Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship has named Jim Dentinger as the institute’s inaugural executive vice president & Buffalo regional director.
Dentinger is currently the president of NOCO Development, a full-service energy company in Buffalo, with over 35 years of experience in regional economic development in Western New York. He will begin his new role at Golisano Institute on January 1.
“I’m ecstatic for this new opportunity to lead and help shape future business leaders,” said Jim Dentinger. “It’s inspiring to see how the institute brings students and regional businesses together to further develop economic and job opportunities in Rochester, and I look forward to making those connections in Buffalo.”
“I’m ecstatic for this new opportunity to lead and help shape future business leaders.”
— Jim Dentinger, Executive Vice President & Buffalo Regional Director, Golisano Institute
Jim Dentinger will be the first executive vice president & Buffalo regional director of Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship.
Dentinger will lead Golisano Institute’s second location in Buffalo, scheduled to open in the fall of 2026. Construction is underway on the new campus center in the former Buffalo News office building on Washington Street. The Buffalo location will join the institute’s flagship location in Rochester (which opened in 2023) and offer the same accelerated, focused education for equipping students with practical business skills and real-world experiences.
Dentinger was named president of NOCO Development in 2024 after serving as president for NOCO Enterprises for four years. Previously, he was the co-founder and president of McGuire Development Company, a commercial real-estate development firm in Western New York. Under Dentinger’s leadership, the company led major development projects including Buffalo City Mission, Vision Health, the Concourse Center, and Pegula Sports & Entertainment Headquarters. He has also served as chief executive officer of the Ciminelli Real Estate Corporation. In his spare time, Dentinger volunteers as the vice chair of the ECMC Lifeline Foundation and is a board member of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership and the Amherst Police Foundation. He is a lifelong Buffalonian who earned both his bachelor of science and master’s degrees in business administration from Canisius College.
“We will look back on Jim joining as one of the most important days in the institute’s history.”
— Ian Mortimer, President, Golisano Institute
“Jim is a great cultural and mission match for our school,” said Ian Mortimer, president of Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship. “In addition to bringing his sterling business ethics and results-oriented reputation to the institute, Jim brings a deep commitment to helping people find economic and career relevancy. We will look back on Jim joining as one of the most important days in the institute’s history.”
Dentinger’s current employer, NOCO Energy, is supporting the redevelopment of Golisano Institute’s Buffalo campus and spearheading several energy-reduction initiatives as part of the conversion. This partnership not only brings innovation and sustainability to the forefront, but also showcases Golisano Institute’s commitment to reducing energy consumption and promoting a greener future.
Applications for the Buffalo campus’ inaugural class are still being accepted, and students from all educational backgrounds are welcome and encouraged to apply.
