Four New Members Elected to The Seeing Eye’s Board of Trustees

Former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean Joins Governing Body of Guide Dog School

MORRISTOWN, N.J. – The Seeing Eye, Inc., recently announced four new members of its Board of Trustees: Karon C. Bales, a lawyer and estate planner from Toronto; former New Jersey Governor Thomas Kean of Bedminster, N.J.; Kevin A. Lynch, President & CEO of National Industries for the Blind of Alexandria, Va.; and Michael B. McKitish, of Hamilton Square, N.J., who is the Assistant Head for Finance and Operations for the Peddie School.

The Seeing Eye, the world’s oldest guide dog school and the pioneer of the assistance dog industry, is a non-profit organization governed by a Board of Trustees. People who are blind or visually impaired come from across the United States and Canada to the school, located in Morristown, N.J., to be trained in the use and care of the world-famous Seeing Eye® dogs.

Karon C. Bales, T.E.P., C.S., is a founding partner of Bales Beall LLP, a Toronto-based practice centered on family law and estate planning plus their interrelated litigation, particularly in matters of significant assets, complex property protection, and interests in family businesses. Ms. Bales is certified by the Law Society of Upper Canada as a Specialist in Estates and Trusts Law and in Family Law and is a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She is a registered member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (Worldwide), and has been listed in the Best Lawyers in Canada since 2006.

The Honorable Thomas Kean served as Governor of New Jersey from 1982 through 1990 and as President of Drew University from 1990 through 2005. In 2002, he was selected to head the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States, also known as the 9/11 Commission. He then served as chairman of the 9/11 Public Discourse Project, a nonprofit entity created with private funds to continue the Commission's work of guarding against future attacks. Governor Kean writes a regular column for The Star Ledger with former Governor Brendan Byrne and appears as a regular commentator on New Jersey Network News.

Kevin A. Lynch is President and Chief Executive Officer of National Industries for the Blind, a nonprofit organization focused on creating, sustaining, and improving employment opportunities for people who are blind. Under Mr. Lynch’s leadership, NIB generated 528 new jobs in FY 2010 and increased its AbilityOne Program sales to a record $660.8 million that same year. He first joined NIB in 1994 and has served as President and CEO since August 2008. He previously served as Executive Director of Georgia Industries for the Blind, where he managed three manufacturing plants that employed 165 people who are blind. Prior to that, he was Director of Manufacturing for the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired of Greater Rochester, N.Y.

Michael B. McKitish, now the Assistant Head for Finance and Operations for the Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., previously served as the Vice President of Finance and Business Affairs at Drew University; prior to that, he worked for many years for the State of New Jersey, primarily in the Treasury Department, where he served as Associate Deputy Treasurer and Acting GSA Administrator; General Services Administration Administrator and Acting Director of Purchase & Property; and Chief Fiscal Officer. He also is a former School Board Member in Washington Township (Mercer County) and former Treasurer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mercer County.

“These four individuals are recognized as leaders in their respective fields and are very knowledgeable about non-profit organizations and schools,” Seeing Eye President & CEO Jim Kutsch said. “We are truly grateful and honored that they will be contributing their experience and wisdom to The Seeing Eye’s Board of Trustees in our continued pursuit to enhance the independence of people who are blind.”

Established in 1929, The Seeing Eye provides specially bred and trained dogs to guide people who are blind. Seeing Eye® dog users experience greatly enhanced mobility and independence, allowing them to retain their active lifestyles despite blindness. The Seeing Eye is a philanthropy supported by contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations, bequests, and other planned gifts.

The Seeing Eye is a trademarked name and can only be used to describe the dogs bred and trained at the school’s facilities in Morristown, N.J. If you would like more information on The Seeing Eye, please visit the website at www.SeeingEye.org, call (973) 539-4425, or email info@seeingeye.org.