AAHomecare Taps Wilson as New President, CEO

ALEXANDRIA, Va.–Tyler Wilson, an attorney and executive
director of the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association, has
been named president and CEO of the American Association for
Homecare.

Wilson, who has more than a decade of experience with trade
associations, will assume duties Sept. 18. The appointment follows
more than a six-month search by AAHomecare after Kay Cox stepped
down from the post in February (see HomeCare, Feb. 13).

“We are pleased to bring such a veteran of the Washington
association world onboard,” said Tom Ryan, AAHomecare chairman and
CEO of Homecare Concepts, Farmingdale, N.Y. “With his experience in
trade associations, legal background and knowledge of DMEPOS, Tyler
was the unanimous choice. The home care community is facing major
challenges, and we are confident that Tyler is the right choice at
the right time for AAHomecare.”

Since 2000, Wilson has served as executive director of AOPA, a
trade association that represents more than 1,950 manufacturers,
distributors, and patient care facilities in the prosthetics and
orthotics industry.

Before joining AOPA, Wilson managed the membership division and
government affairs department at the Automotive Aftermarket
Industry Association in Bethesda, Md., and was later named its vice
president. He also has served as an attorney for legislative and
regulatory affairs in the domestic policy division of the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce and has worked as an attorney specializing in
government relations and litigation at a Washington, D.C., law
firm.

Wilson earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Georgetown
University and a law degree from Catholic University Law School,
both in Washington, D.C. He and his wife, Ann Blakey, and two
children live in Arlington, Va.

Wilson said his first priority at AAHomecare will be to focus on
areas where the association can better serve members and build
unity in the industry. “I look forward to leading AAHomecare and
its members as the industry tackles critical issues, with one
voice, for home care,” he said.

In another personnel change, Ashley Ridlon, AAHomecare’s manager
of policy and communications, is leaving the association to join
the staff of Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark. Ridlon, a native of
Arkansas with a graduate degree in gerontology, will serve as the
senator’s legislative assistant for health care issues.

Lincoln serves on the Senate Finance Committee, which has
jurisdiction over Medicare and Medicaid. She also is co-chair of
the congressional COPD Caucus and serves on the Senate Special
Committee on Aging.