Michael Montante has 35 years’ experience in the real estate industry and leads one of the largest commercial real estate development companies in Western New York. Mr. Montante’s executive oversight ranges from site selection and development to tenant negotiations and asset management of Uniland’s broad portfolio of office, industrial, retail, residential, and hospitality development. Since joining Uniland in 1991, he has held a range of executive roles, including the Vice President of Development, before being named Chief Executive Officer in 2020.
As Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Montante oversees the ongoing operations of Uniland’s departments and company subsidiary divisions, which span the full range of commercial real estate services from site acquisition and planning and design to construction and property management. Founded with a single warehouse and two employees in 1974, today Uniland employs over 200 associates and has developed over 16 million square feet, with 8 million square feet under management, across the Buffalo-Rochester corridor and beyond. Under Mr. Montante, Uniland is expanding its portfolio with new coworking, industrial, mixed-use development, residential, renewable energy, and new market projects.
Professional Affiliations
- Board Member – Roswell Park Alliance Foundation
- Board Member – Buffalo Niagara Partnership
- Board Member – The Buffalo Club
- Board Member and Former President – Buffalo Renaissance Foundation
- Governor – NAIOP Research Foundation (now CREDA)
- Current Member and Past Chair – Business Advisory Council of Canisius College’s Richard J. Wehle School of Business
- Current Member and Past Chair – Office Development II Forum of NAIOP, The Commercial Real Estate Development Association
- Former Trustee – Canisius University
- Former Board Member – Frank Lloyd Wright’s Martin House
- Former Board Member– Canisius High School
- Former President – Upstate New York Chapter of NAIOP, The Commercial Real Estate Development Association
Career Highlights
- The Delaware North Building, 250 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY
332,000 sq. ft. 12-story mixed-use project that includes the Delaware North Global Headquarters, The Westin Buffalo, Class A office space, and a six-level parking garage of 200,000 sq. ft. with office and retail at street level - GEICO Northeast Operations Center, 150-300 CrossPoint Parkway, Amherst, NY
Two operations centers totaling 343,368 sq. ft. - Catholic Health Administrative & Regional Training Center, 144 Genesee Street, Buffalo, NY
140,000 sq. ft. six-story office and training facility - Avant, 200 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY
405,275 sq. ft. 16-story mixed-use, adaptive re-use project that includes the Embassy Suites Buffalo hotel, Class A office, and luxury residential condominiums - D’Youville University School of Arts, Science and Education, 605 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY
85,198 sq. ft. education building - HANSA workspace, 505 Ellicott Street, Buffalo, NY
32,000 sq. ft. two-story on-demand flexible workspace featuring private offices, coworking, event spaces, residential, and retail - The Glen at Perinton Hills, 300 Glenmose Road, Fairport, NY
200,000 sq. ft. 11-building luxury residential community with 123 rental units and on-site light retail and office space
Education
- Columbia University, M.S., Real Estate Development
- Canisius University, B.S., Business
