As CEO and owner of a tool and die casting company, Diana was one of only a handful of women leading this type of manufacturing business across North America. She helped build a family business that provided good-paying jobs and supported families throughout our region. Before that, she spent 25 years running her own company that trained and developed software for law firms across the country, combining her understanding of technology with her commitment to helping others succeed. Diana knows what it means to make payroll, build customer relationships, and create something that lasts. She’s created jobs, supported families, and understands the challenges facing small businesses and manufacturers in rural America.
Diana’s dedication to our communities runs deep. As a Trustee of SUNY Genesee Community College, she has fought for accessible, affordable education that prepares our students for good careers. She serves on both state and national community college trustee organizations, advocating for students and institutions in Albany and Washington. Her expertise has led to appointments on the Advanced Manufacturing Advisory Committee for Genesee Community College and the Association of Community College Trustees (ACCT) Rural National Advisory Council, where she helps shape workforce development programs that connect education to the good-paying jobs our communities need.
Her community involvement extends beyond education. Diana’s love for the arts began in her early years as an actress in New York, where she met her husband Hiram Kasten, a well-known actor and comedian. As professionals in the entertainment industry, both were long-time union members of Actors Equity and SAG/AFTRA. Diana’s devotion to the arts has continued throughout her life – she believes strongly that the arts are necessary and important in a civilized society, uplifting and inspiring people while giving them hope. This passion led her to serve on the board of GOART! (Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council), supporting the arts that enrich our communities. She has also served on the board of The Landmark Society of Genesee County, helping preserve the history and character that make our region special.
Diana’s political journey began with a simple belief: everyone deserves a voice, and democracy works best when everyone can participate. Through Public Citizen, she organized grassroots events to fight the Citizens United decision and restore power to ordinary citizens over special interests.
Most recently, she co-founded Concerned Citizens for NY24, organizing town halls across our district to give neighbors a chance to be heard on the issues that matter most to their families. She has also rallied with several activist groups and attended marches throughout the district bringing attention to the issues facing not only NY24 but throughout the country. Her motto is “you can no longer sit on the sidelines when our democratic values are at stake, but also our very republic. The time is now!”
Diana has organized and participated in town halls across NY24, listening to neighbors from Lake Ontario to the Finger Lakes. She’s heard about the challenges facing our rural hospitals and nursing homes as the Medicaid cuts have started to take effect, the concerns of our retirees about Social Security and Medicare. She’s spoken with our veterans who are anxious about getting the services they’ve earned. She knows the workforce challenges facing our manufacturing companies and the price they have had to pay because of tariffs. Diana has listened to our crop and dairy farmers, and our vintners whom have serious concerns about their workers and the ongoing raids and threats by ICE that could decimate their workforce and lead to families being separated.
Diana believes in the strength of rural communities and knows that when we stand together as neighbors, we don’t just survive – we thrive. She’s ready to be the voice our communities need in Congress, fighting for the kitchen table issues that affect real families while never forgetting the values that make rural America strong.
Diana’s commitment to service runs in the family. Her father was a World War II Navy veteran who served in the Pacific on an aircraft carrier. He was one of the oldest WWII veterans in Batavia until his passing in 2023. Diana’s mother was deeply involved in the family business, serving as the company’s Vice President for many years and a beloved member of her community.
Diana was married to the love of her life, entertainer Hiram Kasten, for 38 years, until his passing in 2024. He was a well-known and successful actor and comedian within the entertainment community, beloved and respected by his peers and fans. Through those difficult years as a caregiver for her mother, father, and husband, she learned even more about the importance of healthcare, caregiving, and the support systems our families need.
She is the proud mother of a daughter who serves as an attorney in public service, continuing the family tradition of serving others. Also, we must not forget Maisie, the other family member, Diana’s Beaglier. Maisie is a rescue from a puppy mill and often travels on the campaign trail with her!
