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.
