The Top 50 Buffalo Women Leaders of 2026
Buffalo-Niagara’s most influential women leaders tend to have something in common: they run (or reshape) the “systems” that determine whether a region can grow-healthcare capacity, talent pipelines, capital flows, infrastructure, and the civic trust that makes big projects possible. That influence shows up in boardrooms and labs, yes, but also in procurement decisions, neighborhood investments, workforce strategies, and which ideas get funded, scaled, or quietly sunset.
The list below is an editorial, ranked snapshot of women whose decisions and leadership networks have outsized impact across the Buffalo metro (Erie + Niagara) economy.
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#1 Kathy Hochul
Buffalo’s economic trajectory is deeply shaped in Albany-by budgets, infrastructure funding, housing and workforce policy, and statewide economic-development strategy. Governor Hochul’s Western New York public-service roots (including serving as Erie County Clerk and as a Member of Congress for NY-26) give her a direct line of sight into the region’s needs, and her office’s agenda-setting power influences everything from major capital programs to regional competitiveness priorities.
#2 Dr. Candace S. Johnson
Roswell Park is one of Buffalo’s signature anchor institutions-part healthcare provider, part research engine, part talent magnet. As President & CEO, Dr. Candace Johnson sits at the intersection of patient access, research commercialization, and a highly specialized workforce-meaning her leadership influences not only outcomes in cancer care, but also the region’s life-sciences credibility, partnerships, and job base.
#3 Joyce Markiewicz
In any metro, healthcare leaders are also workforce leaders-because hospitals shape employment, training needs, and the “benefits reality” for countless employers. Joyce Markiewicz leads Catholic Health through a period when systems everywhere are balancing staffing pressures, service-line decisions, and community health needs; those choices ripple through Buffalo’s broader economy, from downtown development patterns to how families experience care access.
#4 Dottie Gallagher
The Buffalo Niagara Partnership functions as a central convener for employers and investors-and a key translator between business needs and public policy. Dottie Gallagher’s influence comes from mobilizing a member network that spans major regional employers and using that platform for advocacy and deal-making that affects job growth, investment pipelines, and the region’s “yes, we can execute” reputation.
#5 Amy Latimer
Delaware North’s footprint in hospitality, travel, sports, and entertainment ties Buffalo into national (and global) venue ecosystems. As EVP & COO, Amy Latimer holds one of the region’s highest-impact operating seats-where decisions about performance, talent, and partnerships can translate into sustained headquarters strength, vendor opportunity, and civic visibility for Buffalo as a place that produces world-class operators.
#6 Christina P. Orsi
Philanthropic power in Buffalo isn’t just about writing checks-it’s about shaping the region’s “what gets built next” priorities. Christina Orsi leads a foundation explicitly focused on long-term strategy, systems change, and community prosperity in Buffalo Niagara, giving her a uniquely catalytic role: convening, funding, and pushing partners toward measurable progress in areas that markets alone won’t solve.
#7 Nora O’Brien-Suric, PhD
Healthcare outcomes are economic outcomes: they affect school performance, labor force participation, and the stability employers depend on. Nora O’Brien-Suric’s leadership at the Health Foundation channels resources into upstream health improvements and aging-related priorities-work that shapes how well the region can support older adults and caregivers while strengthening community-wide wellbeing.
#8 Betsy Constantine
Community foundations are often the “quiet infrastructure” behind civic progress-connecting donors to sustained, place-based investment and helping organizations collaborate instead of compete. Betsy Constantine’s role matters because it influences which community priorities attract durable funding-and how quickly Buffalo can move from pilot programs to scaled solutions in neighborhoods, education, and local opportunity.
#9 Kim S. Pegula
In Buffalo, major-league sports ownership is also a business-and-place-making force: brand visibility, tourism weekends, downtown activation, and long-horizon development bets. The Bills list Kim Pegula as an owner and president, and the Pegulas’ investment in downtown assets like HARBORCENTER has been part of the modern Buffalo story-linking sports, real estate, and civic identity in ways few leaders can replicate.
#10 Colleen Heidinger
When a region wants more high-growth companies, it needs more than inspiration-it needs a repeatable pipeline: capital, mentorship, and a reason founders choose Buffalo. Colleen Heidinger leads 43North, a flagship accelerator platform backed by major partners; the program’s annual investment model and year-long support structure help convert Buffalo’s “startup ambition” into a visible, investable ecosystem.
