Author: BNMC

Not sure about electric cars? Hear from real-life drivers

by BNMCin Electric Vehicles, Employees, Energy, Sustainability

Not sure about electric cars? Hear from real-life drivers

Over the past couple of months, we’ve sent you lots of content about how awesome electric cars are: information about cost savings, environmental benefits, available incentives, and how easy it is to charge. But don’t just take it from us! Hear directly from hwp-contenty electric car drivers by checking out our Testimonials page!

Electric cars have some of the highest consumer satisfaction rates of any vehicle: people love how quiet the cars are, how quickly they accelerate, their high-tech features, and, of course, the fact that they require way less maintenance than gas-powered cars! Nobody misses filling up the tank or getting yet another oil change.

Read more about what electric car drivers think here and then get your own electric car at a discount through Drive Green with National Grid at drivegreen.nationalgridus.com.

Celebrating Community at our 3rd Annual Summer Block Party

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Buffalo, Campus-wide, Collaboration, Community, Event, Neighborhood Engagement, Neighbors

Celebrating Community at our 3rd Annual Summer Block Party

OK! Normally I have a more formal writing style, but we are fam so I’m going to just hit you with this info. I’m not trying to give you FOMO or anything, but… if you missed BNMC’s 3rd Annual Summer Block Party, you missed a lot! People are saying that it was the best one yet. It had everything that makes a great party. View our Facebook photo album to see all the smiling faces!

Great venue: The weather was a perfect 73 degrees with a slight breeze on August 22nd at Kaminski Park & Gardens at Roswell Park.

Great food: Frank Gourmet Hot Dogs served up nearly 1,000 hot dogs at the event! Aunt Connie’s Ed-U- Kitchen brought her iconic smoothie bike (you know, the one that you get on and it powers the blender to make the smoothie), plus delicious watermelon and salad. James the Ice Cream Dude with his ice cream bike. There is nothing like a Bomb Pop on a summer day!

Great music: DJ P was on the 1’s and 2’s spinning some upbeat tunes. His energy and presence on the mic keep the party going. We also had the A-Team Band who hopped on the instruments and played some hits from the 90s and early 2000s.

Dancing: With music like that you can’t help but dance! We did all the line dances, but Zumba was clearly the biggest hit. Thanks to Kelly Patton for helping us dance some of those calories off.

Games: We had Clown Around Entertainment provide our Carnival Games, face painting, and a dunk tank which the kids and families loved!

The best part of all was the GREAT people. There were almost 1,000 people who attended this year, including employees, patients, students, and neighbors who all came together to create an amazing family-friendly event.

Next year we plan to do it even bigger and better!

Celebrating Community at our 3rd Annual Summer Block Party

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Buffalo, Campus-wide, Collaboration, Community, Event, Neighborhood Engagement, Neighbors

Celebrating Community at our 3rd Annual Summer Block Party

OK! Normally I have a more formal writing style, but we are fam so I’m going to just hit you with this info. I’m not trying to give you FOMO or anything, but… if you missed BNMC’s 3rd Annual Summer Block Party, you missed a lot! People are saying that it was the best one yet. It had everything that makes a great party. View our Facebook photo album to see all the smiling faces!

Great venue: The weather was a perfect 73 degrees with a slight breeze on August 22nd at Kaminski Park & Gardens at Roswell Park.

Great food: Frank Gourmet Hot Dogs served up nearly 1,000 hot dogs at the event! Aunt Connie’s Ed-U- Kitchen brought her iconic smoothie bike (you know, the one that you get on and it powers the blender to make the smoothie), plus delicious watermelon and salad. James the Ice Cream Dude with his ice cream bike. There is nothing like a Bomb Pop on a summer day!

Great music: DJ P was on the 1’s and 2’s spinning some upbeat tunes. His energy and presence on the mic keep the party going. We also had the A-Team Band who hopped on the instruments and played some hits from the 90s and early 2000s.

Dancing: With music like that you can’t help but dance! We did all the line dances, but Zumba was clearly the biggest hit. Thanks to Kelly Patton for helping us dance some of those calories off.

Games: We had Clown Around Entertainment provide our Carnival Games, face painting, and a dunk tank which the kids and families loved!

The best part of all was the GREAT people. There were almost 1,000 people who attended this year, including employees, patients, students, and neighbors who all came together to create an amazing family-friendly event.

Next year we plan to do it even bigger and better!

100 Days of Summer Wellness

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Community, Employees, Healthy Communities, Member Institution(s), Neighbors, Networking, Sustainability, Wellness

100 Days of Summer Wellness

September is the time of year we simultaneously love and dread. Summer fun and vacations are over, and we’re brought back to routine work and school schedules. On Campus, we see more medical students – working, eating, and commuting beside us, as the new semester starts. Our hospitals continue to deliver world-renowned health care around-the-clock, while seasonal vegetables pop up on cafeteria menus along with festive pumpkin decorations on the inpatient floors. This time of year carries a spirit of being given a fresh start and inspiring us to get back to the grind – similar to the New Year. Except instead of winter weather advisories and health resolutions there are pumpkin spice lattes and back to school sales!

