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The LIA-Staffing &
Re-Employment Disability Initiative Committee began their collaborative
work with LIA-Staffing & Re-Employment in 2002. Community service
provider agency representatives and their business partners who have had
successful history of employing job applicants with disabilities form
the committee coordinated by VESID approached Long Island Association (LIA)
to participate in the chambers events and have gain access to their 1600
members. The goal continues was to create an environment where business
can hear from business the benefits of employing and retaining
individuals with disabilities.
The committee with the
support of Long Island Association’s president and CEO Matt Crosson had
its first Summit on Nov. 18th. Matt Crosson opened the
summit. Scott Passesser, the president of LIA-Staffing & Re-Employment
was the master of ceremony. Dr. Colin Goddard, CEO of OSI
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. delivered the keynote address. OSI
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. has a long history of working with the two Long
Island community agencies with very good results. Employees with
disabilities at OSI have an average tenure of seven years. Many have
been promoted several times. Gary Huth, NYS Economist spoke about the
needs of industries on Long Island and the anticipated labor shortages
in five years. He made a great case of with aging general population we
will have more individuals with some type of disabilities and that we
cannot afford to ignore this untapped resource.
Four panelists were
chosen to specifically address industries on Long Island that continue
to be prosperous and are still developing. These were: Bio-Engineering,
Tourism, Insurance, and Healthcare. Panelists were from: Ann McDermott
(OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc.), Michael Pfaff, (Long Island Ducks), Ann
Maglio (Robert Plan), and Robin Salsberg (Winthrop University
Hospital). Each panelist had a specific need based program with a
community agency that provided training and support for their business.
The panelist spoke about their company’s specific needs and how and why
they had started a relationship with these service provider agencies;
the benefits of such partnerships, some difficulties and how they were
handled. At our request they also spoke about those instances when
there encountered difficulties and how these were handled.
The summit attempted to
create an environment where business could speak directly to business.
The attendees were given a packet of resumes of job ready applicants
with disabilities. They were also given a brochure with information on
various tax incentive programs and contacts. Ella Craanen closed the
event by launching the committee’s web site (http://www.employdisabled.com).
The site has direct links to community agency sites. It provides the
viewer with pictures of people working at various businesses and
testimonials from employers.
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