The CAO of WNY Selects Marie Cannon, DSW as New President and Chief Executive Officer

Marie Cannon, DSW

Community Action Organization of Western New York (CAO of WNY) announces the appointment of Marie Cannon, DSW as its new President and CEO. Cannon was hired following an extensive nation wide search conducted by Catapult Executive Consulting. Cannon will replace Thomas Kim who stepped down as CEO and President in January 2024.

Dr. Cannon comes to the CAO of WNY with more than 30 years in the field of health and human services, including working in the CAO of WNY's Head Start program from 1999-2001. Cannon most recently served as the Commissioner of the Erie County Department of Social Ser vices, the largest department in the county with 1600 employees, a $618 million budget, and serving 27,000 people per month.

Cannon's dedication to serving the community ex tends well beyond the walls of the Edward Rath Building. She is a member of Governor Kathy Hochul's State Child Poverty Reduction Advisory Council, the 1st Vice President of the New York Public Welfare Association, Greater Buffalo Equity Roundtable, and was Co-Lead of the Erie County Child and Housing Task Forces in response to the pandemic.

"I'm thrilled and looking forward to working with the incredible and hard-working staff at the CAO of WNY. Our mission is and will always be to serve the people in the community. I've spent my professional and personal life dedicated to serving underserved communities and mitigating the impact of poverty on individuals and families. As head of the CAO of WNY I hope to use all our re sources to help empower families to lead happy, healthy, and productive lives," said Cannon.