New York State Preferred Source Program for People Who Are Blind Names New Executive Director

ALBANY, N.Y., April 25, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- New York State Preferred Source Program (NYSPSP) for People Who Are Blind, an initiative that creates and sustains employment for New Yorkers who are blind, named Carrie Laney as the program's new executive director. Laney begins her new role this week.

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A native New Yorker, Laney has held several leadership positions within the New York state government, including deputy secretary to the governor for transportation, Office of the Governor, and director, Office of Transportation Planning and Environmental Services, New York State Thruway Authority. Most recently, she served as vice president of external affairs for The New York Botanical Garden, where she was responsible for managing the government marketing program, and generating funding from city and state sources.

"Carrie brings a valuable blend of state government, commercial and nonprofit management experience to the NYSPSP team," said Kevin Lynch, president and CEO of National Industries for the Blind (NIB). NIB, the nation's largest employment resource for people who are blind, administers the NYSPSP for People Who Are Blind under the authority designated by the New York State Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped (CBVH).

NYSPSP for People Who Are Blind is a state-mandated initiative to create and sustain employment opportunities for New Yorkers who are blind or visually impaired. State and local agencies are required to purchase certain products and services produced by nine affiliated nonprofit agencies in New York that employ people who are blind or visually impaired. The program offers more than 1,500 products and services to state and local government customers, and employs more than 400 New Yorkers who are blind or visually impaired.

As executive director, Laney will provide leadership, management and direction to the NYSPSP for People Who Are Blind, and will work closely with NYSPSP affiliated agencies, state and municipal government customers, commercial partners and other key stakeholders to create and sustain employment opportunities for New Yorkers who are blind.

For more information on the NYSPSP for People Who Are Blind, or to browse the catalog of products and services, visit www.NYSPSP.org.

About National Industries for the Blind
For 75 years, National Industries for the Blind (NIB) has been focused on enhancing the opportunities for economic and personal independence of people who are blind, primarily through creating, sustaining and improving employment. NIB and its network of 91 associated nonprofit agencies nationwide serve as the largest employer for people who are blind by the sale of SKILCRAFT^® and other products and services through the AbilityOne^® Program, established by the Javits-Wagner-O'Day Act. For more information about NIB, visit www.NIB.org.

About NYSPSP for People Who Are Blind
Effective December 1, 2012, NIB assumed the day-to-day management of the NYSPSP for nine affiliated nonprofit agencies for the blind in New York state. These agencies produce more than 1,500 products and services sold primarily to New York state and local government agencies. A total of 440 New Yorkers who are blind or visually impaired are employed in the program.

SOURCE National Industries for the Blind