Presenter Bios

Bert Meijers is the Digital Innovation and Learning Manager at the Ida Institute and is responsible for developing, planning, and driving their integrated online resources including the Ida Learning Hall,...Bert Meijers is the Digital Innovation and Learning Manager at the Ida Institute and is responsible for developing, planning, and driving their integrated online resources including the Ida Learning Hall, their eLearning platform.  Read More >

 “Life without limits” is not just a saying or part of a title; it is how Bill lives his life. Challenges inherent to vision and hearing loss have not impeded... “Life without limits” is not just a saying or part of a title; it is how Bill lives his life. Challenges inherent to vision and hearing loss have not impeded Bill’s love for adventure − Bill has climbed Mount Kilimanjaro and sailed a 50-foot catamaran using GPS! Bill serves on the board of directors of No Barriers USA and is a community ambassador for Hear the World. Read More >

Bob has worked in the battery and consumer products industry for over 20 years. Through focus groups, he learned elders who wear hearing aids would go days, and in many...Bob has worked in the battery and consumer products industry for over 20 years. Through focus groups, he learned elders who wear hearing aids would go days, and in many cases weeks, without hearing while they wait for family members to drop off batteries. He took his experience in the battery business and co-founded hearOclub to provide a steady supply of batteries to anyone with a hearing aid or cochlear... Read More >

Brad Ingrao, Au.D. has been in clinical practice since 1992 in a variety of settings including academia, private practice, educational audiology, the VA and the hearing aid industry. He specializes...Brad Ingrao, Au.D. has been in clinical practice since 1992 in a variety of settings including academia, private practice, educational audiology, the VA and the hearing aid industry. He specializes in severe to profound hearing loss, including cochlear implants, musicians with hearing loss and hearing assistive technologies. He has presented at professional and consumer conferences in 48 states, and six countries in both English and American Sign Language.  He is... Read More >

Brenda Battat, MS, MCSP is a former executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). She worked at HLAA for 20 years in a variety of positions including acting...Brenda Battat, MS, MCSP is a former executive director of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA). She worked at HLAA for 20 years in a variety of positions including acting executive director, deputy executive director, and director of public policy and state development. Ms. Brenda Battat has a profound hearing loss and uses a cochlear implant and hearing aid for better hearing. She has a master’s degree in counseling from... Read More >

Camille Ellis is a highly accomplished HR professional with over ten years of experience in higher education and working with adult learners. Prior to coming on board American Eagle in...Camille Ellis is a highly accomplished HR professional with over ten years of experience in higher education and working with adult learners. Prior to coming on board American Eagle in 2020, she was a part of the Diversity Workforce at UPMC and served as a Change Management Specialist at Carnegie Mellon University. Read More >

Carl LeBel, Ph.D., has been the Chief Development Officer at Frequency Therapeutics since 2018. He started LeBel Consulting LLC after serving as the Chief Scientific Officer at Otonomy, Inc., from 2009...Carl LeBel, Ph.D., has been the Chief Development Officer at Frequency Therapeutics since 2018. He started LeBel Consulting LLC after serving as the Chief Scientific Officer at Otonomy, Inc., from 2009 to 2016. Before joining Otonomy, he was President and CEO of Akesis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a virtual metabolic disorders company, and prior to that spent more than 14 years at Amgen as an executive director in a variety of R&D management... Read More >

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Carmen Bruce is a Diversity Recruiting Advisor at PNC, and in her position, she supports the hiring initiatives of both persons with disabilities and those in the veteran community. Carmen...Carmen Bruce is a Diversity Recruiting Advisor at PNC, and in her position, she supports the hiring initiatives of both persons with disabilities and those in the veteran community. Carmen manages the relationship of external partnership organizations and plays the role of connector between candidate and recruiter and hiring manager. Read More >

Carolyn Ginsburg Stern, MBA, is the assistant director of outreach and strategic initiatives at the Center for Hearing and Communication (CHC), a not-for-profit hearing rehabilitation center based in New York...Carolyn Ginsburg Stern, MBA, is the assistant director of outreach and strategic initiatives at the Center for Hearing and Communication (CHC), a not-for-profit hearing rehabilitation center based in New York City. As a bilateral cochlear implant user, she helps others hear and connect better with tips, technical information and support and is passionate about the role of healthy hearing in helping people lead productive and connected lives. She is a... Read More >