Stephen S. Young Named Chairman of the Board of Trustees of May Institute

02/19/15

Randolph, Mass. — Stephen S. “Steve” Young, L.L.B., well-known trial lawyer and Senior Partner, Inactive, in Holland & Knight’s Boston office, has been named Chairman of the Board of Trustees of May Institute. Mr. Young succeeds Don Ricciato, Ph.D., who retired as Chairman in December. 

May Institute is an award-winning nonprofit organization that serves children and adults with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, brain injury, mental illness, and behavioral health needs. The Institute has annual revenues of more than $103M, and serves nearly 7,000 individuals and families in 14 states around the country.

“Steve has been a highly respected member of our Board for more than a decade,” said May Institute President and Chief Executive Office Lauren C. Solotar, Ph.D., ABPP. “The Institute has benefitted enormously from his guidance. We are delighted that Steve will play an even greater role in the organization’s strategic matters and business initiatives as we enter our 60th year of serving individuals with special needs.”

“The May Institute is comprised of an extremely hard-working and dedicated staff, is run by a highly competent and committed management team, and provides the highest level of services available anywhere to the children and adults whom it serves.” Said Mr. Young. “I am honored to be able to serve as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of May Institute during and following this 60th anniversary year of its founding.”

Mr. Young was one of May Institute’s “founding riders” for the Rodman Ride for Kids in 2007, the first year the Institute participated in this fundraising event for children in Massachusetts with special needs. Since then, he has ridden 50 miles every year and raised approximately $25,000 in donations. Last year, he played a pivotal role in another philanthropic effort that helped raise $50,000 to improve technology at the organization’s school for children with brain injury.

Mr. Young is joined at the leadership level by Board of Trustee members Mary Lou Maloney, a professional advocate for individuals with disabilities, and the new Vice Chairperson and Assistant Treasurer; and Neal Todrys, President and CEO of Todson, Inc., who serves as the Board’s new Secretary. May Institute benefits from the fiduciary oversight of a 13-member Board of Trustees.

During his legal career, Mr. Young has represented clients in civil cases as both plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state trial and appellate courts. He has concentrated in the areas of business/commercial, copyright/trademark infringement, health care, and personal injury litigation, and alternative dispute resolution. Mr. Young is a certified mediator, conducts private mediations and arbitrations and sits as a mediator and arbitrator through the American Arbitration Association’s Commercial Panel.

He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Massachusetts Bar Association, and the Boston Bar Association. Mr. Young served as an elected member of the Boston Bar Association’s Governing Council, and as Chair of its Litigation Section and Tort Committee, and earned an AV Preeminent Peer Review rating from Martindale-Hubbell, an objective indicator of a lawyer's high ethical standards and professional ability.

Mr. Young has served for many years on the Board of Directors and as President and immediate past Board Chairman of the Beacon Hill Civic Association, and is presently a member of that Board. He is a past President and current member of the Board of Directors of the Longwood Cricket Club. In addition, he has served on the Commonwealth’s Longfellow Bridge Rehabilitation Task Force, the City of Boston’s Bike Network Advisory Group, and the Connect Historic Boston Citizens Advisory Group of the Boston Transportation Department and the National Park Service. He also served for over 35 years on the Board of Directors of Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS), and is a recipient of GBLS’ Dow-Gardiner-Landrum Award for outstanding commitment to providing free legal services to low-income individuals and families.

Mr. Young received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Rochester, and his LL.B. degree from Boston University School of Law.

About May Institute
May Institute is an award-winning nonprofit organization with nearly 60 years of experience in serving children and adults with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental disabilities, brain injury, mental illness, and behavioral health needs. The organization provides educational, rehabilitative, and behavioral healthcare services to individuals, as well as training and consultation services to professionals, organizations, and public school systems. At more than 160 service locations across the country, highly trained staff work to create new and more effective ways to meet the special needs of individuals and families across the lifespan.