IAAIS 2025 Conference Digital Agenda Plain Text Version The front cover of the agenda includes swirls of pastel colors moving in a sound wave pattern with the IAAIS logo beneath spelling out the full organization title: International Association of Audio Information Services. Conference Dates: June 11 – June 14 at SpringHill Suites – 1 Riverfront Plaza, Lawrence, KS 66044 The Audio-Reader logo has a shield to the left of the name with 5 short sound waves jutting out on the top, right side, the name to the right, and the tagline “Sharing the Gift of Sight Through Sound” underneath. Then the text: Hosted by Audio-Reader Network. Using a screen reader? Use these trigger characters to virtual find a section: # for next paragraph/section *** Schedule at a glance with speakers and optional live music suggestions ### Hotel Logistics and Wednesday Night’s short schedule $$$ Thursday, June 12 Schedule %%% Friday, June 13 Schedule ^^^ Awards Banquet Details &&& Saturday, June 14 Schedule @@@ Final pages with scholarship recipients and board meeting details #Page 2 – Schedule at a Glance *** Schedule at a glance and speaker short list pages #Wednesday, June 11. 4p - 7p: Registration (Main Lobby). 5p - 7p: Welcome Reception: Light snacks, games, ice breakers (1st floor in the Atrium). 8p: IAAIS Board Meeting (Board members only; Phog Boardroom off the lobby beyond the breakfast area). Dinner on your own. #Thursday, June 12. 8a - 9a: Breakfast (Main Lobby - hotel guests only). 9a - 10:15a: Opening Business Session (Naismith Ballroom). 10:30a - 12:00p: Session 1 Accessibility Task Force. Speakers: Mike Duke (Radio Reading Service of Mississippi), Neva Fairchild (Experts on Blindness), Ryan Osentowski (RTBS), Evans Starnes (Aftersight), and Penn Street (Aftersight). 12p - 1p: LUNCH (Taco bar from Taco Zone). Thursday Lunch Speakers: Kim Anspach & Ruth DeWitt (eXplore Lawrence). 1p - 2p: Session 2 Development/Fundraising. Speakers: Beth McKenzie (Audio-Reader) and Dale Slusser (Make Philanthropy Work). 2:15p - 3:00p: Session 3 Programming: General. Speakers: Mares Wright (Sun Sounds) and Jennifer Neptune (Aftersight). 3:00p - 3:45p: Session 4 Affinity Groups. Session 4 will be group discussions by topics like fundraising, volunteer management, etc. 4:00p: Shuttles begin leaving for Tour of Audio-Reader. 6:00: Return to Hotel. 6:30p - 8:00: Group Dinners. #Friday, June 13. 8a - 9a: Breakfast (Main Lobby - hotel guests only). 9a - 10:15a: Session 5 Programming: Content Challenges. Speakers: Content Challenges: Maryfrances Evans (Moderator - IRIS) and Amanda Mountain (Rocky Mountain Public Media). 10:30a - 11:15a Session 6 SCA, Radios, TV, and Phones. Speakers: Mark Jividen (Voicecorps) and Steve Kincaid (Audio-Reader). 11:15a - 12:00p: Session 7 Digital Tools & Programs. Speakers: Jonathan Price (Aftersight), Michael Sisneros (Aftersight), and Jim Martinez (Sight Into Sound). 12p - 1p: LUNCH (Sandwiches and salad from WheatFields with assorted pastries for dessert). 1p - 2p: Session 8 Audio Description. Speakers: Nick Carswell (Moderator - Audio-Reader), Magan Harms (MindsEye), and Patricia Hamarstrom Williams (Audio-Reader). 2:15p - 3:00p: Session 9 Outreach & Listener Feedback. Speakers: Carlie Rhoads (National Center for Deaf Blind) and Martha Kehr (Audio-Reader). 3:30 - 4:30p: Session 10 Volunteer Management. Speakers: Trish Dowd Kelne (Audio-Reader) and Neva Fairchild (Experts on Blindness). Annual Awards Banquet: 6:00-6:30 - Dinner Buffet, 6:30-7:00 - Guest Speaker Joe Strechay, 7:00-7:30 - Presentation of Awards. #Saturday, June 14. 8a - 9a: Breakfast (Main Lobby - hotel guests only). 9a - 10a: Session 11 What Keeps Us Up At Night? Moderators: Kim Wardlow (Aftersight) and Bekah Jerde (RTBS). 10:15a - 11a: Closing Business Session. *Conference ends at 11:00AM* 11:15a: IAAIS Board Meeting (Board members only; Off-site). #Live Music in Lawrence during the IAAIS Conference! Not part of the agenda, but the locals want to share this information in case people are interested. #June 11th: Lawrence City Band: Duke Ellington, Taylor Swift, & Journey. A community ensemble that has been performing in Lawrence for over 150 years! 8:00pm – FREE. South Park, 1141 Massachusetts St. #Carillon recitals at KU Campanile. A unique KU music happening! Performances at 7:15pm and 8:15pm – FREE. Memorial Drive on the KU Campus. #June 12th: Mire Pral Gypsy Jazz. Top quality music from the 30's and 40's in the "gypsy jazz" style of Django Reinhardt. 7pm - 9:30pm – FREE (tips encouraged). Eighth Street Tap Room, 801 New Hampshire St. #The Yards. Soul funk fusion instrumental quartet 8pm – 11pm. Lucia, 1016 Massachusetts Street. #June 13th: Avery Lee and The Sweeties, Lauren Lovelle & The Midnight Spliffs, Faith Maddox, and Aud Whitson. A late show with local talent at Lawrence’s legendary dive bar venue. 