President

Chris M. Kreiger Sr.

Lives in Tonawanda with his wife of nine years, Melissa. He has two sons Christopher and Cole. He has studied to be a Nurse Practioner. He joined the US army in 1997 with primary MOS as a combat medic and MP as a secondary MOS. In 1998 he was called to secure munitions being transfered across country to CA to be buried in volts, Operation Gold Cargo. In 1999 called to active duty to serve under Operation join Forge in Bosnia, working with NATO in mass grave sites. In 2001, during the birth of his second son, he was called to ground zero working with FEMA for security. Secured the train stations with NYPD and Port Authority. In 2002 called to Operation Noble Eagle working with customs and immigrations ins ecuring the bridges and detecting illegal immigrants and drug smuggling.

In 2003, he was called to Iraq. While in Iraq lost two brave men in the line of duty. He was also hit by a roadside bomb creating many injuries. He has had surgery on his right leg and lower back. Has a dislocated hip and loss of hearing in right ear, and also left sided brain injury (TBI). Due to his injuries he returned home and lost his home. After two years he finally received 100% disability and was able to get his life back on track. In 2007 he retired from the militiary after 10 years.

In 2008 was sent to VA to the Veterans Hospital polytrauma bran injury center where his seizures were brought under control and other injuries were taken care of. His brother also served in Iraq and is stationed in Alaska. He is also the Sr. Vice Commander of Iraq War Veterans Org (IWVO) and now a Chapter Service Officer with the DAV.

email: Chris Kreiger

Director

Dionne Kane

Lives in Niagara Falls with her two children Leo and Samantha. Her family has been involved in Operation Iraqi Freedom since the inception. Her brother, godson and cousin all served and continue to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2005, she lost a close friend SSG. Aram Bass who was KIA while serving in Iraq. She has particpated in honoring those who have lost their lives by attending funerals with the Patriot Guard. After reading an Article in the Buffalo News "Wars Deepest Wounds", Kane was inspired to do something more. The one soldier in the article that stood out most to Kane was Chris Kreiger. Because of his disabilities he lost everything. WNY veterans are not receiving the care they so deserve. They should come home and be assisted to get their lives on track. With this in mind, WNYHeroes.org was founded in 2007. With her extensive knowledge of veterans issues, her own family knowledge of war, her compassion and pride for veterans and her career accomplishments. Kane knew she could make a difference in the WNY community.

Kane received her B.S. Degree in Computer Information Systems from State University of New York at Buffalo in 1995. She has successfully implemented Informational Technology Projects for 8 years. Currently employed by Fidelity where she is IT Project Manager responsble for managing complex and cross-functional projects.

Some of her accomplishments include execution of enterprise wide project to update in-house software, implementation of software development for agents located on the East coast in all of five states of New England, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, and West Virginia, and implementation of national web-based project.

DKane@wnyheroes.org

Fundraising Manager

Stephanie Thurston

Lives in South Buffalo with her daughter, Lexi.  She joined the Army at 16 and went to basic training in-between her junior and senior year of high school.  She returned home to graduate from school and then completed AIT.  She joined the guard to attend drills during her senior year.  This helped her decide to stay with the guard after AIT and she attended college.  During her 14 year career she spent time in Panama, Bosnia and NYC for 9-11.  In 2003, she was called to Iraq.  She was with the 105th Military Police Unilt out of Buffalo.  In 2007 she retired from the militiary after 14 years of service. In addition to serving alongside her teammates at WNY Heroes, Stephanie is also a volunteer mentor at the Buffalo Veteran’s Treatment Court.

SThurston@wnyheroes.org

Vice President Development

Shawn J. Carbone

Shawn J. Carbone is WNYHeroes’ Business Development Manager. In 2003, he received his Baccalaureate in Commerce; Logistics from Niagara University. During his studies he represented Niagara at the National Conference on Ethics in America at the United States Military Academy at West Point. Attending Niagara on a full ROTC scholarship, he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army upon graduation.

His first assignment was as a platoon leader with the 26th Forward Support Battalion, 3rd Infantry Division, Fort Stewart, GA. Shortly after his arrival to the unit, he deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During this deployment he was reassigned to the 3rd Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment as a platoon leader. Upon redeployment he was assigned as executive officer of Fox Company 1st Battalion, 30th Infantry Regiment and remained so through a second deployment to Iraq. During Operation Iraqi Freedom V/VI, he volunteered and was chosen to be a member of a 12-man transition team to work alongside US Special Operations Forces in support of an Iraqi Infantry Battalion. In this capacity he, along with his team members, were charged with the responsibility to live with, train and fight alongside indigenous forces in order to relieve US forces of combat roles in the battlespace.

Upon mission completion he was reassigned to the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division’s Embedded Provincial Reconstruction Team (ePRT). Alongside the Brigade’s combat forces, Civil Affairs assets and the US State Department, Shawn was responsible for all economic development in the Brigade’s Area of Operations. This area comprised of nearly half a million citizens in both urban and rural zones was drastically revitalized as a result of the efforts of Shawn and his team. The area, once a notorious enemy stronghold, had become a peaceful agricultural business center in less than 6 months.

During his service he was twice awarded the Bronze Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, U.S. Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal with Campaign Stars (2), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (2), and the Combat Action Badge.

Shawn left active duty in 2009 in order to be closer to his family and loved ones and to serve his hometown of Western New York as he did the people of Iraq.

SCarbone@wnyheroes.org

General Counsel

Roman Fontana

Roman Fontana is an attorney in Buffalo who focuses his practice in the areas of plaintiff’s personal injury litigation, commercial civil litigation, family law and veterans rights and benefits law.

Roman received his J.D. degree from State University of New York at Buffalo in 2007 and was admitted to practice in 2008. He received his B.A. in History and Political Science, Magna Cum Laude in 2003 from Mount Saint Mary College.  A Language Scholar of Harvard University’s Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute, Roman is fluent in Ukrainian, and has a working familiarity with Russian and Polish.
Mr. Fontana is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Ukrainian-American Bar Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and Marine Corps League.                         
Prior to entering the legal profession, Mr. Fontana served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Global War on Terror with combat deployments in Africa, Southeast and Southwest Asia and Europe.