NOVEMBER 6, 2025
BUFFALO — Buffalo Mayor-Elect Sean Ryan today announced that he has assembled a transition team of policy experts and community leaders to identify the most qualified candidates to serve in his administration. The group reflects the diversity of Buffalo, including community leaders from the business, labor, and nonprofit sectors.
“Building a better Buffalo means doing things differently than the way they’ve always been done,” Ryan said. “By convening dozens of local experts with diverse professional backgrounds to lead a nationwide search, we’re going to leave no stone unturned in finding the most qualified candidates for every position in my administration.”
The transition team has been tasked with conducting a broad national search while also recruiting top local talent for Ryan’s administration. He has appointed two co-chairs to lead the transition team: Trini Ross, former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York, and Dr. Marie Cannon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Action Organization of Western New York. In addition, Mayor-Elect Ryan has appointed John Maggiore, Commissioner of the New York State Public Service Commission, to serve as executive director for the transition, overseeing all aspects of the process.
In total, the transition team is made up of more than 65 local leaders with many years of personal and professional experience across a wide variety of fields. In addition to the co-chairs, the team includes eight vice chairs who will combine to lead seven subcommittees, each focusing on a subset of senior-level positions in Ryan’s administration. Each subcommittee is tasked with identifying and screening candidates to recommend to the mayor-elect, ultimately recommending candidates for more than 50 senior-level positions.
Ryan, who campaigned on breaking from the status quo by bringing new energy and accountability to city government, also announced the launch of BuildABetterBuffalo.com. The website will host job postings for more than 90 positions in his administration and allow residents to stay updated on the transition process. Postings include the senior-level roles that the subcommittees are recruiting, as well as dozens of other exempt positions across city government. Existing employees whose jobs will be posted are eligible to re-apply for their positions or other roles.
Mayor-Elect Sean Ryan’s Transition Team
Co-Chairs
Trini Ross and Dr. Marie Cannon
Community Enrichment Subcommittee
- Dr. Barbara Seals Nevergold (Vice Chair)
- Ba Zan Lin
- Melissa Brown
- Ray Ganoe
- Rev. Dr. Dennis Lee, Jr.
- Melissa Leonard
- Dr. Henry Louis Taylor
- Yuki Numata-Resnick
- David Rust
Emergency Services Subcommittee
- Joseph Gramaglia and Charlie Torres (Co-Vice Chairs)
- Ron Barrett
- Donna Berry
- Pat Cray
- Rev. James Giles
- Rev. Dr. James Lewis III
- Steve Keohane
- Brian Ross
- Mike Swanekamp
Finance Subcommittee
- Ken Kruly (Vice Chair)
- Donna Estrich
- Eva Hassett
- Lavonya Lester
- Jim Milroy
- Chiwuike Owunwanne
- Janet Penksa
- Tracy Woodrow
Law Subcommittee
- Jeremy Toth (Vice Chair)
- Lauren Breen
- Deanna Eason
- Nathan Feist
- Sam Magavern
- Honorable Robert T. Russell, Jr.
- Nazmus Sakeeb
- Karen Welch
Planning, Permits, & Parking Subcommittee
- Jessie Fisher (Vice Chair)
- Brandi Barrett
- Paul Ciminelli
- Chris Dirr
- Brenda McDuffie
- Rev. George Nicholas
- Christina Orsi
- Melvin Taylor
- Rocco Termini
- Kayla Zemsky
- Steve Zenger
Public Works/Parks Subcommittee
- Bill Geary (Vice Chair)
- Jomo Akono
- Jodi Battaglia
- Paul Brown
- Betsy Constantine
- Katie Campos
- Michael Galligano
- Ted Rymarczyk
- Dr. Noemi Waight
Worker Relations Subcommittee
- Debbie Hayes (Vice Chair)
- Denise Abbott
- Brian Bray
- Maurice Brown
- Dr. Jacqueline Hall
- Jim Jarvis
- Jim Lakeman
- Robert Mootry
- Louisa Pacheco
- Josh Pennel
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