CFTB Board of Directors
Computers for the Blind has a volunteer Board of Directors that help us fulfill our mission, as well as a team of staff members that work hard to make sure our clients have the best experience. We are grateful for the experience they bring to our organization, and the leadership they provide. If you are interested in administrative level volunteering opportunities, please contact our Executive Director at ttowndrow@computersfortheblind.org.
Board President – Andrew Wheeler
Andrew Wheeler is the Director of Risk Management at Texas Instruments, Inc. (TI) in Dallas, Texas. His 26 year career at TI includes various Finance and Business Operations leadership roles including, Worldwide Fab Capacity Planning Director, High Volume Linear Finance & Operations Director, and most recently Controller, Treasurer, and Finance Director of TI Philippines, Inc. Andrew has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering and Master of Science in Operations Research from Western Michigan University and a Master of Business Administration from Southern Methodist University. Andrew has been a champion of diversity and employee development throughout his career.
Board Vice President- Dan Youman
Dan Youman recently retired as an Operations Director at Texas Instruments in Dallas. He has an extensive background in Semiconductor Operations Management and currently holds an MBA from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelors in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois.
Board Treasurer- Laura Turner
Laura Turner is a Finance and Operations Director at Texas Instruments in Dallas. She has held numerous challenging and exciting roles in multiple business units and manufacturing in her 20 years within TI, Laura has a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from the Texas A&M and currently supports other programs such as the Women’s Initiative within Texas Instruments.
Board Secretary – Melinda Hocking
Melinda Hocking is HR Operations Manager for the Americas at Texas Instruments in Dallas. She has held various Human Resources roles over her 25 years with TI including Training & Development and HR Business Partner roles supporting several manufacturing sites including the start-up facility in Richardson. Melinda’s current role is in Compensation and Benefits with responsibility for managing shared services operations for the Americas. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from Texas Tech University.
Board Member – Jeff Bazer
Bazer’s career in the assistive technology industry spans 20 years, 11 of those have been at Vispero and Freedom Scientific. He currently serves as Director of Sales for the south Central Region including Texas, and primarily works through his robust dealer network. Jeff believes that outstanding customer service and support makes the difference with his customers, and is most proud of the vast network of training tools Vispero has to offer. Priorto his move to Vispero headquarters in Florida, Jeff also spent 15 years in radio, working in Minnesota and South Dakota. He attributes his communications background for his presentation style, and always remembering that listening can be even more important than sharing.
Board Member – Darrin Whitney
Darrin Whitney is the Chief Information Officer for Yana Systems in Plano. He has an extensive background in Digital Transformations for multiple Public, Private Equity and startup companies. Darrin has a Bachelor’s Degree in Financial Administration from Michigan State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
CFTB Staff Members
Executive Director – Nathan Hill
Nathan is a graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington with a degree in Computer Engineering. He started with Computers for the Blind in 2017 to manage the volunteers that build the computers, but with his background in computer hardware and information systems, his role evolved to manage all the technology and systems used by CFTB. He spent several years as Operations and IT Directors where he helped develop and upgrade systems as well as manage the process and volunteers that built and ship the computers. In October of 2025, he was appointed as Executive Director and looks forward to the progress and bright future of Computers for the Blind. He and his wife have 3 beautiful daughters.