PSRW Conference 2026

Preliminary Program, Saturday, April 25

Location: SUNY Buffalo State University at the Jacqueline Lo Vito Alumni & Visitor Center.

Parking:  Please park in Lots R-14 & R-15.  Campus Map.

Schedule

10:00 a.m.–10:30: a.m.: Check-in

10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m.: Brunch

11:15 a.m.   Presentation the Public Service Recognition Week Proclamation
                      Deputy Erie County Executive, Hon. Lisa Chimera

11:30 a.m.–12 p.m.: Keynote Speaker

Joseph (Joe) Raymond Dunne, Research Professor at the George Washington University, in the GW Institute of Public Policy, former Director of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Washington, DC (ret). 

12:00 p.m.-12:30 p.m.:  WNY ASPA Award Presentations
 

12:30 p.m.-1:00 p.m.   Coffee Break

Panel Sessions
Session 1 | 1:00 p.m.–2:45 p.m.

Panel 1: Budgeting Challenges for New York's State and Local Governments

Chair, Lisa Parshall, PhD (Distinguished Professor, Daemen University; Fellow - Rockefeller Institute of Government)

Panelists:

Mark Cornell, Erie County Budget Director
Frederick Floss, City of Buffalo, Fiscal Stability Authority
Hon. Kevin Hardwick, Erie County Comptroller
Ben Swanekamp, Deputy Mayor, City of Buffalo
 
Panel 2: Climate & Energy Policy in New York State

Chair,  Laurie Buonanno, PhD (Professor, Buffalo State University)

Panelists:

Ken Kujawa, Regional Director, National Grid 
Stephen Vermette, PhD, Climatologist & Professor, Buffalo State University 
 John Maggiore, Member, New York State Public Service Commission 
 

2:45-3:00 p.m. Coffee Break

Session 2  | 3:00–4:45 p.m.

Panel 1: Ethics in Government

Chair: Ryan Gadzo (Erie County, Department of Aging)
 

Panelists:  

Hon. Karen McMahon, NYS Assemblymember (District 146) 
Mr. Randall (Randy) Hoak, Commissioner, Department of Aging, Erie County, Former Hamburg Town Supervisor
Hon. Edward A. Rath, III (former NYS Senator and Erie County Legislator)

Panel 2:  MPA Student Research - Students from MPA programs throughout NYS invited to present their research

Co-Chairs: Ikhee Cho, PhD (Assistant Professor, SUNY Buffalo State) & Suparna Soni, PhD (Associate Professor, SUNY Buffalo State)

Panelists:  TBD

Bios

ABOUT OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKER

From 2019 to 2023, Joseph R. Dunne served as Director of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Washington DC (EPLO), responsible for relations with the U.S. Congress. Previously, as Acting Director in the European Parliament for Impact Assessment and European Added Value, he worked successfully to improve the toolkit on Better Regulation. Dunne worked on EU legislation for much of his career, including as Head of Secretariat for the European Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee (2004-2012). He was Deputy Chef de Cabinet for EP President Pat Cox from 2002 to 2004 and also worked as an Advisor in the Cabinet of the EP Secretary General. Prior to his work in the EP, Dunne served in the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin and as Secretary of the Irish Embassy in Madrid, Spain. Joe was a senior Fellow at the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF) and a Visiting Fellow George Mason University. Dunne's areas of reserach expertise include US-EU Relations, notably legislative cooperation between the United States and the European Union.  Recent publications include "Connecting the U.S. Congress and the European Parliament," in the Handbook of Transatlantic Relations, Routledge (2024) and “The European Parliament and the debate on the Future of Europe: More democratic legitimacy but less substantive legitimacy?”, in The Future of Europe, Bloomsbury (forthcoming) .

Hon. Lisa Chimera, Deputy Erie County Executive

Lisa Chimera, a lifelong public servant, currently serves as Deputy Erie County Executive. She was appointed to the position by Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz in October 2022. As Deputy County Executive, Chimera works closely with county departments, community organizations, and regional partners to advance initiatives that strengthen communities and improve the health and well-being of Erie County residents, playing a leading role in collaborative efforts that address public health, family stability, and community resilience across the county. Prior to her appointment as Deputy County Executive, Chimera served as an Erie County Legislator representing the 3rd District from July 2019 to 2022, and a member of the Tonawanda Town Board for 14 years prior to that. Chimera also worked for more than 30 years as an educator in the Kenmore-Town of Tonawanda School District before retiring in 2020.

