April 16, 2007

A mix of approximately 450 associates and exhibitors attended American Hearing Aid Associates’ 11th annual convention earlier this year in Las Vegas. The theme of the event, “Just The Beginning,” reflected the high-powered program designed to send attendees home with new ways to improve and increase services and income for their practices.

AHAA (www.ahaanet.com) rolled out several initiatives at the convention including an acquisition/expansion network designed to help associates grow their practices to multi-million dollar levels by improvements in organizational design, hiring, training, tracking, operations, and finance.

Another initiative presented enhancements to its Strategic Solutions, which provides more direct help for associates in identifying and buying out independent practices that are for sale.

More than 50 program topics covered all aspects of managing a practice. The program was presented in five separate tracks for practice owners/CEOs, practice managers, audiologists/dispensers, front office personnel, and marketing.

One of the main speakers at the event was George Hedley, who owns a $100 million commercial construction and management company in Southern California. In 1988 Hedley was named “Entrepreneur of the Year” by “Venture” magazine. His presentation echoed the convention’s theme of how to grow a practice. 

Other featured speakers included AHAA CEO Vince Russomagno and president Tina Soika.

Other AHAA associates who addressed the group include Cathy Kooser-Fathergill, MSW, LSW, who discussed her program that provides education for both the hearing impaired and those close to them. Sherri Weiner, AuD, also spoke to attendees about her effective referral program.

Major hearing aid manufacturers and software vendors were among the exhibitors and 14 of those vendors made program presentations at the event.

Source: AHAA