Pac Rim 2006 Info
Keynote Speakers: Tony Coelho
Roger Crawford | Lois-Ann Yamanaka | Michael Mayer | Tony Coelho | Patricia A. Morrissey
Special Lunch Keynote Speaker
Monday March 13, 2006
Tony Coelho: Chairman of Board, Epilepsy Foundation
Former Congressman, ADA author Tony Coelho is an established figure on the national political scene. He was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
in 1978 from California’s Central Valley. He ascended the House Leadership ranks quickly, serving first as chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign
Committee from 1981 to 1986, and then as the first-ever elected Majority Whip from 1987 to 1989. As Majority Whip, the third ranking position in the House
leadership, Mr. Coelho was responsible for securing the votes needed to pass the legislative agenda.
While in the House, Mr. Coelho authored the Americans with Disabilities Act, widely recognized as the most important piece of civil rights legislation in the last 30 years. Mr. Coelho also served in senior positions on the Agriculture, Natural Resources and Administration Committees during his ten years in the House.
After leaving Congress in 1989, Mr. Coelho has worked in investment-banking, formed an education and technology company, managed national political campaigns, and served on several corporate boards.
In addition to his work in the private sector, Mr. Coelho continues to devote much of his time to public service. He served as chairman of the President’s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities from 1994 to 2001. In 1998, President Clinton also appointed him as vice chair to the National Task Force on Employment of Adults with Disabilities and as co-chair to the U.S. Census Monitoring Board.
Mr. Coelho, who has epilepsy, is currently the chairman of the board of the Epilepsy Foundation. He first became involved with the Foundation in 1982 when he was elected to the board of directors. He has been an active proponent of increased funding for epilepsy research and a vocal advocate of the rights of people living with epilepsy and other disabilities.
A native of California, Mr. Coelho earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science in 1964 from Loyola Marymount University.
