Bay State Council of the Blind Arts Access Information Day at Perkins

• Welcome – David Kingsbury, BSCB President

• Broadway in Boston: Boston Opera House, Em Rihl, Operations Assistant www.BroadwayInBoston.com

• Think Outside the Vox & Open Door Theatre Samatha Gould, President www.ThinkOutsideTheVox.org

• Arts Boston: Claire Williamson, Deputy Director Artsboston.org

• Museum of Fine Arts – Boston: Ronit Minchom, Accessibility Coordinator http://www.mfa.org

• Open Door Arts: An Affiliate of Seven Hills Foundation Megan Bent, Gallery and Communications Manager, Boston www.opendoorartsma.org

• Museum of Science: Sylvie Rosenkalt, ADA & 504 Accessibility Coordinator www.mos.org

• Speakeasy Stage Company: Alex Lonati, Director of Artistic & Community Programs www.speakeasystage.com

• Wheelock Family Theatre at Boston University: Jamie Aznive, Assistant Director for Audience Services and Access Coordinator; & Cori Couture, In-Show Audio Describer for WFT’s upcoming production of The Prom

• Worcester Art Museum: Molly Cardoza, manager of community partnerships www.worcesterart.org

Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD VENDORS OF AMERICA CELEBRATING OVER FIFTY YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ADVOCACY

RSVA SAGEBRUSH 2025 NATIONAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM TRAINING CONFERENCE

• Pre-Conference RSVA Board of Directors Meeting

Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD VENDORS OF AMERICA CELEBRATING OVER FIFTY YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ADVOCACY

RSVA SAGEBRUSH 2025 NATIONAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM TRAINING CONFERENCE

Day 1 Morning

• Moderator: Randall Crosby (FL), Crosby’s Café, Inc., RSVA® Board member
• Welcome to Sagebrush: Scott Eggen (MN), SVS Vending, RSVA® President
• Welcome from Nevada: Business Enterprises of Nevada
• Introductions: Scott Eggen (MN), RSVA® President
• NAMA News and Trends in the Industry: Robert Jackson, Director Government Affairs, National Automatic Merchandising Association

Find out about news and laws affecting vending managers. Learn about the ongoing training offered by NAMA.

• Southern Teaming Partners Update: Walt Berry (AL), President Southern Teaming Partners

• Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) News and Updates”:

Learn about the conflict resolution process, tips for successful outcomes for complaints, and updates to RSA circulars. Get tips on how vendors and staff can find the information they need.

iPhone and Android tips and useful apps: Conference Participants

• USI Innovations:

Learn the latest on USI offerings and support.

• Helping to build your business. Theodore C. Drake (CA), Global Accessibility Leader, Intuit Inc.

Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD VENDORS OF AMERICA CELEBRATING OVER FIFTY YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ADVOCACY

RSVA SAGEBRUSH 2025 NATIONAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM TRAINING CONFERENCE

Day 1 Afternoon

• Moderator: Ronald Flormata (HI), RMF Enterprises, Inc., RSVA® Board member

• Current state BEP Training and options for improvements Brian Switzer, Program Manager of Accessibility Technology, Training, and Research, Carroll Center for the Blind; Heather Miller (AR), Director of Education and Training, World Services for the Blind

• Get up and get moving Leslie Spoon (FL), Co-chair ACB Get up and get moving committee

• Motivating State Agencies to Improve Their Business Enterprise Programs. Ryan Skinner, Business Enterprise Program Director, South Carolina Commission for the Blind; Corey Marcum, Director Kentucky Business Enterprise; Bill Findley, Business Enterprise, FL DOE Division of Blind Services; Rachel Hollen (DE), Business Enterprise Program Director, NCSAB Randolph-Sheppard “Committee Chair; and Chris Prentice, former TX State Attorney.

The panel will discuss how state agency staff could be more entrepreneurial in their efforts to get new vending facility locations. Suggestions will include ways to help blind vendors to be more entrepreneurial.

• Continuation of Motivating State Agencies to Improve Their Business Enterprise Programs

• American Council of the Blind Updates and activities: Scott Thornhill (DC), Executive Director American Council of the Blind

He’ll share ACB programs and services, upcoming conferences and educational opportunities, as well as current advocacy efforts

• What’s happening with food trucks and Pods? What RS initiatives are being explored to combat this competition? Jim Hemmen (WA), Business Enterprise Program Manager, WA State Department of Services for the Blind; Ben Ploch (MI), Michigan EOC Chair

We’ll hear updates on the progress with food trucks working together with local vendor managers and efforts on starting food trucks for vendors. What are states doing about food trucks and pods taking customers away from BEP?

Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD VENDORS OF AMERICA CELEBRATING OVER FIFTY YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ADVOCACY

RSVA SAGEBRUSH 2025 NATIONAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM TRAINING CONFERENCE

Day 2

• Moderator: Herbert Reado (LA), RSVA® Board Member

• Technologies benefiting BEP operators and VI staff: Kayla Smith or Bryan Allen (VA), OEM Sales Manager Medeco Security Locks; John Palmer Patriot Systems; Robert Serian (CA), Head of Business Development & Territory Management, Envision Technologies B.V.; Karthik Mahadevan, CEO Envision Technologies B.V.