10pm - $5 Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts Street. #June 14th: Lawrence Juneteenth Parade & Celebration. Live free concert in South Park with food and craft vendors and kids activities 12:00pm – 8:00pm. South Park, 1141 Massachusetts St. #Tree Frog at The Bottleneck. Classic 70s Kansas rock group at legendary music venue 7:00pm, $15. The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire. #Page 3 ### Hotel Logistics and Wednesday Night’s short schedule QUICK HOTEL NOTES: Enter SpringHill Suites from the parking lot through an oddly long, slightly inclined hallway to the main lobby on the 3rd floor of the building; meeting rooms are one floor below on the 2nd floor, and the atrium, pool/gym, and river walk are on 1st floor. CHECK-IN/OUT: Hotel check in begins at 3:00PM; check out at 12:00PM. RELIEF/SMOKING AREAS: Grassy area across the parking lot from the front entrance. MEETING LOCATIONS: Meetings and meals located in the Naismith Ballroom (2nd floor). MEETING ROOM WIFI: SSID: SpringHill Suites Guest or Conference (will bring you to a pop up login page). HOSPITALITY SUITE: Second floor near Naismith Ballroom - Room number TBD. REGISTRATION TABLE: In Main Hotel Lobby - Wednesday 4p - 7p & Thursday 8:30a - 9a. TIME ZONE: Lawrence is in Central Standard Time Zone (CST). #WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11. Welcome Reception from 5:00PM - 7:00PM: Join us on the 1st/ground floor Atrium for refreshments, ice breakers, games, and more! 8:00PM: IAAIS Board Meeting #1 in the Phog Boardroom (Only current board members required to attend). Dinner on your own that evening. There will be some snacks in the Hospitality Suite. Welcome to Lawrence, Kansas! # Extra Hotel Details. The hotel layout is a little odd actually. From the front door in the parking lot, you'll go through automatic double doors then walk up a long hallway that is about 10 yards with a slight incline and leads to a second set of automatic doors that go into the main hotel lobby. We will have the registration table to the right of the doors in the lobby, and the check-in desk is to the left. The breakfast area is also in the lobby along with some tables and chairs, and you'll pass all that on the way to the main elevators.  The main level you walk into is considered the third floor of the hotel. There are only three levels in the hotel, and guest rooms are available beyond the elevators on all three levels.  Our meeting room is one floor down from the main level on the second floor. The room is called the Naismith Ballroom. All of our sessions and the banquet are in that same second floor meeting room. The only exception is the Welcome Reception which is on the bottom or first floor where you can also find the pool, gym, and an exit to the outdoor river walk. The Atrium for the reception is the open space outside the elevator.  We will have a hospitality room as well which will be on the second floor near the Naismith Ballroom. They have not given me that room number yet. #Airport Shuttles. The University of Kansas recommends to new students coming to campus from the airport along with Better Alternative Transportation Services (BATS), 5 Guys Transportation, and Super Shuttle.  # Nearby Restaurants. We identified 5 restaurants for the group dinners Thursday night which would also be solid options for dinner on your own Wednesday night. These are near the hotel and have the most accessible online menus. (Martha can find additional suggestions if this list doesn't have options you are interested in; email mkehr@ku.edu). * Free State Brewing Company (.2 mile from hotel, ~5 minute walk) o Menu: https://www.freestatebrewing.com/brewpub/menu/ o Local microbrewery with American cuisine options * Merchants Pub & Plate (.4 mile from hotel, ~8 minute walk) o Menu: https://www.merchantsonmass.com/menus/ o Familiar dishes reimagined through the lens of seasonal + local + flexible + fun * Limestone (.4 mile from hotel, ~9 minute walk) o Menu: https://www.limestonepkb.com/menu/ o Classic Neapolitan pizza pies with salads and custom cocktails * Terrebonne (.5 mile from hotel, ~11 minute walk) o Menu: https://www.terrebonnelfk.com/menu o An informal dining experience with Cajun/Creole food offering Po’ Boys and more * The Mad Greek (.5 mile from hotel, ~12 minute walk) o Menu: https://www.themadgreeklawrence.com/s/order o Quality Greek and Italian cuisine Please let Martha know how else she can help you prepare for your trip to Lawrence! Feel free to call me at 785-864-2900 (office), or if you get into town and have any issues, her cell is 503-691-5754.  $$$ Thursday, June 12 Schedule #8:00 AM SPRINGHILL SUITES BREAKFAST BUFFET: Hot Breakfast served in the hotel lobby (for hotel guests only) Monday-Friday 6:30 - 9:30 AM & Saturday 7:00 - 10:00 AM. #9:00 AM: IAAIS GENERAL BUSINESS SESSION Agenda items: Roll Call, State of the Association, Treasurer’s Report, Committee Reports, Changes to IAAIS Bylaws, Conference Expectations, New Business. #10:15 - 10:30 AM: 15 MIN BREAK. #10:30 AM: ACCESSIBILITY TASK FORCE PRESENTATION. About: The IAAIS Accessibility Task Force was created to help insure the practices of the IAAIS and its affiliates Aline with the practices of the blind and low vision community. During our presentation, we’ll show you proper blind/low vision etiquette, the importance of hiring blind/low vision staff and volunteers, and some of the common misnomers about blind people. Zoom Meeting Link for Business Meeting and Task Force Presentation: Meeting ID: 825 9755 9544 | Passcode: IAAIS25. #Accessibility Task Force Members/Bios. Mike Duke. Service Director, Radio Reading Service of Mississippi. Blind since birth, Mike attended the MS School for the Blind and MS State University where he earned a degree in communications. He then worked as a commercial radio announcer for 12 years before joining MS Public Broadcasting as director of the Radio Reading Service of MS in 1988. Neva Fairchild. Executive Director, Experts on Blindness. Through personal life experience, years of specialized higher education and a life-long career in the blindness and low-vision rehabilitation and services world, Neva’s level of expertise is unparalleled. (More on page 20.) Ryan Osentowski. Program Director, Nebraska Radio Talking Books Service. I am a conservative blind guy going through life using the structured discovery method. I currently work as the Station Manager at RTBS. My passions include politics, writing, cigars, oldtime radio, quality TV shows and movies, food, music, reading, clocks, and tbd. Evan Starnes. Audio Production Technician Aftersight. Evan joined Aftersight in 2021 as an intern after graduating from the Colorado Center for the Blind. He’s been obsessed with audio, gadgets, and tech since he can remember. Evan is the voice behind the Blind Level Tech podcast, where he gets to geek out on everything from accessibility to audio gear. When he’s not behind a mic, you’ll probably find him outdoors, diving into a new music artist, or playing with his latest tech toy. Penn Street. Director of Development and Outreach, Aftersight. Penn Street lost most of her eyesight at age nine from Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) after being bit by a rattlesnake. Growing up Penn discovered that Accessibility was the key to her community, career… and living her best life. She’s lived that life through the many hats she’s worn: ADA Coordinator, Outreach Managers, and member of Development Teams. Penn has gone a step further yet by sharing her voice. Penn is the host of Aftersight’s flagship podcast, The Blind Chick, which shares the stories of people with vision loss. In addition, Penn volunteers on several boards and commissions that focus on upholding the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). When not working, advocating, or podcasting, Penn enjoys Alpine Skiing in the winter and the summer is filled with hiking, and paddle boarding. #LUNCH THURSDAY, 12:00 PM. TACO BAR FROM TACO ZONE CATERING. Taco filling options (on Corn Tortillas): 1, Green Chicken Chile: A classic. Roasted chicken thigh with sauteed onions and poblanos (extra poblano) stewed in a roasted garlic sauce. 2, Carnitas: Succulent pork shoulder seared then braised in beer, roasted with garlic and a lil kick of chipotle, or 3, Veggie Verde (vegan): zucchini, poblano, onions, and kale roasted and stewed with a pumpkin seed based tomatillo and cilantro green mole like sauce. Arugula Salad: Arugula & Greens Salad with Pico de Gallo, Shaved Onion, Oaxaca Cheese, Pepitas & Jalapeno Sesame Dressing. Sides: Guacamole, Salsa Roja & Queso with Fresh Housemade Tortilla Chips. Dessert: Assorted cookies from The Merc Co-op. LUNCH SPEAKERS: EXPLORE LAWRENCE! eXplore Lawrence is the convention and visitors bureau of Lawrence, Kansas. They aim to share the experience of this unmistakable town and invite visitors to come see for themselves that Lawrence is a city happy to be what it is: a city doing things in its own way, with free thinkers not trying to be anyone else. Founded by pioneers driven to create a state where people of all races would be free, Lawrence has continually defined itself as an open, energetic and welcoming community. Quirky? Different? Unexpected? Yes! But more importantly, we invite you to define your own version of a city that offers an escape from the ordinary. WWW.EXPLORELAWRENCE.COM. Kim Anspach. Executive Director, Explore Lawrence. Anspach has excelled in office management and community relations roles since joining the organization in 2014. Kim’s many accomplishments at eXplore Lawrence include: Coordination of the initial launch of the Unmistakably Lawrence