LIGHTHOUSE - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Curriculum Design and Content
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- Senior Director, Products / LightHouse Sirkin Center
Job Titles:
- Community Outreach Specialist
Ali Lee is the Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT) and the Services Coordinator at our satellite office LightHouse North Coast in Eureka, CA. Ali works primarily with older adults who are blind and low vision. Many of Ali's students are recently visually impaired and she helps them determine how to learn the skills to accomplish … Continue reading LightHouse Staff Profile: Ali Lee →
Ali Lee is the Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist (CVRT) and the Services Coordinator at our satellite office LightHouse North Coast in Eureka, CA. Ali works primarily with older adults who are blind and low vision. Many of Ali's students are recently visually impaired and she helps them determine how to learn the skills to accomplish tasks such as cooking, organizing and reading. She also is one of the few braille teachers working with adults in the area.
Born and raised in San Francisco, Ali developed a passion for the piano; in fact, piano lessons are what led Ali to the LightHouse. Ali's piano teacher was Rose Resnick who owned and facilitated the programs at Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind. Rose introduced Ali to the camp, and Ali interned there for two summers during her high school years. There she met LightHouse Rehabilitation Director Kathy Abrahamson who was Camp Assistant Director at the time. We often talk about the transformation that happens to blind individuals that attend our camp; Ali, who is sighted, credits Enchanted Hills as being instrumental in leading her to a career in the blindness field.
Influenced by her love for teaching and helping others, Ali earned a B.A. in English from U.C. Davis and an M.A. in English Composition, plus certificates in Technical Writing and in Teaching Adults Basic Reading at San Francisco State University. After touring the Pacific Northwest on BMW motorcycles, Ali and her husband decided to settle down in the Bay Area where she began teaching English at several local community colleges. Shortly thereafter, Ali and John moved to Humboldt County to start a family in the cool, majestic redwoods. When LightHouse began looking for part-time staff able to travel throughout Humboldt and Del Norte counties providing basic training and resource information, Ali applied and was hired (along with Access Technology Specialist Peggy Martinez) to launch the LightHouse presence in these underserved areas.
After much research and coordination with various local agencies, the LightHouse North Coast office opened in 2002 in Eureka, where Ali became the Vision Rehabilitation Specialist and Services Coordinator. In 2009, LightHouse North Coast relocated to the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka. Ali completed her second Master's degree, receiving an M.S. in Visual Disabilities from Florida State University in 2010 and became a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist.
Director of Rehabilitation Kathy Abrahamson said, "Ali is a phenomenal teacher, a community educator, a creative collaborator, a consummate professional. She tailors her lessons to the student and his or her strengths. She is a strong voice for the LightHouse in Humboldt and Del Norte counties, bringing an understanding of the issues around cultural and socio-economic diversity and insuring that potential students and the other service providers in the area know what is possible."
When Ali isn't at LightHouse connecting with new students, she is busy raising her two sons, both of whom have volunteered at LightHouse of the North Coast and are budding violinists. Ali hopes that her sons will one-day volunteer at Enchanted Hills Camp, as she did in high school, because of all the doors this opened for her. Ali, an avid cyclist, can be seen racing over the California hills and though sweeping seaside and forest vistas. She looks forward to riding in the Cycle for Sight 2014 bike ride and fundraiser, which benefits Enchanted Hills Camp.
If you or someone you know is interested in services at our North Coast office please call Ali or her colleagues at 707-268-5646.