#11 Kimberley A. Minkel
Transportation leadership is economic leadership: it determines how reliably people reach jobs, how employers recruit, and how the region “feels” to visitors and investors. Kimberley Minkel’s role includes oversight across the NFTA’s multimodal system-including aviation and metro bus/rail-making her decisions central to workforce mobility, airport-linked growth, and long-term regional connectivity.
#12 Nadine Marrero
Big-city growth doesn’t happen without coordinated planning-especially when housing, infrastructure, and neighborhood investment all need to move together. Nadine Marrero’s leadership role in Buffalo’s Office of Strategic Planning places her near the center of how the city aligns development, policy, and project execution-work that can accelerate (or bottleneck) the next decade of Buffalo’s built environment.
#13 Jill Spisiak Jedlicka
Water defines Buffalo’s quality of life-and increasingly, its competitiveness. Jill Spisiak Jedlicka has led Buffalo Niagara Waterkeeper for years, translating environmental goals into practical projects that improve waterways and waterfront assets; that mix of science, advocacy, and coalition-building has helped drive major investment and measurable progress in a resource the entire region depends on.
#14 Dr. Lorrie A. Clemo
Higher-ed presidents influence a region’s future more than most people realize: they shape credentials, clinical pipelines, employer partnerships, and research capacity. Dr. Lorrie Clemo’s presidency matters in Buffalo because D’Youville sits close to the region’s healthcare and human-services ecosystem-helping train the talent base that keeps those systems running.
#15 Laura E. Hubbard
A major public research university is a city-scale enterprise: budgets, capital projects, procurement, workforce, and long-range strategy all have regional ripple effects. Laura Hubbard’s role at the University at Buffalo puts her in the operational cockpit of one of Western New York’s most influential institutions-affecting how UB invests, expands, partners, and delivers on its mission at scale.
#16 Carol Fitzsimmons
Professional-services leaders shape the business climate because they’re often behind the scenes of deals, compliance, and the governance structures that let organizations grow. As co-chair of Hodgson Russ, Carol Fitzsimmons leads one of Buffalo’s most prominent law firms-expanding the region’s ability to compete for complex work while modeling senior-level leadership in an industry where representation at the top still matters.
#17 Amy L. Hemenway
Labor, employment, and workplace strategy have become board-level topics-especially in a region balancing talent attraction with affordability and economic transition. Amy Hemenway’s leadership as partner-in-charge in Buffalo positions her as a trusted advisor to employers navigating risk, culture, and growth-making her influence both direct (through clients) and indirect (through how “good jobs” get structured locally).
#18 Tara A. Ellis
Food insecurity isn’t only a moral issue-it’s a workforce issue: it affects health, learning, and economic mobility. Tara Ellis leads FeedMore WNY, the region’s major hunger-relief organization created through the combination of the Food Bank and Meals on Wheels efforts, giving her a powerful platform to coordinate logistics, partnerships, and community response at scale.
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#19 Hon. Lenora Foote-Beavers (Ret.)
Health equity leadership is increasingly where systems change becomes real: redesigning access, building trust, and aligning services with lived experience. Lenora Foote-Beavers moved from decades in public service and the courts into a senior health-equity role at Evergreen, positioning her to influence how Buffalo tackles disparities through program design, community partnerships, and institutional accountability.
#20 JoAnn Falletta
A thriving city needs more than jobs-it needs identity, pride, and cultural gravity that helps retain talent. JoAnn Falletta’s long-running leadership of the Buffalo Philharmonic has helped elevate the orchestra’s national presence (including recording prominence and major recognition), reinforcing Buffalo’s cultural brand and the civic ecosystem that supports arts-driven economic vitality.
#21 Bonita Durand
As interim president of SUNY Buffalo State University, Bonita Durand is steering a pivotal institution that educates talent for Western New York’s employers and civic organizations. Her steady, mission-driven leadership strengthens academic quality, community partnerships, and the campus’ ability to deliver real economic mobility for graduates.
#22 Brenda McDuffie
Brenda McDuffie’s leadership at ECIDA helps translate public incentives into private investment that expands the region’s job base and tax capacity. Known for pairing economic development with equity and accountability, she has helped keep Buffalo’s growth focused on opportunity for more communities.
