Andrew McElroy's colleagues debated traveling to Buffalo because of blustery conditions in early January. His trip yielded no bad weather but "a clean, fun city with great food, great culture, and a lot of character."
For Andrew McElroy, a senior VP at American Federal Mortgage, a late-season National Football League game was a chance to do two good things at once.
The first was watch his beloved New York Jets – no less beloved at the end of a forgettable season – play the Buffalo Bills at the final game in Highmark Stadium.
It was also an opportunity to visit the offices of his company’s vendor, LenderLogix, a Buffalo-based software company which is headquartered in Larkinville.
LenderLogix was founded in 2016 by former mortgage banker Patrick O’Brien, and the company has steadily grown its sales over the years on the back of a product portfolio that helps mortgage bankers do their jobs better.
“LenderLogix has really good technology, they’re really good people and they have excellent customer service," McElroy said.
But Buffalo’s reputation in January precedes it, and McElroy’s colleagues questioned the wisdom of a trip here when 70 mile-per-hour winds were in the forecast.
He decided to come anyway, attending the game, visiting LenderLogix and then flying back home. But what came next was an unsolicited LInkedIn post that encapsulated the impressions of Buffalo on someone who was conditioned for a challenging trip.
With McElroy’s permission, Series B is publishing that message in its entirety. This wasn’t a love letter to Buffalo. It was a message to his network in New Jersey and the rest of the country.
“I went up to Buffalo this weekend to see the Jets play the Bills. It was assumed this game would be the last regular season game in historic (Highmark) Stadium but it turned out to (be) the last ever game due to the Bills struggles late in the year. Going to Buffalo in January generated a lot of opinions amongst friends and family, most of which thought I would either freeze to death or be buried in snow until Memorial Day 😊.
What I found was a great city, filled with some of the most hospitable people I’ve ever met who treat their sports teams like a religion. People who grew up there know their reputation. Much like I know that people who come to NJ hate the terrible airport, miserable traffic, humidity, and high taxes. I also know that NJ has a lot more to offer. What people who haven’t visited Buffalo don’t know is that it’s a clean, fun city with great food, great culture, and a lot of character. It’s a great reminder for me to not rely on a preconceived notions when making decisions. If I had, I would have missed out on one of the best sporting events and experiences I’ve ever had. All decisions, in business or not, need to be based on some level of data or experience and not just opinion.
The last stop in Buffalo was to the office of our friends at LenderLogix . I got to see the parking lot where Patrick O'Brien ran his now famous video series on the snow pile melt. If you are looking for a Point Of Sale, no one does it better than Pat and his awesome team. These guys supplement a great product with the best customer service. They truly seek to be partners and help craft their product to support lenders and grow their business.
Till next time Buffalo! Go Bills (except when they play the Jets!).”
