august/september 2019 39
GE
TT
Y
Accenture
Joaquin Ortiz
Accessibility Testing Team Lead, Accenture
Federal Services
His True Self: Deaf from birth,
Joaquin spent his early years in
Puerto Rico, where he was fascinated
by technology and “wanted to be the world’s
fi rst deaf astronaut.” He earned bachelor’s and
master’s degrees in computer and manufacturing
engineering. He now lives in Virginia with his
signifi cant other.
Company Support: A recruiting team from the
professional-services fi rm visited his university,
so he applied for a job. “I was most surprised that
they provided a sign-language interpreter for the
entirety of my interview process! The company
has continued to off er accommodations for my
day-to-day work. I am now creating the Global
Deaf Employee Resource Group, which has opened
my eyes to new cultures and unique obstacles
employees face in their countries. It motivates me
to continue to fi ght for accessibility rights for all
people in the world.”Baxter Healthcare
Jason Mercer-Pottinger
Director, Renal Therapy Service Operations
His True Self: Jason moved to the U.S.
from his native U.K. in 2014 with his
husband, Tony. Although he has
always been open about his sexual
orientation, “knowing you were diff erent was
tough.” He has been with Baxter for 13 years andleads a group that helps patients around the globe
who receive kidney dialysis at home. In 2015, he
joined the Baxter Equality Network (BEN), the
LGBTQ and allies resource group, and is now its
co-president.
Company Support: “Education is the main reason I
joined BEN in the fi rst place—to better understand
the challenges people face in the U.S. It helped
me meet and work with people across diff erent
functions, and contribute to guidelines on gender
transition and LGBTQ issues. In the future, I’ll be
able to step back and say, ‘I helped shape that.’”Boston Scientific
Precious Morton
Quality Manager
Her True Self: Raised by her mother
in southern Indiana, Precious’ mom
and grandma “taught me everything I
needed to know about being a strong
woman with a great work ethic.” After obtaining a
bachelor’s degree in biology, an internship 12 years
ago led to a full-time job with the medical-device
company. Her husband, Robert, works there as
well. She’s also a global lead for the employee-
resource group for black employees, Bridge.
Company Support: “I’ve never once felt my opinion
didn’t count. One of my favorite managers was a
white woman who valued results but really cared
about what you weren’t saying. In 2017, when
racial tensions were high across the country, she
asked: ‘How are you doing? There’s lots going on in
the black community, and I want to know how it
aff ects you.’” E