Episodes

ENCORE PRESENTATION of May 27, 2025, Joyce welcomes Dr. Louis Olander, Ph.D., Director of Research and Veterans’ Initiatives at Disability: IN. As a veteran and advocate, Dr. Olander will share his work with Disability:IN, and the ways in which the organization supports veterans with disabilities, in honor of Memorial Day. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focus...

As we enter National Epilepsy Awareness Month, Joyce welcomes Landis Wiedner one of the leading voices in epilepsy today. She’s the founder and host of What the EF?, a top 10% global podcast which, was recognized by the California State Legislature with a Media Excellence Award. She will be discussing the latest advances in the treatment of epilepsy for those that are living with the condition. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair ...

Responsible Joyce welcomes Molly Burke, a multi-hyphenate creative and advocate who uses her voice—on stage, on screen, and on the page—to educate, entertain, and drive meaningful change for the world. With over 5 million followers across social media, she has built a globally recognizable brand as a speaker, content creator, author, consultant, and model. Diagnosed at age 4 with Retinitis Pigmentosa—a rare degenerative eye disease—Molly began public speaking just a year later, sparking a lifel...

Joyce welcomes Melissa Anderson, Executive Vice President, Chief Auditor & Compliance Officer at Highmark Health to the show. She serves as the primary staff liaison to the audit committee of the board of directors for Highmark Inc. and Highmark Health. She will discuss her support of the Bender Consulting Services, Inc. partnership with Highmark Health. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy...

Joyce welcomes back to the show, Scott Hammerstrom, Manager of Programs and Partnerships with Bender Leadership Academy. Joining Mr. Hammerstrom will be Emily Burkhart, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity Officer at Dollar Bank and Laina Fusarelli, Business Controller (Operations Leadership/Innovation/IT) & Capital Planning Leader, Nova Chemical Corporation. Among the topics discussed will be Pittsburgh, PA’s participation in 2025’s National Disability Mentoring Day and the long-standing support a...

Joyce welcomes Joy Matoney, Vice President, Diversified Businesses & Growth Planning and Enablement at Highmark, Inc. She will discuss her stellar career at Highmark, Inc. and her commitment to the Bender partnership to hire people with disabilities. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with d...

Joyce welcomes Congressman Steny Hoyer and former Congressman Tony Coelho to the show. They will be discussing the 35th Anniversary of the ADA and what progress has been made over the years and what has not been fulfilled. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding partne...

Special Guest Jeanette Towles

Special Guest Tom Doran

Joyce is honored to have back as her guest Christine Griffin, a strong disability rights advocate and current Bender Consulting Services’ Senior Search Specialist Consultant on the show. During the show, she will be discussing her long career which includes her past work as Commissioner of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Deputy Director of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management during the Obama Administration. She will also discuss her protection and advocacy work, ...

Special Guest Craig Leen

Special Guest Marcia Oglan

Joyce closes Disability Pride Month, with Veronica Villalobos, Vice President of the Institute for Strategic Social and Workforce Programs for Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network. She strives to ensure the workforce enables belonging and health access is achieved among members, patients, and communities in PA, western NY, DE, and WV. Among the topics discussed, Veronica will share how Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network foster a workforce that has Americans with disabilities, h...

As part of Disability Pride Month, Joyce welcomes former Senator Tom Harkin back to the show. Senator Harkin will reflect on the significance of the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), July 26, 1990, by President George H.W. Bush. Senator Harkin will share his thoughts on the work that still needs done to advance the lives of Americans with disabilities. Also, he will discuss the work of the Harkin Institute for Public Policy and Citizen Engagement whic...

Joyce welcomes Jennifer Mathis, Deputy Director of the Bazelon Center for Mental Health back to the show. Since 1972, the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law has advocated for the civil rights, full inclusion and equality of adults and children with mental disabilities. Ms. Mathis will share how the Center was instrumental in the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) (1990) and played a key role in the historic case of Olmstead v. L.C. (1999), in which the Supreme ...

Joyce is honored to welcome “Dorthy” Doro Koch, author, businesswoman, advocate, and daughter of late President George H.W. Bush to the show. As we continue recognizing ADA Month and prepare to celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. Ms. Koch will share insight into what signing the ADA into law meant to her father, and his dedication to ensuring its passage. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Bo...

Joyce welcomes The Honorable Tony Coelho, former U.S. Congressman and author of the Americans with Disabilities Act, back to the show. As celebrations around the Americans with Disabilities Act anniversary and Disability Pride month commence, it is important to recognize key advocates who led efforts to make the ADA the law of the land. Tony Coelho drafted the ADA and the ADA Amendments Act of 2007, restoring the original intent of the law. The ADA Amendments Act clarified and codified the prote...

In recognition of June as Pride Month, Joyce welcomes Jonathan Lovitz, Senior Vice President of Campaigns and Communications, Human Rights Campaign (HRC). During the show he will discuss his work as a nationally recognized leader in public affairs, economic policy, and strategic communications, with deep expertise in advancing inclusive growth through both government and nonprofit leadership. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair a...

In recognition of June as Pride Month, Joyce welcomes Evan Low, named president and CEO of the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund and LGBTQ+ Victory Institute, in March 2025. During the show he will discuss his work with these organizations. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the transition to work for youth and young adults with disabilities. Founding par...

Joyce welcomes fellow Pittsburgh Business Times Woman of Influence recipient, Kate Musler, to the show. Kate is Highmark Health’s Chief Financial Officer and will share her responsibilities in that role, and what drives her to help Highmark continue to be a leader in the healthcare insurance industry. Joyce A. Bender Career Highlights Serves as CEO of Bender Consulting Services, Inc. and Board Chair and Founder of Bender Leadership Academy, a non-profit organization focused on addressing the tr...

Joyce welcomes Gerald Homme, Manager of Talent Acquisition and Technology and Jill Zomp, Talent Acquisition Coordinator with Bender Consulting Services, Inc., to the show. Joyce, Jill, and Gerald will be discussing the upcoming webinar sponsored by Bender Consulting Services, Inc., Transferable Skills for New Career Paths in Today’s Changing Job Search Environment. The webinar will be held on Monday, June 30, 2025. BIO OF GERALD HOMME Manager of Talent Acquisition and Technology for Bender Cons...