Although I was previously unfamiliar with Independent Living, Inc., the first time I spoke to someone involved in the organization, I immediately knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.  As I was taken on a tour of the facility and introduced to the staff, everyone’s passion for the organization inspired me to become involved.

Independent Living goes above and beyond in all areas of support through methods such as community outreach and education, advocacy, living skills, and mental health services.  Clients are given the necessary support to be in direct control of their services.  My background as a CPA allowed me to become Treasurer of the Board and now Chair. I am grateful I am allowed to be involved in such an impactful organization.

I am looking forward to seeing the amazing things Independent Living will continue to do for our community in the future.

Audrey Lark has been practicing law in New York State since 1999 and focuses on defending physician, nurse, hospital, and nursing home liability claims.

Audrey’s academic journey is marked by distinction. She earned her undergraduate degree from Simmons College with honors and her law degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.  During her time in law school, she not only participated in moot court competitions but also coached them.  Post-graduation, Audrey served as an Assistant District Attorney at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office for seven years, where she prepared and tried Misdemeanor and Felony crimes. She then transitioned to the role of a medical malpractice defense attorney for prominent firms in Manhattan and Westchester.

Audrey is a member of the New York State Bar Association and is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Audrey and her family reside in Orange County, where they actively foster unwanted dogs from a local no-kill shelter.

Andy is a person who has lived his life for the past 38 years with a permanent disability due to a spinal cord injury. Despite this, Andy owns his own financial planning business and currently sits on and was past president of the Board of Directors of Independent Living, Inc., headquartered out of Newburgh, NY. Andy is very active in the community. He thoroughly enjoys the outdoors and his hobby of amateur radio and loves to help advocate for folks who want to live independently in the community.

Joe Ranni has been involved in disability and civil rights advocacy since before his 36 years as an attorney, later obtaining his Master of Laws degree (LL.M.) in Elder Law in 2014. Having personal experience visiting State Hospitals and working towards full deinstitutionalization for all persons with disabilities regardless of type or age of onset.

As an attorney in private practice, he plans to live and age in place; his legislative and multi-bar association advocacy is directed towards Accommodative Housing for Older Adults and People with Disabilities and separately accommodating litigants with disabilities in the NYS court system. He is a member of several professional and grassroots organizations relating to the elderly, disability, and employment rights.

As the Founder & CEO of Bota Consulting Group and a former banking leader, I bring nearly two decades of experience collaborating with top business leaders across diverse industries. Born and raised in Albania, my mission is clear: to create powerful connections between premier Albanian talent and U.S. enterprises.

At Bota Consulting Group, we are committed to transforming lives by empowering exceptional talent and delivering unmatched value to business leaders and operations managers. By bridging U.S. companies with top-tier Albanian professionals, we offer substantial payroll savings and provide steadfast support that drives success.

Leading the way with our Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services, we empower our clients to offload essential, non-core tasks to highly skilled specialists working remotely from Albania. This strategic approach enables our clients to streamline their operations, cut costs, and focus on what matters most: delivering outstanding services and accelerating growth.

As the Founder & CEO of Bota Consulting Group and a former banking leader, I bring nearly two decades of experience collaborating with top business leaders across diverse industries. Born and raised in Albania, my mission is clear: to create powerful connections between premier Albanian talent and U.S. enterprises.

At Bota Consulting Group, we are committed to transforming lives by empowering exceptional talent and delivering unmatched value to business leaders and operations managers. By bridging U.S. companies with top-tier Albanian professionals, we offer substantial payroll savings and provide steadfast support that drives success.

Leading the way with our Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services, we empower our clients to offload essential, non-core tasks to highly skilled specialists working remotely from Albania. This strategic approach enables our clients to streamline their operations, cut costs, and focus on what matters most: delivering outstanding services and accelerating growth.

