Dr. Theresa Hamlin, Fred Stabbert III to Receive Sullivan County Partnership Awards

MONTICELLO, N.Y. — The Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development has named Dr. Theresa Hamlin and Fred Stabbert III as its 2026 award recipients. Both will be honored during the organization’s annual meeting and celebration Oct. 8 at Resorts World Catskills.

Dr. Hamlin, president and CEO of The Center for Discovery, will receive the 2026 Walter A. Rhulen Award, which recognizes business excellence, community commitment and service to humanity.

Hamlin has served The Center for Discovery for 43 years. The New York state-designated Center of Excellence provides services for children and adults with complex developmental disabilities, including autism and mental frailty. Hamlin is the author of Autism and The Stress Effect and developed SynergyE6, an evidence-based whole-body approach to teaching and care.

According to the Partnership, The Center for Discovery is Sullivan County’s largest employer, with nearly 2,000 employees, and is among the largest employers in the Hudson Valley. The organization reported generating $243 million in total economic output in 2024, with more than $151.8 million in operating expenditures and $9.2 million in construction and capital investments.

“The Center for Discovery has been a pillar of the Sullivan County community since its inception nearly 80 years ago,” Partnership Board Chairman Michael Zalkin said in a statement. “Its world-renowned critical care and research for children and adults with mental disabilities and its impact on the Sullivan County economy have been profound.”

The Partnership also announced Fred Stabbert III as the recipient of its Distinguished Service Award.

Stabbert is publisher of the Sullivan County Democrat, now in its 137th year of publication. The Stabbert family has operated the newspaper for 100 years. He has served on the Sullivan County Partnership’s board of directors for more than three decades, including terms as chairman, vice chairman, treasurer and secretary, while also leading the organization’s marketing committee and serving on other committees.

“Fred has been a staunch supporter of the Partnership and a calming influence during his long tenure,” Partnership President and CEO Marc Baez said in a statement. “His thoughtfulness of others both on the board, the community at large and his cheerleading for all things Sullivan County is truly cherished.”

The Sullivan County Partnership’s annual meeting will be held Thursday, Oct. 8, from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Resorts World Catskills in Monticello.