Sabina, a lifelong entrepreneur, was the proud recipient of the 2020 New York State Entrepreneur of the Year Award from the New York State Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers for achieving economic growth and stability, expanding employment opportunities, and playing a vital role in community development. Sabina’s innate curiosity, willingness to take on challenges, and aptitude for problem-solving have led her down an extraordinary career path in research, technology, design, and communications. As a strong community advocate, Sabina currently serves on multiple boards and committees, including the United Way Erie County, Mercy Hospital Foundation, and the Buffalo Police: Explorer Post 638. She also currently volunteers with Highland Clubhouse in Niagara Falls and is past President of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). In 2018, she co-founded Lead Up For Women, a national organization that supports women aspiring to leadership positions. In all of her endeavors, Sabina blends her visionary mindset with her down-to-earth roots to continuously achieve wins for her clients and her team.

Creativity is an integral part of who I am. It comes naturally—listening, researching, analyzing, creating, and making something better simply gives me tremendous joy – it’s our kryptonite and what motivates us forward.

With an education in experimental filmmaking, experience with the hard facts of news photojournalism, and drive for telling stories, David‘s approach to filmmaking is naturally one-of-a-kind. David moved away from his hometown of Akron (just a few miles outside of Buffalo, NY) to study and work in Binghamton. Earning a B.A. in Cinema and a B.S. in Human Development from Binghamton University paved his path for the communications field. He then spent over two years working as a video journalist for WBNG-TV 12 News, chasing down stories and breaking news with his camera all over New York’s Southern Tier. At long last, he has returned to Buffalo to pursue other avenues of filmmaking. Currently he lives in Kenmore with his wife and cat. You can usually expect to find him at his computer working on a short film or music project, taking a hike in the Adirondacks, trying to get back into golf, or scouring Disney+ for vintage content that’s faded into obscurity.

I believe those with creative potential who choose not to work with others are missing one of the best parts about the creative process. Collaboration has not only been the key to my success as a filmmaker, it is also a necessity for this craft, while being the main source of passion and excitement in my life an integral part of who I am.

Mary is a self-employed accountant who has been an independent consultant with Insight since 2014, helping the team with all matters of accounting and business management. She handles several key responsibilities for the daily functioning of the company, including balancing accounts, payroll, and human resources. Mary is a lifelong Buffalonian and is married with two grown sons. Her favorite way to spend free time is gardening with a glass of wine by her side.

Quality is one of most important tenets in my life, as I strive to complete all functions thoroughly, accurately, and of the highest quality for both clients and staff.

Nora is trained in the complex study of information science — the intersection of data, information literacy, and information management. This makes her the perfect fit in her position as Insight’s Projects & Information Specialist. She recently concluded a metadata project with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF). Currently, Nora also holds a position on the Board of Directors for the Rocket City Civil Rights initiative, acting as the Archival Coordinator, a position in which she collaborates with historians, librarians, and the community to provide equal access to civil rights documents. Nora earned a Bachelor of Arts in Music History and Literature from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Fredonia and a Master of Science in Library and Information Studies (MSLIS) from Syracuse University. She is currently attending Newcastle University for a Master of Music in Musicology.

I believe that good character is one of the most important features in a person because it allows oneself to grow and adapt. I judge this value not only on simply being honest, principled, and virtuous — but also by the context that determines how decisions are made. Insight allows me to work with pride knowing that we are making a better city.

Joe has 20 years of experience offering quality graphic design, branding, and creative services for a diverse range of clients. Upon graduating from SUNY Fredonia with a BFA in Graphic Design, Joe found immediate employment with two small design firms focused on the visual revival of downtown Buffalo. After 2003, Joe became the lead designer at One Stop Printing & Signs — upon the shop's closing, Joe opened his own shop in North Tonawanda: Payne Avenue Printing. By 2012, Joe Zgoda was navigating as a freelancer with many experiences and business contacts in his wheelhouse. In 2016, Joe Zgoda signed a long-term contract with Underground Wraps as one of their contract designers for vehicle graphics, fleet branding, and information signage. Today, alongside working with Insight, he is owner and founder of Zgoda Design and Graphics, a creative studio focusing on building and driving brands. In his free time, Joe enjoys watching and playing various sports, as well as participating in outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, camping, and hunting. He lives with his wife, Kristen, and their 8-year-old daughter, Skylar.

Although I live for creating, I understand that I am not an island. Communication is about connecting and unifying people and ideas. That cannot be fully perfected without collaboration. It is about building each other up. Learning from each other. Teaching each other. Helping each other succeed.

