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Home > News > Spotlight Professionals Spotlight ProfessionalsEvery year, Buffalo Niagara 360 releases a new list of the top ten Spotlight Professionals at our Kickoff Celebration. The 2012 Spotlight Professionals are nominated by BN360's Advisory Comittee Members and are poised to become our region's Ones to Watch in the coming year.
Lisa Bauer is a Senior Associate at Hodgson Russ, she specializes in insurance and reinsurance coverage law and litigation. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Loyola Marymount University, and a J.D. degree from Syracuse University College of Law. She is experienced in both jury and bench trials, arbitrations and other types of alternative dispute resolution. Bauer has experience in cases that have been litigated across the country, including New Jersey, Texas, and Florida. Throughout her professional career, Bauer has been recognized for her case management skills and ability to successfully represent the rights of her clients throughout every stage of litigation. Prior to joining Hodgson Russ, Bauer was a litigation associate in the New York office of Proskauer Rose LLP.
Why is the Buffalo Niagara Region the best place to do business?
bauer@hodgsonruss.com
Landrum Beard is the Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs at Buffalo State College. He previously worked in enforcement and education with the Internal Revenue Service. Beard engages a population of 96,000 alumni and creates programming to strengthen bonds between Buffalo State College and its graduates. He serves on the Board of Directors of Drop-In Nation and volunteers for various community organizations, including BN360’s Be A Mentor program. Beard obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University at Buffalo. He is also a graduate of Leadership Buffalo Rising Leaders and Youth Leadership Erie County. Beard is an advocate for quality, comprehensive and equal public education. He believes that education will allow people to transcend class, and education is “wealth” passed from generation to generation. His passion for equal access to education (specifically higher education) is demonstrated in his service to community. Why do you remain in the Buffalo Niagara region? Buffalo's potential to be a world class city is here. We just need to work together and broadcast the greatest attributes this city has to offer. The young population in Western New York is extremely educated and motivated to make the community thrive. We are working hard to have our self legitimized and improve our situation. I remain in Buffalo because I live the potential that others see in Western New York. I want to make that apparent to everyone else.
Samantha Clark is Vice President of Career Development at Alliance Advisory Group. She has worked at Alliance Advisory for ten years, rising through the ranks to the position of VP. Clark’s purpose is to help new advisors become successful business owners. She explores career opportunities, mentors and coaches them through their first five years in the business, and plays an essential role in their growth and development. Seeing this type of success is important to Clark because she knows that the growth and development of advisors is essential to the success of her firm and its impact on the community. She enjoys the sense of accomplishment when she sees an individual achieve their dreams and goals. Why do you remain in the Buffalo Niagara region? samantha.clark@allianceadvisorygroup.com
Ethan Johnson is co-owner of Campus WheelWorks. After starting at Campus in April of 2002, Ethan worked as a bicycle mechanic and was promoted to service manager, then store manager, then became part owner in August of 2007. Since investing in the shop, the store has experienced four consecutive record breaking years of sales and service. This increase has allowed them to go from having 5 employees at the height of the season to 14. The success at the shop is largely attributed to the fun and professional staff, all avid cyclists. Whether for racing, exercise, commuting or just having fun, their increase in business has paralleled the increasing number of cyclists out on the streets of Buffalo. Campus has helped build its community by hosting group rides, community events, a ski club at Kissing Bridge, and their “Cross in the Park” cyclocross race. Wheelworks also sponsors bicycle cooperative workshop and share programs. The blue bicycle racks and new “sharrows” seen around the city are perfect examples of how Campus WheelWorks and Ethan Johnson have helped create the growing cycling community in Buffalo. Why do you remain in the Buffalo Niagara region? Why is Buffalo Niagara Region the best place to do business?
I have invested myself in the Buffalo Niagara Region because our varying weather provides me and my business with the opportunity to help people stay active, happy and healthy in any season.
Tiffane Ingram is the Administrative Assistant to the Director of Facilities at Independent Health. She joined Independent Health in 2007 as a temporary employee in the Human Resources Department. After only 10 months, Ingram was hired as a full-time Administrative Assistant in the Human Resources Department. Since that time, she has grown into her role of supporting the Facilities Department, while continuing to assist HR. The demands of the Facilities Department are high and the work is ever-changing, but Ingram has shown the ability to make a difference, and her role is important to the success of the department. Ingram serves on Independent Health’s Associate Celebration Committee. Why do you remain in the Buffalo Niagara region? tingram@independenthealth.com
Luis Rodriguez is a Project Manager at LPCiminelli. He received his Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering and Enginerring Management from Clarkson University. Rodriguez began his experience in construction management at an internship with the New York State Department of Transportation. He completed an internship with LPCiminelli in 2005 before graduating from Clarkson University. His internship became his career. Rodriguez has completed the Dale Carnegie Course Effective Communications & Human Relations Cource, Leadership Buffalo's Rising Leader Program, and became a LEED certified accredited professional for green building. He has worked on two $30 million renovation projects as a Project Engineer - Hutch Tech & South Park High School. He was promoted to Project Manager in 2009, and managed a $9 million renovation project at Buffalo Public School #54. Rodriguez is currently working on the ECMC expansion project as the Project Manager for the new $45 million Kidney Care and Transplantation Center. Why do you remain in the Buffalo Niagara region?
