Schroeder was raised in South Buffalo, where he attended Public School #72, Saint Thomas Aquinas School, and Bishop Timon High School. He received an Associate of Applied Science degree from Erie Community College in 1976 and a Bachelor of Surgery degree from Empire State College in 1982.
In 2001, Schroeder ran for an open seat in the As a County Legislator, he started the Greater South Buffalo Chamber of Commerce, which currently has more than 200 members and holds several community events every year. That same year, Schroeder founded the South Buffalo Education Center, which offers G.E.D. classes and computer and vocational training, helping more than 500 students receive their GEDs since 2002. Schroeder was first elected to the Assembly in November 2004 and he was re-elected in November 2006.
In 2010, Schroeder indicated he would not vote for Sheldon Silver as Speaker of the, although both are Democrats.
Committee assignments
Committee on Mental Health
Chair, Subcommittee on Autism Retention
Committee on Insurance
Committee on Local Governments
Committee on Oversight, Analysis, and Investigation
Committee on Small Business
Committee on Veterans" Affairs
In June 2011, he expressed interest in running for the position of, which had been recently vacated by Andrew SanFilippo when he was appointed New York State Deputy Comptroller. He was expected to face opposition in a Democratic primary from Majority Leader Maria Whyte, but she withdrew from the race to instead run in a special election for Erie County Clerk.
In November 2011, Schroeder was elected, he was unopposed.
Prior to being elected comptroller, he served as a member of the, representing portions of the cities of Buffalo and Lackawanna, as well as the entire towns of West Seneca and Orchard Park.
