CDO Staff and Contact

Chief Disability Officer

Kim (she/her) has served as New York State’s first-ever Chief Disability Officer (CDO) since being appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul in February of 2022. Kim has been charged with advising the Governor and executive staff on policy and budgetary issues as they pertain to disability issues, serving as the state's Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator and chairing New York's Most Integrated Services Coordinating Council (MISCC). Kim also oversees the team responsible for the execution of both Executive Order 31, focused on New York being a model employer for people with disabilities, and Executive Order 40, which commits New York to being an Employment First state.

As CDO, Kim and her team spend a significant amount of their time meeting with advocates, and people with disabilities and their families, focusing on priority topics such as homecare, employment, housing, accessibility, emergency preparedness, health equity, and transportation and collaborating with state agencies to reduce the silos that exist within the many existing service delivery systems in New York State. Through this work, Kim has championed the addition of Accessibility to the extensive Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work being done within state agencies and offices — ensuring that the rights and experiences of people with disabilities are included in these efforts.

Kim lives with a C5-C6 cervical incomplete spinal cord injury resulting from an accident during her junior year in high school and has never let her disability have a negative impact on her attitude or achievements.

Prior to joining the Executive Chamber, Kim served in various disability-focused roles with the New York Assembly spanning 28 years.

Senior Executive Assistant

Kym (she/her) joined our team in April of 2022. She brings to our team over 20 years of secretarial and office management skills. Kym’s last career was with the Town of Colonie’s Building and Fire Services Department as the Zoning Board of Appeals Secretary. Kym’s role within the CDO office is a vital one. The CDO team relies on her for the scheduling and organization of countless meetings with agencies, legislative officials, organizations, stakeholders, and constituents, assuring a fully accessible platform for all to interact and contribute. Kym has assisted in the rejuvenation of the MISCC meetings, taken the lead on the first three annual DREAM symposiums and two recent ADA trainings, and so much more. Our accomplishments, our goals, our mission is something that Kym cherishes, and it shows in her smile. She is the first face you see when entering our office and she could not be prouder to be working with the CDO team.

Associate Director

Ben (he/him) is a Deaf Nepali-American with brown hair, brown eyes, and hearing aids. As an Associate Director, Ben works on policy initiatives, statewide accessibility in all forms, connecting to our communities and advocates, researching best practices and innovative changes across the country and world, and boosting cross-collaboration between state agencies.

Before joining the Chief Disability Office, Ben was a staff attorney for Disability Rights New York, where he worked alongside New Yorkers with disabilities on a wide range of issues. Ben has litigated in federal court for problems with physical access to a city, assisted people in achieving access to their workplaces, homes, and communities, helped a client change hospital intake procedures to better serve people with disabilities, and led trainings on advocacy best practices.

Prior to that role, he worked at South Col Engineering, where he helped develop a start-up minority owned civil engineering business into a successful enterprise. Ben earned his Juris Doctor from Albany Law School and a Bachelor of Arts from the State University at Albany.

Associate Director

Holly (she/her), a lifelong upstate New Yorker, comes to the Chief Disability Office (CDO) after spending 27 years in the nonprofit human services sector. Prior to the CDO, Holly was employed by Schenectady-based Northeast Parent & Child Society (an affiliate of Northern Rivers Family of Services) in various direct support, clinical and leadership positions within the agency’s home and community-based services division, and then, with the Resource Center for Independent Living (RCIL) headquartered in Utica, where she served in the roles of Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of Communication and Impact.

Holly is proud to live her passion of engaging in human rights and disability rights efforts and initiatives, both personally and professionally, and believes through engaging in individual and systemic advocacy, providing education, increasing awareness, challenging stigmas and demonstrating kindness, that an integrated, accessible, equitable and inclusive society for all is possible.

