Maureen E. O’Brien

Maureen E. O’Brien is the first female president and CEO of the NYS Industries for the Disabled (NYSID). She manages more than 1,000 state and municipal contracts on behalf of 100 disability service provider member agencies. More than 5,000 individuals with disabilities are gainfully employed each year through the program. Maureen combines her private sector experience and her desire to provide opportunities and advancement to individuals with disabilities to bring transformational change to the organization.

Prior to joining NYSID, Maureen was the director of government affairs, and then executive director, for Motorola Solutions Inc. (MSI). She also served as the director of state operations to 20th Congressional District Representative and Homeland Security Appropriator John E. Sweeney.

Maureen has served on a host of non-profit boards associated with her passion of providing advancement to individuals with disabilities. She is deeply involved in the NF Endurance Team (the fundraising arm of the Children’s Tumor Foundation). Since 2009, Maureen has served as an executive board member at Double H Ranch, been a trustee at Maria College, a trustee at Christian Brother’s Academy, and an honorary board member at the Center for Disability Services.

In 2021, Maureen was named a “Woman Who Means Business” by the Albany Business Review, and in 2022, was a finalist for the Capital Region Philanthropist of the Year . Among her many awards and recognitions, she is a recipient of the Andrew Heiskell Community Service Award, a two-time recipient of the quarterly MSI Foundation Volunteerism Award, and a three-time inductee to the MSI CEO Circle – recognition for performing in the top 10% of the company.

Maureen is a resident and native of Albany, New York. She is a graduate of the Academy of the Holy Names, University of Notre Dame (B.A.), and New York University (M.A.).