Registrations Now Open!

In-Person Attendee: $120

• Continental Breakfast

• Box Lunch

• Meet the Speakers and ask questions

• Networking Opportunity

• Conference materials included (some exceptions may apply).

Virtual Attendee: $60

• Ask speakers questions

• Conference Materials (some exceptions may apply).

Why Do Good Business?

Around 80% of Americans with disabilities have no job. We can work, want to work, and add tremendous value. Through universally designing workplaces and businesses, we can tap into a talented workforce. What we’re doing isn’t nice; it’s good business. 

Since opening, the Prospector has received hundreds of replication inquiries. Employment opportunities are still hard to find for many people with disabilities. Automation is on the rise, sheltered workshops are closing their doors, and more parents than ever are wondering what happens after the post-transition cliff. We need to make a larger impact at a quicker rate. 

The Do Good Business Conference is a forum where we can share our successes and strategies, helping employers to understand how inclusion and accessibility can better their business and bottom line. Through this collaboration, we will create a community of like-minded organizations who can work together to address everyday obstacles and systemic change. It’s time we all sparkled together. Are you ready to Do Good Business?

Hiring Disabled Talent - A Business Imperative (In-Person)

Anessa Powell CEO AllAbility Solutions

Since being diagnosed in 2013 with Addison’s Disease (Primary Adrenal Insufficiency), a rare Autoimmune Disease, Anessa Powell has been dedicated to raising awareness that disabilities come in many forms. Anessa began sharing her experiences in 2016 and launched her social media outreach through the former pages of Addison’s Disease with Grace. In 2019, she began her work at the state and national levels as a patient advocate, speaking out for voices that have been traditionally overlooked in disability employment. In 2021, Anessa founded AllAbility Solutions, where she strives to “Leave No Ability Behind” through disability training, consulting, recruiting, and speaking engagements. Her passion and commitment continue as she sets out to change how businesses and communities view disability employment by ensuring accessibility in all facets of an organization.

Building Inclusive Communities: Supporting Access and Autonomy (Live Virtual)

Jordyn Zimmerman, Educator & Advocate

Jordyn Zimmerman is a passionate educator and disability advocate. After being diagnosed as autistic at a young age, she did not receive access to augmentative communication until the age of 18. She now thrives on boldly showing up and redefining what is possible in learning spaces and throughout the broader community — and has personal experience challenging the status quo, which is featured in the documentary, This Is Not About Me. 

Jordyn collaborates with schools worldwide, is an Apple Distinguished Educator, and is a two-time appointee on The United States President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities. She previously earned her Bachelor's degree in Education Policy from Ohio University and her Master's of Education at Boston College. Most recently, Jordyn earned her Master's of Business Administration. Learn more at www.JordynZimmerman.com.

The Sparkle Miner (In-Person)

Valerie Jensen, Founder & Visionary, The Prospector

Valerie Jensen began her career as an elementary school teacher in 2003. After leaving teaching, she served as Executive Director of SPHERE, a local arts non-profit for adults with disabilities. While there, she adapted and directed eight musicals and three feature-length films that featured people with disabilities both behind and in front of the camera, including the “must see” Sparkle Island. All throughout she was nagged by one thing: while the doors to education, transportation, and communication were opened by the ADA, people with disabilities are still underrepresented and largely absent in the workforce. Val knew most people with disabilities are capable and passionate about work. With this, she set her sights on helping those same people experience the joys of meaningful employment. In 2012, Val and her team began redesigning the historic Ridgefield Playhouse in Connecticut, transforming it into The Prospector – a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing competitive and inclusive employment for people with disabilities through the operation of a first-run movie theater and online popcorn business. Val designed The Prospector as a “sparkly beacon of hope” for people around the world who dream of meaningful employment. Since opening its doors in November of 2014, over 830,000 ticket buyers have witnessed the power of meaningful employment first-hand. Over 300 employees (known as “Prospects”) have worked at The Theater, clocking over 1,000,000 hours of meaningful employment to date. When the pandemic hit in 2020, moviegoing ground to a halt. Needing to keep Prospects engaged, Val had an idea - show the world how they can “harness the power of sparkle and good work right in your own backyard.” Val spent the pandemic pivoting her focus to her home - a 160-acre farm - to provide meaningful employment and education to an inclusive workforce through agriculture, education, and nature. Gemstone is home to lakes, streams, trees, flowers, vegetables, bees, birds, butterflies, sheep, fish, chickens, hiking trails, waterfalls, and wildlife. Theater employees switched their white gloves for work gloves, raising chickens, growing crops, and making maple syrup. By using farm work, recreation, sports, art, music, film-production, and ongoing professional development, employees of Gemstone (known as “Gems”) complement the gifts of nature with hard-work and inclusivity. Val has spread her sparkle across the country, hosting speaking engagements at Dartmouth College, The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Columbia University, UT – Austin, and a variety of other institutions. She has been featured on major media outlets – NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, The TODAY Show, The New York Times, Huffington Post, ESPN, and more. Her groundbreaking work has also been recognized by various branches of government, including the State of Connecticut, Department of Labor, and the President of the United States.

