Meet The Empower Network Team

Stephanie Swanson – CEO & Board of Directors Chairperson

Stephanie is the founder of The Empower Network and currently working as an ICF Credentialed Coach specializing in chronic illness and disability. After developing Long COVID in 2022, she retired from aerial acrobatics and academic medicine leadership. Now an ambulatory wheelchair user, she finds joy in helping others navigate the challenges of unexpected limitations. As a mom, biosystems engineer, and founder of “The Empower Network,” she advocates for the disability community with a unique perspective on resilience, adaptability, and redefining success. She delivered a TEDx talk in April 2025, “The Inevitability of Disability”, discussing how to embrace our limits with wisdom and self-compassion.

Jordan Joyce – CFO & Board of Directors Treasurer

The Empower Network represents an important mission for me personally. After graduation from college, I had to leave the traditional workplace and everything I had planned with my degree due to chronic illness. I am now much happier and healthier in self-employment, but making and navigating that decision alone was scary.

The Empower Network will provide others in the same situation a community and a network of resources to make that transition a bit less terrifying.

Gerry Bourne – Vice Chair, Board of Directors

Transitioning from a busy life as a Cardiologist to slowly building a career as a Life Coach with a chronic illness has been difficult. I am so excited to help launch the Empower Network as a resource center for those embarking on similar journeys. Connecting people, enhancing collaboration and supporting those who strive for a better life have been lifelong passions.

The Empower Network will provide the knowledge, community and mentoring to support those challenged by disability and chronic illness succeed with their dreams.

Christina Accardi – Secretary, Board of Directors

My path, including classroom teaching and doctoral research in social justice education, has shaped my commitment to challenging the structures that marginalize people living with chronic illness and disability. The Empower Network is important to me because it shifts the narrative from surviving within inaccessible structures to thriving through community-led, flexible, and values-based entrepreneurship. 

Having navigated chronic health challenges alongside a career shift, I bring a lived understanding of how important it is to build work around real life, not the other way around.

Lakeesha Scott – Board Member

Lakeesha Scott is the founder of (3) LLCs, and has 20 plus years as an entrepreneur as a real estate investor, restaurant owner, staffing /career coaching, cleaning business, and entrepreneurial business consulting. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management and Master’s degree in Management and Leadership.

“The Empower Network aligns with my passion to support people with their career and business goals.  Let’s work to reduce economic disparities and enable disabled individuals to contribute to the economy as valuable employees or innovative entrepreneurs.”