Michael Hess

Mike Hess is the Founder and Executive Director of Blind Institute of Technology (BIT), a nonprofit on a mission to close the employment gap for professionals with disabilities. After two decades managing multimillion-dollar tech projects for Fortune 500 companies, Mike grew frustrated by being seen as the “token blind guy.” He knew the skills he’d developed because of his blindness were an asset – not a limitation – and he set out to challenge stereotypes, break down employment barriers, and promote equity for disabled professionals in corporate America. Since launching BIT, Mike has built global partnerships and connected talented disabled professionals with career opportunities at leading companies. He also created the BIT Academy, the only Salesforce-approved training provider for professionals with disabilities, offering accessible, complimentary courses in Salesforce Administration, Digital Accessibility, Platform App Builder, and Agentforce – with more to come in 2026. Under Mike’s leadership, BIT launched a national U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeship program and was awarded a large Disability Innovation Fund grant to scale its workforce development model nationwide. Mike’s work continues to challenge outdated narratives and shape a more equitable workforce where disability is seen as a strength, not a setback.