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HORIZONSSpring 2017 • Volume 17, No. 1
Visit our website at www.thelighthousefortheblindinc.org
and stay in the loop on Lighthouse news and upcoming events!
Jobs. Independence. Empowerment.Our Mission: To create and enhance opportunities for independence and self-sufficiency for people who are blind, DeafBlind, and blind with other disabilities.
With an impressive resume that spans 40-plus years, and includes many examples of innovative achievements, Mike May will begin his new career as President and CEO of The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. on April 3rd, 2017.
Mike received his Master of International Affairs from Johns Hopkins School of
Advanced International Studies, and began his career with the Central Intelligence Agency as a Political Analyst. Varying positions in the public and private sector have provided
The Lighthouse Names Mike May as Next President & CEO
him opportunities to put his stamp in technological advancements such as: the implementation of automated teller machines and wire transfer systems, developing the world’s first Laser Turntable for worldwide distribution, and being instrumental in the development of a talking GPS
Navigation System, along with founding the Sendero Group LLC in 1999. With awards and accolades for his personal and professional work, he has a proven track record as a pioneer and innovator in the technology arena, many of which continue to benefit people who are blind.
Mike is an avid skier, holding the speed skiing record in downhill for a totally blind person at 65 MPH and has won six international medals. In 2010, he was inducted to the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes Hall of Fame, the same year he was honored to be selected as a member of the President Obama White House delegation to the Paralympics.
“My personal and professional life has been full of exciting challenges and accomplishments from speed skiing to meeting four presidents. I have been looking for the next chapter in my life where I can innovate and make a difference. The Lighthouse is definitely an opportunity to build on a promise I made to President Obama to facilitate the employment of people who are blind or visually impaired. I look forward to working with the dynamic communities we serve in this effort.”
President and CEO Mike May
President and CEO Mike May and Jonnie at an event
We are excited to see what Mike May will do next as he leads the Lighthouse over the threshold of our one hundredth year and into a new centennial. His new guide dog Jonnie, a female Golden Retriever, will certainly be a welcomed new addition to the Lighthouse community.
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.
Moving UpGreg Szabo was diagnosed at age three with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a genetic disorder that caused his vision to slowly deteriorate over time. His loss of eyesight had a negative influence on how he was treated at work and his ability to find a new job. After having no luck finding employment in Portland,
Oregon, Greg was able to find a job at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. in Spokane.
Greg started working at the Lighthouse in August 2011 in production. For five
years, he worked in various production jobs including a year as a Wallboard Setup Specialist. Part of the Lighthouse’s mission is to provide training and opportunities for upward mobility to its employees. Greg took advantage of the various trainings being
offered through the Employee and Community Services programs to expand and improve his skills. When a position opened up in the Communications Department, Greg was ready and willing to step into the role. He wanted to help bring community awareness to the greater Spokane area about the types of jobs individuals who are blind, DeafBlind, and blind with other disabilities can do.
Greg started in September 2016 as Director of Public Relations and Development at the Spokane location. Greg’s favorite part of his new job is helping to make people aware of what the Lighthouse does and its positive influence on the lives of people who are blind. “This job is also helping me to feel more confident interacting with people even outside of work.”
Director of Public Relations and Development Greg Szabo
“This job is also helping me to feel
more confident interacting with people outside of
work.” – Greg Szabo
Volunteers Are Making a Difference!Young and old alike are giving to the Lighthouse with their time, know-how, and enthusiasm. • Veronica and Armando are clearing
debris from the sidewalks connecting our Seattle facility to commonly used bus stops on a weekly basis!
• Rebecca is helping us with data entry, allowing staff to focus on other projects!
• Students from Seattle Urban Academy came for a service project and helped with tour and outreach packet assembly, organizing, and filing.
• Joey, Latifah, and Pankaj have each offered their photography skills to ensure that Lighthouse events are beautifully captured and preserved.
The opportunities to volunteer with the Lighthouse are endless! We have fundraising events throughout the year requiring many hands to ensure their success, as well as day-to-day needs at our facilities.
If you’re in the Seattle, Spokane, or Summerville, SC areas, we’d love for you to share in the mission and help us by becoming a Lighthouse Volunteer.
