Mass. Rehabilitation Commission Honors Employees for Their Commitment to Serving People with Disabilities

Awards given to 42 staff members from across Massachusetts

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) today honored staff members from across the Commonwealth for their commitment to promoting dignity for people with disabilities through employment and independent living. At an event today at the Hoagland-Pincus Conference Center in Shrewsbury, the Commission recognized the excellent services and supports state employees provide by presenting the 2008 Governor's Commonwealth Citation Awards for Outstanding Performance and the MRC Commissioner's Awards.

“Each and every day, employees of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission devote themselves to advancing the empowerment, independence and equality of individuals with disabilities in Massachusetts,” said Commissioner Charles Carr. “We’re proud to present these awards in honor of their outstanding commitment to the people we serve.”

Award Recipients (Including Their Hometowns)

Commonwealth Citation for Outstanding Performance AwardRecipients

Leslie Crawford (Taunton), Caseload Secretary/Receptionist, Taunton Area Office
Ruth Ferrari (Mashpee), Head Clerk, Cape and Islands Area Office
Greenfield Career Decision Making Group, Greenfield Area Office:
- Wendy Andino (Greenfield), Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
- Alan Green (Northampton), Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
- Kara Hutchison (Greenfield), Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
- Desiree Hopkins (Shutesbury), Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
Job Placement Specialist Team, Statewide:
- William Allen (Fitchburg), Fitchburg Area Office, Team Coordinator
- Gregory Ames (Arlington), Somerville and Malden Area Offices
- Cindy Bucier (Pittsfield), Pittsfield and North Adams Area Offices
- Elaine Davey (Groveland), Lowell Area Office
- Marilyn Dean (Melrose), Salem Area Office
- Judi Flemister (Northfield), Greenfield Area Office
- Gary Giacomoni (Wilbraham), Holyoke Area Office
- Patricia Gosselin (Hopkinton), Milford Area Office
- Teresa Hodur (Granville), Springfield Area Office
- Karen Beth Mael (Natick), Brookline and Natick Area Offices
- George Mitchell (Randolph), Roxbury Area Office
- Joseph Reale (Georgetown), Statewide Employment Services
- Paula Santagati (Derry, New Hampshire), Lawrence Area Office
- Ellen Spencer (West Brookfield), Worcester Area Office
- Kim Sullivan (Bridgewater), Brockton Area Office
Victor Marque (Monson), Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf, Springfield Area Office
William Noone (Worcester), Director of Research and Development, Administrative Office

Commissioner's Award Recipients

Gregory Ames (Arlington), Job Placement Specialist, Somerville and Malden Area Offices
James Bickford (Pittsfield), Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Pittsfield and North Adams Area Offices
Gregory Devine (Longmeadow), Unit Supervisor, Springfield Area Office
William Downing (Brookline), Social Security Reimbursement Project Coordinator, Administrative Office
Alan Green (Northampton), Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Greenfield Area Office
HIV Speciality Examiners, Disability Determination Services (DDS), Boston and Worcester:
- Judy Conroy (Arlington), Alternate Supervisor, DDS, Boston Area Office
- Monika Acevedo (East Boston), Examiner, DDS, Boston Area Office
- Sudipta Dutt (Cambridge), Examiner, DDS, Boston Area Office
- Virginia Ehas (Watertown), Examiner, DDS, Boston Area Office
- Richard Gillis (Revere), Examiner, DDS, Boston Area Office
- Kanha Net (Lynn), Examiner, DDS, Boston Area Office
- William Adams (Worcester), Examiner, DDS, Worcester Area Office
- Carrie Doherty (Ludlow), Examiner, DDS, Worcester Area Office
- Elizabeth Haight (Southbridge), Examiner, DDS, Worcester Area Office
- Thomas Leary (Uxbridge), Examiner, DDS, Worcester Area Office
- Donna Starr (Spencer), Examiner, DDS, Worcester Area Office
- Diane Turrell (North Brookfield), Examiner, DDS, Worcester Area Office
Daniel Obrien (Randolph), Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Brookline Area Office
William Rice (Holyoke), Unit Supervisor, Greenfield Area Office
Robert Winske (Medford), Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, Boston Area Office

About the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC)

The Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission assists individuals with disabilities to live and work independently. The MRC is responsible for Vocational Rehabilitation Services, Community Services, and eligibility determination for the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) federal benefits programs for Massachusetts citizens with disabilities. The MRC serves people with all types of disabilities except those who are blind, who are served through the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind. To learn more about MRC, please visit: www.mass.gov/mrc.

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