Anthony J. Baynes, founder and chairman of the AJ Baynes Group and his son, AJ Baynes Jr., president and CEO of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce, were named to the 2020 edition of Buffalo Business First’s “Power 250”, a list of the 250 most influential people in Western New York. This is the 12th consecutive year Anthony Baynes has made this list (2012-2023).
Baynes is a member of the Board of Trustees of the New York State Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection. In addition, Baynes also serves on many other professional boards including the Independent Health Association Board of Directors, the Seneca Commission for Economic Development (SCED), a division of the Seneca Nation of Indians, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Board of Commissioners and the Dent Neurologic Institute Board. Chairman Baynes has received several other distinctions including the Buffalo Niagara Business Ethics Award, the Leadership Buffalo Values Award and the Buffalo State College Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award. As a developer, Baynes’ projects include the construction and development of the Hotel at Batavia Downs & Gaming and the conversion of the century-old Corn Exchange building in downtown Buffalo into the mixed-use 100 South building.
A.J. Baynes Jr., is president and CEO of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce and former chief of staff for New York State Senator Patrick Gallivan. Baynes currently serves on several boards and councils; including the New York State Regional Economic Development Council, Daemen College Community Advisory Board and as a director on the Buffalo Renaissance Foundation. Baynes, a Western New York native, is recipient of the 2016 Business First 40 Under 40 Award and is making his third consecutive appearance on this list (2018-2020).