Adam Roma, Buffalo-based community leader and sales representative with Principal Financial Group, shares the story behind one of the city’s most beloved traditions, the Taste of Buffalo. As Chair of the 2026 festival, Adam offers an inside look at how this nationally recognized event, now the largest two-day food festival in the country, has grown from humble beginnings into a cornerstone of Buffalo’s summer season.

Erkin Özay, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Architecture at the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning, delivers a witty and thought-provoking exploration of one of architecture’s most overlooked building types: the shed. Focusing on the often-criticized annex buildings scattered across UB’s South Campus, Erkin reframes these modest, one-story “temporary” structures, not as failures of design, but as quietly resilient and deeply instructive spaces.

With over 20 years of experience in the construction industry, Marie brings a powerful perspective that bridges both field and administrative roles. As the founder of Soteria Occupational Safety and Training (est. March 2025), she leads comprehensive safety and compliance efforts, ranging from regulatory guidance and policy development to training, education, and organizational management.

Aubrey Hlavaty, President and Lead Designer of Copper & Cotton, shares the story behind her journey from accounting professional to designer of thoughtfully curated, breathtaking interiors. What began as a natural passion for home projects evolved into a full-service design studio rooted in balance, pairing the strength and patina of copper with the softness and warmth of cotton to create spaces that feel both refined and deeply personal.

Manuel Rivera, Project Manager at LaBella Associates, shares the story behind the Hispanic Heritage Cultural Center, a transformative project rooted in community, culture, and personal connection. Located in Buffalo’s West Side neighborhood, the project is more than a building, it’s a reflection of the people, history, and lived experiences that define the area .

Kyle Ciminelli, President of Newmark Ciminelli, shares a compelling vision for the future of downtown Buffalo, one rooted in connection, investment, and long-term commitment to place. Drawing from a family legacy that began in 1981, Kyle reflects on the evolution of his firm and his own journey back to Buffalo, driven by a desire to make a meaningful impact in the city he calls home.

Gary Bowles, founder of Buffalo Plastering and Buffalo Architectural Casting, shares a lifetime dedicated to preserving the artistry and craftsmanship of historic plasterwork. With over 50 years in the trade, Gary’s career began as an apprentice, where he developed a deep appreciation for the skill, precision, and beauty of traditional plastering, an art form that is increasingly rare today.

Erica Grohol, Landscape Designer at Wendel Companies, closes out the evening with a thoughtful exploration of the spaces we often overlook, the in-between. Focusing on a courtyard transformation at Buffalo Public School 99, Erica highlights how residual spaces, when approached with intention, can become some of the most dynamic and meaningful environments in our cities

Michael is an Adjunct Instructor in the Department of Architecture at the University at Buffalo and an Architectural Designer at Studio NORTH Architecture.

Shutter Box, a residential structure nestled among a grove of oak trees. The home’s wooden shutters echo its wooded surroundings, reinforcing a quiet material dialogue between architecture and landscape.

The Parkside Community Association is bringing back one of the neighborhood’s most beloved traditions with the return of the Parkside Tour of Homes on Sunday, May 17, 2026. The tour celebrates the rich architectural, cultural, and civic legacy of Parkside, one of Buffalo’s most historically significant neighborhoods.

Photographer Michael Mulley explores the power of an image to shape how people see, remember, and value the built environment. On the surface, a building may appear to be nothing more than material: brick, stone, wood, but through photography, its deeper stories, cultural weight, and personal significance begin to emerge.

Jalonda Hill’s presentation focused on challenging stereotypes about Black women and questioning what is commonly accepted as the “norm,” particularly in relation to transportation, space, and health. Drawing from her own lived experience, she shared how personal hardship led her to choose bicycling over car dependency, which ultimately shaped her advocacy and the founding mission of Colored Girls Bike Too.

Alyson O’Connor of Rust Belt Love – Paper Company spoke about the enduring emotional power of handwritten communication in an increasingly digital world. She opened by inviting the audience to reflect on how easily one can recognize the handwriting of a loved one, comparing it to a fingerprint that is unique, deeply personal, and full of feeling in a way that emails and text messages cannot replicate.

Introducing, Will Becker, Project Manager and Contract Administrator with Sinatra Development.

Will emphasized the role of the Allentown Association as a community builder, bringing people together while adding care and beauty to spaces that might otherwise be forgotten. The organization helps decorate the neighborhood for holidays, supports residents in fixing up their properties, and fosters pride and stewardship throughout Allentown.

