20 years with Incight: ‘God has given him beautiful gifts of kindness and thoughtfulness’

Scott Hatley’s Incight celebrated its 20th-year anniversary in 2024 (courtesy Scott Hatley)

It has been a very good year for Scott Hatley and Incight, his non-profit organization designed to provide opportunities in education, employment and independence for people with disabilities.

Incight is celebrating its 20th year of existence.

“It’s a cool milestone,” says Hatley, a Portland resident who grew up in West Linn and graduated from the University of Portland.

It all began when Hatley, then 25 and disabled with Muscular Dystrophy, and partner Vail Horton co-founded the organization on a wing and a prayer. Scott, who has run things by himself since the early years, invested $5,000 of his own money to get the ball rolling.

Two decades later, the foundation is alive and thriving. Since its inception, Incight has awarded more than 1,000 scholarships to students with disabilities attending a four-year college, community college or trade school. Scholarships range from $500 to $1,500 depending on the student’s year in the program, with a total of $715,000 going out since the beginning. In 2024, Incight awarded 30 student scholarships.

(Incight’s name is a hybrid of two words. Says Hatley: “Incite means to stir things up. Insight means the capacity to gain understanding of a person or thing. We wanted something that was unique. It can be a challenge spelling-wise, but it was a lot of who we were as an organization. How do we get people to move to action, find their passion and unlock their potential? It fit.”)

Job Fairs are an important piece for Incight, which held six events in 2024 and is planning to host seven or eight in 2025. Over the years, more than 10,000 people have attended Incight’s Job Fairs, leading to hundreds of instances of employment.

“To be 20 years in the making for Incight is absolutely incredible,” says Dan Floyd, a member of Incight’s board of directors. “Coming from a coaching/sports background, I think about hurdles and obstacles and how they can stop people from accomplishing things. Scott has many visible hurdles to give him a reason to not proceed with his goals in life. He has decided that he is not going to allow that to stop him from being an incredibly high-achieving human being.”

Incight has hosted three major events to highlight the 20th-anniversary-year celebration.

For the fourth straight year, there was a Topgolf fund-raiser in Hillsboro, this one held in June. There were 110 participants who helped raise nearly $25,000. The Partners Group, Pahlisch Homes and Hood to Coast Race Series were major sponsors.

A community celebration was held in July in Portland at Northwest Natural, one of Incight’s partners. Shauna Parsons of Fox 12 served as master of ceremonies. Incight recognized its major yearly sponsors: Safeway Foundation, OnPoint Community Credit Union, Moda Health, Goodwill Industries, Pahlisch and the Partners Group.

Hatley with Fox 12’s Shauna Parsons, who emceed Incight’s community celebration (courtesy Scott Hatley)

“We invited many of our scholarship recipients through the years,” Hatley says. “We enjoyed seeing the faces from the past. We also invited people we served in different ways along with donors. It was a nice mix of stakeholders with whom we have been connected over 20 years.”

About 100 people attended the celebration, including Kerry Tymchuk, executive director of the Oregon Historical Society, who shared some remarks in offering his congratulations.

Tymchuk offers unique perspective to the subject of disabilities. Tymchuk worked as speechwriter for both Elizabeth and Bob Dole and also served as legal counsel for the latter, who was the Republican Party’s candidate for president in 1996. Dole had been left partially paralyzed from injuries suffered while fighting for the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a lifelong disability rights advocate and the “father” of the Americans with Disabilities act of 1990. Tymchuk wrote a book with the Doles (“Unlimited Partners: Our American Story,” Simon and Schuster, 1988).

“I was associated with Senator Dole for 30 years, working for him full-time for six years and then, after I returned to live in Oregon, continuing to help him with books and speeches until he passed (in 2021 at age 98),” Tymchuk says. “One of my enduring promises to him was to support those who, like him, battle disabilities and have shown great courage and inspiration.”

One of those people is Hatley, whom Tymchuk first encountered while serving as chief of staff for former U.S. Senator Gordon Smith.

“When you look at Scott and everything he has done and consider how remarkable he is to take what life gave him and turn it into a passionate cause to help others, it is incredibly inspiring,” Tymchuk says. “It was fun to be at the celebration with a lot of friends and supporters who were there to celebrate Scott and all he has done with his foundation.”

Says Hatley: “It was cool to have somebody local with the kind of connection that Kerry has.”

