Ambres, Czarnecki Appointed to UB Council

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Cynthia A. Ambres, M.D., and Mark J. Czarnecki, have been appointed to the University at Buffalo Council by Gov. George E. Pataki.

Ambres is president of Lifetime Health Medical Group, a 13-center medical group in Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. She also is president and founder of her own firm, Ambres Health Care Consulting.

She formerly was executive vice president of Kaleida Health, overseeing medical affairs and new program development, and physician contracting. Ambres also has served as senior vice president and chief medical officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York and senior manager of the Health Care Consulting Group at Ernst & Young LLP, New York.

She serves on numerous community, editorial and advisory boards, including the board of directors of the Buffalo Arts Studio and the board of advisors of FEI Corporation, a women's health-care company.

Ambres received her bachelor's degree from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and is a graduate of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She also received a master's degree in health policy and management from New York University.

She is a resident of Buffalo.

Czarnecki is executive vice president of the M&T Investment Group/Retail Banking and a member of the management group for M&T Bank.

An employee of M&T Bank since 1977, Czarnecki has held managerial positions in retail banking, business banking and commercial lending. He has been responsible for private client services in the M&T Investment Group; president of M&T Securities, and executive vice president of the Investment Group, overseeing M&T Securities, M&T Insurance and the Trust and Investment Services Group. In 2003, his responsibilities were expanded to include oversight of M&T's retail banking business.

A member of the board of trustees of the University at Buffalo Foundation, Czarnecki is director of the MTB Group of Funds. He serves as chair of the Westminster Community Charter School Partnership and chair of the Buffalo Zoological Society.

He received a bachelor's degree from UB and a master's of business administration degree from Canisius College.

He is a resident of Clarence.

The UB Council serves as the primary oversight and advisory board to UB and its president and senior officers. The council consists of 10 members, nine of whom are appointed to seven-year terms by the governor of New York State, and one student member who is elected to an annual term by the university's students.

The council reviews all major plans and activities of the university in the areas of academics, student life, finances, buildings and grounds, as well as making recommendations and regulations for the benefit of the university in matters of community and alumni relations.