Board of Commissioners

Recommended by:	Governor
Date Appointed:	December 15, 2008
Current Term Expires:	June 30, 2018
Board Committees:	Chair of Audit & Governance;

Mike is currently the Senior Vice President and the Chief Administrative Officer for Kaleida Health, Western New York State’s largest employer ($2 billion & 13,000 employees).

Recruited in 2004, he has spent nearly two decades and has continually increased his responsibilities. Today he is responsible for all of the hospital system’s external affairs (marketing, communications and government relations), plus fundraising (two foundations), planning, construction and real estate. In this role, he also leads CEO and executive team communications, policy and strategy.

Hughes has been named one of the community’s most influential leaders, ranking annually in Business First’s "Power 250" list. In 2022, he was nominated by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and became Chair of the board for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. He previously was the youngest Commissioner in the history of the authority when first appointed to the Board in 2008.

Prior to joining Kaleida Health, Mike was recruited to and served as the Public Affairs and Marketing Manager for Rural/Metro Medical Services, a national ambulance company (now American Medical Response). In that role, he oversaw all media, government and community relations, plus marketing, business development and contract compliance in upstate New York. He also served as the statewide public information officer for Rural/Metro’s nationally recognized Disaster Response Team, including a weeklong stint in New York City on and through 9/11.

Hughes’ awards include the West Seneca Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year” for his 20+ years of volunteer work and community service.

In 2018, he was recognized nationally by the Public Relations Society of America, winning its highest award – the prestigious “Silver Anvil” – for he and his teams integrated communications and marketing campaign around the relocation, rebranding and grand opening of the former Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo (now Oishei Children’s Hospital).

Hughes community service is long in tenure. Aside from the NFTA, he currently is a member of the Erie County Industrial Development Agency board of directors.

In 2021, Mike was a key member of the 11 Day Power Play team that broke the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous ice hockey game at 252 hours. The event raised $2 million for local charities like Oishei Children’s Hospital and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Institute.

He has previously served on boards/committees with the Buffalo Place, Inc., the Town of West Seneca Zoning Board of Appeals, Amherst Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Council, Mercy Flight, Buffalo Police Athletic League, Canisius College Board of Regents, Bishop Timon/St. Jude High School, Greater Buffalo Metropolitan Crime Stoppers, Buffalo Niagara Partnership Government Relations Committee, Canisius College Government Relations Advisory Board, Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus Government Affairs Work Council and the Buffalo F.B.I’ s Citizen Academy Foundation.

In addition to this, Hughes coached West Seneca Hockey and West Seneca Soccer for more than a decade.

Other awards Mike has won include the National Federation For Just Communities “Community Leader” (2017), the “Outstanding Practitioner” from the Public Relations Society of America Western New York Chapter (2016), Canisius College’s “Marilyn Watt Alumni Award” winner (2010) and Business First of Buffalo’s “40 Under 40.”

Hughes completed Harvard Business School’s executive program in Cambridge, Massachusetts concentrating on health care management. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree (MBA) from Medaille College as well as bachelors in Communication from Canisius College.

He and his wife Kimberly (a teacher in Frontier Schools as well as Orchard Park Schools Board member) have two children, Emma and Owen.

Recommended by:	Erie County Executive
Date Appointed:	June 20, 2013
Current Term Expires:	June 30, 2016
Board Committees:	Chair of Property Risk Management; Vice Chair of Audit & Governance;

Commissioner Ansari is an experienced educator, healthcare administrator, with more than 25 years of combined experience. She has a diverse background working in areas of equal opportunity and affirmative action compliance, workforce development, higher education and community-based health care and hospital administration. Throughout her career, Dr. Ansari has been steadfast in her commitment to serve communities that have historically been underserved.

She has also served the community as associate director of the Education Opportunity Center at the University at Buffalo, associate director of the BRIDGE Program and director of Rehabilitation Occupation and Recreation Therapy for Psychiatry at Buffalo General Hospital. In addition, Dr. Ansari has several years experience working with community agencies conducting a variety of outreach and educational workshops, which include health and wellness, cross cultural communications, multicultural training, cardiovascular and health studies. She has been a relentless advocate fighting to improve children's education, especially within the City of Buffalo.

Currently, Dr. Ansari is the CEO and Executive Director of Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc., which strives to improve the health and quality of life serving both Erie and Niagara County residents. Prior to her recent appointment as CEO, she was Vice President of Operations and Director of Equity and Diversity at Niagara County Community College.

Dr. Ansari is a member of various local and national boards. She is well known for her advocacy work in the areas of health, education and human rights.

Dr. Ansari and her family are residents of the City of Buffalo.