brand, creation and implementation of the Lawrence Tourism Ambassador Program, and the design and relocation of Lawrence Visitors Center to Downtown Lawrence. Ruth DeWitt. Manager of External Affairs & Sales Operations. Ruth DeWitt is External Affairs and Sales Operations Manager at eXplore Lawrence. She works to promote Lawrence as a destination for leisure travelers, conferences, and teams. She is also working hard to convene, organize, and prepare Lawrence and Douglas County for the World Cup. Ruth lives in Lawrence with her husband Cal, who can often be seen downtown with their 15-year old dachshund. They have two sons, Calvin, who’s serving in the Peace Corps in Guyana South America, and Henry, who is a second-year vet student at Kansas State. #1:00 PM FUNDRAISING & DEVELOPMENT. About session: Fundraising events, letter writing campaigns, grant writing, grant management, and general fundraising trends - Beth and Dale will share their expertise with what they have found to be the most effective methods to raise funds with limited time and resources. Speaker bios. Beth McKenzie. Development Director, Audio-Reader. Beth joined Audio-Reader in April 2016. Her background includes nonprofit program management, grant-writing, and fundraising. Dale Slusser. Senior Advisor, Make Philanthropy Work. With over 25 years of fundraising experience, Dale Slusser brings a wealth of experience in development and development leadership. He joined KU Endowment in 2000, where he provided management, strategic direction, and mentoring for development professionals in several multimillion-dollar campaigns. Dale oversaw multiple fundraising committees for the University-wide campaign, Far Above, which reached a goal of $1.2 billion in 2016. Dale retired from KU Endowment with the title of Associate Vice President at the end of 2021. He has since served as Senior Advisor for Make Philanthropy Work, partnering with nonprofit organizations and higher-ed institutions to generate immediate and lasting fundraising growth. Dale lives in Lawrence, Kansas with his wife, Sherry, a professor at the University of Kansas. He currently serves on the board of the Lawrence Humane Society, Lawrence Preservation Alliance, Historic Mount Oread Friends and the KU Campus Historic Preservation Board. He is a former board member and president of both the Douglas County Historical Society and the Old West Lawrence Neighborhood Association. Dale’s Website: www.makephilanthropywork.com. #2:00 PM - 2:15 PM: 15 MIN BREAK. #2:15 PM: PROGRAMMING POSSIBILITIES About session: Mares will share her years of expertise with both being a volunteer and managing volunteers to offer suggestions for programming coverage, fill, and how Sun Sounds deals with shrinking newspapers. Jennifer’s topics include: Reading publications, i.e. newsletters, e-editions of newspapers, magazines, etc., front to back [the need, the challenges, the solution] and Image Description and Reading ads [the need, the challenges, the solution]. Mares Wright. Outreach Coordinator, Sun Sounds of Arizona. Mares’ education took place at the Marine Corp School in Quantico, VA, New York University (NYU), and Phoenix College. She began her employment journey as a Lance Corporal in the United States Marine Corps fr 4 years in active duty and 3 more in the reserves. After that, she spent 35 years working for American Express as the VP of Card Operations across Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Mares joined Sun Sounds for a year as a volunteer before moving into her current role in outreach which she has been in for the last 9 years. In addition, Mares serves as a board consultant for Vision Rehabilitation & Technology Expo (VRATE) in Phoenix, AZ and has previously been on the boards of Jarvis Christian College in Hawkins, TX and the Phoenix Art Museum. Jennifer Neptune. Programming Volunteer Specialist Aftersight. Jennifer has had an unwavering dedication and compassionate service over the past 22+ years with her work overseas with marginalized and vulnerable populations in countries like Costa Rica, Colombia, and Brazil. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese, Jennifer has used her linguistic gifts to build bridges and foster understanding across cultures. Upon returning to the U.S. in 2021, Jennifer remained committed to serving with purpose. She sought out roles that aligned with her values, working first with foster children and then supporting low-income families. This desire is what brought her journey here to Aftersight, where she has found a meaningful place to continue her mission. Over the past year and a half, Jennifer has brought tremendous value to Aftersight as Volunteer Manager. In that role, she has broadened their outreach to the Hispanic/Latino community—identifying their needs and helping ensure access to audio content