With that, let’s reflect on how healthy we’ve been together for the past 100 days of wellness this summer:

  • Weekly Tuesday yoga class engaged 151 people in 780 minutes of physical activity, which is the equivalent of 13 hours of pure yogi bliss. Thank you Yogis in Service.
  • 3000+ healthy meals were sold from the Innovation Center’s Fresh Takes Smart Fridge.
  • Group bike rides on Friday afternoons shredded 3,570 calories for 71 miles. That’s like biking to Niagara on the Lake and back. Thank you Reddy Bikeshare.
  • 1000+ CSA shares were distributed campus wide, providing employees and their families with fresh local produce, conveniently delivered to them right at work.
  • On Walk on Wednesdays, we walked 319,600 steps and burned 12,772 calories over 160 miles, which basically means we walked from Buffalo to Toronto and back. #runforestrun
  • The opening of Healthy Scratch at Buffalo General Medical Center in June 2019.
  • There were 1,000+ bike rentals from Medical Campus Reddy Bikeshare stations and 1,400 rides through the BNMC zone.
  • All 25 food trucks in the BNMC Food Truck Rodeo offered certified healthy options.

With all these healthy wins, let’s capture that New Years spirit of determination and get right to it now, in September! My charge to you is to make it your healthiest month of 2019 – we have the best local produce of the season, the weather is just right for walking and biking outside, and football is starting so you’ll need the healthy activities to balance tailgating festivities. Check out our Fall Wellness schedule!

“Buffalo Homecoming” Featuring Jack Connors on Talking Cities with Matt Enstice Podcast

by BNMCin podcast

“Buffalo Homecoming” Featuring Jack Connors on Talking Cities with Matt Enstice Podcast

BNMC’s CEO, Matt Enstice, was hwp-contenty to lead a tour of the Medical Campus for 25 expats attending the Buffalo Homecoming event, which included stops at the Jacobs School of Medicine, the Jacobs Institute, and dig at the Innovation Center. Matt also introduced the Buffalo Health Care Panel facilitated by Tom Beecher, and featuring Dr. Candace Johnson, Jody Lomeo, Michael Cain, and Mark Sullivan as panelists.

Listen in on Matt’s recent conversation with Jack Connors, Buffalo Homecoming co-director and former president and publisher of Buffalo Business First. We cover everything from Jack’s long career in the news business and the story behind launching Buffalo Business First to his latest gig spurring investment in the city he loves.

Make your next car electric with these financial incentives

by BNMCin Electric Vehicles, Energy, Sustainability

Make your next car electric with these financial incentives

We’ve recently shared many benefits of electric vehicles: how they are environmentally-friendly, easy to charge, and offer cost savings for the consumer. But did you know that there are several financial incentives available to help you get one? Here are three important incentives you should know about:

Federal tax credit: Plug-in electric vehicles qualify for a federal income tax credit of up to $7,500. The full amount of the tax credit depends on the battery size of the vehicle and other factors; how much you can claim is limited by your personal tax liability.

State rebate: The State of New York offers Drive Clean rebates of up to $2,000 for electric vehicles. The rebate is wp-contentlied at the point of sale and therefore only available at participating Drive Clean dealerships.

Drive Green with National Grid: National Grid has partnered with the non-profit – Green Energy Consumers Alliance – to build a network of upstate New York car dealerships offering fixed discounts on electric vehicles. All of the dealers participating in the program are also Drive Clean dealerships, so you can combine all three incentives to start driving green: the dealer discount, the state rebate, and the federal tax credit. To get started, click here.

To learn more about these three incentives, visit the Drive Green with National Grid Purchase and Lease Incentives page. And remember, when you get your electric car, you can charge at work!

Free Electric Vehicle Webinar on September 10th

As you may know, the BNMC recently partnered with National Grid to install electric vehicle charging stations for your use. We’re really excited about this commitment to sustainability and hope to see more and more drivers switching to electric vehicles and using the stations. We know that a lot of you have questions about the charging stations or electric vehicles, so we’re providing an upcoming informational webinar just for you!

What: Drive Green with National Grid Webinar
When: Tuesday, September 10, 2019, 12 pm or 7 pm
Why: To answer all your questions about electric vehicles, charging, incentives, and more

To get your free ticket, simply RSVP here. The webinar is hosted by Green Energy Consumers Alliance, the non-profit organization working with National Grid to bring you Drive Green with National Grid. If you have any questions, you can reach them at drivegreenUNY@greenenergyconsumers.org.

Four New Summer Eats on or Near Campus!

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Community, Employees, Healthy Communities, Neighborhood Engagement

Four New Summer Eats on or Near Campus!

August is here, and while there’s still plenty of summer left, we don’t have to tell you that now is the perfect time to get out and explore while the weather is beautiful. Here are some new spots we think you should check out for lunch or when you just need a mid-day pick me up.

The Healthy Scratch – This Harbor Center staple now has two locations on the BNMC! As you probably know. The Healthy Scratch is at Roswell Park and has most recently opened shop at Buffalo General Medical Center, featuring a wide variety of nutritious food and drink options. From nitro-brewed coffee to cold-pressed juices to smoothie bowls and sandwiches, the Healthy Scratch is the perfect spot to grab a snack or have a healthy lunch. Check out their website for a complete menu & hours of operation.

Buffalo Tikka House – Located at 23 Allen Street, the Buffalo Tikka House serves an authentic Bangladeshi and Indian Halal Cuisine. The new restaurant has received several reviews praising the flavor of their rich food and variety of dishes. They have an extensive menu, including vegetarian options and several variations of fresh naan. Buffalo Tikka House is open seven days a week for both lunch and dinner, and is available on GrubHub. Learn more about Buffalo Tikka House here!

