On the Record / August 29, 2008
Hires/Promotions/ Honors
Good Schools for All, a strategic partnership of community stakeholders committed to improving student achievement in Buffalo’s public schools, named Joann Steinmetz a senior program manager. Steinmetz will be responsible for the Read to Succeed Buffalo campaign. Previously, she was the Educational Services manager for The Buffalo News. She earned her BA and MBA from the University at Buffalo.
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Mutual of Omaha Insurance Co.’s Heather Halas and Brandon Buzak recently passed the New York State Life and Health Insurance examination and are now licensed as sales representatives in the Williamsville office. Also, Nicole McKee, a new sales representative at the agency, recently passed the New York State Life Insurance examination.
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Watts Architecture and Engineering appointed Michael J. Smolen a senior plumbing designer in firm’s mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering department. Smolen has 20 years of experience in plumbing design engineering and an associates degree from Niagara County Community College.
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Synacor, a Buffalo Internet tools and portals builder, transitioned Lauren Madar to senior flash engineer; Kelly Barsanti to associate product manager, user experience; Tom Peters, platform developer III; and Robert Schuster to design manager.
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Chiampou Travis Besaw and Kershner senior accountant Timothy P. Frier has recently passed the uniform CPA Exam. Frier, who joined the firm in 2004, is accredited as a certified fraud examiner.
Company items
The YWCA of Western New York has joined the Read to Succeed Buffalo campaign to help combat Buffalo’s literacy problems, joining more than 40 other member organizations. As a Read to Succeed coalition member, the YWCA will collaborate with other partners and work towards implementing the strategic plan that has been developed to address our community’s literacy levels.
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Grand Island Family Medicine, a private practice affiliated with the Dr. Melvin B. Dyster Family Medicine Residency Program at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, held an open house at its new offices located at Freedom Place, 1801 Grand Island Blvd. The office is staffed by three physicians who are faculty members of the Family Medicine Residency Program and assistant professors at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, Dr. Laurence Plumb, Dr. F. Michael Elliott and Dr. Maria Jereva. Buffalo Spree Publishing has moved to 100 Corporate Parkway in Amherst. The move nearly doubles the company’s available space. The company publishes Buffalo Spree magazine, Forever Young and this fall will launch Buffalo Spree Home.
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The PCA Group, a Buffalo technology company, successfully completed a Microsoft Exchange 2007 upgrade for MAC’s Antique Auto Parts, a Lockport mail order company selling parts for 1909 through 1972 Ford antique autos. The company’s Web site is: www.macsauto.com.
Contributing
The Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western New York and 97 Rock will present the 14th annual 97 Rock Radio-Thon Thursday, Sept. 18 through Friday, Sept. 19. Last year, the event raised $265,713 for the foundation. To date, the Radio-Thon has raised more than $1.92 million.
Patents
Title: “Biometric authorization method and system” No.: 7,415,138 Inventors: Schneider, John K. (Snyder); Kitchens, Jack C. (Tonawanda); Amalfi, Michael (Pittsford); Pratt, Leonard (Lockport); Schutjer, Bryan (Mansfield) Assignee: Ultra-Scan Corp. (Amherst)
Date issued: Aug. 19, 2008
