Chapter Staff
Jeff Albert
Chief Operating Officer
Phone: (315) 246-7233
Jeff began his career with ABC, Empire State in 2009 as the Comptroller and Human Resource Manager. In February of 2013, he was named Chief Operating Officer and has also assumed the position of Director of Workforce Development after obtaining the NCCER Master Training certification.
Prior to joining ABC, Jeff served as Chief Executive Officer of East West Management LLC where he successfully developed a dental management company and played an integral role in successfully growing operations nationally, from New York to Texas. The company was eventually sold to a national, well known dental management company in 2009.
Jeff is very involved in the community and was a founding board member of Westhill Central School District’s first Educational Foundation. He is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and resides in the Syracuse area with his wife and children.
Jason Ashlaw
Apprenticeship Director
Phone: (315) 454-2320
Jason comes to us from a long history of working for, and on the behalf of ABC members since 2012.
Jason is an expert in his field. He has a long history working in construction, as a worker, foreman, management, and company owner.  Additionally, he has a long history working with the chapter as an Electrical, Carpentry, Labor Apprenticeship Instructor and Safety Trainer. He is a firm believer in training and the ABC philosophy of merit based construction.
He has had OSHA 500 status for 10 years, NCCER Master Trainer status since 2012, has been a construction Safety expert, and Workforce Development Advisor to members across the state. His ability to work directly with a company to enhance workforce culture and help improve knowledge among staff has been a member benefit since his arrival.
Jason’s wealth of construction knowledge, extensive experience with ABC and his passion for the industry has made him a valuable resource for many companies in the ABC family.
Jason is the Director of Apprenticeship for the Multiple Employer Apprenticeship Program (MEAP) managing all apprentices and curriculums associated with it.
Jason is based out of our Syracuse Office; Â however, he works with all chapter members in all regions across the state.Â
Jamie Campisi
Craft Training Manager
Phone: (585) 455-0293
Jamie Campisi serves as our Manager of Craft Training. She is based out of our Rochester Training Center but will be traveling around to all the training centers across the State.
Jamie served as the chapter's Education Coordinator for 4 years before taking over as the Manager of Craft Training.
Prior to joining ABC, Jamie worked for the Greater Rochester Chamber where she worked in the Staffing, Training and Reference Checking departments. She has extensive experience with managing large scale projects that require a great attention to detail and a high level of customer service.Â
Tracie Cunningham
Controller
Phone: (315) 463-7539
Tracie Cunningham is our controller, she is responsible for all accounting as well as the coordination, completion, and accuracy of the financial records, payroll process and human resource administration. She works out of our Syracuse office.
Prior to joining ABC, Tracie worked as an administrative manager of construction companies for over 20 years as a controller. She also owned a trucking business for many years.
Mike Kanealey
Sr. Membership Director
Phone: (585) 301-6005
Mike is our Senior Membership Director. In his position, Mike works to take care of the needs of members in his regions, including fulfilling education and training needs and working to provide an environment beneficial to the merit shop philosophy.
Prior to joining ABC, Empire State, Mike worked in membership at the Rochester Business Alliance. He also worked in the beverage industry for a number of years.
Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree from St. Thomas Aquinas College, where he played collegiate basketball, and resides in Irondequoit, NY.
Erin Keenan
MEAP Apprenticeship Coordinator
Phone: (315) 247-8888
Erin Keenan serves as the Apprenticeship Coordinator for our Multiple Employer Apprenticeship Program. She works primarily out of our Syracuse office.
Prior to joining ABC Erin worked for Davis Ulmer Fire Protection and DEMCO, both ABC long-time members. Erin has many years of customer service, staff coordination, and project management experience.Â
Erin is the immediate contact for communicating and coordinating all Compliance related matters within the Multiple Employer Apprenticeship Program. She also works directly with each student and assigned company staff to maintain the required flow of information and Reporting over the course of the company’s Apprenticeship.
Erin attended SUNY Potsdam, loves to travel, attends concerts, and is an avid sports participant & enthusiast. GO DUKE!Â
Donna McGoey
Long Island Member Engagement Director
Phone: (718) 490-2079
Donna Mcgoey is our Long Island Member Engagement Director. Based in Long Island, Donna will help you maximize your investment in ABC by accessing the products and services we provide.