Date Appointed:	July 23, 2020
Current Term Expires:	June 30, 2027
Board Committees:	Chair of Surface Transportation;

Pastor Mark E. Blue was born in the City of Buffalo in 1963 and has always worked and served to reach out to anyone who may have needed a helping hand. He joined the United States Air Force Reserve in 1983 and retired in 2003 with the rank of Master Sergeant.  During the time of his military service, Blue was employed at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station – 914th Tactical Airlift Group as an Aircraft Propulsion Technician. While employed at the Reserve Base, he also served as a Base Equal Opportunity Employment Counselor and served on the Air Force Reserve Base Human Resource Development Council.

Pastor Blue was called to the pastorate of Second Baptist Church of Lackawanna New York on November 27, 2001. In October 2012, Pastor Blue was elevated to serve as the President of the Baptist Ministers’ Conference of Buffalo and Vicinity, where he is dedicated to the working with pastors and ministers across Western New York. He is also very active in the Lackawanna Ministerial Alliance.  He received the Buffalo Citizenship Award for his dedicated work in the community, and he also received the Key to the City of Lackawanna.

Also, in 2012, Pastor Blue was appointed as the President of the Board of Directors of the Lackawanna Chambers of Commerce; a historical event, as he is the first African American to hold the presidency position within the Lackawanna Chamber.  Pastor Blue also served as the on the Overall Policy Committee Chairperson of Head Start program and on the Community Action Organization of Erie County Board.

In October 2016, Pastor Blue was voted in as the President of the Buffalo Branch National Association for the Advancement of Color People (NAACP), subscribing as a Gold Life member.  He is currently in his second term as the branch president.  In this capacity, Pastor Blue serves on the Erie County Industrial Development Board and sits on the President Advisory Committee of Buffalo State College.

Pastor Blue completed his Associates of Science Degree in Aerospace Technology in October 2001, an Associate Degree in June 2007, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in June 2009 in Christian Ministry at the Rochester Center of Theological and Biblical Studies; and is currently enrolled in a Master of Art’s Program at the Andersonville Theological Seminary.

Affiliate memberships include:  Concern Clergy Coalition, Straight Talk Committee Member,

Board Member of Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, Inc., Kensington Heights Community Advisory Committee Meeting of Erie County Medical Center Corporation, Board Member of Nicklaus Olmsted Buffalo Inc., Member of Lackawanna M I A (MEN IN ACTION).

Recommended by:	Governor
Date Appointed:	June 20, 2013
Current Term Expires:	June 30, 2018
Board Committees:

Mr. Baynes is a 1979 graduate of Buffalo State College.

Professionally, he is the founder and owner of A.J. Baynes Freight Contractors, Ltd., which he formed in 1980. He also founded and operates AJB Truck Lines, Inc., Extra Mile Transportation, LLC, Evolution Development, LLC, Evolution Logistics, LLC and 100 South Elmwood, LLC.

Extra Mile Transportation headquartered in Buffalo, New York, with offices throughout the United States, was named to the "Inc. 500" list of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies for three consecutive years.

An active member of his community, Mr. Baynes has been vigorous in supporting numerous organizations such as Women & Children's Hospital of Buffalo; NYS Economic Development Council; NYS Small Business Advisory Board; Buffalo State College; World President's Organization; Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; The Bison Fund and the Roswell Park Alliance Board.

Mr. Baynes has also served the region through his position on the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority as Chairman, Treasurer and Director

Mr. Baynes has been honored to receive the Buffalo State College Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award; Leadership Buffalo Values Award; Business First Fastest Growing Company Award; The Buffalo News Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award; March of Dimes Volunteer of the Year Award; Alfred University College of Business Award; Business First 40 Under 40 Award; Burt P. Flickinger, Jr. Children's Hospital Award and the Italian American of the Year Award in appreciation for his continued dedication to the community.

Commissioner Baynes and his family reside in Williamsville, NY.

Recommended by:	Governor
Date Appointed:	June 20, 2013
Current Term Expires:	June 09, 2028
Board Committees:

Commissioner Margo Dawn Downey was born in Kansas but spent most of her childhood in the Fort Worth-Dallas, Texas area. She graduated as valedictorian from the Texas School for the Blind in Austin, Texas. Her other educational experiences include a wide range of classes attended at several colleges in Texas and Louisiana, disability advocacy courses as well as training in the travel and hospitality industry.

Commissioner Downey’s work experience includes working for Juno, an internet service provider, the Internal Revenue Service, the VA Medical Center, teaching computer skills on a freelance basis and teaching daily living skills to individuals with disabilities at an independent living center.

Volunteer activities for Commission Downey include memberships in the National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind, serving on the LGBTQ+ and Braille Advisory Committees, as part of the New York State Commission for the Blind and appointment by New York State’s Governor Kathy Hochul to the Most Integrated Setting Coordinating Council.

