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Tiffany Meehan is a disabled Latina professional with expertise in accessibility, strategic marketing, and universal design. She is the Founder of Full Circle Access, the first platform that personalizes live event experiences, helping venues better understand and serve their guests. Her career spans government, technology startups, and nonprofit sectors, where she creates partnerships and initiatives that advance workplace inclusion, including her role as Policy Advisor at the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy. Based in Sterling, Virginia, Tiffany graduated from The George Washington University with a BA in English and Religion. In her free time, she enjoys road-tripping with her golden retriever and going to concerts.
Elisha Jenkins is the Director of the Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation. She was appointed to lead the agency in July of 2022. With over 20 years of experience with serving individuals with disabilities, Elisha has an extensive career with the State of Delaware including the Division for the Visually Impaired , Division of Substance Use and Mental Health and her current role. Elisha holds a master’s degree in public administration and a master’s degree in human resources from Wilmington College, a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Norfolk State University, and an Assistive Technology Certificate from North Carolina Central University. Fueled by her passion from lived experience to navigate services for a family member who was deaf, Elisha is most proud of the relationships and network to continue systems change. Her primary focus has been to expand opportunities for vulnerable populations through education, employment, and technology. Elisha is a Life Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and Girl Scouts of America and loves singing in her church choir. One favorite quote is Maya Angelou’s “My mission in life is not merely to survive but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. If you don’t like something change it. If you can’t change it change your attitude.”
Stacey Bragg serves as the Deputy Director for the Delaware Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) and has over 28 years of experience in supporting individuals with disabilities. DVR offers tailored services to both employers and individuals with disabilities, promoting greater independence and fostering a more inclusive workplace. Stacey started her career in vocational rehabilitation with Delaware’s blind agency, the Division for the Visually Impaired (DVI) before transitioning to DVR, where she has held various positions during her tenure. She is an active member of the Delaware Developmental Disabilities Council, where she stives to improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Her efforts are focused on transforming systems, laws, and policies so that everyone is included, respected, and afforded equal opportunities. Additionally, Stacey is an Adjunct Instructor for Delaware Technical Community College, teaching in both the Human Services and Social Sciences programs. Stacey holds a master’s degree in administration of human services and a bachelor’s degree in human resource management, both from Wilmington University. Motivated by her personal experience as a parent of a child with disabilities, Stacey is deeply passionate about her work. She is also a dedicated supporter of Special Olympics of Delaware.
Brent Anderson is a recognized role model for individuals with disabilities. He is the author of the popular Unintentional Humor books that are a valuable resource for teachers, therapists and families. He is a popular speaker who provides a humorous explanation of life on the autism spectrum that is both enlightening and inspiring. When the pandemic put a stop to in-person gatherings, Brent turned that challenge into an opportunity to start another business. Embracing his love of animals, Brent began making products for cats and dogs and launched his business Pets Pizzazz in 2022. Brent is an active member on the advisory board of Celebrate EDU, a nonprofit organization that provides entrepreneurial education to individuals with developmental disabilities. His experiences as a self-advocate entrepreneur are helping to shape the future for millions living with disabilities.
Ron Brooks is a graduate of Indiana University and a 32-year veteran of the public transit industry where he is focused on making bus, rail, paratransit and other services accessible for everyone, including people with disabilities. In 2020, Ron founded Accessible Avenue, a company that provides accessibility-focused consulting and training services to the public transit industry. Ron is also the Senior Director of Policy and Stakeholder Engagement for UZURV, a transportation and technology provider, helping individuals, families, agencies, organizations, and communities ensure everyone, regardless of their mobility needs, has access to safe, reliable, and affordable transportation. Ron is a frequent presenter and author on topics related to public transit accessibility, including accessible public involvement, wayfinding to, from and within transit networks, autonomous vehicle accessibility, and strategies for modernizing paratransit and other on-demand transportation services designed to meet the needs of older adults and people with disabilities. He is a co-author of the book, “All Aboard – Conducting Accessible Community Involvement for Public Transit.” In his off time, Ron is a committed advocate within the blind/low-vision and disability communities where he serves on a number of Boards and committees for several non-profit community-based organizations.
Kevin Dalin is a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor and founder of Tech4Impact, an assistive technology (AT) company dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities through personalized, tech driven solutions. With more than a decade of experience, he delivers innovative tools and strategies that promote independence in education, employment, and daily life. Building on this entrepreneurial foundation, he also applies his expertise in a leadership role at Easterseals Iowa, where he serves as Assistant Director of Rural Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology. In this capacity, Kevin leads a team providing AT evaluations, training, and accessibility guidance. An advocate and lifelong learner, he has contributed to multiple boards and advisory councils reflecting his commitment to advancing equity and inclusion through technology.
