Our Officers

Ron Gardner - President

President George Bush appointed Ron Gardner in December 2007 to serve as a member of the U.S. Access Board. His term will continue into the administration of the next President of the United States. The Access Board is an independent federal agency devoted to accessibility for people with disabilities.

Secretary Michael O. Leavitt (former Governor of the State of Utah) appointed Ron Gardner to serve as a member of the National Advisory Eye Council for the National Eye Institute. The National Eye Institute is part of the National Institute of Health located in the Washington, D.C. area. His term on this National Board will end in 2011.

Ron Gardner, blind since birth, is an attorney and has practiced law since graduating from Law School at Brigham Young University in 1978. He was named as Honored Alumnus of the Year from the BYU Law School in 1999. After litigating tax and bankruptcy cases for 17 years he served as Legal Director of the Disability Law Center in Salt Lake City for a number of years. He also taught business law as an adjunct professor for Brigham Young University for fourteen years. He also served as director of the Professional Development and Research Institute on Blindness in the graduate school at Louisiana Tech University. He currently serves as director of field services for the National Federation of the Blind, the nation’s oldest and largest organization of blind people, headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. In that capacity he provides training to state agencies on rehabilitation issues and advises charitable organizations on the legal requirements to maintain their tax-exempt status.

He lives and promotes the positive philosophy of blindness espoused by that organization. “I believe blind individuals should take personal responsibility for acquiring the skills necessary to compete as a blind person in today’s world. Disabled people must not assume that the world owes them a living; rather, they should obtain the education and skills necessary to facilitate meaningful participation in the affairs of home and community. As I serve on the Access Board, I look forward to the challenge of combining a philosophy of personal responsibility with supporting the legal requirements to promote access for people with disabilities.”

Mr. Gardner also volunteers as chair of the Advisory Council for the Utah Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired and as a member of the Institutional Council for the Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind. Gardner has represented and advocated on behalf of individuals with disabilities and coordinated community and statewide efforts to increase the opportunities for employment and access to services that benefit the lives of people with disabilities. He particularly enjoys his work with the Utah Organization of Parents of Blind Children to promote the use of Braille. Other volunteer service includes Utah State Bar Needs of the Elderly Committee; Statewide Rehabilitation Council for the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation; Advisory Committee on Disability Issues for Senator Orrin Hatch; Board of Directors for the Utah Industries for the Blind; Committee on Accessible Transportation, Utah Transit Authority; Governor’s Task Force on Needs Assessment for the Handicapped; and Curriculum Advisory Committee for the Visually Impaired for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has worked with the Lieutenant Governor to identify and test electronic voting equipment, which is accessible to blind and visually impaired voters.

Gardner has been recognized for his legal and volunteer service on behalf of people with disabilities. He was awarded the “Utah Handicapped Citizen of the Year” by the Governor’s Office.

He enjoys serving other people and working to further the mission of the NFB to “Change What it Means to be Blind.” Ron enjoys serving as President of the National Federation of the Blind of Utah and helps other members of the Board of Directors and Affiliate to mentor blind children, high school students, and college students. He lives what he preaches regarding the importance of obtaining alternative skills that facilitate living and enjoying life to the fullest.

Ron and Jan have five sons and four grandchildren. Together they love water skiing, snow skiing, scuba diving, and has enjoyed riding and caring for their two horses. Did we mention that he has four grandchildren? He loves being a grandpa and thinks his grandchildren are the cutest in the world.

Cheralyn Braithwaite Creer-First Vice President

I grew up in Orem, Utah, the 9th of 10 children. After living with relatively minor accomodations, I lost a significant amount of vision in Jr. High. I was diagnosed with cone dystrophy. School and life were difficult for sometime. Until suddenly I found success in school through the help of Special Education and self advocacy. That experience helped me decide to pursue a career in Special Education.

I graduated from BYU with a BS in Educational Psychology, endorsements in teaching mild/moderate and severe/profound disabilities. I taught Special Education for 5 years in Davis School District. My classroom experience was at the Jr. High level, but I had various other responsibilities that involved consulting at all grade levels. At the end of my 5th year, I married Nathan Creer, moved to downtown Salt Lake City, and began employment at the Utah State Office of Education (USOE).

My areas of responsibility at USOE included Deaf/Hearing Impairments, Blend/Vision Impairments, Deafblind, Health Impairments and Severe Disabilities. With the birth of our son Chase, I quit full time employment to serve as faculty at Western Governor’s University in the Teacher’s College. I also continue to do contract work for USOE.

My employment, life and NFB experience has now led me to what I think will be the most impacting work I can do. I currently serve as the state coordinator for the Utah network for Mentoring Excellence (UnME).

We have recently learned that Chase, too, has cone dystrophy. I now am learning the other of side of special education and services for the blind, as the parent of a blind child. Networking with parents and professionals, reaching out to parents and advocating for improved services for blind children in Utah has taken on new meaning in my life.

In my little spare time, I enjoy playing with Nate, Chase, our 2 dogs and horse, friends and family. I also enjoy reading, traveling, hiking, music, theater, art, movies, sports, etc.

