Don Weng - President
Founder/ret. SGM

Don is one of the original founders and has served on the board in various capacities. He has over 40 years of experience working with people who have disabilities. While COIL's mission is to help others live independent of an institutional setting, Don's focus is to help the individual by educating them to live productively. He desires to see each person manage their own affairs such as personal finance and personal care. He works tirelessly to find other resources available that will help someone continue to live independently. Don served in the Army for 23 years and retired in 1978 as Command Sergeant Major.

Lonna Ayers - Vice President

CEO - Texas Interpreters Fellowship

Since becoming a Certified Sign Language Interpreter in 1986, Lonna reached out and worked with many organizations as diverse as the Mayor’s committee, area churches, area colleges, and the Girl Scouts. She launched the Texas Interpreters Fellowship of San Antonio in 1992 (TIFSA); instructing others interested in learning to interpret. With growing interest, Lonna observed an organization that, as she describes, “worked hands on in the community, very active, and striving to fulfill their mission with each individual.” That organization is COIL.

Rebecca Guerra - Secretary

Asst V.P. Frost Investment Services

Rebecca’s professional background proves to be an asset to The Center on Independent Living mission. She has been in the investment and banking business for over 8 years. She currently holds a Registered Representative designation through the National Association of Securities Dealers and holds an insurance license with the State of Texas. She is the Assistant Vice President of Frost Investment Services. A native Texan, Rebecca grew up on Lake McQueeney and educated at Texas A&M and Texas Lutheran Universities. She is also an active volunteer for the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. Rebecca is married and has three children.

Joy Reiner, CPA - Treasurer
Carneiro Chumney & Co., Inc

Joy's long professional history in working with nonprofit clients in the tax compliance field has made her a valuable asset to COIL. As a member of COIL's board for the past ten years, she has been instrumental in helping COIL move forward with its mission in the community. Joy spends much of her free time with her grandchildren and she attends as many Spurs games as she can (big fan). Joy has worked for Carneiro, Chumney & Co., L.C. since 1990 and lives in San Antonio, TX.

Rosemary Bolte, CPA
Carneiro Chumney & Co., Inc

Rosemary holds the distinct honor of holding the first meeting for COIL in her house 22 years ago. She is also one of the original founders and has served on the board in several supportive positions. The first meeting brought together a few parents that desired to help their own children who have disabilities as well as others. Rosemary, for the past 22 years, has demonstrated her passion to help persons with disabilities with her determination and commitment. Rosemary has a masters in education and has worked for Carneiro & Chumney Accounting Firm since 1981.

Todd Hargroder
CEO - Accessible Designs Inc.

In 1986, Todd had a motorcycle accident, sustaining a spinal cord injury at the cervical 5-6 level. His frustrations with the quality of equipment at that time, led him to design his own. Todd now holds several U.S. patents in the durable medical equipment industry, and continues to enjoy the aggressive engineering of new cutting edge technology for the active wheelchair user. He is active in the community, serving as guest speaker for numerous local organizations to promote new inventors and entrepreneurs, and is an ongoing guest panel speaker involved in the spinal cord injury education.

Paula E. Wegert, MD
Staff Physician - Audie L. Murphy Veterans Hospital

Spinal Cord Injury

Dr. Wegert joined COIL's Board of Directors in the Fall of 2007. Her extensive professional expertise lends to COIL a wealth of knowledge in areas of spinal cord injury, surgery, research, and rehabilitation. During her military career, (Army, Major), she served overseas during Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Through her work, family life, and now through COIL, she extends her pursuit for the advancement of (IL) Independent Living. Dr. Wegert is an avid reader and also enjoys walking and biking for exercise. She lives in San Antonio with her husband, Steve, and their two boys, Aaron and Daniel.

Diran Adedeji
CEO - La Paz Mental Health Clinic

Diran Adedeji supports COIL’s philosophy in that he strongly believes people with mental illness and or physical disabilities can lead productive lives and have every right to be a voice heard in their community. This is demonstrated through the continued growth and stability of his organization –La Paz (a Community Mental Health Center, with over 70 employees, HQ in SATX). Diran is also the founder of a large international ministry that reaches out to widows and orphans and has traveled extensively on their behalf. He has lived in San Antonio since 1997 with his wife Dupe, and their three children.

Pamela Fitzpatrick, Ph.D
Rehabilitation Psychologist

Having worked in the healthcare field for many years and having seen the difficulties individuals with disabilities face, Pamela identifies with the valuable role that COIL plays in the lives of so many people. Pamela is a native Texan and as traveled to various States pursing her educational and professional goals. She completed her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at AZ State University. She is currently a Rehabilitation Psychologist at Brooke Army Medical Center. The connection between Pamela's professional passion and COIL's existence is parallel. Pamlea, like COIL, has 'chosen' a course of action to work with individuals with varying disabilities. Pamela has been a board member since 2006.

Deborah Billa

Director, Area Agency on Aging

Chad Dismukes

Social Sciences

(Bio not available)