Former Niagara Bank President John Koelmel has been named President of the Buffalo Sabres' HarborCENTER complex. Koelmel will oversee construction and operations at the $170 million hockey-themed project. HarborCENTER, slated to open in September 2014 directly across from First Niagara Center, will feature two ice rinks, a 200-room hotel, a restaurant, bar, retail space, and a parking garage.
He will also oversee day-to-day operations.
“It was important to us that the individual who would be leading the day-to-day operations of HARBORcenter was someone who is in touch with the local community,” said Sabres Chief Development Officer Cliff Benson. “John has repeatedly demonstrated that he measures up to that qualification throughout his career.”
After six years at the helm, Koelmel was ousted by First Niagara in March, after leading the financial institution to rapid growth over the past decade. He says his business leadership is "readily transferable."
"It starts by building a team, ensuring you've got the right people and the right seats on the bus [and] you've got the expertise, whether it's running the hotel, the restaurant, the parking, the training facilities, et cetera. It's how you assemble a team. There's a lot of transferable similarities, how you build relationships with business partners and the like," Koelmel says.
Koelmel says given Sabres owner Terry and Kim Pegula's commitment to Buffalo, he jumped at their offer.
"This is a 'pinch me' opportunity in terms of the chance to join this organization at this point in time," he says.
Sabres owner Terry Pegula calls Koelmel "among the most well-respected professionals in Western New York."