About
The Construction Exchange of Buffalo & WNY is a not-for-profit organization that has served the local construction industry since 1981.
Our mission is to enhance the growth and prosperity of member companies by providing information, education, and communication for the construction industry. As the largest construction association in Western New York, Construction Exchange is an influential advocate and steward for the promotion and advancement of our industry.
If you are looking for information on bidding and planning stage residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal construction projects, or low-cost safety training and consulting, construction education, industry events, a competitive workers’ compensation plan, or to save money on the things you use every day, you have come to the right place – the Construction Exchange of Buffalo & WNY.
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Our Team
Joe Benedict
Executive Director
Joe joined the Construction Exchange in November 2009. He is responsible for day-to-day operations and working with the staff to ensure the association lives up to its mission of providing information, advocacy, education, and communication for the construction industry.
Darcy Baroudi
Finance Manager
Darcy joined the Construction Exchange in May 2013. Her position as finance manager includes responsibilities for maintaining the financial records for the Construction Exchange and all of its affiliations. She is also a notary public.
Cyndie Buske
Office Assistant
Cyndie joined the staff of the Construction Exchange in December of 2006. Her duties include customer service, safety training registration as well as assisting in all office-related activities.
AmyRae Nessa
Director of Sales & Membership
AmyRae is the newest team member to the Construction Exchange, she joined the team in July 2022. She is responsible for recruiting new members and improving member engagement and retainment. Her daily activities include meeting with existing and potential members, overseeing marketing and events, crafting member/industry communications and promoting member benefits and service.
Melissa Kowalczyk
Plan Room Coordinator
Melissa joined the Construction Exchange in 2019 and is responsible for maintaining plans and bid documents; including pertinent information on projects such as bid date, valuation, and addendum. Melissa’s daily activities include interfacing with architects, engineers, general contractors, municipalities, sub-contractors, and construction managers.
Kristie Michael
Construction Relationship & Plan Room Manager
Kristie joined the Construction Exchange in May 2017. She oversees the plan room and is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with the owners, architects, and contractors that use the Construction Exchange to distribute project documents and information.
Jennifer Dougherty
Office Assistant
Jennifer joined the Construction Exchange in 2018. She is the administrative assistant for the Buffalo Niagara Builders’ Association and the Home Improvement Council. Her responsibilities include meeting preparation with timely task follow-through after. She also assists in organizing events and oversees membership reports and the status of members. She is also a notary public.
Jennifer Starr
Online Plan Room Tech
Jen joined the Construction Exchange in 2005. Her duties include maintaining the Online Plan Room and assisting in all office-related functions as required.
Jennifer Van Dusen
Workforce & Education Director
Jenn started with the Construction Exchange in 2021. Jenn is responsible for planning and managing the Construction University classes, developing and growing the CONEX Careers App, and educating the youth and public on careers within the construction industry.
Julie Rayner
Executive Assistant
Julie Joined The Construction Exchange in October of 2021. Her position as Executive Assistant includes responsibilities of being Secretary to the Executive Director and assisting several other associations by organizing meetings and planning their major events. Julie also helps with any miscellaneous office needs.
Board of Governors
Chairwoman - Nicole Savage
NW Contracting
Vice Chairman - Dan Sarzynski
Rupp Pfalzgraf
Secretary/Treasurer - Doug Elia
Montante Construction
Executive Director - Joe Benedict
Construction Exchange
Omar Abdallah
DV Brown and Associates
Michelle Ashby
Tipping Point Communications
Kevin Biddle
Mader Construction
Joseph Brennan
Northwest Bank
Brad Buyers
County Line Stone
Mercedes Calway
RP Oak Hill Building Company
Lauren Chmielowiec
Upstate Rebar/Upstate Steel
George Churakos
Mark Cerrone, Inc.
John K. S. Cleary
Gilbane Building Company
Arnie Collier
Iroquois Bar
Rob Coppola
Lawley Insurance
Kirk Fitscher
Gilbane Building Company
Carley Hill
CaHill Resources
Susanne Kelley
Sienna Environmental Technologies
Joe Mannarino
Buffalo Construction Consultants
Joe Marchitte
MKS Plumbing
Jim Panepinto
Pinto Construction
Luis Rodriguez
Rodriguez Construction Group
Sal Sciandra
Frey Electric
Matt Sikora
Turner Construction Company
Michael Winderl
LaBella Associates
Committees
Investment Committee
Mission
The Investment Committee reports to the Finance Committee and oversees the Construction Exchange and Construction Industry Education Foundation investment accounts.
Meeting Frequency
As needed
Members
- (Chair) Scott Hoffman – Hoffman Hanafin
- Kelly Besaw – Chiampou, Travis, Besaw & Kershner
- Lauren Chmielowiec – Upstate Steel/Rebar
- Mark Collard – Landmark Wealth Advisors
- Jim Logan – Construction Industry Education Foundation
Annual Outing Committee
Mission
Plan Annual Outing and assist staff the day of.
Meeting Frequency
2 to 3 times a year as needed
Members
- (Chair) Jason Colby – Admar
- David Allan – Trinity Construction Management
- Carolyn Batt – Hurwitz Fine
- Tom Christopher – Admar
- Jack Dumpert – Bondedge
- Jim Ginnane – Planned Futures Financial
- Dave Shanley – Retired
- Pat Sullivan – Retired
- Michael Welch – Evans Bank
Auction Committee
Mission
Plan the Construction Industry Education Foundation 12 Days of Christmas and fundraise for event.
Meeting Frequency
3 to 4 times per year as needed.