Colin Jarvis was born in Antigua, a small island in the Caribbean. He was the fourth of eight children in a family that struggled to provide enough food to feed all the kids, yet he has always considered himself fortunate and blessed. Inspired by his parents’ teachings of dignity and gratitude for what they had, he used those life lessons to build a 40-plus-year career serving those in need with long-term programs starting with the United States Aid for International Development (USAID), the Pan American Health Organization, and the World Health Organization as well as the Freedom from Hunger Foundation and the Inter-American Foundation, organizations well known for addressing poverty in the Third World and Latin America.

In 1979, Colin’s career began as a youth worker to bring family planning education to the remotest outposts of Antigua and Barbuda for the Pan American Health Organization. As a direct result of his success within the organization, Colin was awarded a scholarship to St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY, earning his Bachelor’s Degree in 1988.

Upon his return to Antigua, he ran a United Nations construction training program for high school dropouts funded by USAID, an experience he counts as one of the most rewarding of his career. Colin Jarvis’ work has left a lasting impact on the communities he served.

Jean Minkel, a physical therapist and master clinician,  who is recognized for her work in the field of Assistive Technology. Her passion lies in ensuring that individuals with mobility disabilities have access to the necessary products and services for full participation in life.

Jean is the Senior Vice President of Rehab and Mobility Services for Independence Care System, a not-for-profit care management agency in New York City for people living with a physical disability.  She leads On A Roll, an OT/PT private practice specializing in Seating and Wheeled Mobility services. Jean is also an independent consultant who provides educational and consulting services to all members of the A.T. team.  As a seating and mobility specialist, Jean was the lead clinician in the development and testing of the IBOT™ stair-climbing wheelchair that we developed by DEKA Research and Development and initially marketed by Johnson & Johnson and currently consults with LUCI on the development and clinical use of the LUCI family of products including the driver assist system for power chair users and LUCI+Air.

Jean has been an invited keynote speaker at conferences in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. She is also the co-editor, with Michelle Lange, of the textbook Seating and Wheeled Mobility—a Clinical Resource Guide.

The A.T. community has not only recognized Jean for her contributions but also celebrated her with prestigious awards. In 1995, she was honored with the RESNA Fellow award, and in 2012, she was bestowed with the Sam McFarland Mentor Award, a testament to her significant impact in the field.

Donna Ponessa is an R.N. with a disability who finds great satisfaction in assisting others with disabilities in reaching their greatest potential. She is a motivated athlete who is passionate about horses, dressage, and international competition.

Donna’s competitive nature made her one of the world’s top wheelchair tennis players and a celebrated equestrian. Diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in college and then diagnosed again with a rare form of Multiple Sclerosis called Devic Disease, Ponessa’s competitive desire remained fixed on the future.
Donna says her greatest accomplishment to date was being part of Team USA at the 2012 London Paralympics.

Disability has taught her to live day by day and that each one presents a clean slate.  Despite a progressive disability, she is relentlessly driven to make the most of her life while she is still able.  “I refuse to be defined or limited by disability,” Donna says.

Born in Riverdale, NY, and raised in Beacon, NY, Charles graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a degree in Sociology in 1996. He began his career in management and sales at a local medical billing office immediately after graduation. After honing his sales skills, he went on to work as an Account Executive for ABC in Manhattan. In 2001, he began his career in banking with M&T Bank. After almost 20 years in finance, Charles has held positions of Cash Management Specialist, Business Relationship Manager, Commercial Lender, and Business Development Officer with various banks. In 2023, Charles left the world of finance and currently holds a position as a Business Development Specialist with Manufacturing & Technology Enterprise Center in Newburgh, NY.

Charles believes in volunteerism in his local community and serves on several local boards. He is the past Chair of St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital’s Foundation Board and current Secretary for the Trustee Board of Montefiore St. Luke’s Cornwall Hospital. He currently serves on the Cornerstone Family Healthcare Board and has been past Vice Chair. He also served on the Independent Living Inc. Board as past Chair.

When Charles is not working or volunteering, he enjoys spending time with his family, most of whom still reside in Beacon. Charles, an Orange County resident for almost 20 years, lives in Newburgh, NY, with his 2 fur babies: a 9-year-old 150 lb. male Rottweiler and a 2-year-old 90 lb. female Rottweiler.