In October came Incight’s annual gala, a dinner/auction held at the Ironlight event venue in Lake Oswego.

About 150 people attended Incight’s annual gala, held this year at Lake Oswego’s Ironlight (courtesy Scott Hatley)

‘It provided a great view of the Oswego basin, and we could see Mount Hood,” Hatley says. “It was an opportunity to share the work we are doing, talk about where we are going and to just get some good people together.”

About 150 people attended. The event raised $196,000 for Incight, backed by partners Goodwill Industries, OnPoint Community Credit Union, Safeway and Moda Health.

“Everybody who attends the event is a partner, really,” Hatley says. “We felt really good about what we were able to achieve. It’s more than just the money. It’s also the awareness and the energy that people felt. They enjoyed the event and came away with a better picture of why we do what we do and what we are.”

Supporter Sam Yockey has attended all of Incight’s galas through the years.

Posters from Incight galas of years past

“In my opinion, this was one of the best ones,” Yockey says. “It was really upbeat. They had a great auctioneer. I think he took about every dollar out of that crowd he could get.”

“This year’s gala was perfect,” says Tom Eyer, a retired CPA who says he has attended most of them. “I liked the location. It was straightforward. Everybody enjoyed themselves.”

Hatley did the “ask” with a short speech that resonated with those in attendance.

“I wish I had a recording of it,” Eyer says. “It was wonderful.”

“Scott knocked it out of the park,” Yockey says. “It was right on the money, a great speech — one of his best. “It got people aware. Scott’s personality is infectious. With the way he comes across, you want to help.”

Incight is also about what Hatley calls “wrap-around support” to abet the necessary financial support for its students.

“I am talking about the individualized approach to serving their needs,” he says. “It looks different for each scholar; some don’t need the same level of support as others. We support them in developing goals, with guidance in getting the support they need from college campuses in terms of accommodations, in being self-advocates and finding internships and resources.

“We also share our resources and connect them with other scholars so they can make peer connections, share similar experiences and build their communities. We are sharing our expertise to students who reach out to us when they are struggling or are unsure of the best path forward.”

Hatley and Incight’s 20-year anniversary have inspired plenty of attention this year. Fox 12 aired a segment on the anniversary celebration. The UP alumni publication “Portland Magazine” wrote a long piece on the Pilot alum and the organization. The link to the article:

www.up.edu/portlandmagazine/2024-fall/a-bold-idea.html

There were also write-ups in Greet Lake Oswego, West Linn Tidings and Lake Oswego Review. The Portland City Council, with mayor Ted Wheeler leading the way, issued a proclamation of congratulations at a recent meeting.

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At the center of Incight’s success is Hatley, the leader and Swiss Army knife of the organization. He doesn’t do it alone, but he does an awful lot. Incight currently lists 20 corporate sponsors, 30 community sponsors, 16 education partners (mostly school districts) and about 100 employment partners.

“He has written dozens of grants,” board member Dan Friess says. “He has sat down with hundreds of donors. He has talked to dozens of sponsors. He has worked with hundreds of clients. The list of what Scott has put himself out there for is absolutely astounding.”

Yockey has known Hatley since his birth. Yockey and Scott’s father, Wayne, attended grade school together.

“I’m the godparent to Scott’s sister (Sarah Heiney),” Yockey says. “Wayne and Susan (Scott’s mother) are godparents to one of my daughters. We are real close families.”

What does Yockey think about Hatley’s work with Incight?

“It’s somewhere between magnificent and heroic,” he says. “Scott is an inspiration. He could have done anything if he had been able-bodied. He has kept Incight alive for 20 years. It is a shoestring operation, but somehow, year after year, he pulls it off.

“It is eye-opening to see him at his office, where he has people with challenging disabilities working. Their minds are fine; it is just that their bodies are different. It is great to see what they accomplish.”

Sam’s wife, Kathi, is also an unabashed admirer.

“Scott could have focused on anything else in life, yet he chooses to focus on helping people with disabilities,” she says. “He wants to get people with disabilities into college so they can have a good life afterward. It is a part of society that a lot of people feel uncomfortable with. He just dives into it and says, ‘Here we are.’ ”

Attitude is everything with Hatley.

