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Daemen College Names Connie Vari, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Kaleida Health, to Board of Trustees
Daemen College has named Connie Vari to the Daemen Board of Trustees. Vari is Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for Kaleida Health.
Daemen President Dr. Martin J. Anisman noted, “We are extremely fortunate to have the opportunity to have Connie join the Daemen College Board of Trustees. Connie is, in every sense, a leader in the healthcare field – as a provider and a senior executive. She has a long record of accomplishments – both as a nurse, and a member of the leadership team at Kaleida Health – as well as professional recognition for her commitment to excellence. Daemen College, our students, and the entire Daemen community will benefit from her skills. We welcome Connie to the Board.”
Mrs. Vari was appointed Executive Vice President/Chief Operating Officer in December 2007, accenting 30 years of distinguished service within the Kaleida Health family of healthcare organizations. Prior to her present position, she served as Kaleida Health Chief Administrative Officer, starting in 2005; as Kaleida Health Chief Learning Officer, starting in 2003; and as President of Millard Fillmore Gates Circle from 1998-2003.
As the Chief Operating Officer, Mrs. Vari oversees system-wide operations for Kaleida Health, which has more than 10,000 employees and 2,000 Physicians with combined annual revenues of $1.2 billion. Mrs. Vari started her career in 1976 as staff nurse in the Millard Fillmore Health System, which quickly led to a series of progressively responsible leadership positions within the system. She has also served as a research interviewer for the U.S. Center for Disease Control and as a certified Family Nurse Practitioner in Amherst, New York.
Completing her basic nursing education at the EJ Meyer Memorial School of Nursing, Mrs. Vari graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo, receiving both her Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Master of Science, Family Nurse Practitioner and, subsequently, Master of Business Administration. She is trained in Six Sigma and Lean, and holds the designation of Master Change Agent.
Mrs. Vari is a member of Sigma Theta Tau, the American College of Healthcare Executives, and the American Organization of Nurse Executives. She is also actively engaged as a mentor to women hoping to become tomorrow’s leaders.
In 2004, Mrs. Vari received the YWCA’s Executive Leaders Award in recognition of her stellar career as an accomplished nurse and healthcare executive. In 2007, she received The Distinguished Alumni Award from the University at Buffalo School of Nursing for outstanding achievement, as well as the 2009 Distinguished Alumni Award for the University at Buffalo. Erie Community College presented Mrs. Vari with the 2007 Outstanding Corporate Friend Award. In 2007 Mrs. Vari was named to the United Way of Buffalo and Erie County Board of Directors. Mrs. Vari also serves as a Director for Buffalo State College’s Foundation Board.
Mrs. Vari and her husband are residents of Williamsville.