ASPA Buffalo Niagara Chapter honors local professionals, announces 2023-24 board

Cheektowaga resident Ryan Gadzo takes helm as president

ASPA Buffalo Niagara Chapter – the local chapter for the American Society for Public Administration – announced recipients of its fourth annual awards program and elected new officers and board members during its recent annual meeting.

ASPA Buffalo Niagara Chapter recognized the following individuals in 2023 for their “outstanding contributions to the field of public administration”:

√ Excellence in Government Administration: Joseph Gramaglia, MPA, commissioner of police, City of Buffalo

√ Excellence in Public Administration Education: Kenneth Stone, MPA, lecturer of public administration, SUNY Buffalo State University

√ Excellence in Non-Profit Administration: Mark Talley, founder and director, Agents for Advocacy

After the awards presentations, ASPA Buffalo Niagara Chapter held elections for a slate of officers and board members. The incoming chapter president is Ryan Gadzo, MPA, research analyst with Erie County Department of Senior Services. He lives in Cheektowaga with his wife and son.

In addition to Gadzo, officers are as follows:

√ President-Elect Michael Hughes, MPA, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service

√ Immediate Past President Chris Marcello, MPA, New York State Office of Mental Health – Western Field Office

√ Secretary Marisa Maloni, MPA, New York State Unified Court System

√ Treasurer Kenneth Stone, MPA, SUNY Buffalo State University

√ Communications Officer Kara Kane, MA, Erie County Department of Health

√ Membership Officer Tony Astran, MPA, APR, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center / New York State Smokers’ Quitline

Board members are as follows:

√ Brian Bray, MPA, Erie County Department of Personnel

√ Laurie Buonanno, Ph.D., SUNY Buffalo State University

√ Makenzie Docteur, MPA, M&T Bank

√ Lisa Parshall, Ph.D., Daemen University

√ Brian Poliner, MPA, Ph.D., New York State Assembly

√ Julia Witherell, MPA, Cattaraugus County Department of Social Services 

More About American Society for Public Administration / ASPA Buffalo Niagara Chapter

Nationwide, the American Society for Public Administration has 55 local chapters and more than 10,000 members and affiliates. The organization strives to advance the art, science, teaching and practice of public and nonprofit administration. Locally, ASPA Buffalo Niagara Chapter revived in 2018 and now comprises 30 members and growing. The organization regularly co-sponsors the annual Public Service Recognition Week conference in April at SUNY Buffalo State. More information is available at https://www.aspabuffaloniagara.org and the chapter’s social media sites on Facebook, LinkedIn or X.