WATERLOO, Iowa—The Orthotic and Prosthetic Group of America (OPGA), a division of VGM & Associates, announced that Jeff Kessler will be the director of OPGA effective Oct. 1.
Kessler brings more than a decade of experience across multiple roles within the VGM community. Most recently, he served as partner account manager at VGM & Associates, driving collaboration and growth initiatives between VGM and its partners in the orthotic and prosthetic (O&P), complex rehab technology and home access markets. He began his career at VGM in managed care, later advancing to workers’ compensation operations specialist, where he supported team success and organizational compliance. Kessler has also held roles in Club Procure (formerly VGM Club), provider relations and VGM Market Data.
“I have a deep respect for the skill, expertise and value that O&P clinics, clinicians and manufacturers bring to the patients they serve," said Kessler. "While this is an endlessly rewarding field, the barriers to long-term viability for our shared mission continue to grow. Over the past decade, my career has spanned billing, reimbursement, compliance, marketing, data and analytics, insurance networks, business development and growth strategy, supporting both clinics and their industry partners. As a survivor of a traumatic childhood accident, my commitment to this industry is also deeply personal. I grew up in the prosthetic community, visiting clinics and working with prosthetists for as long as I can remember. I’m excited to use my experience to help OPGA members and partners expand their impact on the patients and communities they serve.”
In his new position, Kessler will assist VGM’s OPGA community while further promoting the O&P profession for both OPGA’s members and their supplier partners.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Jeff Kessler as the new director of OPGA," said Tyler Machncke, senior vice president of clinical mobility and accessibility at VGM & Associates. "Jeff has been deeply involved in the orthotics and prosthetics space for many years, and his experience working closely with manufacturers, distributors and service providers makes him an exceptional fit for this role. We’re confident he’ll hit the ground running and bring tremendous value to our members and partners from day one.”