I happened to be walking by the HEAP office today and could not believe the number of people who were in line to apply for financial assistance for their home heating bills. That got me thinking about the number of poor families in the Buffalo area who are struggling to get by while a very small percent of local CEOs are taking home compensation that most of us can only dream of.

Are these salaries out of proportion with the state of our local and national economy? You be the judge. Here is a list of local CEOs and the amount of compensation they took home last year.

  • 1

    National Fuel Gas Co.

    CEO David F. Smith

    2010 compensation: $7,055,547
    Williamsville, NY

    Assuming the CEO of National Fuel works 40 hours per week for 52 weeks a year that comes to about $3,392.08 per hour.

  • 2

    Ingram Micro

    CEO Gregory M.E. Spierkel

    2010 compensation: $6,398,868
    Williamsville, NY

  • 3

    Dresser-Rand Group Inc.

    CEO Vincent R. Volpe Jr.

    2010 compensation: $6,112,265
    Olean, NY

  • 4

    Greatbatch Inc.

    CEO Thomas J. Hook

    2010 compensation: $3,660,543
    Clarence, NY

  • 5

    First Niagara Financial

    CEO John R. Koelmel

    2010 compensation: $3,131,327
    Lockport, NY

  • 6

    M&T Bank

    CEO Robert G. Wilmers

    2010 compensation: $2,547,590
    Buffalo, NY

  • 7

    Columbus McKinnon Corp.

    CEO Timothy T. Tevens

    2010 compensation: $2,426,823
    Amherst, NY

  • 8

    Moog

    CEO Robert T. Brady

    2010 compensation: $1,896,956
    East Aurora, NY

  • 9

    Computer Task Group

    CEO James R. Boldt

    2010 compensation: $1,707,811
    Buffalo, NY

  • 10

    Gibraltar Industries

    CEO Brian J. Lipke

    2010 compensation: $1,686,583
    Buffalo, NY

  • 11

    Sovran Self Storage Inc.

    CEO Robert J Attea

    2010 compensation: $1,582,488
    Williamsville, NY

  • 12

    Financial Institutions Inc.

    CEO Peter G. Humphrey

    2010 compensation: $1,015,058
    Warsaw, NY

  • 13

    Astronics Corp.

    CEO Peter J. Gundermann

    2010 compensation: $902,947
    East Aurora, NY

  • 14

    Graham Corp.

    CEO James R. Hines

    2010 compensation: $694,554
    Batavia, NY

  • 15

    Cleveland Biolabs

    CEO Michael Fonstein

    2010 compensation: $642,966
    Buffalo, NY

More From 106.5 WYRK