Sam Estes: Executive Leader, Published Author, and Philanthropist Discusses Work in the Defense World, and Passion for Helping Youth with Disabilities
Release Date: 02/10/2026
Deborah Williamson: Vice President, IWSI Discusses Mission of Organization and Role
Disability Matters
Joyce welcomes Deborah Williamson, Vice President, Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation (IWSI) America. IWSI is a workforce development organization that collaborates with enterprising businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. The organization provides technical assistance and program design to assist these entities in growing pipelines of talent and meeting dynamic workforce needs. Ms. Williamson will discuss the mission of the organization in depth and share her role. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of and Board Chair and Founder of , a...
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Tracy Saula: Senior Vice President/Chief Product and Experience Officer for Highmark Health Shares Role with the Health Organization and Commitment to All Consumers
Disability Matters
Joyce welcomes Tracy Saula, Senior Vice President and Chief Product and Experience Officer of Highmark Health, a $32 billion blended health organization. This includes one of America's largest Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers and a growing regional hospital and physician network, to the show. Ms. Saula will share details of her role with Highmark and her commitment to helping make the healthcare industry more manageable for all of Highmark’s members, including those with disabilities. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of and Board Chair and Founder of , a...
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Ari Ne’eman: American Disability Rights Activist /Professor at Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard University Discusses Vast Career
Disability Matters
Joyce welcomes Ari Ne’eman an American disability rights activist. Ari is currently serving as an assistant professor of health policy and management at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He is well-known researcher who co-founded the Autistic Self Advocacy Network in 2006. On December 16, 2009, President Barack Obama announced that Ari would be appointed to the National Council on Disability. He chaired the Council's Policy & Program Evaluation Committee. He was the first autistic person to serve on the Council. In 2015, Ari left the National Council on Disability at...
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Colin Killick: Executive Director of ASAN Shares Organization’s Mission and Accomplishments
Disability Matters
Joyce welcomes welcomes Colin Killick, Executive Director of the Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN). This nonprofit organization is a national grassroots disability rights organization for the autistic community. It fights for disability rights and works to make sure autistic people are included in policymaking, so that laws and policies meet that community’s needs. It also works to support all forms of self-advocacy and to change the perception of autism. Members and supporters include autistic adults and youth, cross-disability advocates, and non-autistic family members,...
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Elizabeth Karan, Fred Lado, Amanda Mitchell: Campaign for A National Plan for Epilepsy
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...
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Bobbi Watt Geer: President and CEO of United Way of Southwestern, PA Shares Mission and Accomplishments of Nonprofit Organization
Disability Matters
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 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...
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CEO of NBDF Shares Mission of Organization and Lifelong Career Leading Various Impactful Nonprofit Organizations
Disability Matters
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 Serves as CEO of and Board Chair and Founder of , a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition...
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Laura Carlson: Executive Director of Development AGH Division of Brain & Spine Health Discusses Latest Advancements in Area of Specialized Healthcare
Disability Matters
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 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...
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Joy Matoney: Vice President, Diversified Business & Growth Planning and Enablement for Highmark, Inc. Discusses Career/Commitment to Bender Partnership to Hire People with Disabilities
Disability Matters
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 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...
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Dr. Bridget Green: Associate Professor at Duquesne University Discusses Path to Rewarding Career Helping Students with Disabilities Achieve Success
Disability Matters
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...
info_outlineJoyce 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.