As a neurodivergent professional living with multiple mental health disabilities, Holly is honored to serve within the New York State Chief Disability Office and Executive Chamber. A Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW), she is dedicated to amplifying the voices of the disability community across New York. Holly holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Union College and earned her master's in social work from SUNY Albany.

Executive Director, New York State Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Office

Chris was appointed on January 2, 2024 by Governor Kathleen Hochul to the role of Executive Director of the New York State Interagency Coordinating Council on Services to Persons who are Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing (IAC). The office has since been renamed to the New York State Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Office (The Office). The IAC is under the Office. Prior to working at the Office, Chris was the Associate Executive Director at Helen Keller National Center. Prior to that role, Chris was the Helen Keller National Center regional representative for New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and United States Virgin Islands. Prior to his twelve-year career at HKNC, he worked at Wisconsin School for the Deaf for thirteen years as a high school teacher.

Chris has been active in both Deaf and DeafBlind communities at local, state, national and international levels for about three decades. Currently, he is an executive board member of the World Federation of the DeafBlind and a board member of DeafBlind Citizens in Action. In the past, he served as officers or board members of organizations such as Southern Lakes Association of the Deaf, Wisconsin School for the Deaf Alumni Association, Wisconsin School for the Deaf Foundation, Wisconsin Association of the Deaf, Wisconsin DeafBlind Technical Assistance Program, American Association of the DeafBlind and World Federation of the DeafBlind. He has been involved at committee levels with several organizations such as National Association of the Deaf and DeafBlind International among others.

One of his proudest achievements was his leading role as the Vice President of the Wisconsin Association of the Deaf in passing the Wisconsin Sign Language Interpreter Licensure bill in 2010. This bill established the Sign Language Interpreter Council (of which he served on for two years prior to his move to New York). It also established a mechanism for licensing all sign language interpreters working for compensation in the state of Wisconsin.

Chris is a believer in servant leadership. He leads to serve the New York State Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing communities.

Chris identifies as a DeafBlind person now. Growing up, he identified as a Deaf person. After a diagnosis of Usher Syndrome at age 18, he underwent a 15-20 year journey transitioning his identify from a Deaf person to a DeafBlind person.

ASL Interpreter, NIC

Rachel (she/her) serves as the Staff Interpreter to the Executive Director of the NYS Deaf, DeafBlind and Hard of Hearing Office, Christopher Woodfill, and as the administrative assistant. Rachel is an advocate for communication access.

Rachel is Nationally Certified and has been a freelance interpreter since 2001, most recently working with Deaf professionals and in other environments such as Higher Education, Medical and Government. Rachel has been trained as a Legal Interpreter working in the NYS Courts and working with the DeafBlind community. Rachel has been an Interpreter in New York, Massachusetts and Vermont.

She earned her Bachelor of Arts in public communications from the University at Albany. A Capital District native, she lives in Sand Lake with her husband, Scott and her two children, Jack and Josie.

Employment First State Agency Liaison

With over 35 years of experience working with and for individuals with disabilities, MaryBeth Schneider (she/her) serves on the NYS Chief Disability Officer's team as the Employment First State Agency Liaison. Her focus is on supporting NYS agencies as they implement strategies aligned with Executive Order 31, State as a Model Employer (SAME) that commits NYS to building a workforce that includes people with disabilities.

While she has held several job titles, she gets the most satisfaction from helping someone find a job. She firmly believes that meaningful employment — as defined by the person — is a key contributor to overall health and happiness. She is committed to using her role to promote pathways for more New Yorkers with disabilities to achieve their career goals.

MaryBeth has a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Texas State University and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Sage Graduate School. She lives in the Albany, New York area with her husband Brian, their children Jack and Anni, dog, Duncan and cat, Finnegan. When not at work or with family, you can usually find MaryBeth in the kitchen, her happy place!

MaryBeth often shares her favorite Irish quote “It’s in the shelter of each other that the people live” because to her, it speaks to the importance of building community where all are accepted, supported and have opportunities to contribute talents.

