Camden, N.J. – Volunteers of America Delaware Valley (VOADV) today named Alison Accettola as senior vice president for government relations. A long-time public servant recognized for her advocacy work, Accettola joins VOADV after serving as executive director of the Senate Democratic Office (SDO).
In her position, Accettola will led efforts to craft a comprehensive legislative agenda for the organization. She will work with the organization and elected leaders to draft legislation that will help address the people that VOADV serves, provide legislative testimony, follow the bills and policies which impact the organization and community, and help guide budget requests.
“Alison has spent her career working to identify ways to lift up the people of New Jersey. I’ve personally witnessed firsthand her passion for helping the people VOADV serves, her incredible mind and her tireless advocacy,” said Dan Lombardo, VOADV president and CEO. “We are thrilled to be bringing a professional on board whose background and years of experience so closely align with our mission of helping the most vulnerable populations.”
Accettola has extensive experience in the criminal and social justice world having worked on reforms to the State’s expungement law, legislation decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana, and legislation legalizing marijuana for personal use.
“Having worked with VOADV many times during my tenure at the Senate Democratic Office, I know I’m joining an amazing team of people dedicated to the mission of delivering data-driven programming to some of our society’s most vulnerable members,” said Accettola. “I couldn’t be more excited to join such a dynamic team and continue VOADV’s vital work.”
Accettola joined the SDO as associate counsel before being appointed as general counsel and finally, executive director. In addition to providing legal advice to members on issues ranging from ethics to Open Public Record Act responses, Accettola staffed the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Law & Public Safety Committee, as well as the Senate Commerce and Economic Growth Committees. Prior to joining the SDO, Accettola was a consulting attorney for the Office of Prisoner Reentry in Newark and public defender in Middlesex County for eight years.