Many technologies assist vendors while they are managing a facility. These speakers will highlight how their products/service will improve the business owner’s abilities to manage the business.

• What’s new in Technology for Kiosks/Micro Markets and Vending Management:Matt Kotsch, Territory Sales Representative, Trinity Access, Inc.; Waseem Salamah, Key Account Manager - Micro Markets/Vending, AVS Companies.

You’ll learn about technology used for micro markets and back-end services in vending and micro market management including credit card processing.

• Simplified Robert’s Rules of Order Speaker Frank Cuta

• Report from the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind and Randolph-Sheppard: Catriona Macdonald (DC), President Linchpin Strategies, LLC.

Learn about new strategies in the Randolph-Sheppard Program. Get updates on NCSAB activities and the latest NCSAB news on Randolph-Sheppard including legislation and regulations affecting the RS Program.

• RSVA® Sagebrush Awards Luncheon: Moderator: Scott Eggen (MN), RSVA® President

• Luncheon Speaker: Stevie Ray (MN), Stevie Ray's Improv Company, a non-profit arts and training organization;

topic: “How to influence others.”

• Presenting "Terry Camardelle and Charlie Carroll Advocacy Scholarship Award” and “Warren Toyama and George Arsnow Scholarship Award”

Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD VENDORS OF AMERICA CELEBRATING OVER FIFTY YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENT AND ADVOCACY

RSVA SAGEBRUSH 2025 NATIONAL BUSINESS ENTERPRISE PROGRAM TRAINING CONFERENCE

Day 3

• Moderator: Ardis Bazyn (CO), Bazyn Communications, RSVA® First Vice President

• Innovative businesses in the BEP food service arena Amy Keller (CA), Co-Founder & CEO, Climate Candy; Jack Pinnock (FL), Dreamie Foods, Inc; Laurel and Moti, Push Beverages

• Bookkeeping strategies for your Business Jane Carona (MD), Treasurer of the Braille Revival League and Treasurer of ACB of Maryland (retired Office Manager of Guide Dogs, Inc.

• Payroll and HR resources at ADP

• Benefits of USG Buying Program

• Benefits of Ray Ban Meta Glasses Cindy Hollis (MI), Manager of Membership Engagement, American Council of the Blind

• Social Security and Medicare Questions Answered: Annie Walters (NV), SSA Public Affairs Specialist

Learn about the latest updates and changes in Social Security and Medicare. Learn how vendors can use deductions differently for SSA. Get information on retirement.

Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co

Braille Matters - a Four Hour Celebration

Celebrate the birthday of Louis Braille with our special interest affiliate, Braille Revival League, and together let’s learn:

• Segment One: How Braille Works in Different Countries Around the World
• Segment Two: Exciting Ways Braille is Happening All Over the United States
• Segment Three: What the Braille Revival League is, What It’s Doing, and How You Can and Should Help

Sponsored by Braille Revival League

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Bay State Council of the Blind Fall Conference Agenda, November 23, 2024

• Welcoming Remarks Ed Bosso, President of Educational Programs and Superintendent, Perkins School for the Blind

• President’s Report David Kingsbury, BSCB President

• Democracy Live Accessible In-Person Voting Technology Brian Finney, CEO Juliet Harvey-Bolia, Technician Short demo in plenary session, small groups of interested attendees will go to a breakout room on the second floor (elevator to the left of the parking lot door) for hands-on demos during the rest of the day

• In person and virtual participant introductions Let us know who you are, but please keep it short – Name and city of residence only

• Sony LinkBuds and Door Prizes Quick Orientation to Sony LinkBuds, Jeanette Kutash Are you feeling lucky? Door prizes with ElizabethAnn Johnson, more door prizes will be given out through the rest of the day

• Overview of MCB Happenings John Oliveira, Commissioner, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Justine Muir, Deputy Commissioner, Massachusetts Commission for the Blind

• Cooking While Blind Debra Erickson, Executive chef and founder of The Blind Kitchen

• Overview of Mass Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired Programs Jennifer Harnish, MABVI Director of social services

• New Accessible Wearable Technologies Brian Charlson on the Meta glasses Jeanette Kutash on the Envision AI glasses

• Update on Perkins Library Happenings Kim Charlson, Director, & Cory Kadlik, Assistive Technology Manager, Perkins Library Including a demo of the new BARD feature for accessing talking books with Amazon Alexa

• Fitness Break Get up and stretch with Leslie Spoone and Jeanette Kutash

• Fun with Accessible Games Aaron Spelker and Jerry Berrier

• Accessible Voting Discussion What were people’s voting experiences this year, both good and bad? Feedback on the Democracy Live Accessible In-Person Voting Technology from breakout session participants

• Closing Remarks David Kingsbury, President

Find out more at https://acb-events.pinecast.co