Administration Cabinet and Senior Staff

Mayor Byron Brown took the Oath of Office as the 58th Mayor of Buffalo, New York on December 31, 2005.

Elected Mayor with over 60 percent of the vote in the November 2005 General Election, Mayor Brown came into office emphasizing greater accountability and efficiency in City Hall, improving the quality of life for all city residents and a commitment to strengthening and expanding the city’s economic development activities.

Since taking office, Mayor Brown has followed those three guiding principles by launching a Zero Tolerance Law Enforcement initiative targeting quality of life crimes, along with other criminal activity in the city; implemented the management accountability tracking CitiStat Buffalo program, which monitors city departments’ service delivery activities on a weekly basis; and reconfigured the city’s economic development activities by creating the Department of Economic Development, Permit and Inspection Services, a change that has provided greater coordination and cooperation in all development activities taking place in the City of Buffalo. Click to continue to Mayor Brown's biography.

Vacant – Deputy Mayor/Administration

James Comerford – Interim Commissioner, Department of Economic Development, Permit & Inspection Services

Janet Penksa – Commissioner, Administration, Finance, Policy and Urban Affairs

In 1983, Janet Penksa began her career in the State Legislature as a graduate scholar on the Assembly Ways and Means Committee. She was ultimately appointed Secretary (Chief of Staff) to the Ways and Means Committee in 1993, becoming the first woman in the history of New York State to oversee one of the three key state fiscal departments in Albany (Senate Finance Committee and the Governor’s Division of the Budget being the other two departments).

Marty Kennedy brings a wealth of knowledge to this important city department and I am confident he will lead this department well as Commissioner, said Mayor Brown. His years of public sector experience coupled with his private sector background will help with his new responsibilities in leading the Department of Assessment and Taxation in the future.

Martin Kennedy has worked in the Department of Assessment and Taxation for the past 17 years and was most recently in the position of Assessor.  He has 21 years of real estate experience in the private sector, is a graduate of Bryant and Stratton and also completed coursework at Erie Community College and the University at Buffalo.  He also served in the US Army.

I want to thank Mayor Brown for the opportunity to lead the Department of Assessment and Taxation, said Kennedy.  I will continue the excellent work of my predecessor and I look forward to working with the Brown Administration to improve and enhance the Department’s service to residents of Buffalo.

Karla Thomas is the first African American and the first African American woman to receive the distinguished appointment of Commissioner of Human Resources for the City of Buffalo.  She comes to City Hall with over 13 years human resource experience in progressively responsible positions at Hammermill Paper Company, Moog Inc., Motorola Inc., and Leica Inc.  Karla’s most recent public sector employment was with the Erie County Water Authority where she served as Director of Human Resources from 2005-2008. Karla also spent 3 years as Chief of Staff to the 141st District New York State Assembly member, 6 years in Erie County government as Executive Assistant to the Majority Leader and Chief of Staff to the 7th District Erie County Legislator.  This broad background in public and private sector Human Resources, as well as multi-level municipal government administrative experience is what shaped her collaborative and progressive leadership style.  Karla holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Development from Medaille College.

Garnell W. Whitfield, Jr.  – Interim Commissioner, Buffalo Fire Department

Daniel Derenda – Interim Commissioner, Buffalo Police Department

Peter K. Cutler – Director of Communications

Since beginning his professional career at ABC-News in 1980, Peter Cutler has worked in a variety of communications, public relations and public affairs positions in the private and public sectors.  A staff member to former Governor Mario Cuomo and Mayor Anthony Masiello, Peter also served as Director of Communications to the Albany County Airport Authority during its four-year, $300 million modernization program and, most recently, was Senior Public Affairs Counselor with Travers Collins & Company, a Buffalo-based marketing communications company. Peter has a B.A. in History from Lake Forest College (Illinois).

Steven Stepniak – Public Works Commissioner

Public Works Commissioner Steven Stepniak has previous experience working as the Senior Engineer for the City of Buffalo Division of Engineering, which has given him the opportunity to develop extensive administrative and organizational skills. Mr. Stepniak has also worked as Director of Street Cleaning and Snow Removal, where he gained leadership experience through controlling the daily activities of a multi-functional department. Stepniak majored in Communications at Canisius College and has specialized training in Risk and Technical Management, Hazard Communications, and Engineering.

Tanya Perrin-Johnson – Commissioner, Community Services

Ms. Perrin-Johnson, Chief Executive Officer of the YWCA of Western New York since 1998, possesses an exceptional track record and commitment to women's issues, as well as a reliable and experienced facilitator and trainer in leadership development, diversity and inclusion, capacity building, governance, managing change and achieving results. She is an accomplished professional with a wealth of experience in the development and delivery of health and human service programs. Ms. Perrin-Johnson has managed a multi-million dollar organization, employing 250 plus individuals, serving over 12,000 women, children and families per year.  She is a graduate of Syracuse University (Bachelor of Science) and Master of Science (Education) degree holder from Canisius College.  Ms. Perrin-Johnson has a distinguished career leading the YWCA, which provides services in 69 locations throughout three counties in Western New York (Erie, Niagara & Cattaraugus).  Among her responsibilities as CEO of the YWCA, Ms. Perrin-Johnson insured that the organization's programs and services were aligned and in concert with its mission and vision.  As Commissioner of Community Services, she will oversee contract administration and compliance, the Division of Senior Services, the Division of Substance Abuse, Section 3, the Youth Bureau and the Division for Workforce Employment Training.  The department has 54 employees and has an annual budget of $2.4 million.

Oswaldo Mestre has a strong background in human services, developing programs systems and community development initiatives in not-for-profit and governmental organizations.  Since 1997, Oswaldo has headed the Buffalo Weed and Seed Program, which was awarded the New York State Attorney General's Neighborhood Watch Award of Excellence in 2003.  Oswaldo began his human service career in 1991 as a Senior Youth Counselor at St. Augustine's Center, Inc.  Oswaldo has studied in Public Policy and Administration at the University at Buffalo.

Otis Barker has over 24 years of results-oriented experience in staff management, project management, budgeting and planning, and product/market research.  Since 1996, he has served on the staff of former New York State Assembly Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve and, most recently, as Director of Community Relations for State Senator Byron Brown, where he oversaw constituent services.  Otis has a B.A. in Communications from the State University of New York at Fredonia.