Kimberly Hill Ridley was appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul to serve as New York State’s first-ever Chief Disability Officer (CDO) on February 14, 2022. This was the same day that New York State’s Office of the Chief Disability Officer was created in law within the Executive Chamber, making it one of the first states in the country to establish such an office. Hill Ridley is charged with advising the Governor and executive staff on policy and budgetary issues as they pertain to disability issues, serving as the state’s ADA Coordinator, and chairing New York State’s Most Integrated Services Coordinating Council, which is responsible for the state’s Olmstead compliance.

As CDO, Hill Ridley and her team spend a significant amount of their time meeting with people with disabilities, their families, and advocates focusing on priority topics such as home care, employment, housing, accessibility, and transportation. They also collaborate with state agencies to reduce the silos that exist within the many existing service delivery systems in New York State.
Before joining the Executive Chamber, Hill Ridley served as the principal analyst for the New York State Assembly Standing Committee on People with Disabilities, which focuses primarily on people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. Hill Ridley also previously served as director of the Assembly Task Force on People with Disabilities, which focused on issues primarily concerning people with physical and sensory disabilities.

Hill Ridley holds a bachelor of science degree from Utica College of Syracuse University and resides in Latham, NY, with her husband, Michael, and her two children, Michaela and Alex.

Isabelle Alexander-Klaboe is a seasoned professional with 20 years of management experience. As of August 2020, she has been serving as the executive director of Living Independently Is For Everyone (LIFE) at the Resource Center for Independent Living, Inc. (RCIL) furthering the agency’s mission of ensuring equal access and participation in our community for all individuals with disabilities. LIFE comprises of three Centers of Independent Living, which cover Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, and Oneida Counties in New York. Additionally, Alexander-Klaboe is a certified New York State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. She has also been appointed as a council member of the New York State Independent Living Council (NYSILC) by the New York State Board of Regents. In this role, she assists the council in evaluating community needs and jointly develop the three year state plan for independent living (SPIL).

Shameka Andrews is the community outreach coordinator for the Self Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS). Andrews also founded Disability Empowerment Consulting where she provides disability workshops on self-care, self-advocacy, and disability awareness

In 2006, Andrews won the title of Ms. Wheelchair New York and she has been the program’s coordinator since 2013. She wrote her first children’s book, Butterfly on Wheels, in 2017. Andrew serves on the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, the Developmental Disability Advisory Council for the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD), and the New York State Human Rights Disability Committee.

Derick Bowers is the executive director of GoodTemps—the nonprofit staffing agency of Goodwill Industries® of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey, which helps over 500 temporary workers, most of them people with disabilities, on to meaningful work each day.

Bowers has over a decade of experience in the nonprofit sector, specializing in social enterprise and workforce development. He is the former New York City regional director of social enterprise at the Center for Employment Opportunities, where he oversaw the organization’s largest transitional workforce program, providing immediate paid employment and daily pay for New Yorkers whom the criminal legal system had directly impacted. Bowers also held a substantial role at The Doe Fund, where he created work and training opportunities for men experiencing homelessness.

Bowers received his bachelor of arts in communications from Howard University. He is an alumnus of the Coro New York Leadership Program and the Senior Leaders Program for Nonprofit Professionals at Columbia Business School. Additionally, he received City & State’s “New York’s Labor 40 Under 40” Award in 2021.

Elizabeth Cox is a remarkable individual who has an unwavering dedication to improving the lives of people with disabilities. As the lead independent living specialist at Southern Adirondack Independent Living, Cox plays a pivotal role in empowering individuals to lead more independent lives.

Throughout her career, Cox has tirelessly worked to break down barriers and create opportunities for those she serves. She is not just a professional in her field but also a passionate advocate for people with disabilities. Her empathetic nature and relentless commitment to her work make her a beacon of hope for those who may have faced numerous challenges in their journey to independence. Cox’s daily tasks involve providing guidance, resources, and support to individuals with disabilities, helping them navigate the complexities of daily life and access the services they need. Her efforts extend beyond her role, as she actively engages in community outreach and education to promote inclusivity and break stigmas associated with disabilities.

Cox holds a bachelor of arts from SUNY New Paltz in both sociology with a concentration in human services and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies. Her impact goes far beyond her job title; she embodies the spirit of compassion and service, changing lives and advocating for a more inclusive and accessible world. Her dedication to helping others live more independently is an inspiration to all.

Kerry Douglas-Duffy is the director of the Bureau of Workforce Innovation and Quality within the Division of Employment and Workforce Solutions at the New York State Department of Labor. Douglas-Duffy has over 20 years of experience in the workforce development field. In her role as director, she oversees operations of the bureau, including Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Implementation, Policy Development, Grants, Quality Assurance and Contracts, Workforce Development and Strategic Planning, and the Office of Career Development and Inclusion. Within the Office of Career Development and Inclusion, her staff supports workforce initiatives for youth, disabled, justice involved, and older workers. Douglas-Duffy holds a master’s degree in educational counseling from the College of Saint Rose and a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Plattsburgh.

