On March 19 from 6:00-7:30 p.m., the NYC chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America will present a discussion on succeeding in the workplace with hearing loss. Panelists from various fields will discuss their experiences and strategies for achieving success with hearing loss.
Carolyn Ginsburg Stern, MBA, is the 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 proud graduate of HLAA’s N-CHATT (Network of Consumer Hearing Assistive Technology Trainers) program where she learned how to train other adults with hearing loss about hearing assistive technology. Prior to working at CHC, she had an extensive career in product management and marketing roles at American Express and other large corporations. She earned her MBA at Columbia University School of Business and BA at Northwestern University.
Vanessa Kelly is a deaf disability advocate, speaker, and writer who practices narrative advocacy in the belief that sharing our stories is a change catalyst. A practicing corporate lawyer, Vanessa serves in several disability-related leadership roles. At her employer, she is a member of the Americas Disability Network leadership team, where she focuses on key disability inclusion initiatives including marketing, reverse mentoring, and disability-specific communities groups. She also creates educational programming and training, participates in disability recruiting initiatives, and implements disability-inclusive policies and procedures. She mentors professionals with disabilities and has served as mentor in the Lime Connect Foundation Program for Young Professionals. Vanessa has served on the board of the Hearing Loss Association of America New York chapter and on the faculty for the Practicing Law Institute’s Diversity & Inclusion in Law Practice 2022 symposium.
Laura Friedman is currently a Senior Vice President, Communications and People Strategy Lead for Markets Technology at Citigroup. Prior to joining Citi, she previously served as the Associate Director of Communications at Workforce Opportunity Services, as well as the Communications and Programs Manager at Hearing Health Foundation (HHF). She also served as senior editor of Hearing Health magazine, a quarterly publication of HHF, as well as managed the magazine’s advertising sales. Laura received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Barnard College in 2011. Socially, Laura loves to travel, cook, play tennis and golf, and frequent Broadway shows. She has visited 35+ countries! She is currently a Board Member of PlusInc and was previously a Board Member of World Wide Hearing International as well as NYC Transit Authority Accessibility Advisory Board. Laura volunteers as a mentor at The Center for Hearing and Communications as well as through Disability:In.
A lifelong New Yorker, Maria Laghi retired in 2010 after a long career as an arts administrator, including fifteen years with Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts and Film at Lincoln Center. She is currently a fundraising consultant to arts and social service nonprofits, a volunteer at the Center for Hearing and Communications and a Board member of the Volunteer Referral Center.
Before joining Lincoln Center, Maria worked in the field of public relations, helping launch Absolut Vodka in the US and representing clients ranging from IBM to the California Pistachio Commission. She is also co-author of The Private Life of Parents, a 1983 self-care book for new parents, and numerous magazine and newspaper articles on parenting and family life. Maria currently enjoys the much easier role of grandmother to her 15-year-old granddaughter, a relationship greatly enhanced by her hearing aids!
If you would like to join us for this captioned program, click here. After registering, you will receive an email with the Zoom link.
Can’t Hear? We are here for you!
The New York City Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of America is a vibrant, diverse community dedicated to helping people with hearing loss lead more satisfying and productive lives. At the chapter’s monthly meetings, speakers address topics such as hearing aids and hearing-aid alternatives, assistive technology, interpersonal strategies, and advocacy initiatives. Those of you who are interested can find information about our organization on our chapter website by clicking here.
