NYSID to Host Veterans’ Summit on September 17

Albany, NY – New York State Industries for the Disabled, Inc. (NYSID) will host its quarterly Veterans' Summit on Wednesday, September 17 from 9:30am – noon at its office at 11 Columbia Circle Drive, Albany. Members of the media are invited to attend.

 

Among those scheduled to attend are: Senator Cecilia Tkaczyk (D-46), ranking member on the Senate Committee on Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities and member of the Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs Committee.

 

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 has conducted its quarterly Veterans' Summit since 2009; our intent is to provide a quarterly in-person clearinghouse for individuals and organizations supporting veterans with disabilities in New York State," said Ron Romano, NYSID president & CEO. "The value of the information exchange is to foster collaboration and networking as we advance the cause of identifying jobs for veterans with disabilities, particularly as the number of returning veterans with disabilities increases."

 

The September 17 Veterans' Summit will include presentations by:

• Kevin Kropp, Veteran Task Force Committee chairman, Columbia-Greene Community College (C-GCC) in Hudson. C-GCC is the site of one of NYSID's five Battle Buddy Centers across New York State. Kropp also serves as Student Veteran Club advisor, Student Veteran coordinator, admissions counselor and adjunct psychology instructor. Kropp served eight years in the United States Navy; at C-GCC, he has developed various veteran-related programs, including a Veteran Mentor Program (Battle Buddy Program) and Student Veteran Resource Guide. Kropp assists C-GCC with improving policy and procedures for veterans and continues to improve exposure and usage for its Battle Buddy Center.
• Andy Grosso, NYSID's vice president of business development; James Haggerty, NYSID's veterans consultant; Paul Quirini, NYSID's outreach and communications specialist. Battle Buddy Centers are safe havens for veterans to socialize with their fellow veterans and receive services they need. Battle Buddy Centers offer activities to encourage camaraderie and foster veterans to give and receive mutual support. They have collectively hosted more than 11,000 visits by veterans since September 2011. Battle Buddy Centers are based on the military concept of a "Battle Buddy," which partners soldiers to assist each other both in and out of combat.

NYSID is a not-for-profit business which administers Preferred Source contracts for products and services in support of state and local government procurement budgets. Its mission is "Turning business opportunities into JOBS for New Yorkers with disabilities."

 

During its recent Annual Meeting in Saratoga Springs, NYSID kicked off its year-long celebration of the 40th anniversary of its founding.

 

Established in 1975, NYSID is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation which creates employment opportunities for more than 6,800 New Yorkers with disabilities annually. NYSID supports job creation efforts for a diverse group of New Yorkers with disabilities through a statewide network of 163 community rehabilitation agencies and private sector business partners and assists with veterans' support programs, promoting quality of life for veterans as they reconnect to the New York State workforce. For more information, visit:http://www.nysid.org.