Job Titles:
- Blind and Low Vision Specialist
Job Titles:
- Production Assistant / LightHouse Sirkin Center
Job Titles:
- Blind and Low Vision Specialist
Another in a series of LightHouse staff profiles. As LightHouse's Community Services and Information and Referral Coordinator, Beth is one of our frontline teachers. "People call with all sorts of questions," she says, "like ‘Where do I learn how to walk with a white cane,' ‘How do I tell my university or job I have … Continue reading Beth Berenson, Blindness Ambassador →
Job Titles:
- Access Technology Specialist
Job Titles:
- Access Technology Trainer
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- Blind and Low Vision Specialist
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- Orientation & Mobility Specialist I
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- Member of the LightHouse Board
- Secretary of the LightHouse Board
Chancey Fleet is a Brooklyn-based tech educator and activist who identifies as Blind. Chancey is the Assistive Technology Coordinator at the New York Public Library. In that role, she curates accessible technology in the branch, collaborates across the NYPL system to improve equity of access, and coordinates a diverse team of staff and volunteers who provide one-to-one tech coaching and group workshops, free of charge and open to all. Through a 2017 NYPL Innovation grant, she founded and maintains the Dimensions Project, a free open lab for the exploration and creation of accessible images, models and data representations through tactile graphics, 3d models and nonvisual approaches to coding, CAD and "visual" arts. Chancey is a 2018-19 Data & Society Fellow and current Affiliate-in-Residence whose writing, organizing and advocacy aim to catalyze critical inquiry into how cloud-connected accessibility tools benefit and harm, empower and expose communities of disability. Chancey was recognized as a 2017 Library Journal Mover and Shaker. She currently serves as present of the NFB's Assistive Technology Trainers' Division and is a member of New York State's Regents' Advisory Council on Libraries.
Job Titles:
- Member of the LightHouse Board
- Product Manager
- Jennison Mark Asuncion - Chair
Chris Yoon is a product manager who brings his passion for accessibility, equity, and disability advocacy to the newly formed Product Equity team at Uber. He works closely with design, research, policy, engineering, and operations teams across the company to bring more inclusive experiences to the Uber platform. Chris loves to travel with his guide dog Sadie and is passionate about disability advocacy and disability representation in the workplace. He was recently selected as a regional US & Canada Co-Chair for Uber's disability employee resource group (ERG). In this capacity, he plays a pivotal role in guiding the ERG's initiatives and strategies, strengthening Uber's commitment to disability inclusivity both internally and externally.
Prior to joining Uber, Chris was a product manager at Microsoft working on accessibility tools for voice forward experiences. And in 2019, Chris graduated from Stanford University with an undergraduate degree in music and masters in computer science. Outside his professional pursuits, Chris is actively involved in several disability nonprofit organizations. He serves on the Alumni Association Board for Guide Dogs for the Blind, where his advocacy for guide dog users contributes to the continuous improvement of services for the visually impaired community. Additionally, he holds the position of Vice Chair on Lime Connect's NextGen Junior Board, working towards the organization's mission to rebrand disability through achievement by empowering individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential in the professional world. In his free time, Chris enjoys traveling and playing music.
Job Titles:
- Director, Access Technology
Job Titles:
- Director, Accessible User Experience Services
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- Member of the LightHouse Board
Dr. Julius Oatts is a pediatric ophthalmologist, pediatric glaucoma specialist, and assistant professor of ophthalmology at the University of California, San Francisco. He completed medical school at Yale School of Medicine, an ophthalmology residency at the University of California, San Francisco, a fellowship in pediatric ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School/Boston Children's Hospital, and a fellowship in pediatric glaucoma at Moorfields Eye Hospital. He is involved in resident education as the associate residency program director for ophthalmology and does research focused on the diagnosis and management of glaucoma in children. He sees many patients with low vision who have benefitted from the services provided at Lighthouse for the Blind.
Job Titles:
- Production Assistant / LightHouse Sirkin Center
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- MAD Lab Production Assistant
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- Director, Business Development and Relationship Management
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- Member of the LightHouse Board
- Financial Professional ( on Sabbatical )
Eric is originally from Stockton, California and now calls San Francisco home. He first came to the Bay Area for university, where he graduated from UC Berkeley with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. From there, Eric began his career in finance, joining the investment banking division at Goldman Sachs where he advised corporate clients in the financial institution and technology industries. Eric then entered Silicon Valley by way of Google where he joined the treasury department to manage enterprise foreign currency risk. Most recently, Eric was at Uber Technologies where he built out and headed the treasury team focused on global payment acceptance, payment remittance, cash management and corporate finance risk management. Eric is currently on a professional sabbatical.
