Our Staff

Cheri Alvarez, MS

CEO, Compeer Buffalo and International

Lori Boyce

Office Administrator

Kelsey Burch

Older Adult Program Coordinator

Laura Christian

Youth Program Coordinator

Ashleigh Cieri, MSW

Chief Program Officer

Brittany Cope-Mekus, MSW

Program Manager

Kendra Elliott, BA, MA

Director, Compeer International

Mark Gatti, MLS, MA, NYCPS

Peer Support Specialist

Alexandra George

Mental Health Education Program Coordinator

Alana Holm, MSW

Peer Support Program Coordinator

Lisa Johnson, MA, CVA

Chief Strategy Officer

Allie Kessler

Development Coordinator

Emily Lacki

Social Activity Facilitator

Ebony Townes, BA

Volunteer Engagement Coordinator

Raymond Wasielewski

Adult Program Coordinator

Our Board

Compeer Officers

Jessica Fuchs, Chair

Project Executive, Montante Solar

Mary Czopp, Vice Chair

Chief Communications and Development Officer
Child and Family Services

Gretchen Kelly, Secretary

Executive Director, Devereux/PLEA

Kenton Stancliff, Treasurer

Auditor, Department of Homeland Security

Board Members

Ron M. Olejniczak

Community Volunteer

Retired Financial Executive (Commercial and Not for Profit)

Jill Ann Robbins-Jabine

Nonprofit Advisor/Community Volunteer
Retired Executive (Nonprofit and Commercial)

Michael Flanagan

Partner, Hodgson Russ LLP

Peter Heffley

Retired Educator

Dr. Ellen Grant

Senior Advisor, O’Donnell & Associates LLC

Bernice Skirboll

Founder and Lifetime Trustee

Clifford Jackson

Chief U.S. Probation Officer Western District of NY

Michael Lignos

Owner, MTL Contracting Company

Paulette E. Ross, ESQ.

Attorney, The Coppola Firm

Marcus Hill

Manager of Placement Services, Northland Workforce Training Center

Emeritus Board Members

Ellen Daly

Retired, Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker

Micheal Bogucki

Senior Principal, Venue Strategies

Rob Kubiak

Director of Client Strategy, Arthur Elliott Marketing

Compeer’s Purpose: Champion Mental Wellbeing. Connect People. Build Relationships… One Friend at a Time.

Values: Mental Wellbeing • Inclusion • Trust & Transparency • Integrity • Curiosity

Since 1985, Compeer Buffalo has been providing social support in the form of friendships, to individuals (age 6 and up) who are striving for mental wellbeing. We know that friendship decreases loneliness and isolation, therefore we offer 1:1 friendship, social engagement activities, school-based mentoring, and mental health education in our community.