Board of Directors
BETH BUTLER
VP, Employment Compliance, Wachovia Corporation
Chair, US Business Leadership Network
Beth is a Vice President in Employment Compliance with Wachovia Corporation and recently relocated to Wachovia’s Corporate Headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina where she serves as Disability and Accommodations Consultant for the company. In July 2007, Beth was invited to testify before the Congressional Sub-Committee on Higher Education, Life Long Learning and Competitiveness and shared her personal and professional journey as a consumer of the Vocational Rehabilitation Program. In August 2007, Beth received a Governor appointment to serve on the North Carolina Commission for the Blind and currently serves as Vice Chairman. In April 2006 the Council of State Administrators for Vocational Rehabilitation presented Beth with an Inaugural Leadership Award at the Capitol in Washington D.C..
Beth has served as Vice Chairman of the Alabama State Rehabilitation Council and Chairman of the Employment Subcommittee since 2004. Beth is also a member of the Board of Directors of the U.S. Business Leadership Network where she serves as the Southeastern Regional Representative. Beth has presented at numerous conferences across the country and appeared in professional magazines such as PINK Magazine, HR Executive and DiversityInc. As a wife, a mother and an attorney who happens to have a disability, Beth brings a unique perspective to the dialogue on employment of people with disabilities. Legally blind since birth, Beth uses ZoomText Software and other assistive technology to achieve her success at Wachovia.
DEB RUSSELL
Corporate Manager, Walgreen Company
Vice Chair, US Business Leadership Network
Deb Russell is a Corporate Manager for Walgreen Co. She oversees the company’s commitment to have one third of the workforce in its latest and all future distribution centers consist of qualified individuals with disabilities. The first of these centers opened in January 2007. Ms. Russell has advised and monitored the efforts in order to disseminate lessons that are learned. Walgreen Company is the nation’s largest drugstore chain and the 7th largest retailer.
Fortune Magazine ranks Walgreens as the 45th largest company in America and it employs over 200,000 people. Deb’s background includes working in the field of employment of people with disabilities for more than 15 years. These experiences include being a Special Education Teacher, job developer, and addressing issues related to the employment of people with disabilities within the workforce investment and Medicaid systems. She has presented nationally on topics related to the employment of people with disabilities.
MARTHA ARTILES
Chief Diversity Officer, Manpower Inc.
Secretary/Treasurer, US Business Leadership Network
Martha Artiles, Global Chief Diversity Officer, brings a unique combination of human resources, engineering and community experience from her 30-year career to Manpower where she oversees global strategic diversity and workforce development. Her expertise spans many areas including diversity, organizational change, recruitment, quality management and mechanical engineering.
Prior to joining Manpower, Artiles led diversity initiatives at global corporations in the manufacturing, IT and service sectors. Her accomplishments include the initiation of a minority council to educate senior executives at a Fortune 300 global corporation, the creation and development of an executive-focused mentoring program and the co-founding of a Hispanic employee networking group. Most recently, Artiles led the development and execution of Manpower’s global and North American diversity strategies.
Artiles holds a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Santa Clara in California. She serves on the Board of the U.S. Business Leadership Network (USBLN), Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), Hispanic Professionals of Greater Milwaukee (HPGM) and the Executive Board of the Silicon Valley National Society of Hispanic MBAs. She is also a member of the Conference Board’s Workforce Diversity Council, the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA), the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) and the World Economic Forum’s Global Talent and Diversity Agenda Council. Artiles is an accomplished speaker at a national and international level, addressing diversity-related issues in human resources, Hispanic, professional and women’s groups, and is often cited as an expert in the media.
DEBRA RUH
President & Founder, TecAccess
Debra is the President and Founder of TecAccess. TecAccess is the leading provider of professional IT/Web accessibility and usability testing, consulting, training and award-winning disability workforce solutions, staffing programs and marketing programs. TecAccess was awarded the prestigious 2005 Presidential Freedom Initiative Award. For her efforts, Debra was awarded the 2007 Outstanding Achievement Award by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, Enterprising Women Magazine’s Advocacy Award, Northrop Grumman’s 2007 Community Support Award, and the prestigious Wells Fargo/NAWBO “Trailblazer” Award.