Amy L. Platenik
Education Director
Phone: (585) 363-1657
Amy Platenik serves as the Educational Director for the ABC, Empire Chapter. Amy works closely with our members by uncovering & providing them with many training opportunities. ABC offers a wide range of Programs & Training topics from Safety, Leadership & Craft. Topics can be customized specific for your company. Amy has been a trusted business partner to all ABC members.
Prior to joining ABC Empire State, Amy worked for ten years at the Rochester Business Alliance as Business development, membership retention and manager for staffing. Amy coordinated educational programs and Custom Trainings for businesses in the Rochester area on the topics of leadership, supervision, customer service and project management. Amy has built long working relationships with many businesses in the Rochester community and is well regarded for her work ethic and professionalism.
Amy studied Business Management at Monroe Community College and is an active member of her community where she volunteers for a number of organizations.
Tanner Schmidt
Public Affairs Manager
Phone: (585) 730-1814
Tanner Schmidt serves as our Public Affairs Manager. He primarily works out of the Buffalo office but travels across the state to assist members and promote the merit shop.
Tanner served as an intern for us back in 2017 where he started as an assistant in both our Government Affairs & Communication Departments. Since then he has been promoted to serve as the chapter's Public Affairs Manager. Tanner has also been asked to be the membership representative in the WNY region.
Over the years, Tanner has gained extensive experience promoting our merit shop legislative agenda and advocating for our members at the local, state and federal levels of government. Tanner graduated from SUNY Brockport with a degree in Political Science and Communications.Â
Brian Sampson
President
Phone: (585) 967-2133
As President of Associated Builders and Contractors, Empire State Chapter, Brian Sampson is responsible for coordinating its political and policy agenda, advocating for reform in state government, and promoting the overall growth of the construction industry on behalf of ABC’s more than 400 construction and contracting firms across New York State.
Prior to joining ABC, Brian served as Unshackle Upstate’s Executive Director for 5 years. While with Unshackle Upstate, Brian pushed for policies to make New York State more business friendly, advocating for less burdensome regulations and lower taxes. Building a strong coalition of partners, he was able to grow the organization significantly, becoming a leading voice on reform at the state level. One of many policy accomplishments that Brian led at Unshackle was the implementation of the property tax cap which limited municipalities to a 2% cap on property taxes.
Earlier in his career, Brian worked with Empire State Development (ESD) as Upstate Director for Business Outreach and served as vice president of the Builders Exchange of Rochester, a 550-plus member association in the construction industry.
Brian has received numerous accolades through his career, including twice being named to City & States Albany Power 100, with the publication citing his media savvy. He was also named to the Chairman’s Committee for the Regional Economic Development Councils by Governor Cuomo, facilitating cooperation among the ten regional councils, and to the Rochester Business Journal’s 40 under 40.
Brian is a graduate of Michigan State University and resides in Irondequoit, NY with his wife and two sons. He serves on a number of volunteer boards, including the Monroe County ARC.
Santino R. Thomas
Communications & Marketing Director
Phone: (607) 727-4280
Santino R. Thomas serves as our Director of Communications & Marketing. He will handle internal as well as external communications. In this role he is responsible for developing and maintaining our communications and marketing strategies as well as curating the overall messaging for ABC’s Empire State Chapter. Santino also serves as a spokesperson for the chapter. He is located in our Albany office, but frequently interacts with other members of our team both remotely and when visiting our other regional offices.
Prior to joining ABC, Santino spent several years in the New York State Assembly directing the messaging for more than ten different state legislators. He last served as the Director of Communications and Chief of Staff to a member of Assembly, overseeing all communications and public relations while directing both legislative and political agendas.
Starting out in the sports and entertainment industry, Santino has worked with multiple NCAA athletics departments including his Alma Mater, SUNY Cortland, and Division I Siena College. He has also worked with several professional sports franchises including both the New York Yankees’ and Mets’ organizations.
Santino is a proud alumnus of SUNY Cortland where he earned both a master’s and a bachelor’s degree and SUNY Delhi where he earned an associate degree.
In addition to serving as a communications volunteer with the American Red Cross’s Eastern New York Region, Santino sits on multiple committees for St. Catherine’s Center for Children in Albany. He is also the founder of his own PR firm which serves clients across North America and around the world. Santino lives in Loudonville, NY with his wife and daughter.