The SBS Board of Directors
Our Board of Directors is comprised of the following members.
SBS Board Officers
Hoboken, New Jersey
Andy is a market research professional with more than 10 years of experience at global Fortune 100 technology and entertainment companies. In his mid-20s, his central vision deteriorated quickly and he was diagnosed with Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON). Thanks to the services offered by Lighthouse Central Florida, he learned the skills needed to function as a legally-blind person in a sighted world. Armed with a personal understanding of the benefits and services available, he joined Lighthouse's Young Executive Committee to help others who are blind or have low vision to understand the positive impact these services can have on their lives. At that time, he also launched LHON Live - a monthly shared learning program to encourage and inform others in the LHON community.
Andy began his career at The Walt Disney Company as a market research analyst. After 6 years at Disney, he joined Audible, an Amazon company, where he currently works as senior manager of market research and also helps lead the Accessibility at Audible Committee. He holds degrees in Economics and Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While not at work or raising the bar for accessibility and disability inclusion, he enjoys performing stand-up comedy in the NYC area.
Starkville, MS
Sylvia Stinson-Perez has over 20 years in the field of blindness. She worked as a social worker and program manager at the Miami Lighthouse prior to becoming the Executive Director/CEO of the Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind in New Port Richey Florida from 2008 to 2018. She joined the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision at Mississippi State University in January 2019. She is currently the Director of the Vision Specialist graduate certificate program and the Older Individuals who are Blind Technical Assistance Center.
Sylvia earned Master's degrees in Social Work and in Visual Disabilities Rehabilitation from Florida State University, and in Business Administration from Saint Leo University. She is a Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist through ACVREP. Mrs. Stinson-Perez has been legally blind since birth.
Tucson, Arizona
Kathleen E. Zeider was a banker for over 30 years. Most of her career was spent in the Midwest and on the East Coast and included an assignment in Paris, France. She focused on international banking including foreign exchange and Eurodollar trading and domestic and international structured finance. Before moving to Phoenix in 1996 she was the executive in charge of the Chicago Office of Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce and then founded the Midwest/West Coast regional office of Bank Brussels Lambert where she served as the regional executive. After moving to Arizona from Chicago, she spent several years as a financial consultant and as the Executive Director of the state's Commerce and Economic Development Commission and Fund before returning to banking as President, Compass Bank, Payson/White Mountain Region. After retiring from banking in 2011, she served as a consultant to nonprofit organizations specializing in enterprise development and management.
In July of 2014 Ms. Zeider became the interim president of the Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Educational Professionals ("ACVREP") and was named its President and CEO in January of 2015 where she still serves.
Ms. Zeider graduated from Allegheny College in Pennsylvania with a B.A. in Political Science and attended John Marshall College of Law at Cleveland State University.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Elly du Pré has been in the field of serving people who are blind or visually impaired for over forty-five years. She read a book at the age of 12 - a monthly Children's Book Club selection called Follow My Leader - and it inspired her in the direction of this career. She has been an Orientation & Mobility specialist (before ACVREP), has taught computer access technology and was the executive director of Lighthouse of Broward where she built a staff of certified professionals. Elly then became the Executive Director of Florisa ASB whose members included all of the agencies in Florida provide direct consumer services. Currently she is the Manager of the AERBVI Accreditation program that Accredits the university educational programs training the professionals to provice services to individuals who are blind or low vsion and the agencies that provide direct services to individuals with vision loss.
Dr. du Pré graduated with a BA in History from Denison University in Ohio, an M.Ed. in Peripatology (O&M) from Boston College, and a DPA in Public Administration from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
SBS Board Members
Denver, CO
Jessica Loomer graduated from the University of Arizona with a BS in Marketing. At age 27, she lost her vision to a rare genetic eye disease called Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropathy. Facing the many obstacles of vision loss, Jessica found a passion for running through the storm. She truly found a love for this sport and has run the Boston Marathon, NYC Marathon and California International Marathon. Jessica brings a skill set of Project Management, Public Speaking and Development to the Board. Jessica followed her passion and now works on the Accessibility team as an Architect at Spectrum in Denver, CO. She proudly supports and advocates for the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation as an Ambassador, striving to build connections and empower those around her. One of her favorite summer adventures is spending a week at a high school camp for kids that are blind/visually impaired; teaching them how to self-advocate, adapt and succeed in their life! Her positive energy is contagious and makes an impact wherever she goes.
Auburn, New York
Angela Winfield describes herself as a multifaceted professional who just happens to be blind. She became legally blind at 10 and totally blind at 20. She is an attorney, a published author, a professional motivational speaker, a life and success coach, a real estate investor, a wife, an avid foodie and yogi. Angela has received numerous awards including being featured in The Wall Street Journal.
Currently, Angela is the Associate Vice President for Inclusion and Workforce Diversity at Cornell University and is an advisor to the President of the university on diversity and equity. In this role she provides leadership and vision, developing innovative and practical strategic initiatives focused on creating actionable change. She leads the university's affirmative action and federal contractor compliance program, manages the university's five identity/affinity-based colleague network groups, provides training opportunities for the 7,000+ staff, oversees religious accommodations and serves on the university's ADA coordinator Team
Angela is admitted to the New York State Bar and is Of Counsel with the law firm of Barclay Damon and is a member of the firm's higher education, employment law and commercial litigation practice groups. Angela earned her law degree from Cornell University and her BA from Barnard College of Columbia University.
She currently sits on the boards of directors for Gadabout Transportation, the Rev Theatre Company and Legal Assistance of Western New York. In the past she served as board chair for the United Way of Cayuga County and is a former board member for Aurora of Central New York, that provides vision rehabilitation services.
St. Louis, Missouri
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