Farmers’ Markets – Pick up farm fresh fruit, veggies and other delicious goodies at one of our local farmers’ markets –

  • Downtown Country Market – Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10am-2:30pm at Main & Court St.
  • MAP Mobile Market – Thursdays from 10am-12pm at the Moot Senior Center, 292 High St. & Tuesday 11am – 1pm at the Salvation Army, 960 Main St.
  • Roswell Park’s Market in the Park – Wednesdays from 11am-1:30pm at Kaminski Park & Gardens (Elm & Carlton Streets)

BNMC Food Truck Rodeo – We’re proud to host Buffalo’s largest daily Food Truck Rodeo at Washington & Carlton St! Every weekday from 11am-1:30pm, our Food Truck Rodeo features 2-5 trucks, each with a different specialty and cuisine. You’re sure to find your favorite trucks, including Lloyd’s, Amy’s Truck, Thai Me Up, and so many more! This location has plenty of outdoor seating, plus music and lawn games to create the perfect lunch break.

How is your organization is going to attract the best and brightest talent?

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Innovation, Innovation Center, Technology

Enterprisetechsuccess Magazine

How is your organization going to attract the best and brightest talent?

The race for talent today means that corporations will have to use novel methods to attract new talent. From sponsoring technology schools to hiring experienced expat knowledge workers to return back home so they can retool their organizations. Firms will begin to retool their legacy office spaces and hire architecture firms to create a new vibe allowing for more creativity that will attract and retain talent. Firms will begin to rebrand their organizations to be a cool and unique organization that uses the latest and greatest in culture, healthy living and a focus on the employee wants and needs.  New roles like Ambassador of Buzz and Chief Curator establish a vibe to attract talent from Bay Area tech firms. Corporations will begin to reduce their dependence on off-shore tech companies and consulting firms and move forward to build in-house innovation departments. Corporations will need to increase corporate spending on retraining of mature employee.

So what are some of the steps to help retain and provide your employees a place to separate time and space to innovate?

The first steps needed within an organization prior to beginning your innovation journey is to examine your own team’s innovation readiness.  Some of the best ideas come from your own team members. Many of your own team members with years of domain experience can produce a constant pipeline of ideas that can help your organization disrupt your industry. Your organization also has team members that may not be ready to share their insights due to a legacy corporate culture that does not enable a safe and open and honest conversation to inspire an innovative culture. Building an innovation culture is the first step prior to acquiring an idea management software like Spigit or Ideator. You must consider your organization’s innovation culture. Organizations are prematurely acquiring these types of software to help collect ideas from their own organizations without examining their own team innovation maturity.

Before I explain what an innovation culture is, I should discuss the current state of the public or privately held corporation, colleges / universities and how students are opting out of traditional employment in corporations. Universities and colleges are producing prospective students for corporations. Many of these students are selecting other opportunities like the start-up market that is fast paced, risk filled and, in a fail fast culture. Other reasons are that banks, hospitals, and insurance companies are not attracting the talent needed to backfill retiring employees due to existing legacy technologies stacks and stodgy leadership teams with attitudes that cannot relate to the students’ needs. These needs include latest technologies, flexible work schedules, health and wellness, relaxed dress codes, diverse workforce   and a support system that allows for a culture that helps the community.

The lack of progressive corporate leadership styles are souring many talented prospects from entering the corporate job market. The same legacy corporations that are souring prospective talent have a great deal of influence on the universities and colleges to shape the curriculum to become more creative and innovative. Due to the focus on maintaining the status quo within a firm and the tenure within the firm they take years to make a course correction. When a “Hippo” 1 (highest paid person’s opinion) makes the decisions within an organization the innovation and the culture offer suffers.   The paradox in all of this is that students that graduated 20 years ago from the very universities that were innovative at the time have become so conservative that they have created a culture of status quo to keep the machine running, vs a culture of innovation.

In many corporations the execution of projects is the focus of many of the activities from upgrading business systems to building new production plants, projects are a primary activity within the company.  Corporate projects fall into a few categories: revenue, operations, and compliance, and are run by a project management office or project manager.  A focus on quality, time, and cost ensures when projects are completed. With all the focus on project execution, there is little time for innovation and employees are not taught to think creatively. We are taught to execute on projects and not to fail or rapid learning culture. Business schools teach management principles that were developed in the later industrial revolution to solve the large-company management problem–not the innovation problem 2.  Corporations focused on project execution and maintaining the status quo can overlook talent that comes nontraditional degrees like art, English and history and focused on a traditional employee from accounting, finance, and engineering.  This could be why organizations need to unlearn from the traditional organizational wp-contentroaches and learn how to inspire and mentor talent and begin to build a brand around innovation. Innovation as a culture is an wp-contentroach that needs to be developed from the middle up and top down with total support form executive leadership.  The innovation culture enables teams to fail, create, learn and are giving employees an opportunity to talk freely in a safe environment. What a safety environment provides your employees is a safety net to ask why to anyone in your organization or to experiment on a new business model with support.

The innovation journey doesn’t start with deploying mega trends like AR/VR, deep learning or blockchain, it is about changing the organization’s culture that supports their careers by supporting a separation in time a space to allow innovation of ideas and concepts. Meaning separation of time and space allows employees to leave the organization to fulfill outside interests helping the journey to an innovative culture. Along with understanding your team’s current leadership state of mind, your teams need to be evaluated to determine their ability to innovate. If team members are not motivated or are prepared to help, you will need to provide the tools to unlearn their team style to effectively change the culture. If they cannot or are not willing to change they need to be managed out of the organization.

The organization that changes the scenery and believe that have made a cool space with high end coffee and cool seating arrangements will not move the needle. The organization must challenge employees with work that is inspiring by reducing emails and meetings and exposing employees to work that is stimulating and exciting.

