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 retirement. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes Nanette (Nan) DeTurk, executive level leader with financial, strategic, and operational expertise in health care, insurance, and consumer product/service industries, to the show. As the retired Executive Vice President, CFO & Strategy, Highmark Health, she will be discussing her extensive career in the healthcare industry. Additionally, Ms. DeTurk will discuss her commitment to finding talented people with disabilities to fill roles in the healthcare field. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

ENCORE PRESENTATION of May 27, 2025, Joyce welcomes Dr. Louis Olander, Ph.D., Director of Research and Veterans' Initiatives at Disability: IN. As a veteran and advocate, Dr. Olander will share his work with Disability:IN, and the ways in which the organization supports veterans with disabilities, in honor of Memorial Day. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

As we enter National Epilepsy Awareness Month, Joyce welcomes Landis Wiedner one of the leading voices in epilepsy today. She's the founder and host of What the EF?, a top 10% global podcast which, was recognized by the California State Legislature with a Media Excellence Award. She will be discussing the latest advances in the treatment of epilepsy for those that are living with the condition. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Responsible Joyce welcomes Molly Burke, a multi-hyphenate creative and advocate who uses her voice—on stage, on screen, and on the page—to educate, entertain, and drive meaningful change for the world. With over 5 million followers across social media, she has built a globally recognizable brand as a speaker, content creator, author, consultant, and model. Diagnosed at age 4 with Retinitis Pigmentosa—a rare degenerative eye disease—Molly began public speaking just a year later, sparking a lifelong mission to amplify the voices of the disability community. During the show, Ms. Burke will share her passion to be an advocate for others with disabilities. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes Melissa Anderson, Executive Vice President, Chief Auditor & Compliance Officer at Highmark Health to the show. She serves as the primary staff liaison to the audit committee of the board of directors for Highmark Inc. and Highmark Health. She will discuss her support of the Bender Consulting Services, Inc. partnership with Highmark Health. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes back to the show, Scott Hammerstrom, Manager of Programs and Partnerships with Bender Leadership Academy. Joining Mr. Hammerstrom will be Emily Burkhart, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Officer at Dollar Bank and Laina Fusarelli, Business Controller (Operations Leadership/Innovation/IT) & Capital Planning Leader, Nova Chemical Corporation. Among the topics discussed will be Pittsburgh, PA’s participation in 2025’s National Disability Mentoring Day and the long-standing support and commitment that both Dollar Bank and Nova Chemical Corporation have given to Disability Mentoring Day and the Bender Leadership Academy. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Joyce welcomes Joy Matoney, Vice President, Diversified Businesses & Growth Planning and Enablement at Highmark, Inc. She will discuss her stellar 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 Congressman Steny Hoyer and former Congressman Tony Coelho to the show. They will be discussing the 35th Anniversary of the ADA and what progress has been made over the years and what has not been fulfilled. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Special Guest Jeanette Towles

Special Guest Tom Doran

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 on the show. During the show, she will be discussing 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 during the Obama Administration. She will also discuss her protection and advocacy work, and her current work with Bender Consulting Services and the Bender Leadership Academy. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Bender Consulting Services, Inc.Bender Leadership Academy

Special Guest Craig Leen

Special Guest Marcia Oglan

With Special guest Veronica Villalobos.

With special guest, former U.S. Senator, Tom Harkin.