that keeps them connected to their cultural roots. Jennifer’s dedication to growing and strengthening the Volunteer Team ensures Aftersight continues to expand its impact. #3:00 PM: Fun Session: Affinity Groups. About session: This session is an opportunity to connect with folks from other services who do the same work as you! The facilitated session will give you a chance to identify a focus area that you would like to discuss more with your conference colleagues e.g. fundraising, volunteer management, programming, technology. Expect to have several quick conversations and make connections that you can continue over the rest of the conference to better serve your organization. #3:45 - 4:00 PM: 15 MIN BREAK. NOTE: Prep to leave for off-site visit to Audio-Reader. When you are ready, meet in front of the hotel to board one of the 12-passenger vans. Shuttles will leave every 5-10 minutes as needed. Audio-Reader, 1120 W 11th St., 66044, (785) 864-4600. #4:00: Tour of Audio-Reader. 4:00 & 4:15PM: Vans available to shuttle attendees from SpringHill Suites to Audio-Reader (1120 W 11th St.) Tour Audio-Reader & Kansas Public Radio studios, meet local volunteers and staff, ask questions about software and technology; then enjoy refreshments of coffee, ice cream, and treats in the beautiful Audio-Reader Sensory Garden. #5:45 & 6:00PM: Shuttle back to either hotel or straight to dinner #6:30 – 8:00 PM: Dinner in Groups. Sign up for a dinner group at the registration table. Options include: Free State Brewery, Limestone Pizza, Merchants Pub & Plate, The Mad Greek, or Terrebonne. Or feel free to have dinner on your own. #Repeat of local restaurant list: * Free State Brewing Company (.2 mile from hotel, ~5 minute walk) o Menu: https://www.freestatebrewing.com/brewpub/menu/ o Local microbrewery with American cuisine options * Merchants Pub & Plate (.4 mile from hotel, ~8 minute walk) o Menu: https://www.merchantsonmass.com/menus/ o Familiar dishes reimagined through the lens of seasonal + local + flexible + fun * Limestone (.4 mile from hotel, ~9 minute walk) o Menu: https://www.limestonepkb.com/menu/ o Classic Neapolitan pizza pies with salads and custom cocktails * Terrebonne (.5 mile from hotel, ~11 minute walk) o Menu: https://www.terrebonnelfk.com/menu o An informal dining experience with Cajun/Creole food offering Po’ Boys and more * The Mad Greek (.5 mile from hotel, ~12 minute walk) o Menu: https://www.themadgreeklawrence.com/s/order o Quality Greek and Italian cuisine %%% Friday, June 13 Schedule 8:00 AM SPRINGHILL SUITES BREAKFAST BUFFET: Hot Breakfast served in the hotel lobby (for hotel guests only) Monday-Friday 6:30 - 9:30 AM & Saturday 7:00 - 10:00 AM. #9:00 AM Programming: Content Challenges. Maryfrances Evans (IRIS) will moderate conversations related to shrinking newspapers and other content challenges; at 9:30, Amanda will provide information on the impact of changes to federal funding on public media. Maryfrances Evans. Executive Director, IRIS. For the past 15 years, Maryfrances has been the driving force behind IRIS. Her leadership and dedication have transformed IRIS into a lifeline for so many across the state. Under her guidance, IRIS has expanded its reach, embraced new technology, and strengthened its commitment to serving our community with compassion and innovation. She served as board president of IAAIS for about as long before stepping back last year, yet Maryfrances continues to advise and support all IAAIS members. Amanda Mountain. President & CEO, Rocky Mountain Public Media. Amanda Mountain grew up a military brat and has called Colorado home off-and-on since 1992. She is a first-generation college graduate and holds a Master’s degree from the University of Denver in Organizational Leadership and Change Management. She is the first female CEO in Rocky Mountain Public Media history. Mountain has over 25 years of experience in the media business, most notably with Freedom Communications, where she was named one of the top 20 Newspaper executives in the country by Presstime Magazine, and Viacom, where she helped pioneer cross-platform marketing strategies under the Viacom Plus arm, created by Mel Karmazin. Amanda has also worked as a journalist, publishing over 250 articles for various local news outlets, covering topics related to media and the non-profit sector. In 2021 and 2022, Mountain was named one of the “Most Influential Women in Radio” by Radio Ink magazine. In 2020, she received an Emmy Award for Overall Excellence and a duPontColumbia Award for Investigative Journalism in 2018. In 2022, Mountain was admitted into the prestigious Sulzberger Fellowship at Columbia Journalism School where she worked to shape the future of journalism with a cohort of 23 journalists from around the world. Mountain is proud to have served as Board Chair for the Public