Zoom Autism Magazine Issue 3 Spring 2015 | Page 6

WHO’S WHO at ZOOM Editorial Director/Co-Publisher | Sharon Fuentes brings her professional experience as an award-winning writer, special needs advocate and public speaker to her position as editorial director. Her feature articles, essays, humor pieces and interviews have appeared in numerous magazines, newspapers, websites and books, including Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Washington Post and Parenting.com. She is also the co-author of the book, The Don’t Freak Out Guide to Parenting Kids with Asperger’s, which won the 2014 Expert’s Choice Award for Best New Special Needs Parenting Book by About.com. Additionally, Sharon brings her first-hand knowledge of being the mother of a charismatic autistic son and a dynamic daughter who, while not autistic, does have a few of her own learning challenges. But most of all, Sharon will bring a straightforward, hopeful, conversational style of writing with a sense of humor to ZOOM simply because we all can use a good laugh! Business Affairs Director/Co-Publisher | Sharon Cummings brings her strong business, human resource, writing and marketing skills background to ZOOM. She is also the CEO/President of SLC Inc., where she has received many accolades over the past 22 years, including Top Washington Woman by Washington Woman Magazine. Sharon serves on the Board of Directors for the Autism Society of Northern Virginia and is very active with the ARC of Northern Virginia, the National ARC and the National Autism Society. Sharon is the proud mother of an autistic adult son and a neurotypical daughter. Her love for and dedication to her son led her into public speaking and advocating for autism acceptance. Sharon, and her son Conner write on their popular Facebook page, Conquer For Conner. They are both working to change a poorly written parental support law for disabled and special needs adults age 18 and over. This bill, Conner’s Law, is up for vote in 2015. Creative Director/Co-Publisher | Jodi Murphy brings an artistic eye and a gift for storytelling to her position as the creative director for ZOOM. She is the founder of Geek Club Books, 501c3, autism storytellers through mobile apps and empowerment programs for awareness, acceptance and understanding. Her mission is to use the art of storytelling and technology to entertain and educate for the social good. The Mighty League, Vol.1: The Terrible Taunting, her first autism story app, which features the voice of Jodi’s son (winner of 2014 Temple Grandin Award), is available on iTunes, A