A career Certified Public Accountant, Koelmel joined First Niagara in January 2004, initially serving as Chief Financial Officer.
Prior to joining First Niagara, he spent 26 years (1976–2000) with KPMG, reaching the position of the Managing Partner of its Upstate New York operations.
Koelmel then joined Financial Institutions, Inc, parent of Five Star Bank, serving as its Chief Administrative Officer until 2002, when he left to become an independent consultant.
[3] Koelmel served as President of LECOM Harborcenter, overseeing the hockey and entertainment complex developed by Buffalo Sabres owners Terry and Kim Pegula.
He currently resides in East Amherst, New York with his wife, Marsha and her three children, Jensen, Lauren and Caroline.