Lorinda Santana, owner of Remy's Consulting, specializes in grant writing and nonprofit consulting. She holds degrees in English Writing, Business, and Communication, along with certifications as an AGWA Certified Grant Writer and Grant Writing Specialist. With over a decade of experience, Lorinda has taught grant acquisition workshops to more than ten thousand students. She is dedicated to helping nonprofits succeed and excels in managing diverse, collaborative online teams.
Suzanne is the Accessibility Standards Lead at Airbnb, where she sets the company’s overall vision and strategy for accessibility and works with teams across the company to execute. Suzanne is a full time wheelchair user after sustaining a spinal cord injury in 2011 and extremely passionate about helping make travel more accessible. She joined Airbnb in 2017 as part of the acquisition of accessible travel startup Accomable. Recent updates to Airbnb have included ways for guests with mobility needs to more easily find and book listings that meet their needs and the introduction of the Adapted Category and Accessibility Review, a process to review and confirm accessibility features added to Airbnb listings. Outside of work, Suzanne is a very active member of the disability community and is an advocate for employment opportunities for members of the disability community and inclusive sports. She is a member of the English Adaptive Surf team and will be competing at the World Surf Championships in November.
Melinda F. Emerson, aka “SmallBizLady,” is one of America’s leading small business experts. She is an internationally renowned keynote speaker who presents on small business development, social selling, and marketing strategy. As CEO of Quintessence Group (her marketing consulting firm which serves Fortune 500 brands) and the leader of her online school (www.smallbizladyuniversity.com), Emerson is passionate about online marketing and educating others on how to start and grow a successful small business. She hosts The Smallbizchat Podcast and is the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, A month-by-month guide to a business that works and Fix Your Business, a 90 Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business.
Nikki Powis has over 30 years’ experience advancing economic opportunities for underrepresented and underserved populations at the local, regional, statewide, and national level. Currently Nikki is the Director of Small Business Programs for National Disability Institute (NDI). Nikki is responsible for the strategic direction and implementation of NDI’s multiple small business initiatives serving entrepreneurs and small business owners with disabilities. Her role includes championing NDI’s efforts to expand Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within the entrepreneurial eco-system and supporting entrepreneurs with disabilities to start, build and grow their businesses. Nikki brings experience and passion into her work toward supporting positive change efforts.
Ciara Ladroma is a Senior Associate with Griffin-Hammis Associates. Ciara provides training and technical assistance around customized employment, supported employment, self-Employment and building social capital. Before joining Griffin-Hammis Associates, Ciara served as the Director of the Iowa Women’s Business Center. She is a former career coach with Des Moines Area Community College. Ciara also served as an employment specialist and employment coordinator for a community-based rehabilitation agency. She is skilled in training others in negotiation, networking and relationship building.
Ruth E. Chavez, Small Business Specialist at National Disability Institute, specializes in supporting small businesses owned by individuals with disabilities across the nation. In her current role, Ruth provides expert guidance on feasibility studies, business plans and personal budgets, helping clients apply for start-up funding through vocational rehabilitation. Her support is tailored to the unique preferences and capacities of individuals with disabilities. Ruth’s prior experience includes a role as a bilingual Business Consultant and Training Coordinator at the University of Maryland’s Small Business Development Center, where she provided business counseling and organized numerous training programs for small business owners. Ruth’s background in entrepreneurship, combined with her bilingual skills in English and Spanish, equips her with a unique perspective and set of skills for supporting the success of small businesses.
Neena Massey is a multidisciplinary artist, educator, and therapeutic coach whose work honors healing, intuition, and cultural memory. She creates spaces for individual and collective transformation through performance, writing, movement, and visual art. Raised in a South Asian Christian family with ancestral roots in pre-partition India — in a region now known as Pakistan — Neena draws upon ancestral knowledge, somatic wisdom, and sacred practices in her work. Whether dancing, writing, holding space, or creating visual art, her intention remains clear: to support healing in the body, mind, and soul. Under the performance art moniker Raven Speaks, Neena offers immersive experiences that blend Classical South Indian dance, Middle Eastern movement, Urdu poetics, mantra, and meditation. Neena is also the visionary behind Denver’s Annual Community Gathering, now in its fifth year, which brings together people who care about displaced and gentrified communities, creating a space to celebrate culture, share art, and honor collective healing. Her therapeutic coaching practice offers compassionate support for anyone seeking a trusted partner on their healing journey. Whether navigating emotional blocks, life transitions, or inner growth, Neena holds space with care and integrity. In all her work, she centers the belief that we heal better together, and that art is a powerful pathway to liberation and transformation.
Coming soon
Hib Doe is a Field Services Manager with HireAbility Vermont, Vermont’s vocational rehabilitation (VR) program. His primary role is to provide supervisory support for all six of the state’s regional managers. Hib worked for several years as a VR Counselor in a small VR district office on the Canadian border and always had a strong interest in assisting participants achieve self-employment outcomes. He has been very involved with the development and implementation of Vermont’s Self Employment Program which holds great promise to improve services to individuals with disabilities who desire to be self-employed. Hib is very excited to be part of this project because it is important that VR continues to advance the abilities of individuals in ways that work best for them. Hib has a master’s in counseling and has enjoyed working on many successful projects for HireAbility Vermont in the past 25 years.
