Ingram Micro and the Golisano Institute ink partnership to build a direct pipeline from Buffalo classrooms to careers.
Buffalo's talent story is evolving, and this is what the next chapter looks like.
Ingram Micro and Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship have partnered to create a direct pathway between Buffalo students and careers at one of the region's largest private-sector employers. The partnership was brokered by the 43North Foundation and its talent ecosystem pillar, TechBuffalo.
The agreement builds a local pathway for high-potential students who want a faster route to a great career, with Ingram Micro at the end of it. It is the kind of employer-led model Buffalo has been working to prove: education that starts with what a growing company actually needs, then feeds local talent directly into open roles.
Under the agreement, the Golisano Institute and Ingram Micro will collaborate on curriculum, work-based learning, and hiring. Students at the Institute's new Buffalo campus will have a clear line of sight to in-demand roles at Ingram Micro, with skills that map to what the company actually needs, built through mentorship, project work, and internships that can lead to full-time jobs.
“The Golisano Institute was created to give students a faster, more affordable path to high-demand careers,” said Jim Dentinger, Executive Vice President & Buffalo Regional Director, Golisano Institute. “Ingram Micro is one of the world's leading technology companies and one of Buffalo's most important employers. This strategic alliance gives our students a direct connection to meaningful work while helping companies find the talent they need to grow."
The Golisano Institute, founded by entrepreneur and philanthropist Tom Golisano, opened its Buffalo campus center in the former Buffalo News building on Washington Street and will welcome its first students in fall 2026. Its accelerated, two-year business education, along with a one-year Advanced Certificate in AI & Business, is designed to move students from classroom to career faster than a traditional four-year path.
Brandel himself is an example of nontraditional paths at work. He joined Ingram Micro in 1997 as an entry-level sales representative and learned the business one role at a time, from the sales floor to leading its operations across the U.S. and Canada.
“I started at Ingram Micro in an entry-level sales role and was fortunate to grow into new opportunities over the years. That's why this collaboration is so meaningful to me,” said Bill Brandel, EVP, President North America, Ingram Micro. “We believe Buffalo has extraordinary talent, and we want more young people to see that they can build world-class careers right here at home. Investing in that next generation is good for Ingram Micro and it’s good for our community."
Earlier in 2026, the Golisano Institute, 43North Foundation and TechBuffalo built this kind of employer designed pathway with Odoo. Ingram Micro brings the model to a Fortune 100 anchor.
"We are building an operating system for a new economy in Buffalo,” said TechBuffalo President & CEO Jeffrey Botteron. “Aligned pathways lead to placements. Placements attract more employers. As momentum compounds, the opportunities for students seeking accelerated pathways will continue to increase."
