BUFFALO, NY –Canisius University’s commitment to developing leaders is reflected in Business First’s 2025 list of “Power 200 Women.” Thirty alumnae secured spots on the competitive ranking, which identifies the most influential women who are helping to shape the Western New York region by way of their positions as business executives, nonprofit leaders and entrepreneurs. The rankings consider time spent in a leadership position, prominence of the company or organization and its number of employees, as well as the person’s community involvement.
Congratulations to the following Canisius University alumnae named to this year’s list of “Power 200 Women:”
#4 Kimberly Minkel-Shepard MBA ’96, executive director, Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority
#17 Jennifer Walter MS ’05, chief financial officer, Moog Inc
#28 Laura Zaepfel ’86, vice president for corporate relations, Uniland Development Co.
#31 Karen Utz ’81, Empire State Development’s regional director for Western New York
#34 Nadine Marrero ’99, executive director, Buffalo Office of Strategic Planning
#40 Jillian Jones ’95, deputy director, Buffalo AKG Art Museum
#51 Suzanne Mitskovski ’98, chief financial officer, Americas Armor-IIMAK
#71 Chandra Redfern ’99, MS ’03, chief executive officer, Buffalo Federation of Neighborhood Centers
#80 Georgia Dachille ’87, MBA ’98, executive vice president, chief innovation, strategy and transformation officer, Rich Products Corporation
#85 Lenora Foote-Beavers ’92, chief health equity officers, Evergreen Health
#86 Diane Tiveron ’86, owner and managing partner, Tiveron Law PLLC
#87 Christine Wiktor ’01, area vice president, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Service
#92 Maureen Athoe ’80, chair of the board of directors, Catholic Health Systems
#95 Lorna Fitzpatrick ’90, vice president for medical affairs and senior medical director, Univera Healthcare
#97 Jessica Baker ’99, chief legal officer, Evergreen Health
#99 Norma Nowak ’79, PhD, chief scientific officer and founder, Empire Genomics
#102 Marie Cannon ’87, president and chief executive officer, Community Action Organization of Western New York
#117 Darby Fishkin MBA ’98, MBAA ’02, chief operating officers, CBRE Upstate New York
#119 Catherine Roberts ’97, president and chief executive officers, Resource Council of Western New York
#134 Kathleen Grisanti ’07, MD, president and medical director, Pediatric and Adolescent Urgent Care of Western New York
#136 Sheila Brown ’87, manager and principal owner, Vision Multimedia Group LLC
#137 Jessie Fisher ’97, executive director, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House
#149 Linda Dobmeier MBA ’83, chair, Buffalo State Council
#171 Marsha Koelmel ’90, co-founder and co-president, Catapault Executive Consulting
#177 Patricia Simonson ’76, chief executive officer, Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo
#186 Colleen Robertson MS ’01, high school principal, Nardin Academy
#193 Erin Grajek ’99, president and chief executive officers, Buffalo & Erie County Botanical Gardens
#197 Andrea Feine MBA ’08, vice president, Paramax Corp.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