BNMC Hosts Buffalo’s Largest Daily Food Truck Rodeo

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Community, Employees, Healthy Communities, Neighbors, Placemaking

BNMC Hosts Buffalo’s Largest Daily Food Truck Rodeo

Looking for something new to try at lunch? Stop by the BNMC Food Truck Rodeo on the lawn at Washington & Carlton St. weekdays from 11:30am-1:30pm. We have a variety of trucks serving up so many delicious options, and healthy ones, too! All all your favorites are scheduled to join us, including Fat Bob’s, Amy’s Truck, Thai Me Up, Lloyd’s, and so many more. Located in the heart of the BNMC, the Food Truck Rodeo is here to serve anyone from scrubs to suits and all those in between!

  • We have different trucks scheduled for each weekday to ensure everyone’s tastebuds are hwp-contenty. Check out our schedule to see which trucks are coming when.
  • We have plenty of outdoor seating, plus music and lawn games to make the perfect lunch break!
  • Check out this video to see what the BNMC Food Truck Rodeo is all about.

BNMC Summer Block Party

by BNMCin Homepage

BNMC Hosts 3rd Annual Summer Block Party

The BNMC Summer Block Party is on Thursday, August 22nd from 4-7 p.m. at Kaminski Park & Gardens at Roswell Park. Employees, neighbors, and friends of the BNMC are invited to join us in celebrating a fun summer night on Campus! This free, family-friendly event is held in partnership with Roswell Park, the University at Buffalo, and Northwest Bank, and features food, live music, community organizations, kids’ activities, and more.

Event Highlights:

  • Clown Around Entertainment will provide carnival games with tents, popcorn machines, face painters, and a prize booth.
  • Live music from the band, A-Team.
  • Plenty of food
  • Community organizations with hands-on activities
  • Fun activities for all ages!

BNMC Elects David Zebro Chair of its Board of Directors

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Buffalo, Community, Member Institution(s), Roswell Park, Volunteers

BNMC Elects David Zebro Chair of its Board of Directors

Buffalo, NY – David Zebro, Principal of Strategic Investments & Holdings, Inc., was elected Chair of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC) Board of Directors at its June meeting last week.

“David is a natural choice to lead the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus as it continues to grow into a thriving Innovation District,” said Anthony B. Martino, immediate past BNMC Board Chair. “His longtime commitment to the institutions on the BNMC and the greater community as a whole give him a unique perspective on this collaborative community asset.”

Zebro served on the BNMC Board from 2004 – 2007 when he was wp-contentointed Chair of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute Corporation’s Board of Directors, and again as the first community at-large member on the BNMC Board from 2013 – 2016. His current term runs for two years with an option by the Board of Directors to renew for up to four more years.

“I am thrilled to continue to be a part of the BNMC,” said Zebro. “I look forward to supporting the organization’s growth and evolution as we seek to have an even greater positive impact in our community and beyond.”

David Zebro Biography (Photo)

David was born in Plattsburgh, New York, attended Plattsburgh High School, and later graduated from the State University College of New York at Plattsburgh with a degree in Political Science. He met his future wife, Susan Mortensen (originally from Kenmore, New York) while studying at SUNY Plattsburgh, and they married in 1973 and moved to Buffalo. David went on to receive an MBA from the University at Buffalo in 1975 with a major in Corporate Finance.

He started his career with Union Carbide and continued to grow his expertise in business/strategic planning, operations, and financial management with other companies in more senior positions.

Since 1984 David has been employed in the private equity sector as a Principal with Strategic Investments & Holdings, Inc., where he has been involved in over 80 companies.

In addition to his work with Strategic Investments & Holdings, Inc., David has been a board member with other private companies, often as Chair. He also served on the Boards of two public companies, First Niagara Bank and Casual Male.

David has a strong commitment to community, and has been involved as a volunteer, board member, or chair for many local organizations. He is a past Chair of the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation and the Roswell Park Governance Board of Directors. Additionally, David has been a past Chair of Goodwill Industries, Vice Chair of Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, and board member of the Great Lakes Hospital Board. David has also been a board member of the Community Foundation of Greater Buffalo, and the Foundation of the State University College of New York at Plattsburgh, where he proudly works with the advancement of the EOP program and the Zebro Community Service Scholarship.

David and Susan have received numerous community awards over the years, and always encouraged their children’s commitment to the local Buffalo community. His son Ryan is involved with Hospice, and daughter Erin is involved with Roswell Park. David’s other daughter, Lauren, lives in New York City and is involved with the Parkinson’s Foundation – a disease that is connected with his wife Susan’s death in 2018.

David lives in East Amherst and enjoys spending time with his children and three grandsons. He is excited for the birth of another grandchild this August.

About the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, Inc.

The Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC): re-imagining our city’s future through the dynamic intersection of technology, health, discovery, and collaboration. The BNMC is a social enterprise focused on driving innovation in partnership with our community. The BNMC plays a significant role in driving positive change that builds a vibrant, innovative environment. We do this by improving infrastructure, managing our transportation system, creating a culture of health and wellbeing, driving innovation, and working with our partners to continue to build an innovative district that reflects the best of our community. In addition, the BNMC owns and operates more than 150,000 sq ft of incubator space, helping to grow emerging and mature companies through dynamic workspace, programming, and networking. www.bnmc-old.local

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For more information: Kari Bonaro at BNMC, 202-904-7034

BNMC Joins Steering Committee with Global Innovation District Leaders, Highlighted in Research Brief

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Buffalo, Collaboration, Innovation

BNMC Joins Steering Committee with Global Innovation District Leaders, Highlighted in Research Brief

For more than 15 years, we have been working together with our partners to create a collaborative and inclusive innovation district. In 2014, a paper by the Brookings Institution on the rise of innovation districts supported our efforts in this area and gave a name to the anchors and innovators plus model that we had been creating.

