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Hosted by National Industries for the Blind · 🇺🇸 US · EN · 62 episodes
Established thought leaders with verified media credentials.
The Heard & Empowered podcast is where people who are blind, low vision, or visually impaired find job inspiration, career opportunities, and a path to success.National Industries for the Blind knows that blindness is not a barrier to employment and career success. Listen now and unlock a world of opportunities with a podcast specifically tailored for people who are blind. Discover the untold stories, limitless career paths, and soul-stirring journeys of people across the United States who have charted their own career paths.Learn more at HeardAndEmpowered.org.
National Industries for the Blind hosts Heard & Empowered, a business show with 62 episodes published.
Michael Phillips is the Training Supervisor at Austin Lighthouse, an organization that provides employment, training, and support for people who are blind or visually impaired. He recruits and prepares candidates for voc
Israel Bolivar is a full-time sander at Vibrant Works, an organization dedicated to providing employment opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired. He was named the 2025 Peter J. Salmon National Employe
Jennifer Parrish is manager of Business Services at The Lighthouse of Houston, a nonprofit that provides services, training, and employment opportunities for people who are blind, low vision, or visually impaired. She ov
![[Mission Driven Series] Transforming Federal Procurement for Broader Access and Impact With Larry Allen episode artwork](https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/3/4/e/c/34ec785133753ffb16c3140a3186d450/larry-allen-red-thumbnail.jpg)
Larry Allen is the Associate Administrator for the Office of Government-wide Policy at the General Services Administration (GSA), a federal agency that provides centralized procurement, real estate, and technology servic
Kevin Webb is Head of Sustainability and Social Impact for Mitsubishi Electric in the Americas and Executive Director of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation. He leads the foundation's mission to empower young peop
Joannah Harris is a digital accessibility specialist working with Level Access and Dell, where she helps ensure technology and online platforms are usable for people with disabilities. With a background that includes a m
Heather Bergerson is a New Mexico-based visual artist and entrepreneur whose work focuses on tactile and accessible art experiences, particularly for blind and visually impaired audiences. After a traumatic brain injury
![[Mission Driven Series] Using Data to Tell NIB's Story with Brian Osborne episode artwork](https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/f/2/7/7/f2774c1ccddce0fed959afa2a1bf1c87/brian-osborne-thumbnail.jpg)
Brian Osborne is the senior vice president of The Strategy Group Company, a national advertising agency specializing in direct marketing and strategic communications for political campaigns, advocacy groups, governments,
Matt Koch is the general manager of Virginia Industries for the Blind (VIB). This self-supporting Virginia state agency provides direct employment and career pathways for people who are blind or visually impaired through
![[Mission Driven Series] From Mentorship to Mission: Lessons in Leadership and Advocacy With Dennis Steiner episode artwork](https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/f/0/8/6/f086effcf8295b0e16c3140a3186d450/dennis-steiner-thumbnail.jpg)
Dennis Steiner is the president and CEO of VisionCorps, a nonprofit that provides rehabilitation services and employment opportunities for people who are blind, low vision, or visually impaired. Dennis joined VisionCorps
Charles Ansley is an IT professional who turned a life-changing vision loss into a story of resilience and ambition. After losing his sight in 2019 due to complications from high blood pressure and glaucoma, Charles refu
![[Mission Driven Series] Mary Jane Surrago's 50-Year Legacy of Service, Leadership, and Storytelling episode artwork](https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/3/a/d/8/3ad8aa495788b9b016c3140a3186d450/mary-jane-surrago-thumbnail.jpg)
Mary Jane Surrago is assistant secretary emeritus of the Board of Directors for National Industries for the Blind (NIB), a nonprofit that creates and sustains employment for people who are blind, low vision, or visually
Alexis Flores is the chemical production line lead at LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco, a nonprofit that empowers people who are blind or visually impaired through training, education, and
Rebecca Martin is a Certified Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor with North Dakota Vocational Rehabilitation Services, a state agency that helps people with disabilities prepare for, obtain, and maintain employme
![[Mission Driven Series] Paul Healy on Leadership and Expanding Opportunity episode artwork](https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/5/1/e/1/51e1eb2f028c061a16c3140a3186d450/dr-paul-healy-thumbnail.jpg)
As immediate past chair of the National Industries for the Blind Board of Directors, Paul Healy helped shape the future of NIB with steady leadership, financial expertise, and a deep commitment to mission. In the latest
Joe Spicer is the contact center services manager at Mississippi Industries for the Blind (MIB), a nonprofit that empowers people who are blind or visually impaired through meaningful employment, as well as a National In
Michael Monteferrante has been the president and CEO of Envision, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, since 2013. Envision is one of National Industries for the Blind's associated nonprofit agencies, proudly serving people
![[Mission Driven Series] Economic Independence and Opportunity Through Meaningful Work With Jeff Mittman episode artwork](https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/3/6/b/e/36bee64676c9e77716c3140a3186d450/jeff-mittman-thumbnail2.jpg)
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
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 servic
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
Rebecca Martin
Certified Senior Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor · North Dakota Vocational Rehabilitation Services
1 appearance on this show
Israel Bolivar
Vibrant Works
1 appearance on this show
Jennifer Parrish
The Lighthouse of Houston
1 appearance on this show
Larry Allen
General Services Administration
1 appearance on this show
Kevin Webb
Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation
1 appearance on this show
Joannah Harris
Level Access
1 appearance on this show
Brian Osborne
The Strategy Group Company
1 appearance on this show
Matt Koch
Virginia Industries for the Blind
1 appearance on this show
Dennis Steiner
VisionCorps
1 appearance on this show
Mary Jane Surrago
National Industries for the Blind
1 appearance on this show
Alexis Flores
LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired
1 appearance on this show
Paul Healy
National Industries for the Blind
1 appearance on this show
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Heard & Empowered is hosted by National Industries for the Blind. The show is categorised under business (careers) and has published 62 episodes.
Heard & Empowered has published 62 episodes.
Heard & Empowered regularly covers business, careers, education. It sits in the business category, with a careers focus.
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Episodes of Heard & Empowered average 29 minutes. a focused format where a clear narrative arc and tight preparation matter most.
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