Pitch Perfect Challenge

Pitch Perfect Challenge. Geometric illustration of seven individuals with one Deaf person in the middle pitching their business.

Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs), including Service-Disabled Veteran DOBEs, virtually pitch to Supplier Diversity leaders

Join us for Disability:IN’s 2022 Pitch Perfect Challenge on Tuesday, May 24th! In this exciting multi-round competition, certified Disability Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs), Service-Disabled Veteran DOBEs, and Veteran DOBEs pitch their way to business opportunities.

Three businesses, including one “People’s Choice” via social voting, will advance to the final round at the 2022 Disability:IN Global Conference & Expo, where the first-place winner will be chosen and awarded on stage.

Attend the Semi-Finals on May 24th

The Semi-Finalists

Bill Schiffmiller, a white man with glasses and curly short grey hair.

Bill Schiffmiller, Founder & CEO

Akoio Enterprises, Inc.

Bill Schiffmiller is Founder and CEO of Akoio™, a company dedicated to providing products and services tailored to the needs of people who experience hearing loss. A life-long hearing aid user and hearing wellness advocate, Bill knows first hand the inconveniences posed by a hearing aid, and founded Akoio to make the pursuit of hearing wellness a rewarding experience rather than a frustrating one.

Andrew Houghton, a white male with short grey hair and glasses wears a pink collared shirt against a beach background.

Andrew Houghton, Founder & CEO

Disability Inclusion Solutions

Disability Inclusion Solutions (DIS), founded by CEO Andrew Houghton, specializes in the development of programs and services that promote full inclusion for people with disabilities. Andy has used a wheelchair since a 1986 motorcycle accident resulting in paraplegia. For over 20 years, his expert team has offered inclusion solutions that work.

Keel Russell, a Black man with short hair wears a suit against a grey background.

Keel Russell, CEO & Co-Founder

Orange Lab Media

Since 2015, Orange Lab’s boutique style marketing agency has excelled at identifying opportunities, generating ideas and executing customized solutions that deliver results.

The depth of their combined experience in administration, public affairs, marketing, graphic design, strategic communications, advertising, media planning, tradeshow and event planning, and interactive services generates unique and effective solutions for local, state and federal government agencies.

Dr. Anne McIntosh, a white woman with short hair wears a black jacket against a light background.

Dr. Anne McIntosh, President

Safe ‘N’ Clear

Dr. Anne McIntosh, a Communication Professor at University of Maryland Global Campus and member of the deaf community, founded Safe’N’Clear, Inc. in 2012 as a result of her real-life communication complications experience during childbirth.

She recognized there was a critical need for effective communication between the hearing world and those with hearing loss in masked environments, not just in life-threatening situations, but in every day communications.

Dr. Sarah Skidmore, a white woman with short hair wears a green jacket against a colorful heart patterned background.

Dr. Sarah Skidmore, CEO & Consultant

Skidmore Consulting LLC

Dr. Sarah Skidmore (she/her/hers) is CEO, Leadership Doctor & Futurist at Skidmore Consulting, a certified diverse business enterprise. She moves clients from Leadership Pain to Strength through Leadership Training and Business Consulting so that teams excel in the future of work.

Her consulting specialties include leader development, strategic foresight, change management, DEI consulting to the ISO Standard, strategy & innovation, and leadership retreats.

Rebecca Beam, a white woman with shoulder length platinum blonde hair wears a teal top against a blue background.

Rebecca Beam, Founder & CEO

Zavikon

Rebecca Beam is Founder and CEO of Zavikon. Prior to launching Zavikon, she was a founding advisory team member launching MindSpark, Inc. whose mission was to train and employ adults on the autism spectrum in technology careers. After MindSpark’s acquisition by auticon, Rebecca became President of the US operations leading the US expansion and driving growth.

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