Michael Monteferrante has been the president and CEO of Envision, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, since 2013. Envision is one of National Industries for the Blind’s associated nonprofit agencies, proudly serving people who are blind, low vision, or visually impaired across the nation – enriching lives through employment, outreach, rehabilitation, education, and research.

Finding a job is challenging enough; for a person who is blind, gaining upward mobility and long-term career success is even harder when opportunity is limited by outdated perceptions and lack of access.

According to Michael Monteferrante, a longtime leader in workforce development and organizational transformation, meaningful progress happens when individuals are given structured mentorship, practical training, and a clear pathway to employment. In this episode, he emphasizes the importance of employer education, hands-on cohort learning, and collaborative partnerships that not only build confidence but also open doors to sustainable careers.

Michael Monteferrante, president and CEO of Envision, shares how his journey from transit and manufacturing into mission-driven leadership has shaped his belief in reinvesting business success into people. He offers candid views on launching mentorship and training cohorts with NSITE, NIB’s talent management enterprise, supporting college students through transition programs, and why impact — not intention — is the key to long-term change.

Jeff Mittman is the president and CEO of Bosma Enterprises in Indianapolis, one of the Midwest's largest nonprofit organizations providing employment and training for people who are blind or visually impaired. A retired U.S. Army veteran, he lost his sight in 2005 while serving in Iraq. Jeff has dedicated his career to service, first through the military and then through organizations that support America’s military and people who are blind. Under his leadership, Bosma has expanded its mission to provide employment opportunities and training programs for people who are blind.

Many people with vision loss are excluded from the workforce not because of their capabilities, but because of outdated assumptions about what they can achieve. What does it take to create real access to opportunity and empower individuals to thrive on their own terms?

According to Jeff Mittman, president and CEO of Bosma Enterprises, the answer begins with meaningful work. He explains how career development, workplace training, and a strong sense of purpose can shift the narrative from limitation to leadership. A veteran who lost his sight in service, Jeff now leads one of the country’s largest employers of people who are blind or visually impaired, where employees support federal agencies, earn competitive wages, and rise into executive roles. His lived experience drives his commitment to creating jobs that lead to economic independence, and to advocating for broader inclusion through public policy and industry partnerships.

In this episode of Mission Driven, a special series of the Heard and Empowered podcast, National Industries for the Blind President and CEO Soraya Correa talks with Jeff about expanding opportunity through employment, building future leaders from within, and proving that when people are given the tools to succeed, they can define their own future.

Rebekah Grieb is a Contract Management Support (CMS) senior site supervisor at Alphapointe, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with vision loss through employment opportunities, rehabilitation services, and job training. Rebekah joined Alphapointe in 2017, and she has led its CMS department since 2022. She also leads the CMS Services Committee for the National Association for the Employment of People who are Blind.

Outside of work, Rebekah is a stage manager and production assistant for live theatre and serves as a mentor for future stage managers as part of the Emerging Theatre Professionals Initiative. She holds a bachelor’s degree in communication from Pittsburg State University.

People who are blind face significant barriers to employment and career advancement. What does it take to not just overcome those obstacles, but to lead, hire, and advocate for lasting change?

According to Rebekah Grieb, a National Industries for the Blind Advocate for Leadership and Employment advocate, real progress begins when individuals are empowered to tell their own stories and demonstrate what’s possible. She highlights how adaptive technologies, federal contracting work, and persistent advocacy can transform exclusion into opportunity. The impact is tangible: unemployed for years despite her qualifications, Rebekah now leads high-impact federal projects and creates employment pathways for others with vision loss. Her lived experience fuels her mission to reshape public perceptions and advocate for legislative change, such as reforming Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and supporting a 1% AbilityOne Program utilization goal for the Department of Defense.

Rebekah Grieb, Contract Management Support site supervisor at Alphapointe, talks about building meaningful careers for people who are blind, advocating for legislation that creates employment opportunities, and using adaptive tools to stay competitive.