KEYNOTE SPEAKER
RANDY PIERCE
President & CEO Future In Sight
Randy Pierce is a captivating motivational speaker who draws upon his life experiences to inspire, entertain, and teach. During two short but significant weeks in 1989, a devastating neurological disease transformed Randy Pierce from a healthy and ordinary young man to a blind man completely uncertain of his future. Randy’s passion for experience encouraged him to use adversity as a positive catalyst for growth and opportunity, resulting in amazing adventures, honors and accomplishments.
SPEAKER
STEVEN AYLWARD
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor NH Department of Education – Vocational Rehabilitation
Steven has worked with the VR agency for 14 years, 10 of which as a counselor providing employment services to participants and businesses. Previously, he worked for Work Opportunities Unlimited as a job placement specialist, providing direct placement of VR participants into paid and competitive jobs.
His experience is rounded out by working with at-risk students and students with disabilities at two different public high schools in Plymouth and Lincoln.
SPEAKER
ISADORA RODRIGUEZ-LEGENDRE
Executive Director NH Council on Developmental Disabilities
Isadora has been the executive director at the NH Council on Developmental Disabilities since 2016. She holds a master’s degree in social work, and for many years worked in New York City providing homeless prevention, re-housing and employment services to very low-income community residents and veterans in crisis.
With a passion for social justice and a background in supporting individuals and families in advocacy and accessing supports and services for community inclusion, Isadora promotes the idea that people with disabilities be at the forefront of conversations related to diversity, equity, inclusion and access.
SPEAKER
BENJAMIN ADAMS
Director of Workforce Development & Youth Transitional Services Easterseals New Hampshire
Benjamin is the director of workforce development and youth transitional services at Easterseals New Hampshire.
Benjamin believes that, when afforded the right opportunity and support, everyone can succeed in employment, and that work can provide much more than financial gain. Born in southern Maine and a graduate of Colby-Sawyer College, Benjamin worked five years in special education in public schools prior to joining Easterseals NH, where he has spent the past 15 years supporting individuals in achieving personal goals and obtaining employment.
PANELIST
SUZANNE FOLEY
Founder, Port City Pretzels
When Suzanne started a pretzel business in New Hampshire in 2015, she had no idea the success of her company and that she’d be selling her product across the country. The entrepreneur, whose business she founded after she lost her executive job, is a community leader in Portsmouth and hires her staff which is primarily comprised of disadvantaged and disabled workers. She produces thousands of cases of pretzels from her production facility located in Portsmouth using a time-honored family recipe that is born out of love. Suzanne has won many awards for Port City Pretzels including the Women Owned Small Business of the Year Award, as well as recognition for her values-based business approach, earning a Disability Inclusive Business label. She started a brand from scratch, infused with everything she believes is important in life.
PANELIST
JEFF SYMES
Co-Founder, Unified + Inclusive Arts
Jeff has worked in the disability support system in New Hampshire for more than 15 years, from direct support to service coordination/case management. Working with participants in that support system and colleagues and community members, he helped found U+I Arts as a community group to work and create in collaboration outside the system. The hope is for a group that acts as a third space for people with and without disabilities to meet and learn from each other and create art and aesthetic experiences that reflect our lives and tell the stories of our communities.
PANELIST
ADAM R. HAMILTON
Co-Founder and COO, Shire’s Naturals
Adam brings a wealth of experience from the banking and finance world into the heart of New England’s vibrant plant-based food scene. At Shire’s Naturals, a health and wellness-focused, dairy-free cheese and food company, Adam’s primary focus is on steering the sales and marketing efforts. His knack for crafting impactful strategies and nurturing pivotal retail partnerships has been instrumental in scaling the company’s reach and influence. Alongside his husband and founder, Joshua D. Velasquez, Adam transitioned from his roots in Charlestown, Rhode Island, where lessons learned in his family’s garden and his grandfather’s restaurant fueled his passion for health-conscious living. Shire’s Naturals was recently recognized by New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility for hiring workers who have autism.
PANELIST
JONATHAN DASILVA
Senior Manager, Workforce Initiatives New England CVS Health
Jonathan is committed to helping people find meaningful careers through innovative partnerships and specialized training programs. He has led efforts to develop award-winning pharmacy technician training and management training programs in colleges, high schools and community agencies throughout New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts. A strong advocate of diversity and inclusion, he currently serves on a number of local and national advisory councils focused on creating sustainable pipelines of employment for individuals who are unemployed/underemployed, persons with disabilities and youth.
Thursday, September 19 Manchester Country Club
REGISTER AT NHBR.COM/DEI
