The VGM Group has announced the names of four finalists for its first HME Woman of the Year award.
In a news announcement, Christa Miehe, president of VGM’s Essentially Women division, said, “These women represent some of the HME industry’s most passionate advocates. Their responsibilities and years of experience vary, but they all have positively impacted their business, coworkers, customers, communities they serve and our industry through their relentless determination to better our industry.”
The initial field of 37 nominees was narrowed to finalists Kirsten Davin, Patricia Mastandrea, Rose Schafhauser and Laurie Tomaszewski.
Davin, OTD, OTR/L, ATP, is the owner and president of Precision Seating Solutions LLC, which manufactures the PS 256 pressure mapping system. An internationally known speaker and educator in the seating and wheeled mobility industry, Davin is a professor at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield, Ill., where she teaches anatomy, physiology and medical terminology classes. In her hometown of Pleasant Plains, Ill., Davin serves as a volunteer firefighter, EMT and medical training officer; next year, she will become deputy chief. Her nomination noted, “Dr. Davin is a born leader who inspires those around her to be better, work harder, achieve goals and create the outcomes they strive for.”
Mastandrea is the chief operating officer at MedCare Equipment Company LLC, based in Greensburg, Pa. She is responsible for finding and creating ways to refine or improve business processes and practices, and since 2008 and under her leadership, MedCare Equipment Company has quadrupled its revenue and employee base (to more than $73 million and more than 300 employees). Mastandrea also provides financial support to families in need in her community. Her nomination form stated, “Patty has taken a locally owned hospital-based DME and turned it into one of the most successful and thriving DME/HME companies in our region.”
Schafhauser has been in the home medical equipment industry for more than 30 years, is founder of Association Management LLC, and serves as the executive director for the Midwest Association for Medical Equipment Suppliers (MAMES), the Arizona Medical Equipment Suppliers Association (AZMESA), and the Wisconsin Association for Medical Equipment Suppliers (WAMES). Schafhauser also provides administrative services for the Jurisdictions A, B and C DME MACs and serves on the National Supplier Clearinghouse Advisory Committee. Her nomination included the comment, “Rose approaches all challenges with a positive and determined attitude and a relentless determination to bring a solution to the industry that can be used by all.”
Tomaszewski is the chief sales and marketing officer for Handi Medical Supply, headquartered in St. Paul, Minn. For almost three decades, Tomaszewski has worked in the home medical equipment industry, currently as a member of the Handi Medical Supply executive team that works to educate referral sources, customers and staff members. Her other industry leadership roles include serving on the boards of organizations including Ms. Wheelchair Minnesota, the Minnesota Society for Respiratory Care, and the Fairfield Homecare and Hospice Professional Advisory Committee. Her nomination form said, “Laurie has driven our efforts to provide quality information to our customers and reach out to the community.”
VGM will announce the HME Woman of the Year at Medtrade in Atlanta on Nov. 1. The awards program is open to all women who work in the HME industry.
