VOR and DSI Supporters Announce the 2014 Jordy Engels Award Recipients

VOR joins with our Florida affiliate, DSI Supporters, Inc., Ed and Virginia
Carraway, VOR Florida State Coordinators; and David and Leni Engels, long-time VOR members, in proudly announcing the recipients of the annual 2014 Jordy Engels Award:

Mike Fasano
Greg Giordano
John Stokesberry

Background information on these deserving recipients is below. Warm congratulations to Mr. Fasano, Mr. Giordano, and Mr. Stokesberry, and sincere gratitude for their many contributions to the field of intellectual disabilities and advocacy.

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DSI [Developmental Services Institutions] Supporters, Inc., dsisupporters.org, is an allvolunteer family and guardian non-profit organization whose mission is to advocate for Floridians in both local and statewide agencies to support residential choices, with emphasis that families are the primary decision-makers who advocate for the safe, desirable support systems unique to each individual’s quality of life issues and needs (President: Viola Foster; Government Affairs & Legislative Liaison: Edward Carraway; and Communications Advisor: David Engels).

VOR, vor.net, is a national nonprofit organization advocating for high quality care and human rights for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (President: Ann Knighton; and State Coordinators: Edward and Virginia Carraway)

                       2014 Jordy Engels Award Recipients Biographies

Mike Fasano is currently Tax Collector of Pasco County, appointed by Governor Rick Scott on August 7, 2013. Previously he was a member of the Florida House, representing the 36th District since 2012, a member of the Florida Senate from 2002 through 2012, serving as President Pro Tempore, and a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1994 through 2002, serving at different times as Majority Leader and Whip. During his time as Member of the Florida legislature, Mr. Fasano showed great leadership and compassion for
issues impacting Floridians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He was particularly sensitive to the needs of those individuals leaving specialized care settings to smaller settings, including the introduction of legislation to better ensure the safety and rights of those who faced forced closures.

Greg Giordano, who now serves as Mr. Fasano’s customer relations director, previously served as his chief legislative assistant for all of Mr. Fasano’s time with the Florida Legislature. During this tenure, Greg oversaw the research, writing and presentation of literally hundreds of pieces of legislation over those years, including legislation of interest to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Additionally, Greg oversaw the supported and transitional employment programs for the Pasco Chapter of the Association for Retarded Citizens (now known as The Center for Independence). He is married and has three children.

John Stokesberry has had a wonderful career of serving people, including people with disabilities, including intellectual disabilities, and the elderly. Over his 40 year career he served as the Director of the Alliance for Aging for the Federal Area Agency on Aging for Miami-Dade & Monroe Counties, State Director of the Office of Aging & Adult Services, Interim Superintendent of the Sunland Training Center, Adjunct Professor, Institute for the Study of Aging, Nova University, Ft. Lauderdale, and Project Director, Center on Aging and Developmental Disabilities, University of Miami School of Medicine, Director of Special Projects, Dade County Emergency Management, among many other posts. Mr. Stokesberry’s professional associations and appointments include the American Society on Aging; the National Council on Aging; the American Society for Public Administration; the Editorial Board of The Journal of Applied Gerontology; the Institute of Government Policy Council of the Florida Board of Regents; and the Board of Directors and Trustees of the Greater Miami Chapter of the American Red Cross. He was the U.S. Coordinator,
International Committee on Elder Abuse, Toronto, Canada, and an Official Observer at the 1995 White House Conference on Aging. Mr. Stokesberry was also a special projects officer in the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol, and was the recipient of the 2005 C. Colburn Hardy Older Advocate Award http://americanhosting.us/CCHOAA/john-stokesberry.htm.
Mr. Stokesberry earned his B.S. in Secondary Education and a M.Ed. from The University of Florida in 1959. He is married and has two children and five grandchildren.