The BNMC is proud to be a part of the steering committee for the Global Institute on Innovation Districts (GIID), global leaders working together to network innovation districts, and to be featured in a new research brief released today by GIID, “The Evolution of Innovation Districts: The New Geography of Global Innovation,” written by Julie Wagner, Bruce Katz, and Thomas Osha.

More than 100 innovation districts exist around the world today with 200 more poised to come online soon, as stated in the report. The authors note: “Roughly twenty districts have reached a high level of sophistication, concentrating in close proximity a mix of research institutions, mature companies, start-ups and scale-ups, co-working spaces, and supportive intermediaries.” We are proud to be one of these 20 districts leading this new form of economic development as we seek to create a national model to rebuild communities using social design through our MutualCity methodology.

According to the authors, “Districts, by their nature, are living labs where creativity and experimentation intersect with the precision of science. Districts are places that fan the flames of organic, evolutionary growth but also drive intentional, deliberate change.”

This perfectly describes what we have been doing here in Buffalo through MutualCity. MutualCity is a practical manual for urban change—from crafting a vision to managing the inevitable conflicts and challenges. We develop this playbook through the principles of mutual understanding, connection, action, collaboration, investment, adaptiveness, and continually asking “what if?”

We operate through a collaborative model that brings diverse stakeholders together under a shared vision to leverage opportunities and challenges faced by our community to create a better future for all. We have successfully implemented this model throughout the past 15 years. And while this process takes time and is not a silver bullet, we believe working together is the only way to enact real change.

We look forward to being a part of the new Global Institute, to both learn from our peers around the world and to continue to play a leadership role in building this vital and inspiring economic driver for our region.

Diversity and Inclusion Drives Innovation

by BNMCin BNMC Team, Collaboration, Community, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation

BNMC’s Community Program Manager, Kyria Stephens, recently attended the National Diversity and Leadership conference in Dallas, TX. Check out his thoughts on the meaning of diversity and inclusion, and how it creates an innovative, collaborative community.

Diversity and Inclusion Drives Innovation

When you hear the words diversity and inclusion, what do you think? How do you define it? My answer sounded like, “creating environments and pathways for women and minority groups to thrive in the workplace?” But after attending National Diversity and Leadership conference in Dallas, Texas, I realize that answer is only the tip of the iceberg.

Yes, diversity and inclusion are about creating an emotionally safe work environment in which a person doesn’t have to check their ethnicity at the door to fit in with the dominate culture. Yes, D&I is about making sure that the workplace reflects what the world really looks like at every level. Yes, it is about equal pay for people who do the same job. Yes! Its about doing the right thing for all people… But as I sat and reflected on amazing workshops and poured over the notes I took from keynote speakers, Colin Powell, America Ferrera and President Barak Obama, I realized that diversity and inclusion at its core is about filling blind spots and gap with people with unique vantagepoints.

One of the phrases that echoed throughout the conference is that diversity is a fact, but inclusion is a choice. This world doesn’t have a problem with diversity! Just look around and you will see diversity because it hwp-contentens naturally when all people have access to a space. The problem we have is inclusion. The reason we have inclusion problems is most often because people naturally gravitate to people who look like, think and view the world the same as themselves. But, when that hwp-contentens our perspective becomes narrowed. A person’s ethnicity, culture, gender, education, past experiences and personality creates a unique lens that produces a different perspective. Diverse perspectives allow for a greater vision, a greater vision and creativity go hand in hand and where there is creativity there is innovation.

So, without D&I we are limiting growth, slowing advancement and hindering innovation!

Grand Opening of New Indoor Bike Parking

by BNMCin Biking, Commuting, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Sustainability, Transportation

Grand Opening of New Indoor Bike Parking

The team at BNMC, along with community partners, recently celebrated the grand opening of the new secure indoor bike parking at 854 Ellicott in conjunction with our annual Bike to Work Day breakfast celebration.

“We are proud to have built an active commuter-friendly culture on the Medical Campus,” said Matt Enstice, President & CEO, BNMC Inc. “We worked closely with our transportation partners to create the region’s first mobility hub here on the Medical Campus and we continue to improve our infrastructure and commuting options to ensure efficient, safe, and healthy ways for employees, patients, and visitors to access the Medical Campus.”

We have more than doubled the indoor bike parking available to employees who work on the Medical Campus, patients, and their families with the opening of new secure bike parking with lockers in the parking garage at 854 Ellicott, adjacent to Oishei Children’s Hospital, Buffalo General Medical Center, and the Gates Vascular Institute.

There is space for 30 bikes in the new secure parking facility, an additional 36 spots for covered bike parking in the garage, and parking for 16 bikes right outside. In addition to 24 lockers for the cyclists to use, there is a bike vending machine stocked with bike-related amenities for commuters, including tubes, patch kits, and lights.

This adds to existing amenities, including the secure indoor bike parking with space for 15 bikes in a renovated shipping container and a bike fix-it station at the corner of Ellicott & Virginia Street that the BNMC Inc. installed in 2013. In addition, there are two Reddy Bikeshare stations with a total of 12 racks with bikes available for short term use, and free parking zone anywhere on the Medical Campus to allow users to park closer to their destination on any public rack or infrastructure without a fee.

The Medical Campus already has the densest bicycle parking in the City of Buffalo with 333 spaces (an increase of 100 spaces over last year) plus the secure bike parking. GObike Buffalo will manage the Campus-wide indoor parking as part of its longtime partnership with the BNMC.

