Our Steering Committee

The Steering Committee Members are elected by the chapter members.  They are required to be members of HLAA National and typically serve a 2-year term.
Among the shared responsibilities of the SC is the planning and leading of the monthly meetings and events.

The SC is responsible for using our resources (the membership and funds) to further our mission — to open the world of communication to people with hearing loss — through advocacy, education, information and support.

Steering Committee members come from every background and experience.  Members have various levels of hearing loss or no loss at all, and share the desire to “pay it forward”.

Here are our current Steering Committee members and a little bit about themselves:

Pat Widman - President	I'm one of the 7 founding members of the HLAA-LA chapter and have served on the Steering Committee all but 1 year. This is my second time as President. I had a moderate single sided hearing loss from childhood ear infections but it wasn't until my late 20s and early 30s when Meniere's Syndrome really impacted my life with progressive loss. Over the next 20 years I went from denial, to my first hearing aid to eventually a profound bi-lateral loss. I ended up having to retire from my job and sunk into a deep depression. The thing that saved me was the Hearing Loss Association of America and eventually the start of this chapter. From what I learned here I sought out and received a cochlear implant that made a HUGE impact on the quality of my life. Now I enjoy my retirement years with family and friends. What a joy it's been to hear "I love you Grandma"!
Lisa Yuan, Secretary/Newsletter Editor	I have been a member of HLAA-LA for 10 years, serving in various roles including President, Vice President, Secretary, and Newsletter Editor. My hearing loss journey began in my early 20s, and I spent over a decade in depression, frustration and denial. It was only through my involvement with HLAA that I finally grew to accept my hearing loss and learn how to live with it successfully. I have one cochlear implant and one hearing aid and use a captioned phone at work and at home. When not working, I enjoy movies (captioned, of course!), hanging out with friends and family, fitness, cooking and writing.
Ken Cluskey, Treasurer	I have been involved with HLAA since I lost a significant part of my hearing 8 years ago at age 39. I was working in a very communication based industry when I lost my hearing. I looked everywhere for answers on how to adjust to my hearing loss. The audiologists did not have the answers. It was only when I went to a HLAA convention did I get all my questions at the time answered. I returned from the convention to Chicago and helped start the HLAA Lincoln Park chapter. Since then, I moved to the Los Angeles and helped start the Santa Monica chapter and am now the Treasurer of the Los Angeles chapter. Hearing loss is not just about hearing aids. There is so much more to learn. Through these experiences I have learned that we, the hearing loss community, are our best educators. I currently work for the Social Security Administration. When not working, I enjoy yoga, movies, watching my nephews play soccer, traveling, exploring new neighborhoods and of course hanging out with my girlfriend.
Tim Browning, Technology Dude	I have been a member of HLAA-LA since August 2014 looking for people who have similar stories to mine regarding hearing loss and challenges. I was born with hearing less, moderate to severe, so the years growing up were challenging and set some assumptions in my mind regarding who I thought I was and my worth. Through this chapter, I got more than I could imagine. Not just to hear the support and talking to people who “get it”, but just the profoundly wonderful individuals I’ve meet. We are known as the “Party Group” after all! In my spare time I enjoy fitness, movies, making breakfast dishes and smoothies and spending quality time with family, friends and my girlfriend.
Judy Hoewisch - New Member Chair	A friend invited me to my first HLAA meeting 3 years ago. I was shocked to learn there were different kinds of Hearing Loss, but the common denominator became obvious: all of us were struggling with Hearing Loss. My Loss happened suddenly when I was hit by a car at age 6. As a result I have one deaf ear; the other ear has profound loss especially in the lower range. I wear 1 Behind-The-Ear (BTE) hearing aid with T-Coil. By attending HLAA meetings, I have had Eureka! or Ah-ha! moments and as a result have learned to advocate for myself. I can't begin to describe how good it feels to take charge of my Hearing Loss. It's my goal to meet and encourage other people with Hearing Loss to explore ways to confront their loss in positive ways. I work at CSUN (California State University Northridge) as an architect/designer. My passion is sustainability and recycling. Oh and chocolate...did I mention love of chocolate?