She has been featured on CNN, NPR, and US News and World Report. In 2006 Debra embarked on a new mission to expand TecAccess services to better serve disabled veterans through DVETs. Debra is currently partnering with leading organizations to train disabled veterans across the country. This programs use Assistive Technology (AT), such as screen readers and voice activated controls, for one-of-a-kind training and employment opportunities. Our DVET is the first of its kind program in the nation – a program that guarantees employment to our veterans.
FRANCES WEST
Director, IBM Human Ability & Accessibility Center
Frances West is Director of the IBM Human Ability & Accessibility Center. The Center’s mission is to enable human capability through innovation, so all people can reach their potential, regardless of age or ability. She is charged with the worldwide responsibility of establishing IBM market leadership by promoting IBM advanced research technology, products, services and solutions in the area of human ability and accessibility.
Prior to this assignment, Frances was Director, Channels, Alliances and Business Development for the Lotus Software Group. She recruited and managed IBM Business Partners globally that specialize in Lotus software. In addition, Frances was Director, Financial Services Sector Solutions in the IBM Global Services organization. She managed investment funding and executed financial services solution plans for banking, insurance and financial markets globally.
KEVIN BRADLEY
Director, Inclusion & Diversity, McDonald’s Corporation
Kevin Bradley is a Director of Inclusion and Diversity at McDonald's Corporation in Oak Brook, Illinois. In this position he is responsible for leading the Company’s external national partnerships in the Asian American and disability communities. Internally, he provides internal support and consultation to the Company in the areas of employment, diversity councils, and people with disabilities and workplace accommodations.
His work also includes serving as in internal resource to both the McDonald’s Asian Employee Network and the Asian McDonald’s Operators Association in the area of diversity. He plays a critical role with McDonald’s Asian Business Vision initiative, leading that groups People Team.
KEVIN FOSTER
Director Human Resources, Motorola’s Quality Master Black Belt
Kevin Foster has worked for Motorola for over 15 years and currently manages the Global HR Quality and the Digital Six Sigma function. Prior to this, Kevin held various leadership roles in Organization Development, Global Inclusion and Diversity, and EEO/AA Compliance.
Kevin is also the founder and co-leader of the Motorola Business Council for People with Disabilities and has been active on several boards and committees including USBLN®, American Foundation for the Blind, Career opportunities for Students with Disabilities, and the Foundation for Blind Children. Kevin graduated from California State University, Sacramento with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Industrial Organizational Psychology.
MARTHALEE GALEOTA
Program Manager, Starbucks Accessibility & Diversity
Marthalee Galeota is a grassroots, disability community advocate who has worked in the rehabilitation and non-profit worlds for over 20 years.
Marthalee currently serves as Program Manager for Starbuck’s Accessibility and Disability. She is passionate about Starbucks becoming one of the most inclusive brands in the world and energizing the company around universal access and to that end is establishing an Accessibility Center of Excellence.
SCOTT K. WILLIAMS
Vice President of E-Commerce, Sam’s Club
Scott has responsibility for the Samsclub.com business unit and leads the Sam’s digital marketing initiatives and call center operations. Scott joined Sam’s Club in 2006.
Prior to joining Sam’s Club, Scott served as Senior Vice-President, Marketing and OfficeMax.com for OfficeMax, Inc. in Itasca, IL. Additionally, Scott has held marketing and general management positions with PepsiCo, Boise Cascade Office Products, and Koch Industries.
Scott is on the Board for Life Styles, an organization supporting Adults with Disabilities.
Scott has an MBA, Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Northwestern University, and a B.S., Business Administration, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
MICHAEL TAKEMURA
Director, HP Accessibility & Aging Program Office
Michael Takemura, director of the HP Accessibility & Aging Program Office, is responsible for developing and implementing the strategy for HP’s accessibility efforts. This office guides corporate-wide accessibility in product design, engineering, product development, marketing, web, services, support and programs for persons with disabilities and age-related limitations.
