Paul J. Tobin, United Spinal Association’s president and CEO was honored with the 2011 Maxwell J. Schleifer Distinguished Service Award at Citi Field on May 18th during New York Mets “Disability Awareness Night”.

There are times when one is not only proud but honored to be associated with another person. Today is one of those days for me. I just found out that The Boss, Paul, was honored for his outstanding service and dedication to the disability cause.

Right, he’s my boss, but that has nothing to do with any of this. Paul and I go back to when he was first injured and was going through rehab. Shortly after that we worked together out “in the field” in NYC doing direct advocacy for people with spinal cord injuries and others.

Direct advocacy meant fighting the battles for your member’s rights, medical care, benefits, accessibility, on an ongoing basis and face to face with everyone from politicians to corporate heads and medical facility directors. It was a nasty piece of business that kept your nerves wound pretty tight, but how rewarding.

Paul has since honed his leadership skills and is at the helm of United Spinal Association. Yet, through all of the changes, he has still retained the dedication and commitment to service, and the feel for the frustration, anger, and fear that is felt by many people with disabilities who find themselves in a jam of one sort or another.

So even today, when there is good fight to fight, he is right there. In the trenches, sleeves rolled up and mud on his boots. Kudos to you Paul, for your accomplishments and for your commitment to purpose.

Read the official story.