Hatley with Grace Stratton, who conveyed congratulations to Incight from Sen. Ron Wyden’s office (courtesy Scott Hatley)

“We use Scott as our barometer,” Kathi Yockey says. “You think you are having a bad day, or are in a bad mood? It is like, ‘What would Scott do?’ With everything Scott has been through, I have seen him really down only one time in his life. In his 45 years of life, to see this kid have a frown on his face one time … there isn’t anybody else you can say that about.”

“Actually, the reverse happens,” Sam Yockey says. “Whenever our kids have had any problems over the years, Scott would be the first one to call, making sure we are OK. He is never thinking about himself.”

Eyer became familiar with Hatley when he served on the board of Harold and Arlene Schnitzer’s Care Foundation, which has made donations to Incight. Eyer served as Harold Schnitzer’s CPA for 40 years.

“Scott is a remarkable individual and the organization is a stellar non-profit,” he says. “A few years ago, he and I would meet periodically at a restaurant. I would help him eat and we would talk about different ideas and thoughts in terms of fund-raising.”

Eyer has special interest in people with disabilities.

“I have an autistic son and worked with Pia Gilgen (Incight’s director of education) in terms of what he needs to do as a student to submit an application for a scholarship and funding,” he says.

Eyer has grown close to Hatley.

“To me, he is almost like a brother,” Eyer says. “He is so straightforward and honest and encouraging, and he is persistent. All positive stuff. Coming out of UP and starting this organization — God has given him beautiful gifts of kindness and thoughtfulness. I can’t say enough good things about him.”

Floyd — the former head baseball coach at Central Catholic High — first met Hatley before Incight’s inception.

“I met him through a mutual friend,” says Floyd, who owns and operates the Hood-to-Coast race series and does public policy work for the grocery industry. “I remember helping his dad lift him out of his wheelchair and carry him up stairs so he could attend events with people. That’s how I got to know him and get acquainted with disabilities.”

In 2007, when Floyd was 27, he was hired as director of public affairs and government relations at Safeway.

“I was also operating the Safeway Foundation,” Floyd says. “The first day on the job, I had a stack of paper grant requests that I needed to go through. At the top of the stack was one from Scott Hatley and Incight. My first opportunity as a professional to review grants and give back, and it was them.

“I had remembered helping him and getting to know him just a little bit. Now I had an opportunity to give him seed money of $5,000. I saw his name and didn’t even review the application. Scott Hatley? Absolutely — yes. It was about the person and whatever work he was about to do.”

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As it enters its next 20 years, Incight’s foundation is firm. The management team still includes Gilgen; Romney Miller, education developer; Grace Corrigan, employment specialist; Mitch Platt, editor-in-chief of the publication “The Understanding,” Judd Girard, media executive director, and J.D. Duran, social media/communications director. And Incight has added Stephanie Hartgraves as director of marketing.

“Stephanie is pivotal for us,” Hatley says. “ We have discovered our message needs simplification on our website and across all our social media platforms. There were descriptions of the organization that weren’t consistent to our current vision and mission.

“Stephanie has been instrumental in creating greater continuity with our message. She has also been important to come in and hone our organization’s key offerings and programs for the community. We are building toward a greater enterprise-funded model, so Incight can create sustainability beyond being purely funded by the community. This has taken a lot of intentional and consistent effort to keep focused on moving down this path for the future of the organization.”

Members of the board of directors include Hatley, Floyd, Friess, Eugene Wallace and Carla Speer. The latter works for a group in Edmonds, Wash., called “Mobility Support Solutions.”

“MSS is the Triple-A for disability,” Hatley says. “If you are in a (wheel)chair and your van breaks down on the road, a tow truck is not going to be able to take you away because of liability issues. They might just leave you on the side of the road. So you call up MSS, and they pick you up and make sure you are safely transported where you need to go while your van is transported.”

Much about Incight hasn’t changed.

“We are continuing to develop our offerings,” Hatley says. “Our core is in our trainings. We do a curriculum, we do job fairs, and we are doing a lot with a small team.

“Our vision is moving the world and expecting great contributions with people experiencing disabilities. The word ‘with’ was important when we were going through planning. It’s not just people with disabilities doing it by themselves. It’s not just people without disabilities doing it all for them. It’s the idea of working together. Together we are working to create more opportunities for people to contribute to their fullest. Everything we are doing falls under that.”

What do the next 20 years look like? Hatley has given much thought to the future, and he has had plenty of help. Eyer has had several meetings with him about enhancing the gala.

“We have talked about some of the things we want to change in the future, to move it along a little more and have more opportunity for people to participate and maybe raise more money,” he says.