Aside from his professional life, Eric enjoys spending time with his wife, Jacalyn, and son, Weston, who are his biggest joys. He also is an active member of his church and is passionate about serving his community. Eric is both humbled and inspired to serve on the Board and hopes to contribute to the continuing growth, innovation and heart of the LightHouse.
Job Titles:
- Production Assistant / LightHouse Sirkin Center
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- Senior Director, Enchanted Hills Camp and Retreat
Job Titles:
- Production Assistant / LightHouse Sirkin Center
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- Human Resource Business Partner
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- New Construction Manager at Enchanted Hills Camp
George Wurtzel, the new Construction Manager at Enchanted Hills Camp for the Blind, can tell a tale or two. "I have lots of stories, it can overwhelm people. [For example,] I was on the 1980 USA Cross Country Ski Team in the Para-Olympics in Geilo, Norway. I was an exchange student in Japan; my art … Continue reading Staff Profile - George Wurtzel adds Enchanted Hills Construction Manager to his List of Accomplishments →
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director, Retail Sales & Customer Experience
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- Access Technology Specialist - Deafblind
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- Assistant
- Facilities Manager
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- Access Technology Specialist ( ATS )
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- Youth Services Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Consultant
- Member of the LightHouse Board
- Trainer
Janet S. Cohen has been a consultant and trainer who has worked with more than 200 nonprofit organizations over more than 30 years. Her focus is customized work sessions and consulting services for nonprofit organizations throughout the country for diversification of revenue, earned income, and marketing planning processes. She also serves in Interim Executive positions in nonprofit organizations, especially those with an earned income focus, during periods of transition in leadership.
Ms. Cohen founded Project HIRED, an organization focused on job placement for individuals with disabilities across the spectrum of Silicon Valley industries and companies. Ms. Cohen and Project HIRED's Board of Directors were chosen to receive the 1993 Distinguished Service Award from the President's Committee for Employment of Persons with Disabilities, the 1992 Distinguished Service Award from the California Governor's Committee for the Employment of Disabled Persons, and the 1989 Award for Excellence from the Management Center of San Francisco. These were awarded for innovative approaches to employment for individuals with disabilities, which also assist employers with their workforce needs, while generating revenues for the organization. Special recognition was given for HIRE TEMPS, the Corporate Training Partners Project, and the Corporate Services concept.
Ms. Cohen continues her commitment to serving on the Boards of, and volunteering for, local, regional, and national nonprofit organizations, especially those with a disability focused mission. She is a member of the Bay Area Interim Executive Director Group (BAIED) and the Alliance for Nonprofit Management's Executive Transition and Leadership Committee. She currently serves on the Board of Helpers Community.
Ms. Cohen was also involved in advocacy for and education of disabled persons in the Washington D.C. area. She was active on the Alexandria Commission for Disabled Persons. She taught disabled children in the public schools in Maryland and Virginia. She worked as a Speech Pathologist with neurologically impaired children and adults. She has degrees from the University of Massachusetts, the University of Maryland, and a Certificate in Marketing: New Products and Services from the University of California at Santa Cruz.
Job Titles:
- Member of the LightHouse Board
- Senior Manager
- Senior Manager, Accessibility Marketing and Community, at Apple
Janette Barrios is a senior manager, Accessibility Marketing and Community, at Apple, and has been with the company for over 15 years. She works on raising awareness of Apple's accessibility innovation and initiatives, including technology such as the VoiceOver screen reader for people who are blind, assistive hearing features like Made for iPhone Hearing Aids, accessible materials for the Everyone Can Code curriculum, as well as other initiatives that support disability communities worldwide and Apple's culture of inclusion.
