Disability Matters

Joyce welcomes Elizabeth Karan, Principal, Artemis Policy Group, Fred Lado, Professor of Neurology & Director, Epilepsy Division, Northwell Health Eastern & Central Regions, and Amanda Mitchell, Executive Director, Epilepsy Alliance Louisiana to the show. These guests are the core organizers of The National Plan for Epilepsy Committee, NPEC, designed to advocate for the creation of a National Plan for Epilepsy. More than 120 epilepsy-related organizations joined together to celebrate these efforts and urge members of Congress to co-sponsor and pass the bill. National plans exist for other neurological conditions and NPEC is lobbying to create a similar National Plan for Epilepsy. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes Bobbi Watt Geer, President and CEO of the United Way of Southwestern, PA to the show. Ms. Geer will share the mission and accomplishments of this non-profit organization. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes Philip M. Gattone, the current President and CEO of the National Bleeding Disorder Foundation (NBDF) to the show. NBDF's core mission areas are research, education, and advocacy to improve the lives of people with inherited blood and bleeding disorders. Mr. Gattone will expound on the mission of the organization and share more about his lifelong career leading various other impactful nonprofit organizations. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes Laura Carlson, Executive Director of Development for Allegheny Health Network's Division of Brain & Spine Health, to the show. Among the topics discussed will be the latest advancements in the role of philanthropy in this area of specialized healthcare. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes back to the show, Joy Matoney, Vice President, Diversified Businesses & Growth Planning and Enablement at Highmark, Inc. She will discuss her career at Highmark, Inc. and her commitment to the Bender partnership to hire people with disabilities. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes Dr. Bridget Green, Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations & Leadership in the School of Education and the Executive Director of the Institute for Disability Empowerment and Advocacy at Duquesne University. Dr. Green will discuss her past association with Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and how that experience shaped her career upon graduation from Duquesne University, leading led to her current position at the university helping students with disabilities achieve their goals. She will also discuss her work as a Board member of the Bender Leadership Academy. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce is honored to have back as her guest Christine Griffin, a strong disability rights advocate and current Bender Consulting Services' Senior Search Specialist Consultant. During the show, she will discuss her long career which, includes her past work as Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Deputy Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. She will also discuss her protection and advocacy work, her current work with Bender Consulting Services and the Bender Leadership Academy. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

As Black History Month continues, Joyce welcomes back to the show, Shaunda McDill, Managing Director of the Pittsburgh Public Theater. Among the topics discussed will be her passion for public theater productions, the arts, and Pittsburgh Public Theater's commitment to making productions accessible for individuals with disabilities. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce back to the show, Sam Estes, an executive leader, published author, and philanthropist. Mr. Estes will discuss his long-standing career in the defense world and his passion for helping youth with disabilities. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

To kick off February and Black History Month, Joyce welcomes Barãta Bey, President, African American Chamber of Commerce of Western, PA to the show. President Bey will share the mission of the organization and its latest accomplishments to enhance business growth. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes Mark Sevco, President of Allegheny Health Network (AHN) to the show. Mr. Sevco will share how he plans to continue to help AHN succeed in a competitive industry. He will also share what it means to him to be selected as the 2026 King of the Mardi Gras sponsored by the Epilepsy Association of Western/Central PA. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes Larry Kleinman, Executive Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Highmark Health, back to the show. Mr. Kleinman will share the organization's commitment to continue partnering with Bender Consulting Services, Inc., to hire people with disabilities as an integral part of its workforce. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Highmark month continues with Karen Hanlon, President and Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Hanlon will share her background and her role in the organization. She will also share her insights into current health care trends. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce is starting 2026 with the returning champion of competitive employment for Americans with disabilities, David Holmberg, President, and CEO of Highmark Health and Chairman of the Board, Highmark, Inc. Mr. Holmberg launched an initiative in 2020 to hire 30 people with disabilities from Bender Consulting Services to honor the 30th anniversary of the signing of the ADA, called the Highmark 30/30. He and all of Highmark have continued this practice every year since and 2026 is no exception. During the show, he will talk about the initiative and how it happened. Additionally, Mr. Holmberg will discuss how the company plans to continue its unprecedented record of hiring people with disabilities in 2026. Highmark is a $19 billion-dollar integrated health care delivery organization with headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Disability Matters Joyce welcomes Maria Town, President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Jennifer Mathis, Deputy Director of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law and Christine Griffin, DisabilityAdvocate and former employee of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Office of Personnel Management to the show. Each guest will share their perspective on the status of the disability rights movement as we close out 2025. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes Aaron Keller, Owner, VoiceAmerica Media and Producer/Engineer for Disability Matters with Joyce Bender at VoiceAmerica. Along with discussing his career, Aaron will share his reflections on having the pleasure of working with Joyce to bring her show to her loyal listeners for the past 20 years. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes Dr. Calvin Troup, the current President of Geneva College. Among the topics discussed will be the direction he has taken the college under his leadership. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes Charlie LaVallee, former CEO of Variety the Children's Charity back to the show. Mr. LaValle will discuss his long career with this vital organization. With a mission to empower children with disabilities to live life to the fullest, Variety the Children's Charity provides life-changing mobility and communication equipment to ensure its most vulnerable kids are no longer left out, behind, or excluded. Mr. LaVallee will also share his special friendship with Fred Rogers tell how that friendship influenced his passion for helping children in his career and even into retirement. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy