SUMMARY:

• A recognized thought leader in accessibility, diversity, disability, and inclusion (ADDI) with 15 years of progressive experience across multiple verticals (government, education, finance, insurance, nonprofit, and IT).
• Proven ability to develop, lead, and implement successful enterprise wide Accessibility projects/programs for large organizations by leveraging good communication skills, data - driven choices, big-picture thinking, and smart resource management.
• An accomplished testing and strategy framework designer for digital/web accessibility, including extensive testing, implementation, teaching, and strategy experience.
• A Board member in the International Association of Accessibility Professional and trusted ADDI adviser to many rule-making and advocacy bodies.
• First choice to lead the Federal-wide Accessibility and Digital Inclusion Trusted Tester Program based in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
• Proven advocate for assistive technology-focused thinking in design and development in addition to compliance with WCAG 2.0 and Usability.gov standards.

SKILLS MATRIX:

• Accessibility leadership | Framework/Solution development | Project/Program management
• WCAG 2.0 compliance | Requirements analysis | Public relations and speaking | Client relations
• Assistive Technologies | Vendor evaluation | User experience (UX) and digital design
• Digital/Web accessibility & Inclusion testing | Diversity support | Writing, teaching, & presenting | governance, SOP, & policy writing | Change Management

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Chief Accessibility and Digital Inclusion Officer

Confidential

Responsibilities:

• Leads the Confidential ’s global accessibility and inclusion line-of-business, which generates 10 million dollars annually.
• Works with other C-Level/Executive VPs across multiple domains (e.g., marketing, human resources, sales, facilities, IT, and media) to develop shared goals and priorities around accessibility, diversity, disability, and inclusion.
• Oversees a team of 100+ professionals across multiple lines of business, spread out across the globe.
• Provides the public-facing voice for Confidential ’s commitment to accessibility, diversity, and inclusion via press events and industry presentations.

Principal Digital Accessibility and Inclusion Program Manager

Confidential

Responsibilities:

• Partnered with Accessibility and Inclusion leaders in other Confidential divisions and groups (both business and technical) to ensure a lock-step approach to program execution.
• Worked closely with leadership to develop inclusive messaging around the program.
• Managed a team of 50+ accessibility specialists across multiple business groups.
• Developed a vendor-selection matrix that is still in use at Confidential today.

Chief Accessibility and Digital Inclusion Officer

Confidential

Responsibilities:

• Provided counsel to the School’s President/CEO and the Board of Directors on accessibility issues, ADA compliance, inclusion issues, and consulting opportunities.
• Partnered with the Chief Technology Officer, the Chief Marketing Officer, the Director of Communications, the Director of Broadcasting, the Director of Human-Resources, the Facilities Manager, and the head of security to ensure accessibility and inclusion in all areas of Perkins and Perkins messaging, technology, programs, hiring, and physical spaces (including emergency preparedness).
• Provided subject-matter expertise to Perkins International/Perkins Trust and their clients/programs across 60 countries in the areas of diversity, accessibility, and inclusion.
• Co-managed the day-to-day strategic operations of the Perkins Solutions Web properties and Intranet, including—but not limited to—decisions related to responsive design, m. sites, content types (for Drupal), accessible controls, etc.
• Directed the ongoing internal accessibility-remediation program for Perkins.
• Built a digital accessibility, inclusion, and diversity-support consulting line of business for Confidential that generated nearly $500,000 in its first year;
• Developed a program for use by the Confidential System that teaches their staff how to better support patrons with disabilities (assistive technology use) and how to increase their applicant pool to better reach individuals with disabilities.

Digital Program Manager

Confidential

Responsibilities:

• Managed the Department-Wide leaderboard that documented the quantitative progress of each division’s compliance with diversity and inclusion.
• Oversaw Department-wide inclusion and accessibility testing and compliance audits.
• Reviewed VPATs (Voluntary Product Accessibility Templates), determined appropriate remediation steps for accessibility, and provided recommendations to executive management including the Chief Information Officer.
• Managed assistive-technology assessments and procurement for the Department.
• Managed the day-to-day activities of the 508/User-Experience teams (and multiple task orders).

Digital/Web Publications and Digital Inclusion, Accessibility Team Lead

Confidential

Responsibilities:

• Managed and coordinated the day-to-day activities of the onsite subcontracting team (10 individuals across the editing, reference verification, graphics, and 508 departments).
• Assisted the Project Officer and the Confidential Team Director through expert counsel on web publications, including Web writing, Section 508 compliance, and graphics integration.
• Routinely provided LOEs and cost estimates as needed for various projects.
• Conducted editing and accessibility reviews and remediation projects.
• Reviewed and approved employee schedules, PTO requests, and ensured appropriate level of coverage on a daily basis.