Jamie Blondin is a seasoned vocational rehabilitation professional, educator, and entrepreneur with a passion for helping people find success through self-employment. She holds a B.S. in health education with a minor in psychology from Bridgewater State College and an M.Ed. in community education from Goddard College. Jamie began her career with HireAbility Vermont as a vocational counselor, where she supported individuals with disabilities in identifying and pursuing meaningful career paths. She later advanced to manage the state’s self-employment program, leading program development, staff training, and business planning support. She has proudly followed her family’s entrepreneurial roots and she has owned both a retail and wholesale food business and a registered home daycare. Today, as founder of Mind Hive Consulting, LLC, she partners with agencies and organizations nationwide to strengthen self-employment services and empower individuals with disabilities to build meaningful careers through self-employment.
Jonathan is an independent accessibility consultant and the founder of Opossum House Accessibility. He has decades of experience in ensuring compliance with accessibility regulations and helping public and private organizations include and support people with disabilities. In his prior role at the Department of Labor, he developed a Department-wide policy on accessible virtual events, directed accessibility initiatives reaching thousands of employers, produced award-winning materials supporting compliance for thousands of small businesses, and trained nearly 2,000 people across the country on various aspects of accessibility. In prior roles, Jonathan helped draft regulations for digital and physical accessibility in health care facilities across the country, built a training program and protocol for accessibility in a New York City government agency, developed accessibility guidance on supporting residents with dementia for thousands of urban planners across the United States, and supported accessibility in small organizations across the country. Jonathan holds degrees from the University of Chicago; the University of Oxford; and the University of Maryland College Park. Jonathan is a Certified Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies (CPACC).
Maria Chapman is a writer, strategist, and disabled entrepreneur who believes in the power of pivoting as a business model. After a sudden neuromuscular illness ended her 15-year career in education, she went on to build Connected Ghostwriting, an agency that helps thought leaders and entrepreneurs turn their ideas into books, courses, and content that converts. Maria is also the founder of Journey 2 Success, a nonprofit that equips individuals with disabilities, especially those displaced mid-career, with the tools to build businesses that support both income and health. Her book, The Power of the Pivot, releases in winter 2025.
Rosemarie Philip is an organizational culture and well-being consultant, ICF-credentialed coach, and speaker with 20 years of experience helping teams navigate change, burnout, and culture repair. She is also the founder of a life well-loved™, a learning platform featuring tools created by disabled professionals that help people reconnect to what truly matters—at work and in life—cutting through the noise of performative wellness. Her work blends evidence-based tools with lived wisdom and is grounded in honesty, curiosity, and human-centered strategy. This approach is shaped not only by her professional background but also by the personal truth of living with multiple chronic illnesses. Rosemarie holds a master’s in organization development and leadership, is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), and holds certifications in emotional intelligence, change management and trauma-informed facilitation.
As the founder of Labyrinth Consulting, Sarah Soliz works with startups and small businesses who need seed capital but don’t have the time or expertise to navigate the maze of grant and other funding. She offers services ranging from grant research to reviewing, strategy, coaching, writing, and training. In addition to her years as a writer and editor, Sarah has the actual startup experience that other grant writers lack, and she supports each client with tailored services, no matter where they are in their fundraising journey. Her varied career path has given her an unusual breadth and depth of experience.
Syretta Martin, LMSW, is the founder and CEO of Collective Healing, a public health practitioner, social worker and liberatory wellness strategist with over two decades of experience advancing health equity. Her work centers on the intersections of race, gender, disability, and complex chronic illness. Grounded in trauma-informed practices, community-based research, and cultural humility, she integrates reflective tools, storytelling, and liberatory approaches to elevate lived experience as essential to systems change.
Thomas Foley is the Executive Director of National Disability Institute, a nonprofit committed to the financial empowerment and economic inclusion of people with disabilities and their families. Trained as a tax lawyer and financial planner, Foley has more than 30 years’ experience serving the disability community by working toward greater economic inclusion. As a person who is blind, he has been an advocate and dedicated his career to partnering with other thought leaders to address the complex drivers of economic inequality and create pathways to employment and financial security for the most vulnerable communities. In addition, Foley has been instrumental in developing and influencing federal and state legislation to encourage employment and increase participation of people with disabilities in employment and wealth-building programs. He is the author of EQUITY, the first asset building book for people with disabilities. Foley has worked closely with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Department of Treasury, Federal Reserve Board and multiple financial and community development institutions to design programs and provide technical assistance to better reach the disability community. Foley received his Master’s degree from the University of California: Berkeley and earned a JD from Hastings College of the Law.
