Dennis Deacon

Co-Founder

Vernon Hills, Illinois, United States39 yrs 7 mos experience

Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

Over a decade of accessibility leadership experience.
Reduced accessibility defects by up to 60%.
Guided Fortune 500 companies in accessibility transformations.

Stackforce AI infers this person is a Digital Accessibility Expert specializing in SaaS and E-commerce industries.

Contact

Skills

Core Skills

Accessibility StrategyWcag Compliance

Other Skills

Section 508Assistive TechnologyCross-functional CollaborationsEN 301 549Public SpeakingUser ExperienceInformation ArchitectureSEOUser Interface DesignCSSHTMLWeb AnalyticsCMSWeb DesignWeb Development

About

I help organizations embed accessibility into their digital DNA, ensuring compliance with WCAG, Section 508, and EN 301 549, while delivering exceptional, inclusive user experiences that scale. With more than a decade of experience in accessibility leadership, I’ve guided Fortune 500 companies and global enterprises through accessibility audits, remediation strategies, and inclusive design transformations. I translate complex accessibility standards into clear, actionable roadmaps, reducing accessibility defects by up to 60% and improving usability for millions of users worldwide. As a Manager of Solutions Engineering at Vispero/TPGi, I lead cross-functional teams, scope enterprise-level accessibility programs, and partner with executives to align accessibility with business goals. My focus is not just on compliance checklists, but on building sustainable accessibility programs that reduce legal risk, strengthen brand reputation, and create products that truly work for everyone. I’m passionate about bridging the gap between technical implementation and business strategy, mentoring teams to elevate their accessibility maturity, and driving cultural change that makes accessibility a core part of innovation.

Experience

39 yrs 7 mos

Total Experience

7 yrs 7 mos

Average Tenure

8 yrs 9 mos

Current Experience

Vispero®

3 roles

Manager, Solutions Engineering

Promoted

Jan 2022 – Present · 4 yrs 4 mos · Chicago, Illinois, United States · Remote

Direct a team of Solutions Engineers, aligning activities with business priorities, and increasing project throughput by 5%.
Scope 200+ accessibility projects annually across web, mobile, desktop, kiosk, and design assets, including Fortune 500 companies, ensuring client testing meets WCAG 2.2 AA, Section 508, and EN 301 549 standards.
Produce accurate cost estimates for client engagements, improving proposal win rates.
Configure accessibility reviews in the ARC Platform, streamlining automated and manual testing workflows, and cutting onboarding time by 2 hours per project.
Deliver software product demonstrations that highlight critical features and business impact, influencing customer decision-making.
Spearhead the development of weekly, monthly, and quarterly departmental reports, giving leadership real-time visibility into resource utilization and delivery performance.
Partner with Sales and Marketing to deliver accessibility-focused solutions, supporting revenue growth, and expanding pipeline opportunities by 5%.

Section 508Assistive TechnologyCross-functional CollaborationsEN 301 549Accessibility StrategyWCAG Compliance+1

Solutions Engineer (TPGi)

Feb 2021 – Jan 2022 · 11 mos · Chicago, Illinois, United States · Remote

Scoped 100+ accessibility projects across web, mobile, desktop, and design assets, ensuring client testing met WCAG 2.1 AA, Section 508, and EN 301 549 standards.
Adapted existing Solutions Engineering processes to the new ARC Platform, increasing sales prospect engagement by 10%.
Streamlined automated and manual accessibility testing by configuring reviews in ARC.

Section 508Assistive TechnologyCross-functional CollaborationsEN 301 549Accessibility StrategyWCAG Compliance+1

Accessibility Engineer (TPGi)

Aug 2017 – Feb 2021 · 3 yrs 6 mos · Chicago, Illinois, United States · Remote

Led accessibility audits for over 50 sites and apps, cutting defects by up to 60% post-remediation.
Authored prioritized remediation reports aligned with WCAG 2.1 and Section 508.
Provided embedded accessibility consulting for a Fortune 500 client.
Partnered with developers and designers to implement accessibility-first solutions, reducing rework costs by an estimated 20%.

