The 10th Annual Customized Employment Awards.
March 18, 2026, 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.
at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 50 Haven Avenue
Join us as we celebrate 10 years of honoring the people and organizations dedicated to expanding employment opportunities for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities.
Honorees: Martha Jackson, Executive Director, Center for Workplace Accessibility and Inclusion – NYC Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development; Julia Kelly, Director, Employment & Meaningful Community Activities – NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities.
By the Consortium for Customized Employment, a project of Job Path. NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities.
Customized Employment Awards
10 years of Leadership, Innovation, and Impact.
Welcome
Emanuel Pinkhasov – Assistant Stage Door Attendant,
New World Stages
Introduction
Carly Teichman – CEO, Job Path
Employer Spotlight
Karen Waltuck – Director, CCE; Aaron Shmueli – AVP, Goodwill; Hannah Millson – Director for Employment Services for the Manhattan region, AHRC
Award Presentation
Abby Mayerhoff
Director of Programs, NYC: ATWORK at the
NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities
Honorees
Julia Kelly – Director,
Employment & Meaningful Community Activities –
NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)
Martha Jackson – Executive Director,
Center for Workplace Accessibility and Inclusion – NYC Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development
Employee Spotlight
Wendy Banner – Associate Director, CCE
Randy Brown – Dishwasher, RA Executive Dining at Bank of America
Julia Kelly: Director, Employment & Meaningful Community Activities – NYS Office for People With Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD)
Ms. Kelly and her team implement the OPWDD strategic plan for employment, vocational, day and community services which includes oversight of program implementation, policy development, innovative project development, staff and management training, stakeholder engagement, and monitoring outcomes for approximately 400 agencies serving more than 70,000 people. Ms. Kelly’s career includes developing innovative programs such as individualized and customized employment services, community-based day supports, blended service programs, small business incubator, and staff training.
Martha Jackson: Executive Director, Center for Workplace Accessibility and Inclusion – NYC Mayor’s Office of Talent and Workforce Development
Ms. Jackson brings over two decades of experience in workforce development and disability advocacy to CWAI, addressing systems change and sharing best practices and available resources. Her work supports NYC as a model employer through the Partnership for Inclusive Internships and Digital Accessibility training programs in collaboration with Microsoft and the city’s Department of Citywide Administrative Services, and NYCO’s Co-design initiative to be launched in April. Ms. Jackson joined MOPD in 2015 as Assistant Commissioner, establishing NYC: ATWORK, the city’s first workforce program for New Yorkers with disabilities. Her efforts continue to highlight New York City as a model for employment, accessibility and inclusion.
The Consortium for Customized Employment (CCE) was launched in 2012 to establish a community of member agencies committed to using customized employment techniques, and to develop a network of employers who use those strategies to hire job seekers from CCE members.Today, the CCE community includes 14 provider agencies and a network of more than 90 forward-thinking businesses. Together we’ve created over 275 jobs and continue to expand opportunities for New Yorkers with developmental disabilities so they can live productive, fulfilling, and connected lives.
For half a century, the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities (MOPD) has been the liaison between New York City government and the disability community. In partnership with City offices and agencies, MOPD ensures City initiatives, programs, and policies address the needs and interests of people with disabilities. The office engages in advocacy and policymaking at the local, state, national, and international levels to make certain accessibility and full inclusion are key priorities for all public and private stakeholders.
