WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Hearing Industries Association (HIA), the only American association to represent hearing aid technology, has unveiled Bridget Dobyan as the incoming Executive Director, set to take office on January 1, 2024.
Dobyan will succeed the current President, Kate Carr, who is set to retire on December 31, 2023.
Sandy Brandmeier, President of HI Wholesale, Sonova USA, and a member of the HIA Board of Directors, expressed the board’s enthusiasm about the selection:
“The HIA Board of Directors is delighted to welcome Ms. Dobyan as the incoming Executive Director. Her knowledge of the hearing industry, coupled with her impressive experience in public policy since joining HIA in 2020, has been invaluable. We’re fully confident Ms. Dobyan will take HIA to new heights in the coming years.”
Brandmeier also extended gratitude to Ms. Carr for her significant contributions and leadership of HIA over the past five years, saying, “The Board sincerely thanks Ms. Carr for her significant contributions to and leadership of HIA over the past five years. Her steady hand successfully guided us through an evolving landscape marked by the new OTC regulations and debate about adding a hearing benefit to Medicare.”
Bridget Dobyan has been a vital part of HIA since 2020, serving as the Director of Public Policy & Advocacy. In this capacity, she led the legislative and regulatory policy strategy at the state and federal level. Dobyan brings a wealth of experience in the non-profit, state, and federal government, and advocacy sectors.
Dobyan expressed her enthusiasm, stating, “I am honored to have been selected for this role. I am fortunate to have worked with Kate and thank her for her guidance and strategic leadership. The future is bright for medical device innovation, and I look forward to building upon the strong foundation with the Board, members, our dedicated team, and the hearing health community in this new role to advance hearing health.”
“It has been such an honor to lead HIA, and I know the organization is in good hands with the exceptional Board of Directors and staff who will carry the work forward.”
–Kate Carr, HIA President
During her tenure, Carr positioned the organization as the trusted voice in hearing health care and technology innovation, spearheading a successful consumer education campaign, steering HIA through industry change, and expanding the influence of the MarkeTrak 2022 research study.
Carr will serve as an HIA strategic advisor for select projects in 2024.
Source: HIA
