Ability Dimension

Dave Kearon is the Director of Adult Services at Autism Speaks. In this role, Dave’s work focuses on national initiatives promoting solutions for the needs of individuals with autism and their families across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan. Dave works to increase the quality and quantity of opportunities and resources available to youth and adults with autism related to the transition to adulthood, employment, housing and residential supports, postsecondary education and community integration.

Dave’s work in recent years has included the development of an autism-led corporate employment consultancy, an online job search tool for autistic job seekers, and an autism small business accelerator. Current initiatives include the development of digital, interactive developmental pathways for the transition to adulthood, as well as a larger employment collaboration with other nonprofits for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities called Delivering Jobs.

Dr. Mark Maybury is Stanley Black & Decker’s first Chief Technology Officer. He is responsible for accelerating the award-winning innovation ecosystem of Stanley’s $14B global enterprise including Stanley in Silicon Valley, Industry 4.0 Manufactory and Stanley+Techstars Accelerator and the Corporate Ventures Board. He is a member of the Defense Science Board and the Mark Twain House and Museum Board. He formerly served as Chief Technology Officer and Chief Security Officer of The MITRE Corporation championing the spinoff of five startups and directing the National Cybersecurity FFRDC. Dr. Maybury served as the 33rd Chief Scientist of the United States Air Force and was recently named Veterans Advantage Veteran of the Year. An IEEE and AAAI Fellow and Federal 100 Award recipient, he was awarded three patents and edited ten books. Dr. Maybury hold a BA in mathematics and advanced degrees in business administration, human language technology, and artificial intelligence.

Robert Varnedoe is the President of Lee Container. His experience with the company (he joined Lee Container at its inception in 1989) includes sales, operations, and general management. Robert is a graduate of the University of Georgia and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College. He and his wife Layne have two sons, Joel and John, and one feisty granddaughter, Bea. He is a lover of Labrador Retrievers and loves hanging out at his farms in Iowa and South Georgia.