Chapter President: Jen Burton (Oaks Dumpster Rental)

Jen is the General Manager for Oaks Dumpster Rental for the past 3+ years, which is a quickly growing roll-off dumpster provider in NY and PA. Prior to this position, she was a Sales Manager for a large corporation in the travel industry for 20 years.    

Jen formerly served as Vice Chair for Aspire of WNY.  Aspire is an organization that works with children and adults with developmental disabilities that helps them realize their full potential and live as independently as possible.   She has humbly served this board for over 9 years, and is honored to help support the amazing people and families that rely on Aspire. 

In addition, she is a Girl Scout co-leader to 8 glorious, spunky 13-14 year old tweens!

She previously served as VP of Buffalo Executives Association. 

Jen serves on the all organization committees. 

Vice President: Marie Patton (Active Workforce)

Marie has worked in the construction industry for 20+ years, both as an administrative and field worker.

Currently, Marie is the Director of Operations and Safety at Active Workforce, Inc. Aside from managing the business operations, she also teaches OSHA10 and 30hr in Construction for her clients as well as a nonprofit construction training program (SACRA at Assembly House) where she also helps with soft skills and mock interviews. She has been involved with 716 Ministries, and the BOCES program performing mock interviews for graduating classes and assisting with job placement in the construction sector.

Currently she is serving as Treasurer for the Black Rock Riverside Alliance and sitting on the BOCES Construction Advisory Boards for both High School and Post- Graduate Training Programs.

Treasurer: Madalyn Murphy (Turner Construction)

Madalyn has been in the construction industry for 8 years. She is a Project Manager for Turner Construction. As a Project Manager, Madalyn manages the flow of communication between owner, design team, and contractors, while reporting on schedule and budget through all phases of construction.

This is Madalyn's third year serving the NAWIC Buffalo Niagara Board.

She currently sits on finance, marketing, and events committees for the chapter. 

Recording Secretary: Michelle Gerace (J.W. Danforth)

Michelle has been in the Industry for more than 25 years. She has extensive experience in many facets of the construction industry having started in the field and continuing her career in various Leadership capacities. Michelle had key roles in both local and global companies that focused on construction, electrical utility, controls, contracting and electrical/mechanical service. She was on the leadership team for a large global company managing field technicians, engineers and service teams. Michelle currently works for JW Danforth. At Danforth, she now coaches the regional service sales & operations teams in the plumbing, HVAC and filtration areas including everything from field, to sales, to management.

She previously served on the Town of Wheatfield Business Development team, the membership committee for Buffalo Niagara Sales & Marketing organization and served on the USAF Color Guard. She is a Certified Energy Manager and Certified Demand-Side Management Professional.

Michelle is a proud veteran of the US Air Force.

This is Michelle's third term serving the board. 

Corresponding Secretary: Lynsey Ross (Christa Construction)

Lynsey has been a part of the construction world for going on 8 years! She started as an Administrative Assistant for Christa Construction and has since been promoted to a Compliance Manager, handling all of the MWBE, SDVOB and Section 3 reporting for the various funding entities on a number of projects. 

She is also currently learning the skills and responsibilities that go with becoming an Assistance Project Manager and hopes to one day become a Project Manager herself.

Lynsey is currently serving her third year as a board member for the NAWIC Buffalo-Niagara chapter and is part of the Diversity Committee, which deals with workforce and MWBE education and the Events committee. 

Immediate Past President: Jillian Penkin (RD Weis)

Jillian has been in the industry for about 13 years. She is currently and account executive with RD Weis, a commercial flooring contractor.

She has served NAWIC for about 11 years, first in Rochester and now proudly in Buffalo. Jillian also served on the board of the Women's Foundation of Genesee Valley and Women's Council, specifically the Young Women of Distinction committee.

Jillian is the founder and backbone of the NAWIC Buffalo Niagara chapter and is proudly serving her second term as President.

Jillian participates in all committees. 