Severo, has nearly a decade of experience building beautiful, functional, user-friendly websites for clients. Although he specializes in WordPress, his diverse skill set allows him to take care of any need related to web design. In his free time, Severo loves running, playing padel, and snowboarding. With a love for adventure and new experiences, he is also an avid traveler and never misses an opportunity to visit someplace new and exciting. Severo has a degree in economics, but he changed his career to spend more time with his family — his beloved wife and four children.

I'm thrilled to be a part of a team that is so dedicated to providing a high-quality product to clients in an efficient and effective manner. My best work comes when aesthetics and function work seamlessly together to provide a reliable and enjoyable user experience.

Sara is a research scientist who specializes in gathering essential insights from both quantitative and qualitative data. She came to the US after being awarded a Fulbright scholarship in 2015 to pursue her PhD in political science, which she earned from the University at Buffalo (SUNY). She also holds a master’s in Political Science and bachelor’s in Economics from Stockholm University. Sara worked for six years in policy, including nearly three years as Political Adviser for the Minister of Defense of Sweden, and she is currently a fellow at Stockholm Free World Forum. Now, Sara is an experienced instructor — she has independently taught dozens of courses at both the University at Buffalo and Buffalo State College, and she has published several peer-reviewed articles in renowned international journals. Having lived in large cities such as Stockholm, Brussels, and Amsterdam, Sara now enjoys the countryside charm of Evans and hiking, skiing, and other activities with her husband, their young son, and their golden retriever.

With years spent on scientific research, quality is a value that I've learnt to live by. I apply the same high-quality standard to all aspects of my professional life. Delivering high quality in my work is about respecting the client, and respecting our ability to do great work.

Kristi was born and raised in western Pennsylvania, about halfway between Pittsburgh and Erie. She graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English writing and has been writing professionally for newspapers and magazines ever since. Her writing won her a state award and several of her articles have been picked up by the Associated Press and published worldwide in major publications like NPR, The Daily Mail, and more.

Her lifelong passion for writing, storytelling and communication drives her to tell warm and accurate stories about whomever she is interviewing or whatever topic she is covering. Her goal is always to inform, educate, inspire and entertain with her writing.

Kristi believes the key to being a great writer and communicator is being an avid reader and lifelong learner with an open mind. She lives in Buffalo with her husband, Zach; three children, Louisa, Julia and Robbie, and labrador, Dobby.

When it comes to communication, compassion is absolutely key. You need talent and creativity, of course, but without compassion, you're not putting in the care needed to tell an effective and gripping story. I care about the people and things I write about and I put that compassion into my storytelling.

I am a senior in College studying Communications and Media Relations at Penn State University. I'm from Buffalo, NY and started my career off at Insight as a PR intern but now have transitioned into the role of PR Assistant.

One of my attractions to Insight was the core values they base their office on. I personally hold Collaboration in very high regard, the majority of my work has to do with constant and open communication with both our clients and our team. Collaboration is key in effectively producing and delivering high quality work for internal and external purposes.

A native Buffalonian, Lisa Napier loves her community and has spent years in the nonprofit sector, including marketing, community engagement, outreach, and volunteer management. Lisa has received extensive recognition in the community, including Public Broadcasting Service (PBS)’s national award for Volunteer Manager of the Year. While at PBS, she also co-founded the WNY Volunteer Fair. In her previous role as Marketing Consultant at Erie County Cancer Services Program, Lisa was recognized by the NYS Department of Health for her efforts in organizing cutting-edge, statewide campaigns and her ability to reach underserved populations. Lisa shares her expertise through her work with Insight and works to plan, purchase, and analyze effective media campaigns, providing essential community outreach information and resources. In addition to her role as Media Buyer and Outreach Specialist for Insight, Lisa owns WNY Media House (MWBE), a boutique media buying and marketing agency created to aid small businesses and nonprofit organizations in navigating the maze of advertising and expanding their often shoestring budgets to create high-quality campaigns.

My career has always been about advocating for the people who need it most. I'm proud to use my skills in marketing to help small businesses and nonprofits succeed, because those are the businesses that are truly the backbones of healthy and thriving communities.

Born and raised near Fredonia, New York, Travis has always had a love for being creative. He studied at Villa Maria College, where he initially studied fashion, with a desire to create confidence-boosting custom apparel. However, during his second year of school, he decided he wanted to make a larger impact through design, so he focused on helping start-up companies develop professional, eye-catching brands. In 2018, Travis graduated from school with a few local advertising awards, a couple of internships, and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design under his belt. Travis’s signature design styles include bold typography, strategic implementation of color theory, and a playful use of grid. In his spare time, he is likely looking for a new trail to hike, sketching, reading at the park, jamming out to an old album, or spamming social media with pictures of his cat.

Originality, individuality, and self-expression are all essential values to my daily life — but I also believe that it takes strong character to recognize that you can always work on improving yourself, your work, and the way that you interact with others.