Buffalo, NY - Chris Hitchcock, sales engineering manager with Birdair, Inc., has been elected 2012 chairman of the Taste of Buffalo presented by TOPS. The Taste, the nation's largest two-day food festival, is set for July 7 and July 8, 2012, along Delaware Avenue and Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo.

"I've been enjoying the Taste since its inception in 1984," said Hitchcock. "It's an honor to serve as 2012 chairman of this great event. I look forward to showcasing downtown Buffalo and the wonderful restaurants and wineries that call our region home to the Taste's growing number of visitors. Nothing beats great food, drinks and music on a Buffalo summer day."

Hitchcock has been involved with the Taste for more than 16 years, serving the past eight years on the board of directors and helping out as a volunteer prior to that. He holds a master's degree in Structural Engineering from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a master's of business administration from Canisius College. A native of Tonawanda, Hitchcock currently resides in Pendleton, Niagara County, with his wife, Darcy and children, Erica and Andrew Foit.

In addition to Hitchcock, the following were named 2012 officers: First Vice Chair: Joseph Lane, AXA Advisors; Second Vice Chair: Ann Hackett, aHa! Designs; Treasurer: Luke Baecker, Arcara & Borczynski, LLP Certified Public Accountants; Secretary: Laura Jacobs, e3communications; and Past Chair: Mark Zawodzinski, Five Star Bank.

The Taste of Buffalo presented by TOPS is the nation's largest two-day food festival, attracting more than 450,000 people to downtown Buffalo. The 2012 Taste is July 7 and July 8, 2012 along Delaware Avenue and Niagara Square in downtown Buffalo. For further information, please visit www.tasteofbuffalo.com.