Hoyer Recognizes Winner of Tony Coelho Award
"I offer my sincerest congratulations to Paul Cofoni on being awarded this year's Tony Coelho Award. As the recipient of this award he has demonstrated a dedication to improving and expanding employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities and his efforts will serve as an important example for other employers.
"This award is named after my good friend, Tony Coelho, and is presented by Bender Consulting Services annually to an important leader who has demonstrated a significant commitment to employing people with disabilities. Tony Coelho, who served with me in Congress, has had a life-long commitment to improving the lives of people with disabilities.
"It has been over 14 years since enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and we have since seen many improvements, but there is much more work to be done to address the historic isolation and segregation of people with disabilities, especially in the area of employment. The role of employers in moving qualified individuals with disabilities into the workplace is a critical component of this effort.
"I join today in congratulating and thanking Paul for his leadership and commitment to ensuring that all Americans, judged by their ability, not their disability, are able to succeed."
Prior to his current position, Mr. Cofoni was president of CSC's Technology Management Group (TMG) for a three-year period. From 1991 through March 1998, Mr. Cofoni was vice president of TMG's Eastern Region, servicing more than 40 outsourcing clients.
Before joining CSC, Mr. Cofoni had a 17-year career with General Dynamics, serving in a variety of positions including vice president of information technology (IT) services for General Dynamics' East Coast business units and vice president of IT services for West Coast business units. Mr. Cofoni served as an officer in the United States Army from 1970 to 1974. He received a BS in mathematics from the University of Rhode Island in 1970 and attended the MIT Sloan School program for senior executives in the fall of 1989.
Mr. Cofoni is a member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA), Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), Information Technology Association of America (ITAA), and The Business Roundtable (BRT). He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the Northern Virginia Technology Council (NVTC), Professional Services Council (PSC), and National Science Center (NSC).
Bender Consulting Services Inc. (BCS) sponsors this award to honor the work of Tony Coelho and his civil rights leadership for people with disabilities. BCS creates employment opportunities for professionals with disabilities in information technology, engineering, finance/accounting, human resources and general business areas.
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