PANELISTS 

Mark Cornell
 

Mark Cornell is the Budget Director for Erie County, a role he has held since April 2024, and is primarily responsible for development and management of a $2.3 billion annual budget. With over 15 years of experience in Erie County government, his career has focused extensively on financial management, policy development, and administration. Outside of his prior roles with the the Budget Office as Deputy Budget Director (2022-2024) and Senior Budget Analyst (2014-2020) where he gained significant experience in the county's fiscal operations, Mark served in high-level administrative and policy positions including Deputy Commissioner of Parks (2020-2022), Director of Policy and Communication within the County Executive's Office (2012-2014) and Associate Deputy Comptroller within the Comptroller's Office (2011-2012).  

Frederick Floss, PhD
 

Fred Floss is the former chairperson of the Department of Economics and Finance and Professor of Economics and Finance at SUNY Buffalo State where he teaches courses in both economics and finance including labor economics and labor relations, microeconomic theory, econometrics, public finance, investment and portfolio management, forecasting, and New York State governance and the State's budgetary process. Floss is currently a Secretary of the Buffalo Fiscal Stability Authority and the past Chairperson and current vice president of the SUMMIT Board of Directors (a school for autistic and developmentally challenged students). He was elected in 2024 as a member of the Kenmore-Tonawanda School Board and was a member of the 2024 Erie County Citizen Salary Review Commission setting salaries for elected officials. Floss previously served as the Statewide President and Vice President of Academics for United University Professions. While at UUP he served as their chief negotiator for the 2007-2011 contract, which represented 37,000 academic and professional faculty in the SUNY system and currently serves as the Chapter President at Buffalo State. He is also a senior fellow at the Fiscal Policy Institute where he was FPI's third Executive Director. Floss has published numerous articles in economics and finance including higher education finance, gender inequity microeconomic theory and forensic economics. Floss serves as DEI Officer for UUP, SUNY Buffalo State Chapter (2025-2207).  His most recent publication is Buonanno, L., Parshall, L., Floss, F. and Brown, B. (June 2026) (eds.) Governing New York State Through Crises.  SUNY Press.

Kevin Hartwick, PhD

Dr. Kevin R. Hardwick is the Comptroller of Erie County, elected in 2021 and re-elected in 2025. His extensive career blends practical political experience with academic expertise. He began his public service as a high school senior, elected to the Susquehanna Valley Board of Education, followed by eight years as a Town of Binghamton Councilman and a role in the New York State Senate. Dr. Hardwick holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from SUNY Binghamton and has been a professor at Canisius College since 1989, where he teaches public policy, state and local government, and served as Political Science Department Chair and Director of the Urban Studies Program. Prior to becoming Comptroller, he served on the Tonawanda City Council (1995-2009) and the Erie County Legislature (2009-2021). He is also known for his media analysis and for creating and hosting the WBEN radio program, Hardline with Kevin Hardwick.
 

Ken Kujawa

Ken joined Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation in January 1990 as a Graduate Intern in the Company’s Economic Development Department.  He currently serves as the Regional Director in Western New York where he is responsible for managing relationships with National Grid’s largest commercial and industrial customers, municipalities, local and state elected officials and key stakeholders.   Ken represents National Grid on the board of directors of the following organizations:  Buffalo Niagara Partnership (Western New York’s largest business advocacy organization), Invest Buffalo Niagara (Regional marketing organization whose mission is to attract capital investment and jobs to Western New York),  Northland Workforce Training Center (Regional workforce development organization), and the United Way of Buffalo & Erie County.  Ken is a graduate of Canisius College (now Canisius University) and has an MUP from UB and an MBA from Canisius College.

Karen McMahon

Karen McMahon was raised in Snyder, NY and earned both her undergraduate and law degrees at the University at Buffalo. She worked for nearly 30 years as a confidential law clerk to judges of the New York State Appellate Division, Fourth Department, and the United States District Court for the Western District of New York. Following her retirement from federal service in 2016, she joined the private practice of her husband, attorney Jeff Marcus, representing parents of students with disabilities in special education cases.

Karen was elected to the New York State Assembly, representing the 146th District, in 2018. She is a member of the Environmental Conservation, Higher Education, Judiciary, Libraries and Education Technology, People with Disabilities, and Transportation committees. She is also a member of the Legislative Women’s Caucus and is the Chair of the Committee on Ethics and Guidance, and Co-Chair of the Commission on Legislative Ethics.

