BUFFALO, N.Y. (August 30, 2023) — The Western New York Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association has announced 11 new members have joined their board of directors for two-year terms beginning July 1. The board of directors provides guidance and leadership, helps form mission partnerships and increase community awareness, and drives fundraising efforts for the WNY Chapter as it offers care and support to people living with Alzheimer’s or dementia and their caregivers throughout the eight counties of Western New York.

The new board members are a diverse group of business and community leaders, representing a wide variety of leadership positions in areas such as healthcare, law, media, education and finance. They are:

·         Brenda Ackley, Vice President of Operations, Healthcare, Hamister Group, LLC

Ackley has more than 20 years of experience in healthcare operations management, including long-term care, and is responsible for the Hamister Group, LLC Healthcare Operations Division. She previously served as director of clinical operations for General Physician PC and director of oncology operations for the Great Lakes Cancer Care Collaborative.

·         Hyan “Bryan” An, Supervisor, MRI and CT, Windsong Radiology Group

An has worked in nuclear imaging and MRI and CT scanning for over 20 years at Windsong Radiology and is a graduate of the University at Buffalo. He recently lost his father to dementia and is interested in advancing early diagnosis on a local basis.

·         Sarah Baczynski, Assistant Vice President, Marketing, NOCO Energy Corporation

Baczynski is director of marketing at NOCO, a service-driven energy company. She has joined the board to promote the company’s mission of bringing people together, strengthening connections, and making a positive impact on the local community.

·         Margaret Brechtel, CPA, Executive Vice President, Treasurer, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, Rand Capital

Brechtel oversees all the financial operations of Rand Capital and is responsible for regulatory compliance and financial reporting. She has more than 30 years’ experience in the financial services sector and is actively involved in a variety of nonprofit organizations including the Rotary Club and Junior League of Buffalo.

·         Dave Greber, News Anchor, WIVB Channel 4 Buffalo

Greber has served as the emcee for the chapter’s Buffalo Walk to End Alzheimer’s and its Around Your Table dining event for the past several years and helped raise awareness about the disease through news reports and interviews with Association staff and volunteers on WIVB-TV.

·         Robin Hodges, Chief Operations and Impact Officer, African American Veterans Monument

Hodges is a U.S. Naval Intelligence veteran and oversees the African American Veterans Monument located at the Buffalo and Erie County Naval and Military Park. She is also a business development consultant and recently began serving as an Alzheimer’s Congressional Team Member for Congressman Brian Higgins and a State Champion for Senator Tim Kennedy and NYS Assembly Majority Leader Crystal Peoples-Stokes. Hodges lost her mother to Alzheimer’s disease in 2014.

·         Adam Kessler, Project Manager, Revenue Integrity and Quality Analytics, Catholic Health

Kessler’s mother passed away from Alzheimer’s disease in 2022. He currently serves on the Buffalo Walk to End Alzheimer’s Executive Leadership Team and has served as the Community Engagement Committee Chair. He is interested in working with healthcare leaders to implement sustainable policy and process changes to increase access to high-quality dementia care. He will serve as secretary for the Board during his term.

·         Bridget Lett, Vice President, Strategic Initiatives Analyst, Treasury, M&T Bank

Lett currently serves on the Hispanic/Latino Employee Resource Group (ERG) Steering Committee and is a member of the African American Employee Resource Group at M&T Bank. Her past board experiences include the Board of Trustees at Nichols School and Advisory Board Member at the Salvation Army.

·         Barbara Miller-Williams, Comptroller, City of Buffalo

Miller-Williams is the first woman and the first African American to hold the position of Buffalo Comptroller. In previous years, she served as an Erie County legislator, including a stint as chairwoman of the legislature and as chairwoman of the finance and management and budget committees. She also was a member of the Common Council, where she led the Finance Committee.

·         Lori Quigley, PhD, Interim President, Medaille College

Quigley previously served as the provost, senior vice president for academic affairs and chief academic officer at Medaille. She is a member of the Wolf Clan of Seneca Nation of Indians and serves as the ombudsperson for the National Indian Education Association (NIEA) Board of Directors. As an educational consultant, she has advised on areas ranging from curriculum development to strengthening diversity, equity and inclusion policies and practices. Her mother passed away from Alzheimer’s disease in 2022.

·         Lynn Riker, Director of Community Outreach, Hospice & Palliative Care Buffalo

Riker oversees community engagement and education efforts to increase awareness and access to palliative care and hospice services in Erie County. She is a lifelong resident of WNY and advocates for individuals and their loved ones when they are faced with the challenges of serious illness. Knowing that over six million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and associated illnesses, she seeks opportunities to increase education, care access and specialized support for both patients and caregivers.

The new board members join returning board members, including Board Chair and community volunteer Maureen Griffin Tomczak; Vice Chair Sarah Harlock, MBA, Program Director for the Integrative Center for Memory, Dent Neurologic Institute; and members Michael Alessandra, CPA, Assistant Vice President, Internal Audit, Merchants Insurance; Katherine Ball, MSHA, National Director, Centers of Medical Excellence, Elevance Health; David Gonlag, CMA, Retired Assistant Controller, Columbus McKinnon; Cynthia Ludwig, Esq., Partner, Hodgson Russ LLP; Christopher Phillips, Esq., Staff Attorney, Center for Elder Law and Justice; Sarah Rera, Esq., Shareholder, Gross Shuman PC; and Nicholas A. Romano, Esq., Partner, Connors LLP.

Alzheimer’s Association®

The Alzheimer’s Association is a worldwide voluntary health organization dedicated to Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to lead the way to end Alzheimer’s and all other dementia — by accelerating global research, driving risk reduction and early detection, and maximizing quality care and support. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s and all other dementia^TM. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.