Kimberley Minkel
Executive Director | OfficerKimberley Minkel serves as the Executive Director of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority, a position she has held since 2010. She is the first woman and the longest to serve in this role. Ms. Minkel oversees a workforce of 1,600 employees, managing a wide-ranging and unique transportation network that includes Metro Bus and Rail, the Buffalo Niagara International Airport, the Niagara Falls International Airport, the NFTA Transit Police, the Buffalo Airport Fire Department and a property management division.
As Executive Director, Ms. Minkel’s impact on the organization and the Western New York community is both substantial and transformational. Under her leadership, the NFTA has received prestigious awards and recognition for high performance. The Buffalo Airport was ranked #1 in North America for customer satisfaction by J.D. Power. Under Ms. Minkel’s leadership, Metro Bus and Rail has undergone historic modernizations; a $100 million dollar rail renewal project; the first in New York State and award-winning battery-operated bus charging station; and a system-wide fare collection digital upgrade. Ms. Minkel has also ensured the Authority has a positive history of prudent fiscal management, as affirmed by the New York State Authorities Budget Office in their 2024 Annual Report. The NFTA’s operating expenses decreased by 6.8% from 2019 through 2023. During that same time, the three other upstate Authorities rose an average of 13.6%.
In her previous role as the Director of Health, Safety, and Environmental Quality for the NFTA, Ms. Minkel oversaw the completion of an award-winning $13.1 million dollar environmental project for the Buffalo Airport that uses wetland treatment technology for treating spent deicing fluid in storm water runoff. The Buffalo Airport was the first airport in the United States to use this process. This project was awarded the Diamond Award in the Environmental Category by the American Council of Engineering Companies of New York and a very prestigious Honor Award by the American Council of Engineering Companies.
Through these initiatives and strong management skills, Ms. Minkel has effectively positioned the NFTA as a leader in the transportation industry by guiding the Authority to achieve great milestones. The NFTA earned a coveted Gold Standard award from the Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”) for the Authority’s overall high safety and security practices based on a review by the TSA.
Ms. Minkel serves on a number of boards, including the Buffalo Urban Development Corporation’s Board of Directors, The Buffalo Niagara Partnership, Visit Buffalo Niagara and USA Niagara Development Corporation.
Ms. Minkel is a graduate of Niagara University and earned her MBA from Canisus University. Her leadership continues to drive positive change in the Western New York community, with a focus on safety, efficiency, economic development and sustainability.