National Industries for the Blind Announces New Board Members

NIB associated nonprofit agency leaders Matt Koch and Kyle Johnson join NIB’s board of directors

ALEXANDRIA, VA – National Industries for the Blind (NIB), the nation’s largest employment resource for people who are blind, announced the addition of Kyle Johnson and Matt Koch to its board of directors. Johnson and Koch join the NIB board as members representing NIB associated nonprofit agencies.

Koch is chief executive officer of NIB associated nonprofit agency Virginia Industries for the Blind (VIB), the largest employer of people who are blind in the Commonwealth. VIB employs 160 people across 25 locations, including more than 80 people who are blind. Prior to assuming leadership positions working with people who are blind at VIB, Koch was chief operating officer of the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.

After a successful 15-year career as an officer and pilot in the U.S. Navy, Koch retired due to blindness in one eye and limited vision in the other. During his time in the Navy, Koch served in numerous positions at the White House, Joint Staff, and Pentagon, as well as three six-month shipboard deployments to the Middle East.

Johnson is president and chief executive officer of Lighthouse Central Florida, located in Orlando. The agency provides a comprehensive range of services to children, teenagers, and adults living with vision loss, as well as training and career opportunities to people who are blind through its Lighthouse Works! enterprise. Prior to becoming president and CEO, Johnson was director of resource development and communications at the Lighthouse.

Johnson has also served as president of the board of directors for Florida Agencies Serving the Blind and as president of the Central Florida Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. He is a registered instructor and panelist at the Edyth Bush Institute for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Leadership.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Matt and Kyle to the NIB board of directors,” said Dr. Paul Healy, NIB board chairperson. “Their combined knowledge and experience will be invaluable as the board and NIB work to expand employment opportunities for people who are blind.”

NIB’s board of directors provides governance and oversight for an organization that supports the employment of 5,500 Americans who are blind across the country. Composed of 12 private sector representatives and eight associated agency chief executive officers, the NIB board sets the organization’s strategic direction, oversees finances, and approves and monitors programs and services, among other duties.

Click here to meet NIB’s board of directors and leadership team.

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About National Industries for the Blind

Since 1938, National Industries for the Blind (NIB) has focused on enhancing the opportunities for economic and personal independence of people who are blind, primarily through creating, sustaining, and improving employment. NIB and its network of associated nonprofit agencies are the nation’s largest employer of people who are blind through the manufacture and provision of SKILCRAFT® and other products and services of the AbilityOne® Program. For more information about NIB, visit NIB.org.