Cheryl DeConde Johnson is a distinguished leader in audiology and deaf education with over four decades of experience. As principal of The ADVantage (Audiology - Deaf Education Vantage), she provides expert consulting services to educational institutions, government agencies, and families of children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Dr. Johnson earned her doctorate in Special Education Administration from the University of Northern Colorado, complementing her master's in Audiology and bachelor's in Speech and Hearing Sciences. Her career spans multiple influential roles, including supervisor at the Colorado Department of Education's Exceptional Student Services Unit, educational audiologist for Greeley Public Schools, and various positions with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment supporting families with deaf and hard of hearing children. As co-founder of both the Colorado chapter and national organization of Hands & Voices, Dr. Johnson has demonstrated her commitment to family support and advocacy. She maintains adjunct faculty appointments at several prestigious institutions, including the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, University of Northern Colorado, University of Arizona, and Central Michigan University/Vanderbilt University Au.D. Consortium. Her exceptional contributions to the field have earned her numerous accolades, including the Phonak Award for Excellence in Educational Audiology (which now bears her name), the Frederick Berg Award from the Educational Audiology Association, and the American Academy of Audiology's Professional Achievement Award. Dr. Johnson's work focuses on program development, systems restructuring, research, and advocacy to improve educational outcomes for deaf and hard of hearing students across the United States.