Workforce Summit

Together with The Arc Otsego, Otsego County Chamber of Commerce, The Bonadio Group, Gates-Cole Insurance, NYCM Insurane, The Kennedy Willis Center hosted the 2017 Workforce Summit. Attendance included over 200 representatives from those in the education, health care and business sectors and highlighted featured presenters Hamdi Ulukaya, Chobani’s Founder and Chief Executive Officer and Helene DeSanto, Acting Deputy of the New York State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. A moving discussion surrounded the workforce crisis stemming from the lack of Direct Support Professionals who provide critical care for our growing populations of seniors and those living with intellectual disabilities. Additional speakers included Dr. Amy Hewitt and Barbara Kleist of the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis’ Institute on Community Integration as well as other contributors including: John Raffaele of the National Association of Direct Support Professionals; Douglas Bauer, Executive Director of The Clark Foundation; Melinda Mack, Executive Director of the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals; Bethany Toledo, Executive Director of the New York Alliance of Direct Support Professionals; Mark Davis, President of the Ohio Provider Resource Association; Ann Hardiman, Executive Director, Carol Napierski, Senior Director of Administration, and Kirsten Sanchirico, Director of Workforce Initiatives, all of the New York State Association of Community and Residential Agencies.