ConnectLife thanks DMV Commissioner Schroeder for his service and advocacy

As he prepares to retire as New York State DMV Commissioner, ConnectLife wishes to recognize Mark J.F. Schroeder for his passionate advocacy of organ, eye and tissue donation. We are grateful for his enduring commitment to providing New Yorkers with opportunities to join the state’s Donate Life Registry.

“Mark Schroeder’s dedication to the Donate Life mission has made a real difference in Western New York and across the state,” said Kevin Gramlich, President and CEO of ConnectLife. “We’re so thankful for his service and wish him well as he begins a new chapter of his life.”

Commissioner Schroeder took charge of the State Department of Motor Vehicles in 2019, using new technology and systems to increase efficiency and improve customers’ experiences. Throughout that time, he has facilitated enrollment on the state donor registry, leading efforts to educate staff and the public about donation and transplantation. His initiatives have helped ensure that more New Yorkers are asked if they wish to become organ and tissue donors, while providing access to information on the lifesaving power of that decision. These efforts helped the state reach a new milestone in 2024, the first time that more than half of New York adults were registered as donors.

A lifelong Buffalonian, Commissioner Schroeder’s roles have included Erie County legislator, State Assemblyman and City of Buffalo Comptroller. During his many years of public service, he has supported ConnectLife, called attention to the need for lifesaving transplants, celebrated Donate Life Month, and pushed for meaningful legislative and policy changes.