About Bios
Richard Kottler
Rick and his wife, Evelyn, reside in Stuart and is a graduate of Florida Tech. He began his career in Washington, D.C. as a solar energy consultant to the Federal Dept. Of Energy. Upon returning to Florida, he was the Director of a Career Training Center which provided training and job placement for financially disadvantaged individuals. He became the Executive Director of Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services and began a career in advocacy which spanned more than 20 years. During his tenure he served for 12 years on the TASA (Telecommunications Access Systems Act) advisory committee which over saw the relay service and the equipment distribution program for the state. He was twice appointed by Governor Jeb Bush to the Florida Coordinating Council for Deaf and Hard of Hearing where he served as vice-chair and chair of the Medical Accessibility Committee. During his tenure he coordinated efforts with the Florida Hospital Association to produce a hospital instructional guide and training video for providing effective communication to the hearing loss community. He also served for 5 years on the FL Dept. Of Children and Families advisory committee on effective communication, Rick has also served as President and Secretary for the FL Deaf Service Center Association.