Janette also worked in Apple Communications, supporting iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Previously, Janette worked in the video game industry, was a music educator, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from San Jose State University.
Jeff Carlson has been a Social Worker at the LightHouse for more than 20 years. Through the years he remains thorough and responsive as he helps our constituents navigate their changing vision. He told us, "It is both an honor and a pleasure to work not only with the talented and caring LightHouse staff, but … Continue reading Staff Profile: Jeff Carlson - LightHouse of Marin's Stellar Social Worker →
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the LightHouse Board
- Jennison Mark Asuncion - Chair
Job Titles:
- 1st Vice Chair
- Member of the LightHouse Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the LightHouse Board
- Treasurer of the LightHouse Board
Mr. Chan rejoined the LightHouse Board in 2018 after serving as a Board member from 2005 to 2015. He also served as Board Treasurer from 2009 to 2015 and Chair of the Finance and Investment committees during this period. He retired in 2009 from the Association of Bay Area Governments after serving 26 years as Chief Financial Officer. Being visually impaired with Retinitis Pigmentosa, Mr. Chan wants to offer his expertise in fiscal management to benefit the blind and visually impaired community. He is a CPA and holds an MBA degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Job Titles:
- 2nd Vice Chair
- Leader
- Member of the LightHouse Board
Kathryn Webster is a strong thought leader across various communities. Kathryn attends Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts. At Harvard, she chairs the annual MBA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion summit and is involved in Women in Investing. She approaches each day with true authenticity, bringing difficult conversations to the table and engaging in a persistent challenge to be the best version of herself. In her personal life, she loves reading historical fiction, traveling the world with her guide dog Theo, and spending true quality time with friends and family.
Kathryn grew up in Connecticut, later receiving Bachelor of Science degrees in Statistics and Computer Science with high honors from Wake Forest University. Her scholastic achievements propelled Kathryn into a career with Deloitte & Touché, LLP., where she specialized in strategic transformation and business process reengineering. Kathryn recognizes the value in intertwining corporate prowess with civic engagement, thus jump-starting a transition program for blind and low vision youth in 2017, designed to ignite confidence and independence as participants transition from high school to college or employment. Kathryn devotes much of her time outside of work advocating for equality and access for the blind and low vision communities.
Job Titles:
- Member of the LightHouse Board
- Program Manager
- Head of Strategy
Laura Allen is the Accessibility Program Manager for the Chrome and Chrome OS teams at Google. She collaborates with engineers, designers, product managers, and researchers to make the Chrome family of products accessible and usable across platforms, for people of all abilities. She also leads various accessibility workshops and training around the United States for teachers of the visually impaired, advocacy organizations, and special education classrooms. In addition, Laura manages Google's presence at major accessibility conferences, as she believes that connecting with the community and gathering hands-on feedback is critical.
Laura also represents Google in the Teach Access organization, where various technology companies and higher education institutions come together to drive the inclusion of accessibility in core Computer Science, Design, and Human-Centered Interaction programs. Due to her personal experience with low vision since age 10, she believes that technology has more power now than ever to transform lives, and progressing accessibility has become her true passion.
Prior to her role in accessibility, Laura worked as an Account Manager in Google's Large Customer Sales division where she advised business-to-business technology companies on their advertising and marketing strategies. For her undergraduate education, Laura studied International Business, Marketing, and Music at Georgetown University.
