Joe Venniro begins his sixth season with the Empire 8 Conference in 2024-25. He was promoted to Senior Associate Commissioner in December, 2023.

As senior associate commissioner, Venniro’s job responsibilities include handling the E8’s public relations, social media and marketing programs. He also manages all aspects of the conference’s website, sports information department and Empire 8 Network web streaming service. He oversees the conference’s nationally renowned Conduct Foul Program and serves as Director of E8 Sport Committees.

Venniro also serves as the lead administrator for the E8 Sports Information Committee and Director of the annual Empire 8 Student-Athlete Summit. In addition, Venniro is a current member of the NCAA Division III Regional Advisory Committee for men's lacrosse and was a previous member of the women's volleyball RAC.

In addition, Venniro is also the Empire 8's officiating coordinator for several sports and works with its member institutions on all compliance matters.

Under Venniro's leadership, the Empire 8 has seen its number of social media followers nearly triple, while the league has become a leader in Division III social media analytics.

Venniro arrived at the Empire 8 after spending 15 years in the sports information department at Rochester Institute of Technology from 2004-2019, most recently as the Executive Sports Information Director. He was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the RIT sports information department, which consisted of two full-time positions, one assistant and 20 student workers. He managed www.ritathletics.com, along with several social media initiatives, and handled all media requests for RIT’s two Division I teams and 22 Division III squads. Venniro was the main media contact for both the Division I men’s and women’s hockey teams in addition to other duties.

In 2014, Venniro won the prestigious Rochester PRism award for his feature story “Part-time Joe, Full-time inspiration” on RIT men’s hockey student manager Joe Vicario.
 
Venniro arrived at RIT in August 2004 as the university’s sports information assistant. In 2005, he was promoted to assistant sports information director, holding that position for two years before becoming the associate sports information director in 2007. In 2009, Venniro was promoted to sports information director, serving four years in that role before becoming the executive director.
 
Prior to arriving at RIT, Venniro served as a graduate assistant at Elmira College, serving as the sports information assistant from 2002-04. While at Elmira, he overhauled the college’s athletics website, record books, and media guides. He was the main contact for the 2003 NCAA Division III Women’s Ice Hockey Championship, held at the Murray Athletic Center.
 
In 2004, Venniro was the recipient of Elmira’s Paul Brand Athletics Staff Award, given in recognition of a staff member who, through initiative and effort, has a positive impact upon the Athletics program as well as the College. He is the lone graduate assistant to ever win the prestigious award.
 
A 2002, graduate of St. John Fisher College, Venniro graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in communications/journalism. He spent the 2000-01 and 2001-02 seasons as an intern and student worker in the sports information office under Norm Kieffer. Venniro received his master’s degree in education from Elmira in 2004.
 
Venniro also served as the media liaison for the USA Select Developmental Hockey camps held in Rochester from 2010 to 2012.
 
Venniro lives in Rochester with his wife Erika, son Brady, and twin daughters Olivia and Allegra.