CCIDA Board Members
Our agency members bring a broad range of knowledge and experience in the areas of business and industry to public service.
Mr. Thomas E. Buffamante, Chairman
Tom Buffamante is a CPA and Shareholder in Buffamante Whipple Buttafaro PC, CPAs. He has been a practicing CPA since receiving his accounting degree from Notre Dame University. Mr. Buffamante was appointed to the Cattaraugus County IDA Board of Directors in 2010, currently serving as the Board Chairman.
He is a current member of the American Institute of CPAs, the New York State Society of CPAs, and the CEO Alliance in Olean. Mr. Buffamante received the Olean Chamber of Commerce Louie Award for his volunteer services. He is a former board member of the Upper Allegany Health System and the Challenger Learning Center.
Mr. Joseph E. Higgins, First Vice Chairman
Joe Higgins holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from Notre Dame University and is retired from Abbott Welding Supply.
He was appointed to the Cattaraugus County IDA Board of Directors in 2000. He also serves on the Olean Chamber of Commerce and Chairs the Chambers’ Allegheny River Valley Trail Advisory Committee and is a past members of the American Welding Society, American Metallurgy Society, and National Welding Society.
Mr. Higgins has received numerous awards for the building of the Allegheny River Valley Trail and was named a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow. He is the Past President of the Allegany Central School Board and Past President of the Olean Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Michael Wimer, Secretary
Mike Wimer is the President and CEO of Cattaraugus County Bank and holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Penn State University. Appointed to the IDA Board of Directors in 2015, Mr. Wimer also serves as a board member of the Independent Community Bankers of America, New Directions Foundation and Springville Country Club. He is board member of the Community Banks of New York State and is the organization’s Immediate Past Chairman.
Mr. Brent A. Driscoll, Treasurer
Brent Driscoll is retired, previously serving as the President of Cutco Cutlery and CFO of Cutco Corporation. He is a graduate of Buffalo State College. Mr. Driscoll was appointed to the IDA Board of Directors in 2010 and also serves on the Board of the Olean Business Development Corporation.
Mr. James “Joe” J. Snyder, Jr., Second Vice Chairman
Joe Snyder is the Manager of Lumber Operations for Fitzpatrick & Weller Inc. He holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo. Mr. Snyder was appointed to the IDA Board of Directors in 2016 and currently serves on the Cattaraugus County Legislature and the Jamestown Community College Board of Trustees.
Ms. Ginger D. Schroder, Esq., Member
Ginger Schroder is a founding partner in the law firm of Schroder, Joseph and Associates LLP, where she practices management side labor and employment law and has a small boutique practice concerning equine matters. Ms. Schroder holds a law degree magna cum laude, from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She is admitted to practice in New York State and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and has been named as a top ten lawyer in Upstate New York by Superlawyers and as “Lawyer of the Year” for Labor and Employment Law (2020, 2022) and/or as a “Best Lawyer” (2023) by Best Lawyers. In addition to her law practice, Ms. Schroder also serves as a Cattaraugus County Legislator and was appointed by the Legislature to the IDA in 2020. She is a Past President of the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York, Western New York Chapter. Ms. Schroder is active in her community and has been a medical professional for over a decade serving as an Emergency Medical Technician for the Franklinville Fire Department and as a certified instructor for the American Heart Association and Cattaraugus County in CPR/AED and First Aid. She also serves as a volunteer Equine and Farm Animal Welfare Officer for the SPCA in Cattaraugus County.
Mr. Thomas Cullen, Member
Tom Cullen was appointed to the IDA Board of Directors in 2024. He is the co-founder/CEO of RocketCup Coffee, founding Director of SBU Entrepreneurship Center and the Laine Business Accelerator. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University. In addition to the IDA Board of Directors, Mr. Cullen has served on the St. Bonaventure National Alumni Board, the Chicago Alumni Chapter Board and the Western NY Chapter of Entrepreneurs Organization Board.
Mr. Corey R. Wiktor, Executive Director
Corey R. Wiktor was appointed as the Executive Director of the County of Cattaraugus Industrial Development Agency on January 1, 2008, previously joining the agency in June, 2006 serving as the agency’s Chief Financial Officer.
Mr. Wiktor came to the Agency as a financial executive with broad experience in all aspects of financial management and economic development. He has direct experience with real estate, financial consulting and venture capital.
Prior to joining the County of Cattaraugus Industrial Development Agency, Mr. Wiktor worked for HSBC Mortgage Corp. (USA) as Development Director of New Construction, structuring various residential and commercial projects in New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.
Mr. Wiktor is a graduate of Canisius College. He is a board member of Invest Buffalo Niagara, Cattaraugus County Business Development Corporation, Olean Business Development Corporation, STERA, Cattaraugus Community Action and the Western Region Loan Corp.
Audit Committee Members of the CCIDA:
Chairman: Mr. Thomas Buffamante Member: Mr. Brent Driscoll
Member: Mr. Michael Wimer
Governance Committee Members of the CCIDA:
Chairperson: Mr. Joseph Higgins Member: Mr. James J. Snyder Member: Mrs. Ginger Schroder, Esq. Member: Mr. John Stahley
Finance Committee: Revenue Bond Issuance’s
Chairperson: Mr. Brent Driscoll Member: Mr. Thomas Buffamante
Member: Mr. Michael Wimer
For detailed financial information including our audited financial and current operating budget please click here.