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We are pleased to introduce Seth Piccirillo, BNP’s Director of Economic Development as our latest Staff Spotlight.

Seth’s role is to help our members increase their competitiveness and ability to thrive in the local, national and international economy.

Learn a little bit more about Seth in this brief Q&A. 

Q: What is your background in/what type of work were you in before the Partnership?  

A: I have worked in community development, public transportation and state/local government. I am an advocate for Western New York and lucky to have worked with special people over the years. 

Q: How did your past experience prepare you for your current role at the Partnership?  

A: Accomplishment requires cooperation, especially in our region. My experience has proven that employers and developers are change agents and need support. I am proud to be part of BNP’s team, in service to Buffalo Niagara’s economic success. 

Q: Tell us a little-known fact about yourself.   

A: I am training to run my first trail ultramarathon, the Many on the Genny at Letchworth State Park, in June 2022.  

Q: What do you like to do for fun? 

A: My wife Kelly and I enjoy taking our daughters Tessa (7) and Nola (4) to local playgrounds and parks. We especially like the Buffalo Harbor and DeVeaux Woods State Park Playgrounds. 

Q: Best Buffalo Hidden Gem.   

A: The Flat Rocks. The Niagara Gorge is home to a world-class hiking experience, and few locals and tourists know it. The Devil’s Hole and Vanderbilt Stairs connect hikers to Class VI rapids at the Flat Rocks, with a nearby trail to Artpark. I highly recommend visiting the gorge in all seasons. 

Q: What is your favorite part about living in Buffalo?   

A: Every neighborhood in Western New York provides a memorable experience through food, music, festivals, and small businesses. Trips of the beaten path connect you to people who have seen it all and will tell you all about it.  

Q: What are you doing differently post-pandemic that you didn’t do before?  

A: I am a more active listener and a more concise speaker. Over two years in virtual meetings, often while looking at live videos of ourselves, created a reevaluation of communication styles and use time. Overall, the pandemic made me more mindful of the “how and why” of my daily interactions. 

Q: What do you like best about working from home? 

A: The focused environment that working from home creates. Being able to walk the dog at lunch, or get dinner prep started, is also pretty nice.  

Q: Since you are no longer commuting to work, how do you fill your drive time?  

 A: When working from home, I use my drive time to drop our daughters off at school in the morning and to grab a coffee before the workday starts.  

Connect with Seth.