Scott Seefeld
President

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Scott Seefeld is originally from Chilton, WI. He grew up attending school in Green Bay at the School for the Deaf, during the time where oralism was the key educational technique and sign language was not allowed. For high school, Scott returned to Chilton High School and worked his way through in four years. After graduation he enrolled at Moraine Park for a degree in data processing and accounting. During this time was when he first received the services of an Interpreter, and began using sign language more regularly. In 1983 Scott was hired by Aid Association for Lutherans, which has now become Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, as a Computer Operator, where he has now worked for more than 20 years. Scott feels he is a member of both the hearing and Deaf worlds, and brings unique perspectives to his position on the Board. He was elected the first President of the Board for Deaf Empowerment.

Leslie Riggs
Vice President

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Leslie was first found to be deaf at age two and half. At the time, she and her family lived in California, where there were strong programs for Deaf and hard of hearing children. When she was seven years old, she moved to Wisconsin and attended Kindergarten and first grade at Oklahoma Avenue School in Milwaukee. During second to fourth grades, she attended public school in New Berlin in the mornings and Pleasant Hill School in the afternoons, where there were special classes for Deaf and hard of hearing children. Midway through fourth grade, Leslie was fully mainstreamed because funding ran out for the special programs at Pleasant Hill School, and so she was transferred to a Catholic grade school until she graduated from eighth grade.

She spent her high school years at Waukesha Memorial High School.

She went on to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, majoring in Art Therapy. It was here, at age 19, that she first learned sign language.  After her freshman year, she transferred to the University of Milwaukee to focus her studies on working with Deaf and hard of hearing children. She was delighted that sign language interpreters were available for her classes; up till then she relied on note takers.  With a mere three semesters left to graduate, Leslie had to leave school due to financial issues. Eight years later, she returned to UW-Milwaukee and graduated with a degree in Business Administration/Information Systems.

Leslie values Deaf Culture and American Sign Language, they are an important part of her life.  She is active in the Deaf community and owns a Website design and development company, where most of her clients are Deaf owned and operated businesses.

Leslie lives in Appleton with her husband, Jerry Riggs, who is also Deaf.

Jean Laux
Treasurer

Treasurer's Email

Jean Laux received her education as a mainstreamed student in the Milwaukee area. She later went on to receive her master's degree in Library Information Studies from the University of Wisconsin Madison. While in college, Jean worked with the Catholic Archdiocese in the Deaf Youth Outreach Program and was involved with both the UW-Milwaukee and UW-Madison Deaf communities. She also served for a few years on the LSSPS committee, (Library Service to People who are Hard of Hearing or Deaf Forum at the national level of the American Library Association). Since graduation, Jean has years of experience being a library media specialist and a high school teacher of American Sign Language (ASL). She also teaches ASL and Deaf culture to numerous children, families, health care professionals, and university level students. Jean is currently the President of the Advisory Board of the newly formed Educational Interpreter Technician Program at the Fox Valley Technical College. Jean and her husband Rick both volunteer and serve as advocates in the Deaf community. With her experience in the education profession, Jean hopes to bring a broader dimension to the board and her goal for Deaf Empowerment is to be a great resource in the Fox Valley area. She is currently residing with her husband in the Neenah-Menasha area.

Beth Warnke
Secretary

Secretary's Email

Beth Warnke is native of Denver, Colorado but she wasn't born there. Moved at the age 6 months old. She was born Deaf and had major eye surgery when only three months early due to glaucoma. Her first 6 years of school were in special education classes with the Deaf then she was moved on to two mainstreamed schools where she grew up oral relying on lipreading. She was one of a few students to stay after school learning to improve speech therapy for a couple of years. Eventually, she learned how to sign through socializing with other Deaf people. She feels it is important to know sign language to prevent misunderstanding when communicating. She is comfortable with both the Deaf and hearing worlds. Beth moved to Wisconsin in 1974, after marrying her husband Jim. She volunteered to teach ASL classes at her son's school and workplace. Also, volunteered to assist her son's teacher. She is excited to motivate and serve the Deaf community through Deaf Empowerment.

Lois Zwick
Member at Large

Lois' Email

Lois has had severe hearing loss since birth.  She grew up orally, attending Kaukauna Public schools, at the same time going to speech therapy 1-3 times a week.  While she was at Fox Valley Technical College for Occupational Therapist program, she enrolled in a sign language class; it was her first time learning sign language.  At the same time, she attended SHHH (Self Help for Hard-of-Hearing) meetings; she grew out of her shell and accepted her hearing impairment.  Lois then switched to North Central Technical College in Wausau where they have services for the deaf and hard of hearing, it was first time she got help in the classroom with aide of note takers and interpreters.  She got a job at Marathon Engineers/Architects/Planners, LLC (has been renamed to Poyry (Appleton) LLC recently), where she is still employed for 21 years, has worked herself up as a Drafter-Electrical/Process Control.  Lois resides in Kaukauna with her 2 children, Emily and Travis. 

Lois has the desire to help serve the deaf community.  Also to help deaf and hard of hearing people gain more independence and to improve their quality of life.  She's heard too many deaf and hard of hearing people saying "I can't", she wants them to say "I CAN!"