Employment First Director

Andy is NY’s inaugural Employment First Director, leading efforts to implement Executive Order 40, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in 2024, which established NY as an E1st state. Employment First is built upon the principle that employment should be the first and preferred option for people being served by our disability public health system, and that Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) be not just a primary goal, but an expectation, even for those with the most significant disabilities. Employment First is a civil rights, economic, public health and workforce issue that requires deep public policy, cultural, social and economic progress to become a reality.

With nearly 25 years of experience in his field, Andy spent the formative years of his career providing and overseeing direct employment services for New Yorkers facing multiple barriers, including homelessness, poverty, disability and segregation. Following his time working in the community, Andy was named the Director of the New York Employment Services System (NYESS) at the NYS Office of Mental Health, where he led collaborations with state agency partners, people with disabilities and their families, and a network of over 200 service providers, built upon the core foundations of rehabilitation and recovery, and employment as a social determinant of health.

As Employment First Director Andy will work with essential state agencies, service providers, policy makers and the private sector to improve employment, economic and quality of life outcomes for New Yorkers with disabilities and their families.

Andy holds a master’s in public administration from the University of Albany’s Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, is a lifelong Upstate New Yorker, a father of two, one of whom has a disability, and, when not working, is most likely to be found in the wilderness with a fly rod in his hand.

Employment First Chief Data Strategist

Elizabeth (she/her) serves as the Employment First Chief Data Strategist for the New York State Office of the Chief Disability Officer, where she leads data strategy, analytics, and cross-agency reporting efforts that support accessibility, equity, and informed decision-making for New Yorkers with disabilities. With over 14 years of experience in data management, business intelligence, and government operations, she specializes in transforming complex information into tools and insights that drive policy and improve service delivery.

Before joining the CDO, Elizabeth held data leadership roles at NYSTEC, GP Fund Solutions, and the New York State Division of the Budget, where her work supported executive-level decision-making on pandemic response, federal funding, program oversight, and statewide operations.

Elizabeth is neurodivergent and credits this part of her identity with shaping her strengths in strategy, pattern recognition, and creative problem-solving. She is deeply committed to advancing inclusive, data-informed systems that reflect the diversity and experiences of New Yorkers with disabilities.

She holds a B.S. in Economics and Mathematics from Syracuse University and doctoral coursework in Business Management and Real Estate at the University of Georgia.

Employment First Business Liaison

Whitney Malone serves as New York’s inaugural Employment First Business Liaison in the Office of the Chief Disability Officer. Employment First is built upon the principle that employment should be the first and preferred option for people being served by our disability public health system, and that Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE) be not just a primary goal, but an expectation, even for those with the most significant disabilities.

Whitney works closely with employers in the private sector, government agencies, and community organizations to expand inclusive hiring practices, remove barriers to employment, and strengthen New York State’s commitment to disability workforce inclusion.

Previously, Whitney was a dedicated operations and stakeholder engagement professional in the private sector with more than a decade of experience building partnerships, driving community-focused initiatives, and advancing equitable access to services. Whitney brings a strong background in strategic planning, outreach, and program development from her prior leadership roles in small business operations, nonprofit healthcare and corporate communications.

Whitney holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Boston University. Having grown up in the Capital District, she now lives in Albany with her husband and two daughters.

Emily Burdikoff

Emily Burdikoff (she/her) joins our Albany office as the summer 2026 Communications Intern for the Office of the Chief Disability Officer. Emily is approaching one year working at the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce as the Administrative Professional, where she enjoys attending the various events/programs the Chamber holds, professional development outings with the team, and actively being involved with the Chamber's members. Emily is currently a Senior Marketing Communications Major at Siena University and will be finishing up her Bachelor's degree in the fall. Outside school and work, Emily has two cats, is a big classic hits music nerd, and loves jamming/learning to play popular songs on her ukulele, bringing her ukulele everywhere she goes.

See previous interns and fellows here.