Living Resources is proud to announce that our CEO, Elizabeth Martin, was named a 2023 Woman of Distinction. She was recognized by Senator Neil D. Breslin for her outstanding contribution to our community and celebrated at an annual reception at the New York State Capitol. Her nomination states:
Elizabeth Martin is a strategic executive who is driven by mission, innovation, and excellence. She is Chief Executive Officer of Living Resources, an Albany-based nonprofit that supports and empowers nearly 2,000 individuals with disabilities or other life challenges to live with dignity, independence, and happiness
Ms. Martin joined Living Resources during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. An innovative leader, she helped the organization survive an extremely difficult COVID-19 infection surge, implemented successful pilot programs to address the workforce shortage, and led the agency through its first-ever comprehensive strategic planning process, setting organizational priorities and goals to position it for future growth and program diversification. Under her leadership, all of this was accomplished while also creating an organizational culture that fosters passion, change, and innovation to promote everyone’s right to live self-determined lives as full citizens in the community. Ms. Martin is also a steadfast advocate for disability rights, funding, and support.
Prior to working at Living Resources, Ms. Martin was CEO of Consumer Directed Choices (CDChoices), another Albany-based disability services nonprofit. While there, she helped CDChoices become one of the largest, most-respected fiscal intermediaries for Consumer Directed Personal Assistance (CDPA) in the Capital Region. A visionary, Ms. Martin had a concept for how the CDPA program could provide a better experience for the consumers CDChoices serves. After several years of hard work, experimentation, and steady program redesign, Ms. Martin and her team made CDChoices the first CDPA fiscal intermediary in New York State where program participants set their personal assistants’ pay rates and can save for bonuses. Over the course of her tenure, CDChoices’ revenues nearly tripled from $12.5 million in 2012 to $36.4 million in 2018
Ms. Martin has presented at both state and national conferences. She begins her first term as a board member of the NY Alliance on July 1, and is the former President of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Association of New York State
Prior to joining the nonprofit sector, Ms. Martin was Director of Administration at the Albany County Department of Social Services. She resides in Delmar, New York with her husband, Jason, and two daughters, Jane and Allison.
Elizabeth Martin was selected as a 2023 Women of Distinction honoree by Senator Neil D. Breslin.