Chapter Leadership

Chapter President - The President for HLAA Virginia Beach is Kenneth Reichert. Ken Reichert has been a member of HLAA Virginia Beach for five years. He is a retired member of the United States Navy as well as a retired Virginia Beach City Public school teacher. During Ken's military career he was exposed to high levels of noise as a member of a helicopter flight crew and as a result he has been challenged by complete hearing loss in one ear and profound loss in the other. Ken has served as the chapter membership coordinator and an at large member of the chapter Board of Directors. In addition to being the HLAA Virginia Beach Chapter President Ken is the HLAA chapter coordinator for the State of Virginia.

Chapter Vice Presidents - 

Claire Fornsel - One of the chapters two Vice Presidents is Claire Fornsel.  Claire has been associated with the hearing Loss community for well over a decade and has been a member of HLAA Virginia Beach for most of that time.  She is a consummate professional who is dedicated to making the chapters programs innovative, enjoyable and informative. She has been working diligently to reach out to the national HLAA community to identify impactful presentations and we look forward to great things in the new year.

Kieth McCallester - Under Construction

Chapter Treasurer - Angela Hill has been a member of HLAA-VB since 2010. Yet, long before arriving to Fortis College for the first of many chapter meetings, Angela was introduced to SHHH (Self Help for Hard of Hearing) people, now Hearing Loss Association of America (HLAA), through the monthly magazine publications her mother subscribed for her as a teenager/young adult.   After her mother's passing, Angela kept up with the HLAA magazine's subscription.   Reading the magazines over the years and then joining HLAA-VB proved to be transformative and impactful for Angela.  The information and support provided and the friendship formed as a result of joining HLAA-VB have tremendously helped Angela in her hearing loss journey.  In addition to benefiting from the service of HLAA-VB, Angela, with the support from then President Mr. Don Doherty, started the open captioning initiative at Chrysler Hall, Norfolk, VA., which in turn led to the formation of Access Virginia (www.accessvirginia.info). Year 2021, at the height of the pandemic, and at the request of Mr. Doherty, the board and Angela were asked to keep the chapter meetings going virtually, in partnership with our sister HLAA chapters in the State of Virginia:  Greater Richmond HLAA and  Rappahannock - HLAA.  This went on for two years. Year 2023, Angela, at the request of Mrs. Doherty,  was appointed interim president for the 2023- 2024 chapter year.  It was during that time, she, along with the help of her husband, Alex, and Mr. Paul Atkinson, Jr., one of the advisors to HLAA-VB, implemented the hybrid format for HLAA-VB's meetings (both in-person and Zoom).  Also, during the 2023-2024 year, it was initially requested that Angela spearhead the reestablishment of the HLAA-Williamsburg Chapter. This project was subsequently transferred to Mr. Ken Reichert and was completed in May of 2025 with the establishment of the HLAA Virginia Peninsula Chapter.   September 2024, Angela was elected to continue to stay on as Interim President until June 2025. In June of 2025 Angela passed the reins of leadership on and now continues as the chapter treasurer.  Angela is humbly grateful for the opportunity to serve HLAA-VB.  She believes in its mission and has shown a willingness to be of service in whatever way she can be of help.

Chapter Secretary - The Chapter Secretary for HLAA Virginia Beach is Kathy Richter. Kathy Richter is HLAA-VB's longest serving member, having served for over 20 years.   Kathy started with the chapter in the early 2000s, coming on board as a typist after attending a court reporting school.  At that time, the chapter was a part of the larger SHHH (Self Help for Hard of Hearing ) people organization before its eventual name change to the HLAA.  Over time, Kathy would become the chapter's secretary.  From the early days to now, Kathy would have served under four different presidents of the chapter.  In addition to being the chapter's secretary, she would also be available to bring members to meetings.  Kathy truly has a compassionate heart.  Her kindness and willingness to help in whatever way she is able to is to be commended and appreciated!   HLAA-VB will forever be indebted and grateful for the service Kathy has and continues to provide.  Her service to the chapter is truly an act of volunteerism.  

Chapter Advisor - Paul Atkinson, Jr. has over 20 years of experience in providing vocational and community access supports to individuals with disabilities. Paul is currently the Vice President of Operations for Eggleston, an Employment Service Organization based out of Norfolk, Virginia, which provides training, education, and employment opportunities. Paul has had a career focus on employment and transportation, serving on numerous boards, committees, and commissions connected to this work.  Paul joined HLAA-VB as a valued advisor September 2023.

Chapter Advisor - Lois B. Boyle, BA, RMR  A Court Reporter by profession, Lois Boyle began providing CART (Communication Access Real time Translation) for Deaf/Hard of Hearing persons in 2007 and became involved in their advocacy efforts to obtain access to performing arts theaters, and in 2010 provided open captioning at Chrysler Hall, Norfolk. VA for the first time in Hampton Roads and currently provides the accommodation at several theater venues.

Working with other organizations such as the Hearing Loss Association of America - Virginia Beach Chapter, the Norfolk Commission for Persons with Disabilities, Faith Inclusion Network, and the Virginia Beach Town Center Blind Lions Club, she became increasingly aware of the lack of accommodation at public venues for persons with hearing and vision loss.

Lois founded Access Virginia to provide open captioning and audio description for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Blind/Vision Impaired at public venues. Access Virginia started providing audio description for persons with vision loss in 2015. Access Virginia began its Youth Accessibility Program, Dramatically Able, in 2017 to give students with vision loss access to the arts. In 2018 Access Virginia in partnership with a local theater company began drama workshops for the Deaf/Hard of Hearing.

By offering these accommodations, theaters can also gain new audiences, bringing former audiences back to the theater, as well as enhancing and providing the most enjoyable experience for current audience members. Access Virginia continues to strive to make positive, tangible changes in the lives of citizens in Hampton Roads making us more inclusive and welcoming.

September 2023, Mrs. Boyle joins HLAA-VB as one of its advisors.