RCIL Staff Profile: Gloria Ollerenshaw

October 10, 2025

With more than a decade of dedication to empowering individuals with disabilities, Gloria Ollerenshaw, Associate Vice President of Self-Direction at RCIL, embodies RCIL’s mission of advocacy, inclusion, and independence. Her compassion, strong family values, and commitment to helping others shine through in both her professional achievements and personal life.

Gloria Ollerenshaw, Associate Vice President of Self-Direction

Gloria Ollerenshaw grew up in Whitesboro, NY, and now resides in nearby Utica with her husband. She’s a proud stepmother to two children and a doting grandmother to four energetic grandsons. Her strong family values and passion for helping others have shaped both her personal and professional life.

Gloria has been with RCIL for 12 years, currently serving as the Associate Vice President of Self-Direction. Drawn to the organization by a genuine desire to work with people with disabilities, she has built a career rooted in advocacy, empowerment, and inclusion.

One of Gloria’s favorite parts of her role is helping participants live as independently as possible. She finds inspiration in the stories shared by individuals and families whose lives have been positively impacted by the Self-Direction program. Whether it's watching a participant thrive in a new class or receiving a heartfelt video message, these moments reinforce her commitment to the mission of RCIL.

Among her professional accomplishments, Gloria is particularly proud of assisting in the implementation of a new electronic system for participants and designees. This improvement significantly enhanced the reimbursement process, resulting in faster turnaround times and better service for program participants.

Like many in the field, she notes that one of the biggest challenges her team faces is navigating the frequent changes in State and Medicaid regulations. Despite these hurdles, the collaborative, team-oriented work environment at RCIL helps staff support each other and remain focused on the people they serve.

To Gloria, RCIL’s mission is deeply personal. “Everyone should have the same opportunities and be treated equally and fairly,” she says—a belief she carries into everything she does.

Outside of work, Gloria enjoys spending weekends at her house in Sylvan Beach and cherishing time with her grandsons. Thanks to RCIL’s flexible scheduling, she’s able to maintain a healthy work-life balance and fully enjoy the best of both worlds.