If you are interested, please fill out our volunteer survey online: www.surveymonkey.com/r/LHVolunteer
You can learn more about our variety of volunteer opportunities, let us know more about you, and how you would like to contribute to the future of the Lighthouse! For more information about our volunteer program, contact Cindy Van Winkle at [email protected] or at (206) 436-2264.
He isn’t done expanding his knowledge and skills yet. Greg is currently working on his Bachelor’s degree in Communications from Eastern Washington University. He is determined to continue to grow and the Lighthouse is proud to have helped him achieve his goals.
Lighthouse volunteers helping work on Ethel L. Dupar's Fragrant Garden
The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.To Celebrate the First Anniversary of its Newest Facility
Upcoming Events
Summerville One -Year AnniversaryTuesday, May 9th from 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. 230 Deming Way, Summerville, SC 29483For more information, please contact Shawn Dobbs at [email protected] or (843) 376-2805.
INL Food Truck RallyThursday, June 1st from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Inland Northwest Lighthouse 6405 North Addison, Spokane, WA 99208For more information please contact Greg Szabo at [email protected] or (509) 487-0405 ext. 1422.
Redefining Vision Garden PartyThursday, August 17th from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m.Ethel L. Dupar’s Fragrant Garden at The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc.2501 S. Plum Street, Seattle, WA 98144For more please contact Molly McLachlan at [email protected] or by phone at (206) 436-2253.
Seattle Lighthouse Golf TournamentFriday, August 25th, 2017 For more information please contact Molly McLachlan at [email protected] or by phone at (206) 436-2253.
Seattle Dim Sum LunchSaturday, November 11th, 2017Save the date for the 5th Annual Lighthouse Dim Sum Luncheon! All you can eat Dim Sum will be provided thanks to Lighthouse Foundation Board Member Howie Dickerman! Everyone is invited to attend; bring your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers! There is a minimum $50 donation request for each guest.
For more please contact, Molly McLachlan at [email protected] or by phone at (206) 436-2253.
Cindy’s New Guide Dog
Lighthouse Tours We offer informative and fun tours of our facilities so the community can better understand how the Lighthouse creates and enhances opportunities for those that are blind, DeafBlind, and blind with other disabilities. As the largest employer of individuals who are blind on the West Coast, we provide an accessible work environment along with skills training and the necessary support programs and services for our employees to be successful at work and in their communities. Tours are a great opportunity for students, employers, donors, community members, vendors, and customers to experience first-hand what we do at the Lighthouse.
To schedule a tour, please connect with our Contact Center via email at [email protected], or by phone at (800) 799-0402, and press “0.” We hope to see you soon!
Horizons • Volume 17, No.1 • Spring 2017
On May 9th, 2016 The Lighthouse for the Blind, Inc. opened its newest location in Summerville, South Carolina. Five months later on October 20th, the Lighthouse held a grand opening event to celebrate
opportunities for jobs, independence, and self-sufficiency for people who are blind in South Carolina. The grand opening included a barbeque buffet lunch, tours of our Summerville facility, along with a short program.
Over 70 members of the community came to celebrate the grand opening of the Summerville facility and were able to see firsthand employees who are blind doing light aerospace assembly and pack assembly on hydration systems for the United States Military.
On May 9th, 2017, the Lighthouse will celebrate its one-year anniversary of providing opportunities for jobs, independence, and empowerment for people who are blind in South Carolina. We will be hosting an open house where members of the community can enjoy lunch, a short presentation which will include remarks from Lighthouse employee Wanda Hartwell, along with the opportunity to tour our facility. Of course, what would a one-year celebration be without sharing cake with everyone in attendance! In our first year of operation in Summerville, the Lighthouse now employs ten individuals, eight of whom are blind. While we look forward to our one year anniversary celebration, we are even more excited about employing another seven people who are blind over the next year as we continue to create opportunities for independence and self-sufficiency for people who are blind in Dorchester, Berkeley, and Charleston Counties in South Carolina.
Training with a new guide dog can be an exciting experience, but that doesn’t mean there
can’t be a few bumps along the way. Lighthouse Development and Community Outreach Coordinator Cindy Van Winkle recently completed training with her new guide dog Boze in September of 2016. She continues to strive towards building a working relationship with him based on trust.
