These are the friends & Board of Directors of Vision Literacy. Watch board members Sandy Reed and Steve Toy speak about Vision Literacy on YouTube.
- Operating Board
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.
Kathleen Campbell, Treasurer
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.
Candace Levers, Secretary
Ms. Levers has served as a past President and a Member of the Board of Friends of Vision Literacy since 1998. In conjunction with her board service, she volunteered for a number of years as a Tutor for Vision Literacy, as well as serving the community in other volunteer capacities. Ms. Levers has a background working in Human Resources and Public Relations in the high-tech field, and is currently a Realtor with Intero Real Estate Services. She is also a Member of the Silicon Valley Association of Realtors, the California Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.
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.
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.
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.
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.
- Honorary Board
Steve Wozniak
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.
Blanca Alvarado
Dale Bryant
Rigo Chicon
Spencer Christian
Susan Hammer
Joanna Laznicka
Michelle Rose
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.