The Viscardi Center — a network of non-profit organizations providing a lifespan of services that educate, employ and empower people with disabilities — announced the appointment of two new Board Chairs and six new members to its Boards of Directors. The eight appointees come from a variety of backgrounds and have demonstrated themselves as community leaders committed to advancing opportunities for children and adults with disabilities.
- The Viscardi Center’s organization-wide Board of Directors has elected long-time member Russ Cusick as Chair, and welcomes members Anthony Esernio, Jack M. Martins, and Joseph N. Savasta.
- Abilities, Inc. at The Viscardi Center Board, which oversees all employment-related programs and services, has named long-time philanthropist and non-profit research and management professional Candy Cucharo as Chair, and has appointed members Jay Goldberg and William T. Rolack, Sr.
- The Henry Viscardi School at The Viscardi Center Board of Trustees has introduced member John T. Hogan.
About the appointees:
Russ Cusick, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, formerly of Swiss Post Solutions, is based in New York City. Previously Chair of the Abilities, Inc. Board, he has been active on The Viscardi Center’s Boards for nearly a decade. He has also served as Co-Chair of the Mentor Committee for the NYC Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities.
Anthony Esernio of Stony Brook oversees commercial portfolios in Long Island, Westchester, and the Lower Hudson Valley as Market President for Suburban New York at TD Bank. Esernio holds an MBA from Adelphi University, and has over three decades of experience in the banking industry.
Jack M. Martins is an attorney and politician based in Old Westbury. Formerly Mayor of Mineola and New York State Senator representing the 7th Senate District, Martins is a recipient of the Association for a Better Long Island’s 2016 Distinguished Leadership Award and was listed as one of the 50 Most Influential Long Islanders by the Long Island Press in 2011. He received his JD from St. John’s University School of Law.
Joseph N. Savasta from Oyster Bay is the President and CEO of J.N. Savasta Corp., a brokerage and consulting company, and the CEO of Broadreach Medical Resources, Inc., a Pharmacy Benefit Administrator (PBA) that works to optimize prescription drug benefit programs for consumers, both headquartered in Manhattan.
Candida Cucharo of Manhasset has served on the Abilities, Inc. Board for over five years. With a background MSW from Fordham and an MBA from NYU, Cucharo is a non-profit management and research professional who has led initiatives and studies that positively impact the welfare of infants, children, and families.
Jay Goldberg resides in New York City, where he owns and curates the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse, a gallery and memorabilia shop located in Greenwich Village. Goldberg received his JD from New York Law School and spent over 15 years as a sports agent representing top professional athletes.
William T. Rolack, Sr. lives in New York City and is President and CEO at National Association of African Americans in Human Resources. Previously, he served as Senior Director of Workforce strategy, Diversity and Strategic Alliances in Major League Baseball, and as Director of Global Marketplace Diversity and Inclusion at Adecco Group North America. He received his MBA from Long Island University.
John T. Hogan of Huntington is the Director of SkOUT Secure Intelligence. Formerly Vice President of Oxford Solutions, Hogan founded the Viscardi Advisory Council (VAC), a philanthropic network of young professionals, and served as Chair from July 2016 – April 2018. He was named the 2016 Millennial of the Decade by Long Island Business News.
About The Viscardi Center
Founded by Dr. Henry Viscardi, Jr., who served as disability advisor to eight U.S. Presidents and became one of the world’s leading advocates, The Viscardi Center educates, employs and empowers people with disabilities. It provides Kindergarten through High School education (up to age 21), school-to-work youth transition services, vocational training, career counseling and employment placement, assistive technology, and adapted driver education to children, adolescents and adults with a wide variety of disabilities. The Center also assists businesses in diversifying their workforces, as well as developing and advancing disability inclusive cultures in their workplaces.
