5:30 pm – 9:00 pm

2025 Mission & Impact Banquet

Legacy Lounge

Cocktail Hour 5:30 – 6:30

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 – 6th Floor

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

7:00 am – 8:15 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!

8:15 am – 8:35 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/Tivoli Room 

1.5 CEUs

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

Longwood/Imperial Room

1.5 CEUs

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

8:45 am – 10:15 am

Navigating the Federal Legislative Landscape

Fairmont/Monticello Room 

1.5 CRCC Credits

Presenters:
Kate McSweeney, President & CEO, ACCSES

8:45 am – 10:15 am

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

Lincoln/Central Room 

1.5 CRCC Credits

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

10:15 am – 10:30 am

Break to Visit the Exhibitors

Traymore Lobby

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Morning Session B

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

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

Berkshire/Tivoli Room 

1.5 CEUs

Presenter:
Justin Bodnar, NJSTART Agency-Internal Administrator, NJ DPP

Brian Gallagher, Promotional Sales Specialist, DeptCor

Joseph Signoretta, Supervisor, DSS

Allan Sydlo, Cooperative Outreach Lead, NJ DPP

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Best Practices for Using Artemis Efficiently

Longwood/Imperial Room 

1.5 CEUs

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

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

NJ Legislative and Advocacy Update

Fairmont/Monticello Room

1.5 CRCC Credits

Presenter:
Richard Wright, MBI Gluck Associates

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

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

CARF Updates & Survey Prep Tips

Lincoln/Central Room

1.5 CRCC 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 – 1:45 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.

1:45 pm – 2:45 pm

Plenary Session

Keynote Speaker
Igniting Impact: Your Work Changes Lives

Traymore Ballroom

1 CRCC Credit

Presenter: Dr. Hassan M. Abdullhaqq, President & CEO, HMA Consulting and Motivations

2:45 pm – 3:05 pm

Break to Visit the Exhibitors and Ice Cream Break!

Traymore Lobby

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Afternoon Session

3:10 pm – 4:40 pm

Green Cleaning for Government Agencies in NJ

Longwood/Imperial Room

1.5 CEUs

Presenters:
Mike Seebeck, Associate, Facilities Solution Network

3:10 pm – 4:40 pm

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

Fairmont/Monticello Room 

1.5 CRCC 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 Leen, 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

3:10 pm – 4:40 pm

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

Longwood Room

1.5 CEUs or 1.5 CRCC Credits

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

5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Networking Event at The Yard

Bally’s Ground Floor

A private bar and event space right on the Boardwalk—for our STAR Conference networking event.

Bring your badge, bring a colleague, and bring the energy—see you at The Yard!

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

Strategic Planning: Building Excellence in the Company of You©️

Imperial/Longwood Room

1.5 CRCC Credits

Presenters:
Thomas Larkin, Consultant, NJMEP

8:45 am – 10:15 am

Mid-Level Management Program

Traymore Ballroom

8:45 am – 10:15 am

Issues & Solutions for Local Transportation of People with Disabilities

Berkshire/Tivoli Room

1.5 CRCC Credits

Presenters:
Shannon Brown, Director of Workforce Development, Bestwork Industries for the Blind, Inc.

Matt Jugan, Director of Operations for Government Contracts, OTC Services

Jose Lopez, Owner, Dreamers Transportation

Angelo Montoya, WREE Assistant Supervisor, Jespy House

Namecca Parker, ACCESS Link, NJ Transit

Jauhara Pressey, Project Manager, NJ Transit

8:45 am – 10:15 am

Building Futures: The Extended Employment Transitional Employment Plan

Lincoln/Central Room

1.5 CRCC Credits

Moderator/Presenter:
Deborah Vaughn, CRP Chief, DVRS

Presenters:
Adekoya Brown, Program Planning and Development Specialist of Youth Services, DVRS

Kathleen Kindya, Program Planning and Development Specialist, DVRS

Susan Polansky, Program Planning and Development Specialist of Youth Services, DVRS

Tiffany Hood, Program Planning and Development Specialist, DVRS

Adekoya Brown, Program Planning and Development Specialist, DVRS

Pauline Ezen, Program Planning and Development Specialist of Youth Services, DVRS

Rachael Wilson, Program Planning and Development Specialist of Youth Services, DVRS

10:15 am – 10:30 am

Break to Visit the Exhibitors

Traymore Lobby

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Morning Session B

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

AI in Action: Tech Tools That Make Your Nonprofit (and You) Shine

Berkshire/Tivoli Room

1.5 CRCC Credits

Presenters:
Marcos Goodman, Director of Membership, Oregon Resource Association

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Top 5 Mistakes Organizations Make Managing Projects

Imperial/Longwood Room

1.5 CEU Credits

Presenter: Eric Gillman

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

Mid-Level Management Program

Traymore Ballroom

10:30 am – 12:00 pm

DVRS Pre-Employment Transition Services

Lincoln/Central Room

1.5 CRCC Credits

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

12:00 pm – 1:45 pm

STAR Luncheon, Awards, and EDP Graduation

Exhibitor Giveaways

Traymore Ballroom

1:45 pm – 2:45 pm

Plenary Session
Nonprofit Fiscal Management in a Fast-Changing World: Trends and Opportunities

Traymore Ballroom

1 CRCC Credits

Presenters:
Patrick Decker, Investment Officer, Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors

Walter J. Dillingham, Jr., Director of Endowments, Wilmington Trust Investment Advisors

Connie Manola, Senior Branch Manager, M&T Bank

Tom Masnaghetti, COO & Executive Vice President, Hudson Community Enterprises

Dan Noble, CFO & COO, ACCSES NJ

Laura Williams, Executive Director, The Arc, Ocean County Chapter

Tamara Wojcik-Hitchcoff, Relationship Manager Business Banking, M&T Bank

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 (A)

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!