#23 Trina Burruss
Trina Burruss has brought modern, collaborative leadership to United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, aligning donors, employers, and nonprofits around measurable community outcomes. By turning philanthropy into coordinated action on issues like financial stability, education, and health, she is helping strengthen the social infrastructure that underpins a competitive local economy.
#24 Kimberlee Dunlop
As a senior operating leader at Seneca Gaming Corp, Kimberlee Dunlop helps guide one of the region’s most significant hospitality and entertainment enterprises. Her blend of operational discipline and deep understanding of tribal business and policy supports strong performance while sustaining broad economic impact through jobs, tourism, and local vendor spending.
#25 Joanne Israel
Joanne Israel’s leadership at Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino reflects the operational excellence that keeps a major destination running at a high standard for guests and team members alike. By elevating service, culture, and execution across a complex property, she helps drive tourism dollars into the region and supports hundreds of careers in Western New York.
#26 Anne Musynske
Anne Musynske’s leadership in regional retail banking helps keep households and small businesses connected to trusted financial services and advice. By building strong teams and a service-first culture, she amplifies the economic impact of a hometown bank that invests deeply in Western New York.
#27 Marie Betti
Marie Betti has spent decades building Western New York Federal Credit Union into a member-focused institution that prioritizes access, trust, and long-term financial well-being. Her steady stewardship and community-minded approach broaden responsible credit and savings options, strengthening the economic resilience of families and local workplaces.
#28 Patricia Clabeaux
Patricia Clabeaux has helped shape Independent Health’s culture and talent strategy, ensuring the organization can recruit, develop, and retain the people needed to deliver high-quality care. By aligning workforce investments with performance and patient experience, she enhances both organizational effectiveness and the region’s broader health-and-jobs ecosystem.
#29 Denise Neamon
Denise Neamon’s leadership at Bonadio strengthens the advisory backbone that helps Western New York businesses grow, comply, and plan confidently. Her client-first approach and deep expertise in complex finance and tax matters translate into smarter decisions, stronger companies, and a healthier regional economy.
#30 Sara Dayton
As managing partner of Lumsden McCormick, Sara Dayton leads a firm that plays a crucial role in financial transparency and risk management for organizations across the region. Her focus on quality, strategic execution, and talent development helps clients make better decisions and reinforces trust in the marketplace.
#31 Margaret Kenny Giancola
Margaret Kenny Giancola’s leadership at The Buffalo News keeps credible local reporting strong at a time when communities depend on accurate, accountable information. By guiding the newsroom through change while maintaining high standards, she protects the civic and business environment that thrives on transparency and informed decision-making.
#32 Sheila Brown
Sheila Brown has built Vision Multi Media Group into a powerful platform that elevates voices, culture, and commerce in Buffalo through trusted local media. Her pioneering ownership and community-centered leadership create opportunity for businesses to reach audiences authentically while strengthening civic connection and representation.
#33 Gayle Perry Denning
Gayle Perry Denning has helped advance a storied Buffalo-area brand by pairing modern marketing leadership with a deep understanding of what customers love about Perry’s. Her work driving innovation, sustainability, and thoughtful brand growth supports local manufacturing jobs and reinforces the region’s reputation for enduring, homegrown companies.
#34 Georgia Dachille
Georgia Dachille is a catalyst for transformation at Rich Products, helping drive innovation, global growth, and the technology initiatives that keep a major employer competitive. By turning strategy into execution and empowering teams to adapt, she strengthens both the company’s long-term performance and Buffalo’s standing as a hub for global food manufacturing leadership.
#35 Elwira Kelly
Elwira Kelly provides high-impact leadership at Moog by guiding governance, risk management, and the legal strategy that supports complex, innovation-driven manufacturing. Her steady counsel helps the organization move quickly and responsibly in regulated markets, protecting value while enabling the kind of growth that sustains high-skilled jobs in Western New York.
#36 Cynthia Hoover
Cynthia Hoover’s engineering leadership at Linde Engineering Americas demonstrates how technical excellence can translate into real-world solutions that improve safety, reliability, and performance. By steering innovation and large-scale operations from the Buffalo area, she helps anchor advanced manufacturing and engineering careers that keep the region globally competitive.
