NIAGARA FALLS BRIDGE COMMISSION ELECTS 2020 OFFICERS

LEWISTON, NEW YORK – The Niagara Falls Bridge Commission (NFBC), the bi-national entity that owns and operates the Rainbow, Whirlpool Rapids and Lewiston-Queenston Bridges between Canada and the United States, elected its 2020 slate of officers during the Commission’s Annual General Meeting. Michael J. Goodale of the Province of Ontario was elected Chairperson and Kathleen L. Neville of the State of New York was elected Vice-Chairperson. In addition, Charles McShane of the Province of Ontario was elected Secretary and Harry R. Palladino of the State of New York was elected Treasurer. Barton J. M. Maves of the Province of Ontario, and Francis A. Soda of the State of New York, comprise the other members of the NFBC Board.

U.S. Commissioners serve at the pleasure of the Governor of the State of New York, and Canadian Commissioners serve at the pleasure of the Premier of the Province of Ontario. All officers hold their respective office for one-year until the next Annual Meeting, unless the Commission deems a change is necessary.

Mr. Goodale was reappointed to the Commission in January 2018. A member previously from 2008 to 2014, he served as the Bridge Commission’s Chairperson in 2012. Mr. Goodale, a Grimsby, ON, resident, worked in the Ontario Public Service for over 30 years in a variety of progressively responsible positions with the Ministry of
Transportation, retiring in May 2013 as the Assistant Deputy Minister, Corporate
Services. Mr. Goodale also served on the Board of the Niagara Parks Commission from 2014 to 2017, and is currently the Vice-Chair for the Canadian Automobile Association Niagara. Additionally, he volunteers his time with the Grimsby Benevolent Fund Food Bank. A graduate of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Mr. Goodale obtained a combined honours degree in Economics and Urban Geography.

Appointed to the Commission in March 2012, Kathleen Neville, a resident of Wilson, New York, is a public relations and brand management professional. Commissioner Neville previously served as senior vice president at Hill and Knowlton Public Relations International in New York City and as a senior consultant at Ketchum Public Relations in Washington, D.C. She is a former managing director of Shea’s Performing Arts Center in Buffalo and the author of non-fiction books and articles on gender issues and conduct in today’s workplaces, schools and sports. She currently serves as Secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Miss America Organization. She also serves on Niagara University’s Board of Trustees, the Board of Selectors for the National Jefferson Awards Foundation and is a trustee of the Wilson Community Library. Formerly serving as Vice Chair of Humanities New York, she is also a past Commissioner of the New York State Women’s Suffrage Commission. A former television and radio broadcaster, Commissioner Neville obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from the Rochester Institute of Technology and a Master of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Studies from Niagara
University.

Charles (Chuck) McShane was appointed to the Commission on January 31, 2019, and is the Executive Officer at Niagara Home Builders Association. He is a former Division Manager of St. Catharines Building Supplies. Commissioner McShane’s involvement in the community includes membership in Lions Club International, and CEO and Chairman of The Steve Ludzik Foundation. A graduate of the Ontario Fire College, Mr. McShane is a retired firefighter.

Appointed to the Commission in March of 2014, Harry R. Palladino, a resident of Gasport, New York, currently serves as the Business Manager of Laborers’ Local 91, and has served in various positions throughout his extensive career with the organization. He is also the owner/operator of Palladino Paving and Construction.

Barton (Bart) Maves was appointed to the Commission in January 2019, and is currently the owner and Chief Operating Officer at Sterlingbridge. He is a former Regional Councillor at the Regional Municipality of Niagara (November 2010 to November 2018) and was a Member of Provincial Parliament for Niagara Falls from June 1995 to October 2003. Community involvement includes extensive coaching roles and board membership for various local organizations. Mr. Maves has a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Carleton University and a Master of Arts from the University of Alberta.

Appointed to the Commission in March 2012, Frank Soda retired in 2010 after a 41-year teaching career. He resides in Niagara Falls, New York, and holds a BA and MA from Niagara University and an MS from Buffalo State College. He taught at Niagara Falls High School for 23 years and is also an adjunct at Erie Community College and Niagara University. A former Niagara Falls City Council member, twice, he also served on the Love Canal Area Revitalization Agency.