Section 508Assistive TechnologyWCAG CompliancePublic Speaking

24 accessibility

Founder

Feb 2017 – Jan 2019 · 1 yr 11 mos

24 Accessibility is a seasonal article series devoted to digital accessibility and inclusion.

Assistive TechnologyWCAG CompliancePublic Speaking

Chicago digital accessibility & inclusive design meetup

Founder, Former Organizer

Dec 2014 – Jan 2019 · 4 yrs 1 mo · Chicago, IL

Local community with global reach; creating awareness, education, and inspiration for digital professionals to evangelize and advocate for accessible design and development.

Assistive TechnologyWCAG CompliancePublic Speaking

United airlines

2 roles

eCommerce Accessibility Specialist / Front-End Web Developer

Promoted

May 2012 – Aug 2017 · 5 yrs 3 mos · Greater Chicago Area

Led accessibility efforts across eCommerce, training teams on WCAG, and inclusive design.
Reviewed high-traffic platforms for accessibility, improving usability for over 150 million users.
Drove cross-team initiatives, cutting recurring accessibility issues by 40%.
Helped redesign CMS templates to boost scalability and accessibility.
Managed United.com content and campaigns, driving revenue through accessible UX.

Assistive TechnologyCross-functional CollaborationsWCAG CompliancePublic Speaking

Front-End Web Developer

Jun 2010 – Apr 2012 · 1 yr 10 mos · Greater Chicago Area

Contributed to the redesign of United's MileagePlus booking engine, serving over 150 million travelers annually.
Ensured cross-browser and assistive technology compatibility, improving digital accessibility.
Resolved 100+ software defects within SLA, accelerating project delivery timelines.
Advised stakeholders on front-end standards, accessibility best practices, and established long-term coding guidelines.

Public Speaking

Bank one

6 roles

Search Product Manager

Promoted

Sep 2005 – Dec 2007 · 2 yrs 3 mos · On-site

Responsible for the strategy and tactical operations of enterprise search
Managed Google Enterprise Search appliance implementation, operation and customization
Managed enterprise online employee directory application, including mobile employee directory
Managed and provided training for targeted email application used by non-technical internal audience
Managed projects to enhance usability and productivity gains
Implemented web analytics to report of product return of investment (ROI)
Consulted on search best practices to improve organic search relevancy

Public Speaking

Web Site Administrator, Corporate Communications (Banc One)

Feb 1999 – Jan 2005 · 5 yrs 11 mos · On-site

Designed effective internal online communications for presentation on company’s enterprise intranet
Managed and administered Google search appliance for internal content retrieval
Consulted with 300+ intranet site producers on online strategy and online presentation best practices
Remained current with web best practices in information design, usability and online experience

Public Speaking

IT Training Coordinator (First Chicago NBD)

Promoted

Jul 1996 – Feb 1999 · 2 yrs 7 mos · On-site

Initiated and led movement to utilize intranet for decentralized, effective corporate online training programs
Designed and managed department intranet training web site
Conducted internal market research for program promotion, enhancement and ROI

Archives Administrator (American National Bank)

Promoted

Jun 1994 – Jul 1996 · 2 yrs 1 mo · On-site

Developed a MS Access-based database system for records management, replacing an outdated, unsupported DOS-based app.
Migrated data from unsupported proprietary system to standard, supported relational database system.
Improved accuracy over previous system by 39%.

Cash & ATM Services Supervisor (Lake Shore National Bank)

Jun 1990 – Jun 1994 · 4 yrs · On-site

Managed department operations, including training and supervision of 6 employees.
Monitored and maintained 22 ATMs (automated teller machines).
Produced management reports to support corporate planning. (i.e. ATM activity, Cost Analysis)
Implemented department policy and procedures.