O’Donnell Speaker Series

Bringing Together Influential Voices

Each year, St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute proudly hosts the O’Donnell Speaker Series, a signature event that brings voices from across sectors together to help spark the ideas and connections that move Western New York forward.

This special edition of the Series is titled “How Does Buffalo Win Its Race to Relevance? The Role the Startup Ecosystem Will Play.” The evening will feature a dynamic panel of thought leaders driving Buffalo’s entrepreneurial growth, with a focus on innovation, investment and the next generation of local leadership.

Leaders Who Are Making It Happen

Featured Panelists

Bill Maggio '80

Bill Maggio '80 is the Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Lorraine Capital, one of New York’s most respected private equity firms, where he also serves as chairman or trustee of several portfolio companies. He also serves as Co-Founder and Executive Chairman of Egret Healthcare Ventures, a venture capital firm advancing cutting-edge neuro and cardiovascular medical technologies in Western New York. Over the past two decades, Bill has acquired, operated and exited multiple life science companies and has held leadership and advisory roles with Kaleida Health, the Jacobs Institute, Convergent Healthcare Partners, the University at Buffalo Foundation and Roswell Park GBCT.

Deeply committed to Western New York’s economic revitalization, Bill is Chair Emeritus and a founding board member of 43North, which has attracted over 55 startups and created more than 3,000 jobs in the region. He is also Chairman and Co-Founder of the 43North Foundation, focused on building a diverse and inclusive tech ecosystem and educating local youth about entrepreneurial opportunities. A proud St. Joe’s alumnus, Bill helped revive the school’s rowing program and served as a coach in its formative years. His work reflects a lifelong passion for creating opportunity, empowering young leaders and positioning Buffalo to lead in innovation and relevance.

Eric Reich
Eric Reich is the co-founder of Campus Labs, a groundbreaking higher education data and analytics platform he launched while pursuing a JD and MBA at the University at Buffalo. Under his leadership as CEO, Campus Labs grew from a startup with a small team into a nationally recognized enterprise serving over 2,000 colleges and universities. Reich guided the company through rapid expansion, strategic acquisitions and an eventual exit in 2020, helping to redefine how institutions use data to drive student and institutional success.

Since the sale of Campus Labs, Reich has become a central figure in Buffalo’s growing tech and startup community. He serves as Chair Emeritus of 43North, is on the board of TechBuffalo and Ted’s Hot Dogs and sits on the investment committee for Z80 Labs. His civic leadership includes co-chairing the Western New York Regional Economic Development Council and board service with the Erie Harbor Development Corporation and the Erie County Stadium Corporation, which is overseeing the construction of the new Buffalo Bills stadium.

Tom Wiley
Tom Wiley is CEO of the National Trust for Local News and formerly served as president and publisher of The Buffalo News. Over his decades in local journalism, he has built a national reputation for leading news organizations through meaningful digital transformation, from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch to the Middletown Press, while advancing the civic mission of journalism. Known as an innovative operator, Wiley has developed advertising technology, built data-driven revenue strategies and emphasized the essential role of local news in strengthening communities. He serves on the boards of Invest Buffalo Niagara, FeedMore WNY and the Buffalo Niagara Partnership.

While at The Buffalo News, Wiley launched Voices of Vision, an initiative that allows current and emerging leaders to share ideas, spark dialogue and help guide Western New York through a “lightning strike moment” of real opportunity. With optimism and a clear view of the region’s potential, Wiley champions collaboration across sectors, supports talent development and calls on the next generation to lead with bold ideas, humility and a deep commitment to community.