Haley Washowich, AuD, CCC-A
Field Training Audiologist at GN ReSound

Haley Washowich is a Field Training Audiologist at GN ReSound . From Pittsburgh, PA, she holds a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Penn State University and a Clinical Doctorate of Audiology from the University of Pittsburgh. She maintains her Certificate of Clinical Competencies through the American Speech- Language-Hearing Association and is a licensed Audiologist in the state of Pennsylvania. Prior to joining the training team with ReSound in 2020, she was employed at a private practice specializing in adult diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss through amplification. In her current role, she provides support and education to hearing care professionals in Western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.

Presentation Title: ReSound Nexia: The Next Era of Hearing

Synopsis of the presentation: This course provides an overview of the next era of hearing from ReSound, featuring new models, new connectivity, and state-of-the-art hearing technology to address the most often reported needs by users of hearing technology.   

Greg Thompson, BC-HIS
Field Training Audiologist at GN ReSound

Born December 27, 1960 the 3rd of 5 children in Campbellsville, KY. I am married to Susan we live just east of Lexington, KY and have 5 adult children Ashley, Amanda, Jack, Ben and Kelly. 2 grandchildren Max and Julia. I enjoy watching various sports, traveling with Susan and friends, playing golf, and working with the landscaping in and around the yard.

I entered the hearing healthcare world in 2005 as an apprentice, became licensed in 2006 and earned my National Board Certification in the fall of 2008. In 2014, I acquired a partnership interest in a Miracle Ear Franchise. I have served as a volunteer with the Mid America Conference on Hearing, The Hearing Aid Association of Kentucky (HAAK) Political Action Committee and with the HAAK board serving as Vice President and President for 6 years. Additionally, I have served 4 years with the Kentucky State Licensing Board for Specialists in Hearing Instruments.

In 2022, I accepted the nomination to serve the International Hearing Society Board as the East Central Governor representing Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky. My primary goal as governor is to improve the pathway and speed of licensing for those interested in becoming a dispenser.

Carissa Nguyen
Field Training Audiologist at GN ReSound

Amanda Sines
Partner, Government Advantage Group

Amanda has been involved in state government relations in Columbus, Ohio for over 13 years. Amanda began her career in state government by working as a page in both the Ohio House of Representatives and Ohio Senate while getting her degree in political science at The Ohio State University. After college, she went to work as a legislative aide to a State Senator, before moving to the private sector in 2004 to work in lobbying. Amanda began her lobbying career working for one of the first female owned independent lobbying firms (Towner Policy Group) where she represented a variety of client interests before the state legislature and Ohio regulatory agencies. In 2015, Ms. Towner retired and Amanda started her own business, Capitol Action Team, with the clients she had been representing with Ms. Towner.  In 2016, Amanda became a partner of Government Advantage Group.  Amanda currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Lobbying Association, the planning committee for the Ohio YMCA Youth in Government program and is an active member of the Ohio Woman in Government organization.  Amanda is also an Ohio Lobbying Association Certified Lobbyist.

Samantha Sikorski ACA, HIS, CDP, CPCO

Ms. Samantha Sikorski, ACA, HIS, CDP, CPCO is a licensed hearing instrument specialist, Certified Dementia Practitioner, and Certified Professional Compliance Officer, who owns and operates a hearing and tinnitus wellness practice in Northern Wisconsin. Samantha specializes in practice administration and managed care participation, as well as initiating the best practices for Hearing Care Professionals and patient education.  She obtained her Audioprosthologist designation from the American Conference of Audioprosthology, her Dementia Practitioner certificate through the National Counsel of Certified Dementia Practitioners, and her Compliance Officer certificate through the American Academy of Professional Coders. In addition to her hearing center, Ms. Sikorski owns a compliance practice, Thistle, and co-founded/co-owns a software company, Smartcare.io.

Debra Abel, AuD

Debra Abel, AuD, received her Bachelor and Master's degrees from Kent State University and her AuD from the Arizona School of Health Sciences. Employed by the Alliance Eye and Ear Clinic for 14 years, she transitioned that practice into a private one where she was for 13 years.

She is the manager of Coding and Contracting Services for Audigy and is also associated with Arch Health Partners in Poway, CA, where she provides audiologic services on a per diem basis. Dr. Abel was the American Academy of Audiology's Senior Specialist, Practice Management and served as an Academy Board member-at-large, as the chair of the Academy's Coding and Reimbursement Committee and as a member of the Academy's Ethical Practice Board. Currently, she sits on the Practice Compliance Committee and the board of the American Academy of Audiology Foundation.