New Chair, Members Named to Buffalo State College Foundation

Gerald L. Cornish, ’90, managing director, wealth management, for the Cornish Group of Merrill Lynch, has been named chair of the Buffalo State College Foundation Inc. Board of Directors for 2016–2017.

Cornish joined Merrill Lynch after earning his bachelor’s degree in economics from Buffalo State. Since then, Cornish has managed hundreds of millions of dollars of financial assets for families, corporations, and nonprofit organizations. Along with serving on the Buffalo State College Foundation Board, he has served on the Summit Educational Resources Foundation, a nonprofit agency that provides therapeutic and educational services to children with learning, communication, and behavioral challenges. He also has been involved with the Buffalo Hearing and Speech Center, the Western New York Muscular Dystrophy Association, and the Eastern Hills Rotary Club.

The vice chairs of this year’s foundation board are Michael Bonitatibus, ’79, and Ross B. Kenzie. The treasurer is Michael D. Masters, ’82, and the secretary is Judy L. Elliott, ’82.

In addition, four new members have been named to the foundation board:

Jonathan (Jon) J. Amoia, partner, director with Sandhill Investment Management. He is a 10-year veteran of investments and financial services who previously held the post of vice president at Citigroup in Corporate Bond Sales and Trading and director of business development for the Jasco Family of Companies. He also held positions at Manning & Napier and Smith Barney early in his career. Amoia has been a mentor through Big Brothers Big Sisters and was a co-founder of Harmony’s Hope, which sought to help a local woman who contracted a rare form of cancer.

Anne K. Constantino,’80, the president and chief executive officer of Horizon Health Services. A state-certified substance abuse and alcohol counselor, Constantino joined Horizon in the mid-1980s and spearheaded an effort to build the first intensive residential drug treatment center (Horizon Village) in the region and helped Horizon expand into Niagara and Genesee counties via satellite locations. She now oversees more than 300 clinical and administrative professionals.

Daniel O. Proto, ’70, a dentist practicing rehabilitative and restorative dentistry for patients in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania. He has been a member of the Olean School Board for 15 years, serving one year as president. In addition, he has served as chair of the building committee and president of the Olean Jaycees, president of the Cattaraugus County Dental Society, and director of JFK Run and the American Cancer Society Cross Country Ski Race.

Kenneth J. Sodaro, ’85, senior vice president, general counsel, and corporate secretary for HealthNow New York Inc. He previously served as assistant general counsel and staff counsel. Sodaro is chair of the Leadership Buffalo Board and is a member and secretary of St. Bernadette School. He previously served on the board of the Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo.