Board of Directors
WNYHeroes.com Board of Directors is a diverse group of individuals all sharing a common goal of helping our WNY Veterans.
Chris Kreiger - President/CEO
Army Disabled Iraq Veteran
Chris Kreiger was inspired to co-found WNY Heroes - a veterans' assistance center - as a result of personal experience gained following a decade of service with the United States military.
Kreiger joined the U.S. Army in 1997 with primary military occupation specialty status (MOS) as a combat medic and secondary MOS as a member of the Military Police. During his first five years in the military, he served his country and others in several important security operations:
- In 1998, Kreiger secured Operation Gold Cargo's crosscountry munitions transfer and storage.
- In 1999, he served alongside North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces securing mass grave sites in Bosnia through Operation Join Forge.
- In 2001, Kreiger was called to Ground Zero with the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to protect New York City's train stations, in conjunction with the New York Police Department and Port Authority, following the September 11 attacks.
- In 2002, he served on Operation Noble Eagle, working with customs and immigrations to secure bridges and detect illegal immigrants and drug smuggling.
Of all the challenges he faced in the military, the most impactful was to come in 2003, when he was called to serve as a medic in Operation Iraqi Freedom - the war in Iraq. During his service, Kreiger not only lost two brave men in the line of duty but was himself hit by a roadside bomb.
The extensive injuries he sustained required several operations, including surgeries on his right leg and lower back. He also dislocated a hip and lost hearing in his right ear. Further complicating his short- and long-term recovery, Kreiger experienced traumatic brain injury (TBI) to the left side of his brain.
Kreiger returned home where setbacks continued. It took two years to receive 100 percent disability pay - and in the meantime, he and his family experienced the additional heartbreak of losing their home as a result of financial and physical difficulties from his wartime injuries.
Kreiger retired from the military in 2007 and in 2008, he was sent to the Veterans Hospital Poly trauma Brain Injury Center in Virginia, where he received much-needed care for the injuries he incurred, including medical attention to control the seizures resulting from TBI.
Today, as the co-founder of the non-profit organization WNY Heroes ("WNY" stands for Western New York, where he lives with his wife, Melissa, and their two sons), Kreiger works tirelessly to provide the support, assistance and resources - financial, physical and emotional - that veterans need following service to our country. The organization's goal, as well as Kreiger's own, is to ease the transition from combat to civilian life and eliminate the hardships and complications that too many veterans continue to experience in America today. Kreiger is also the senior vice commander of the Iraq War Veterans Org (IWVO) and a chapter service officer with the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
Stephanie Thurston - Chairwomen
Army Disabled Iraq Veteran
Jessica Hoffman - Secretary
University of Buffalo
Peter Bunting - Vice Chairman
Army Disabled Vietnam Veteran
Mr. Bunting is the son of a United States Naval Captain. Drafted in 1969, Peter served as a Combat Infantryman with the 3rd Bn, 22nd Infantry of the 25th Infantry Division. His awards include the CIB, Bronze Star, Air Medal and Army Commendation medal.
After his Army service, he graduated from Old Dominion University with a Science Degree in Business Management. As a professional Sales and Marketing Manager, Peter has held Bank Management, Financial Product Sales, Advertising and Capital Equipment Sales positions. He is now retired and lives in Lake View, New York.
Peters’ involvement with Veteran services includes being a life member of the Vietnam Veterans of America, past President of Chapter 48, Board Member and Virginia State Council Treasurer. He is the Vice Chairman of Western New York Mental Health Advisory Council at the Buffalo Veteran’s Medical Center and is a member of American Legion Post 928 in Angola, New York.