John Krejcha

John Krejcha is co-founder of Autism Empowerment and serves as Programs Director and Board Secretary. Prior to Autism Empowerment, John spent 15 years as the co-owner of Count Your Beans, a successful online retail business. Prior to that, he worked in sales, service, and accounting for a Fortune 100 company. He is a veteran of the United States Navy.

As Programs Director, John oversees a variety of Autism Empowerment programs, including Autism Serves and Autism Empowerment Cares.

In 2017, John was honored by the Directors of Volunteer Programs Association (DVPA) with the Anne Turner Award for Excellence in Volunteer Management.

John was a volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America for many years and served on the National Disability Awareness Committee from 2013 – 2015. He is a graduate of WoodBadge Training W1-492-13 and a member of the Order of the Arrow and has served in a wide range of Scouting leadership positions. In 2015, he received the Silver Beaver Award, a council-distinguished service award. John was recognized in September 2014 as a Community Champion finalist at the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce Business and Leadership Awards.

In addition to his volunteer work with Autism Empowerment and the BSA, John spent four years teaching chess in an after-school program at a local elementary school. He also was a Board Member of the Special Education Parent Teacher Student Association (SEPTSA) of SW WA for two years. Additionally, he served for multiple years on the Advisory Committee for the SW WA Special Education Conference and Resource Fair.

John is dyslexic and proudly neurodivergent. He is the father of an autistic adult, an autistic teen and a feisty cat. His wife (and AE co-founder) Karen is also autistic. Both also have ADHD. John is dedicated to their success and happiness.