
Hosted by Joyce Bender · EN

Joyce welcomes Philip M. Gattone, the current President and CEO of the National Bleeding Disorder Foundation (NBDF) to the show. NBDF's core mission areas are research, education, and advocacy to improve the lives of people with inherited blood and bleeding disorders. Mr. Gattone will expound on the mission of the organization and share more about his lifelong career leading various other impactful nonprofit organizations. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The Pittsburgh Business Times and 2024 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Recipient from the Viscardi Center. Recipient of the 2024 Visionary Award from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.

Joyce welcomes Laura Carlson, Executive Director of Development for Allegheny Health Network's Division of Brain & Spine Health, to the show. Among the topics discussed will be the latest advancements in the role of philanthropy in this area of specialized healthcare. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The Pittsburgh Business Times and 2024 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Recipient from the Viscardi Center. Recipient of the 2024 Visionary Award from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.

Joyce welcomes back to the show, Joy Matoney, Vice President, Diversified Businesses & Growth Planning and Enablement at Highmark, Inc. She will discuss her career at Highmark, Inc. and her commitment to the Bender partnership to hire people with disabilities. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The Pittsburgh Business Times and 2024 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Recipient from the Viscardi Center. Recipient of the 2024 Visionary Award from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.

Joyce welcomes Dr. Bridget Green, Associate Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations & Leadership in the School of Education and the Executive Director of the Institute for Disability Empowerment and Advocacy at Duquesne University. Dr. Green will discuss her past association with Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and how that experience shaped her career upon graduation from Duquesne University, leading led to her current position at the university helping students with disabilities achieve their goals. She will also discuss her work as a Board member of the Bender Leadership Academy. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The Pittsburgh Business Times and 2024 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Recipient from the Viscardi Center. Recipient of the 2024 Visionary Award from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.

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. During the show, she will discuss 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. She will also discuss her protection and advocacy work, her current work with Bender Consulting Services and the Bender Leadership Academy. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The Pittsburgh Business Times and 2024 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Recipient from the Viscardi Center. Recipient of the 2024 Visionary Award from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.

As Black History Month continues, Joyce welcomes back to the show, Shaunda McDill, Managing Director of the Pittsburgh Public Theater. Among the topics discussed will be her passion for public theater productions, the arts, and Pittsburgh Public Theater's commitment to making productions accessible for individuals with disabilities. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The Pittsburgh Business Times and 2024 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Recipient from the Viscardi Center. Recipient of the 2024 Visionary Award from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.

Joyce back to the show, Sam Estes, an executive leader, published author, and philanthropist. Mr. Estes will discuss his long-standing career in the defense world and his passion for helping youth with disabilities. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The Pittsburgh Business Times and 2024 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Recipient from the Viscardi Center. Recipient of the 2024 Visionary Award from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.

To kick off February and Black History Month, Joyce welcomes Barãta Bey, President, African American Chamber of Commerce of Western, PA to the show. President Bey will share the mission of the organization and its latest accomplishments to enhance business growth. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The Pittsburgh Business Times and 2024 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Recipient from the Viscardi Center. Recipient of the 2024 Visionary Award from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.

Joyce welcomes Mark Sevco, President of Allegheny Health Network (AHN) to the show. Mr. Sevco will share how he plans to continue to help AHN succeed in a competitive industry. He will also share what it means to him to be selected as the 2026 King of the Mardi Gras sponsored by the Epilepsy Association of Western/Central PA. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The Pittsburgh Business Times and 2024 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Recipient from the Viscardi Center. Recipient of the 2024 Visionary Award from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.

Joyce welcomes Larry Kleinman, Executive Vice-President and Chief Human Resources Officer for Highmark Health, back to the show. Mr. Kleinman will share the organization's commitment to continue partnering with Bender Consulting Services, Inc., to hire people with disabilities as an integral part of its workforce. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partner of iDisability, an eLearning solution. Named a 2024 Woman of Influence by The Pittsburgh Business Times and 2024 Henry Viscardi Achievement Award Recipient from the Viscardi Center. Recipient of the 2024 Visionary Award from the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.