Our Staff

Cheri Alvarez, MS

CEO, Compeer Buffalo and International

Christopher Batty, MSW

School-Based Program Coordinator

Lori Boyce

Finance Administrative Assistant

Kelsey Burch

Older Adult Program Coordinator

Ashleigh Cieri, MSW

Director of Programs

Brittany Cope-Mekus, MSW

Lead Program Coordinator

Cynthia Dorman

Chief Financial Officer

Kendra Elliott, BA, MA

Director, Compeer International

Mark Gatti, MLS, MA, BA

Client Support Coordinator

Alexandra George

School-Based Mentoring Specialist

Alana Holm, MSW

Peer Support Program Coordinator

Lisa Johnson, MA, CVA

Chief Strategy Officer

Hayley Kasprzycki, MSW

Client Engagement Coordinator

Sierra Schwartz, BA

Affiliate Relations & Marketing Coordinator, Compeer International

Ebony Townes, BA

Volunteer Engagement Coordinator

Katie Walsh, MSW

Director of Mental Health Education

Raymond Wasielewski

Adult Program Coordinator

Our Board

Compeer Officers

Jessica Fuchs, Chair

Montante Solar

Mary Czopp, Vice Chair

Child and Family Services

Gretchen Kelly, Secretary

PLEA Agency

Kenton Stancliff, Treasurer

Department of Homeland Security

Board Members

Michael Flanagan

Hodgson Russ

Dr. Ellen Grant

Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center

Peter Heffley

Canisius College, Community Volunteer

Clifford Jackson

U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services, Western District of New York

Michael Lignos

MTL Contracting Company

Rob Kubiak

Arthur Elliot Marketing Group

Paulette E. Ross, Esq.

The Coppola Firm

Bernice Skirboll

Founder, Compeer

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.