7 questions with Chelsea McCann, Director of Workforce Innovation
Blog Categories
The Partnership
January 21, 2026
The Buffalo Niagara Partnership is excited to welcome Chelsea McCann as its new Director of Workforce Innovation.
In this role, Chelsea partners with employers and workforce training organizations through the NY SMART I-Corridor Tech Hub to strengthen and re-define the talent pipeline in the semiconductor ecosystem. She focuses on solving workforce challenges, removing barriers to employment and supporting effective retention efforts for employers in the Buffalo Niagara region.
Get to know Chelsea in this Staff Spotlight, and connect with her on LinkedIn or via email at cmccann@thepartnership.org.
What was your career background before joining the BNP?
I was a business development specialist for an employment agency specializing in the light industrial industry. I also worked for other organizations in Buffalo, including Ingram Micro and People Inc.
How did your past experiences prepare you for your current role?
It opened my eyes to the importance of thinking outside the box when working with manufacturers who have talent needs. Creative critical thinking is key in addressing workforce challenges in my current role.
What inspired you to join the BNP?
I have always been passionate about addressing hiring challenges for manufacturers I worked closely with in Western New York. Joining the BNP gave me the opportunity to provide employers with greater value through expanded resources and innovative workforce strategies.
What's a little-known fact about yourself?
I spent a summer in South Korea with my sister. It was a unique experience that I am so honored to have been able to experience!
What do you like to do for fun?
For fun, I am a wood burner! I use a heated tool to burn designs, images and words into wood. I create things like signs, coasters and boards.
Best hidden gem in Buffalo?
There is a lot of controversy over who has the best wings in Buffalo ... but it is Kelly’s Korner on Delaware Avenue.
What is your favorite part about living in the Buffalo area?
You can connect with new people and different communities all while enjoying lifelong friendships and family memories.
Related Posts
Setting the stage for a defining moment in tourism, hospitality
Visit Buffalo President & CEO Patrick Kaler and Vice President of Marketing Karen Fashana joined the Buffalo Niagara Partnership’s Hospitality & Tourism Industry Leaders Forum on April 22 to take members behind the organization’s ambitious new branding initiative, “That’s Buffalo For You.”
Transportation, logistics experts examine cross-border commerce & future of funding
At the Transportation & Logistics Industry Leaders Forum on March 31, regional and national experts educated members on how federal policy, infrastructure investment and cross-border dynamics are shaping the movement of goods – and what it means for Buffalo Niagara businesses.
The competitive advantage smart CEOs build early
Catapult Executive Consulting President Marsha Koelmel explores how succession planning strengthens organizations long before transitions occur.
In the news: Incoming BNP leader Grant Loomis on moving the economic needle in Buffalo
President & COO Grant Loomis recently sat down with the 43North Foundation’s new media platform to share his thoughts on the current and future state of Western New York’s economy.