BNCVB Announces New President

Reading Buffalo Rising today it was announced the appointment of Dottie Gallagher-Cohen to the Presidency of the BNCVB:

The Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced the appointment of Dottie Gallagher-Cohen, current senior vice president of marketing at the Buffalo News.  Gallagher-Cohen will take over as president and chief executive officer of the BNCVB in late January.She will take over for Richard Geiger, who resigned as CVB president and CEO amid political pressure from County Executive Chris Collins.The announcement was made by Dr. Gary Praetzel, BNCVB chairman and dean of Niagara University’s College of Hospitality & Tourism Management.  ”It was an exhaustive process, generating a wide range of candidates possessing CVB and marketing backgrounds,” Praetzel said. “Dottie Gallagher-Cohen stood out immediately in this pool of candidates.  The results she achieved at and as the person providing oversight of the newspaper’s digital division were outstanding.  Her passion for Buffalo, creativity, marketing success in a variety of venues, and strong knowledge of technology provide the skill set needed to position the Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau as a leader in the 21st century.”"I am passionately committed to this community and a true believer in its potential as a tourism and convention destination,” Gallagher-Cohen said. In her new role, Gallagher-Cohen will oversee operations at both the Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center. The two entities have 71 full-time employees and a combined 2010 budget of $5 million.Erie County Executive Chris Collins said, “I had the opportunity to speak with Dottie after she was identified as a finalist and I believe the search committee found exactly the right person to lead the CVB at a critical time in our community.  Dottie will bring a fresh perspective, a passion for Buffalo and the necessary marketing and managerial experience to the job.  Dottie and I both agree that our community needs to be appropriately re-branded and I think Dottie will make us all proud as she leads that effort in her new position.”  As chief executive of both organizations, Gallagher-Cohen will lead the efforts to market Buffalo Niagara as a destination for conventions, meetings, sporting events and leisure travelers. The Buffalo Niagara Convention & Visitors Bureau sells and markets our assets and attractions to visitors outside of the Buffalo Niagara region as a convention, tourism and leisure destination for the economic benefit of the community. Gallagher-Cohen to Take Helm at BNCVB in January | Regional | Buffalo Rising, Dec 2009

The entire Niagara Rises organization congratulates Dotti on this appointment and we are excited to hear her plans for the region.  In fact, we invite Dotti to our next happy hour to see what his happening in Niagara Falls on January 7th at Eddie Jays — RSVP on Facebook or niagararises@yahoo.com or perhaps she would like to join our next meeting on the 19th which will be broadcast live on Niagara Broadcast Network’s Internet TV Show.    As always our Happy Hours and meetings are open to all that are interested in improving Niagara Falls!