Karen is the mother of three daughters and two rescue pups. When she’s not busy representing her community in Albany, Karen enjoys climbing the High Peaks of the Adirondacks. 

John Maggiore

On June 10, 2021, John B. Maggiore was appointed Commissioner of the New York State Public Service Commission (Commission). Mr. Maggiore’s term runs through February 2027. Mr. Maggiore has served in various roles in the Executive Chamber since 2011, most recently as senior advisor to then Governor Andrew Cuomo. Prior to that, he served as then Governor Cuomo's Director of Policy, Chief of Staff to Lt. Governor Robert Duffy, and the Governor’s Director of Regional Affairs. During Mr. Maggiore’s time as Policy Director, the Cuomo administration first articulated the Clean Energy Standard, launched the electric vehicle rebate program, implemented the NY Sun program, promulgated the offshore wind master plan, announced several large-scale renewable projects among other nation-leading clean energy policy initiatives. Earlier in his career, Mr. Maggiore served as Chief of Staff for a leading member of the Assembly Energy Committee for eight years. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Government from Connecticut College, a master’s degree in Political Science and Government from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Harvard University.

Edward A. Rath, III

Edward A. Rath III, Republican – Conservative – Independence – SAM, was elected to the New York State Senate in 2020, serving from January 6, 2021-December 31, 2022.  He served as Ranking Member of the New York State Elections and Local Government Committees. Prior to being elected to the Senate, Senator Rath was an Erie County Legislator for 13 years. As a Legislator, Senator Rath’s leadership led to the creation of the County’s Silver Alert Local Law, an Amber Alert for seniors that has since become a model program statewide. Ed was a longtime member of the Legislature’s Public Safety Committee, where championed first responders and led efforts against cyberbullying.  Ed prioritized making Erie County more affordable for families and authored legislation to create a Property Tax Stabilization Fund to protect homeowners and hold the line on property taxes A lifelong Amherst resident, Senator Rath and his wife, Amy have three daughters.  He received his baccalaureate degree from Syracuse University, with a major in Political Science and a minor in History.  In 2005, he completed the Executive MBA program at Canisius College – Magna Cum Laude.

Stephen J. Vermette, PhD

Professor of Geography, within the Geosciences Department at SUNY Buffalo State. My teaching interests are in physical geography; specifically, meteorology, climatology, and on water-related issues. Recent courses taught: Meteorology (GEG/GES 241), Arctic Geography (GEG 359), Weather & Society (GEG 386), Extreme Weather (GEG 383), Quantitative Methods (GEG 390), and Watershed Analysis (GEG 421).

Current activities revolve around Western New York’s (WNY) meteorology and climatology, with a focus on researching the geography, science, and history of WNY’s Weather/Climate; defining and characterizing WNY’s climate zones; and researching climate trends within Western New York - characterizing WNY’s climatic responses and nonresponse in a warming world. Additional activities involve watershed research, including assessing water quality in local streams and lakes.

On a lighter side, I serve as custodian for the Golden Snowball trophy while it is in Buffalo - over the past couple of years Buffalo was the snowiest city in New York State and the country.

Currently serving as a Research Associate of the Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences and as a Board Member of the Erie County Soil and Water Conservation District. Past Co-coordinator of the New York Geographic Alliance (NYGA) and Research Director of the NYGA project “B-Wet Upper Susquehanna Project’’.

 Received the National Council for Geographic Education Distinguished Teaching Achievement Award in 2006, and the Buffalo State President's Award for Distinguished Teaching in 2010. Recipient of a commendation from the National Geographic Society for dedicated leadership rendered to the State of New York to ensure the geographic literacy of the next generation, as well as the 2011 Virginia Figura Award from the NYGA in recognition of distinguished service to geographic education in New York State. Awarded the 2013 Burchfield Penney Art Center’s “Esprit de Corps Award”, as well as a Certificate of Commendation, with co-curator Tullis Johnson, from Museumwise for “Weather Event’” − an exhibition of Charles Burchfield’s watercolors as interpreted from a meteorological perspective.

Conference Committee

Laurie Buonanno, Buffalo State, WNY ASPA President 2025-2026, Director, Institute for European Union Studies at SUNY
Brian Bray, Erie County, WNY ASPA Executive Board 
Ikhee Cho, Buffalo State
Rachelle Clark, Buffalo State, MPA student representative
Camyrn Collins, SUNY Fredonia
Ryan Gadzo, Erie County, WNY ASPA Membership & Communications Officer
Suparna Soni, Buffalo State, WNY ASPA President-Elect 2025-2026