Page 13 - Work Force October 2025

‘More than a paycheck:’
OPWDD workers honored for service
CSEA OPWDD
members honored:
Long Island Region:
Long Island DDSO: Kirk Jones and William Thomas
Metropolitan Region:
Bernard Fineson DDSO: Jerrell Holmes and Muzette Marcel
Brooklyn DDSO: Gloria Abram and
Terri Lewis
Metro NY DDSO: Carmen Gomez and Woody Jean-Louis
Staten Island DDSO: Charles Culmer and Natasha Concepcion
Southern Region:
Hudson Valley DDSO: Judith Herring and Garland Townsend
Taconic DDSO: Christopher Cash and Jonathan Denson
Capital Region:
Capital District DDSO: Anthony Addo and Shelise Kramer
Central Region:
Broome DDSO: Kimberly Gelsnian and Helen Rhodes
Central New York DDSO: Craig Stannard and Kristina Zelehowsky
Sunmount DDSO: Keisha Ward and Matthew McAllister
Western Region:
Finger Lakes DDSO: Brandi Hoke and
Torrey Maher
Western New York DDSO: Scott C. Davis and Holly Mathien
ALBANY — Twenty-six CSEA members were recently recognized as “Statewide Direct Support Professionals of the Year” by the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD).
The members, who work as direct support assistants at OPWDD locations across the state, were honored at a ceremony in Albany. In addition to OPWDD officials and supervisors, attendees included CSEA statewide officers, local officers and union staff.
“CSEA is proud to join with OPWDD in recognizing these hardworking direct support professional members who give so much of themselves every day to the people they care for,” said CSEA President Mary E. Sullivan. “We all owe them a great debt of gratitude for their dedication and commitment. Congratulations to all the awardees!”
“I applaud these direct support professionals,” said CSEA Executive Vice President Richard Bebo. “It was an honor to be there and to hear stories of the selfless, hard work that they do every day. Every person truly deserved to be awarded and celebrated.”
CSEA OPWDD Statewide Labor-Management Committee Chair Faye Wilkie-Fields was also on hand to present certificates on behalf of our union to the honorees.
OPWDD Commissioner Willow Baer presented certificates of recognition on behalf of the agency.
“This event recognizes the backbone of the direct support system,” said Baer. “The work you do is challenging, and OPWDD is committed to doing everything we can do to professionalize and elevate the work you do. The people we recognize today represent the highest expression and
elevation of our shared mission. I have watched some of you at work, and I am so impressed and grateful for all you do. You are inspiring.”
Acting Deputy Commissioner, State Operations Salvatore Cerniglia also addressed the honorees.
“You are mentors and advocates and every day you bridge the gap between challenge and possibility,” said Cerniglia. “Because of you, families rest easier knowing that their loved ones are being taken care of. You set the standard.”
Cerniglia
Before receiving their certificates from OPWDD and CSEA, honorees were introduced by regional OPWDD supervisory staff and immediate supervisors, who shared individual stories about direct support assistants (DSAs) and the unique ways they contribute to the homes they work in and the individuals they care for.
Wilkie-Fields, a DSA for 36 years and CSEA Brooklyn Developmental Center Local President, reflected on the work and the recognition.
“This job is about so much more than a paycheck,” said Wilkie-Fields. “DSAs must
go beyond the call of duty, frequently act as surrogates and advocates. The reward that comes from the work is not measurable. Yet, still, there is tremendous value as a DSA to know that someone is seeing you, someone is looking and acknowledging the most important part, the humanitarian part.”
— Therese Assalian
From left, OPWDD Commissioner Willow Baer and CSEA OPWDD Statewide Labor/Management Committee Chair Faye Wilkie-Fields before the ceremony.
Above, OPWDD direct support assistants who were honored gather after the ceremony along with CSEA OPWDD Labor-Management Committee Chair Faye Wilkie-Fields, sixth from right, and CSEA Executive Vice President Richard Bebo, second from right.
October 2025
The Work Force 13