Hires/Promotions/ Honors

Gaines Kriner Elliott, a certified public accounting and business advisory firm with offices in Amherst and East Aurora, named Diana Panattoni- Henry a tax supervisor. Panattoni- Henry is a graduate of the University at Buffalo. The firm also named as staff accountants Brenna Zerfas, an accounting graduate from Niagara University; Julie Metz, a Niagara University graduate; Anthony Donnelly, an MBA graduate from Canisius College; and Ronald Ruffino, a Brockport State College graduate.

Damon Morey managing partner Peter S. Marlette was elected to the board of directors of American Law Firm Association International, a global network of independent law firms. Also, Marlette made a presentation on law firm management recently at the association’s 2009 annual business meeting.

Ameriprise financial adviser Timothy A. Riemer ranked in the top 25 percent in a recent client satisfaction survey of 2,417 participating advisers who scored 96 percent or higher. Riemer’s office is located at 6445A Dysinger Road, Lockport.

Company items

Buffalo Office Systems recently opened its second video conferencing service center at Metschl&Associates offices in Ellicott Square in Buffalo. Metschl&Associates is a 50- year-old company offering court reporting and certified legal video services to the legal community. Buffalo Office Systems, at 5436 Main St., Williamsville, provides video conferencing equipment and services throughout Western New York.

Buffalo Niagara Partnership announced the finalists for the INNOVATE Buffalo Niagara awards, created to recognize regional businesses that are moving the local economy forward. The five industry categories and the nominees in each are: Advanced Manufacturing— Wilson- Greatbatch, Harper International Corp., Northrop Grumman and Pfannenberg Inc.; Agribusiness— Upstate Niagara Cooperative and White Cow Dairy; Life Science— Independent Health Corp., University at Buffalo and Upstate New York Transplant Services; Logistics— Renold Inc. and Roar Logistics; Professional Services— BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, Cannon Design, Clevermethod Inc. and Synacor Inc. The awards will be presented Jan. 28 in Conference Center Niagara Falls.

Evans Bank in Hamburg was congratulated by the Independent Community Bankers of America for reaching 60 years as a member of the national organization dedicated to serving the needs of the nation’s community banks.

The Energy Efficiency Training Center of Tonawanda was recently awarded affiliate status with the Building Performance Institute, ensuring that all the courses offered by the center are designated as recognized training and meet the professional standards of the institute.

Contributing

Windsong Radiology Group presented $18,000 to the Buffalo City Mission representing a yearlong commitment to the Mission. The Mission will apply the money toward its $1.65 million “One Mission, One Hope” fall campaign.

Patents

Title: “Azeotropic or azeotropiclike compositions of 1,1,1-trifuoroethane and 1-chloro-2,2,2-trifluoroethane” No.: 7,608,574 Inventors: Cottrell, Stephen A. (Baton Rouge, La.); Pham, Hang T. (Amherst); Singh, Rajiv R. (Getzville); Tung, Hseuhsung (Getzville) Assignee: Honeywell International (Morristown, N. J.) Date issued: Oct. 27, 2009