Jeff Mittman is the president and CEO of Bosma Enterprises in Indianapolis, one of the Midwest's largest nonprofit organizations providing employment and training for people who are blind or visually impaired. A retired U.S. Army veteran, he lost his sight in 2005 while serving in Iraq. Jeff has dedicated his career to service, first through the military and then through organizations that support America’s military and people who are blind. Under his leadership, Bosma has expanded its mission to provide employment opportunities and training programs for people who are blind.

Many people with vision loss are excluded from the workforce not because of their capabilities, but because of outdated assumptions about what they can achieve. What does it take to create real access to opportunity and empower individuals to thrive on their own terms?

According to Jeff Mittman, president and CEO of Bosma Enterprises, the answer begins with meaningful work. He explains how career development, workplace training, and a strong sense of purpose can shift the narrative from limitation to leadership. A veteran who lost his sight in service, Jeff now leads one of the country’s largest employers of people who are blind or visually impaired, where employees support federal agencies, earn competitive wages, and rise into executive roles. His lived experience drives his commitment to creating jobs that lead to economic independence, and to advocating for broader inclusion through public policy and industry partnerships.

In this episode of Mission Driven, a special series of the Heard and Empowered podcast, National Industries for the Blind President and CEO Soraya Correa talks with Jeff about expanding opportunity through employment, building future leaders from within, and proving that when people are given the tools to succeed, they can define their own future.

Rebekah Grieb is a Contract Management Support (CMS) senior site supervisor at Alphapointe, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with vision loss through employment opportunities, rehabilitation services, and job training. Rebekah joined  Alphapointe in 2017, and she has led its CMS department since 2022. She also leads the CMS Services Committee for the National Association for the Employment of People who are Blind. 

Outside of work, Rebekah is a stage manager and production assistant for live theatre and serves as a mentor for future stage managers as part of the Emerging Theatre Professionals Initiative. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Pittsburg State University.

People who are blind face significant barriers to employment and career advancement. What does it take to not just overcome those obstacles, but to lead, hire, and advocate for lasting change?

According to Rebekah Grieb, a National Industries for the Blind Advocate for Leadership and Employment advocate, real progress begins when individuals are empowered to tell their own stories and demonstrate what’s possible. She highlights how adaptive technologies, federal contracting work, and persistent advocacy can transform exclusion into opportunity. The impact is tangible: unemployed for years despite her qualifications, Rebekah now leads high-impact federal projects and creates employment pathways for others with vision loss. Her lived experience fuels her mission to reshape public perceptions and advocate for legislative change, such as reforming Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)  and supporting a 1% AbilityOne Program utilization goal for the Department of Defense.

Rebekah Grieb, Contract Management Support site supervisor at Alphapointe, talks about building meaningful careers for people who are blind, advocating for legislation that creates employment opportunities, and using adaptive tools to stay competitive. 

Dean Thompson is the new host of the Heard & Empowered podcast, presented by the National Industries for the Blind, an organization dedicated to enhancing the personal and economic independence of people who are blind or visually impaired. With a background in film and television production, Dean has built a career in media, focusing on storytelling that empowers and informs. He brings his experience and passion to the podcast, where he interviews leaders, advocates, and professionals to share stories of resilience and the ways they built meaningful careers.

Life-altering setbacks can either break us or become the catalyst for something greater. When faced with sudden challenges, especially those that change how we see and interact with the world, how do we rebuild purpose and direction? What does it take to transform adversity into opportunity?

According to Dean Thompson, a media producer and storyteller with decades of experience in film and television, it starts with refusing to let limitations define your future. He shares how losing his sight as a teenager forced him to pivot from athletics to broadcasting, where he discovered the power of storytelling. That shift led him to a dynamic career that proved vision isn't limited to what you see. Dean also notes that thriving in media as a professional who is blind means learning to trust collaborators deeply and lead with ideas, not just execution. His journey underscores how adversity can forge resilience, empathy, and creativity when embraced rather than avoided.

In this episode, NSITE Director of Learning and Leadership Marianne Haegeli sits down with Dean Thompson, the new host of Heard & Empowered, to talk about building a media career after vision loss. They explore the mindset shifts that come with adapting to blindness, the leadership lessons Dean took from working in television and music, and how he mentors entrepreneurs who are blind through honest conversations.

Maj. Gen. Alice W. Treviño is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the US Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. In this role, she oversees all contracting activities, supporting the acquisition of weapons systems, logistics operations, and enterprise efforts for the Department of the Air Force. With over 30 years of service, she leads a global team of nearly 9,000 contracting professionals executing programs worth approximately $99 billion annually. Maj. Gen.Treviño is recognized for her leadership in innovation, workforce development, and the advancement of integrated contracting capabilities critical to national defense.

Navigating the complexities of defense contracting can be overwhelming — especially when outdated systems, workforce shortages, and evolving global threats converge. How can agencies streamline procurement processes, ensure accountability, and build a next-generation contracting workforce to support national security?

In this episode of Mission Driven, a special series of the Heard and Empowered podcast, National Industries for the Blind President and CEO Soraya Correa interviews Maj. Gen. Alice W. Treviño, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Contracting at the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics. Maj. Gen. Treviño discusses the future of defense acquisition, the impact of lifelong learning, the role of innovation in operational efficiency, and how to lead through change and uncertainty.

Maj. Gen. Treviño, a seasoned leader in military acquisition and contracting, shares strategic insights into addressing these challenges, from improving contract closeouts to advancing pricing competencies. She outlines the Department of the Air Force Contracting Flight Plan, highlighting four core lines of effort: workforce development, integrated digital tools, innovative processes, and contingency contracting. Maj. Gen. Treviño’s approach prioritizes reinvesting in people through recruitment, training, and mentorship while also embracing digital transformation to modernize and elevate acquisition capabilities. 

