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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>The National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, Cleveland Chapter<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Honors<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Sheri Albers, Ohio Affiliate Vice President<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>In recognition of Women History Month<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>Sheri Albers Bio<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>I was born in Franklin Lakes, New Jersey which is about 30 minutes outside of New York City. My parents brought me to a lot of Broadway shows when I was young, and I grew up loving plays and musicals. My absolute favorite is Les Misérables, but I really cannot tell you how many times I have seen it, because I have lost count.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>I went to college at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio to pursue a Finance degree. I wanted to be connected to the banking world, to follow in my father’s footsteps. Why Miami? To my parents, it was because they had a great business school. To myself, I was following my boyfriend, whom I later married!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>After graduation, I got a job with SEIKO Corporation of Americas a Treasury Analyst in New York City. I had a watch for every suit and a suit for every watch! The work was very demanding, and there was little room for women in management in a Japanese company at that time. I worked for eight and a half years before my vision loss took over and I needed to resign. It was devastating for me because the job was my identity.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>My husband got a job transfer, and we moved to Loveland, Ohio. I then began my career as a Mom. I poured myself into raising my two daughters; helping at school, church, girl scouts, Kindervelt, and whatever else anyone asked me to do. I was very, very busy denying the fact that I was losing my vision. It never crossed my mind to get back into the working world.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>I then stumbled upon the National Federation of the Blind in 2003, when I met my sister who was attending the Louisville convention. My whole world has changed since then. I no longer felt that I had to prove myself to anyone, but that I was OK being blind.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>I then became immersed into my local Cincinnati chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio. I got a long white cane and mobility training at age 40. Five years later, I woke up one day and realized that I was illiterate because I could not read print, nor could I see well enough to write. I took it upon myself to learn Braille. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>I got more involved with NFB by becoming a member of the Board of Directors and then President of the Cincinnati Chapter. I was so inspired by what my fellow members were doing with their lives that I decided to go back to school. I stepped down as chapter president to devote time to my studies at the University of Cincinnati where I received an Associate’s Degree in Addictions, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Substance Abuse Counseling. I graduated Suma Cum Laud in April 2017.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>In April of 2016, I was appointed Vice President of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio. I also coordinated the NFB BELL Academy that summer, converting the program from a two-week day camp to a one-week residential program. Even though I still had a year of school to complete, I knew that the work of the Federation was of the utmost importance to me in my life.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif'>I am back as the President of the Cincinnati chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Ohio, as well as still serving as the Vice President of the Ohio Affiliate. I am the co-chair of the Legislative Committee and Convention Coordinator. I just started a new job working for Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities. As busy as I am, I would not change a thing. <o:p></o:p></span></p></div></body></html>