Television Major Market Group in addition to serving on the Digital Marketing Advisory Committee of PBS. #10:15 - 10:30 AM 15 MIN BREAK #10:30 AM SCA, RADIOS, TV, AND PHONES Mark will cover the range of over-the-air broadcasting technologies you can use to serve your listeners; Steve will talk about the history and future of Telephone Reader including Audio-Reader’s transition to Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Mark Jividen. Executive Director, Voicecorps. Mark Jividen enjoyed a forty-year career in commercial broadcasting spanning technology to major market group management before coming out of retirement to run Voicecorps Reading Network in Columbus, Ohio which he had advised for many years. Steve Kincaid. Director of Engineering Kanas Public Radio & Audio-Reader. Steve Kincaid began his broadcasting career in commercial radio at the age of 16 as a radio announcer and assistant engineer. He started with Audio-Reader in 1984 while a student at KU moving to full-time engineer in 1986. He invented the Telephone Reader in 1994. Later, he became the Director of Engineering for both Audio-Reader and Kansas Public Radio. In his spare time, he produces and engineers the KU Men’s Basketball and Football radio broadcasts and travels around the country with both teams. He is a 1988 graduate of the University of Kansas and won the C Stanley Potter award in 1999. Steve lives in Lawrence, KS., with his wife Pam, has two daughters, Courtney and Alexandra, a son, Brad, along with two grandchildren. #11:15 AM DIGITAL TOOLS & PROGRAMS. Jonathan will speak about creating original podcast content relevant to the users of our services. This includes determining the podcast format, identifying topics, scheduling guests, and editing the programs; Michael will talk about setting up Echo devices for listeners to access our programming; and Jim will talk about the evolution of technology and how that has impacted Sight Into Sound including suggestions for the future. Jonathan Price. Podcast Producer, Aftersight. Jonathan’s background includes leadership, content creation, and hands-on hobbies like music, cooking, and knife making, which add creativity and diversity to his projects. At Aftersight, Jonathan’s goal is to create content that inspires and informs, helping individuals overcome everyday challenges while advocating for accessibility and inclusion. Michael Sisneros. Community Outreach Specialist, Aftersight. Michael joined Aftersight after a 20-year career in the Aviation industry which took him across the country and back to Colorado. He has a varied background from selling diamonds, to healthcare, to owning his own business. He enjoys living in Colorado and working with people in-person. Jim Martinez. Radio Manager, Sight Into Sound. Jim has been at Sight Into Sound since 1997. He started out as the kid who worked the nighttime position and became Radio Manager in 1999. He has been part of the audio evolution from reel to reel to cassettes to computer (DAW) recording to downloading files as well as streaming on multiple platforms. He also manages approximately 100 volunteers who record from home and in-studio. In recent years, he joined a local podcast community and informed them on how we (reading services) have been doing this for decades. He has helped up and coming podcasters start their podcast journey and recruited several of them to be volunteers for Sight Into Sound. #12:00 PM LUNCH FROM WHEATFIELDS. Sandwich options: Turkey and Cranberry, Pastrami and Swiss, Chicken Breast, Chicken Salad, Hummus Sandwich or Beef and Cheddar. WheatFields House Salad: Mixed greens with pickled cucumbers and beets, legume, grain or pasta garnish, sunflower seeds, and croutons with a white wine vinaigrette. Berry Plate with Strawberry, Pineapple, Raspberries, Blueberries, Kiwi, or Blackberries. Breads and Spreads Tray with whipped chevre with blueberry compote & roasted red pepper cream cheese dip. Dessert: An assortment of delicious options from the WheatFields pastry case. #1:00 PM Audio Description. Nick Carswell (Audio-Reader) will moderate this session covering the ins and outs of audio description: what has been working, the challenges, and the benefits to patrons from staff member and volunteer perspective. Magan Harms. Director of Audio Description/ADA Coordinator, MindsEye. Magan Harms first started at MindsEye as a volunteer in 2017 and was hired in 2019 to take over the audio description program. She leads a team of over 20 describers and coordinates with more than 40 cultural institutions to provide accessible content through audio description. In 2021, Magan was the recipient of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) Audio Description Achievement Award for an individual in the field of performing arts. In 2022, she was part of a four-person live description