Our Board

Patrick Gormley

Board President

Patrick lives in  Niagara Falls, NY, and is currently Director of Communications for Complete Senior Care, a non-profit program of all-inclusive care for the elderly.

 Patrick’s role with SAMF allows him to fulfill many of his passions concurrently.

“ Im at the center of the Venn Diagram of non-profit work, musical passion, and educational opportunity,” he says.

A devout music-lover, Patrick has broad tastes, ranging “ from the Beach Boys and Paul Simon, to The National and Arcade Fire, with a lot in between.”

Fun fact:  Patrick occasionally give talks on astrophysics and human space exploration.

Greg Hennessey

Board Vice President

Greg lives in the Town of Tonawanda, and spends his days working as an Account Director for Marketing Tech, a marketing services company in Buffalo. He also hosts and produces the In the Flamingo Lounge with Rockabilly Greg podcast, which is an audio collection of stories that delves deep into the vibrant musical history of Buffalo and Western New York. You can listen to the podcast on all streaming platforms and at RockabillyGreg.com.

“I’m on the SAMF board because I believe Buffalo has a very special music scene and I want to support the community through music,” Greg says of his role with the Foundation.

He cites the refrain from Harry Chapin’s ‘Mr. Tanner’ as a major inspiration for his love of music.

“Music was his life, it was not his livelihood/It made him feel so happy, it made him feel so good/He sang from his heart and he sang from his soul/He did not know how well he sang, it just made him whole.”

Fun fact: “I wear bowling shirts and shop where Elvis used to shop in Memphis (on-line, of course).”

Norman Murray

Board Treasurer

A former CEO, Norm now describes himself as “an anytime educator, veterans supporter, speaker, international facilitator and picker & singer of songs.”

Norm has a long history with Americana music, routinely performing country, folk and vintage rock & roll for baby boomer and military veteran audiences.

Angela Hastings

Board Secretary

Since a young age, Angela has been a dedicated supporter of the Arts, thanks, in large part, to her parents, who were musicians who inspired the arts as an important factor in a vibrant community.

As an accomplished dancer and ballet practitioner for many years, Angela was fortunate to dance with noted companies in productions of many genres. She’s worked for a number of nonprofit organizations as a teaching artist, including her current position at the esteemed Neglia Conservatory.

 As a hands-on SAMF board member from 2015 through 2018, Angela’s volunteer duties involved coordinating a successful membership drive, distributing the JAM (the SAMF newsletter), gift shop management, and coordinating logistics for events.

“Since transitioning to an administrative position, I’m thrilled to say that my dedication and passion for SAMF continues,” she says. “I love everything about the SAMF mission — the music, the people, and especially the vibrancy it brings to all communities in WNY.”

Jack Freedenberg

Board Member

Jack Freedenberg is a recently-retired trial attorney, having practiced for forty years, specializing in product liability, aviation and fire litigation.

Jack is also a piano player, singer and founding member of “The Kensingtons”, performing regularly at Sportsmen’s Tavern since 2014 and SAMF Band of the Year 2018.

A lifelong resident of Western New York and South Buffalo native, Jack joined the SAMF board to help extend learning and performing opportunities to young musicians. “In a large family living on a construction worker’s income, my parents somehow managed to provide piano lessons for me from age 4 to 12. The mission of the Foundation is close to my heart.”

Jason Hall

Board Member – Past President

Continuing his father Dwane Hall’s legacy as founder of the Sportsmen’s Americana Music Foundation (SAMF), Jason Hall took on the role of Chairman of the Board in 2018 and subsequently served as President from January 2021 to January 2025. He is a key figure in expanding the appreciation of Americana music in Buffalo and Western New York through the foundation’s various programs. Simultaneously, Jason, along with his brothers, operates the family’s established venues – Sportsmen’s Tavern, The Cave, and Sportsmen’s Park – where his emphasis on community engagement and growth mirrors his approach to leading SAMF. Committed to adapting and expanding the foundation’s impact, Jason embodies his father’s belief that progress is essential for sustainability.

Bill Heussler

Board Member

A resident of Amherst, NY, Bill Huessler works as a Commercial Realtor with the Hanna Commercial; Real Estate Agency.

Huessler says that “SAMF’s mission to encourage, promote and support local Americana music of all eras” is what attracted him to the Foundation.

A devoted consumer of live music, Huessler takes great inspiration from his favorite bands –  Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers, Little Feat, and The Band.

Fun fact:  “I’m really a hippie disguised as a weatherman,” Hueussler says.

Kimberly Miers

Board Member

Kim is a graphic artist and huge music lover.

From the early days of doing promotional artwork (out of Kinko’s, LOL) for local bands, Iconcerts, and various venues, to designing music mags like (rockstar.), SMASH and flavir, she’s used her skills to support the scene. One of her favorite things is creating album art.

Kim has worked at alt-newsweeklies Buffalo Beat and Bluedog Press, Synacor, and Buffalo Spree Publications, Inc, where she is currently employed as a Senior Graphic Designer and Webmaster.

Still loving the music scene, you can catch Kim out with her husband Jeff at many a show!

Geoff Nason

Board Member

Geoff is the Assistant Vice President for Marketing and Communications at Buffalo State University.

A longtime resident of Western New York, Geoff joined the SAMF board because he believes in its efforts to deliver instruments and lessons to the region’s under-served communities.

He has a great appreciation for Americana music, from Hank Williams through Gram Parsons through Lucinda Williams.

Geoff graduated from the University at Buffalo with a Bachelor’s degree in English and Communication, and from St. Bonaventure University with an MBA.

He resides in Hamburg with his wife and three children.

Dan Regan

Board Member

Dan is a graduate of Canisius College and worked for over 30 years in the banking industry in areas such as Commercial Lending and Internal Audit. Dan retired in 2022. He is a lifelong music lover and has been involved in the local music scene as a fan, a writer and reviewer, and an occasional promoter and arranger of shows.   

“My work in banking allowed me to spend time in nearly every major city in the United States, and I soon realized the WNY music scene was second to none. I’m honored to be on the SAMF board.”

Dan resides in the Town of Tonawanda, despite persistent rumors that he actually lives at the Sportsmens Tavern.

Bruce Supernault

Board Member

As Past-President of both the WNY Chapter of the Society of Financial Service Professionals and the Buffalo Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, Bruce focuses on bringing value to members of the Western New York community.

He conducted his undergraduate work at Canisius University and his graduate work at SUNY @ Buffalo.

A Senior Partner at Impact Financial Strategies, he additionally serves on the boards of Buffalo Arts Studios, the Disability, Education and Advocacy Network and the Hutch-Tech Alumni Association.

Bruce resides in Buffalo with his 3 children and 3 grandchildren.