Andrea Emerson works as an instructional designer focusing on benefits and entitlements for LIFEPlan CCO NY and Advanced Care Alliance New York (ACA/NY). She graduated with a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cortland in 2007. Emerson is passionate about helping individuals with disabilities live as independently and purposefully as possible. She has worked for the last 16 years in various roles within the human services field. Prior to joining LIFEPlan CCO NY in 2020, she served as a claims representative at the US Social Security Administration. Emerson has a seven-year-old daughter with disabilities and has a personal devotion to the members she serves. It is essential to Emerson that she helps members find a way to reach their personal goals, including employment.

Emerson provides instruction to care managers on benefit and entitlement-related issues. She assists members and families in navigating the complicated world of benefits, which includes Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare, SNAP, and HEAP. She was recently recognized as the Support Department Staff of the Year in her current role for the advocacy and knowledge she provides to care managers, members, and their families. She currently works with individuals with developmental disabilities through the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and has extensive experience working with individuals who have traumatic brain injuries through the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver as well.

Chester Finn is the individual and family advocate for the New York State Office of People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) and an advisor to Self Advocacy Association of NYS (SANYS). Finn has served three terms as national president of Self Advocates Becoming Empowered (SABE) and he is the former president of SANYS. Finn currently serves on multiple boards including, The Council on Quality and Leadership, the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP), and the Institute for Exceptional Care. Finn is part of the Southern Poverty Law Center and Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center (SARTAC) Advisory Committee.

Ann Gallagher Sagaas, LMSW, is the upstate regional coordinator with the New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) at the New York State Office of Children and Family Services (OCFS). Gallagher Sagaas has been with NYSCB for six years and previously served as the district manager in the Albany office of NYSCB. Previously, she worked as a social worker and rehabilitation services manager at the Northeastern Association for the Blind at Albany (NABA) for 20 years. As upstate regional coordinator at NYSCB, Gallagher Sagaas works with the Albany, Syracuse, and Buffalo district office staff on direct service provision, policy implementation, and development of programs.

Gallagher Sagaas’s career has been devoted to working with individuals of all ages who have visual impairments and advocating for their advancement in personal and vocational pursuits.

Simeon Goldman is general counsel at the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley and has worked to enforce the community integration, housing, employment, and other civil rights of people with disabilities since 1988. He served as supervising attorney at Disability Rights New York (formerly Disability Advocates, Inc.), where he worked from 1991 to 2021. He has successfully litigated claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Housing Act, and the NYS Human Rights Law. He has advised the government, employers, advocates, health care providers, and housing providers on complying with these laws. He has taught many attorneys and advocates how to effectively represent and empower their clients.

Goldman was an adjunct professor at Albany Law School, teaching a seminar on the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities. Goldman is co-editor of the New York State Bar Association’s three-volume Disability Law and Practice and co-authored the NYSBA’s 2019 Report on eliminating inquiries about the mental disabilities of Bar applicants. He is a recipient of a Lifetime Advocacy Achievement Award from the NYS Chief Disability Office (2023), the Henry Viscardi Advocacy Award from the NYS Assembly (2013), the Beacon Leadership Award from the Independent Living Center of the Hudson Valley (2011) and the Ted Weiss Consumer Advocacy Award from the Brain Injury Association of NYS (2000).

Goldman is a 1986 University of Buffalo School of Law graduate and lives with his wife, Leslie Bristol, in Delmar, NY.

Howard Gross, founded eBizDocs in 1999, serving as president and chief executive officer after many years of working in records management both as a user and a consultant. During this time, he served as the operations manager for a Top 10 insurance company and project manager for a regional electronic records management firm.

Gross was awarded the “Corporate Citizen Award” by the nonprofit mentorship group, Best Buddies, for his outstanding commitment to empowering individuals with disabilities through employment in the business community. In 2023, he received the Edward H. Pattison Citizenship award from the Rensselaer Chamber of Commerce for his community service. He has been a featured speaker on the PBS television program New York Now and on The Capitol Pressroom, a public radio broadcast. He has written numerous articles on content management and coauthored a section in a book on paper reduction in government business. He is frequently quoted as a recognized imaging and records management expert in a variety of industry publications.

Howard received a BS in computer science from Pace University and an MBA from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Andy Sink is the director of the New York Employment Services System (NYESS) Employment Policy at the New York State Office of Mental Health and has been involved in employment and rehabilitation services supporting New Yorkers facing various barriers for over 20 years. NYESS is a resource for all things related to employment and disability, a collaborative employment services case management system, and a Ticket-to-Work Administrative Employment Network in partnership with the New York State Department of Labor. Sink and his team promote principles, practices, and policies to improve employment outcomes for individuals of all abilities in New York through collaborations with state agencies, service providers, and advocacy organizations.

