The American Orthotics and Prosthetics Association (AOPA) Board of Directors is pleased to announce that Teri Kuffel, JD will serve as Interim Executive Director effective January 1.
As you hopefully have heard, AOPA’s current Executive Director, Eve Lee, MBA, CAE, is resigning effective January 22 to become Chief Executive Officer of the Society of Interventional Radiology, where she can advance her career at an organization with a larger budget and staff.
As Interim Executive Director, Teri will guide AOPA through this transition in leadership, working with the Board of Directors and staff to ensure continuity in the administration of AOPA’s programs and services. Teri is deeply committed to AOPA’s mission, having previously served on AOPA’s Board of Directors for eight years, including President from December 2022 to November 2023. Throughout her many years of volunteer service, Teri has demonstrated exceptional leadership, strategic insight, and a passion for advocacy and advancing the goals of AOPA.
As Vice President and co-owner of Arise Orthotics & Prosthetics in Minnesota, a longtime member of AOPA, where her work centers around compliance and operations, Teri is acutely aware of the value of O&P care and the challenges faced by AOPA members. Teri has worked on many state issues in Minnesota, including the passing of O&P legislation as it relates to licensure and So Every BODY Can Move. She earned her juris doctorate from Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, MN and has worked in the O&P industry with contract, human resources, and organizational management since 1999.
“The Board of Directors unanimously approved the appointment of Teri Kuffel to serve a six-month term as we initiate and complete a diligent search for AOPA’s next Executive Director,” said Rick Riley, AOPA President. “I had the privilege to serve on the Board with Teri the past eight years, and she has earned the respect and appreciation of AOPA’s Board, staff, and the members. Serving as Immediate Past-President throughout 2024, Teri has been involved in our budget and planning activities that defined AOPA’s scope of work and priorities for 2025. Her proven leadership, integrity, expertise, and passion made her an ideal and obvious candidate to temporarily step into this role.”
AOPA’s Board of Directors and staff look forward to working with Teri and are excited about the value AOPA will continue to bring to members this year and in the future. Please join us in expressing appreciation to Teri for her willingness to serve as Interim Executive Director.
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to AOPA’s Director of Communications and Membership, Joy Klapp at jklapp@AOPAnet.org.