Cindy and Boze learned how to work together to get on and off buses and ferries, find their way to work, cross busy streets, and walk up and down the steep hills of Seattle. Cindy is not new to having a guide dog, she enjoys the companionship of having someone by her side, Boze is Cindy’s seventh guide dog.
Boze is a long-haired German Shepard. He attended the Gallant Hearts Guide Dog Center in Jackson, Mississippi, one of the few guide dog centers that still accepts German Shepards for training. Although Boze’s first home after training didn’t work out for him, he found himself with a second chance and a new home in Seattle.
Boze was not used to the big city at first. He was hesitant when walking past loud noises like those made by road construction. When Boze guides Cindy down steep hills, he tends to walk down too quickly, but he will learn to set a slower pace over time. A rather vocal guide dog, he will occasionally let out a loud bark; a habit he will also eventually over come. Boze is adjusting well to his new surroundings and is excited for his adventures with Cindy in the big city!
Get to Know Keith Clark: DeafBlind Program Manager The Lighthouse is proud to welcome Keith Clark as our new DeafBlind Program Manager.
Growing up, he attended public school in a Deaf program until fifth grade when he
moved to a deaf residential school. He went on to earn his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and his Master’s Degree in Mental Health Counseling from Gallaudet University.
After earning his master’s degree, Keith landed an internship and eventually a full time job with a Deaf community center in San Francisco. He worked as a therapist there for five years before moving to Seattle. He had been aware of the Lighthouse for most of his life and found out about the position opening through the DeafBlind community.
Keith’s job at the Lighthouse involves overseeing different services and programs for employees who are DeafBlind and for the DeafBlind community. The programs include DeafBlind Community Classes, independent living instruction, employee support services, training and development, and the annual DeafBlind Retreat.
“I also work closely with the interpreting department because of how involved they are in the daily lives of DeafBlind employees. There is also a housing specialist who works with DeafBlind people.” Not all report to Keith but they are all associated with the DeafBlind program. “We work together to support employees and community members,” says Keith.
One of Keith’s favorite parts about working for the Lighthouse is the people and community here. “I like interacting with all sorts of different people every day, out in the community and the Lighthouse. The Lighthouse has a strong DeafBlind community, and that is partially because we are not just focused on employment here. The Lighthouse is not only the number one employer of people who are DeafBlind in America, it is also an important part of the DeafBlind community in Seattle.”
The Lighthouse is excited to have someone as talented and dedicated as Keith to be working here with us!
“The Lighthouse is not only the number one employer of people who are DeafBlind in America, it is also an important part of the DeafBlind
community in Seattle.” –Keith Clark
&Estate Planned Givingequals opportunities for tomorrow.Discover legacy giving opportunities that supportjobs and independence at the Lighthouse.
Contact Kate Wiegel at (206) 436-2116or email [email protected].
A group photo of Lighthouse employees standing outside of the Summerville facility
DeafBlind Program Manager Keith Clark
Development and Community Outreach Coordinator Cindy van Winkle and her
guide dog Boze
SW-COC-002790
INL Food Truck Rally!Thursday, June 1st, 2017 from 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Inland Northwest Lighthouse6405 N. Addison Street
Spokane, WA 99208
Redefining VisionSummer Garden Party
Thursday, August 17th, 2017 from 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm
Ethel L. Dupar Fragrant Garden2501 S. Plum Street,Seattle, WA 98144
Lighthouse 4th AnnualGolf Tournament
Friday, August 25th, 2017 tee time at 8:00 a.m.
Northshore Golf and Country Club4101 Northshore Blvd. NE,
Tacoma, WA 98422
Save the Date for Upcoming Lighthouse Events!
J great food J prizes J games J J beer garden J SPECIAL TOURS J
THU, JUNe 2nd, 2016
for more information visit www.inlandlh.org
4:00 – 8:00 p.m.INLAND NORTHWEST LIGHTHOUSE J 6405 N. ADDISON ST. J SPOKANE
RALLY
INLFood Truck
F O U R T H A N N U A LL I G H T H O U S E
To create and enhance opportunities for independence and self-sufficiency of people who are blind, DeafBlind,
and blind with other disabilities.
Lighthouse volunteers helping work on Ethel L. Dupar's Fragrant Garden
