Karen Tamley is President and CEO of Access Living, a Chicago-based non-profit organization serving people with disabilities. Prior to taking the role, she was Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities , advancing accessibility in transportation, city infrastructure, technology, education, and employment.
Tamley was appointed by President Obama to the U.S. Access Board in 2016, a federal agency that develops accessibility standards and guidelines and served as Chair in 2019. She has received numerous accolades, including the Motorola Solutions Excellence in Public Service Award, Leadership Greater Chicago’s Distinguished Leader Award and recognition from Crain’s Chicago Business for leadership in the social services sector.
Tamley has held leadership roles on various government and non-profit boards, including Pace Suburban Bus, Dare2Tri, the Kohl’s Children’s Museum and Forefront. In 2021, Governor Pritzker appointed her to the Illinois Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes. She is also a member of The Chicago Network, The Economic Club of Chicago, the International Women’s Forum, and Disability Lead.