President & CEO of nonprofit honored for strong leadership as an advocate for workers who are blind or visually impaired
Titan CEO and headline sponsor Wipfli LLP recently announced that CJ Lange, President and CEO of Industries for the Blind and Visually Impaired (IBVI), has been named as a 2023 Titan 100 Honoree.
The Titan 100 program recognizes Wisconsin’s Top 100 CEO’s & C-level executives. The designation signifies this select group as the area’s most accomplished business leaders in their respective industries using criteria that demonstrate exceptional leadership, vision, and passion. “It’s an honor to recognize this diverse group of leaders in Wisconsin,” said Gina Skibo, Partner at Wipfli. “We appreciate the lasting impact each leader has made, and continues to make, in building organizations of significance both here in Wisconsin and abroad.”
IBVI plays a crucial role in society as its mission is to create jobs for the blind and visually impaired. This group has a greater than 70% unemployment rate, and staying true to the company’s mission, CJ is focused on increasing employment opportunities throughout Wisconsin.
Much of what the company does involves producing and distributing industrial supplies to the US government, military, and other businesses. As authorized AbilityOne® providers and GSA contract holders, IBVI ensures full compliance with federal budget requirements and purchasing regulations.
Over the next five years, Lange hopes to find people who need jobs and match them with business development opportunities that lead to multi-year contracts that support IBVI’s mission and vision. It may require creativity and innovation, but based on CJ’s track record, he’ll have little trouble making it happen.
Lange joined IBVI in 2000 and has been the President and CEO since 2015. His influence and commitment to bringing empowering job opportunities to workers who are blind and visually impaired dates back well before he became CEO and President. When asked about his greatest accomplishment thus far, Lange points to the unique role IBVI has had in providing meaningful employment to so many.
“I have great pride in what we’ve been able to accomplish through IBVI,” says Lange. “By offering those who are blind or visually impaired the opportunity to pursue upward mobility, we’ve realized that our work and mission is literally changing people’s futures for the better.” He continues, “Watching individuals who previously had little career hope suddenly become passionate about things that could be is so unbelievably incredible.”
Lange, a known advocate for inclusion and accessibility, is optimistic about the future, especially concerning recent advances in technology, and the additional opportunities that such innovation makes possible.
Lange is said to be often watching for new devices and software that can be used to give those with various disabilities more autonomy. “The best part is, there’s no stopping us,” says Lange. “As technology advances and we start applying that technology we can bring even more opportunity to the blind and visually impaired workforce.”
This year’s honorees will be published in a limited-edition Titan 100 book and profiled exclusively online. They will be honored at the annual awards ceremony on January 12th, 2023 at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
For more information about the Titan 100 program, and to view the entire list of 2023 honorees, visit https://www.titan100.biz/wisconsin-titan-100.
