PEOPLE & PLACES PROFESSIONALS
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ANNOUNCEMENTS AND TRANSITIONS
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND TRANSITIONS
Maynard Carkhuff has been elected president of the California Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (COPA), effective Jan. 1, 2020. Carkhuff, chairman of Freedom Innovations, also was honored with a 2019 AOPA Maynard Carkhuff Legislative Advocacy Award in September. “It’s an honor to represent Freedom Innovations while stepping into this new leadership role alongside my industry colleagues at COPA,” said Carkhuff. “COPA does essential work promoting the art and science of orthotics and prosthetics to create and communicate innovative solutions for positive patient experiences—which dovetails perfectly with our own mission at Freedom. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute, particularly in the areas of growing membership, ensuring patient access to appropriate care, and strategic planning.”
Martin Bionics has been selected by R&D Magazine as a recipient of its 2019 R&D 100 Award in recognition of its Socket-less Socket™ interface technology. “We are excited to be named among the nation’s leaders in research and development as an R&D 100 award winner,” said Jay Martin, CP, FAAOP, the company’s founder.
Rick Riley, a member of Townsend’s executive team for nearly 25 years, including 16 years as chief executive officer, will leave the organization at the end of 2019. “Rick announced his plans to me and the owners several months Rick Riley ago, and we have been organizing the reassignment of his responsibilities,” said Thierry Arduin, president of Thuasne USA, who has co-managed the company with Riley since 2014. Arduin will serve as the company’s president and chief executive officer upon Riley’s departure. Riley also is a member of AOPA's Board of Directors. “Without the influence and efforts of Rick Riley, The Thuasne Group would not own Townsend, and would not have achieved the strategic acquisition of Orthotic Composites,” said Elizabeth Ducottet, president and chief executive officer of The Thuasne Group. “Rick has provided valuable leadership to our USA subsidiary, especially through his strong relationships with O&P industry executives, business owners, and clinicians.” Regina Weger has been promoted to president of Hanger Inc.’s SPS subsidiary. Weger has been with SPS for more than 20 years, most recently serving in the role of vice president and general manager, and prior to that time, vice president of SPS sales Regina Weger and marketing. Weger started her career in the customer service function at SPS and has taken on additional roles and responsibilities throughout the years. In this new role, Weger will report directly to Hanger President and Chief Executive Officer Vinit Asar. Weger is a 2015 recipient of the J.E. Hanger Award for Leadership and a recently appointed board member of the National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics. 16
DECEMBER 2019 | O&P ALMANAC
Forty-four O&P providers were recently honored by OPGA with a 2019 Freedom Award in recognition of their exceptional care of military personnel. “We’re excited to recognize these O&P providers for the exceptional care they provide to the men and women who have sacrificed for our freedoms,” said Todd Eagen, president of OPGA. “These dedicated professionals blend patient care with precision design to ensure our military heroes can have increased mobility and independence.” Recipients of the 2019 Freedom Award received a framed award to showcase in their patient-care facility. The 2019 Freedom Award recipients include the following: Abilities Unlimited Inc., Colorado Springs, CO Adaptec Prosthetics LLC, Littleton, CO Allegheny Orthotics & Prosthetics, Altoona, PA Body in Motion Bracing & Prosthetics, Toms River, NJ Carolina Prosthetics and Orthotics, Greenwood, SC Central Brace and Limb Co., Indianapolis, IN Clark & Associates Prosthetics and Orthotics, Cedar Rapids and Waterloo, IA Decker Integrated Orthotics and Prosthetics, Overland Park, KS Durrett’s Orthotics and Prosthetics LLC, Edgewood, KY Fidelity Orthopedic, Dayton, OH Fikes Orthopedic Specialties, Prescott, AZ Georgia Prosthetics, Atlanta, GA Hope Artificial Limb and Brace, Montebello, CA Leimkuehler Inc., Cleveland, OH LeTourneau Lifelike Orthotics and Prosthetics, Inc., Beaumont, TX Limb Lab, La Crosse, WI, and Mankato, Minneapolis, and Rochester, MN Limbcare Prosthetics and Orthotics of Georgia Inc., Albany, Americus, La Grange, Tifton, and Valdosta, GA NovaCare, Fond du Lac, WI, and Oshkosh, WI O&P1, Waterloo, IA Orthocare America, Inc., Aurora, OH OrthoPro Services, LLC, Dublin, GA Orthotic & Prosthetic Designs, Columbus, IN Premier Prosthetics & Orthotics, St. Louis, MO