Category Archive

2020 Committee

Don Brown

Don Brown

Since 2000, Don Brown has been the CEO of Access Work Systems, LLC, a Human Resources Regulatory Compliance consulting firm.  Brown is certified as an Expert Witness in employment matters specializing in the “Reasonable Accommodation Interactive Process.”  He describes himself as an easy-going homebody, who enjoys gardening, cooking, reading psychological thrillers, traveling, good wine, good food, good friends, and hiking the San Francisco East Bay hills with his guide dog Mari.

Bryan Bashin

Bryan Bashin

Bryan Bashin has led a diverse life since he graduated UC Berkeley in history and journalism.  Mr. Bashin first spent 15 years as a journalist in television, radio and print, specializing in science news.   In 1998 he was hired as Executive Director of the Sacramento Society for the Blind, where he quintupled the number of hours of teaching and developed innovative programs such as the Senior Intensive Retreat and summer immersion camps.  In 2004 Mr. Bashin was hired as the   Region  IX assistant regional commissioner for the US Department of Education’s west coast branch of RSA, overseeing funding for $500 million in federal disability programs.  In 2010 he was hired to lead the Lighthouse for the Blind in San Francisco, where he works today with a staff of 140.  Mr. Bashin is a relentless  innovator, working with a remarkable idealistic staff.  Throughout his  career, Mr. Bashin has worked in the confluence of high technology, social  advocacy and governmental partnerships.

Bill Raeder

Bill Raeder

When working as a geologist out on the Arctic Ocean, premature detonation of TNT took both my eyes, my right hand and half of my left, and perforated both eardrums. I returned to Boston University, earned an MA, married, and raised three children. Early career positions include life insurance agent, President of a race relations organization, and theater manager. I then served as President of National Braille Press for 32 years. I’ve served on six nonprofit boards and have been to six continents, more than 35 countries including remote villages in Tanzania, Nepal, and Papua New Guinea.

Joseph Chan

Joseph Chan

Mr. Chan joined the LightHouse Board in June 2005.  He retired in 2009, after serving 26 years at the Association of Bay Area Governments as Chief Financial Officer of the agency.  As a visually impaired person with Retinitis Pigmentosa, Mr. Chan wants to offer his expertise in fiscal management to benefit the blind and visually impaired community.  He is a CPA and holds a MBA degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.