Commissioner Downey is very familiar with the accessibility needs of various transit-dependent groups and has had extensive ADA and advocacy training. She shares her expertise with new bus and paratransit drivers, training them on the ADA, sensitivity, and customer service. Commissioner Downey is a transit-dependent individual and has personal expertise on local public transportation.

Other interests for Commissioner Downey include reading, listening to all kinds of music, singing, jogging, water sports, cooking, traveling, lifelong learning, and watching movies.

 

Recommended by:	Erie County Legislature
Date Appointed:	June 17, 2013
Current Term Expires:	June 30, 2016
Board Committees:	Chair of Ad-Hoc Art; Vice Chair of Surface Transportation;

In his professional life Wesley L. Hicks Jr., M.D. is:

• Chairman, Department of Head & Neck/Section of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery
• Professor of Otolaryngology/ Head and Neck Surgery
• Professor of Neurosurgery
• Professor of Bioengineering
  School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
  University at Buffalo
• Director, Head and Neck Surgical Fellowship Program
  Roswell Park Cancer Institute

Dr. Wesley L. Hicks, Jr. joined the staff of Roswell Park Cancer Institute in 1991, as Attending Surgeon, Department of Head & Neck/Section of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery. He earned his dental degree at Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, and his medical degree at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. He was a resident in Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery at the Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital, New York Hospital - Cornell Medical Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, and completed a research fellowship studying the in vitro growth of respiratory epithelium at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He then completed fellowship training in Head & Neck Surgery at Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA.

Dr. Hicks is licensed by New York State and is certified by the National Board of Dental Examiners, the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Otolaryngology. He is a Professor of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, Professor of Bioengineering and Professor of Neurosurgery at the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Dr. Hicks' research interests focus on tissue engineering, wound healing, and mechanisms involved in wound repair. His laboratory is studying novel work in bioengineered devices for enhanced wound repair and the cellular microenvironment and tissue remodeling.

Dr. Hicks is a member of a number of professional organizations, including the National Medical Association, the National Dental Association, the Triologic Society, the American Medical Association, the American Dental Association, the American Society of Cell Biology, the American Academy of Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, the American College of Surgeons, the American Head & Neck Society, the Society of Black Academic Surgeons. He was a Senior Examiner for the American Board of Otolaryngology, and did serve on the Editorial Board for the Laryngoscope and Journal of Clinical Oncology. Currently, he is a member of the Board of Directors of HealthNow Inc. /BlueCross BlueShield of New York State, WBFO the national public radio station in Buffalo, NY, and the Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers and was chosen as one of the top 100 physicians in the nation by Black Enterprise Magazine.

Dr. Hicks has authored or co-authored more than 195 journal publications, book chapters and abstracts, and has been issued a number of patents related to his interest in tissue engineering and wound healing.

Dr. Hicks is a resident of Angola NY.

Recommended by:	Governor
Date Appointed:	January 29, 2008
Current Term Expires:	June 30, 2027
Board Committees:	Chair of Aviation;

Commissioner Perry is a partner in Hodgson Russ’s Business Litigation and Employment Litigation Practice Groups. His practice focuses on numerous areas in employment-related litigation such as employment discrimination, harassment, breach of contract, and civil rights claims. He also handles other business litigation matters such as real estate, government relations, education law, municipal law, and nonprofit law.

In 2009, Mayor Byron W. Brown appointed Mr. Perry to Chair of the Citizens Planning Council of the City of Buffalo. In this position, he helps to determine the capital expenditures for the City of Buffalo each year.

Mr. Perry is very active in the community. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the New York Council for the Humanities, the Buffalo Urban League, and the Buffalo Police Foundation. In addition, he also serves as general counsel to a number of organizations including the Community Action Organization of Erie County and Sheehan Memorial Hospital. Moreover, Mr. Perry is the President of Mayor Brown’s Fund to Advance Buffalo and is Chair of the City of Buffalo Commissioner of Human Resources Selection Committee.

In 2004, he was the recipient of the Erie Community College Outstanding Alumnus Award. In addition, Mr. Perry has received the Erie Community College Foundation’s Distinguished Alumni Award (1996), and he also was named Business First’s “40 under Forty” Award (2000).

Commissioner Perry is a graduate of Erie Community College (associate of applied science) and the University of Buffalo (bachelors of arts). He earned his juris doctorate from the University of Michigan Law School.

Date Appointed:	July 23, 2020
Current Term Expires:	June 30, 2024
Board Committees:

Ms. Persico, a Partner with Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman, serves as the firm's Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Team Leader. She concentrates her practice in commercial litigation, including contract claims on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants. Ms. Persico also handles premises liability claims, corporate law, municipal law, foreclosures and real estate. She has had extensive experience in resolving complex disputes on behalf of her clients using both litigation and non-litigation methods.