Members
- (Chair) Chris Tryjankowski – PCS Plumbing
- David Allan – Trinity Construction Management
- Carolyn Batt – Hurwitz Fine
- Lynne Bona – Mallare Enterprises
- Tom Christopher – Admar
- Bill Diehl – Lafarge
- Mindy Elniski – LVBW
- Jen Kinney – Montante Construction
- Aly Luccari – Bright Organizing Solutions
- Dina Marinaro – Vanner
- Lisa Palladino – The Bonadio Group
- Patt Rozler – Turner
- Michael Welch – Evans Bank
Education Committee
Mission
Schedule educational and training programs to be offered to the membership.
Meeting Frequency
As needed (September thru May)
Members
- (Chair) Drew Miller, Webster Szanyi
- Reginald Alls, Montante
- Karen Antonelli, Chiampou Travis Besaw & Kershner
- Gary Bichler, R&P Oak Hill Building Company
- Erin Borek, Phillips Lytle
- Susanne Kelley, Sienna Environmental
- Andrew Malcolm, Campus Construction Management Group
- Joe Mannarino, Buffalo Construction Consultants
- Drew Miller (chair), Webster Szanyi
- Byron Nakagawa, United Rentals
- Ryan Pitman, Goldberg Segalla
- Greg Schober, Huber Construction
- Amber Storr, Hurwitz & Fine
- Tim Toole, Lawley Insurance
- William Vail, PaintCraft
- Sarah Viksio, M&T Bank
- Ryan Vondell, Redi-Mix
- Eric Wilczak, D.V. Brown
Executive Committee (Officers of the Board)
Mission
The Executive Committee shall have the authority and power to act on behalf of the Board during the intervals between meetings of the Board.
Meeting Frequency:
Quarterly
Members
- (Chair) Nicole Savage – NW Contracting
- Dan Sarzynski – Rupp Baase Palzgraf Cunningham
- Doug Elia – Montante Construction
- Joe Benedict – Construction Exchange
Legislative Committee
Mission:
Discuss legislative topics that may affect the Western NY construction industry and when necessary, determine appropriate corresponding courses of action. Typical courses of action may include membership training and/or notifications.
Meeting Frequency:
2 to 3 times per year (March and September) or as needed
Members:
- (Chair) Robert Michalak – Michalak & Dobson
- Diane Burger – CTS Contracting
- David Farinacci – Tradesmen International
- Steve Federico – Calspan Corp.
- Andy McLellan – UNYSE
- Adam Mollenberg – Mollenberg-Betz
- Chris Picone – Picone Construction Corporation
- Curt Resetarits – Buffalo Crushed Stone
- Tom Saia – Iroquois Bar Corp
- John Urso – Gypsum Systems
- Chris Wopperer – Thermal Foams Inc
Finance Committee (Committee of the Board)
Mission
1. Review the annual budget prepared by Management, 2. Review investment accounts and meet with investment advisors, 3. Interact with and provide oversight of the association’s CPA firm, and 4. Study major capital expenditure requests
Meeting Frequency
4 times per year or as needed
Members
- (Chair) Nicole Savage – NW Contracting
- Joe Brennan – M&T Bank
- Doug Elia – Montante Construction
- Joe Mannarino – Buffalo Construction Consultants
- Dan Sarzynski – Rupp Baase Palzgraf Cunningham
Marketing and Events Committee
Mission
Develop and oversee a marketing plan that increases awareness of the Construction Exchange and its membership benefits among the Western NY construction community. Discuss new programs that may be beneficial to the membership and oversee existing programs. Plan social events.
Meeting Frequency
Quarterly (February, May, August, November) or as needed.
Members
- (Chair) Chris Wopperer – Thermal Foams Inc.
- Michelle Ashby – Tipping Point Communications
- Carolyn Batt – Hurwitz & Fine
- Melissa Brinson – Millington Lockwood
- Henry Fischer – United Business Systems
- Mindy Elniski – LVBW/Lougen Valenti Bookbinder & Weintraub
- Jim Ginnane – Planned Futures Financial
- Caryn Martin – United Rentals
- Craig Mahoney – Holcim
- Jill Sawyer – LaBella PC
- Chad Vosseller – Ace Flag
- Jim Waddell – Frey Electric
- Robert Warrington – New Enterprise Stone & Lime
- Michael Welch – Evans Bank
Plan Room Committee
Mission:
Evaluate new plan room technology or functionalities. Determine the direction the Exchange takes with new plan room technology and systems.
Meeting Frequency:
3 to 4 times a year (February, May, October) or as needed.
Plan Room Committee Members:
- (Chair) John Embow – Groove Roofing
- Jeff Jones – CRH Cement
- Matthew McGuire – Danforth
- Dave Muskopf Jr. – MLP Plumbing
Safety Committee
Mission
Discuss topics related to safety in the Western NY construction industry and when necessary, determine appropriate corresponding courses of action. Typical courses of action may include membership training and/or notifications.
Meeting Frequency
Quarterly (January, April, July, November) or as needed.
Members
- (Chair) Van Mollenberg – Mollenberg-Betz
- Jeff Danahy – Vanner Insurance Agency
- Gordon DeLeys – OSHA
- Eric Frandsen – Frey Electric
- Anne Gaspar – Ciredon Group LLC
- Mike Jandzinski – Lovell Safety Management Co
- Dale Keller – Mader Construction
- Ryan Knoph – John W. Danforth
- Rocco Lueck – HR Benefit Advisors
- John Monson – Quality Risk Solutions
- John O’Hare, Bob Overhoff – LP Ciminelli
- Tony Picone – Picone Construction Corp
- Nicole Savage-Seaman – NW Contracting
- Mike Scime – OSHA
- Len Sommers – Lawley Insurance
- Ken Stephan – Mandon Building Systems
- Camille Waters – Datz Dat Construction