Alexandria, VA (December 11, 2023) – Today, the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) is pleased to announce its 2024 Board of Directors.
The Executive Committee will consist of Mitchell Dobson, CPO, FAAOP who assumes the role of President. Along with, Teri Kuffel, JD who moves into the role of Immediate Past President and Rick Riley who was appointed to be President-Elect after Jeff Brandt, CPO stepped down on November 30. Joining them are Kimberly Hanson who was elected from the Board to serve as Vice President, and Chris Nolan who was appointed to serve as Treasurer to fill Rick Riley’s seat.
New to the Board of Directors is Adrienne Hill, MHA, CPO(L), FAAOP. She joins Arlene Gillis, CP, LPO, M.Ed., Mo Kenney, CPO, LPO, FAAOP, Jim Kingsley, Lesleigh Sisson, CFo, CFm, Linda Wise, and Shane Wurdeman, PhD, CP, FAAOP(D).
“The AOPA Board members are extremely dedicated, using their expertise and energy to work tirelessly for their fellow AOPA members,” said Eve Lee, MBA, CAE, Executive Director. “Along with the staff, they are committed to ensuring that all AOPA members get the support they need to run their business and provide quality patient care. I look forward to working with the Board and staff in the coming year to continue to advance the needs of our members.”
Elected by the membership, the AOPA Board of Directors is representative of the membership and serves as the governing body, responsible for the supervision and direction of its mission.
About the new Board members:
Chris Nolan has worked in the O&P profession for more than 25 years, for some of the largest and respected names in the industry. He is a mission-oriented leader and has dedicated his career working for organizations that offer opportunities to regain mobility. Nolan began his career in sales for Depuy Orthotech, a Johnson and Johnson Company as Rookie of the Year. Nolan was an Area Manager then Regional Sales Manager for Ossur, Regional Sales Director for Aircast/DJO,. He has served in an executive capacity in the O&P profession since 2007. His executive career began as Vice President and General Manager of Endolite for North America for 9 years followed by 6 years at Ottobock as Vice President of Orthotics, Vice President of Sales and Professional Clinical Services and General Manager of Ottobock’s product business. roles culminating in the General In 2022, Nolan left the O&P profession to lead Global Sales and Marketing for Foot Levelers in an adjacent market. There, he initiating several transformation projects to guide a family-owned enterprise through generational ownership change. Currently, Nolan is the Vice President of Upper Limb Prosthetics at Ossur for their combined Naked Prosthetics, Touch Solutions and Livingskin business. Nolan has established a strong track record of organic growth and business acumen while managing organizations through several mergers and acquisitions with P&L responsibilities.
Nolan’s board experience spans the O&P profession as well as other volunteer organizations. He was an Executive Member of the Chas. A. Blatchford Board of Directors and has served on the Board of Directors of the NAAOP and AOPA. Previous work with AOPA includes chairing the National Assembly Committee from 2016-2018 and serving as a Supplier Board Member and Executive Committee member. While serving on the Executive Committee as President Elect, he was forced to step down for family medical reasons. Outside of his career, Nolan also sat on the Board of Directors for Sycamore Creek Country Club, serving as the Treasurer and Chairperson of the Finance Committee and on the Executive Committee of The First Tee of the Greater Miami Valley.
Adrienne Hill, MHA, CPO(L), FAAOP is a great proponent for the future of O&P. Adrienne earned her Master’s degree in Health Administration at the George Washington University School of Public Health; and her B.S. in Physics and Mathematics at Spelman College. Adrienne became certified in 2007 as a Prosthetist Orthotist after completing post- baccalaureate courses at Newington Certificate Program through the University of Connecticut. Adrienne is a veteran clinician, most recently serving as the Area Clinic Manager at Hanger Clinic in Atlanta GA. She is now teaching and shaping the minds of the next generation of O&P Professionals as a Clinical Assistant Professor at Kennesaw State University. During her 15-year career tenure, she has had the opportunity to experience different aspects of Prosthetics and Orthotics through clinical care, patient advocacy and mentorship. These experiences have fueled Adrienne’s dedication to promoting this profession through community Outreach and given her insight on why she loves this field.
Adrienne has been promoting this field for the last 10 years through community and educational outreach, and Hanger’s diversity and inclusion affinity group, PAUSE (People Aligned United to Serve Everyone), and her social media initiative P.O.P.P.E.D. (Promoting Orthotics and Prosthetics Positively Every Day).
P.O.P.P.E.D was born from an idea to inform and educate people who have never heard of the Prosthetics and Orthotics field. For the last 5 years, she has been educating K-12 students both in and outside of the classroom. Through social media, P.O.P.P.E.D has made the profession more accessible to students, professionals and the others within the community. She met the students, professionals and the community where they are.
Outside of work, Adrienne enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons.
About the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA):
A trusted partner, advocating for and serving the orthotic and prosthetic community, the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) fosters relationships with decision makers, provides education, supports research, and advances equality to strengthen the orthotic and prosthetic profession and improve the lives of its patients. Since 1917, AOPA has been the largest non-profit organization consisting of more than 2,000 patient care facilities and suppliers that together manufacture, distribute, design, fabricate, fit, and provide clinical care for patients using orthopedic braces) and prostheses (artificial limbs). Each and every day, AOPA and its members strive for a world where orthotic and prosthetic care transforms lives.
Media Contact: Joy Burwell jburwell@AOPAnet.org