Under Joanne's leadership, Neighborhood Health Center has grown to six locations in Western New York, and it consistently ranks as the top health center in WNY for quality. Neighborhood is the primary care home for more than 31,000 Western New Yorkers. The organization has also earned finalist distinction for four consecutive years in the Best Places to Work competition. With Joanne at the helm, Western New York's largest and longest serving Federally Qualified Health Center has continued to grow responsibly -- adding services based on community needs -- and provide jobs in the communities it serves.

Joanne grew up in and around the Buffalo area with a humble beginning. She graduated from Riverside High School, gained valuable experience through a number of jobs, including at McDonald’s and Wegmans. Joanne went to D’Youville University and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, and later returned to obtain a master’s degree and a family nurse practitioner degree. D’Youville honored her with its Delta Sigma Award, and she earned induction into the Marguerite D’Youville Honor Society.

Her healthcare career spans more than 30 years, and over the last 19 years Joanne has provided care as a nurse practitioner and worked her way up at Neighborhood Health Center. Now, as president and CEO she prioritizes strengths-based leadership to drive employee engagement and create career opportunities so all people feel valued.

Joanne is also active in the community and serves in a number of volunteer roles. She is on the the Board of Trustees for D’Youville University. She served on the board for the Community Health Care Association of New York State, and on the Univera Healthcare Regional Advisory Board. She is the vice president of Western New York’s Safety Net Association of Primary Care Providers (SNAPCAP). Joanne is an activist for fairness and community capacity building. She has worked to implement models of care that engage the patient and the family with an emphasis on harm reduction approaches to support self-care. And, she advocates for projects that build a stronger community.

The Power 200 Women list, compiled annually by Buffalo Business First, recognizes the most influential women in Western New York.