Envision Welcomes Emily Hurst as Senior Director of the Envision Workforce Innovation Center | Envision News

Envision Welcomes Emily Hurst as Senior Director of the Envision Workforce Innovation Center 

By Holly Herring • Jan 04, 2023

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Envision Welcomes Emily Hurst as Senior Director of the Envision Workforce Innovation Center 

Hurst Will Help Advance the Progress of Accessibility in the Workplace to Help Those Who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Wichita, Kan. (Jan. 4, 2023) – Envision, one of the nation’s largest employers of people who are blind or visually impaired, announced that Emily Hurst has joined the nonprofit as the Senior Director of the William L. Hudson Envision Workforce Innovation Center. Established in 2018, the Envision Workforce Innovation Center focuses on evolving accessibility within the workplace to better connect people and businesses.

“Emily is a terrific addition to the Envision team,” said Michael Monteferrante, President and CEO, Envision. “Her experience and passion will make a great impact on the work we are doing at the Workforce Innovation Center. She will be working to advance accessibility in the workplace, preparing businesses to attract and retain talent while empowering people who are blind or visually impaired to strive for high-tech and knowledge-based careers.”

At the Envision Workforce Innovation Center, accessibility consulting is centered around four key action areas: 

  1. Empower people who are blind or visually impaired for high-tech and knowledge-based careers. 
  2. Prepare businesses to attract and retain employees, especially those with disabilities.
  3. Connect companies with an untapped talent labor market.
  4. Create usable and accessible digital and physical spaces for everyone. 

“I am honored to join the team at Envision,” said Hurst. “We are excited to help organizations tap into this talented and skilled workforce and share these incredible opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired. I look forward to building on Envision’s great culture of inclusion and accessibility.”

The team at the Envision Workforce Innovation Center was recently awarded an American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Grant by the City of Wichita. With this grant, small-to-medium-sized businesses, as well as non-profit organizations in Wichita, could be eligible to receive accessibility services at a discounted price. Services include corporate accessibility training and digital accessibility consulting for employers, and job placement and trial employment for people with disabilities in Wichita.

Most recently, Hurst was the Chief Executive Officer at the Kansas Humane Society. She has over a decade of experience in development and the non-profit community, including leading roles at the United Way of the Plains.

Envision, headquartered in Wichita, Kan., provides opportunities to build skills, confidence and independence through programs, rehabilitation, groundbreaking research and child development for people who are blind or visually impaired. 100% of donations directly fund core services and programs at Envision. 


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About Envision: Envision promotes advocacy and independence for those who are blind or low vision. Founded in 1933, Envision is one of the largest employers of individuals with vision loss in the nation. Headquartered in Wichita, Kan., Envision’s mission is to improve the quality of life and provide inspiration and opportunity for people who are blind or visually impaired through employment, outreach, rehabilitation, education and research. For more information, visit www.envisionus.com.

Media Contact: Holly Herring, Marketing Manager, Envision, Inc.
Office: 316-440-1531 | Email: media@envisionus.com