Washington Council of the Blind is a nonprofit all-volunteer organization dedicated to promoting opportunity, equality, and independence in the blind community through education, public awareness, and advocacy.
The largest organization of blind consumers in Washington State, WCB has chapter affiliates and special interest affiliates across the state, all of whom are committed to fostering lifestyles that reflect participation, productivity, independence, and dignity.
WCB is an affiliate of American Council of the Blind (ACB).
Meet Our Officers
President Julie Brannon
Julie retired from a productive working career in fields as varied as social work to education to program management. Approaching 30 years as a member of WCB, she is passionate about this phenomenal organization, knowing what it has provided her in regard to personal skills development, along with providing opportunity, equality, and independence to blind Washingtonians. Julie loves to relax by reading a variety of particularly Christian-oriented material, both fiction and nonfiction.
Julie was re-elected at the 2021 convention and started her second term in January 2022.
First Vice President Andy Arvidson
Andy has served in the Blind/Low Vision community for 15 years, with almost four decades of experience in volunteer organizations, and is truly honored to be serving WCB. He and his wife own their own business and are instructors of Martial Arts and self-defense. Andy’s work experience ranges from construction and logging to working for DSB in the 80’s and 90’s as General maintenance to building race cars. Andy loves hiking and biking with his wife in his “spare time” (along with all the other volunteer work they do) and spending time with his 13 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Andy was elected at the 2021 convention and started his first full term in January 2022.
Second Vice President Sheri Richardson
Sheri is retired from her primary career with the federal government and now dedicates most of her time to serving in several nonprofit organizations. She was president of Guide Dogs Users of Washington State from 2014 to 2018 and was originally elected as a WCB Board Director in 2019. She lives in Seattle with her husband and Seeing Eye dog and is a proud guide dog handler for more than 40 years. Sheri is committed to continually improving her knowledge and skills in many areas, including assistive technology, education and public policy relating to disability rights. She and her husband have enjoyed musical concerts and theatre productions virtually, but look forward to a return to in-person performances.
Sheri was elected at the 2022 convention and started her first full term in January 2023.
Secretary Danette Dixon
Danette enjoys working and supporting others with diabetes in the blind community. Her heart is filled with passion in being able to serve, grow, and have a lasting impact in the blind and visually impaired community. With more than 2,000 volunteer hours for various nonprofit organizations in the past 14 years, she continues to serve organizations such as Seattle Children’s Hospital, WCB, and ACB. She keeps busy with her leadership involvement in several WCB local chapters and special interest affiliates: Guide Dog Users of Washington State, Snohomish County Council of the Blind, South King Council of the Blind, and Washington Council of the Blind Diabetics.
Danette was elected at the 2022 convention and started her first term in January 2023.
Treasurer Lisa George
Honored to serve in the role of treasurer, Lisa has many years of financial, consulting, and nonprofit experience she hopes will benefit WCB. She is energized by the positive attitudes and willingness to work hard shown by the other WCB officers, board members, committee members, and all the members of chapters and affiliates. Lisa’s happy place is with her husband, attending live music performances from reggae to rockabilly or country to classical.
She was re-elected at the 2021 convention and started her second term in January 2022.
Immediate Past President Denise Colley
Denise has long been a leader, advocate, and liaison in her community, across Washington State, and at a national level with her involvement with ACB, where she currently serves as Secretary, as well as chair of the Scholarship Committee. With her degree in social work, her work career included: rehabilitation teacher, vocational rehabilitation counselor, liaison between the Higher Education Coordinating Board and state colleges and universities, and program manager with the Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment. Denise and her late husband, Berl, had almost 40 years together and enjoyed their time with 7 grandchildren and 6 great-grandchildren. She now resides in Texas.
Denise’s latest tenure as president was 2018 to 2019.