National Association of the Deaf

Executive

Nancy J. Bloch

Chief Executive Officer

Nancy Bloch (Maryland) has served since 1992 as executive director and now chief executive officer of the NAD; she is also ex officio member of the NAD Board of Directors. Long passionate about advancing the rights of the American deaf community, she derives great satisfaction from seeing the successes of local and state activists on issues of national importance. Raised in Miami, FL, Bloch holds a bachelor of arts degree in psychology from the University of Miami and an master of arts degree in counseling and guidance from Gallaudet University. Previously she was director of the Management Institute and adjunct professor in the School of Management at Gallaudet University. Since 1977, Bloch has been actively involved with nonprofit, community, and education-based organizations serving deaf and hard of hearing children, adults and families. She enjoys boating on the Chesapeake Bay with her husband, traveling around the world, reading on a wide range of subjects, and spoiling her three grandchildren.

 

Shane H. Feldman

Chief Operating Officer

 

Shane H. Feldman is the Chief Operating Officer of the National Association of the Deaf (NAD) where he directs all aspects of its operations. Shane was previously employed at the NAD for over five years where he served as Coordinator of Marketing and Communications. He received his Master’s degree in Management from the University of Maryland University College and Bachelor’s degree in Professional and Technical Communications from the Rochester Institute of Technology. In his free time he enjoys tickling his children and toying around with his wireless pager.

 

 

 

Law and Advocacy Center

Rosaline Crawford

Director

Prior to joining the NAD as an attorney in 2002, Rosaline Crawford was engaged in administrative support, sales, and management in publishing, insurance, guest services, and conference planning from 1970 to 1988. From 1988 to 2001, she worked as an administrative assistant and paralegal in the Office of General Counsel at The Catholic University of America (CUA). She received her bachelor of arts degree from CUA in 2000 and her juris doctor degree from the CUA Columbus School of Law in 2002 and was admitted to the Maryland Bar. In 2006 she became the director of the NAD Law and Advocacy Center (LAC), assuming responsibility for all of the LAC activities, including its coalition, legislative and regulatory advocacy efforts, particularly in the areas of technology and telecommunications access. She has traveled extensively throughout the United States and Europe, and looks forward to having more travel opportunities in the future.

 

Marc P. Charmatz

Attorney (part-time)

The longest serving staff member, Marc Charmatz started work at the NAD in 1977. He is renowned throughout the disability community for taking part in several landmark cases and legal actions on behalf of the deaf and hard of hearing community. Charmatz is a graduate of New York University (B.A.) and the Northwestern University School of Law. From 1977 until 2002, he served as the director of the NAD Law and Advocacy Center (LAC). In 2002, Marc stepped down to work as an NAD senior attorney on a part-time basis. He currently is an adjunct professor of Law at the University of Maryland Law School, where he teaches the Civil Rights of Individuals with Disabilities Clinic. Marc answers numerous email and telephone/TTY messages from individuals who have questions about legal issues and provides information to enable deaf and hard of hearing individuals, encouraging them to become advocates on the issues they are concerned about. He sums up his experiences this way: "I truly believe that I have had one of the most interesting public interest careers serving deaf and hard of hearing individuals.” In his free time, Marc collects sports cards - baseball, football, and basketball, and enjoys going to flea markets and yard sales.

 
 

Communications & Operations 

Kelly K. Aziz

Member and Donor Relations Specialist

Kelly Aziz started at the NAD in 2003 as a volunteer and an intern. She graduated with a bachelor of science degree in deaf studies from Towson University in May 2004 and became an NAD staff member in September of the same year. In addition to her responsibilities with members and donors, she helps with other tasks such as conference planning and database maintenance. In her free time she enjoys traveling, knitting, watching movies, playing with her dog, and spending time with friends and family.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Donna Morris

Advertising and Sales Specialist

Donna Morris has been with the NAD since 1980. She is the advertising and sales specialist for the NADmag. Her other responsibilities include managing the NAD Bookstore, assisting with member and donor duties, and organizing the exhibit hall during NAD conferences. She enjoys vacations in New York, reading, and spending time with her teenage son and family.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ron Nomeland

Member and Donor Relations Assistant (part-time)

After retiring as professor and department chair from Gallaudet University in 1996, Ron Nomeland worked full time at the NAD from 1999 through 2005 as membership coordinator. At present he works part time, usually one day a week in the membership department. A native of Minnesota, Ron graduated from Gallaudet University in 1958 and received his doctorate from Syracuse University in 1973. He is a board member of Deaf Seniors of America. He also volunteers with various organizations and just took up golf, although late in life. He and his wife enjoy national and international travel. Becoming a grandfather for the first time recently, he is fascinated by the antics of his granddaughter.