The BNMC Inc. is the region’s leader in enhancing and marketing alternative commuting options to employees in its geography and has created the region’s first mobility hub on the Medical Campus. In addition to improving amenities for cyclists, the BNMC Inc. also works closely with the NFTA to increase service options, including extending bus lines to come into the Medical Campus. The organization also helped to design and implement the NFTA’s Corporate Pass Program, to incentivize more employees to take Metro Bus and Rail to work.

“As part of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, we’re thrilled at this initiative that promotes a safe and easy way for our employees to bike to work,” said Allegra Jaros, President at Oishei Children’s Hospital. “Increased secure bike parking for Kaleida Health employees and our patient families will hopefully create more bike commuters on the medical campus throughout the community.”

“Commuting by bicycle is an efficient, healthy, and community-minded way to get to work. Safe and secure bike parking at the workplace encourages more people to bicycle to work, so we’re pleased to operate BNMC’s bike parking facility as part of our citywide initiative, GO Buffalo Niagara, to help downtown commuters use means other than driving alone to get to work.” Justin Booth, executive director of GObike Buffalo.

“Reddy Bikeshare is proud to celebrate Bike to Work Day once again with the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus”, said Jennifer White, marketing and communications executive for Reddy Bikeshare. “Campus employees have really embraced the use of Reddy bikes to get to and from work, to go to lunch, and to incorporate some activity into their day. It’s great to work with like-minded partners who encourage people to choose healthier, greener options.”

Connecting Buyers to Businesses at BNMC Procurement Fair on June 5th

by BNMCin Employees, Member Institution(s), MWBE, Neighbors, Networking, Procurement

Connecting Buyers to Businesses

Don’t miss the BNMC Procurement Fair on Thursday, June 6 from 2-4pm. This event is designed to introduce local minority, women, and veteran-owned businesses and buyers from large and medium-sized companies and organizations.

Who should attend:

Buyers – anyone who make purchasing decisions for their company

Women, minority, and veteran-owned businesses – Free tables for local MWBEs who want to highlight their goods or services designed for companies and large institutions

Tables are limited. Register by May 28th to reserve your space!

This free event will be held at UB’s Educational Opportunity Center at 555 Ellicott Street in Buffalo.

Free parking is available for attendees in the lot on N. Oak (off Goodell Street behind the building).

Priced Out, Pushed Out, or Stuck In: Talking Cities with Bridget Niland

by BNMCin podcast

Priced Out, Pushed Out, or Stuck In: Talking Cities with Bridget Niland

In this episode, Matt talks with Bridget Niland, Director of Project Play, about the impact of youth sports and how they help prepare kids for the 21st century economy; ways to encourage youth in the city to think about their play spaces differently, particularly through “free play”; and her thoughts on the role of technology and the future of sports.

BNMC 2018 Impact Report

by BNMCin BNMC Team

BNMC 2018 Impact Report

The BNMC has released its 2018 Impact Report, which highlights our team’s efforts toward these three goals:

  • Drive innovation, economic development, and job growth.
  • Cultivate a safe, accessible, active, and inclusive district that fosters wellbeing and is supported by smart, sustainable infrastructure – a place where people want to work, live, visit, and invest.
  • Connect local youth, residents, businesses, and neighborhoods to economic opportunities.

We continue to work toward becoming the place where tech and social entrepreneurs, mature and growing companies, students, investors, and neighbors innovate, invent, collaborate, and launch the next big idea.

Those of you who we have partnered with over the years know that we operate through a collaborative model that brings diverse stakeholders together under a shared vision to leverage opportunities and solve challenges faced by our community to create a better future for all. We have successfully implemented this model throughout the past 15 years. And while this process takes time and is not a silver bullet, we believe working together is the only way to enact real change.

By dreaming big, our collaborative efforts will continue to lift our community and our collective renaissance.

Join us – we are just getting started. To keep up-to-date on our team, join our email list.

Download the BNMC 2018 Impact Report.

Grand Opening of New Indoor Bike Parking and Bike to Work Celebration this Friday on Medical Campus

by BNMCin Biking, BNMC Team, Campus-wide, Community, Commuting, GO BNMC, Healthy Communities, Homepage, News

BNMC Inc. and partners highlight improvements that support biking and commuting options across the Medical Campus, promoting health, environmental responsibility, and pedestrian-friendly streets.

BUFFALO, NY – The BNMC Inc. will officially open its new secure indoor bike parking at a breakfast gathering on Friday, May 17th at the culmination of National Bike to Work Week as they celebrate those who commute to work by bike and help to build a bike-friendly culture on the Medical Campus.

The BNMC Inc. has more than doubled the indoor bike parking available to employees who work on the Medical Campus with the opening of the new bike parking with lockers in the parking garage at 854 Ellicott, adjacent to Oishei Children’s Hospital, Buffalo General Medical Center, and the Gates Vascular Institute. In addition to lockers for the cyclists use, there is a bike vending machine stocked with bike-related amenities, such as tubes, patch kits, and lights, to aid commuters.

This adds to the secure bike parking in the renovated shipping container and bike fix-it station at the corner of Ellicott & Virginia Street that the BNMC Inc. installed in 2013. GObike Buffalo will manage the indoor parking as part of its longtime partnership with the BNMC.

The Medical Campus already has the densest bicycle parking in the City of Buffalo with 333 spaces (an increase of 100 spaces over last year) and secure bike parking, two Reddy Bikeshare stations with a total of 12 racks with bikes available for short term use, and free parking zone anywhere on the Medical Campus to allow users to park closer to their destination on any public rack or infrastructure without a fee.