Job Titles:
- Vice President, People and Culture
Job Titles:
- Chief People Officer
- Member of the LightHouse Board
Job Titles:
- Orientation & Mobility Specialist
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- Access Technology Specialist
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- Production Assistant / Packer / LightHouse Sirkin Center
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- Designer, Accessible Media, MAD Lab
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- Associate
- Volunteer Manager
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- Interim Chief, Rehabilitation and Clinical Service
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- Director, Information Technology
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- Member of the LightHouse Board
- Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld, LLP, Attorney
Michael Nunez is an attorney at Rosen Bien Galvan & Grunfeld, LLP. He works on complex litigation and prelitigation matters, including class actions, with a particular focus on ensuring that people with disabilities obtain equal access to government services, technology, transportation, and public accommodations. Mr. Nunez also has experience representing clients in employment discrimination and white-collar criminal defense matters.
Job Titles:
- Community Services Coordinator
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- Director, Systems and Infrastructure
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- Technical and Quality Director / LightHouse Sirkin Center
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- Assistant Salesforce Administrator
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- Lead / Machine Operator / LightHouse Sirkin Center
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- Rehabilitation Teaching Specialist
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- Grant and Contract Manager
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- Production Assistant / LightHouse Sirkin Center
Job Titles:
- Chief of Staff
- Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist
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- Senior Director, Hospitality
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- Member of the LightHouse Board
- Chief Science Officer at McFadden
- Chief Science Officer, McFadden and Associates, LLC
Roger McFadden is currently Chief Science Officer at McFadden and Associates, LLC., where he applies his more than 35 years of experience helping businesses design, manufacture and market high performance cleaning, disinfecting and coating products. He speaks and teaches on a variety of professional sustainable cleaning, environmental, safety, health, sustainability and green chemistry topics. Roger serves on the Sustainable Purchasing Leadership Council (SPLC) Board. Roger has served on the Board of Trustees for the John Merck Fund and Board of Directors of two non-profit organizations including Beyond Benign and Clean Production Action.
Job Titles:
- Adult Program Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Immediate past Chair
- Immediate past President
- Member of the LightHouse Board
Dr. Sacks is recently retired from her post as Superintendent of the California School for the Blind. During her tenure, Dr. Sacks led a staff of 150 and promoted education excellence for students served on campus and through outreach programs throughout the state. Prior to her role as superintendent, Dr. Sacks was the Director of Curriculum, Assessment, & Staff Development at CS. After receiving her doctorate, Sharon coordinated programs and was a university professor in moderate/severe disabilities at San Jose State University, and programs in visual impairments at California State University, Los Angeles. Dr. Sacks worked as a TVI for eight years as a resource and itinerant teacher prior to assuming leadership positions.
She has conducted research, presented nationally and internationally, and published widely in the areas of social skills instruction for students with visual impairments, psycho-social implications of visual impairment, transition programming for students with visual impairments, and strategies to educate students with visual impairments and multiple disabilities. Dr. Sacks has provided consultation, assessment, and program evaluation services to schools and agencies serving children and adults with visual impairments.
Dr. Sacks is a strong advocate for ensuring quality services for children and adults who are blind or visually impaired through her direct work with families, consumer organizations, and professional organizations. She is the recipient of the Mary K. Bauman Award for Distinguished Service in Education and a past president of AERBVI.
Job Titles:
- Community Outreach Specialist
Job Titles:
- Youth Services Coordinator
STEM Camp provides blind youth with hands-on, interactive and fun activities focused on science, technology, engineering and math.
Job Titles:
- Director, Employee Relations
- Senior Director, Facilities
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- Senior Director, Capital Campaign & Marketing / Communications
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- Access Technology Specialist Ll
Job Titles:
- Senior Director, Individual & Institutional Giving
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- Camp Assistant Director IV
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- Orientation & Mobility Specialist
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- Independent Living Specialist / Earle Baum Center
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- Production Assistant / Forklift Operator / LightHouse Sirkin Center
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- Accounting Associate / LightHouse Sirkin Center
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- Senior Accessible Media and Braille Specialist, MAD Lab
Job Titles:
- Orientation & Mobility Specialist
Job Titles:
- Orientation & Mobility Specialist
Job Titles:
- Orientation & Mobility Specialist
Job Titles:
- Director, Workforce Services