Key Staff

Joseph J. Cozzo, President/CEO
Joseph J. Cozzo is President/CEO of Buffalo Hearing a Speech Center. With over 35 years of experience in working with children and families, and with Masters Degrees in Psychology and in Counseling, Mr. Cozzo is a NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor and a Nationally Certified Trauma Counselor. He is a graduate of the 1999 class of Leadership Buffalo and is a Community Health Foundation Fellow. Joe is a sought after speaker and workshop leader in areas on child development and developmental issues, treatment strategies for working with emotionally disturbed youth, school related issues of at-risk students, effective discipline and parenting, and diversity issues in counseling and therapy. In the mid eighties, he developed a series of programs dealing with various aspects of adolescent suicide, and he regularly speaks and trains on the subjects of adolescent suicide, violence prevention, and management of anger and aggression. Currently a consultant for several public school faculties with the goal of developing effective strategies for working with angry and aggressive youth and transforming classrooms into “connection communities” he is also studying the effects of “compassion fatigue” as it affects urban teachers, and foster parents who work with traumatized children and youth. Mr. Cozzo has traveled to over 14 different nations worldwide, working with orphans and orphanages and conducting seminars on the effects of long-term institutionalization, post-institutionalized behaviors and reactive attachment disorder in children adopted from foreign countries. Joe speaks out on behalf of children’s rights and is a member of several local community not-for-profit Boards of Directors.

Joseph Sonnenberg, Vice President Research and Development
Joe Sonnenberg is Vice President, Research and Development of Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center. Joe is a licensed speech-language pathologist and administrator. He has worked to develop diverse clinical and educational programming to serve infants/toddlers, preschoolers, school-age children, and adults with speech-language, hearing, and special education needs. Joe has been a driving force behind the transformation of the Center from a small not-for–profit agency into the largest hearing and speech center in the United States. Much of his work over the last 20 years has focused on the development of a school program to serve children birth to 5 years with disabilities. The school program has 12 approved sites and serves 4 counties in WNY. Joe is a New York State Certified School Administrator and Supervisor, a Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist and holds certification as a Teacher of the Speech and Hearing Handicapped and in Elementary Education. He has been with Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center for more than 30 years.

Thomas Mohr, Vice President Finance
Thomas Mohr is Vice President Finance of Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center. His experience includes more than 25 years of extensive financial experience and expertise in nonprofit healthcare. Tom is responsible for a $12 million operation budget for the Center. He has significant in depth experience in cost based reimbursement systems, State Education Department financial reporting, both of are critical component to Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center’s budget. Tom is a graduate of Daemen College and a lifelong resident of Western New York. He and his where wife Joan have four children. Tom’s community service includes many years of leadership in his church. Tom has been employed with BHSC for more than 8 years.

Amy Bamrick, Director Clinical Services
Amy Bamrick is Director of Clinical Services of Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center. She is a licensed and ASHA certified speech-language pathologist. Amy is a graduate of Boston College where she earned a B.A. in psychology, she received a second B.A. in Communication Disorders and Sciences from the University of Buffalo. She received her Masters Degree in Speech-Language Pathology from Buffalo State College. Other certifications include VitalStim therapy provider for treatment of dysphagia and is a Compton-PESL provider for accent modification.

Lynn Shea, Director Oral Deaf Education Program
Lynn Shea is Director of the Oral Deaf Education Program of Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center. She is a licensed Speech Language Pathologist. Lynn has been practicing speech language pathology for over 17 years. She is trained in the Moog Curriculum philosophy for teaching deaf children to talk. She has also completed a fellowship year with Cochlear America providing expertise in educating deaf children with cochlear implants. She earned her master’s degree is SUNY Geneseo. She is the recipient of two ACE Awards from ASHA.

Barry Francis, Director Information Technology
Barry Francis is Director of Information Technology of Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center. Barry has been responsible for installing and maintaining more than four patient care management software systems, 12 servers, several clinical program software application, as well as implementing a new email system for the Center. Barry has been with Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center since 1987. Barry started his career at BHSC in the billing department as a temporary employee. He has more than 20 years of experience in Information Technology support.

Debora L. Krzeminski, Director, Early Childhood Program in Fredonia
Debora L. Krzeminski is Director, Early Childhood Program in Fredonia.
She has more than 18 years of experience in education.
She taught first grade, remedial reading and math, and Reading Recovery for 18 years at Holland Central Schools. She was the recipient of the “Triple H” award in recognition of her service to Holland Central Schools. She was also employed as an assistant principal for the Churchville-Chili Central School District and as a Reading First Regional Coordinator for Erie 1 BOCES. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Math and a Masters degree in Education. She is permanently certified by NYSED in Nursery, Kindergarten, Grades 1-6, Reading, School Administrator/Supervisor, and School District Administrator. She has been employed with BHSC since October 2005.

Amy Starck, Director Marketing & Fund Development
Amy Starck is Director of Marketing & Fund Development of Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center. She has more than ten years of public relations, direct marketing, special event planning, and fund raising experience. She is responsible for Marketing, Community Relations, and fund development for BHSC. Starck works closely with community leaders, political and business leaders, as well as charitable foundations to ensure the Center reaches annual goals. She has experience in both the public and private sectors and knows the unique demands of both worlds. She is a graduate of State University College at Buffalo where she earned her degree in Public Communication.

Lynn Scheuer, Director of Literacy and Specialized Programs
Lynn Scheuer is Director of Literacy and Specialized Programs at Buffalo Hearing & Speech Center. Lynn graduated from State University of New York at Buffalo with a Masters of Arts in Communication Disorders and Sciences in September 2001, following which she began her career at BHSC as a speech-language pathologist. Lynn has gained a wide variety of experience while at the Center, providing comprehensive assessment and treatment for patients of all ages and disorders across multiple settings including clinic, preschool, elementary school, nursing home, day habilitation and hospitals. In 2004 she researched, developed and wrote multiple intensive language/literacy curriculum's for students ages 6-16. Today, the resultant Language to Literacy Program serves over 100 students yearly with language and reading deficits. Lynn oversees a variety of contract and clinical programs and is frequently out in the community providing inservices and continuing education courses for parents and professionals.