Former Character Council of WNY Board of Director

Ann Heraty is currently a member of the Ambassadors for Character Advisory Board of the Character Council of Western New York after serving for nine years on its Board of Directors. During that time, Ann held the positions of Recording Secretary and Vice-President. She also chaired the Media Committee .and helped to manage the website and coordinate the bulk mailings. She deemed it an honor serve the Council for those many years. Ann looks forward to further contributing as a member of the Ambassadors.

Ann was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. She graduated from Nardin Academy and D’Youville College, also earning a Masters Degree from Canisius/Medaille. She enjoyed a 40-year career in education and is retired from the Lake Shore Central School District.

Ann resides in Hamburg, New York with her husband, Pat, whom she met when they served as Jesuit Lay Volunteers in Hays, Montana. It was there that her volunteer service began. It continued as she assumed leadership positions in several organizations including the Evans Business and Professional Women’s Group. She presently chairs several events at Saint Bernadette Church in Orchard Park.

Ann and Pat relish family time with their two sons, lovely daughters-in-law and grandchildren.

President, Heraty Management Services LLC Professor, Hilbert College

Patrick Heraty is a native of Chicago, Illinois, the son of Irish immigrants and the second youngest of 7 children.

After earning a degree in Finance, he joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and was assigned to work at the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in Hays, Montana. There he met Ann Bellanti, his wife-to-be, who had grown up in Buffalo and was also assigned to Fort Belknap as a member of the JVC. Ann and Patrick have two sons, Jonathan and David, and are also blessed with two wonderful daughters-in-law, Molly and Linsey, and grandsons Jack, Ryan, and Finnegan.

Heraty earned a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) and a Master’s Degree in Business Education (MS) and earned a certificate in the Executive Leadership Program through Cornell University. Heraty has held a variety of academic and administrative positions in higher education.

He is a certified trainer-facilitator for Emotional Intelligence, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Additionally, he has Six Sigma Black Belt certification. Heraty has served as a trainer and organizational development consultant in the manufacturing, service, energy, and retail sectors. In the role of corporate consultant, Heraty has worked with the leadership of both management and labor, and has done leadership training for executives, middle management, and first-line supervisors.

Heraty has served on the Board of Examiners for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. He was treasurer of the Board of Directors of the Buffalo Citizens’ Academy Foundation, a community outreach organization of the Buffalo FBI. Heraty has served as vice-chair of the Village of Hamburg Economic Development Committee and served on the administrative team for the “Main Street Grants” program. The Heratys are active members of St. Bernadette Parish in Orchard Park.

Hamburg Town Council Member Karen Hoak was born and raised in Hamburg, NY. Karen began her career in the engineering field, collaborating on consultant projects in bridge and construction inspection for New York State Department of Transportation and New York State Thruway Authority infrastructure improvements and bridge safety. Recently she began serving Erie County as the Deputy Commissioner of Highways. Her community involvement includes advocating for inclusion and awareness to promote a welcoming community in “the town that friendship built.” She has recently established the Hamburg Coalition for Equity and Inclusion. As an elected official, Council Member Hoak is a liaison to the Hamburg Veterans Committee, the Hamburg Library Board and the Domestic Violence Advisory Board. Karen is raising her children Eva and August in Hamburg. Dedication to serving residents and continuously building bridges for community connection are her priorities for public service.     

Dr. Richard Hughes was born and raised in the Western New York and graduated from Perry Central School in 1992. He attended Allegheny College for his Bachelor of Science in Biology, completed his Master of Science and administrative certification at SUNY Fredonia and earned his Doctorate of Educational Leadership from Northcentral University. In December 2017, Rich was appointed the Superintendent of Schools for the Frontier Central School District, located just south of Buffalo along the shores of Lake Erie.

