About Us

The Engineering Society of Buffalo (ESB) was founded in 1889 by a civil engineer, George R. Sikes. Letters inviting practicing engineers were sent soliciting membership. Mr. Sikes was an enthusiastic man, recall sending out several letters was no small feat in those days! In November of that same year, a decision was made to form a “Society of Engineers”- in the committee room of the common council of the city of Buffalo. Membership has grown today to over 169 engineers in the Western New York area.

The organization took on a distinct and clear operating structure- as evidenced by drafting of a constitution & by-laws- which are still in existence today. As needs dictate, the constitution may be amended following rules established by the Society. The ESB was incorporated in 1920 and, in more recent years, was declared as a non-for-profit organization. Contributions to the society are tax deductible. Business development continues to be a major focus. In January of 2002, John Beishline was named Executive Director to lead the ESB in offering services to various technical societies.

One of the most important aspects of the ESB is promoting the professional development of Engineers in Western New York. This is done through a scholarship program and sponsoring of further education.

The ESB supports academically qualified graduating high school seniors majoring in engineering at either SUNY Buffalo, ECC or NCC through the Scholarship Program. Since the inception of the scholarship awards in 1950, over 129 scholarships have been awarded. Total amount distributed is $7,500 annually. Scholarships are primarily funded by the annual Scholarship Run- held each August.

The ESB offers review courses for both the Engineer-In-Training (EIT) exam as well as the Professional Engineering (PE) licensing exam- in all disciplines.  Instruction is provided on a volunteer basis by member engineers with the appropriate license and training. Classes are held at the SUNY Buffalo, Amherst Campus. Click here for maps of the campus.

The ESB is proud to partner with many local leaders of engineering to foster Engineering Professionalism in Western New York.  These partners, through their support, are awarded the special designation "Corporate Members".

The ESB offers members a variety of ways to participate. To apply for membership to the society, visit the Join ESB page.

Past Presidents

Engineering Society Of Western New York - 1894

   

1895 George E. Mann 1904 Chas E.P. Babcock
1896 Edward B. Guthrie 1905 George H. Norton
1897 George A. Rickler 1906 Louis H. Knapp
1898 Charles M. Morse 1907 Soren M. Kielland
1899 Wallace C. Johnson 1908 George B. Bassett
1900 William A. Haven 1909 William C. Houck
1901 William A. Haven 1910 Frank V.E. Bardol
1902 William A. Haven 1911 Frank V.E. Bardol
1903 Samuel J. Fields    

    

THE Engineering Society Of BUFFALO - 1912

          

1912-13 Christopher H. Bierbaum 1917-18 R. Austin Lidbury
1913-14 William H. Carrier 1918-19 George B. Bassett
1914-15 David Bell 1919-20 H.P. Parrock
1915-17 John Young    

          

The Engineering Society Of Buffalo, Inc. - 1921

1920-21 William B. Powell 1955-56 Chas W. Good Jr. 1986-87 Leopold R. Jasienski
1921-23 A.E. Lindau 1956-57 Albert L. Mills 1987-88 Anthony Campagna
1923-24 Karr Parker 1957-58 Richard G. Lyall 1988-89 John R. Beishline
1924-25 William J. Gamble 1958-59 John T. Elfvin 1989-90 Ray Milkie
1925-26 George H. Norton 1959-60 Maurice C. Crook 1990-91 Alan Rebman
1926-27 George S. Brigham 1960-61 Donald R. Sutton 1991-92 Robert Smith
1927-28 William T. Huber 1961-62
 John Y. Youngers 1992-93 Milton Honeck, Jr.
1928-29 Frank C. Hibbard 1962-63 Frank J. McGuire 1993-94 Patrick J. Conway
1929-30 Henry E. Riexinger 1963-64 Carl A. Geist 1994-95 Richard Weimer, P.E.
1930-31 Roswell Farnham 1964-65 Brayton S. Campbell 1995-96 Jon C. Olstad, P.E.
1931-32 Newell L. Nussbaumer 1965-66 James A. Watt 1996-97 Merrill Arthur, P.E.
1932-33 Gideon W. Swan 1966-67 Edward J Rutkowski 1997-98 Allen R. Vaillancourt
1933-34 Louis A. Harding 1967-68 Herbet R. Berlin 1998-99 James A. Carr, P.E.
1934-35 August E. Klinger 1968-69 Henry J. Piegza 1999-00 Frank Boeck, CMfgE
1935-36 Elwood T. Larkin 1969-70 Donald A. Kossuth, P.E. 2000-01 Ernest Hanna, P.E.
1937-38 John G. Ullman 1970-71 John R. Beishline 2001-02 Gino Forte, Phd, P.E.
1938-40 Thomas L. Mayer 1971-72 John J. Burgio 2002-03 Carm Fiorello
1940-41 Felix E. Prochnow 1972-73 Paul A. Alessi, P.E. 2003-04 Brian D. Shiah, P.E.
1941-42 Robert McKeegan 1973-74 Jack A. Mathien 2004-05 Donald McMahon, P.E.
1942-44 George W. Gleasner 1974-75 Robert T. Crain 2005-06 Jeff Salzmann
1944-45 Clair O. Dean 1975-76 Robert A. Mathien 2006-07 David Debo, P.E.
1945-46 Kenneth Koontz 1976-77 Donald C. Gustafson 2007-08 Victor Monter
1946-47 Gordon A. Nicholls 1977-78 Robert B. Montgomery 2008-09 Michael Bracci
1947-48 George T. Parker 1978-79 William F. Haag, Jr. 2009-2010 Rebecca Wightman, P.E.
1948-49 J. Lloyd Walker 1979-80 Ronald L. La Rose    
1949-50 George R. King 1980-81 Frederick G. Fedri, P.E.    
1950-51 Charles D. 1981-82 Peter P. Schiffmacher    
1951-52 Henry W. Osborne 1982-83 Bernard E. Kollwitz    
1952-53 Andrew O. Stilwel 1983-84 Wayne Notto    
1953-54 Ogden C. Mills 1984-85 David S. Prince    
1954-55 Albert H. Gille 1985-86 Paul Georgeades