Anthony R. Nanco is an American real estate developer, investment banker, political leader, and philanthropist from Buffalo, New York. Nanula is President and CEO of Niagara International Capital, Ltd., a Founder and Managing Partner of American Coastal Properties, and is a Principal of The Nanco Group, owned by the Nanula Family. He previously represented District 57 in the New York State Senate, and served as City Comptroller for the City of Buffalo and Deputy State Comptroller for the State of New York.
Nanula, a local businessman, was elected in a 1994 special election to serve in the State Senate, succeeding Anthony Masiello who resigned from the Senate to become Buffalo's mayor. Nanula, who self-funded his campaign, represented parts of Buffalo and Tonawanda and all of Niagara Falls and Grand Island. At 28 years old, Nanula was elected as one of the youngest state senators in New York State Senate history. He was reelected to the State Senate three times. During his Senate career, he flirted with a statewide bid for Lieutenant Governor of New York in 1998, but decided against the Democratic primary for the post. He did indicate that he was interested in running for State Comptroller if the position became available. While serving in the Senate, he served as the Assistant Minority Leader for Policy and Administration, as Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Insurance Committee, as Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Civil Service and Pensions Committee, and as Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Tourism, Recreation and Sports Development Committee. He is the second freshman senator to be appointed to the Senate Finance Committee and he was a member of the Senate Rules Committee.
In 1999, Nanula ran for the open position of Buffalo City Comptroller, when the incumbent, Joel Giambra, stepped down to run for Erie County Executive. During his campaign, Nanula was criticized by opponents for wanting the position in order to better his credentials to run for state comptroller. Nanula was elected defeating Common Council Minority Leader Kevin Helfer. In 2001 and 2002, after State Comptroller Carl McCall launched a campaign for governor, Nanula announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination for State Comptroller. Nanula campaigned around the state and then dropped out of the race before the primary and endorsed former New York City ComptrollerAlan Hevesi. After Hevesi was elected State Comptroller, he appointed Nanula as a Deputy State Comptroller. Nanula resigned his city post to accept the state post. As a Deputy State Comptroller, Nanula was responsible for advising local governments on financial issues and for upstate economic development policy.
Business career
Nanula began his career working for his father's grocery store, Tops Friendly Markets. From 1988-1994, Nanula served as the President of Nanco Enterprises, Inc. a New York based commercial and industrial park operator and developer. In 1992, he and his three brothers co-founded Essex Homes of WNY, Inc., a well-respected regional homebuilder. Essex has built over 1,300 mid-market and upscale homes throughout New York. He was responsible in co-founding North America Center, a 425-acre industrial and commercial park in Western New York. It exists today as one of the largest public/private real estate partnerships in New York State history.
Business ventures and investments
Nanula is a Principal in The Nanco Group, owned by the highly respected Nanula Family, well known for their successes in the retail marketplace with Tops Friendly Markets and more recently Wilson Farms Stores. In 2005, he and his brothers successfully led a leveraged buyout of Wilson Farms, a subsidiary of Tops Friendly Markets, which was sold to 7-Eleven in 2011. Wilson Farms was a chain of approximately 200 convenience stores and was ranked as one of the 50 largest convenience chains in the country. In 2004, Nanula launched Niagara International Capital Ltd., a registered Broker Dealer and Registered Investment Adviser that provides investment banking and strategic advisory services, asset management and retail brokerage accounts, and registration and compliance support services to advisors, RIAs and investment banking teams. In 2012, Nanula co-founded American Coastal Properties, a Southern California based luxury real estate development company. Nanula is a principal investor and Managing Partner for ACP.
Family and personal life
Nanula and his wife, Holly, live in San Diego, California with their son Savino, and daughters, Alexa and Isabella. Nanula is a born-again Christian.