Have you ever wondered how state programs can create meaningful job opportunities for people who are blind or have low vision? In this episode, we dive into the life-changing work being done by the New York State Preferred Source Program for New Yorkers Who Are Blind (NYSPSP).

Our guest, Christopher Burke, is the executive director of NYSPSP. With a background in public administration and social entrepreneurship, Chris shares his passion for empowering people who are blind or have low vision through gainful employment. He explains how NYSPSP partners with nine agencies across the state to provide a wide range of products and services to government entities, while ensuring at least 50% of their workforce comprises people with blindness or low vision.

Tune in to discover how this innovative program is providing meaningful and well-paying jobs and setting an example for other states to follow. You’ll be inspired by the stories of people who have found stability, purpose, and upward mobility through NYSPSP’s entrepreneurial approach to creating job opportunities.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://heardandempowered.org/40

Today’s episode focuses on an extraordinary collaboration between employees from NSITE and American Printing House (APH) to create the Job Seeker's Toolkit.

Marianne Haegeli is the director of learning and leadership at NSITE. She has more than 15 years of experience as a Learning and Leadership Development professional with engagements in nonprofit, public, and private sector environments.

In 2020, Richard Rueda joined the APH ConnectCenter managing CareerConnect, a well-respected interactive resource for job seekers. As assistant director, he works with a team of dedicated professionals promoting critical life changing tools and supports.

Lori Scharff worked since 2012 as a work incentive practitioner assisting individuals who are entering the work force. Lori joined the APH ConnectCenter in 2022 as the lead content contractor for careers and employment. Her most recent project was to update the Job Seeker's Toolkit.

Tune in this week to discover how APH CareerConnect® and NSITE are collaborating to completely revamp the landscape for job seekers who are blind or have low vision. They discuss the simple ways and the innovative and accessible approaches they use to help people find the employment opportunities that are right for them.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://heardandempowered.org/39

Maurice Crittendon is the senior specialist for talent acquisition at NSITE. After losing his sight due to diabetic retinopathy, Maurice ventured to Minneapolis for orientation and mobility training before returning to the Washington, D.C. area. Accepted into National Industries for the Blind’s (NIB) Fellowship for Leadership Development, his journey was interrupted by a 6.5-year period on hemodialysis.

In 2017, Maurice received a life-changing kidney and pancreas transplant, enabling him to continue his career at NIB. Maurice leverages his personal journey and professional experience to bridge the gap between talented people with blindness and inclusive employers.

Tune in this week to find out how Maurice developed his passion for recruiting and event management. He details the important work he’s done at NIB and NSITE, his experience in crafting effective resumes, and the details of how NSITE helps people who are blind or have low vision find corporate jobs through the NSITE Connect job board.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://heardandempowered.org/38

Heard & Empowered was created to show that anything is possible when you show up with the right mindset and attitude. Our guest this week, Jonathan Lucus, exemplifies this ethos in everything he does as the director of NSITE, which is National Industries for the Blind’s (NIB) talent management enterprise.

NSITE works with public and private corporations as much as with the AbilityOne® Program to place people who are blind or low vision in a variety of positions, including many executive and senior leadership roles. Its job board, NSITE Connect, is an invaluable resource that people can access to find currently available jobs. NSITE also provides opportunities outside the AbilityOne Program for people who want to work in Corporate America.

Tune in this week for a deeper understanding of how NSITE helps people enter the U.S. workforce effectively and make a positive contribution through a career in the private sector. Jonathan discusses NSITE Connect’s triple-pronged approach, NSITE’s career training certifications, entrepreneurship programs, and how NIB and NSITE are driving real change in how the corporate world embraces people who are blind or low vision.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://heardandempowered.org/37

Dr. Hoby Wedler welcomes returning guest Doug Goist to the podcast this week. Doug is a program manager for workforce development at NSITE where he helps people who are blind and visually impaired find employment by providing training opportunities. Blindness doesn’t get adequate coverage in most diversity training, so NSITE created a program called “Blindness, Equity, Inclusion,” where Doug helps companies in the commercial sector audit themselves and discover how they can support people with blindness and vision impairments in the workplace.

Doug also has a deep passion for artificial intelligence (AI) and technology. After losing his sight, technology became his key to navigating a challenging world. Tune in this week as he discusses the many ways in which AI is revolutionizing the world for people who are blind or visually impaired. Technology is now available to help individuals create and decipher visual content, navigate their surroundings, “see” inside things, and so much more, opening up numerous opportunities in the workplace and every aspect of life.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://heardandempowered.org/36

In this week’s episode, Dr. Hoby Wedler is joined by Brandye Lacy, the marketing coordinator at Travis Association for the Blind, also known as Austin Lighthouse. With a passion for writing and advocacy, she excels at crafting and telling compelling stories while championing causes that break down barriers to equality and equity. Brandye began losing her vision when she was in seventh grade and initially tried to hide it. Despite this, her passion for communications never wavered. By combining her love for this field with her advocacy for the empowerment of people who are blind or visually impaired, Brandye has excelled at promoting this cause to bring about beneficial changes in public policy.

Tune in this week to discover why and how Brandye is advocating in Washington, D.C. for Congress to mandate that the Department of Defense (DOD) allocate 1% of its procurement budget to the AbilityOne® Program. This increase from the current 0.55% to 1% would nearly double the funding, making a huge difference by boosting employment opportunities and economic independence for people who are blind, visually impaired, or have significant disabilities. Brandye will discuss the direct impact of this policy change and its effects on the broader community of individuals who are blind and visually impaired and work outside the AbilityOne network of agencies.

For full transcript and show notes, please visit: https://heardandempowered.org/35