In an extraordinary event marked by several "firsts", NYSID honored New Yorkers with disabilities, and organizations that support employment opportunities for these individuals, during our Annual Meeting on October 11.
This was NYSID's first Annual Meeting at Albany Capital Center, our first during National Disability Employment Awareness Month #NDEAM, and our first on the eve of The Arc New York's Board of Governors annual conference.
The event also was the first for Maureen O'Brien as NYSID president & CEO. She is NYSID's first female CEO and fifth CEO overall in NYSID's history, replacing Ron Romano, who recently retired after 21 years of service with the organization.
Kumi Tucker, weekend anchor from WNYT NewsChannel 13, once again served as emcee, delighting the crowd with her wit and demonstrating her passion for NYSID's mission.
The Annual Meeting is NYSID's signature event, bringing together NYSID's membership, corporate partners, legislative and government guests, and other supporters for the 2018 business highlights and honoree awards in recognition of Preferred Source employment excellence. The theme was "Your Future. Our Purpose."
October is also NDEAM, and in keeping with the U.S. Department of Labor’s commitment to ensuring a workforce for individuals of all abilities, "America's Workforce: Empowering All" is this year's official NDEAM theme.