The John R. Oishei Foundation Appoints Michael T. Ulbrich as Board Member

The Board of Directors of The John R. Oishei Foundation appointed Michael T. Ulbrich as its newest Board member at the Foundation’s annual meeting held on May 24. Ulbrich is a Professional EOS Implementer®, Managing Partner and Owner of Midland Machinery, and previously served as President of Buffalo Manufacturing Works.

Board officers were also announced at the meeting, including Bill Gisel, who continues as Chair, Maureen Hurley and Glenn Jackson who will serve as Vice-Chair, and Francisco Vasquez was appointed Treasurer. Edward F. Walsh, who joined the Board in 2010 and has served as Treasurer since 2011, will retire from the Board as of June 30.

Ulbrich led Buffalo Manufacturing Works, a public-private partnership that provides technology development and advisory services to companies throughout the U.S. from 2014 until 2019. He now serves as a Professional EOS Implementer® and works with leadership teams to help them clarify and execute on their vision and run a better business. Prior to his tenure at Buffalo Manufacturing Works, Ulbrich worked in banking, investment, and lending services with J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in New York City and in London, United Kingdom where he was integral in expanding the company’s presence in Scandinavia. He was also with Walt Disney World & Co. in Orlando, Florida where he worked on operational planning, forecasting, and productivity and process improvements. Ulbrich currently serves on the Regional Economic Development Council, as a Board Member of the Buffalo Zoo, and as a mentor with Endeavor Western New York. Ulbrich is an engineer with a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Lehigh University.

“Michael will be a wonderful addition to the Oishei Board,” commented Gisel. “His background in the financial sector will be a great asset to the organization in leveraging a full complement of financial tools including impact investing to allow us to have greater impact. We know we will also benefit from his wide network in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors developed throughout his varied career that will be very valuable to our work, particularly as we embark on our strategic planning process.”

The Oishei Foundation will embark on its strategic planning process this year with a focus on racial equity and bringing equitable opportunity to all Western New Yorkers.

The John R. Oishei Foundation is the most comprehensive private foundation in Western New York focusing on a broad range of interrelated issues and offering philanthropic support that goes far beyond funding. Our mission is to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life for the Buffalo Niagara region through grantmaking, leadership and network building. The Foundation was established in 1940 by John R. Oishei, founder of Trico Products Corporation.