Melanie Sinohui
President
Melanie Sinohui is currently the President of AzCB’s Central Arizona Chapter, 2nd Vice President of ACB Next Generation as well as their Convention Committee Co-Chair, Secretary of the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International, as well as part of the ACB Employment Committee, DKM Fund Committee and ACB Media Support Committee. She resides in Phoenix and has been involved in ACB at the national, state and local levels since the mid-1990s in Texas, West Virginia and California, elected to the Board of Directors for ACB Texas when she was 20 and was the 2005 Durward K. McDaniel (DKM) First-Timer winner for the West.
Melanie obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a Public Relations concentration from the University of North Texas and her Masters degree in Project Management. In her spare time, she spent the last 15 years at a telecommunications company and has recently started a new chapter as Process Improvement Process Engineer at a financial banking institution.
Melanie and her husband enjoy cooking, traveling, wine tasting especially in the Santa Ynez Valley in California and, of course, spending time with family and friends.
Kaila Allen
Vice President
Kaila is from Mesa, Arizona where she lives with her husband, 2 children and 2 dogs. She has been instrumental in the development and management of ACB Crafters, where she is a team leader of five other volunteers. She has served on committees on both the state and national levels of the American Council of the Blind, as well as on Next Generation’s program committee. She is currently a volunteer on the ACB Community Morning Crew as well as a community host. She received the 2021 DKM from the west award. Kaila has advocated for Blind and low vision parents rights in the state of Arizona with success in a bill being passed.
Kaila is an Assistive Technology/Activities Facilitator at Future in Sight, Where she creates content and provides instruction for remote technology workshops, online activities and crafts, for people who are blind and visually impaired around the globe! She also has experience working with individuals with Developmental disabilities. In addition to her people skills, she has developed administration skills through various employment.
Kaila is a dedicated volunteer and advocate for the blind and visually impaired. Aside from crafting and volunteering, Kaila enjoys spending time outdoors with her family riding bicycles and having picnics at the park. She likes to travel almost as much as she likes to learn. Kaila’s mantra is where there’s a will there’s a way, even if that way hasn’t yet been created.
GailElaine Wilt
Secretary
GailElaine Wilt has been legally blind since a childhood accident. She is a retired psychologist. After 18 years as a psychotherapist in community mental health, she worked 16 years in the blindness field – as an adjustment counselor and braille instructor. She and her husband live in Phoenix.
Daniel Martinez
Treasurer
Daniel Martinez is a native of Arizona. He attended Tolleson Union High School and graduated from Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind (ASDB).
Dan is a long-time member of the Arizona Council of the Blind and has served as President and was the newsletter editor for several years.
Dan has served in leadership positions on numerous State of Arizona and City of Phoenix Boards, Commissions and Councils. In 2018 he received the Detective Walter Olsen Lifetime Achievement Award from the Phoenix Mayor’s Commission on Disabilities for demonstrating a life-time of commitment to those with disabilities and helping advance the full inclusion of all people in our community.
Dan retired from Arizona Industries for the Blind in 2020 after over 30 years of employment. He received his Certificate in Supervision from Rio Salado Community College and Certificate in Business Management from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Executive Management through the National Industries for the Blind Leadership Program.
Jordan Lopuszanski
Director at Large
Jordan moved to Tucson in 2003 to attend the University of Arizona where he obtained a bachelor’s in psychology. Dealing with chronic eye-issues since birth, he always had a fascination with the idea of perseverance and the splendor of how people overcome trials. This led to Jordan obtaining his master’s in social work and is licensed at the state level to provide counseling. After becoming legally blind in 2016, Jordan went through blind rehabilitation and was able to become a practicing therapist again. He continues to work in social services in the incredible city of Tucson.
He is a big sports fan and always welcomes the discussion of the Arizona Cardinals, Phoenix Suns, and anything UFC. Other hobbies include working on his koi pond with 5 koi fish, 2 goldfish, and a mini type of shark. Also, he loves talking about health and nutrition; and is currently going to school to become a certified health coach.
Jeff Bishop
Director at Large
Bio Coming Soon!
Lisa Brooks
CAzCB Chapter Representative
Lisa lives in Phoenix and has been a member of the AzCB since 2006. A native Californian, Lisa is married to Ron, a mother of three mostly grown children, a former assistive technology trainer and online researcher. Currently, she splits her time between transcribing audio files into text and investing in stocks. She also enjoys reading braille or recorded books, and she loves singing and listening to music. In addition to her work with the AzCB, Lisa is a Board member of ACB Families, an active participant in many ACB Community calls, and a former member of several ACB state and special interest affiliates.
Kei Best
SAzCB Chapter Representative
Kei is originally from Northeastern Pennsylvania, about 15 minutes from
Scranton where they received their Bachelor of Science degree in
Information Technology from Misericordia University. They have a
fascination with learning about other cultures, especially in the
areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion for disabled people. They
can often be found curled up on their beanbag chair with a few
different snacks from other countries listening to podcasts, watching
documentaries, and horror movies, or playing the occasional Dungeons
and Dragons game if they aren’t exploring different cities.