Charlie LaVallee: Retired CEO of Variety the Children’s Charity and Child Advocate Discusses His Long Career with the Charity and His Long-Standing Friendship with Fred Rogers.
Release Date: 12/02/2025
Barãta Bey: President African American Chamber of Commerce of Western, PA Shares Mission of the Organization, and Its Latest Accomplishments to Enhance Business Growth
Disability Matters
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 Serves as CEO of and Board Chair and Founder of , a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The...
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Mark Sevco: President of AHN Shares Commitment to Help AHN Succeed in Competitive Industry and Continue Hiring People with Disabilities as Part of Its Workforce
Disability Matters
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 Serves as CEO of and Board Chair and Founder of , a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning...
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Larry Kleinman: Executive VP and Chief Human Resources Officer of Highmark Health Shares Commitment to Continue Partnership with Bender Consulting Services, Inc., Hiring People with Disabilities as an Integral Part of Workforce.
Disability Matters
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 Serves as CEO of and Board Chair and Founder of , a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution....
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Karen Hanlon: President and COO of Highmark Health Shares Background and Insight into Current Health Care Trends
Disability Matters
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 Serves as CEO of and Board Chair and Founder of , a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The Pittsburgh Business Times and 2024 Henry Viscardi Achievement...
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David Holmberg: Highmark Grows Commitment to Hire People with Disabilities in 2026
Disability Matters
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....
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2025, Maria Town, Jennifer Mathis, Christine Griffin
Disability Matters
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 Serves as CEO of and Board Chair and Founder of , a non-profit...
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Lisa Scales: President and CEO of The Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank Discusses the Value Services for the Under Privileged in the Area
Disability Matters
Joyce welcomes Lisa Scales, President and CEO of the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to the show. Ms. Scales will share the mission of this organization and impart upon the listeners the heightened importance of donating to the food bank during the holiday season as well as year-round. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of and Board Chair and Founder of , a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024 Woman of Influence...
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Aaron Kellar: Owner and Long-Standing Producer/Engineer at VoiceAmerica Discusses Career and 20-Year Working Relationship with Host Joyce Bender
Disability Matters
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 Serves as CEO of and Board Chair and Founder of , a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024...
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Dr. Calvin Troup: President of Geneva College Shares College Direction Under Fresh Leadership
Disability Matters
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 Serves as CEO of and Board Chair and Founder of , a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The Pittsburgh Business Times and 2024 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Recipient from the Viscardi Center. Recipient of...
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Charlie LaVallee: Retired CEO of Variety the Children’s Charity and Child Advocate Discusses His Long Career with the Charity and His Long-Standing Friendship with Fred Rogers.
Disability Matters
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...
info_outlineJoyce 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
- Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities.
- Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution.
- Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The Pittsburgh Business Times and 2024 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Recipient from the Viscardi Center.
- Recipient of the 2024 Visionary Award from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.