Bethesda, MD: Peter C. Fackler of Rochester, New York, has been named president of the Board of Trustees of the Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), the nation's largest organization for people with hearing loss. He officially assumed his new role with the organization at HLAA's Convention 2010 in Milwaukee in June. Other officers installed at the convention are: Deb Charlea Baker, vice president, of Chester, Vermont;Michael Stone, treasurer, of Washington, D.C.;and Diana Bender, Ph.D., secretary, of Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
Three new members joined the Board, including:
- Zachary La Fratta, is a clinical doctorate student in Gallaudet University's audiology program;
- Nancy Lelewer Sonnabend of Boston, Massachusetts, has been involved in learning disabilities and early childhood development for over forty-five years and just recently released her second book The Lelewer Legacy: Traditions of a Loving Family (Ivy House Publishing Group, May 2010);and
- Margaret I. Wallhagen, Ph.D., Professor, Department of Physiological Nursing and Director, John A. Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, University of California, San Francisco, California.
Prior to his retirement in 2003, Mr. Fackler's career spanned thirty years in higher education. He is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). He has a bachelor's degree in economics from Duke University and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Michigan's Graduate School of Business. Fackler brings to the HLAA Board of Trustees experience and expertise in finance, strategic planning, and marketing and development.
Mr. Fackler has been a member of the Rochester HLAA Chapter since 2004, the same year he received a cochlear implant;he is now a bi-lateral cochlear implant recipient. He has served on Rochester HLAA Board of Trustees in various roles, including the finance and technology committees as well as the theater committee which successfully brought captioned live theater to Rochester. He has also served as chair of the finance committee for the HLAA New York State Association, and served as chair of three Walk4Hearing events (2007, 2009, 2010). Mr. Fackler has served on the HLAA National Board since 2006 and as treasurer from 2007 to 2010. Following the election Fackler stated, "I am humbled to be asked to serve and honored to have the opportunity. I will do my absolute best to serve you and HLAA well."
In addition to his extensive work with HLAA National and the Rochester Chapter, Mr. Fackler is a founding member of the finance (investment) committee of the Maine Health Access Foundation.
About the Hearing Loss Association of America
The Hearing Loss Association of America® (HLAA), founded in 1979, opens the world of communication to people with hearing loss through information, education, advocacy and support. HLAA publishes the bimonthly Hearing Loss Magazine, holds annual conventions, Walk4Hearing™, and more. Information can be found at www.hearingloss.org/. The national headquarters is located at 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Suite 1200, Bethesda, MD 20814. Phone: 301.657.2248. HLAA has chapters and state organizations across the country.