Ray Martin-Second Vice President

Karl Smith-Secretary

Norman Gardner-Treasurer

David Poteet-Board Member

I was born and raised in Cooper Texas and participated in most of the athletic programs in junior and senior high school, including football, baseball, basketball, and track. Growing up in a small town was great and I experienced many happy times with school, sports, hunting,  fishing, hiking and working on farms during the summers.

After graduating from Cooper High School, I attended Paris Junior College. I was drafted into the US Army shortly thereafter and served two years at Fort Carson, Colorado. After completing my military obligation, I attended Texas A&M Commerce where I received a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration.

I then received my MBA Degree from The University of Central Arkansas. My entire career has been spent working with Engineering and Maintenance groups in the food industry. I have worked for Campbell Soup Company, AT&T Continental Baking, and presently with Nestle USA.

 I am dedicated to helping in any way that I can to promote the cause of the National Federation of the Blind. I became involved with the NFB because my wife Judy is blind. She was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa as a teenager. I am privileged to be associated with the positive role  models in this organization. I have gained a lot of respect for the blind and especially for the members of the NFB because of the great work that is being done. Due to my involvement with the NFB, I have developed a better understanding of what it means to be blind.

Wendy Carter-Board Member

Sachin Pavithran-Board Member

Sachin Pavithran was born in India, but grew up in Dubai which is in the United Arab Emirates. Being legally blind, Sachin did not receive the training or accommodations that he needed to be independent and successful. Sachin states that the reason he was able to get through school (kindergarten through high school) is the dedication his parents had, and his will to prove to people that he is able to compete with his peers.

Sachin came to the United States of America at the age of 17 all by himself to start his college career at Utah State University. He knew that he had the ability to do things on his own, and wanted to prove it to people that he can be successful in his life. He graduated from USU with a degree in Business Information Systems, and another degree in Marketing.

During his undergraduate years Sachin was very involved in various clubs on campus, and started taking various leadership roles in various organizations on campus. Although during this time Sachin started developing different skills on his own to be more independent he hid his blindness as much as possible so he could blend well into the crowd. He started to realize that hiding his blindness was not the key to showing others what he stood for. He also started to realize how valuable role models in the life of blind individuals are so that they can show him the ropes in becoming more independent.

Sachin met his true love, Margaret, in church and they were married in Logan on June 26 of 2004. Sachin joined the National Federation of the Blind in October of 2005, and started kicking himself for not joining the organization much sooner. He realized the various ways the the NFB could have helped him when he was struggling with his blindness, and could have been a great example and role model in his life.

Sachin is currently working on his Masters in Vocational Rehabilitation Counseling at Utah State University and expects to graduate in May of 2008. Sachin is currently the Assistive Technology Specialist for the Center for Persons with Disabilities, under The Utah Assistive Technology Program (UATP).

Sachin enjoys being an advocate for people with disabilities. Sachin keeps up with the research and development of various assistive technologies, and is involved nationally in working with legislators in the Federal Government to bring a change in various Federal Policies for the benefit of individuals with disabilities.

Sachin has over seven years of direct involvement in development, testing, and training for accessibility for assistive technology, extensive experience in lecturing and training others in accessible technology. Sachin provides technical assistance on accessible information technology for individuals and groups. He helps in the evaluation of products related to web accessibility and design. He sits on various boards both nationally and locally, such as, The Research and Development committee for the National Federation of the Blind, ATAP Policy Group, Senator Hatch’s Advisory board for disability policy, The Utah Rehabilitation Association etc.

Sachin is a true believer in the philosophy of the NFB and knows that, one can overcome his or her blindness and become successful if they receive the right training and have the desire to be successful.

Everette E. Bacon-Board Member

I grew up in Southern California before moving to Texas right after I graduated from H.S. I was born with what doctors thought at the time was Retinitis Pigmentosa. It was hereditary on my mother’s side of the family and there were 5 of us that were blind. I was the only boy and for some reason had better vision than my other family members. For along time I was told that I could pretend away my blindness because I had so much useable vision and there was a good chance that I would not lose vision like my other family members. I went through H.S. looking down on other blind kids and never associaiting with them because I was different. I was told I’d never need braille or a cane and so for many years I didn’t.

It was not until I entered college that I started to realize that I was losing vision and that my life would probably change. I made it through college still holding onto the false hope that I was different. I met my wife in college and married her right after graduation. She was the first person to convince me that I needed to start carrying a cane. My family always believed the doctors that I did not need one. I didn’t have any training with the cane but as I started to use it I felt more confident walking by myself in downtown Dallas and Houston.

We moved to Salt Lake City in 2004 and I met Nick Schmittroth, Ray Martin, Bill Gibson, Karl Smith, Ron and Norm Gardner. These male role models all blind and all carrying canes changed my life. These were the kind of men I thought I could be and they helped mold me into the Federationist I am today.

I now work for the Division of Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired as the Assistive Technology Specialist and hold a Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Teaching and hold a certification as well. Fellow Federationists, you can do it! I am living proof.