Staff
R. Charles Bell
President
Mr. Bell joined The Harrison Studio in 2015 after 12 years managing community and economic development programming for municipalities and local development corporations in three Western New York communities, most recently as the President and CEO of the Greater Lockport Development Corporation. Mr. Bell has extensive experience and expertise in community and economic development and is highly regarded for his ability to take high-profile initiatives from planning through implementation, with a particular emphasis on financing and overall project management.
Michael Zimmerman
Senior Vice President
Mr. Zimmerman joined The Harrison Studio in 2021 after a 10-year tenure at the City of North Tonawanda, New York, most recently as the City’s Community Development Director and Executive Director of the Lumber City Development Corporation. Mr. Zimmerman manages a variety of economic and community development initiatives including the underwriting and documentation of commercial grants and loans, grant applications and post-approval administration, and the planning and implementation of commercial, industrial, and real estate projects and programs.
Greg Merriam
Director of Operations and Planning
Mr. Merriam joined The Harrison Studio in 2015 after nine years supporting community planning, land development, and environmental impact analysis projects for two engineering firms in New York’s Capital District. He has a strong academic background and professional experience in leading and supporting project teams in the preparation of community plans, has served as lead author/planner on a variety of environmental impact analysis projects, has a strong working understanding of SEQR, visual impact analysis, and fiscal impact analysis techniques, and has extensive experience in federal environmental review (NEPA) requirements and their applicability to CDBG activities. In addition to providing planning and environmental review services, Mr. Merriam works closely with The Harrison Studio’s clients during project implementation in addressing cost documentation, funding disbursements, and overall regulatory and institutional compliance.
Diane K. Church
Senior Associate
Ms. Church joined The Harrison Studio in 2017 after completing a distinguished legal career including 26 years as a senior attorney and partner at Hurwitz & Fine, PC in Buffalo, New York. Ms. Church, who has extensive contract preparation, research, and writing experience and expertise, spent much of her career acting as general counsel to industrial development agencies, local development corporations, and other affiliated not-for profit entities. Ms. Church assists the firm’s clients with a wide variety of community and economic development services including program and project development, regulatory and institutional compliance, commercial and industrial financing, and grant writing.
Michael G. Thomas
Vice President, Commercial Finance
Mr. Thomas joined The Harrison Studio in 2021, bringing with him an extensive commercial lending and credit background developed over his 14 years at Northwest Bank. Mr. Thomas, who is responsible for the firm’s commercial, industrial, and real estate underwriting and financial analysis, also assists small business and microenterprise clients with financial packaging and general business planning decisions.
Karen Burke
Senior Associate
Ms. Burke has extensive administrative experience, including working as the Office Coordinator and Assistant to the Executive Director of the Canisius College Women’s Business Center, where she regularly interacted with the Center’s clients and assisted with grant reporting, maintained client statistical data, and prepared financial reports. Ms. Burke joined The Harrison Studio in 2021 and assists the firm’s clients with a variety of technical support and grant compliance.
