Dennis Martinez, NYSED: ACCES-VR

1. Briefly describe your organization and position:
ACCES-VR is one of the two vocational rehabilitation agencies in New York State. In case you want to know, the other is the NYS Commission for the Blind. ACCES-VR is part of the State Education Department. Each year we assist over 12,000 New Yorkers with disabilities to become employed through vocational counseling, training, and education. We also assist persons with disabilities to start their own businesses and assist workers who have developed a disability to retain their current employment. The Buffalo District Office serves 8 counties, over 4000 active cases and about 1200 successful job placements per year. I have been with ACCES-VR since 1990. I started as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor, VRC for short. I did that for a while but then got involved in the job placement end of the VR process and currently coordinate business relations for the Western Region of NYS.

2. What do you enjoy most about HR?
I like people. I like to see people succeed in life and especially in employment. 

3. How long have you been involved with the BNHRA?
I started as a volunteer for the diversity committee about seven or eight years ago, and then was asked to join the BOD when the previous Diversity Director completed her term of office.

4. What has been the biggest influence on your career path?
I’m an incurable optimist, I still believe that I can make a difference.  

5. Advice for those entering the HR industry:
Never lose sight of your values or your sense of humor.  A quote attributed to Eleanor Roosevelt: “ It is far better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness.”

6. In your spare time, what do you like to do for fun?
Eclectic Gardening for the Buffalo Garden Walk and WNY Open Gardens. Pre-pandemic and hopefully postpandemic entertaining where guests are required to wear silly hats, cooking (I cook with wine and sometimes even add it to the food), reading mystery novels, and watching old movies on TCM.