“Nothing About Us Without Us”

Rockville, Virginia (May 27, 2021) – Billion Strong, a Global Nonprofit Organization, is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. LaMondre Pough as Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Dr. LaMondre Pough is a passionate speaker, mentor, and recognized leader for the community of People with Disabilities. As CEO of Billion Strong, he brings to the position his natural ability to empower audiences to embrace diversity and create environments where people genuinely belong.

According to Debra Ruh, Chair and Co-Founder of Billion Strong, “We are incredibly blessed to have Dr. LaMondre Pough lead this global movement. He has a lived experience as a person with disabilities, identifies as a man, and is also an African American. He understands firsthand the global disability inclusion space. He is also talented and has a lot of powerful experience. Be prepared to be impressed!”

Diagnosed before his second birthday with spinal muscular atrophy, Pough challenges people to find purpose and ways to improve themselves in every circumstance. In addition to his role as CEO of Billion Strong, he serves as the Chief Sustainability Officer for Ruh Global IMPACT, Chairman of Arts Access South Carolina, and recently was inducted into the Susan Daniels Disability Mentoring Hall of Fame, Class of 2020, for his unwavering work supporting disability justice, racial justice, and COVID-19 related issues that impact the disabled community.

Pough believes that developing a positive disability identity is a key component to uniting and elevating the community. He says, “it is vital to create environments where people with disabilities are invested and supported and can learn about the experiences of others with disabilities. A community by people with disabilities for people with disabilities. Focusing on identity is critical when we can talk about our lived experiences with disabilities. We all benefit by sharing our stories and letting others know what is happening worldwide. Much work has been done, but there is still a lot more that needs to be accomplished.”

About Billion Strong
Billion Strong is an identity and empowerment organization designed to bring the billions of voices of persons with disabilities together. It is a global community of persons with lived experiences of disabilities that also celebrates its allies and accomplices. Billion Strong will embrace and support the global community, which includes entrepreneurs with disabilities and other diverse groups, with professional development, training, mentoring, coaching, education, and programs to assure that employers know how to find qualified candidates with disabilities all over the world. To learn more about Billion Strong and how you can get involved, visit the website (www.billion-strong.org).