Family, friends, the “Buffalo” Culture and the four seasons are what keep me in the Buffalo Niagara Region. Why is Buffalo Niagara Region the best place to do business?
Sergio Rodriguez is the Coordinator of the Office of Veterans and Military Affairs at Medaille College. He is also the founder of G.I. Bill Magazine and a website dedicated to veterans and military education news. Rodriguez served in the United States Marine Corps for five years and earned the title of Sergeant. He completed two deployments and was honorably discharged from the Marines in 2003. Rodriguez attended Medaille College where he received his Associate’s degree and D’Youville College, where he completed his Bachelor’s degree. He was the Deputy Director of the Erie County Veterans Service Agency and Coordinator of the Office of Veterans and Military Affairs at Medaille College. He has helped Medaille earn the national recognitions “Best for Vets” college by Military Times Magazine and “Military Friendly School” by G.I. Jobs Magazine. Rodriguez volunteers at the Los Tainos Senior Citizen Center, the Buffalo Veterans Treatment Court, and is chairman of the Veterans and Military Friendly School Consortium of Western New York. In May 2010, the Small Business Administration named him the Veteran Small Business Champion of the Year. In 2011 Rodriguez was recipient of Hispanics United of Buffalo’s “Nuestro Orgullo” (Our Pride) Award. Why do you remain in the Buffalo Niagara region? Why is the Buffalo Niagara Region the best place to do business? srr37@medaille.edu Michael VanRemmen is a Tax Supervisor at Freed Maxick & Battaglia. VanRemmen is a highly motivated and energetic leader who develops and manages relationships with large and small clients. He has experience with clients in the manufacturing, health care, commercial real estate, construction, manufacturing, distribution, pharmaceuticals, capital investment, and technology industries. Raised in West Seneca, he was a football and basketball star, named to the All-WNY Academic Team for football. VanRemmen received his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Internal Auditing from the University at Buffalo. He worked three jobs in order to pay for college. He also volunteered for VITA, where he prepared tax returns for low-income households at no cost. In just three years at Freed Maxick, he has received his CPA license, been promoted to Senior Accountant and Supervisor. He also serves as the Treasurer for the B Team Buffalo, Inc., where he has headed logistics for the annual “City of Light” event and park cleanups. VanRemmen has helped to establish the B Team as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Why do you remain in the Buffalo Niagara region? Why is the Buffalo Niagara Region the best place to do business?
Melissa Vollmer is a Human Resources Manager at Synacor. She attended SUNY Institute of Technology, where she completed a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Marketing. Vollmer then attended the College of Saint Rose, where she received a Master’s degree in Business Administration. Vollmer has worked at Synacor for three years, beginning as an HR Assistant, and receiving promotions to Human Resources Generalist and Human Resources Manager. She is currently responsible for all aspects of HR for seven distinct business units. Vollmer says she landed her dream job working in the Human Resources Department at Synacor, located right on Buffalo’s waterfront. Working downtown has allowed her to experience firsthand the ‘City of Good Neighbors.’ Vollmer is passionate about the development of Buffalo. The Human Resources field has allowed Melissa to spend time working with and helping people - something that she feels living in Western New York has inspired her to truly embrace.
Why do you remain in the Buffalo Niagara region? Shandra Spicer is President and CEO of S&W Contracting of WNY, Inc., a full-service general construction contractor and janitorial services, equipment and supply company. In 1999 at the age of 18, Ms. Spicer secured a loan from her father and a small line of credit from her sister, and founded S&W. She saw an opportunity for a minority, woman-owned company in the Buffalo market. Spicer oversees all functions of the business including construction operations, business development, sales and marketing, negotiations, finance, human resources and customer service. She is affiliated with UB CEL, National Association of Professional Women, Buffalo Niagara 360 Young Professionals, CELAA, Buffalo Niagara Partnership Leadership Forum, Emerging Business Leaders, ProNet, Small Business Advisory Board and Women TIES. Spicer has been featured in numerous publications including From Beginners to Big Shots, Business First, the Buffalo News, UB Business Engagement and Outreach, UB School of Management, the Challenger, EmergingBUsiness.us and LPCiminelli’s Make It Happen. Why do you remain in the Buffalo Niagara region? For more information about BN360's Spotlight Professionals email BN360@thepartnership.org.
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