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About Us

Celebrating 49 Years Of Bridging Industry and Education

NFIEC functions as a common meeting ground for business, industry, education, labor, and government to collaborate. Today, as a result of ongoing efforts, NFIEC supports a more cooperative relationship with partners offering workshops, scholarship programs, and other community services.

Through the years, NFIEC has developed and presented a variety of programs, courses, and community services all aimed at helping the student of today become the educated, well-adjusted, and contributing employees of tomorrow. The benefits of collective input and support in many career initiatives allow NFIEC to support our members and partners across Western New York.
Our purpose is to work as an umbrella organization to communicate, support, and collaborate discussions between business and education.

Our Mission

NFIEC’s mission is to connect industry and education to create opportunities for students and adults to participate in the workforce of today and tomorrow.

Providing Much-Needed Community Resources

In 1976, the Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce joined with Erie 1 BOCES (Board of Cooperative Educational Services) to establish the Niagara Frontier Industry Education Council, Inc. (NFIEC). Today, we provide outreach services and scholarship programs, as well as other community resources, through the help of our partners and members, to help students and adults become employable.

NFIEC Board of Directors 2024-2025

Our Board of Directors support overarching policies and program directions in all areas of our service platform. NFIEC also has a variety of committee groups in Executive, Program, Membership, and Fiscal Responsibility areas.  All members are invited to any NFIEC Board or Committee Meeting.

New Board Members:

  • Mark Laurrie, Superintendent, Niagara Falls City School District
  • Robert Merkle, Assistant Superintendent for Business & Finance, Grand Island Central School District
  • Karen Kwandrans, Vice President Government & Community Relations, Niagara University
  • Robert Harris, Director of Career and Technical Education, Buffalo Public Schools
  • Renee Day, retired Business Teacher, West Seneca Central School District
  • JoAnn Ryan, retired Business Teacher, East Aurora Central School District; Adjunct Professor Buffalo State University
  • James Suchocki, Consultant, Primerica Financial Services

Executive Board:

  • Michael Putnam, President/Treasurer, West Seneca Schools Graduate 2003, NFIEC Scholarship Awardee
  • Colleen Christmann, Vice President, Retired West Seneca Schools
  • Lisa Earle, Secretary, Erie 1 BOCES
  • Anedda Trautman, Chairwoman of the Board, Erie 1 BOCES

Board Members:

  • Paul Stasiak, Niagara Frontier Auto Dealers Association
  • Mary Busse, Erie County Association of School Boards
  • Rebecca Holman, Local 17 Operating Engineers
  • Robert Christmann, NYS Leadership Council, LLC
  • Theresa Kazmierczak, Retired M&T Bank
  • Corrin Murphy, Retired West Seneca Schools, NFIEC Programs Committee
  • Susan Toomey, Retired