Floyd has been involved in discussions about strategic planning during board meetings.

“It is important, especially when you are talking about a 20-year anniversary,” Floyd says. “You have to be thinking about what you are going to do next. What’s on deck?

“Scott and the organization have proven it has staying power, that it can be successful and reach all of its mission points. They are at a critical point where they can continue to do what they are doing, or they can take a giant leap forward and do more. Because of the track record and the confidence they have, they should set lofty goals with fund-raising and the amount of people they can impact living with visible or invisible disabilities.”

Hatley has a lot of ideas on the subject.

Hatley with Sam Bridgman, one of the former scholars invited to attend Incight’s community celebration (courtesy Scott Hatley)

“Our biggest focus for the next 20 years is to continue to grow the resources we offer and the content in helping more people with this idea of leveraging obstacles,” he says. “Not everybody can relate to someone like me in a wheelchair with MD, but everyone can relate to having an obstacle in your life. We can help people realize that everybody has an obstacle. We are passionate about creating more awareness and helping people view disability in a different way.”

Additional sponsors and partners, and more people attending Incight’s events, is another goal.

“We can’t do it by ourselves,” Hatley says. “We need those partners. Plus, it adds another layer when you bring new people in, and they start to get it. They can be individuals who share our message with others. That is a big part of it — growing our reach and developing content that can be delivered even on demand. We can create more platforms to share our story, so they can share that message without us having to be there with them.

“It is about using all our tools and resources and taking the next step, which is changing the culture around disability, and changing minds and creating greater awareness about what people can contribute. If we can do that in the next 20 years, it is a huge step forward.”

(If you want to donate or help as a volunteer or corporate sponsor, go to https://www.incight.org/support)

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Hatley has another tool in his shed. For about three years, he has been writing a book.

“It is a memoir,” he says, “but also motivational/self-help.”

The working title is “Leveraging Obstacles, Awakening Opportunities.”

“I have been leveraging obstacles my entire life,” Hatley says. “The idea is to share that with others. I have eight principles that people can tap into in their lives. It supports the vision and mission of Incight. The book is about sharing my story but also the stories of others who have leveraged obstacles in different ways related to the principles.”

Hatley hasn’t yet interviewed others. He is thinking it might develop into a series of books.

“Perhaps there will be material for a second book in the form of sharing personal stories after interviewing people,” he says.

For now, the focus is on book No. 1.

“There is power in my story, and yet I feel like it is a narrow window of who can relate to it,” Hatley says. “If I can broaden it and people can take parts of my story and parts out of other people’s stories, they can find something that applies to their life.”

Hatley says he has completed 150 pages. Tymchuk has offered help.

“Scott has asked me several times to look at it and make suggestions, which I have been happy to do,” he says.

Says Hatley: “I am reconstituting my outline. I would like to have a temporary draft by the end of the year, but a solid draft by next March. Somebody encouraged me to write 30 minutes a day. That was a game-changer. I find that I have started to write more than 30 minutes a day. At the same time, if I achieve 30 minutes, it is productive. That has been huge for me.”

While in college, Hatley considered a career as a sportswriter. (At some point, he came to his senses). He has often written a column for Incight’s magazine, “The Understanding,” mostly about sharing positive perspectives around disability.

“I started doing that during the pandemic, and that got me in the writing mode,” he says. “I have had writing experience over the years, between writing for newspapers when I was younger and writing grants for Incight, so that has been helpful.”

The physical part of the writing process is the most difficult. Hatley has limited use of his hands and fingers.

“Sometimes I use the on-screen keyboard with word prediction,” he says. “I use my mouse to click it, which is built into the Microsoft platform. Or sometimes I use Google’s voice recognition feature.”

Hatley continues to live by himself in a South Waterfront apartment. It is located a stone’s throw away from the Zidell Yards site that the Portland Diamond Project is purchasing for a Major League Baseball ballpark site. He would like to live long enough to see a game there. (Me, too).

Scott exists with the help of 24-hour caregivers and his parents. He is doing well — remarkably so for a person living with his form of MD, called “Duchenne,” with a median life expectancy of 28 years. Scott is 46. His doctor puts him among the top one percent of those living the longest with the disease.

And so it goes. There is continuance of Incight, and the book, and enjoying life with family and friends. There is so much accomplished, yet much to do for Scott Hatley.

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