Staff

NYSACRA staff represents a wide range of talent and experience in the field of developmental disabilities as well as membership organization expertise. The organization prides itself on the personal attention that staff provide members. Please meet . . .

  

Ann Hardiman began her career in 1976 as Administrator for the Task Force for Child Protection, Inc. In 1978, she became Director of Residential Services at Abilities First in Poughkeepsie. From there, Ann became Assistant Executive Director at Opengate in Somers NY in 1992. But her career and her dedication to individuals with disabilities flourished when she became NYSACRA's Executive Director in 1995. She has worked tirelessly to ensure that individuals with disabilities have a place in our communities and in our hearts. She's led the charge to improve working status for our direct support professionals so that they receive the recognition and benefits they deserve. Under Ann's guidance, NYSACRA received the Moving Mountain Award from the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals and the ANCOR award for her workforce efforts. She has been honored by the NYS DDPC, the Self-Advocacy Association of NYS, the Friends of Asha Niektan Committee, Abilities First, and Independence Residences for making an impact on critical issues and social justice for persons with disabilities. She exhibits her personal dedication to individuals with disabilities by serving as an advisor to the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State's Board of Directors for over twenty years. Ann has a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from SUNY Potsdam and a Master's degree in Community Psychology from Marist College. Ann can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Deputy Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer 

For the past 12 years, Jim Kosakoski has served as NYSACRA's Deputy Executive Director and has recently taken over the role as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to working for NYSACRA, Jim worked for the Center for Disabilities Services (f.k.a. the Center for the Disabled) for 11 years serving as Deputy Executive Director for Residential Services. During that time, he earned a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from the College of St. Rose. Jim also served as Director of Residential Services for Berkshire Meadows (f.k.a. Berkshire Children's Community) a special needs residential school located in the Massachusetts Berkshire. Jim can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

  

Joseph M. Macbeth has been the Assistant Executive Director at NYSACRA since 2000 and has worked in the field of disabilities for 27 years, beginning as a Direct Support Professional. While at NYSACRA, he has been responsible for implementing and advancing all of the organization's workforce development activities. Through grants, Joe has helped NYSACRA incubate a New York State Chapter of the National Alliance for Direct Support Professionals (NADSP) that consists of more than 1,000 individual members and 32 supporting and affiliate organizations. Prior to his work at NYSACRA, Joe worked for a human services organization where he was responsible for the development, utilization and administration of all "non-traditional" residential and day services programs, among them were New York's first Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (Columbia County), an Innovative Housing Project that assisted people move from ICF/MRs and into their own homes and a variety of respite programs. In addition to Joe's activities with NYSACRA and the Direct Support Professional Alliance of New York State (DSPANYS), he sits on the boards of directors for the National Alliance of Direct Support Professionals and the American Network of Community Options & Resources (ANCOR) Foundation. He is also a member of the College of Direct Support's National Advisory Committee, where he has been instrumental in assisting more than 2,600 Direct Support Professionals and Frontline Supervisors achieve advanced training. Joe can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

  

Ann Genaro serves as NYSACRA's Director of Education Services. Since joining NYSACRA in 1990 as Administrative Coordinator, Ann has demonstrated her expertise in and commitment to managing the varied training, educational and conference needs of the organization. Prior to NYSACRA, Ann worked for Westchester ARC where she found her niche in working on behalf of people with disabilities and the people who serve them. Prior experience includes working at the United Nations and the National Museum of Racing. Ann is a graduate of the Latin American Institute. Ann can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

   

Kathleen "Katie" Mayo was appointed NYSACRA's Director of Legislative Services in 2009. She brings more than15 years of legislative and governmental relations experience in New York State to the position. A graduate of Siena College with a degree in political science, Katie began her career in the New York State Assembly where she worked as a committee clerk and then as Correspondence Coordinator for the Assembly Majority Leader. Learning the legislative ropes proved invaluable as she began building an impressive career as a governmental affairs specialist for several Albany-based associations including the NYS Conference of Local Mental Hygiene Directors, Inc. Katie most recently served as the NYS Conference of Local Hygiene Directors, Inc. Deputy Executive Director with dual responsibility as its Director of Legislative and Governmental Relations. Katie can be reached at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Lisa Mount joined NYSACRA in 2009 as the organization's Office Manager. Lisa possesses more than 14  years of administrative and customer relations experience. During the past 11 years, she served as Office Manager for a top local real estate team. Lisa's NYSACRA responsibilities are wide-ranging and include communicating with members, managing the association's files, coordinating information, and assisting with conference and training event preparation and on-site event needs. Lisa can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

In August of 2005, Phil Kopach became NYSACRA's Financial Coordinator. A degreed accountant with experience in setting up and installing accounting and computer systems, Phil's responsibilities include the bookkeeping functions for the organization. His prior experience encompasses a wide range of accounting responsibilities in profit and not-for-profit business. Phil also owned and operated a franchised shipping service in 33 counties of upstate New York as well as managing a multi-branch industrial distribution company. Phil can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

   

Tammy started working at NYSACRA in June 2006 as an office assistant intern and was then hired in April 2009 as a staff member. She writes newsletter articles for Tammy's Corner (a regular feature of NYSACRA's quarterly newsletter, NYSACRA Network), assists on legislative issues such as voting rights for persons with developmental disabilities and helps with the conferences and trainings that the organization convenes. Tammy is also active in the Self Advocacy Association in Albany and attends monthly meetings. She also serves on the state's Developmental Disability Planning Council. Tammy can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it