LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending James B. DeStefano upon the occasion
of his retirement after 35 years of distinguished service to Access:
Supports for Living Inc.

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor the significant milestones in the distinguished careers of
esteemed individuals whose lives have been committed to the pursuit of
excellence and who bring great pride to the citizens of our great State;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
James B. DeStefano upon the occasion of his retirement after 35 years of
distinguished service to Access: Supports for Living Inc.; and
WHEREAS, On Tuesday, December 1, 2015, James B. DeStefano officially
retired from the esteemed roles of both Executive Vice President and
Director of External Affairs and Development at Access: Supports for
Living Inc.; and
WHEREAS, Access: Supports for Living Inc. serves over 8,000 individ-
uals a year, and employs over 1,300 staff members; currently, this vital
organization provides services and employment in nine counties including
Orange, Sullivan, Dutchess, Ulster, Greene, Columbia, Rockland, Putnam
and Westchester; and
WHEREAS, James B. DeStefano began his esteemed career with Access:
Supports for Living Inc., formerly known as Occupations, Inc., over
three decades ago; for 13 years, he held the position of Executive Vice
President and Chief Operations Officer, before being promoted to the
rank of President and Chief Executive Officer, a title he held for over
20 years; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his tenure, James B. DeStefano has led multi-mil-
lion dollar physical plant renovations, operated services in more than
63 locations, expanded organizational operations, and successfully
managed and inspired a talented senior leadership team; and
WHEREAS, Under James B. DeStefano's luminous leadership, Access:
Supports for Living Inc. has accomplished numerous objectives including
the development of four affordable housing complexes in the Towns of
Wallkill, Monticello, and New Windsor, New York, for people with diverse
disabilities; the creation of 350 community employment opportunities for
hundreds of people including over 90 jobs at West Point though contracts
with the federal government; the addition of behavioral health treatment
services in Orange and Dutchess Counties for over 3,000 people; the
implementation of foster care and children and family services serving
high need youth throughout the region; the creation of Mobile Mental
Health Services in Orange and Ulster Counties; and fostered a partner-
ship with industrial businesses which provide employment for people with
disabilities and support the infrastructure of the agency; and
WHEREAS, James B. DeStefano has been recognized as an industry leader
in the implementation of AbilityOne contracts which employ people with
disabilities; he has led and inspired from a personal value system and
has a passion for integration of person-centered outcomes for people
living with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, A strong and respected leader in the field of rehabilitation,
James B. DeStefano was the 1997 recipient of the Crystal Run Village
Community Service Award, and the 2001 recipient of the NISH East Person
of the Year Award; on September 30, 2015, he was presented with the New
York State Rehabilitation Association (NYSRA) Adrien Levy Award; and
WHEREAS, James B. DeStefano received a Bachelor's degree in Psychology
from Edinboro State College, and then obtained his Master's degree in

Counseling and Personnel Service from the University of Missouri in
1972; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend James B. DeStefano upon the occasion of his retirement after 35
years of distinguished service to Access: Supports for Living Inc., and
to wish him continued success in all his future endeavors; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to James B. DeStefano.