Mickey Whitesell, Trinity Services DSP, Attends 2026 ANCOR Annual Conference in Boston
BOSTON, MASS – ANCOR, the American Network of Community Options and Resources, held its annual conference, April 21 – 23, 2026, at the Omni Seaport Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts.
Last year, Mickey Whitesell, a Trinity Services’ DSP, attended the conference in San Diego and was awarded the 2025 ANCOR DSP of the Year Award. This year, he attended the 2026 ANCOR conference as a DSP Ambassador, a program ANCOR first launched in 2025. The DSP Ambassador Program is designed to enhance the ability of DSPs to speak up, speak out, and tell their stories about the vital role they play in the communities they serve. Last summer, ANCOR brought Mickey and other leading DSPs to Washington, DC, for Hill Day, to learn how to be effective spokespeople for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and the national DSP community.
“In recent years, new challenges like funding cuts, rising costs, and a global health pandemic have exposed the fragility of our national direct support workforce,” explained Barbara Merrill, Chief Executive Officer of ANCOR. “In light of these challenges, the direct support workforce demands more visibility than ever before, which is why ANCOR launched the DSP Ambassador Program last year.”
Whitesell was very honored to be selected for the DSP Ambassador Program. “I learned a lot,” said Whitesell. “When I joined Trinity Services four years ago, I didn’t even know what a DSP did. Now, I want to take my career helping people with disabilities and mental health needs further, and accomplish more as a DSP.”
Building on the tremendous success of the first DSP cohort, ANCOR is expanding the DSP Ambassador Program in 2026 to include two cohorts with two unique and exciting experiences. From May 18 – 21, 2026, the Spring 2026 cohort will convene up to 24 DSPs in the Salt Lake City area for a fully in-person experience that includes intensive trainings and the chance to practice their newly sharpened skills. Starting this summer and culminating in September, the Fall 2026 cohort will bring together 24 DSPs for a hybrid experience. Members of the Fall 2026 cohort will participate in virtual trainings over the summer, and then gather in Washington, DC, for three days of learning, skill-building, and advocating on Capitol Hill during ANCOR’s 2026 Policy Summit and Hill Day.
Thane Dykstra, President and CEO of Trinity Services, expressed gratitude to ANCOR for having the foresight to develop a rigorous advocacy program for DSPs. “DSPs are the cornerstone of our mission, the human service professionals who work directly with individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, which is why it’s so important for them to speak out.” said Dykstra. “Mickey Whitesell is a most talented colleague, and I am grateful for both his work at Trinity and the voice he provides.”
For more information about Trinity Services go to www.trinityservices.org.
Photo: Mickey Whitesell, Trinity Services DSP, and Barbara Merrill, ANCOR CEO.