Joyce A. Bender

Joyce A. Bender is the CEO and Founder of Bender Consulting Services, Inc., a firm that provides technology consulting services to its customers and competitive employment opportunities for people with disabilities, who are trained in the information technology, engineering, finance/accounting, human resources, and general business areas. Joyce also incorporated Bender Consulting Services of Canada, Inc. in 2001, a Canadian company that focuses on creating competitive employment opportunities for Canadians with disabilities. As well, Joyce is the CEO of Bender and Associates International, Inc., an executive search firm, and has over 27 years of experience specializing in technology and management search.

Accomplishments

In 2003, Joyce was selected as a New Freedom Initiative Award winner. Received from Secretary of Labor, Elaine Chao, this award is given to those who have demonstrated exemplary and innovative efforts in furthering the employment objectives of President George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative. In 1999, Joyce was selected as the President's Award winner. Received at the White House from President Clinton, this is the highest honor awarded by the President of the United States to an American who furthers the employment and empowerment of people with disabilities.

In September 2002, Bender Consulting received the Employer of the Year Award from the National Epilepsy Foundation. Bender Consulting also received the 1999 Employer of the Year Award from hireAbility in Philadelphia, PA, the 1997 Power of Work Award from Goodwill Industries, and was selected as the 1996 Small Employer of the Year by the Pennsylvania Governor's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities. In 2002, Bender Consulting of Canada received the Diversity in the Workplace Award from the Canadian Paraplegic Association of Ontario.

Joyce is the 2005 recipient of the UCP of Pittsburgh's Gertrude Labowitz Lifetime Achievement Award, given to an individual or organization in recognition of their outstanding record of enhancing the quality of life for people with disabilities. She also has received the 2000 James F. Compton Humanitarian Award for her efforts in improving the quality of life for people with disabilities, by removing barriers to employment and creating other employment opportunities. Additionally, Joyce was named one of Pennsylvania's 50 Best Women in Business in 1998 and was selected as a 1996 Carlow University Woman of Spirit.

Background

Joyce began her career in 1979 as a search consultant, and in 1988 founded Bender and Associates International, Inc., an executive search firm specializing in technology and management search.

In 1985, Joyce had a life-threatening accident due to epilepsy that caused a cerebral hemorrhage that required subsequent brain surgery. Against all odds, Joyce recovered from this accident that left her with a 60 percent hearing loss in one ear and a realization that she had epilepsy. As a result of her personal experience, she developed a passion for helping people with disabilities.

She established Bender Consulting Services, Inc. in September 1995 and Bender Consulting Services of Canada, Inc. in October 2001.

Affiliations

Joyce is a board member of the American Association of People with Disabilities, Central Blood Bank, Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board, a corporate member of Highmark, Inc., a regional board member of the Epilepsy Foundation of Western and Central Pennsylvania, Tech-Link, Variety – the Children's Charity, Achieva, the Hill House, The Center for Victims of Violence and Crime , and Accessibility Development Associates. She is the secretary and a board member of the national Epilepsy Foundation and serves as the chairperson of the Legal and Government Affairs Committee. Additionally, Joyce is on the Board of Advisors for the Homeless Children's Education Fund (HCEF), and a member of the Board of Trustees of Carlow University.

She is an executive board member of the Pennsylvania Business Leadership Network for the State of Pennsylvania, and the President and Founder of The Pittsburgh Disability Employment Project for Freedom.

She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Geneva College.

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