Matt Carlucci, Visit Buffalo Niagara
Sales Manager
Buffalo, New York
Age: 30
Resume: In high school, Matt Carlucci’s mom got him a job as a banquet set-up guy at the Buffalo Sheraton where she worked. Armed with a business degree and some professional experience in sales, he joined Visit Buffalo Niagara in 2010, where he covers the SMERF market. Carlucci’s extracurricular identities include: co-founder of The B Team, a volunteer-run young professionals organization that does community service; co-founder, DJ and event planner at TBD Entertainment Productions, which offers full-service event planning for parties, weddings and larger events; and organizer of the Stiletto Run, a fun and quirky half-kilometer “race” that raises money for the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. He is also father of sons Colin and Jack and husband of Margaret.
Career Highlight: Starting the B Team. “I’ve helped open young professionals’ eyes to the fact that for every success, there’s someone struggling.”
Inspiration: His mom. He was inspired by all the interesting things she did and the people she met working in the hospitality industry.
Advice: “There’s a stereotype with sales people that they’re always trying to pull the wool over your eyes or pull a fast one, so honesty really goes a long way. It’s easy to tell when someone is lying to you, so honesty is best when you’re selling to anyone.”
Awards: 2012 Nominee Community Impact Award
Industry Confession: “I remember all my clients by the clothes they wear when I meet them. For example, someone in my Rolodex is John ‘Alligator Shoes.’”
Hidden Talent: At 5-foot-6-inches tall with a 30-inch vertical leap, Carlucci can still grab the rim of a 10-foot-high basketball rim. Sadly, his dunking days are over.
Twitter: @buffalucci
—Rob Hodges
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