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A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Richard Oliver’s career at Industries of the Blind began in 1995. Birth defects in both eyes, followed by two retinal detachments within a six-year period led to the loss of vision in one eye and diminished sight in the other. He has been legally blind for 30 years.

Richard is a 1988 graduate of Greensboro College and completed Business Management Training through the Darden School of Business in 2007. He began work at Industries of the Blind in 1995 as a material handler, advancing to positions in Accounting, IT, Sales/Marketing, Product Development, Manager of Operations, Director of Sales, Marketing & Business Development, before accepting his current position as Director of Community Outreach and Government Relations.

As his roles within IOB expanded, Richard was drawn into more public relations and public policy situations. Over the last eight years, he has traveled to Capitol Hill to speak to Congress and staff about issues relating to the AbilityOne Program and the JWOD Act and the need for inclusion of people with disabilities into the mainstream of non-government business. Along with regular speaking engagements for local clubs, organizations, and college classes, he has also served as Chairperson on the Board for the NC Commission for the Blind, and the State Rehabilitation Commission, and served on the Mayor’s Committee for People with Disabilities, and is currently serving on the Higher Education Accreditation committee with the Association for Education and Rehabilitation for the Blind and Visually Impaired.