Gregory Sorrentino is currently the president and chief executive officer of the Center for Disability Services. He began his tenure in the position January 2, 2019, and is responsible for the oversight of the Center and its four divisions: St. Margaret’s Center, Prospect Center in Queensbury, Health Innovations Incubator and Technology Center, and Down Syndrome Aim High Resource Center. He has been an executive with the Center for 30 years. Prior to his current position, he was chief financial officer and chief operating officer, director of financial operations, and assistant director of finance at what was then the “Center for the Disabled”.

In addition to his career at the Center, Sorrentino serves as the vice chair of the LIFEPlan NY Board of Directors and a member of the TriaDD Board of Directors. He also was an adjunct faculty member at Sage Colleges Graduate Division for Financial Accounting, in Albany, NY and had served on the Sage Colleges Graduate School Advisory Committee.

Sorrentino received his bachelor of science degree in business administration from Siena College in Loudonville, NY, and his master of science degree in health services administration from Sage Graduate School in Albany, NY. Sorrentino’s professional licenses include: NYS Certified Public Accountant and NYS Licensed Nursing Home Administrator.

BJ Stasio is the co-vice president of the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State (SANYS), a position to which he was elected by his fellow self-advocates and peers around New York State. Stasio has also been employed by the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) for over 20 years, working on person-centered planning, voting issues, and self-determination training and education. Additionally, he has served on the board of the National Federation for Just Communities of Western New York, the Disability History Museum Board, and has a nonprofit organization, Buffalo Racin’, focused on getting people with disabilities involved in 5K races. He is in the National Disability Mentoring Coalition Hall of Fame. Stasio has been actively involved with direct advocacy to OPWDD during the public health crisis on behalf of SANYS, representing the voices of self-advocates across New York State.

Steve Towler is the vice president for Programs and Business Development at AHRC New York City chapter (New York State Association of Regional Councils, Inc.). He has over 35 years of experience developing employment and training programs for people with disabilities and at-risk youth. He has a master’s degree in psychology from the City University of New York (CUNY). Towler directs programs throughout all five boroughs of New York City and is primarily responsible for Employment and Business Services and Camping/Recreation Services.

Towler’s expertise in diversifying private and government funding streams for nonprofits has played a major role in successfully managing a diverse portfolio of highly effective and profitable departments, ranging from employment to mental healthcare, with over $70 million in annual revenue. He also founded the Employment and Business Services (EBS) department, a venture that started with supporting one individual in the Bronx and grew to become New York State’s leading disability employment program. EBS now creates opportunities for over 2,000 New Yorkers with disabilities throughout the five boroughs each year and advances people with significant needs in both the developmental disability and mental health spaces.

Towler has worked very closely with the New York City schools and other community stakeholders to assist in developing very creative pathways from school to work for individuals transitioning out of the New York City school system. The most recent development is operating five Project Search Programs throughout New York City, supporting over 60 high school students with intellectual/developmental disability (I/DD) each year to prepare for employment.

He is also highly active with various trade associations that work to assist AHRC. He is the past chairperson of the board of New York State Industries for the Disabled, Inc. (NYSID), an organization that helps nonprofit organizations obtain work contracts. He is also currently serving on the Board of Directors for the New York Alliance for Inclusion and Innovation. He co-chairs the Adult Day Employment Services Committee for the Inter Agency Council (IAC).

James Traylor serves as president of Rivent Partners and is a dedicated professional, advocate, and sibling who has made it his life’s work to create the premier organization for families planning for a loved one with a disability.

As a nationally recognized speaker, Traylor regularly provides continuing education for legal, financial, and tax professionals on disability planning. He has held prominent leadership positions such as the immediate past chair for the New York State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, the former secretary of the board of directors for the ARC of Monroe County, and a board member of the Estate Planning Council of Rochester. Taylor has been recognized for his accomplishments, receiving awards such as Rochester Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and Investment News magazine’s Top Investment Advisors Under 40. He has been featured in Forbes (online), InvestmentNews, and in the 2023 documentary, ‘The Path Forward: Remembering Willowbrook.’ Traylor holds professional designations, including chartered special needs consultant, life underwriter, and financial consultant.

In his free time, Traylor enjoys playing squash, traveling, cooking, and spending time with his wife and sons.

Leigh Wedenoja, chief economist at the Rockefeller Institute of Government, specializes in education, labor, and health policy research. Her work focuses on assessing the causal impact of public policy using both quantitative and qualitative methods. She has worked with New York State agencies and nonprofit organizations on topics including the care workforce, employment for people with disabilities, civil service exams, K-12 and postsecondary education policy, and the overdose epidemic. Dr. Wedenoja is also a lecturer at the University at Albany in the graduate Department of Education Policy & Leadership and her work has appeared in academic publications and the popular press. Prior to joining the Rockefeller Institute, Dr. Wedenoja served as a postdoctoral research associate at Brown University and as administrator of the US Census Bureau’s Federal Statistical Research Data Center at Cornell University. She holds an MA and PhD in economics from Cornell University and a BA from the University of Michigan.