Navigating the Disability and Accessibility Landscape Through Play:

A LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® Experience

Sheri Jay, Neuro Transformational Mindset Coach

I'm Sheri, a Mindset and Performance Coach dedicated to helping individuals and teams reach their full potential. With my ICF accreditation and extensive background in corporate Canada, I leverage neuroscience to help people understand and manage their busy brains, turn down the noise, and find purpose and direction. Using tools based in neuroscience, I help clients change established patterns and create new neural pathways that are more effective. These self-directed mindset shifts help harness the brain's capacity to be more effective, leading to sustainable behavioral change and improved performance. I'm the creator of the transformative Mindset Reset program, guiding clients through a proven process to reframe limiting beliefs, develop resilience strategies, and establish empowering thought patterns that drive sustainable success. Living with an invisible cognitive disability myself, I have a deep passion for working with neurodivergent individuals and those with disabilities. A large part of my practice is dedicated to supporting neurodivergence, as I understand firsthand the unique challenges many face in both personal and professional environments. I deliver on my promises by combining my corporate experience with evidence-based techniques that help clients understand themselves, others, and team dynamics. My coaching approach is rooted in a commitment to belonging, ensuring that no one is left behind and that everyone's strengths are amplified. Additionally, I'm certified in LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY® and Principles You, bringing play and creativity into my coaching practice. These tools help clients reconnect with their creativity and unlock their full potential. When I'm not coaching, I'm a lifelong lover of everything athletic and most especially love fat biking with dogs and spending time in the forest. My personal experiences in nature have shaped my understanding of resilience, perseverance, and the power of connection with the outdoors. I hold the firm belief that everyone deserves to thrive both personally and professionally, and I'm committed to helping my clients navigate the complexities of modern life to find balance, focus, and clarity.

Investing in Accessibility (In-Person)

Chris Maher, Founder & General Partner at Samaritan Partners

Chris Maher is the Founder & General Partner at Samaritan Partners, a public benefit venture capital fund. Chris launched Samaritan Partners after spending 25 years as an operator and multi-time CEO at a variety of venture capital-backed companies, and 20 years raising two daughters with disabilities. Samaritan is creating a more inclusive and accessible world by investing in early-stage, for-profit companies that provide products and services to, and/or create job opportunities for, people in the disability community. Portfolio companies include Be My Eyes, Sign-Speak, Making Space, and Wheel the World.

Screening: The Emmy® Award winning New York Times Op-Doc,

“My Disability Roadmap” (Virtual)

Samuel Habib | College Student, Multimedia Production Assistant at Westchester Institute for

Human Development

Samuel Habib, 25, is a college student and the Emmy® Award-winning co-director of the New York Times Op-Doc My Disability Roadmap and the new feature film, The Ride Ahead. Samuel was a story consultant on the nationally broadcast film Mr. Connolly Has ALS and has been profiled in Forbes Magazine. He also worked as a Concord Monitor newspaper columnist, an interviewer of Presidential candidates, and has presented nationally on disability rights, inclusive education, and his transition to adulthood. Samuel uses a wheelchair for mobility and a communication device (as well as his voice and gestures) to express himself. In addition to exploring his current and future academic and career options, Samuel also navigates significant, chronic health challenges due to his underlying GNAO1 Neurodevelopmental Disorder. He works part-time as a multimedia production assistant and presenter at the Westchester Institute for Human Development.