team for the Beijing Paralympic Games for NBC and USA Networks. In May of 2025, Magan was part of a two-person description team for the Indianapolis 500 and described the inaugural Oscar Mayer Wienie 500. Magan is an AD script writer for 3Play Media. Patricia Hamarstrom Williams. Audio Describer/Volunteer, Audio-Reader. Patricia holds a M.F.A., Ph.D. and is a storyteller with international film and theatre directing and new media credits. Her film credits include “A Tomb for Boris Davidovich”, “A Long Day’s Journey Into Night”, “Othello”, and “Tiger Dance”; work at Cinecitta and for Universal Studios. She has also directed at major theatres, including Lincoln Center, American Repertory Theatre, Missouri (now Kansas City) Repertory Theatre, national Shakespeare Festivals, and the National Theatre of Serbia. She has served as Executive Director of both the Kansas City Film Festival and the KAN Film Festival and is Vice President of the Board of CinemaKC, having joined in 2014. #2:00 – 2:15 PM 15 MIN BREAK #2:15 PM Outreach and Listener Feedback Carlie will present and lead discussion on methods of gathering feedback from listeners; Martha will talk about listener engagement and outreach. Carlie Rhoads. National Center for Deaf Blind. Prior to joining NCDB, Carlie Rhoads has worked with children with deafblindness for a total of ten years in various roles. She has a Ph.D. in special education. As a doctoral student at Vanderbilt University, she was a National Leadership Consortium in Sensory Disabilities Scholar, focusing her studies on research methodology and visual impairment. She has served as a special education teacher and has a total of four years’ experience leading and working with a state deafblind project. Her skills include fluency in braille. Martha Kehr. Communications & Listener Outreach, Audio-Reader. Martha has a background in English, creative writing, and history in addition to decades of experience with office management, human resources, customer service, and outreach. She enjoys traveling, playing video games, and being a mother to her two children. She has been in her current role at Audio-Reader since March 2023. #3:15 – 3:30 PM 15 MIN BREAK #3:30 PM VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT From Recruitment to Retention; from Readers to Listeners – volunteers bring life to our organizations. This session will discuss volunteer management, tools and tips, and approaches to welcome a sometimes underutilized resource:  volunteers with low vision. Trish Dowd Kelne. Audio-Reader. Trish has worked in the nonprofit setting for 20 years, with social service agencies providing community outreach, education and empowerment. She is an avid supporter of giving back to the community and delights in her work with A-R volunteers serving the A-R community.  She is an alumna of Kansas State University.  She lives in Lawrence with her husband and teenage daughter, as well as their Australian Shepard, a handful of chickens and one turtle dove. They can be found volunteering with 4-H, the library, senior centers, Academy of Tai Qi, and community theater. Neva Fairchild. Executive Director, Experts on Blindness. Through personal life experience, years of specialized higher education and a life-long career in the blindness and low-vision rehabilitation and services world, Neva’s level of expertise is unparalleled. Her knowledge and network in the blindness profession and community continues to grow each year, as she makes strides to ensure that people living with low-vision or blindness have access and resources to live a full and rewarding life. Neva is committed to continuous education as science, technology and resources evolve, especially related to the medical implications of blindness on one’s personal, social and professional life. She is a natural educator and communicator, meeting people at their level of understanding while providing advocacy, insights, guidance, and expert knowledge. Her leadership presence in blindness and low-vision professional organizations remains strong at the local, state, and international level. #4:30 – 6:00 PM Long Break Before the Awards Banquet Enjoy some R&R and down time before the awards banquet. The Hospitality Suite will be open. ^^^ Awards Banquet Details #6:00 PM -– 7:30 PM AWARDS BANQUET (Naismith Ballroom) 6:00 – 6:30: Dinner Buffet from Maceli’s Guinness Braised Boneless Beef Short Ribs (DF), Marsala Mushroom Grilled Chicken Breast (GF), Thai Red Curry w/ Vegetables & Basmati Rice Meal (GF/DF/V) available upon request, Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes (GF), French Green Beans (DF/GF), and Maceli’s Savory Scones w/ Butter. Coffee, Iced Tea, and Non-alcoholic Mocktail: Lavender Lemonade. Cash Bar available with beer and wine (Corona, Free State Copperhead, & Boulevard Wheat; Cabernet Sauvignon