For the 10th year in a row, the Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., president of Niagara University, has been named one of the region’s most influential leaders by Buffalo Business First. Father Maher has been included on the weekly newspaper’s “Power 250,” a list of the men and women who aim to make changes and improvements in the eight-county Buffalo region, in each of his years as president at Niagara.

Joining him on the list are five Niagara University alumni: Kimberley Minkel, ’88, executive director of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority; Christopher Ross, ’82, managing partner at Lawley Insurance; Joseph Dash, ’98, owner of Dash's Market Inc.; Joseph Ruffolo, ’78, chief executive officer of Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center; and John Lomeo, ’00, president and chief executive officer of Niagara Hospice.

According to the Business First website, the “Power 250” is limited to persons who live and work in Western New York. It does not include owners of local businesses who live in other parts of America or the world. For this year's complete list, click here.