WHEN:                                 Friday, May 17th  7:00 AM – 10 AM

Brief remarks begin at 9:00 AM from:

  • Mayor Byron Brown (invited)
  • Matt Enstice, President & CEO, BNMC
  • Allegra Jaros, President, John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital
  • Justin Booth, Executive Director, GObike Buffalo
  • Jennifer White, Communications Director, Reddy Bikeshare

LOCATION:         854 Ellicott Street (corner of Ellicott & Goodrich) on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus

WHO:                   BNMC Inc. is hosting the event in partnership with GObike Buffalo and Reddy Bikeshare to celebrate bike commuters and those using active commuting options to get to work.

                                There will be a bike train beginning at City Hall for anyone looking to ride as a group to the event on the Medical Campus.

Collaborating partners in transportation planning will be on hand to share information about transportation options, programs and amenities on the Medical Campus that encourage employees to try biking, walking, transit, and carpooling.  Partners include GObike Buffalo, GO Buffalo Niagara, Reddy Bikeshare, NFTA, and others.

Free breakfast and coffee provided by Ashker’s and lloyd taco truck.  

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Want to breathe cleaner air? Fight climate change? Drive electric.

by BNMCin Electric Vehicles, Energy, Sustainability

Want to breathe cleaner air? Fight climate change? Drive electric.

Electric vehicle owners love their cars because they’re fun to drive, easy to fuel, and cheap to maintain. However, one of the top reasons drivers choose electric cars is for their environmental benefits.

The bad news: In New York, 41.3% of total greenhouse gas emissions (which contribute to climate change) come from the transportation sector, more than two times more than any other sector. Gas-powered passenger cars are a big part of the problem.

The good news: Switching from a gas-powered car to an electric car significantly cuts your transportation emissions. In fact, according to data from the Union of Concerned Scientists, switching from the average gas-powered car to a plug-in hybrid charged on the power grid in upstate New York cuts your transportation-related emissions by more than half, and switching to an all-electric car cuts them by about 85%! That’s not to mention reductions in other pollutants (like particulate matter and sulfur and nitrogen oxides) that impacts public health. When it comes to transportation, individual decisions can have a lasting impact.

That’s why BNMC has partnered with National Grid to install charging stations for employees and visitors and is bringing you Drive Green with National Grid, a program that provides you with (a) useful information about electric cars, and (b) discounted deals from New York dealerships. Check it out at drivegreen.nationalgridus.com.

This page on the Drive Green with National Grid website has more information about the environmental and public health impacts of electric vehicles.

New England Farm to Institution Summit 2019: 5 Takeaways

by BNMCin Healthy Communities, Innovation, Member Institution(s), Sustainability, Wellness

BNMC’s Healthy Communities team attended the New England Farm to Institution Summit in Amherst, Mass. earlier this month to share how we’re creating a culture of health on the Medical Campus, and learn about other farm-to-institution programs across the country. We are excited to wp-contently some of these concepts to our own Farm-to-Hospital program here in Buffalo!
Congrats to R. Russ from Kaleida Health for winning the first $50 gift card to Homegrown Kitchen! There’s still time to complete the survey – share your thoughts with us today.

Here are some take-aways from Beth Machnica, our Healthy Communities Catalyst:

New England Farm to Institution Summit 2019: 5 Takeaways

There were many great lessons to be learned from attendees, presenters, exhibitors and others who participated in the 2019 New England Farm to Institution Summit. The Summit was held at University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA, where they are making strides in offering local, sustainable food. While we are highlighting our 5 takeaways below, there was one theme that came up often throughout the Summit – equity. We often forget about the people throughout the entire food system who make everything possible – from the people growing our food and caring for the land – to those processing our food, fishing our seas, moving the food to our stores and institutions, and serving the food in hospitals, schools, prisons and restaurants. We heard from Jose Oliva, the co-Director of the Food Chain Workers Alliance. According to Jose, there are over 20 million food chain employees, making it the largest employer, and unfortunately, they are some of the lowest paying jobs and in hazardous working conditions. While we consider all the other takeaways, working towards an equitable food system is something that we all need to challenge ourselves to work towards.  

1. Invite farmers to campus cafeterias.

A best practice for any farm to institution project includes bringing the farmers, growers, and fishermen right to where the food is served. It links consumers eating the food with the individuals who handpicked it, connecting people with the food system and the person that grew the food on their plate. This can also be done on a regular basis through marketing materials highlighting specific farms, and telling stories of specific farmers and families. Coordinating field trips is great to build the link with staff and students, but bringing the farmer to campus allows many more to make the connection.

2. Hospitals have a lot to learn from prisons and jails.

Among the schools, hospitals, and universities attending this Farm to Institution conference were also prisons and jails. For correctional facilities involved in the farm to institution movement the benefits are greater than just supporting local farmers, the ag economy, and providing healthier foods: it’s about transformative healing. State prisons engage inmates in gardening, nutrition classes, food preparation, eating healthy on a low budget, and composting. These initiatives have a far greater purpose than simply promoting health or teaching in-demand job skills. They build self-efficacy, empowerment, and promote mental and emotional wellbeing among inmates. These initiatives can easily be translated into a clinical setting to promote healing and well-being among patients and caretakers.