Ms. Persico presents seminars for businesses and municipalities on various topics including CPLR Article 78 proceedings and real property tax lien foreclosures, and has served as Majority Counsel to the Erie County Legislature.

Additionally, Ms. Persico is a member in good standing of the New York State Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of New York and the Erie County Bar Association.

She is admitted to practice before all Courts in New York State and in the United States District Court for the Western District of New York.

Education

University at Buffalo School of Law, J.D. University at Buffalo, B.S.

Honors & Awards

The Best Lawyers in America© (2018, 2019)
Business First of Buffalo and Buffalo Law Journal, Legal Elite of WNY, (2017, 2018)
Chambers USA, Recognized Practitioner, Litigation: General Commercial (Upstate New York)

PRACTICE TEAMS

Business & Commercial Litigation Litigation
Real Estate

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

New York

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

U.S. District Court, Western District of New York

Community Involvement

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a future or similar outcome.

Erie County Medical Center Corporation, Board of Directors Director and Treasurer of the Western New York Trial Lawyers Association

Date Appointed:	July 23, 2020
Current Term Expires:	June 30, 2023
Board Committees:	Chair of Human Resources;

Stephen Tucker is the inaugural President & CEO of Northland Workforce Training Center (NWTC), the signature workforce strategy under Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Buffalo Billion initiative. In this role, Mr. Tucker is responsible for the management, oversight, and day to day operations of the new 90,000 square foot state of the art facility focused on training and preparing Western New Yorkers for careers in advanced manufacturing and clean energy.

His educational achievements include an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University and a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Wilberforce University. Mr. Tucker is a Murano Fellow as a graduate of Aspen Institutes’ Sector Skills Academy and a 2018 graduate of Leadership Buffalo.

Mr. Tucker was appointed to the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council in 2018 and received the Arthur O. Eve Award for Economic Opportunity presented by the New York State Association of Black and Puerto Rican Legislators in 2020. Mr. Tucker serves on the Board’s of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Buffalo Urban League, Leadership Buffalo, Independent Health Foundation and Insyte Consulting.

Date Appointed:	June 09, 2023
Current Term Expires:	June 30, 2025
Board Committees:

Dennis Virtuoso is a beloved figure in the Western New York community, having served more than 30 years in state and local government. One of only two members who served three decades (15 terms) in legislative office as a Niagara County Legislator, Dennis was the Majority leader for four years and Minority leader for 16 years. He served as the Chair of Public Works, Public Safety, and Health Services, and also served on the Finance Committee. Among his achievements was sponsoring a successful resolution allowing residents a voice to speak before legislature (they previously did not have one), and a successful resolution establishing an Animal Abuse Registry, which now serves as model for the State of New York. Upon his retirement from the legislature, he remains feted by its members, regardless of party affiliation.

 

While also serving as a Legislator, Dennis served as the Director of Code Enforcement for the City of Niagara Falls, holding Chief and Senior Inspector titles throughout his 28-year career with the city. Prior to that, Dennis served as the Supervisor of Niagara County’s Workfare Program and was the owner/operator of two local businesses, winning the 1985 Pine Avenue Business Man of the Year Award given by the Niagara Falls Chamber of Commerce.

 

Dennis served as Past President, United Steelworkers of America, Local 12256; Fourth Degree Knight, Knights of Columbus Council 247; member of the Cristoforo Colombo Society, Past President of the Pine Avenue Business Association, Niagara County Building Officials, New York State Building Officials and as lead usher and parish member at Holy Family Church (Our Lady of Mt. Carmel).

 

Dennis is a 1970 graduate of Niagara Falls High School and received a Niagara Falls Education Foundation for Distinguished Alumni Award in 2022. He also completed coursework at both Niagara County Community College and Cornell University. Dennis has been married to Gina for 36 years, has three children, five grandchildren and is the proud father of a rescue dog named Daisy.

 

Recommended by:	Governor
Date Appointed:	June 14, 2012
Current Term Expires:	June 30, 2014
Board Committees:	Vice Chair of Human Resources;

Commissioner Wilcox has worked for Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation for the past 23 years and acted as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 97 Business Representative for three years. In addition to serving as a Commissioner for the NFTA, Mr. Wilcox is WNY Chairman of Committee on Political Education.

An advocate for environmental conservation, Mr. Wilcox has spent two years as a spokesperson for the Clean Coal Project with NRG Energy and also serves as President and founder of the Niagara Greenspace Consortium (501c3), an organization focused on environmental/brownfield reuse in the Buffalo Niagara region, in accordance with the Niagara River Greenway Commission.

A United States Air Force veteran, Mr. Wilcox received an Air Force Commendation Medal for accomplishments stemming from his four-year service. He received his Associates degree in Applied Science and currently resides in North Tonawanda with his two daughters.