Dr. Hughes began his career as a high school science teacher and coach, before gathering experience in various administrative roles, including the past eight years as a Superintendent. Dr. Hughes led both of his prior school districts through a one student to one device (1:1) technology integration with the foundational focus on the development of a rigorous and relevant curriculum, coupled with effective instructional practices, personalized learning supported by aligned professional development. This resulted in significant academic gains, especially for struggling students in both low wealth districts. Most recently, he led Central Valley from a being a low performing district to amongst the highest performing in the BOCES. During his career he has already supervised over $100,000,000 in capital projects and improvements to lead his school districts into 21st century learning. Rich aims to empower others by acting as a facilitator for creating a shared vision, supporter to provide the necessary tools and training to support growth and a technological agitator by shifting the role of educators from the traditional factory model to one where students lead the learning with teachers acting as their guides. Dr. Hughes received the 2017 Outstanding Superintendent of the Year from NYSCATE. He is also a Lexington Education Leadership Award fellow, a contributor to COSN’s Trusted Learning Environment Seal, a committee member on regional, state and national technology initiatives and a presenter/panelist at various conferences.

Mary Ruth joined the Character Council of Western New York to continue her desired involvement with students. She is currently working with the scholarship and other committees. Mary Ruth recently retired from the Buffalo Board of Education after serving nine years as Central District Representative. She served as President of the Board for three years; Vice President of Student Achievement, Vice President of Executive Affairs, and Chair of Educational Support. She also served as Area 1 Director of the New York State Caucus of Black Board Members 2013-2016.

Ruth was a special education teacher and reading teacher at Community School #53 in Buffalo. Prior to her experiences at School #53, Mary Ruth was a reading teacher for grades pre-kindergarten through six at Broadway Village Elementary #57 where she conducted assessments and evaluations while teaching the Orton-Gillingham method of teaching reading. In September of 2002, she worked as Adjunct Professor in Reading at Medaille College. Mrs. Kapsiak was appointed as Assistant Principal of Stanton Academy #31. In 2004, she was appointed Assistant Principal at Dr. Lydia T.Wright School of Excellence #89. She ended her career with the Buffalo Public Schools as Supervisor of Elementary Education in 2006.

Mary Ruth has earned several degrees including a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication, University at Buffalo; Certificate of Completion, Orton-Gillingham Method for Reading from the Gow School in South Wales, N.Y; Masters of Science in Exceptional Education, from Buffalo State College; Masters of Science, Reading, Canisius College; and completed her certification in School District Administration from Canisius College.

Mary Ruth has served on numerous Boards in the past and is still active in the community. She is a member of The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Diversity Council, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. where she has served as Vice President and now is President Elect, Erie County Chapter of the Links, Inc. serving as the Assistant Secretary, and a proud former Trustee of St. John Baptist Church where she is still actively involved on several committees.

Being involved in the community and in the education of all students has been her desire and focus. Fostering a climate of positive culture, relationships, and character is key in developing communities of which we can be proud.

Mary Ruth resides in Buffalo with her husband, James M. Kapsiak, a retired educator.

Superintendent of Schools
Niagara Falls City School District

Mr. Mark Laurrie has been an educator in the Niagara Falls City School District for the
past 36 years. He has served in a variety of capacities during that time including In-
School Suspension Room Monitor, Teacher of Grade 3, Teacher of Special Education,
Dean of Students, Assistant Principal of two schools, Principal of two schools, Chief
Educational Administrator of the 2,500-student Niagara Falls High School, and Deputy
Superintendent.

Mr. Laurrie is currently the Superintendent of Schools of the Niagara Falls City School
District.

Mr. Laurrie has received numerous awards and recognitions including Educator of the
Year from the Niagara Area Chamber of Commerce, one of the Forty under Forty Rising
Leaders in Western New York from the Business First publication, and a Spirit of
Niagara Award from the Boys and Girls Club of Niagara, Inc., Kiwanis Leadership
Award, Empower Person of the Year, Niagara University Educator of the Year, Police
Athletic League Athlete Advocate Award, the Niagara Organizing Alliance for Hope
Service to Community Award, and the Lion of Judah Community Service Award and
Leader of the Year from the Niagara Street Professional and Business Association.

Mr. Laurrie is currently a member of the following community activities:
 Mental Health Association of WNY, Board of Directors
 Destination Niagara, Board of Directors
 HANCI, Community Advisor
 Leadership Niagara, Board of Directors
 United Way, Board of Directors
 Francis Center, Board of Directors
 Junior Achievement, Board of Directors
 South End Housing Committee
 Niagara Falls Education Foundation
 Governing Board of Cardiac Catheterization, NF Memorial Hospital
 Niagara OASIS Public Awareness – Involvement Subcommittee
 Healthier Niagara Falls Leadership Council