Wednesday, September 30, 2026 at 7:00 PM
The Prospector Theater
25 Prospect Street, Ridgefield, CT 06877
Welcome Remarks
Christopher Perry, Guiding Eyes for the Blind President & CEO
Presentation
Deni Elliott
Panel Q&A
Deni Elliott, Jane Russenburger, & Benjamin Cawley
Guide Dog Demonstration
Benjamin Cawley
Book Signing
Deni Elliott is Project Co-Director of the National Ethics Project and Professor Emeritus in the Department of Journalism and Digital Communication at the University of Southern Florida, where she held the Eleanor Poynter Jamison Chair in Media Ethics and Press Policy from 2003 to 2023.
During her tenure at USF, she also served as Interim Regional Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs, department chair, and campus ombuds. She is a subject matter expert for the National Center on Disability and Journalism.
A nationally recognized scholar in ethics, Dr. Elliott previously held faculty and leadership positions at the University of Montana, Dartmouth College, and Utah State University, and served as Ethics Officer for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
Dr. Elliott has authored more than 200 articles and book chapters and has written, edited, or co-edited 11 books, including Catching Sight: How a Guide Dog Helped Me See Myself (2026) and Ethics for a Digital Era (2018). She has also co-produced award-winning documentaries and hosted Ethically Speaking, a public radio program on ethical issues.
She holds degrees from the University of Maryland, Wayne State University, and Harvard University, where she earned her doctorate in Philosophy of Education.
Christopher Perry joined Guiding Eyes for the Blind as President & CEO in November 2025, bringing with him more than two decades of leadership experience across mission-driven nonprofit organizations.
A passionate and purpose-driven nonprofit leader, Christopher is known for his servant leadership approach and his commitment to building strong organizations, empowering people, and creating meaningful impact. Throughout his career, he has helped organizations grow their reach, strengthen their operations, increase philanthropic support, and expand the services they provide to the communities they serve. Before joining Guiding Eyes, Christopher served for eight years as President & CEO of Spectrum for Living, a New Jersey nonprofit dedicated to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Jane served on the Guiding Eyes leadership team for 33 years. She began as Director of the Canine Development Center, overseeing genetics, puppy production, and puppy raising programs. As Guiding Eyes grew, Jane focused increasingly on breeding and genetics, managing the production of approximately 450 Labrador Retriever and German Shepherd puppies each year.
Jane continues to support the Guiding Eyes mission through volunteer work, including research projects and data and genetics initiatives. As a member of the International Working Dog Registry (IWDR) development and support team, she helps working dog organizations produce healthier dogs with traits well suited to their intended work.
Ben Cawley is a Guide Dog Mobility Instructor and Trainee Manager at Guiding Eyes for the Blind, where he has dedicated over 25 years to advancing training techniques, instructor development, andstudent instruction. A passionate advocate for GuideDog users. Ben also serves globally as an International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF) Assessor and Education Committee member.Throughout his career, he has pioneered innovative programs – including the Guiding Eyes Running Guides program – to help expand mobility, independence, and active lifestyles for individuals who are blind or visually impaired.
Graham Buck collaborated with Deni on Catching Sight and trained guide dog teams at Guiding Eyes for the Blind for thirty-one years. He is the owner of Buck’s Best Dogs Inc., a dog training business that builds relationships between people and their pet dogs.
The Prospector is a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities through meaningful employment. Employees of The Prospector are known as Prospects. Approximately 75% of our workforce self-identify with a disability. We sparkle, shine, and transform passions into professions while earning paychecks with competitive wages.
Guiding Eyes: www.guidingeyes.org
Prospector: www.prospectortheater.org
Deni’s website: denielliott.com
Send questions to Deni via email: denielliott@catchingsight.com
