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info@truebuffalohr.com | 716-304-0787 | Appointment Booking | 686 Main St. Buffalo, NY 14202 Ste #201
Who We Are
At TrueBuffalo HR, we pride ourselves on delivering the highest quality human resource consulting services to businesses throughout Western New York and beyond. Our highly experienced team brings together diverse skills and extensive experience in HR strategy, operations and creative problem solving—all designed to make workplaces great!
At TrueBuffalo HR, we believe that strong people operations are the cornerstone of a thriving organization. We partner with businesses, management, and employees to create and sustain a compliant, open, and progressive workplace culture where employees feel engaged, valued, and empowered to perform at their best. By aligning your business goals with efficient and effective HR best practices, we can effectively address your most complex workplace challenges and make your workplace a successful business where great people want to work.
When you choose TrueBuffalo HR, you’re not just hiring a consultant—you’re gaining a trusted partner dedicated to your success. Let us help you navigate the complexities of HR so you can focus on your business.
Our team
Elisha Tomasello
President
Elisha is a seasoned HR executive with over 15 years of HR experience, leading teams and driving organizational success through strategic HR practices. She believes that people are key to business success and advocates for practices that foster growth, efficiency, and strong company cultures.
Elisha holds a Bachelor's in Industrial and Labor Relations from Cornell University and a Law degree with a focus on Labor and Employment Law from the University at Buffalo. Elisha is a licensed attorney and licensed employee benefits broker.
Elisha practiced labor and employment law at various local law firms for 7 years, before moving into a career in HR. Her HR career began at Catholic Health, where she spent nearly 7 years leading nearly every HR function. Elisha also spent nearly four years as the head of HR for Person Centered Services, where she most recently most held the role of chief administrative officer. Prior to co-founding TrueBuffalo HR, Elisha was President of HRBuffalo, a local HR consulting firm. In her 3 years at HRBuffalo, Elisha transformed the HR consulting service model into a thriving business that served many local businesses with progressive, creative, and flexible HR solution never before offered in the Buffalo area.
Elisha prides herself on giving back to the community. She currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Persistence Preparatory Charter School and has held numerous prior nonprofit board positions.
In 2025, Elisha co-founded TrueBuffalo HR with a commitment to delivering exceptional HR services with integrity and professionalism.
Liz DiRienzo
Vice President, HR Consulting
Liz is an experienced HR professional with a Bachelor's in Community Mental Health from the University at Buffalo, which gives her a deep understanding of the psychological factors that influence both individual and organizational well-being. She approaches HR with a strategic mindset, ensuring that practices align with organizational goals while prioritizing employee engagement and mental health. Liz is passionate about creating workplaces where individuals thrive personally and professionally, believing that a healthy, supported workforce leads to greater success.
Her holistic approach to HR blends personal well-being, community involvement, and professional development, allowing her to craft policies and build workplace cultures that foster both individual growth and organizational success. Liz remains committed to continuous learning, keeping up with industry trends and innovations to adapt HR processes for optimal outcomes.
Outside of her professional role, Liz is deeply involved in her community as the President of the Parent-Teacher Association, where she works closely with parents, teachers, and administrators to enhance the educational experience. She’s also a dedicated photographer, an early morning runner with her yellow lab, and a devoted mother and spouse. Liz’s commitment to family, community, and career is the foundation of her personal and professional fulfillment.
Doug Benz
Partner
Doug Benz is the President of New Buffalo Insurance Agency, where he leads a property and casualty insurance agency focused on providing innovative service and risk management solutions for businesses and individuals. With a proven track record in mitigating risk and controlling insurance costs, Doug has also held senior roles at Old Naples Insurance Agency and Amherst Insurance Agency, specializing in commercial risk management across Florida and New York.
Alexa Janca
HR Consultant
Alexa is an experienced HR professional with a bachelor's degree in business administration, with a concentration in Human Resources from the University at Buffalo.
With over 8 years of Human Resources experience in various industries and HR roles, Alexa brings a diverse background, which allows her to handle many facets of HR.
Alexa approaches HR with an eye for making process improvements and increasing efficiency through HR technology. Increasing efficiency in these areas allows businesses to save time and money, and for employees to work on more valuable tasks.
She loves making workplaces more enjoyable for employees by helping them through HR related matters, improving policies, and ensuring there is a clear line of communication.
Outside of work, Alexa enjoys trying new restaurants in the Buffalo area with her spouse, travelling, staying active, and spending time with their two dogs (Denali and Oakley), family, and friends.
Christa DiPizio
Director, HR Consultant
Christa is a skilled expert in HR with over 25 years of professional experience, mostly in financial services and the not-for-profit environment. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Studies from the State University of New York College at Buffalo and began her career in banking, where she held various positions, including payroll and benefits specialist, recruiter, team leader, business partner, and relocation services manager, at several prominent financial institutions. After 15 years in banking, Christa moved to the not-for-profit segment and enjoyed 8 years of working with the Food Bank of WNY, now FeedMore WNY, as human resources manager. Other experiences working in HR in IT, the human services field, and most recently HR consulting helps round out Christa’s background.
Christa focuses on individual client needs and tailors her approach accordingly. She enjoys working with a variety of clients to help them meet their business goals and works with each to identify the best strategies and solutions for their particular objectives, drawing from her vast experience in diverse settings.
Outside of work, Christa enjoys spending time with her husband, dogs, family, and friends; enjoys traveling, concerts, and theater; and supports several charitable organizations, including White Whiskers Senior Dog Sanctuary.
Risa Horst
HR Consultant
Risa is passionate about leveraging HR strategies to drive business growth and success. With nearly two decades of experience in Human Resources across industries including banking, healthcare, environmental science, and human services, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the table. Risa earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the State University of New York College at Buffalo.
Her HR journey began in banking, where she spent a decade with institutions like HSBC and Charter One/Citizens Bank. There, she refined her expertise in recruiting, employee relations, and compliance. After stepping away to focus on her family, Risa re-entered the HR field, contributing her skills to a multidisciplinary healthcare practice, the Environmental Sciences sector at TestAmerica/Eurofins, and most recently, the Human Services field at Person Centered Services. During her tenure, she progressed through roles such as HR Generalist, Senior HR Generalist, and HR Business Partner. Along the way, she deepened her proficiency in areas like leave management, accommodations, workers’ compensation, employee relations, and talent acquisition.
Outside of work, Risa is committed to helping others and shares her HR expertise as a volunteer with SCORE Buffalo Niagara, where she supports small businesses and entrepreneurs with HR guidance. At home, Risa and her husband are busy raising their family and in her free time Risa enjoys the arts, reading, going to the gym, and spending time with family and friends.
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