VETCON 2017, Battle Buddy Centers, Inclusive Rowing Program for People With Disabilities Highlight Dynamic NYSID Veterans' Summit
New York State Industries for the Disabled, Inc. (NYSID) will host its quarterly Veterans' Summit on Wednesday, October 11 from 9:30 a.m. to noon at its Albany office, 11 Columbia Circle Drive. Members of the media are invited to attend.
Veterans' Summit presenters include:
Kenneth Williams, executive director of the Division of Service Disabled Veterans' Business Development, New York State Office of General Services; and Mario Cometti, partner, Tully Rinckey PLLC. They are part of an alliance coordinating VETCON 2017 (Veterans in Economic Transition Conference). VETCON returns to The Desmond November 28-29, with New York State agencies and veteran-owned businesses participating in a job fair, connecting veterans with employment opportunities, and educating them about state grants available to Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Businesses (SDVOBs). More than 300 people, including many veterans, attended last year's event.
Paul Quirini, communications and outreach specialist, NYSID. He will discuss NYSID's Battle Buddy Centers, which are safe havens for veterans on college campuses to socialize with their fellow veterans and receive services they need. Battle Buddy Centers have collectively hosted more than 70,000 visits by veterans since September 2011. NYSID has participated in the grand opening and dedication of 13 Battle Buddy Centers, including: The College of Saint Rose in Albany; Hudson Valley Community College in Troy; Columbia-Greene Community College in Hudson; and SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury.
Tim Giarrusso, president/CEO, Human Technologies, and co-founder, Rochester Community Inclusive Rowing. Human Technologies is a not-for-profit social enterprise and NYSID member agency that employs more than 300 people, including more than 200 people with disabilities. In 2011, Giarrusso co-founded Rochester Community Inclusive Rowing (RCiR), a 501(c)(3) aimed at expanding access to individuals with barriers to rowing. RCiR focuses on serving all veterans, including those with disabilities, and people with autism, vision loss, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. In August, NYSID supported RCiR's all night row of 363 miles, equivalent to the length of the Erie Canal, to fund an inclusive rowing center to serve veterans and people with disabilities.
David Hernandez, director, Health Facilities Management Group, NYS Department of Health, and Todd Rosenfield, project manager, NYS Division of Veterans' Affairs, will attend on behalf of Governor Andrew Cuomo.
Ann Mueller, deputy district director, Congressman John Faso (R-Kinderhook), and Vinnie Nicosia, deputy director of operations, NYS Senator George Amedore (R,C,IP-46), also will attend.
Other NYS legislators invited to attend include:
Senator Kathleen Marchione (R/C/I-43), member of the NYS Senate Committee on Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
Assemblymember Angelo Santabarbara (D-111), member of the NYS Assembly Committee on Veterans' Affairs
Assemblymember Carrie Woerner (D-113), member of the NYS Assembly Committee on Small Business
Summit participants include New York State government agencies, not-for-profits, veterans' service organizations, Wounded Warriors, institutions of higher learning, and rehabilitation organizations, including NYSID members.
"NYSID conducts its quarterly Veterans' Summits to provide an in-person clearinghouse for individuals and organizations supporting veterans with disabilities in New York State," said Ron Romano, NYSID president & CEO. "Through this information exchange, we foster collaboration and networking and advance the cause of identifying jobs for veterans with disabilities, particularly as the number of returning veterans with disabilities increases."
About NYSID
Established in 1975, NYSID is a registered 501(c)(3) Not for Profit with a mission of "Advancing employment and other opportunities for individuals with disabilities." NYSID supports job creation efforts for a diverse group of New Yorkers with disabilities through a statewide network of community rehabilitation agencies and corporate partners and assists with veterans' support programs, promoting quality of life for veterans as they reconnect to the New York State workforce.
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