Three Community Leaders Appointed to Buffalo State Council

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has appointed Patricia Farrell, Kevin Horrigan, and Mo Sumbundu as the newest members of the Buffalo State Council.

“I was delighted to learn of the appointment of these three outstanding individuals,” said Buffalo State University President Katherine Conway-Turner. “They are all wonderful supporters of Buffalo State and stalwart members of the community. I know they will each bring unique insights and expertise to their new leadership roles. We are very fortunate to have Patricia, Kevin, and Mo on the Buffalo State Council.”

Composed of nine community representatives and one student, the Buffalo State Council serves as the primary oversight and advisory body to the university, its president, and senior officers. Its duties include reviewing all major plans and activities of the university in the areas of academics, student life, and buildings and grounds; and making recommendations for the benefit of the university in matters of community and alumni relations. The council also plays a significant role in the presidential search process. Members of the council are appointed by the governor and serve a seven-year term, while the student representative is elected for a one-year term.

Patricia A. Farrell is head of sales for the Western New York division of Wilmington Trust, which is an affiliate of M&T Bank. She has three decades of experience in the financial service industry, including private banking, wealth planning, trust, investment management, family engagement, and family office services. She is responsible for providing comprehensive wealth management advice to high net-worth individuals, families, business owners, entrepreneurs, not-for-profit organizations, foundations, and endowments.

Before joining Wilmington Trust, Farrell was a senior vice president and wealth adviser at U.S. Trust in Manhattan, where she was a private banking team leader. Previously, she was a senior vice president and client adviser at Bank of America and Key Bank.

In the community, Farrell serves on the boards of the WNY Women’s Foundation and Go Bike Buffalo. She has served as treasurer of the board of directors for the Legal Aid Bureau of Buffalo, the Arc Erie County New York, and the BISON Children’s Scholarship Fund. She has also served on the board of directors of the Mercy Hospital Foundation, Mount Mercy Academy, and Northside Center for Child Development in Harlem, New York.

Farrell graduated in Leadership Buffalo’s 2006 class and has been named to several Buffalo Business First lists, including “40 Under 40,” “Who’s Who in Finance,” “Power 200 Women,” and “Power 250” influential people in WNY.

She holds a bachelor of economics from the University at Buffalo and a master of business administration in finance from Canisius College. She has completed several postgraduate finance courses at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and is a graduate of the American Institute of Banking.

Kevin Horrigan, ’92, is the vice president of public affairs for People Inc., Western New York’s largest human services agency. People Inc. employs 4,500 workers and annually provides services to 10,000 seniors and people with developmental disabilities.

Horrigan oversees the agency’s government and community relations and its diversity, equity, and inclusion activities and represents the agency on local, state, and federal matters. He advocates projects, legislation, and budgetary issues with elected officials, governmental departments, and media outlets locally and in Albany.

Horrigan also serves on many statewide associations and local committees, including New York Disability Advocates, LeadingAge New York’s board of directors, the Amherst Chamber of Commerce’s Economic Development and Public Policy Council, and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s Political Roundtable.

Before joining People Inc. in 2003, Horrigan worked in community and economic development for the City of Buffalo and Kensington-Bailey Neighborhood Housing Services.

Horrigan graduated in Leadership Buffalo’s 2006 class and was named to Buffalo Business First’s “40 Under 40” list in 2007.

He earned a bachelor of arts in political science from Buffalo State in 1992. Horrigan credits Buffalo State’s Political Science and Public Administration Department and its faculty for jump-starting his career through the internship opportunities it provided. This included interning with Congressman Brian Higgins, who was then a Buffalo Common Council member, and the SUNY Washington Internship Program.

Mo Sumbundu, ’13, ’17, is an international trade manager with Empire State Development’s (ESD) Global New York division, where he oversees contacts between New York companies and ESD’s foreign offices. Previously, he worked with New York companies that apply for ESD funding assistance programs to promote exports.

Before his move to Global New York, Sumbundu was the assistant director of the Regional Economic Development Council (REDC) of Western New York, where he worked to encourage business investment, job creation, and diverse local economies through the efficient use of loans, grants, tax credits, real estate development, and other forms of assistance in Allegany, Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Erie, and Niagara counties.

Sumbundu also serves as a representative to Governor Kathy Hochul in the Western New York region by helping build and maintain productive relationships with elected officials, community leaders, and advocacy groups. He currently serves as the governor’s liaison to the May 14th Memorial Commission in response to the mass shooting at the Tops Market on Jefferson Avenue.

During the coronavirus pandemic, Sumbundu worked with companies to identify sources for desperately needed PPE, helping businesses understand the state guidelines put in place to keep communities safe. He also served as a lead administrator at a vaccination site and disseminated information about reopening the economy after the global lockdown.

Sumbundu is a recipient of the 2014 Changemakers “30 Under 30 in Western New York” award and the 2019 SUNY Buffalo State Young Alumnus Achievement Award. He was named to the 2018 Buffalo Business First “30 Under 30” list.

Sumbundu has volunteered with the Food Bank of WNY, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, and the New York City Department of Education’s Students in Temporary Housing program. He serves on the boards of the Buffalo Museum of Science and the Tifft Nature Preserve and is a member of the Hilbert College 2025 Advisory Council.

Sumbundu earned his bachelor of arts in political science in 2013 and his master of public administration in 2017, both from Buffalo State.