Michael is a frequent speaker representing HP and the information technology industry on global information technology accessibility issues. He is currently serving as co-convenor of the JTC1 Special Working Group on Accessibility - Task Group on User Requirements, and the chair for the INCITS Study Group on Accessibility. Michael also represented the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) on the U.S. Access Board Telecommunications and Electronic Information Technology Advisory Council (TEITAC). He serves on the Board of Directors for the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA), and has previously served on the Board of Directors for the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and the Advisory Board for California State University at Northridge – Center on Disabilities (CSUN-COD). He is a member of the Information Technology Industry Council (ITI) Accessibility Committee, and the National Spinal Cord Injury Association (NSCIA) Business Advisory Council. In 2005, he was named one of Careers & disABLED Magazine’s Employees of the Year, for his professional and advocacy efforts on behalf of people with disabilities in the workplace.
Takemura has been in the technology industry for over 20 years, representing HP/Compaq for more than 16 years, with strategic roles in the marketing and sales organizations and currently in the HP Office of Strategy & Technology. He resides in Houston Texas where he is an active member in his church, serving on the Missions Committee and making annual visits to Mexico and Costa Rica working with disadvantaged children. Michael attended Creighton University with studies in Organizational Communications.
MICHELLE MAYBAUM
Director, Employee Relations, Qualcomm Incorporated
Michelle has been involved with the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN®) since 2003, and she served as the Vice President of the Board from 2004-2007. She is also the representative for Qualcomm as one of the lead companies for the San Diego Chapter of the California BLN.
Michelle actively partners with the Department of Rehabilitation and other service providers as a member of the San Diego Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities (SDCEPD) to further the employment of people with disabilities.
Michelle has 20+ years of Human Resources experience and is currently employed as a Director, Employee Relations at Qualcomm Incorporated. In that capacity, she is responsible for disability awareness for the entire the organization, overseeing accommodation needs, and outreach to the disabled community. Qualcomm is a leader in developing and delivering innovative digital wireless communications products and services based on the Company's CDMA digital technology.
DEBORAH DAGIT
Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President, Diversity, Work Environment &
University Relations, Merck & Co. Inc.
Deborah Dagit joined Merck & Co. Inc. as the Chief Diversity Officer in June 2001. She has responsibility for global equal opportunity employment compliance, diversity, inclusion, work environment, university relations and diversity outreach strategies. Under Ms. Dagit's leadership, organizations such as Diversityinc, DOL New Freedom Initiative for People with Disabilities, Working Mother, G.I. Jobs and the Human Rights Campaign have recognized Merck for its exemplary work in diversity and inclusion. Merck has undergone more than 50 different federal audits for compliance with U.S. Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity requirements for federal contractors since 1980 - each time, receiving a letter of compliance from the government. Ms. Dagit joined Merck from Silicon Graphics, Inc. where she was a Director of Learning Communications and Diversity since 1993.
Ms. Dagit earned a bachelor's degree with honors from Oregon State University, and completed her master's degree work in clinical psychology at San Jose State University. She is a past Chair of the Conference Board's Workforce Council on Diversity and serves as the Board Co-chair of the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network. She is the author of, "The Promise of Diversity: Reflections on the Not-So-Level Playing Field" and "An Employer's Guide to Hiring and Accommodating People with Disabilities."
Among her many awards, Ms. Dagit earned the 2005 Champion of the Year from Out and Equal; the 2004 “Employee of the Year" award from Careers & the DisABLED magazine; the 2000 Exemplary Leader Award from Silicon Graphics; the 1999 Advocate of the Year from the Black Employees Network; the 1997 Award of Professional Excellence from the Northern California HR Council; and the 1996 Tribute to Women in Industry award. Ms. Dagit is married and has three children aged 14-16.
ROY E. FLORA
Group President of Microtel Inns and Suites and Baymont Inn & Suites
Roy E. Flora serves as the Group President for Microtel Inns and Suites and Baymont Inn & Suites. Flora led Microtel Inns & Suites to dominate all new construction brands in the economy segment with 50% of the supply, recognition by J.D. Power & Associates as highest in overall guest satisfaction for the economy segment for an unprecedented eight (8) consecutive years, something no other company in any industry segment has ever achieved. He redesigned and launched the new Microtel guest room concepts. Recipient of 2008 HotelWorld Global Hospitality & Design Award for Best Guestroom Design ~ Limited Service, and Lodging Hospitality 2008 Chain Leadership award.
