We cordially extend an invitation to you to join us for the Keynote Address by Communication Service for the Deaf’s Chief Executive Officer, Christopher Soukup at the 22nd Biennial Conference of Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. on Friday, July 28, from 9:00 to 9:45 AM.  The Conference takes place at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road North Bethesda, MD 20852.  The White Flint Metro Station is across from the hotel.  Mr. Soukup will give the address in the Salon D room which is on the main level of the Conference Center.

It is absolutely free to attend, and (while encouraged) you need not register for the Conference to attend the keynote address.  Chris’ keynote address title is:  “One World: Community Ownership as a Catalyst for Innovation.”

Christopher Soukup is CSD’s visionary chief executive officer who has successfully modernized a 40-year agency by enacting virtualization of all its operations.  He has brought in some of the best Deaf talent from around the world, reinvesting in technologies grounded in universal design principles to leverage Deaf people’s lives towards sustainability.  He first came to CSD as a community-based employee during the 1990s, and then earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Gallaudet University.  He returned to work at CSD in various capacities, including as the senior vice president of CSD’s contact centers and then CSD Business. Shortly after, he became president for three years before being appointed CEO of the $30 million agency.  Bringing this experience along with his firsthand knowledge and experiences in the Deaf community, Soukup’s goal is to redirect modern-day conversations that focus on prevailing misconceptions and attitudes about people with disabilities into a focus on business initiatives, reframing paradigms, and ensuring Deaf people are the decision-makers of their own lives. Soukup, who is Deaf, often presents at domestic and international conferences, community-based public forums, panels, and other public venues.  He also has served on numerous boards and committees, such as the Federal Communication Commission’s Consumer Advisory Committee.  Currently, he is part of the U.S. Business Leadership Network Disability Equality Index advisory committee and the National Technical Institute for the Deaf Development Foundation Board, among others.

While we strongly encourage you to attend the full conference, if you prefer to only attend the keynote address by Mr. Soukup, you absolutely can!  Saturday, July 29 is Consumers’ Day, so all are welcome to attend, and do not need to register to experience what the TDI has to offer for the day.

In order for us to know how many that will join us for this event, while not required, we would appreciate a RSVP from you on whether you can join us or not.  Thank you, and hope to see you there.

RSVP: Send Claude an e-mail at [email protected] about coming to see Ms. Herrlinger give her address on Thursday afternoon, July 27 at 1:00 p.m.

This Conference offers you and others a wonderful three-day’s experience and opportunities for personal/professional development.  You learn about the latest in public policy for disability access, to network with others from with business and government, and to visit the exhibits that give you the latest information and hands-on experience with accessible products and services.  You meet the industry leaders that have worked with TDI and its sister consumer groups in the last two years on access topics such as relay services, emergency communications, wireless communications and information, and captioning of video programming.

Conference Program (schedule of events): https://tdiforaccess.org/2017-conf-agenda/

We invite you to join us at the Conference.  Check our website tdiforaccess.org or the links below to register for the Conference, to stay at the host hotel – the Bethesda North Marriott, and to buy tickets for the baseball game.  You can register for full combo tickets, or single events like the President’s Reception, the two Luncheons, and the Dinner/Entertainment Finale. 

Conference Registration: https://tdiforaccess.org/2017-conference/

Nationals vs Rockies Baseball Game, Friday, July 28: https://tdiforaccess.org/2017/06/washington-nationals/

If you still need information or support to make Conference plans, feel free to contact me anytime at [email protected].  We will then contact you, and help you until you are completely satisfied.  We thank you very much for considering our invitation to participate in the Conference. 

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