3. Healthcare needs to take on an advocacy role in food policy.

Our Healthy Communities team learned how policy influences much more than just food safety in institutional settings. The Food Safety Modernization Act, a federal law, incentivizes local sourcing within 400 miles and promotes food chain transparency, both of which are goals for the Farm to Hospital Initiative that BNMC is leading locally. This law supports BNMC institutions in increasing their procurement of local food. It also demonstrates the critical position hospitals hold in influencing systems change through food policy to align with health and well-being programs.

4. Define “Local”.

Having a definition of what local means is essential to a successful farm to institution program. Does local mean within state boundaries? Within 250 miles? Within the 8 counties of Western New York? Having a set standard creates boundaries that will determine the rest of the project scope – what farmers are available to work with in the radius, what current distribution networks exit within the boundary, and if there is enough local volume of a variety of products to meet the demand. Looking beyond geography is important as well. Including local impact in your definition and assessment includes the WHY. Why are we focused on local? We want to impact our local economy, including local agriculture, and business.

5. We Learned about Hyper-Local Seafood.

Being located in New England, naturally the food served at the conference included seafood. What made it interesting was having lunch with the fisherman who caught the seafood we were eating and also learning about the local fishery economy in New England specifically. The type of fish the fishermen specialize in is dogfish, which is overabundant in New England yet Americans traditionally don’t eat because of its off-putting name. As a result, the majority of dogfish gets exported to Europe, and this utilizes more resources, is less environmentally sustainable, and the fishermen don’t know who the end-consumer is. When institutions in New England purchase the dogfish in the form of a breaded fish fillet to serve in hospitals, universities, and prisons, fishermen earn a fairer portion of the dollar for their work, it is more efficient, and the fishermen know who is eating their food.

BNMC Welcomed 450 People at 5th Annual Student Open House!

by BNMCin Campus-wide, Career Opportunities, Innovation, Students, Technology, Youth And Education

BNMC Welcomed 450 People at 5th Annual Student Open House!

On Saturday, April 13th, we welcomed more than 450 people to the Campus for our 5thAnnual BNMC Student Open House! Attendees participated in a myriad of hands-on STEM activities, experienced behind-the-scene tours of our state-of-the-art facilities, and learned about career opportunities on the Medial Campus. We are thankful for our partners who participated in the event including, UB’s NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences, Hauptman-Woodward Institute, Jacobs Institute, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Oishei Children’s Hospital, Unyts, theCoderSchool Buffalo, UB Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, and UBMD Physicians’ Group. Several construction industry professionals and trades associations also joined us for the day.

Some of the activities highlighted:

  • Scrubbing into laparoscopic surgery using the LapSim Virtual Training sustem at Roswell Park’s ATLAS Lab.
  • Observing the process of preparing a kidney for transplant at Unyts
  • Touring a new 800 sq. ft. operating room at Oishei Children’s Hospital (bunny suits and all!)
  • Working alongside lab technicians and medical residents on laparoscopic trainers, orthopedic FAS simulators, and suturing at the UB Jacobs School of Medicine.
  • Learning about crystals and how they are formed and used to study diseases at Hauptman-Woodward Institute
  • Trying your skills at bio-art at UB’s NYS Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences

And so much more! Check out the event photo album on Facebook to see it all.

Talking Cities Featuring Sean Tuohey, Owner of Rowhouse Restaurant & Bakery and Co-Founder, Peace Players

by BNMCin podcast

If You Can’t Move, You’re Stuck

Matt talks with Sean Tuohey, self-described operator & dreamer, about bringing people together through sports and food. Sean grew up playing basketball in Washington, DC, and around the world, which led him to co-found PeacePlayers International, uniting people through sports. Sean currently owns a popular restaurant/gathering place in Buffalo, NY and is still working to help reimagine therapy through sport.

BNMC Awards Micro-Grants to 12 Local Organizations

by BNMCin Community, Healthy Communities, Innovation, Neighbors

BNMC Awards Micro-Grants to 12 Local Organizations

The BNMC is excited to announce that we have selected 12 organizations out 37 wp-contentlicants to receive a total of $39,000 in our 2nd annual Spark micro-grant program!

Local community members and organizations were invited to wp-contently for grant funding for projects and programs that help to showcase the neighborhoods adjacent to the Medical Campus as active, vibrant places. Some of this year’s funded projects include a technology upgrade for the Salvation Army’s Youth Drop-in Center, DSLR cameras for Locust Street Art’s photography classes, and nutrition education and job readiness training for Groundwork Buffalo’s Fresh Food Fellows. Other projects include community gardens, restoration projects, music and art programs, and more.

View 2019 Spark Awardees

Do Electric Vehicles Make Financial Sense? Find Out!

by BNMCin Electric Vehicles, Employees, Energy, Sustainability

Do Electric Vehicles Make Financial Sense? Find Out!

Content from our partners at DriveGreen with National Grid. Electric vehicles (EVs) are a great choice for today’s drivers not only because they’re fun to drive and protect the environment, but because they’re cheaper to operate than gas-powered cars:

  • Fuel costs: It’s cheaper (and cleaner) to drive a mile on electricity than it is to drive a mile on gasoline and electricity prices are much less volatile than gas prices. Savings on fuel alone can amount to several hundred dollars per year.
  • Service: Electric vehicles require much less service than gas-powered cars because they have fewer moving parts, so switching from a gas-powered car to an EV offers significant service savings.

Get the details at: drivegreen.nationalgridus.com/learn/benefits

As a reminder, BNMC has partnered with National Grid to install electric vehicle charging stations around the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus for you to use. To make it easier for you to navigate EV offers and get into an EV, Drive Green with National Grid provides a website with accessible educational materials and discounted deals from local dealers. Check it out at: drivegreen.nationalgridus.com.