FIRM TO REBRAND AS MASIELLO, MARTUCCI, HUGHES
Anthony M. Masiello, president of Masiello, Martucci & Associates (MMA), and Victor A. Martucci, managing partner, have announced that one of the region’s most influential health care and community leaders, Michael P. Hughes, will join the firm as a partner on Jan. 1, 2025. At the same time, the Buffalo-based lobbying and government affairs firm will rebrand and become Masiello, Martucci, Hughes.
As a partner, Hughes will assist in government relations, communications and business development for the newly named firm and its clients. Hughes will also join Masiello and Martucci as partners with Kevin A. Keenan, who leads MMA’s public relations, crisis communications, and grassroots advocacy firm, Keenan Communications Group.
For the past 20 years, Hughes has been an executive with Kaleida Health, Western New York’s largest employer ($2.4 billion & 13,000 employees) rising to his most recent position as senior vice president and the chief administrative officer. Recruited in 2004, he spent nearly two decades increasing his responsibilities with the health system, overseeing all external affairs (marketing, communications and government relations), plus fundraising (two foundations), planning, construction and real estate. Mike led CEO and executive team communications, policy and strategy. His prior roles with Kaleida Health included chief of staff, senior vice president of marketing, public affairs & business development as well as vice president and chief marketing officer.
“Mike Hughes brings a wealth of knowledge & experience in the health care, transportation, public relations and government relations space,” Masiello said. “He instantly makes our team even stronger in helping clients succeed and prosper.”
Hughes is also a founding partner of Egret Healthcare Ventures, a Western New York investment vehicle founded in 2020 that focuses on medical device innovation. Two of the current startup companies that Egret has helped launch include Vicora Inc. and Ampullae Inc.
“I am absolutely thrilled to be joining Tony and Vic,” Hughes said. “They are known locally and across the State as results-oriented, a team that advocates relentlessly for their clients. This is a great opportunity for me to join a winning team and leverage my business experience, community service and network to help current and future MMH clients.”
Named one of the community’s most influential leaders, ranking annually in Buffalo Business First’s “Power 250” list, Hughes was nominated by New York Governor Kathy Hochul in 2022 and became chair of the board for the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority. When first appointed to the board in 2008, he was the youngest commissioner in the history of the authority.
He currently serves as the NFTA representative for the Erie County Industrial Development Agency and is also on the Amherst Chamber of Commerce Public Policy Council.
His past community service includes serving on boards for Mercy Flight, the Town of West Seneca, Canisius University, Medaille College and Buffalo Place.
Prior to joining Kaleida Health, Hughes was recruited to and served as the public affairs and marketing manager for Rural/Metro Medical Services, a national ambulance company (now American Medical Response), overseeing all media, government and community relations, plus marketing, business development and contract compliance in upstate New York.
He also served as the statewide public information officer for Rural/Metro’s nationally recognized Disaster Response Team, including a weeklong stint in New York City following the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001.
“I am extremely excited that Mike will join our firm as a partner,” Martucci said. “He brings a vast network of relationships in both the public and private sectors, as well as a reputation as an effective and successful business leader. Mike’s wealth of business and political experience will not only help grow our business, but will be an asset to our current roster of clients.”
Hughes’ awards include the West Seneca Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year” for his 20 plus years of volunteer work and community service. In 2023, Medaille College honored Hughes with a Doctorate of Humane Letters for his distinguished community service. In 2018, he was recognized by the Public Relations Society of America, honored with its highest national award – the prestigious “Silver Anvil” – for his integrated communications and marketing campaign around the relocation, rebranding and grand opening of the former Women & Children’s Hospital of Buffalo (now Oishei Children’s Hospital).
Hughes completed Harvard Business School’s executive program in Cambridge, Massachusetts concentrating on health care management. He earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Medaille College as well as a bachelor’s in communication from Canisius College.
He and his wife Kimberly, a teacher in Frontier Schools and former Orchard Park Schools Board member, have two children, Emma and Owen.
Masiello, Martucci & Associates is a results-driven lobbying firm that, among its principals, has decades of collective experience leveraging political know-how for political action and the results our clients need.
Keenan Communications Group is a division of Masiello, Martucci & Associates, specializing in public relations, crisis communications, and grassroots advocacy.