Dan Habib | Inclusive Communities Project Director at Westchester Institute for Human Development

Dan Habib (pronounced “Habeeb”) the Emmy® Award winning New York Times Op-Doc, My Disability Roadmap and the new feature film, The Ride Ahead (a major expansion on My Disability Roadmap) with his son Samuel Habib. Dan is also the creator of award-winning documentary films including Intelligent Lives, Who Cares About Kelsey?, Mr. Connolly Has ALS, Including Samuel and many other short films on disability- related topics. Dan is the Inclusive Communities Project Director at the Westchester Institute for Human Development. He has screened and discussed his films hundreds of times in the U.S. and internationally, at universities, corporations, national conferences, film festivals, and independent theaters for educators, families, students, employees, policy makers, and the general public. His films have been broadcast nationally on public television stations and translated into 17 languages for use as teaching tools worldwide. From 2014-2017 Dan served on the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities under Barack Obama.

Master of Ceremonies:

Mike Santini, HATRACK CONSULTING

Mike “Munchie” Santini is a retired battle rapper, moonlighting artist, and seasoned non- profit professional with over 13 years of experience. He has significantly impacted the sector by helping founders and executives create sustainable organizations, generating millions in fundraising, and building partnerships with Fortune 500 companies and foundations. He began his career at Words, Beats, & Life – a D.C. non-profit using hip-hop arts as a tool for social change. There, Mike was able to successfully bridge his personal passion (the name “Munchie” was his stage name as a rapper) and professional possibilities. He spearheaded the Dollar & A Dream individual donor campaign, becoming a signature giving program for the organization. Two years later, Mike returned to his hometown to serve as the Director of Development for The Prospector – a 501(c)(3) non-profit providing competitive and inclusive employment for people with disabilities through the operation of a first-run movie theater and online popcorn business in Ridgefield, CT. Mike’s work redefining educational content and fundraising strategies allowed The Prospector to grow from a social enterprise start-up to an internationally-recognized model of employment. In May of 2021, Mike succeeded Founder & Visionary, Valerie Jensen, as the next Executive Director of The Prospector. After The Prospector, Mike served as the Senior Director of National Partnerships for the T.D. Jakes Foundation, developing corporate partnerships that helped to close the opportunity gap for communities of color. In July of 2024, Mike switched gears and became an entrepreneur, launching HATRACK Consulting – a boutique consulting firm amplifying the good work of non-profits, mission-driven businesses, and philanthropists. Mike has received several awards and accolades, including Connecticut Magazine’s “40 Under 40” and the University of Maryland Terrapin Club’s “30 Under 30.” He currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Prospector, as well as the University of Maryland’s CIVICUS Alumni Board. He is a proud husband, father, and Nutmegger who loves fútbol and bad movies.

Ryan Wenke, CEO The Prospector Theater

After receiving a Bachelor’s Degree at Emerson College, Ryan returned to his hometown of Ridgefield, CT in 2015 with a strong desire to make a positive impact in a business with great professional and personal significance to him. As Chief Executive Officer at the Prospector, Ryan Wenke has dedicated his professional career to furthering the mission of improving the quality of life for people with disabilities through meaningful employment.

Entering his 10th year at the Prospector, Ryan has a proven track record of cultivating lasting relationships with industry leaders, bringing the Board's vision to fruition, and maximizing the business and mission value of The Prospector.

In 2023, Ryan was nominated and became a member of the Forbes Technology Council, an invitation-only community for world-class CIOS, CTOs, and technology executives. In 2025, Ryan was a recipient of Fairfield County's 40 Under Forty awards, which are given to young professionals under the age of 40 who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact within Fairfield County, Connecticut.