Chris' Record of Creating Jobs
Chris knows what it takes to create jobs in Erie County, because he's been doing it for over 30 years. He has revived and turned around nearly two dozen failing companies during his career. As a result of his vision and leadership, his companies employ over 600 people - 500 right here in Western New York - and have annual sales in excess of $80 million dollars.
To visit one of Chris' company websites, click on the logo.
In 1983, at age 32, Chris Collins founded Nuttall Gear Corporation purchasing the assets of the Westinghouse Gear Division that he had previously managed. Chris was Chairman, President, and CEO of Nuttall Gear from 1983 – 1997 until he sold the company to a large industrial conglomerate.
In February 1999, Chris joined with his brother-in-law and purchased Bloch Industries LLC, a then bankrupt custom kitchen cabinetry company in Henrietta, NY.
Cellular Products, Inc. went bankrupt in the late 1990’s when they lost focus and were not able to compete in the highly competitive HIV blood test kit marketplace. Chris Collins and Jim Hengst, PhD formed ZeptoMetrix Corporation and purchased Cellular Products in July, 1999.
Virionyx is an Auckland, New Zealand based company that has developed an entirely new class of HIV / AIDS drug therapy designated as HRG 214.
Buckler Biodefense is a joint venture company formed by Chris Collins and Jim Hengst, PhD in conjunction with Virionyx Corporation, Ltd. Buckler is focused on developing antidotes and vaccines for various biodefense select agents such as Anthrax, Botulism, Dengue Fever, and the Bird Flu (H5N1).
Volland Electric was founded in 1943 by Alexander Volland. The company was very successful from 1943 through the 1990’s and was widely recognized as the premier electrical repair facility and electrical distributor in Western New York.
Chris Collins partnered with the management team at Easom Corporation in January 2003 and purchased the assets of Easom from the Besi family. Easom traces it’s roots back to 1945 and was well entrenched in the automotive assembly business by virtue of its patented Cymonic Epi-Cycloidal Drive Unit.
Chris Collins partnered with the management team at Buffalo China in March 2004 and formed Niagara Ceramics which purchased the assets of Buffalo China from Oneida, Ltd.
Chris Collins formed Audubon Machinery Corporation in February 2004 and combined two divisions under the Audubon platform – Oxygen Generating Systems Intl (OGSI) and Schlyer Machine.
OGSI is a world leader focused on designing and manufacturing oxygen generating systems for hospitals, industry, mining, and agriculture.
Schlyer Machine is a leading supplier of cage washing equipment for animal research laboratories in North America and Europe.
Wurlitzer Water Works is a newly formed company that will be manufacturing 400 ml bags of sterile, vacuum filled disposable water bags for watering mice and rats in animal research facilities.
Starboard is a renewable energy company focused on micro-wind systems and solar energy.
