By Kate Bartlett
Christine Wiktor, born and raised in Falconer, NY, was recently recognized as a 2025 Power Broker by Risk & Insurance®, a prominent risk management and commercial insurance periodical. She serves as Area Vice President for Gallagher, the world’s third-largest insurance broker, and has over 23 years of experience in the field.
Christine has connections to Chautauqua, Cattaraugus, and Erie counties, having attended Jamestown Community College for two years, earned her Bachelor’s degree from Canisius University, and obtained her MBA from St. Bonaventure University. She currently lives in Orchard Park, NY, with her husband, Corey Wiktor (Executive Director of the Cattaraugus County IDA). She describes her career path as a natural progression, with things falling into place organically. “I worked for Dr. Richard Shick, the Dean of The Wehle School of Business at Canisius University, and he referred me to an insurance firm right before graduation, Matthews Bartlett & Dedecker, and the rest was history. I was the first woman hired in sales at Matthews, Bartlett & Dedecker, which eventually became M&T Insurance Agency, a subsidiary of M&T Bank. M&T Bank sold M&T Insurance Agency to Gallagher in 2023. I have truly enjoyed my journey in insurance; I’ve learned many valuable lessons that have helped me become who I am today.”
Christine sells property and casualty insurance for Gallagher. As an insurance broker, she curates insurance programs for businesses that best meet their needs. She educates businesses on the importance of insurance and the risks of not being insured. “Sometimes businesses don’t realize the threats that are out there,” explains Christine. “Everything from fires and lawsuits to cyberattacks can be detrimental to a company that does not have adequate coverage.”
While Christine has experience working with companies of all types and sizes, she has gained recognition for her work with nonprofit organizations, such as The Buffalo Zoo. “Just like with any organization, I strive to educate on the importance of all types of insurance to help companies focus on their business. I hope to alleviate some worry and provide a sense of reassurance in a somewhat uneasy world.”
Christine enjoys helping businesses in the community. “It’s very rewarding to help businesses understand how they can transfer their risk so they can focus on their goals. I know I have set my customers up to recover as quickly as possible should they need to turn to insurance.”
Recently, Christine has become increasingly interested in cyber insurance. To deepen her understanding of the complexities of the cyber world and better serve her clients, she earned a Cyber COPE Insurance Certification℠ (CCIC) last year from Chubb and Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Policy & Information Systems.
In addition to serving the community through insurance brokerage, Christine enjoys volunteering in the community. She serves as the Treasurer for The Lipsey Architecture Center Buffalo, which is currently working on building a center at the Richardson Olmsted Complex to highlight the architecture in the area and beyond (thelipsey.org). She is also the Treasurer for The Garret Club, a ladies’ social club in Buffalo. Christine has been a longtime volunteer with the Buffalo Olmsted Parks Conservancy and was the co-chair for their Giving Awareness Committee and annual fundraising luncheon, Spring into Summer.
Among her many accolades, Christine is proud to have been named one of Buffalo Business First’s Power Women in 2023 and 2024. “This award really means a lot to me,” remarks Christine. “To be recognized as a Power Woman is not something to take lightly. I hope to inspire other women to stay dedicated and strong in their field.” Christine was also recognized in 2024 with the Dr. Bernard L. Martin Award for distinguished alumni of Canisius University.
For more information on Gallagher visit Gallagher Insurance, Risk Management and Consulting | AJG United States or email Christine directly Christine_Wiktor@ajg.com.