These are the friends & Board of Directors of Vision Literacy.
Sandy Reed, President
Ms. Reed joined the board in 2006 after nearly three years as a tutor. She has more than 35 years of experience in the journalism field, at both daily newspapers and technology publications. She worked for The Miami Herald and the San Jose Mercury News and served as editor in chief at Personal Computing, Macintosh Business Review and InfoWorld. Ms. Reed has edited six books and contributed as a writer to three books.
- Jennifer Low, Secretary
Ms. Low has served as a board member for Friends of Vision Literacy since 1997. Currently the Manager of Financial Planning, Budgets, and Analysis for Neopost Inc., she received a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Hayward. Ms. Low has volunteered at Elmwood correctional Center and with Vision Literacy’s family program.
- Yvette Briddell, Board Member
A board member since 2000, Ms. Briddell joined Vision Literacy as a learner at the age of 22, and upon improving her literacy skills, left the program in 2000 to attend community college. Ms. Briddell’s accomplishments include being a founding member of the Learner’s Council and receiving second place in the California Literacy, Inc. award program. She is currently working full-time as an Office Specialist II for the County of Santa Clara.
- Carolyn H. Brown, Board Member
Ms. Brown was appointed to the Board in June 2004. As Director of Performance and Outcomes Management at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, Ms. Brown has played an active role in the collaborative development of the Community Learning Centers.
Ms. Brown was named one of the YWCA’s 2004 Tribute to Women in Industry (TWIN) honorees.
- Kathy Campbell, Board Member
Ms. Campbell was invited to join the board in 2008. Her own enjoyment of reading led her to volunteer as a tutor for the program. Over the years, she has also volunteered with Team in Training, the Brown Bag program at Second Harvest Food Bank and the Girl Scouts of Santa Clara County. Kathy graduated from San Jose State University, with great distinction, a degree in Business Administration and is a Certified Public Accountant with a San Jose CPA firm.
- Larry Hayes, Board Member
Mr. Hayes is publisher of the ActiveOver50 magazine and founder of Hayes Marketing Communications, Inc. He has a Masters degree in literacy journalism from Syracuse University and worked under Dr. Frank C. Laubach and son, Dr. Robert Laubach, founders of Laubach Literacy which is now ProLiteracy. Mr. Hayes served as a Peace Corps volunteer in India and is a past president of SVAAA and BMA’s Norcal chapter of business marketing professionals.
- Candace Levers, Board Member
Ms. Levers has been a board member for Friends of Vision Literacy since 1998. In conjunction with her board service, she also volunteered as a tutor for Vision Literacy. In addition to this volunteer work, she has served other community services, including leadership roles and as a church board member for the last two years. Having worked in the past as a freelance public relations specialist in the high-tech field, she is currently Vice President of Marketing for an international start-up firm. Ms. Levers is a graduate of San Jose State University, with a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations.
- Michelle Rose, Board Member
Ms. Rose joined the board of directors in 2004. Ms. Rose previously worked as the VP of business development for several high-tech start-up companies including I-borg and Vivotech Inc and is a member of the Los Altos Hills parks and recreation department.
- Steven C. Toy, Board Member
Mr. Toy is Past President and Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Friends of Vision Literacy. Mr. Toy is currently President and Founder of Beema, Inc., a video and animation company specializing in the mobile marketplace. Previously Mr. Toy served as Vice President of Sales for Software Secure, a company focused on the education marketplace and as Vice President of Finance and Business Development at ICTV, a pioneering Silicon Valley interactive television company. Mr. Toy has also served on the Board of Directors for Literacy Volunteers of Massachusetts, that State’s largest literacy volunteer organization.
- Steve Wozniak, Board Member
Mr. Wozniak, co-founder of Apple, joined the Board in 2005. Mr. Wozniak received the National Medal of Technology in 1985 from Ronald Regan. In 1997, he was named a fellow of the Computer History Museum. Mr. Wozniak was a key contributor and benefactor to San Jose’s Children’s Discovery Museum. In September 2000, he was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Mr. Wozniak has many philanthropic endeavors in the field of education through his organization, Unuson (Unite Us In Song). Mr. Wozniak supports the technology program for the Los Gatos School District.
- Pat Lawson-North, Executive Director
Ms. Lawson-North is Executive Director of Vision Literacy. Previously Ms. Lawson-North was Program Manager of Professional Development at San Jose State University and Director of Special Events at Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo. She also served as Director of the San Luis Obispo County Literacy Council. She has held leadership positions in several education systems and served on national and state organization board of directors.