Director : Kristie Gerace (Construction Exchange-"CONEX")

Kristie oversees the CONEX online plan room operations and is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with architects, developers, owners, and government/municipalities to distribute project information to CONEX members.

Kristie is also a liaison for Building WNY Magazine.

Kristie serves on the Board of Directors for Beam Buffalo (Buffalo Engineering Awareness for Minorities), is an Allied Member of the AIA (American Institute of Architects), sits as Co-Chair on the AIA Diversity Committee, is a member of APWA (American Public Works Association) and is an active member of the DAC (Development Advisory Council) through the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.

This is Kristie's' second year as Corresponding Secretary of the NAWIC Buffalo Niagara board.  

Director: Megan Kreher (RP Oak Hill)

Membership Chair

Megan has worked in the construction industry for 4 ½ years. She started as an intern at RP Oak Hill while in college, and was hired full time as an Assistant Project Manager after graduating, and finally promoted to Project Manager last year. She also helps in the estimating department. In addition to her daily duties, she also has been on RP Oak Hills Safety Committee for the past 4 years.

Megan is serving her second term on the Board and has works diligently as our Membership Chair.  

Director: Kelley Maloney (Gilbane)

Kelly has worked in Construction Management  for the past 18 years.  She is currently serving as a Senior Project Manager for Gilbane Building Company where she is in the midst of completing the ECMC curtainwall and roofing renovation project. 

Kelly has been active with the Rise Up organization as well as the Construction Exchange of Buffalo. 

Kelly is a graduate of Ithaca college,  where she played basketball. 

Director: Elise Cassar

Elise Cassar is a senior associate at Duke Holzman. She handles a variety of civil litigation matters, including construction matters, first party insurance disputes, and employment disputes. Prior to joining Duke Holzman, Elise focused her practice on defending personal and commercial clients in a range of property and personal injury litigation. She is also a member of the New York State Bar Association, Bar Association of Erie County, Women's Bar Association of the State of New York, Western New York Chapter, and the Construction Exchange of Buffalo and WNY.

Ms. Cassar graduated cum laude from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 2007. She went on to receive her law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law in 2010. During law school, Ms. Cassar was a member of the Desmond Moot Court Board and served as an Articles Editor for the Buffalo Human Rights Law Review.

Outside of the legal profession, Elise enjoys travel, running, gardening, and spending as much time as possible with family. She lives in Orchard Park with her husband John, son William, and their dog, Marshmallow.  

Director: Christina Kramarz

Christina is the Marketing Manager for John W. Danforth Company (Danforth) and is responsible for all marketing initiatives and projects companywide. Every day is always different and anything is on the table; from writing and researching information for multi-million dollar proposals, to developing marketing materials for trade shows to creating social media and web stories or editing presentation content. You always have to have a "I can do this" attitude and be willing to take anything head on that comes your way. She has been with Danforth for five years and in the construction industry for 11 years and have truly loved seeing the progress the company has made!

Christina is a Niagara Falls Native, Newlywed - Husband Kevin & (3) cats - Claude, Pinkie and Kody - all tuxedos

She is a Niagara University Grad - MBA - Strategic Marketing focus

An avid Buffalo Bills, NY Yankees and Sabres Fan 

Boards/Committees

BOD - NAWIC Buffalo Niagara

Marketing Committee for NAWIC. I have been in charge of the committee since the Buffalo Niagara Chapter started in 2020.

Women in Construction Week Committee for Danforth since 2020, planning and organizing the yearly event, apparel order and distribution to all the women of Danforth in field and office.

Alumni Chapter Committee for Niagara University since 2017.

Joseph Schwartz Memories in Media Scholarship Fund (Niagara Falls High School) that was developed in 2021.

WNY Girls in the Trades Committee with NAWIC Buffalo Niagara, Danforth and Erie 1 BOCES.

She has also served on various committees for galas, golf events and seasonal festivals for the Niagara River Region Chamber of Commerce from 2016 to 2018.