Mark Broaddus named to Spectrios Institute board of directors

Attorney Mark Broaddus, a principal at Chuhak & Tecson, P.C., has been appointed to the board of directors for Spectrios Institute for Low Vision, a Wheaton-based non-profit organization.

Broaddus joins the board alongside B. J. Armstrong, point guard for the 1990s Chicago Bulls; Ed Farmer, play-by-play radio announcer for the Chicago White Sox, and Bob Wahlgren, co-founder and former chairman of Bridge Communities, an organization that provides housing and mentoring for the homeless.

They will serve three-year terms with Spectrios Institute, which specializes in preventive and rehabilitation services for the blind and low vision community. The agency offers hope through a comprehensive approach that includes low vision evaluations, counseling, training in independent living skills, and assistive and adaptive technology.

"Spectrios Institute is a fantastic organization that offers a wide variety of services to help persons of low vision succeed and enjoy life to the fullest,” Broaddus said.

Since earning his law degree from the University of Louisville School of Law in Kentucky, Broaddus has built up a thriving practice in estate and trust administration and litigation at Chuhak & Tecson. He speaks frequently about estate administration issues for Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education (IICLE) seminars.

He also sits on the board of directors for the National Accreditation Council for Blind and Low Vision Services.

The accrediting council and Spectrios Institute are organizations near and dear to Broaddus’ heart. As a person with low vision himself, he has longstanding affiliations with Spectrios and its executive director, Dr. R. Tracy Williams, and has often pitched in to volunteer.

“It’s an honor to be selected to join the dedicated professionals in this nationally recognized agency,” Broaddus said. “I hope to bring the unique perspective of a professional with a visual impairment and serve as a role model to the blind and low vision community—showing that they can achieve their life goals even with vision loss.”

Broaddus already does make an excellent role model, Williams said.

“Mark is the kind of person that a lot of the people I’ve worked with who have vision loss would like to get to know,” he said. “He’s independent, he’s successful in his field, and he knows how to play and have fun. He gets out there and puts it all on the line.”

In addition to his family and his law practice, Broaddus’ passion is scuba diving, and he travels to reefs all over the world to get close-up views under the sea. The amiable Southerner attacks much of life with gusto, including his charitable activities.

“I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves at Spectrios and getting directly involved in its projects and initiatives,” he said.

Helping with projects, sharing wisdom and ideas, and facilitating fundraising are expected of Spectrios board members, and Williams said Broaddus is a great fit for this position.

“He’s walked the walk, he knows about everything, he’s got a lot to share, and he really engages,” Williams said. “You would never know that Mark has a vision loss, because of his tremendous abilities as a professional, his caring nature to help others, and his total independence.

“He is not defined by his eyes,” Williams said. “He is defined by his head and heart.”