#37 Denise Juron-Borgese
Denise Juron-Borgese has been a driving force in shaping Buffalo’s built environment, bringing decades of architecture and development leadership to projects that elevate communities. Her commitment to transformative, community-connected design helps attract investment, strengthen neighborhood vitality, and mentor the next generation of local design talent.
#38 Darby Fishkin
Darby Fishkin brings a rare blend of financial expertise and real estate leadership to CBRE Upstate NY, guiding teams that help organizations make smart location and investment decisions. By connecting capital, property strategy, and operational execution, she supports the deals and developments that shape Buffalo’s growth trajectory.
#39 Laura Gordon
Laura Gordon has helped propel Gordon Cos by scaling ecommerce and digital marketing for a family of brands that reaches customers well beyond Western New York. Her work modernizing how the company attracts, serves, and retains online shoppers strengthens a homegrown business and showcases Buffalo’s ability to compete in the digital economy.
#40 Paula Huber
Paula Huber turned Paula’s Donuts into a Buffalo-area institution by pairing hands-on craftsmanship with the operational know-how to grow a beloved, family-run brand. The business she built draws loyal customers, supports local jobs, and proves how entrepreneurial excellence in food and hospitality can become an engine of regional pride and economic activity.
#41 Kathleen Chiavetta
Kathleen Chiavetta has carried forward and modernized a multi-generation Buffalo brand, helping Chiavetta’s Catering thrive through operational leadership and smart business development. Her commitment to quality, community investment, and sustained growth keeps local dollars—and local tradition—working for Western New York families and events.
#42 Rebecca Brady
Rebecca Brady grew Top Seedz from a homemade idea into a recognized better-for-you food company, showing what disciplined entrepreneurship looks like in action. By innovating products, building manufacturing capability, and creating jobs, she is helping diversify Buffalo’s economy while inspiring the next wave of founders.
#43 Tricia Barrett
Tricia Barrett has helped transform CrowleyWebb into a modern, full-service marketing agency with deep capabilities that drive measurable results for clients. Her people-first leadership and commitment to innovation strengthen a key creative-industry employer and elevate Buffalo’s reputation for talent in branding, analytics, and communications.
#44 Julie Bargnesi
Julie Bargnesi has built a standout litigation practice by combining clinical insight with courtroom excellence, bringing uncommon credibility to complex healthcare and professional liability matters. Her leadership helps clients navigate high-stakes disputes with confidence while strengthening Buffalo’s legal and healthcare business community.
#45 Angela Miller
Angela Miller is a trusted leader in Buffalo’s legal and financial services community, guiding complex banking, restructuring, and creditors’ rights matters with clarity and precision. Her work supports institutional stability and responsible lending, helping companies and lenders navigate change while protecting jobs and investment in the region.
#46 Maureen Athoe
Maureen Athoe brings exceptional strategic and operational leadership to Catholic Health as board chair, informed by a career leading high-performance teams in advanced manufacturing. Her governance and mission focus help ensure a major regional healthcare system remains strong, innovative, and accountable to the communities it serves.
#47 Kelly Corbi
Kelly Corbi’s operational leadership at Kaleida Health helps keep one of the region’s largest health systems running efficiently while prioritizing patient care and workforce support. By driving performance across complex facilities and services, she strengthens an essential economic anchor that affects everything from quality of life to employer competitiveness in Western New York.
#48 LaVonne Ansari
LaVonne Ansari has dedicated her career to expanding access to care, leading the Community Health Center of Buffalo with a strong focus on equity, dignity, and community trust. Her impact extends beyond healthcare delivery by strengthening workforce development and neighborhood stability—cornerstones of inclusive economic growth.
#49 Norma Nowak
Norma Nowak has bridged world-class science and entrepreneurship, translating genomics expertise into real diagnostic tools and a company that advances personalized medicine. Her leadership helps anchor life-sciences innovation in Buffalo, attracting talent and investment while turning research into measurable economic and health impact.
#50 Marnie LaVigne
Marnie LaVigne has been a cornerstone builder for the startup ecosystem as the leader of Launch NY, helping entrepreneurs refine, fund, and scale high-impact companies across Upstate New York. By pairing mentorship with seed investment and strong networks, she has accelerated innovation-driven job creation and strengthened Buffalo’s position in the state’s venture landscape.
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