UB alums honored as leaders in local industries

By Elizabeth Egan 

The award honors C-level, or top, executives who are innovators in their organizations, role models for staff and peers, standard setters in their industries, and leaders in the community. Hoover and Mannarino were chosen along with 18 other executives from some of the region’s largest companies and non-profit organizations for the 13th annual C-Level Executive Awards.

"I am thrilled to congratulate Cindi and Joe on this well-deserved recognition for their achievements as executives of excellence in the region,” said Kemper Lewis, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. “As they continue to drive innovation and provide leadership in their respective fields, Cindi and Joe serve as inspiring examples for our students, exemplifying the remarkable careers that our alumni go on to lead."

Hoover is the executive director for Linde Engineering Americas. She started at the company in 1997 as a semiconductor development specialist and quickly moved into leadership roles. She led the development of a portable medical oxygen system and a digital gas monitoring system that allows for centralized hospital observation of patients.

She is currently the site executive for Linde’s Tonawanda site, where she maintains a local presence while also working to match customer technology needs across North America.

Hoover holds 81 global patents and has received other prestigious awards, including the George W. Thorn Award for outstanding University at Buffalo alumni, Buffalo Business First’s 40 Under 40 Award, the National Academy of Engineering Young Engineer Award, and more. This year she was named to Buffalo Business First's 2024 Power 200 Women List. Hoover also serves on UB’s Women in Science and Engineering’s (WiSE) steering committee and on the board of the Buffalo Museum of Science.

Hoover earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from SUNY College at Fredonia and her PhD in chemistry from UB. 

Mannarino is the president and CEO of Buffalo Construction Consultants Inc., a company that he co-founded in 2017. The company has grown from a team of 12 to 85 employees. The company has contributed to some of the region’s biggest builds, including the new headquarters of FeedMore Western New York and the Buffalo Central Terminal.

As president, Mannarino oversees the company’s portfolio of projects, directs customer management personnel and more. Under Mannarino’s leadership, the company has been a three-time Best Place to Work nominee by Buffalo Business First. In 2021, Mannarino and the company won UB’s inaugural Fast 46, a competition that honors 46 of the fastest-growing businesses owned or led by UB alums around the world.

Outside of the company, Mannarino works to build up future construction professionals through his work with the Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering. He serves on the department’s advisory board and has taught classes in construction estimating and project management, with an emphasis on ethical construction practices and alternative delivery methods.  

Mannarino earned his PhD and bachelor’s degree in civil engineering as well as his MBA from UB.