6:00 pm – 9:00 pm

2025 Mission & Impact Banquet

Ocean Ballroom

Our annual Mission and Impact Banquet highlights the heart of our work—providing leadership and support that drives meaningful progress for individuals with disabilities across New Jersey. Through this mission, our members continue to expand employment opportunities, launch innovative services, and create new pathways to independence and fulfillment.

7:00 am – 4:00 pm

Registration is Open

Traymore Lobby – 8th Floor

All meeting rooms are on the main conference level of the hotel and ADA accessible. 

7:00 am – 8:45 am

Networking Breakfast

Traymore Ballroom 

A chance to network and enjoy provided breakfast before opening remarks and our keynote speaker.

Feel free to also take this time to visit the exhibitors in the Traymore Lobby!

8:30 am – 8:45 am

Opening Remarks

Traymore Ballroom 

Stay after breakfast to hear our conference opening remarks with ACCSES NJ CEO Mohsen Badran and Executive Committee Chair Alvin Cox.

Mohsen Badran – President & CEO – ACCSES NJ

Alvin Cox – ACCSES NJ Executive Board Chairperson

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Morning Session A

8:45 am – 10:15 am

Overview of New Laws and Local Finance Notices in Local Public Contracts Law

Berkshire Room 

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenters:
Nicola Reid, MPA, QPA, RPPO, PACO, Township of Stafford

Gordon Ball, Executive Director South Jersey NIGP; Retired from NJ Division of Local Government Services

8:45 am – 10:15 am

OPRA Today

Imperial Room

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenter:
Frank F. Caruso, Executive Director of the NJ Government Records Council (GRC)

8:45 am – 10:15 am

Navigating the Federal Legislative Landscape

Tivoli Room 

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenters:
Kate McSweeney, President & CEO, ACCSES

8:45 am – 10:15 am

Who, What, When, Where and Why of Social Security and Medicaid

Longwood Room 

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenters:
Sharon Roth-Lichtenfeld, CPWIC, Waters and Sims

10:15 am – 10:30 am

Break to Visit the Exhibitors

Traymore Lobby

–

Morning Session B

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

New Jersey State Agencies Offering Compliant Purchasing Alternatives: DeptCor, DSS and DPP

Berkshire Room 

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenter:
Brian Gallagher, Promotional Sales Specialist, DeptCor

Joseph Signoretta, Supervisor, DSS

Allan Sydlo, Cooperative Outreach Lead, DPP

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Best Practices for Using Artemis Efficiently

Imperial Room 

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenters:
Mark Szemple, Project Manager, Sunrise Systems, Inc.

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

NJ Legislative and Advocacy Update

Tivoli Room

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenter:
Richard Wright, MBI Gluck Associates

Jacob Caplan, Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs, ACCSES NJ

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

CARF: Preparing for a Successful Accreditation

Longwood Room

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenters:
Leshan Mitchell, Employment and Community Services (ECS) Subject Matter Area (SMA) Lead and Resource Specialist (RS), C.A.R.F. International

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm

STAR Awards Luncheon

Traymore Ballroom 

These awards recognize the people and partners who further our mission to employ and enrich the lives of New Jersey citizens with disabilities.

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Keynote Plenary Session

Traymore Ballroom

1 CEU Credits

3:00 pm – 3:30 pm

Break to Visit the Exhibitors and Ice Cream Break!

Traymore Lobby

–

Afternoon Session

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Green Cleaning

Imperial Room

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenters:
TBD

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Extended Employment, Successful Outreach on 14c and Strategies for the Future

Tivoli Room 

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenters:
Kit Brewer, Board Vice-President, Coalition for the Preservation of Employment Choice, Inc. Executive Director, ProjectCU, Inc., St.  Louis, Missouri; Missouri Assoc. of Sheltered Workshop Managers (MASWM), Legislative Chair

Craig Lean, Partner at K&L Gates, Counsel for the Coalition for the Preservation of Employment Choice

Jacob Caplan, Director of Advocacy and Government Affairs, ACCSES NJ

3:30 pm – 5:00 pm

AI Is Here To Stay: What Government and Providers Must Know Now

Longwood Room

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenters:
Doug Golub, Principal Consultant, Data Potato, LLC

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Networking Event – Details to Come!

7:00 am – 3:00 pm

Registration is Open

Traymore Lobby

7:30 am – 8:45 am

Networking Breakfast

Traymore Ballroom

7:30 am – 8:45 am

Break to Visit the Exhibitors

Traymore Lobby

–

Morning Session A

8:45 am – 10:15 am

Working with NJ Businesses NJBIA NJMEP

Berkshire Room

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenters:
TBD

8:45 am – 10:15 am

Mid-Level Management Program

Imperial Room

8:45 am – 10:15 am

Transportation Panel

Tivoli Room

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenters:
TBD

8:45 am – 10:15 am

Building Futures: The Extended Employment Transitional Employment Plan

Longwood Room

Presenters:
Deborah Vaughn, CRP Chief, DVRS

Kathleen Kindya, Program Planning and Development Specialist, DVRS

Susan Polansky, Program Planning and Development Specialist, DVRS

Tiffany Hood, Program Planning and Development Specialist, DVRS

Adekoya Brown, Program Planning and Development Specialist, DVRS

Pauline Ezen, Program Planning and Development Specialist, DVRS

Rachael Wilson, Program Planning and Development Specialist, DVRS

10:15 am – 10:30 am

Break to Visit the Exhibitors

Traymore Lobby

–

Morning Session B

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

AI for Marketing

Berkshire Room

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenters:
TBD

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Business Development & Compliance

Tivoli Room

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenters:
TBD

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Mid-Level Management Program

Imperial Room

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Employment Supports for Students & Youth with Disabilities

Longwood Room

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenters:
Toni Scott, Program Planning and Development Specialist- Youth Services, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

12:00 pm – 1:45 pm

Lunch and EDP Graduation

Exhibitor Giveaways

Traymore Ballroom

1:45 pm – 2:45 pm

Plenary Session – Financial Planning for CRPs

Traymore Ballroom

1 CEU Credits

Presenters:
TBD

2:45 pm – 3:00 pm

Break

Traymore Ballroom 

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Afternoon Session

3:00 pm – 5:00 pm

ACCSES NJ General Membership Meeting

Traymore Ballroom

Meeting for ACCSES NJ member agencies only.

5:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Conference Closes

Thank you for your support and attendance and we look forward to seeing you again at STAR 2026!