Jennifer Parker is the owner of Jackson Parker Communications which has introduced a number of memorable program brands such as “Think Big with 43North” (encouraging minority and women entrepreneurship), “I’m a Woman in Charge” (a family planning program targeted to women), “Taking Care of You” (medical outreach campaign to the minority community), and “Success Looks Like Me,” a program designed to provide urban youth of color with access to successful professionals of color.

Diana Cihak is the owner of Upper Edge Consulting, a grant writing firm, but her passion is WomenElect (WEPac), a volunteer based organization she founded to make a positive change in our community.

Susan Mager, resident of Blasdell, NY, has maintained membership in NYS Women, Inc. and the former Business and Professional Women/NYS for 33 years. She served in many capacities on the chapter level, holding every office up to, and including, president president, Buffalo Niagara Chapter (former BPW/Buffalo) and past president of the former Hamburg/BPW. She served two separate two-year terms as Region 8 director.

Melodie Baker is the director of education at the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County, where she designs, implements and secures funding for evidence-based education programs. In 2014, she co-founded the Charter School of Inquiry, where she is also chair of community engagement and a member of the board of trustees.

Alma Carrillo’s wide-ranging journey to Buffalo – where she is executive director of the Buffalo Arts Studio – started in Mexico and then on to Texas; Notre Dame, where she graduated with a government international studies degree; a stint as office manager for the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Austin; Brown University, where she met her now-husband; and the Providence, Rhode Island-based Steel Yard, an industrial arts center and manufacturer of public art which fosters creative and economic opportunities, by providing workspace, tools, training and education, while forging lasting links to a local tradition of craftsmanship.

Berardi Immigration Law is a business immigration law firm that helps individuals and corporations obtain work permits, green cards and citizenship.

Berardi Immigration Law is a business immigration law firm that helps individuals and corporations obtain work permits, green cards and citizenship.

Chef Mandy Bailey and her husband, Trueman Muhrer-Irwin, have been working on their nonprofit community café, Big Big Table, for four years. They plan for a welcoming place where people from all backgrounds can come together to enjoy a healthy meal, regardless of ability to pay.

Our February 2017 “Woman in Leadership is Karen L. King. Karen King was appointed executive director of the Erie County Commission on the Status of Women by Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz in June 2016.

Our January 2017 “Woman in Leadership is Ann-Marie Orlowski, the new CEO of Cradle Beach. Ann-Marie, a Lancaster resident, has 25 years of experience working in child welfare.