Special Olympics New York Announces New Statewide Athlete Leadership Council

Ronald Ward, Alfred Ha, & Mindy Iaquinta Elected to Leadership Positions

Albany, NY – Special Olympics New York today announced the members of its new Statewide Athlete Leadership Council (ALC), which is comprised of athletes from every region who have been selected to advance in the program after serving at the local level. Council members serve as spokespersons for the organization and as liaisons to athletes in their communities.

Ronald Ward, 48, of Tonawanda will serve as chair, Alfred Ha, 38, of Manhattan, will serve as vice chair and Mindy Iaquinta, 35, of Greenfield Center will serve as secretary.

The Special Olympics New York Athlete Leadership Program gives athletes an expanded voice and greater opportunity to participate in the organization’s strategic planning and day-to-day operations while also providing athlete leaders with advanced training and life-skills development. The Council is comprised of 15 athletes who serve two-year terms. The chair also serves as a voting member of the Special Olympics New York Board of Directors.

“The Special Olympics New York Athlete Leadership Program is an opportunity for athletes to take their game to the next level while also ensuring that our organization governed by genuine unified leadership, where athlete perspective and insight is a part of every decision we make,” said Special Olympics New York President & CEO Stacey Hengsterman. “We have an exciting future ahead under the leadership of Ron, Alfred, and Mindy as well as each of our new members.”

“When I joined Special Olympics NY, it changed my life,” said Ronald Ward. “I am grateful to have met so many people that I love and cherish. As the new Statewide ALC Chair, my role will be to help others, spread the word about how awesome Special Olympics NY is, and show how we can make a difference around the world.”

The following new members of the ALC will serve a two-year term, through the end of 2026:

Ronald Ward, 48, of Tonawanda, joined Special Olympics NY as an athlete when he was just eight years old. Several decades later, Ron has settled on bocce as his favorite sport, though he also competes in bowling, floorball, softball, and basketball. His favorite Special Olympics moment was winning three gold medals in one track & field competition.

Alfred Ha, 38, of Manhattan, has competed with Special Olympics NY for the vast majority of his life, specializing in softball and volleyball. After competing at the 2022 USA Games in Orlando, FL, Alfred was inspired to pursue coaching. He is now a certified assistant coach in both his favorite sports, and he looks forward to leading his fellow athletes toward the gold.

Mindy Iaquinta, 35, of Greenfield Center, is a year-round, three-sport athlete with a passion for going above and beyond. In addition to her athletic pursuits, Mindy volunteers for fundraising events such as Law & Orders, Go for the Gold, and the Law Enforcement Torch Run. She is also certified as a Fitness Captain.

Hailey Wilson, 20, of Wheatfield, is an exemplary member of the Unified Sports movement. As a student at Niagara Wheatfield High School, Hailey competes in both Unified basketball and bowling, as well as traditional community floorball. When she’s not training for her next gold, she volunteers for fundraisers like the Polar Plunge, the Buffalo Bowl, and Torch Runs.

Jordan Root, 30, of Webster, has trained and competed in an impressive six sports: Basketball, soccer, floorball, bowling, bocce, and golf. The last brought him all the way to 2022 USA Games, where Jordan competed against the country’s best. Outside of sports, he works in sales and food service.

Liza Ambrosini, 38, of Queensbury, is no stranger to the national and international stages. In 2018 and 2022, she competed in tennis at Seattle and Orlando’s USA Games, respectively. And, just last month, she represented the USA in alpine skiing at World Games in Torino, Italy. Despite all that high-level competition, Liza still finds time for work, where’s she employed as a prep cook.

Jordan Sellers, 40, of Cazenovia, is a constant Special Olympics NY competitor, no matter the season. He’s participated in track & field and swimming in the summer, alpine skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, and golf in the fall. When he’s not adding to his 20 years of sports experience, he enjoys volunteering at fundraisers like Go for the Gold.

Zachary Adams, 28, of Hamlin, is the reigning Athlete of the Year award winner. Zach earned that prestigious honor through his dedication in basketball, bocce, bowling, alpine skiing, floorball, golf, and soccer. In addition, he volunteers for numerous fundraising and awareness events, including the Festival of Inclusion and Go for the Gold. Outside Special Olympics, Zach works in the restaurant industry.

Isabella Lyman, 24, of Chester, has been competing with Special Olympics NY for half her life, despite her young age. Basketball, swimming, track & field, and bowling are her sports of choice, and when she’s not training for them, Isabella volunteers at the Polar Plunge. She also works at her local Legoland location.

Members of the media seeking interviews with Athlete Leadership Council members can contact Casey Vattimo at cvattimo@nyso.org.

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