornell University ILR Western Region, Directed FMCS Research
• Mark Jones, President/Business Agent, Buffalo Musicians Local 92 AFM, Case Study Interviewer
• Tom Wisniewski, Board of Directors, Buffalo & Erie County Labor Management Council, Case Study Interviewer
• Diane Luzi, Assistant to the Director, Cornell University ILR Western Region, Project Administration Director
• Victoria Valenti, Director of Finance, Cornell University ILR Western Region
• Martin Crisp, Intern, Cornell ILR Cornell University ILR Western Region
• Heather Jordan, Intern, Canisius College, Cornell University ILR Western Region
• Mary Ellen O'Neil, Education Technologist, Cornell University ILR Western Region
• Yvonne Rebholz, Director, Supervisory Studies and Community Workforce Development Cornell University ILR Western Region

Cast

• Yasamin DiCiccio, Director
• Lisa Horn, Manager

WNY AFL-CIO Economic Development Group

• Daniel Boody, Painters District Council 4
• James Briggs, PACE
• Stan Buczkowski, Advanced Training Center
• Thomas W. Burke, Carpenters Local 9
• Bob Butski, PACE
• Kevin Donovan, UAW Region 9
• Thomas Dziedzic, Teamsters Local 264
• Deana Fox, SEIU Local 200-C
• Earl Frampton, Eastern Niagara United Way
• Andrew Goldstein, CWA
• James Gugliuzza, Niagara Orleans Labor Council
• Shirley Hamilton, NY Power Authority
• Debora Hayes, CWA
• Gary Horab, PACE
• Mark Jones, Buffalo Musicians Union Local 92
• John Kaczorowski, Buffalo AFL-CIO
• Mark Kirsch, IUOE Local 17
• George Koller, BCTGM
• Richard Lipsitz, Jr., Cornell University ILR
• Kenneth Owen, GCIU Local 17B
• William Pienta, USWA District 4
• Jim Shaughnessy, USWA
• Gerald Skrzeczkowski, OPEIU Local 212
• Doug Stock, NYS AFL-CIO
• Hector Titus, Council of Utility Contractors, Inc.
• Samuel Todaro, Laborers Local 210
• Ron Uba, NYSUT
• Angelo Vellake, UFCW Local One
• James Voye, IBEW Local 41
• Philip G. Wilcox, Coordinator WNY AFL-CIO EDG
• Thomas Wisniewski, IAM 630

Buffalo Niagara Enterprise

• Christina Ponticello Orsi, Director of Business Development

Sassy Graphics, Inc.

• Sherry Sutton, President

WNY Works

• Laura Roberts, Project Manager, Buffalo Niagara Partnership WNY Works
• Patricia U. Pitts, Director, Workforce Development, Buffalo Niagara Partnership

Institute for Local Governance and Regional Growth

• John B. Sheffer, II, Director, University at Buffalo State University of New York

Economic Information

New York State Department of Labor

• George Smyntek, Regional Economist

Canisius College

• George Palumbo, Professor, Department of Economics

Federal Reserve Bank

• Rich Dietz, Senior Economic Analyst
• Raymond Garcia, Assistant Economic Analyst