VisionAware

The National Board of Directors of the Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) has announced the appointment of Al Avina as the organization’s new Executive Director at its Washington, DC headquarters. The appointment was effective April 30, 2012.

Al will direct the Association’s efforts to represent and serve blinded veterans, both in the Nation’s Capital and throughout the United States. He will be responsible for the work of BVA’s National Headquarters staff and its Field Service Program offices. He will carry out the directives, instructions, and policies legally adopted by the National Board of Directors and Association members in convention, and ensure compliance with the laws and regulations to which BVA is subject.

“Al brings to BVA a wealth of knowledge and leadership experience in the area of human resources, management information systems, and technology for the blind and visually impaired,” said BVA National President Sam Huhn. “His desire and commitment to make BVA’s programs and services more accessible to blinded veterans and their families, and to expand the organization’s fundraising efforts, make his appointment a welcome one.”

A veteran of the U.S. Army, where he specialized in human resource functions and management, Al worked most recently with a military resale program team in day-to-day operations and business analysis of sales, warehousing, and distribution as a Fellow at the National Industries for the Blind in Alexandria, Virginia. He has also worked in the Government Markets Department for 3M in Washington, DC and as a Cross-Departmental Project Manager for major sales initiatives with Bosma Enterprises in Indianapolis, Indiana.

A native of California’s Central Valley region, Al received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business from Saint Martin’s University in Lacey, Washington.