Steering Committee

Dr. LaVonne E. Ansari, PhD, is chief executive officer and executive director of the Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc., a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving over 20,000 patients annually in Erie and Niagara counties.

She is an experienced educator, administrator, and manager with over 20 years of experience in equity and diversity, workforce development, higher education, and community-based healthcare and hospital administration. She is deeply involved in the community, serving as an advisory board member of the University of Buffalo Education Opportunity Center and a commissioner on the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA). She also served as statewide chairperson for the Community Health Center Association of New York State, part of a national health advocacy group. Dr. Ansari recently participated as a panelist in the United We Stand Summit at the White House in recognition of her community service and her ongoing leadership following the 5/14 massacre.

Dr. Ansari holds a bachelor’s degree in professional studies from Brockport State College, a master’s degree in multidisciplinary studies from the State University of New York College at Buffalo, and a PhD in sociology of education from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She also received a certificate in career development and management in women’s studies from Cornell University.

Thomas Beauford Jr. was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. A business executive with over 20 years of strategic leadership experience in private industry and community board service. He is currently president and CEO of the Buffalo Urban League. Beauford was appointed to lead the historical civil rights, social justice, and community empowerment organization in August 2020.

Beauford most recently served as vice president at M&T Bank in the Risk Management and Regulatory Affairs division.  Prior to this, Thomas joined HSBC Bank USA, N.A. in 2000, as part of its acquisition of Republic National Bank of New York, managing their Eastern Region Operations Center in New York City.  In 2001, he was selected for one of HSBC’s International Management Programmes, headquartered in London, UK. In 2006, Thomas relocated to Buffalo, NY with HSBC as Director of Strategic Planning, overseeing Project Management and Business Banking Contact Center, then later, operations centers locally and in Guangzhou, China. During his international assignment, he served as the Deputy Centre Manager of HSBC’s Global Service Centre, in Bengaluru, India, and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Beauford is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo, holding both an Executive M.B.A. and an M.S. in Operations and Supply Chain Management.  He received a B.S. in Business Management from Saint Peter’s University and an A.A.S. in Accounting from Kingsborough Community College. Thomas was also awarded a scholarship to study at Harvard Business School’s Executive Education–Governing for Nonprofit Excellence program.