 
 
 

Helena Schmitt

Member and Donor Relations Assistant (part-time)

Helena Schmitt, a federal government retiree, helps out in the Communications and Outreach Department focusing on membership and conference duties. She graduated from Gallaudet in 1971 and has a master’s degree in library science from the University of Maryland. She enjoys doing volunteer work for several organizations in the metro Washington area. Her new hobby is machine quilting.

Claudia Sussman

Receptionist/Information and Referral (part-time)

Claudia Sussman is not new to the NAD. She served on the NAD Board of Directors for eight years as a Region II Representative (1996-2004), and joined the NAD Headquarters staff in October 2008. In her position she is responsible for greeting and directing all visitors, and handling e-mail inquiries and correspondence. She also assists with administrative projects and Internet research tasks. Claudia retired from the State of Ohio in 2006 with 35 plus years of combined employment with Columbus State Community College, Civil Rights, and Vocational Rehabilitation Services. She received her bachelor’s degree from Ohio University and her master’s degree from the Ohio State University. During her years in Ohio, Claudia served on many local, state and national boards and task forces. She is the recipient of numerous awards in the areas of advocacy, leadership, and education transitional services. Claudia resides in Silver Spring, MD, with her husband, Allen. Together, they enjoy international travel and socializing with friends and family.

Youth Leadership

Allison Rice

Coordinator

Allie Rice, a returned Peace Corps volunteer and a staunch deaf advocacy educator, is very involved with deaf youth in various countries such as Japan, India, and Kenya. She graduated with a bachelor of science degree in professional and technical communications from Rochester Institute of Technology in May 2002. As a Peace Corps volunteer in Kenya from 2006 to 2008, she focused on improving the quality of education and resources for underprivileged deaf children, young adults, and parents. Prior to and after her volunteer service overseas, she worked with Anthropologie, a high volume clothing store, as a sales specialist and department manager. A Los Angeles, California native, she has always been fascinated by unique places, different cultures, and foreign sign languages. In addition, she is fluent in Kenyan Sign Language and enjoys reading, writing short stories, cooking, going to a local farmers’ market, and traveling.

 

Finance

Thomas Wells

Director

Tom Wells has worked in the Business Office of the NAD since 1996. He started as an Accountant and worked his way up to Director of Finance. In his current position Tom is responsible for the overall financial operations of the NAD. He graduated from Gallaudet University with a bachelor of science degree in accounting and in his free time enjoys playing soccer, golf, and traveling.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

C.T. Karnowski

Accountant

C.T. Karnowski has worked for the NAD since 2007 as a Staff Accountant. He was born in Bogota, Colombia, and was adopted when he was six weeks old by a wonderful couple in Minnesota. After growing up in Minneapolis and surviving the sub-zero temperatures, he moved on to graduate from Gallaudet University in 2004 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He now resides in Maryland with his girlfriend and their cat. In his free time he loves to watch Major League Baseball, play competitive softball, enjoy the latest movie thrillers, and read all sorts of books.

 
 
 
 
 

Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP)

Bill Stark

Director

Bill Stark has been director of the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP), administered by the NAD with funds provided by the U.S. Department of Education, since 1991. He holds bachelor of science and master of science degrees in education and information technology, and is a certified teacher with a decade of college teaching experience. He has an additional 25 years of administrative experience in media and community service programs in residential schools for the deaf and blind. Professional highlights include directing the writing and illustrating of the first-ever deaf hero comic book for international distribution, being taught how to caption films by Dr. Malcolm Norwood ("the father of closed captioning"), and directing national, accessible, media awareness campaigns in partnership with such organizations as the National Education Association, Scholastic, and the Public Broadcasting System. Bill has received consumer service awards from national organizations and served as a consultant and advisory board member for many organizations.