Uniland Development Company Vice President of Corporate Relations, Laura A. Zaepfel, is ranked 31st on the Buffalo Business First Power 200 Women list for 2024. The list highlights the most influential women in Western New York from a variety of industries. Marking her 10th consecutive appearance in this distinguished group, Ms. Zaepfel has been recognized on the list since its inaugural edition in 2015.
A key leader of the company since 1993, Ms. Zaepfel heads community relations, corporate philanthropy, diversity, equity and inclusion programs, as well as government relations at Uniland.
Beyond the office, she is an ambassador for a brighter Buffalo across the community. Ms. Zaepfel currently serves on the boards of the African American Veterans Monument, Erie County Sheriff’s Foundation, Law Enforcement Foundation of Western New York, and the Thurman Thomas Family Foundation, as a trustee of Canisius University, and on and the executive committee of the NAACP Buffalo Branch, respectively. An active leader with dozens of organizations over the years, she is a past president of The Buffalo Club and the Amherst Chamber of Commerce.
Driven by her commitment to educational, recreational, and socially conscious programs, she has provided expertise to a number of other organizations that provide education and health and wellness services, as well as workforce diversity and inclusion programs in Western New York.
Among her many accolades, Ms. Zaepfel was lauded with Buffalo Business First’s inaugural IDEA (Inclusion Diversity Equity Awareness) Award, by Niagara University with the Caritas Medal in celebration of her professional success and service to the community, and the Girl Scouts of Western New York Woman of Distinction Award.
Dedicated to bringing the community together for important causes, Ms. Zaepfel has chaired the annual eight-county Catholic Charities Appeal and the annual Catholic Education dinner. She has also twice chaired the National Federation of Just Communities of WNY’s annual event, the Western New York Food Bank (now FeedMore WNY) Capital Campaign, and the Buffalo and Erie County Naval & Military Park Veteran Tribute Awards.
