Ability President’s March Letter

Crystal Baker President and CEO

CEO

Alex Martin, running unopposed.

Hello, I'm Alex Martin, current National COO of Ability with a 13-year tenure as an ERG leader. My priority is to represent our employees' voices at AT&T and in the community. As COO, I successfully navigated the organization through COVID-19, consolidating chapters into regions for virtual events, and ensuring continuity and future growth. I spearheaded the expansion of executive sponsors and collaborated with the Job Accommodations team to effect beneficial policy changes. As a candidate for National President, my goal is to re-ignite local-level and city engagement and enhance our national programs based on membership feedback and needs. I look forward to driving Ability forward as your National President for the next two years utilizing my skills, education, and passion to reduce stigma and help continue the amazing advocacy work the organization has completed.

COO Candidate #1

Elizabeth Cole

Hello Everyone! I’m Liz Cole, and I am grateful for the nomination of COO of National Ability and for the opportunity to take my passion, working knowledge, and expertise to National.

My connection to those with disabilities began as a child, as I have an adopted brother with Down Syndrome. The relationship with my brother enhanced my ability to see the world differently and to look to understand and live with compassion for others. As I grew up, I wanted to help and support kids that others disregarded, didn't know how to help, or felt uncomfortable helping. These early experiences led me to pursuing my bachelor’s degree in special education K-12. I worked as a special education teacher for two years before joining AT&T full time. I further studied to receive my master’s degree in Higher Education, qualifying to educate adult learners as well.

My passion for educating and advocating for those with disabilities was enhanced and solidified after my husband survived a hemorrhagic stroke in January 2019. As a result of this tragedy, I was introduced to Ability ERG and their amazing work at AT&T. I currently serve as president of the Southeast Region Chapter of Ability ERG, as I have been for the past three years. When I first took my position on the board in early 2020, the chapter had minimal participation and had lost the majority of the board members. As a result of the past three years of my leadership and dedication, we are now operating with a full board and our monthly participation has grown from around 10 in 2020, to now over 50+ participants month over month. Fundraising has increased through 2022, thus our chapter was equipped to provide two scholarships last year. Our 2023 fundraising efforts exceeded our past goals, and we are on track to double the scholarships this year. With the Southeast chapter thriving now, with a productive board and participation, I believe moving to the COO position on the National Board will allow me to further assist Ability ERG in fulfilling our mission of advancing, advocating, and educating. I was able to experience working with National last year when I had the opportunity to play an integral part in collaborating with the Job Accommodation team to improve policies to better the employee experience. I look forward to the opportunity and the challenge to further put hard work and dedication towards strengthening the work and impact of the National Board. Thank you for the nomination. Let's make great changes together.

COO Candidate #2

Shawn Delegal

Hello! My name is Shawn Delegal. I have been with AT&T for almost 8 years. I am very excited to have been nominated for the position of Chief Operating Officer and believe I can be an asset to the National Ability Board. Handling and overcoming different abilities, whether mental or physical, are skills I have practiced since childhood. I feel it is important to use my skills and experience to bring awareness, education, and assistance regarding disabilities to the masses. Currently, I am serving as the Southeast Regional Vice President of Communications for Ability, and I have thoroughly enjoyed working with my Chapter. Outside of AT&T, I have worked as CFO for Beautiful You, a local nonprofit organization that focuses on education and life coaching for hurting African American women. My time on Beautiful You’s board has been spent organizing fundraising, website building, streamlining communication, planning events, and managing multiple projects to help bring assistance to those in need. I am prepared to take on a bigger challenge with Ability National and serve the needs of individuals on a national scale, to increase advocacy, awareness, and education to those who need it.

CFO

Kim Calissi, running unopposed.

Hello, I am Kim Calissi. I currently serve as Interim Chief Financial Officer, having previously served Ability as your Scholarship program lead. My passion for continuing education guided me in transforming our scholarship program into a fiscally responsible model, and in line with current trends. This included adding our first University partnership with Aurora University. I look forward to serving you in a broader role, as Chief Finance Officer, helping to navigate the next chapter in Ability's history.

VP – Finance

Derrick Maxie - running unopposed.

Hello, my name is Derrick Maxie and I work in the Trish Renz / Michael Raftelis organization. I was pinged for this opportunity by Alex Martin in 2021 and have been the VP of Finance since 2022. Since I have been in the role, I have enjoyed the financial aspect side of things by making sure the money is coming and going out in needed/approved opportunities. It brings me great joy knowing that we are helping communities and opening doors for untapped potential individuals. This is achieved by the funds we receive and deliver by conducting networking events, scholarships, and administering comradery among peers on the team. This is a passion of mine, to help people with disabilities, as diabetes runs in my family. Also, my wife has sickle cell disease and I know the hardships she encounters daily with this disease. By being allowed to continue serving as VP of Finance it empowers me to help others in need just as I do with my family and wife. Please consider me for another term as VP of Finance.

Chief of Staff

Denita Branch, running unopposed.

Greetings! I am the current Chief of Staff for Ability, and I am excited about the possibility of serving a second term. I look forward to fully supporting the Chief Executive Officer and the National Board. While I don’t personally have a disability, I am blessed to be able to help advocate. If given the opportunity to continue in this role, I will make sure that I am completely compliant and engaged. I look forward to being a part of all the wonderful things Ability will continue to do. If elected for a second term, I will be diligent about helping to bring awareness to who Ability is and the incredible work Ability does.

I have 27 years of service with AT&T, currently in Finance-Treasury. I have served on the Ability National Board since October 2020 as the Parliamentarian and Chief of Staff. I am also the Cancer Awareness Committee Chair for Women of AT&T. Outside of work, I sit on the board as the secretary for 2 nonprofit organizations: Prison to Purpose and Alpha Omicron Sigma Charitable Foundation. I am very involved in my church and sorority; I hold leadership roles in both. I love spending time with my mother, daughter, and granddaughter when I visit home in St. Louis. Reading, relaxing and a little shopping on the side are my favorite pastime activities.