He received American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) Fair Franchising Seal for Microtel and Hawthorn Suites brands and is a three time recipient of Franchisor of the Year Award. Flora’s other accomplishments include launching the first franchisor-sponsored development mentoring initiative in the lodging industry to assist first time and novice franchisees through the critical pre-construction phase of development. He has championed total product and attitude accessibility for persons with disabilities, Little People, and seniors. He was recently recognized with the Eagle Award from Disability Rights Advocates, 2008 Disability Matters award, and Access to Freedom Award from the Society for Accessible Travel and Hospitality.
Additionally, he redefined/launched revised Hawthorn Suites prototype, new bedding initiative and new, contemporary design concept. Also, he developed ReciPe’s for Success©, a corporate, franchisee, hotel level employee handbook setting forth the Company’s core values, guiding principles, expectations for delivering the highest quality accommodations and service, promoting diversity, employee recognition, and partnering with the local community. He served 20+ years with Holiday Inn Worldwide. He previously owned, Flora Hospitality Services for 9 years and is a Certified Rule 31 Mediator.
LORI GOLDEN
Inclusiveness Consultant and Lead of AccessAbilities, Ernst & Young,
LLP
Lori Golden leads AccessAbilities, Ernst & Young’s efforts to build an inclusive work environment for people with disabilities. AccessAbilities is a firm-sponsored inclusiveness initiative with a network made up of several hundred people from across the firm's organization's geographies, ranks and functional groups. There is also a leaders network of Abilities Champions who advocate for disabilities inclusiveness within their respective geographies and functional groups, and networks to support the parents of children with disabilities and to support Ernst & Young professionals who act as caregivers for adults with disabilities.
Lori facilitates AccessAbilities' networks and drives a variety of initiatives within the firm to enhance accessibility in Ernst & Young offices, make internal communications, meetings, trainings and technology more accessible and user-friendly and build a global accessibility strategy for the web and online applications. Lori is also charged with educating Ernst & Young people on disabilities etiquette, language and work habits, and raising awareness of disability-related issues.
SUSAN PALMER MAZRUI
Director, Public Policy, AT&T
Susan Palmer Mazrui began work at Pacific Bell in 1994 where she gained experience in marketing, external and regulatory affairs. In 1998, she moved to the wireless field where she developed strategies for addressing Hearing Aid Compatibility and other state and federal compliance-related activities. Ms Mazrui also assisted in the development of Section 255 and 508 product development strategies in SBC and Cingular Wireless. From 1996-2007, she facilitated the Wireless Access Task Force, composed of national consumer advocates and currently works on a range of disability and consumer related initiatives at AT&T. Over the last fifteen years, Ms. Mazrui presented at numerous conferences including Telecommunications for the Deaf, Inc. and the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators and wrote articles in consumer publications including Critical Issues in Aging and AccessWorld®.
Ms. Mazrui received her Master’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies in Education with an emphasis on computer education at San Francisco State University, magna cum laude. Prior to work in telecommunications, Ms. Mazrui taught graduate and undergraduate courses in computing and assistive technology at San Francisco State University and Special Education in San Jose, California. Ms. Mazrui served on two terms of the Federal Communications Commission’s Consumer Advisory Committee, as well as terms on the national advisory committees of the Telecommunications Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center and the Information Technology Technical Assistance and Training Center (ITTATC) and as an alternate on the Access Board’s Telecommunications Access Advisory Committee (TAAC) and the Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Access Committee (TEITAC). She currently serves on the Program Committee for the American Foundation for the Blind, the Business Advisory Committee for the National Spinal Cord Injury Association and the Board of Directors of the World Institute on Disability. Ms. Mazrui was the 2002 Summit on Leading Diversity Corporate Fellow and inducted into the Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame in 2008.