We mark the passing of a NYACCE Board Member, Melinda Mack, who died, age 42, on November 14, 2023.  Melinda passed away at far too young an age, and the many NYACCE members who knew her were deeply saddened to hear the news. However, the memory of Melinda's bright spirit, congeniality, and savviness will continue to inspire and guide us and others in championing causes that Melinda clearly felt were important, such as the success of NYS students and workers.

On our board, Melinda was the Association Representative of NYATEP, of which she was the Executive Director. NYATEP recently released this statement, "On behalf of the NYATEP Board of Directors and NYATEP staff, it is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our friend, Executive Director, and leader, Melinda Mack. Our hearts are broken.  Words cannot express the sadness and grief that we are experiencing.  Our thoughts are with her entire family, especially her husband Andrew and her children: Lucas, Amelie and Emmeline."

Melinda is survived by her devoted husband Andrew Mack and three children, Lucas , Amélie and Emmeline. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to NYOH Community Cancer Foundation 449 NY-146 Suite 101 Clifton Park, NY 12065 or The Community Hospice (Gift Processing Center) 310 S. Manning Blvd. Albany, NY 12208. 

Per Dolly Parton, "If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then, you are an excellent leader." Melinda was one of the best examples of an excellent leader. Therefore, for posterity, we will keep Melinda's NYACCE bio on this blog post:

Melinda Mack was the Executive Director of the New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP), a nationally recognized membership association in the field of workforce development. As a steadfast advocate and expert in system’s change; she championed the investment in and expansion of evidence-based practices to improve employment outcomes for New Yorkers; the use of data to drive decision-making; and for eliminating silos that deter from high quality services. Ms. Mack was a co-lead of the Invest in Skills NY initiative and campaign that successfully engaged the State in 2018 to invest more than $175 million in job training and workforce development. In other previous roles, Ms. Mack was the founding Director for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation program, Graduate NYC! and served as the acting Executive Director for the New York City Workforce Board under the Bloomberg Administration. Before working in New York City, Ms. Mack worked in Upstate New York in local government working in both municipal finance and economic development in Buffalo and Albany.