About Chris Collins

The residents of Erie County elected Chris Collins as the seventh Erie County Executive on November 6, 2007.  A businessman with 35 years of private sector experience, Collins ran against the political establishment of both parties and won with 64 percent of the vote.  Collins ran as a chief executive, highlighting the dangers of electing another chief politician. 

As County Executive, Collins is focused on his Three Rs – Reforming Erie County government, Rebuilding the local economy, and ultimately, Reducing taxes.  Collins is committed to running Erie County like a business, making it more effective, efficient and responsive to hardworking taxpayers.  Collins’ campaign centered on bringing Lean Six Sigma to Erie County government.  A proven business method to improve efficiency and eliminate waste, Lean Six Sigma is a bottom up approach designed to empower employees.  Soon after being elected, Collins tapped a Lean Six Sigma director and its implementation is the key to reform in Erie County.

Over the last ten years, Collins has purchased and invested in approximately 20 distressed manufacturing companies.  Working with the management teams, Collins has helped turn these companies into profitable, successful businesses. These companies currently have over 600 employees, including 500 in Western New York, with annual sales in excess of $80 million.

The companies include: high-end custom cabinetry and door manufacturer Bloch Industries LLC; electrical repair shop and industrial distributor Volland Electric Equipment Corporation; biotechnology companies ZeptoMetrix Corporation and Buckler Biodefense Corporation; drug development company Innate Therapeutics, Ltd.; oxygen generating machinery and animal cage washing manufacturer Audubon Machinery Corporation; commercial dinnerware manufacturer Niagara Ceramics Corporation; industrial lift and transfer system manufacturer Easom Automation Systems, Inc.; and, micro-wind systems and solar energy equipment integrator Starboard Sun Corporation.

Before turning his attention to restructuring distressed businesses, Collins founded Niagara Falls based industrial gear manufacturer Nuttall Gear Corporation in 1983, purchasing the assets of the Westinghouse Gear Division.  At Nuttall Gear, Collins emphasized a Total Quality Management program which resulted in the company being recognized as one of the Top 100 Private Companies in Western New York from 1987 to 1994 and one of the Future 50 companies in Western New York in 1995.

The County Executive began his professional career with Westinghouse Electric in 1972 spending eleven years with the company in various positions of ever increasing responsibility including Manager of the Westinghouse Gear Division.

Collins has been active in the community, particularly with the Boy Scouts. He was chairman of the 2001 and 2005 National Jamboree Committee for the Greater Niagara Frontier Council Boy Scouts of America, and is serving as chairman for the 2010 National Jamboree.  The County Executive also served as chairman for the 2007 World Jamboree. He is a past Vice President of Administration for the Greater Niagara Frontier Council and has served on the Executive Board for many years. Collins served as Cub Master for his son's Cub Scout Pack and is currently Assistant Scoutmaster for his son's Scout troop in Clarence. He was named Horizon Citizen of the Year by the Greater Niagara Frontier BSA in 2005.

Since 1999, Collins has volunteered his time as a mentor at the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, as well as being a mentor in the annual Henry A. Panasci Jr. Technology Entrepreneurship Competition. Collins has been a guest lecturer in the MBA program at UB for many years. He has also lectured at Alfred University and Canisius College related to his small business experience.

Collins received a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from NC State University in 1972 and an MBA from the University of Alabama in Birmingham in 1975.

The County Executive is married and has three children and two grandchildren. He and his wife, Mary, live in Clarence, New York.