Colleen Toledano, ceramic and mixed media artist and associate professor of design at Buffalo State, invites us into a deeply personal and process-driven practice where making becomes a way of understanding life itself. Working primarily with porcelain while incorporating materials like resin, wood, and found elements, Colleen creates intricate sculptural works that draw from the ornate language of historical ceramics.

David Putman shares the raw and transformative story behind The Art of the Dog, a Buffalo-based dog training practice rooted in patience, resilience, and deep connection. What began 12 years ago with the adoption of a highly reactive rescue dog from the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter quickly became a life-changing journey. Faced with fear, uncertainty, and daily challenges, David learned firsthand what it takes to rehabilitate dogs that others might give up on.

Norman Cramer, founder of NC Woodworking, shares the evolution of his career from concept-driven artist to full-scale designer, fabricator, and business owner. He set out to create sculptural, idea-driven furniture inspired by themes of psychology, spirituality, and the fourth dimension, ambitious work that was both creatively fulfilling and technically demanding.

Meet Alexa Sass, Project Manager and Designer at Sinatra Development, where she helps bring multi-family and commercial projects to life from concept through completion.

Nicholas Wheeler shared a compelling behind-the-scenes story of how his creative practice evolved through a series of transformative spaces. His presentation traced the journey from his first studio on Seneca Street—where he bartered labor for a year of free rent—to his current home on West Hertel Avenue.

Mike LaValley walks us through the design journey behind the new home for FeedMore WNY—an ambitious project built on one powerful question: How do you solve a problem like hunger? By structuring his talk around 17 guiding questions, Mike reveals how design can respond to complex needs with care, clarity, and community at its heart. FeedMore WNY, a merger of the Food Bank of WNY and Meals on Wheels

Quincy Koczka’s presentation explored the rich intersection of architecture and design through the lens of an artist deeply rooted in craft. Telling a personal story of transformation, Quincy shared how turning wood became not just a skill, but a language—first through creating objects, then furniture, and eventually architectural elements such as spindles, corbels, and other expressive details.

As Senior Planner for the Town of Amherst, Kim Amplement is at the forefront of long-range planning and public engagement. Her work is deeply embedded in shaping policy and place through collaborative visioning, and one of her most ambitious undertakings is the transformation of the Boulevard Mall site.

Joyce Hwang, founder of Ants of the Prairie, leads a practice rooted in a radical question: What if we stopped treating animals as intruders in our cities and started designing with them in mind?

Gwyneth Harris shared an inside look at PUSH Buffalo’s Sustainability Workforce Training Center—an innovative facility designed to empower community members with green job training while modeling sustainable design in action. Recognizing transportation as a barrier for many residents, the center was strategically located within a walkable neighborhood to ensure accessibility.

Chris Romano shared the story of the Sister Shack, an innovative adaptive reuse project nestled within Silo City, just south of Buffalo’s First Ward. Positioned between the towering grain elevators, the shack is anchored by Duende, a vibrant social space, and framed by the nearby American Mill Warehouse, home to 160 apartments. This once-forgotten industrial site is being reimagined as a residential enclave, with the Sister Shack.

Casimir Garrison opens the evening with a deeply personal reflection on how making becomes a mode of self-discovery. Through three formative projects—renovating his own home, designing a garage door with his partner’s father, and building out the new Industrial Arts Studio—Casimir shares how the act of construction can reveal more than just material layers.

Cameron Visone, known as The Stained Glassman, delivered a captivating presentation at BAF’s 6 Minute Building Stories, diving deep into the meticulous world of stained glass and traditional wooden sash window restoration. Their work spans repair, restoration, rehabilitation, and the creation of new leaded glass pieces—always with a deep respect for traditional craftsmanship.

At the heart of Extra Extra Pizza is people. During her 6MBS presentation, Bridget Murphy—a founding member of the worker-owned cooperative—shared the collective vision behind Buffalo’s newest pizza spot shaking up more than just dough.

Anna Kaplan, Executive Director of Graycliff, shares how one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most intimate and expressive designs continues to evolve—without losing its soul. Graycliff is not just a home perched above Lake Erie; it’s a powerful embodiment of Wright’s vision for organic architecture, where every line and material harmonizes with the surrounding landscape.

Greg Herzog, a passionate bourbon enthusiast and local expert, took us on a spirited journey through the bourbon-making process—from the careful selection of grains to the science of aging in charred oak barrels.