Who We Are
Kathleen Wahlbin, Senior Vice President, Account Management
Kathy leads the entire Account Management team and develops innovative online strategies for Virilion's clients. For more than 10 years, Kathy has worked with clients to help them solve problems, create opportunities and create value in their online efforts. While at Virilion she has worked with Fortune 100 companies such as eBay and REI and before Virilion, she has worked with clients such as TD Waterhouse, Seton Hospital, Google, Countrywide, Harland, and the University of Texas.
Kathy is an expert in online accessibility and user experience. She is passionate about creating a world where online communications and technology are simple and universally accessible to all people regardless of ability. She has leveraged her degree in computer science and mathematics during her more than 12 years experience consulting with clients using technology for business improvement. She has a deep understanding of the Section 508 and the W3C Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, and through usability testing, has in-depth knowledge of how people with disabilities and the aging baby-boomers use the Web. While at Virilion, Kathy has spoken nationwide on internet accessibility at nationally recognized conferences such as Shop.org, PRSA International and the Outdoor Retailers Summit.
Kathy has also won awards for design and implementation of accessible Web sites from the Accessible Internet Rally (AIR) and was formerly the CEO of RampWEB, a company that worked to turn accessibility requirements into communications opportunities for U.S. and international government agencies and contractors, multi-national corporations that serve audiences around the globe, as well as American companies, agencies and universities that reach people online with disabilities.
Kathy is very involved in the accessibility community and participates in the W3C Accessibility working groups. She is also a member of the Telecommunications and Electronic and Information Technology Advisory Committee Interactive Work Space. Organized July 6, 2006 by the U.S. Access Board, the committee is tasked with providing recommendations for updates of accessibility standards issued under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act and guidelines under section 255 of the Telecommunications Act. Committee members represent over forty industry, disability groups, standard-setting bodies in the U.S. and abroad, and government agencies, among others. Additionally, Kathy has provided accessibility training for many companies, including Google, REI.com, and government agencies and universities.
Kathy has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Computers from Trent University in Canada. She lives in Boston, MA with her husband and two children, Mattias and Jessika where they are learning to adjust to the cold after moving from Austin, Texas in 2007.