BJ Blahnik is originally from Seymour, Wisconsin. He is the youngest of five children

and was raised around farming. BJ was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) about the age 

of 10. After graduating from Seymour Community High School in 1998, BJ moved to Green Bay, 

Wisconsin. He worked for Schneider National Inc. until 2010. Due to his diminishing vision, BJ 

retired which ended his career in management. With attempting many different career

 opportunities, in different corporations, he discovered the challenge of his vision was not 

allowing him to reach his potential. In 2017, BJ and his wife Victoria, opened their own business, 

Reach Forward, which works with special needs individuals through day services and a 

residential program.

BJ married Victoria in May of 2010. They live in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. They have three sons

Emmitt, Trevor and Harvey. BJ was a member of the USA Blind Sailing Team and finished as a

Two Time Bronze Medalist in 2015 and 2018. BJ has been a Lions member since 2006 and is

a Past Council Chair for Wisconsin. He currently is a member of the Town of Sheboygan Lions

Club. BJ is a motivational/inspirational speaker helping those who are in need.

In 2006 BJ’s life was changed forever when he received his first Leader Dog. In October of

2022 BJ returned for his current Leader Dog, Jackson, a male Yellow Lab. Prior to Jackson’s

formal training in Rochester Hills, Michigan, he was raised by traditional puppy raisers in

Southeastern Michigan. Leader Dog Jackson is BJ’s fifth Leader Dog, so BJ is calling him

Jackson 5.

Come listen to BJ’s life journey of walking into the dim with the power of vision. You will hear

stories of how a mutated gene changed his life forever yet allowed BJ to recognize that the

struggle of vision can truly change what we truly see in life.