About Chris Collins

The residents of Erie County elected Chris Collins as the seventh Erie County Executive on November 6, 2007.  A businessman, with 35 years of private sector experience, Collins ran against the political establishment of both parties and won with 64 percent of the vote. Collins ran as a chief executive, highlighting the dangers of electing another chief politician. 

 Running County Government like a Business

As County Executive, Collins’ approach to government is simple and straightforward. He calls it the 3 R’s: Reforming Erie County government, Rebuilding the local economy, and ultimately, Reducing taxes.

Collins is using his private sector experience to bring Lean Six Sigma to Erie County government. It’s a proven business method to increase efficiency and eliminate waste. Lean Six Sigma is designed to empower employees to suggest changes to their work process. The first wave of Lean Six Sigma projects saved taxpayers millions of dollars. More projects are started every quarter.

Reforming County Government

When Collins took office, he agreed to work for $1 a month, until the Erie County Fiscal Stability Authority (ECFSA) went to advisory status. He donated the rest of his county salary to deserving local non-profit organizations through his Brighter Future Fund.  The Brighter Future Fund donated more than $180,000 to various charitable organizations before the ECFSA voted to become an advisory board on June 2, 2009.

Rebuilding the Economy

While many politicians look at the future in terms of the next two to four years, Collins defines our future as the next 20 to 50 years, with a focus on our children, grandchildren, and generations not yet born. That’s why his team created Erie County’s Road to a Bright Future. This economic development roadmap defines Erie County’s vision and identifies key economic drivers for the local economy. It also includes a checklist so the public can hold the Collins administration accountable for its progress.

Bringing a Business Background to Erie County

Over the last ten years, Collins has purchased and invested in approximately 20 distressed manufacturing companies.  Working with the management teams, Collins has helped turn these companies into profitable, successful businesses.  These companies currently have over 600 employees, including 500 in Western New York, with annual sales in excess of $80 million.

Before turning his attention to restructuring distressed businesses, Collins founded Niagara Falls based industrial gear manufacturer Nutall Gear Corporation in 1983, purchasing the assets of the Westinghouse Gear Division.  At Nuttall Gear, Collins emphasized a Total Quality Management program which resulted in the company being recognized as one of the Top 100 Private Companies in Western New York from 1987 to 1994 and one of the Future 50 companies in Western New York in 1995.

The County Executive began his professional career with Westinghouse Electric in 1972 spending eleven years with the company in various positions of ever increasing responsibility including Manager of the Westinghouse Gear Division.

Community Involvement

Collins is active in the community, volunteering extensively with the Greater Niagara Frontier Council Boy Scouts of America. He was chairman of the 2001 and 2005 National Jamboree Committee for the Greater Niagara Frontier Council Boy Scouts of America, and is serving as chairman for the 2010 National Jamboree. The County Executive also served as chairman for the 2007 World Jamboree. He is a past Vice President of Administration for the Greater Niagara Frontier Council and has served on the Executive Board for many years. Collins served as Cub Master for his son's Cub Scout Pack and is currently Assistant Scoutmaster for his son's Scout troop in Clarence. He was named Horizon Citizen of the Year by the Greater Niagara Frontier BSA in 2005.

Since 1999, Collins has also volunteered his time as a mentor at the State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, as well as being a mentor in the annual Henry A. Panasci Jr. Technology Entrepreneurship Competition. Collins has been a guest lecturer in the MBA program at UB for many years. He has also lectured at Alfred University and Canisius College related to his small business experience.

Collins is a father of three, and has two grandchildren. He and his wife Mary live in Clarence.

Collins received a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering from North Carolina State University in 1972 and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 1975.