F R O M T H E
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Brian Lagana PFA Executive Director brian @ pedorthics . org
PFA Adjusts to Meet Member Needs and Continue to Operate in the “ New Normal ” Economy
As Kristi Hayes , PFA President , alluded to in her adjacent President ’ s Message , the Pedorthic Footcare Association recently made the decision to change management companies and settle in Northern Virginia ( just a stone ’ s throw away from the Nation ’ s Capital ) with Association Management Group . The move was primarily precipitated by the impact that the economic crisis has had on the association over the past four years and the need to further enhance our professional operations .
Even though PFA has moved offices , its mission and operation remain steadfast . Planning is well underway for the 2012 Symposium and Exhibition in Little Rock in November ; production of Current Pedorthics is on schedule and will be in your mailboxes as usual ; our lobbying efforts – as frustrating as they are at times – continue unabated with Bill Applegate and I spending considerable time meeting with Members of Congress and the Administration ; our webinar program will be ramping up later this spring with four to six webinars planned through the end of 2012 ; the Council on Pedorthic Education ( COPE ) is working on a complete appraisal of the annual symposium and exhibition to improve and strengthen the event as well as reviewing PFA ’ s Bookstore offerings to ensure that existing titles remain relevant , or need to be removed and new titles added to meet member ’ s continuing needs ; and PFA ’ s Board of Directors will be undertaking a significantly aggressive agenda to grow PFA and increase member benefits .
With that being said , it ’ s important for you to become acquainted with the oldest and newest members of the PFA Team :
Brian Lagana , Executive Director of PFA and Director of Government Affairs , a fulltime dedicated staff leader .
Bill Applegate , PFA ’ s longtime lobbyist with
Bryan Cave , LLC continues his role fighting for pedorthists to be on an equal footing with other allied healthcare professions .
Annette Suriani , CMP and Rebecca Fazzari , CMP , PFA ’ s Meetings and Conventions Managers , will be responsible for Symposium and Exhibition planning and logistics , exhibitor and sponsorship sales , abstract and speaker management , webinar management , registration management ( oversight of two registrars ), etc . Annette has prior experience working with allied healthcare professions such as O & P , providing her with a leg up on the pedorthic profession . They can be reached at exhibits @ pedorthics . org .
Teresa Gutsick , PFA ’ s Creative Services Manager , will be responsible for layout and production of Current Pedorthics magazine and all collateral material related to other PFA marketing and communications . Teresa has more than 14 years of experience in graphic design and has received many awards over the years , including two WebAwards for non-profit websites she designed , several Association Trends , All-Media Contest awards , and three New Jersey Press Association awards for her designs .
PFA is currently in the process of rounding out its team by filling the position of Marketing and Communications Manager , which will be finalized by the time this magazine goes to print . This full-time , dedicated staff member will be responsible for editing Current Pedorthics magazine , Current Pedorthics advertising sales and fulfillment , marketing and management efforts of corporate ( non-Symposium ) sponsorships , membership related programs as well as Symposium and Exhibition and continuing education programs . In the interim , Kristi Hayes , PFA President , can assist you with Current Pedorthics-related issues through Editorial @ pedorthics . org , and I can help you with any other issues listed above through info @ pedorthics . org .
Reaching PFA is easier than before . We have added a full-time receptionist to ensure that all calls are answered personally and directed to the correct individual . Of course , PFA ’ s website offers multiple , issue-specific response forms for you to communicate with individual committees , the board , executive committee and staff .
For your reference , please note PFA ’ s new address ( physical and mailing ), telephone number , toll-free number , fax number and e-mail :
Pedorthic Footcare Association 8400 Westpark Dr . 2nd Floor McLean , VA 22102 Telephone : ( 703 ) 610-9035 Fax number : ( 703 ) 995-4456
Toll-free number : ( 800 ) 673-8447 Email : info @ pedorthics . org
Please ensure that when sending payment and other correspondence to PFA , use the address above and not the old Washington , DC address .
Change for the sake of change can be problematic . However , when it is as thoughtfully and carefully conceived as this plan by the Board was , it can bring about big differences to everyone . And this brings me to a final thought – rumors ! It seems this profession is rife with them , and that people thrive on spreading false rumors about PFA , Medicare , the pedorthic profession and what have you . Instead of getting caught up in the frenzy of the rumor of the moment , sit back for a minute and ask yourself , “ Why would they do that ?” If you still need a solid answer , call us ! We can put those rumors to rest and your mind at ease all with a simple phone call or e-mail . PFA is here to help you … so , help us to help you . ■
8 Pedorthic Footcare Association www . pedorthics . org