Meet Our Board of Directors

President

Jessica Beecham

Hi! My name is Jessica Beecham and I am proud to serve as president of the NFB Sports and Recreation Division. I am the director of a company called WE Fit Wellness.  We work hard to help people with disabilities and others who have been left behind in the mainstream fitness movement find accessible, affordable, and achievable exercise and nutrition solutions. I am passionate about helping others find healthy and fun ways to spend their free time.

I am a yoga enthusiast and enjoy exploring new yoga classes in my community. I also really enjoy  running. Living in Colorado Springs gives me ample opportunity to explore beautiful mountain trails. Nothing makes me feel more happy and at peace than a day on the beach. I love to cook and spend time with friends and families. Feel free to reach out to me at jessica@wefitwellness.com or call 615-497-0435.

Vice President

Audrey Farnum

I am an attorney living in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. I started rowing in 2010 at the recommendation of a friend and have been hooked ever since. I am a member of the OKC Riversport advanced masters team which regularly competes at regattas in Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas. I also enjoy tandem cycling and have completed the Hotter’n Hell Hundred in Wichita Falls, Texas. I also enjoy weight lifting. My other interests include reading lots of sci-fi and fantasy books, tinkering with all the latest assistive technology and binging shows on Netflix. I am also an avid sports fan and enjoy playing fantasy football and baseball. In addition to serving on the Sports and Rec board, I am First Vice President of the Oklahoma Affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind and board member for the Oklahoma Sports and Rec Division. Becoming involved in athletic activities has been an extremely positive addition to my life. I want other blind people to know that you don’t need to be a world class athlete to get involved. Just find something you love, make the time to do it and good things will follow.

Treasurer

Danielle Fernandez

Secretary

Lisamaria Martinez

Phone: 866-543-6808

Board Member

Roland Allen

Board Member

Mike Armstrong

I have a passion for having a full and active life style and exemplifying the NFB motto “Live the life you want.” I am happily married with three children and live in Phoenix Arizona. I am owner/instructor for Blind Tiger Martial Arts Academy and the Health and Wellness Coordinator for SAAVI (School for the Blind in Tucson, Yuma, and Phoenix). In-spite of my total loss of my sight in 1996 I have pushed myself and others to try new experiences ranging from hiking to stand up paddle boarding, tandem cycling to surfing. I have competed in Judo, Karate, traditional Japanese sword fighting and adventure racing. I am a certified personal trainer and love the fitness realm.
I have worked for SAAVI since February of 2013. I love working for SAAVI because it enables me to have my passion as a profession. SAAVI and I agree that there is a huge need for fitness instruction in the blind community. I am the state coordinator and oversees their three gyms. I also teache classes in self-defense, Yoga, Tai Chi, and Fitness to students in all three locations. Through my roll with SAAVI I enjoy the opportunity to expose their students to activities that push their understanding of what blindness is. For example, in May of 2016 I led two groups of SAAVI’s blind students in and out of the Grand Canyon.
I am the owner and head instructor for Blind Tiger Martial Arts Academy. I have black belts in 5 martial arts systems with a Master’s Degree (Shihan 6th Dan) in Karate. I was inducted into the World Karate Hall of Fame, Masters Hall of Fame, and was named instructor of the year for the American Kyokushin Karate Organization in 2010.
I am an accomplished drummer and still perform and record music. In the last ten years I have climbed Kilimanjaro, hiked the 807 mile Arizona Trail, and road a tandem bike across Arizona all to raise funds and awareness for blind children. My goal is to live a full life of adapted sports and recreation. My wish is that I will inspire a few others along the way while having a great time doing it.

Board Member

Kevin Brousard

Board Member

Maureen Nietfeld

Hello, My name is Maureen and I am proud to serve as a board member on The National Sports and Recreation Division, and President of The NFB of Colorado Sports and Recreation Division.

My passion for health and wellness stems from dealing with a life long illness that has caused me to have 33 surgeries, a kidney transplant, and I am a cancer survivor. I believe strongly that a healthy, active lifestyle will allow one to live a longer, happier life.

I always try my best to have a nutritious diet and exercise is a huge part of my life. Yoga has to be my favorite, but I also enjoy lifting weights,rock climbing, white water rafting, and any thing that gets me moving.

Board Member

Cathy Tuton