Zelalem was born and raised in Ethiopia but left because of political issues in her native country. She immigrated to Yemen, alone, when she was in her 20s, and lived in a refugee camp there, where she met her husband, a political refugee. She learned the language, and started to work in a restaurant, eventually opening her own successful restaurant with a number of employees. 

Kathleen started her career as a RN, working at Sister’s Hospital. She earned a Masters in Nursing and taught Nursing at University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing at Houston and, after she returned to Buffalo, at D’Youville College. 

Natalie started renovating her North Tonawanda gallery space in May 2012, while she was studying art history and museum studies during graduate school at UB. Project 308 Gallery opened on August 16th 2012 and she hasn’t looked back since. The gallery hosts more than 40 exhibitions and events per year including an annual art festival each summer through the efforts of Natalie and her volunteers.

Nicole took over her father’s business after his untimely death in 2007. A biologist, he was the sole owner and founder of the company, and left no succession plan or insurance that could have helped in this difficult situation. She had not been involved in Nature’s Way Environmental previously but felt it was important to preserve what he had built for the industry, the community, and the company’s employees.

Dianna Derhak from DNA International Consultancy is our September Member Spotlight.

Alexis Dent has accomplished a lot since her graduation from Ithaca College in 2014 with a bachelor of science in integrated marketing communications. She worked as an account executive for Jackson Parker Communications and started her own business. She is founder and editor-in-chief of The Miss Information, a web publication aimed at young women.

Amy L. Sieracki is an Administrative Assistant with Catholic Health. She is our August member spotlight.

Molly Anderson was appointed executive director of Leadership Niagara in 2009 and took on the transformation of the longest running community leadership organization in New York State, as well as the rebranding and deployment of a new mission, vision, core values, and strategies.

A major event is coming to Buffalo's Riverworks and Adriana Gonzales-Vera and her company are involved in the planning.

Alexa Buzak is a Logistics Integration Coordinator at New Era Cap Company, Inc. She joined BNC in March 2015.