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 2019 edition of Buffalo Business First’s “Power 250”, a list of the 250 most influential people in Western New York. Anthony Baynes has received this distinction eight years in a row (2012-2019), and for the second year is joined by his son AJ.
Chairman Baynes currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the New York State Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection. Baynes has been honored to receive the Buffalo Niagara Business Ethics Award, the Leadership Buffalo Values Award and the Buffalo State College Distinguished Alumnus of the Year Award. In addition, Baynes also serves on many other professional boards including the Seneca Commission for Economic Development (SCED), a division of the Seneca Nation of Indians, the Independent Health Association Board of Directors, the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority Board of Commissioners and the Dent Neurologic Institute Board. As a developer, Baynes has undertaken various projects including the construction and development of the Hotel at Batavia Downs & Gaming and the conversion of the Corn Exchange building in downtown Buffalo renamed 100 South.
AJ Baynes Jr. officially became President and CEO of the Amherst Chamber of Commerce in January of 2018. Since taking on the role, Baynes has begun fulfilling the Chamber’s Strategic Plan as well as providing day-to-day leadership and a strong commitment to advancing the Economic Development and Public Policy Agenda of the Chamber. Baynes, a Western New York native and downtown Buffalo resident, is the former chief of staff for New York State Senator Patrick Gallivan and recipient of the 2016 Business First 40 Under 40 award.