Then & Now: A Journey of Shared Leadership — and a Community That Endures

Beginning in fiscal year 2023, HSDC intentionally embraced a co‑executive director model- led by Ariele Belo and Lindsay Klarman- to reflect our commitment to shared power, collaboration, and community‑centered decision‑making in service of the Deaf, DeafBlind, hearing diverse, and speech‑diverse communities.

Read our article from 2022 about embarking on the Co‑Executive Director journey

As Lindsay Klarman prepares for retirement, we invite our community to come together and celebrate at Coffee & Connections, HSDC’s spring fundraiser on May 1, 8:30 – 10 AM.

THE EMCEE OF THE MORNING: Bill Schiffmiller

Bill Schiffmiller is the Founder of Akoio®, a consultancy that helps companies, cultural institutions, and real estate leaders understand and address the impact of noise, sound, and hearing on health, performance, and business outcomes. A lifelong hearing aid user, Bill brings more than two decades of experience in design management, accessibility leadership, and hearing health advocacy.

Bill previously led Accessibility Initiatives at Apple Retail, where he helped advance inclusive customer experiences and accessibility awareness across the global retail organization.

Today he serves as President of the Board at the Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center (HSDC) in Seattle and participates in Consumer Technology Association (CTA) roundtables focused on hearing technology and accessibility.

Bill is also a Forbes contributor, where he writes about hearing health, auditory design, accessibility innovation, and the role of sound in shaping human experience across business, culture, and technology.

An entrepreneur and inventor, Bill holds patents in eleven countries for the Akoio Hearing Aid Battery Dispenser, reflecting his commitment to practical innovation in hearing care, design, and sound wellness.

THE COMEDIAN OF BREAKFAST: NINA G.

Nina G is a comedian, professional speaker, comedy historical consultant and author of Stutterer Interrupted: The Comedians Who Almost Didn’t Happen,  Bay Area Stand-Up Comedy: A Humorous History.  In May 2023, her album debuted at #1 in Comedy on Itunes and Amazon. Her first special, Nina G: Stutterer Interrupted, is available on Amazon Prime and free on Youtube!

Nina has been featured in/on everything from HuffPost’s Culture Shifters, Variety, NPR’s 51%, BBC’s Ouch, Psychology Today, Tedx, KQED radio and multiple day time talk shows and podcasts.  She has shared the stage with legendary comedians like Don Novello (aka Father Guido Sarducci), Mort Sahl, Eddie Pepitone, Allen Havey, Cathy Ladman and participated for 4 years straight at San Francisco’s Comedy Day. Nina was also featured in the Emmy award winning documentary, More Than My Stutter.

 Nina shares her wit and wisdom with corporations, colleges, libraries, conferences, and community events. She is a sought after headliner as well as keynote speaker.  Whether Nina is doing her night club act at  a comedy club, performing with the Comedians with Disabilities Act, or speaking to Disabled youth at a conference, she is able to connect, make people laugh and change the way they think about disability. 

DONOR SPOTLIGHT: SHAWNA THOMPSON | BECU

Shawna Thompson has long cared about creating spaces where people feel seen, supported, and able to fully take part. Her connection to the Deaf and hard of hearing community began early through a strong interest in supporting Deaf children.

That care guided some of her first major life choices. Shawna chose the college she attended so she could become a teacher for Deaf children. During that time, she learned sign language and deepened her understanding of the Deaf community.

While her career later moved into the business world, that early passion never went away. It continued to shape how she shows up in her work and in her life.

Through her role at BECU and her involvement in an Employee Resource Group focused on disability awareness, Shawna gained a better understanding of ableism and the importance of anti-ableism. She spent time learning, listening, and reflecting on how to be a thoughtful and supportive ally.

Over time, one thing became clear to her. There is still more work to be done.

Supporting the Hearing Speech and Deaf Center allows Shawna to stay connected to a community she has always cared about and to help support a future where Deaf and hard of hearing individuals have access, opportunity, and a true sense of belonging.

For Shawna, giving to HSDC is more than a donation. It is her why.

Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center (HSDC) is a resource hub redefining language and communication. Our multi-dimensional approach is driven by Deaf Culture and Sign Language and benefits the diverse community we share our lives with everyday.

HSDC is a nonprofit organization serving the Puget Sound area. We foster accessible communities through communication, advocacy and education. We offer services for people who are Deaf, hard of hearing or have speech/language differences as well as their families and friends. We also offer trainings for organizations that wish to better serve Deaf and hard of hearing community members.