Marge Tierney
Marge Tierney’s 33 year professional career centered around the vocational
rehabilitation of individuals with disabilities ensuring that they received
the services needed to obtain employment. Upon graduation from the
University of Connecticut in Storrs with a MA degree in Rehabilitation
Counseling, Marge began as a Rehabilitation Counselor with the then
Department of Social Services Commission for the Blind and Visually
Handicapped. She was later promoted to Senior Counselor.
In 1978, she joined the staff of the State Education Department, Office of
Vocational Rehabilitation (OVR) where she served as the Downstate
Coordinator. Marge continued her service to the rehabilitation community
when she became a member of the Transition Team for the Office of Vocational
and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities (VESID) assuming
the responsibilities of the Coordinator of Vocational Rehabilitation for
Quality Assurance. In 1999, Marge became the Director of the VESID District
Office local Administration Unit.
Marge’s commitment to individuals with disabilities was evident in her
willingness to take on new and challenging projects that would enhance
employment opportunities such as local implementation of the Welfare-to-Work
Reform Act and the Workforce Investment Act. She was largely responsible for
forging the relationship with the New York City Human Resources
Administration, which lead to the creation of the PRIDE program.
Marge was a consummate professional who understood the importance of
maintaining a strong working relationship with VESID’s community and State
partners and sought input from stakeholders on critical issues. She
respected and valued the work of staff and worked tirelessly to ensure that
needed supports were available to assist them in performing their jobs.