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 refused to let his disability define his future. Through NSITE’s vocational programs, he completed the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) training and is preparing for certification to launch a career in network engineering and cybersecurity. He now inspires others who are blind, proving that with determination and hard work, there are no limits to what can be achieved.

Losing vision unexpectedly can feel like life as you know it has come to a sudden stop, but for Charles Ansley, it became the catalyst for a powerful new beginning. After experiencing sudden sight loss in 2019 due to high blood pressure and glaucoma, Charles faced the challenge of raising his teenage son while also reimagining his career and personal goals.

In this episode, Charles shares how he rediscovered his passion for IT, enrolled in NSITE’s Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) program, and mastered tools like JAWS and NVDA to pursue a career in network engineering and cybersecurity. He explains how the program’s instructor-led, accessible training created a sense of community and provided him with the confidence and technical skills to succeed.

Drawing from his own journey, Charles reflects on the mindset shift that helped him see beyond limitations and become a role model for other people who are blind, low vision, or visually impaired. His story proves that, with perseverance, adaptive technology, and the right support system, barriers can turn into possibilities and independence can be redefined.

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 impaired. She retired in February 2025 after 50 years of service and received NIB’s highest honor, the R.B. Irwin Award. Over her career, Mary Jane held leadership roles in administration, governance, communications, and rehabilitation services. She also authored Empowering People: The Story of National Industries for the Blind, in honor of the organization’s 75th anniversary in 2013.

For many professionals, a long career is defined by titles and achievements. But what does it look like when a career is defined by unwavering dedication to mission and service?

Mary Jane Surrago spent 50 years at National Industries for the Blind (NIB), shaping its communications, governance, and storytelling while supporting its mission to create employment opportunities for people who are blind, low vision, or visually impaired. Along the way, she led milestone initiatives like NIB’s 50th anniversary campaign, authored the organization’s official history, Empowering People, and was recently honored with the R.B. Irwin Award, the highest recognition NIB bestows. Her journey reflects the power of combining professional excellence with a deep commitment to creating an impact.

In this episode of Mission Driven, a special series of the Heard and Empowered podcast, NIB President and CEO Soraya Correa sits down with Mary Jane to reflect on her five decades of service. Together, they explore the lessons learned from a lifetime of leadership, the evolution of NIB’s mission, and the advice Mary Jane offers to those pursuing meaningful, mission-driven careers.

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 resources. He manages production operations while also taking part in the hands-on manufacturing process. Starting as a production assistant, Alexis learned to operate machinery and adapt processes for accessibility, which led him to a leadership role. Through community support and advocacy groups, he has been inspired to achieve success both professionally and personally.

For Alexis Flores, advocacy isn’t just a role—it’s a calling.

As chemical production line lead at LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired in San Francisco, Alexis has seen firsthand the power of employment to transform lives. Now, he’s using his role as an NIB Advocate for Leadership and Employment to champion broader change—speaking out about the barriers created by SSDI income limits, urging policymakers to expand employment opportunities through the AbilityOne Program, and representing his community on Capitol Hill.

In this episode, Alexis reflects on why advocacy matters, how lived experience shapes his leadership, and what it means to stand up for people who are blind in the workplace and beyond.

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 employment. She provides counseling, guidance, and access to assistive technology to support her clients in securing employment.

Securing meaningful employment is often a steep climb for people with vision loss or other disabilities, especially when access to resources and opportunities is limited. However, with the right training, adaptive tools, and support network, those barriers can be transformed into stepping stones toward independence.

Rebecca Martin, a seasoned vocational rehabilitation counselor, has seen firsthand how structured guidance and NSITE’s specialized training programs help clients develop confidence, workplace skills, and a clear path to employment. In this episode, she discusses why virtual learning and peer connections are essential, how progress reports build trust between counselors and training providers, and what it means to watch clients rediscover their potential.

Drawing on her own journey with multiple sclerosis and vision loss, Rebecca shares inspiring stories of individuals who overcame setbacks, rebuilt professional skills after traumatic brain injuries, and embraced assistive technology to succeed in their careers. Her perspective highlights how collaboration, compassion, and the right resources can open doors to lasting career success.

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 episode of Mission Driven, Paul reflects on guiding NIB through pivotal moments and shares what ethical leadership looks like in a mission-driven organization.

People who are blind often face steep challenges in finding and sustaining meaningful employment. How can organizations not only provide job opportunities, but also foster long-term independence and career growth?

According to Paul Healy, immediate past chair of the National Industries for the Blind Board of Directors, real impact comes from combining mission-driven leadership with strategic innovation. Drawing on his background in finance, governance, and ethics, Paul helped NIB navigate challenges like the Covid pandemic while championing initiatives that expand the organization’s reach. He highlights the transformative role of programs like NSITE, which prepares and places people with vision impairment in roles beyond traditional manufacturing, opening doors to broader career pathways and personal independence.

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 Paul, a professor at Harvard Business School and longtime NIB board member, shares how ethical leadership, sustainable business models, and a commitment to mission can create lasting opportunities for people who are blind, low vision, or visually impaired.

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 Industries for the Blind Advocate for Leadership and Employment.

Joe has over a decade of experience at MIB and a prior career in banking, finance, and business operations. In his current role, he trains and supports contact center agents using adaptive technology. Joe was named MIB’s Employee of the Year in 2014.

People who are blind or visually impaired often struggle to find stable, fulfilling employment — not because of lack of skill, but because of systemic barriers and outdated assumptions. What happens when someone with lived experience takes the lead in removing those obstacles?

Joe Spicer, contact center services manager and a public policy advocate at Mississippi Industries for the Blind, has built a career doing just that. Drawing on his background in banking and his personal journey with retinitis pigmentosa, Joe manages a call center designed to employ, train, and empower blind professionals. He’s seen firsthand how meaningful work boosts confidence, builds skills, and opens doors. Now, as an Advocate for Leadership and Employment, Joe’s voice is helping shape national conversations on employment equity — from pushing for Social Security Disability Insurance reform to championing a 1% Department of Defense utilization goal for agencies employing people who are blind.

In this episode, Joe shares how inclusive employment creates real change, why representation in advocacy matters, and what it takes to build a more accessible future for all.

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 who are blind, low vision, or visually impaired across the nation – enriching lives through employment, outreach, rehabilitation, education, and research.

Finding a job is challenging enough; for a person who is blind, gaining upward mobility and long-term career success is even harder when opportunity is limited by outdated perceptions and lack of access.

According to Michael Monteferrante, a longtime leader in workforce development and organizational transformation, meaningful progress happens when individuals are given structured mentorship, practical training, and a clear pathway to employment. In this episode, he emphasizes the importance of employer education, hands-on cohort learning, and collaborative partnerships that not only build confidence but also open doors to sustainable careers.

Michael Monteferrante, president and CEO of Envision, shares how his journey from transit and manufacturing into mission-driven leadership has shaped his belief in reinvesting business success into people. He offers candid views on launching mentorship and training cohorts with NSITE, NIB’s talent management enterprise, supporting college students through transition programs, and why impact — not intention — is the key to long-term change.

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.