or Pinot Grigio) #6:30 – 7:00 GUEST SPEAKER JOE STRECHAY Joe Strechay is an enthusiastic expert on disability inclusion, accessibility in the entertainment industry, blindness, disability employment, and television production. He has been the lead for accessibility and inclusion for one of the largest productions in the world. Joe assesses accommodations for actors and background performers of all disabilities to assure access. He recruits actors with disabilities for productions around the world through his network and connections. He has advised some of the biggest filmmakers and streaming services. He combines creativity with his management experience in his roles. WWW.STRECHAY.ORG #7:00 PM Presentation of the Awards Zoom Meeting ID: 825 9755 9544 | Passcode: IAAIS25 PROGRAM AWARDS CATEGORIES A. Newspapers B. Consumer Information/Public Information C. Magazines D. Book Program/Short Stories E. Dramas F. Interview/Call-in/Discussion G. On Location Program/Audio Description H. Now Hear This ADDITIONAL AWARDS Public Affairs Award for Excellence in Communications & Marketing Stanley Potter Lifetime Achievement Award Thank you to the following services for submitting award nominations: Aftersight, Audible Local Ledger, Audio Journal, Audio-Reader, CABVI Cincinnati, MindsEye, Sun Sounds Flagstaff, Sun Sounds Tempe, Sun Sounds Tucson, Vision Resources PA, Voicecorps Congratulations, Award Winners! &&& Saturday, June 14 Schedule 8:00 AM SPRINGHILL SUITES BREAKFAST BUFFET: Hot Breakfast served in the hotel lobby (for hotel guests only) Monday-Friday 6:30 - 9:30 AM & Saturday 7:00 - 10:00 AM. #9:00 AM WHAT KEEPS US UP AT NIGHT? Kim Wardlow and Bekah Jerde will lead a group discussion on any topics attendees want to bring up. Copyright concerns based on listening method? Politics and funding changes? Getting SCA radios new or returned? We can’t solve all the world’s problems in an hour, but we can try! Kim Wardlow. Executive Director Aftersight, IAAIS Board President. Kim was born in Colorado and grew up in Lamar. She got involved with the blind and low vision community nearly 25 years ago when she volunteered to read for Aftersight. She didn’t know it at the time, but Kim was following in the footsteps of her great great grandparents who had taught at a school for the blind in London. In 2001, she joined the staff as the Director of Marketing, and later Kim became the Executive Director in 2018. Before that, she held business development and marketing positions at engineering and IT distribution companies in the private sector and the Colorado Department of Agriculture. Outside of work, she enjoys knitting, reading and going for long walks with her husband Doug & dog CeCe. Bekah Jerde. Executive Director RTBS, IAAIS Board Vice President/Treasurer. Bekah Jerde is a Nonprofit Leader, an Advocate, a Woman in Recovery, an Artist and Photographer. Bekah was born and raised on the high plains of northwestern South Dakota and has called Omaha home for over 20 years. As the Executive Director of Radio Talking Book Service, she ensures equal access to print media for Nebraskans who are blind or print impaired. She provides audio description for live theater events in Omaha, Lincoln, and surrounding communities. #10:00 – 10:15 AM Final 15 MIN BREAK #10:15 – 11:00 AM IAAIS CLOSING BUSINESS SESSION * Roll Call * Minutes review from Opening Session * Vote on Bylaws changes * Welcome New Members * New Business * Final Thoughts * Adjournment Zoom Meeting ID: 825 9755 9544 | Passcode: IAAIS25 #CONFERENCE SESSIONS END AT 11:00 AM BOARD MEMBERS ONLY - MEETING FROM 11:15 - 12:15 PM Thank You So Much for Attending & Safe Travels Home!! @@@ Final pages with scholarship recipients and board meeting details CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2025 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS. Brittany McLemore, Ed.D. Executive Director, Georgia Radio Reading Service (GaRRS) Chloe Collins. Executive Director, Valley Eye Radio. Neva Fairchild. IAAIS Board & Founder, Experts on Blindness. A HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR AWESOME SPONSOR – CONTENT DEPOT!! And our Gift Bag Donor – Explore Lawrence! #IAAIS Board of Directors Officers Kim Wardlow, President. Bekah Jerde, Vice President/Treasurer. Gina Byars, Secretary . Members Nick Carswell. Mike Duke. Neva Fairchild. Mark Jividen. Jim Obradovich. Renee Southworth. May Tran. Admin Assistant Martha Kehr, Audio-Reader. If you enjoyed the meals, you can thank Martha for choosing the restaurants and organizing the menus. If you didn’t, complaints go to the board ;) Thanks, Martha! SPECIAL THANKS to Mike Duke, May Tran, and Renee Southworth who will be rolling off the Board after Conference. Thank you!! And thank you to our host service - Audio-Reader! The 2026 IAAIS Conference will be Virtual -END OF AGENDA-