Upstate is named 2014 Customer of the Year by New York State Industries for the Disabled
SYRACUSE, N.Y.-- Upstate Medical University has received a 2014 Customer of the Year award from New York State Industries for the Disabled Inc (NYSID). The award recognizes Upstate for creating jobs for New Yorkers with disabilities through its partnership with NYSID and NYSID vendors that contract through New York’s Preferred Source Program.
“We are proud of our partnership with NYSID and NYSID agencies, and particularly proud of the Upstate Medical University personnel who are active supporters of the NYSID programs at the university and hospital,” said Paul Seale, chief operating officer of Upstate University Hospital. “We also commend our NYSID Preferred Source workers who provide Upstate and its many constituents with high quality services. This year alone, Upstate has employed 181 individuals with disabilities through NYSID member agencies.”
Under the legislatively mandated New York State Preferred Source Program, NYSID acts as a “virtual storefront” for a statewide network of 165 community rehabilitation agencies and private sector business partners to employ skilled people with disabilities in production facilities and community-based jobs.
Upstate uses services from several Central New York NYSID member agencies and corporate partners. Among those agencies is the Altamont Program-American Maintenance whose team of Preferred Source custodians provide janitorial services at the Upstate Cancer Center, Upstate University Hospital’s operating room suites, decontamination, assembly, sterilizer and sterile storage areas.
Upstate also partners with NYSID through other member agencies and corporate partners, such as Arc of Steuben for Environmental Services’ apparel; Arc of Onondaga and Human Technologies for janitorial services; ACHIEVE/Bates Troy, Inc., Art of Onondaga/Clarus Linen Systems and Lifetime Assistance, Inc/LAICO for laundry services; and Action windows for window washing services.
Seale accepted the award at NYSID’s annual meeting Sept. 8 in Saratoga Springs. He was joined at the ceremony by Susan Campanaro, John Kohl and Jason Rupert of Environmental Services and Richard Litz of Hospital Purchasing.
Caption: Paul Seale, second from left, accepts the NYSID award on behalf of Upstate at an award ceremony Sept. 8 in Saratoga Springs. With Seale, from left, are Kumi Tucker, news anchor WNYT; Ron Romano, NYSID president and CEO; and Robert Schwartz, chair of the NYSID board.
