Tom Whelan has dedicated his career to advancing assistive technology, improving the quality of life for people with disabilities and increasing profitability for his employers. Tom’s first started as a Rehab Technology Supplier (RTS) and then move to the manufacturing side of the industry with German-based Meyra, where he developed their first powerbase for the US market. He then launched Functional Rehab Equipment in 1989. He built the business from the ground up to $2 million in revenue within 3 years.After the success of Functional led to its sale to the Charlotte Rehabilitation Hospital in 1992, After the sale, Tom landed a contract for Shugarmans Surgical Supply to became the in-house provider for technology at the Rehab Institute of Michigan.Sunrise Medical recruited Tom for a product management position in 1995. In 1998, Tom was selected to take over the long-term care bed product line development. Despite a lack of experience in managing a capital goods product line, he successfully lead the introduction of a new concept in bed design. At the request of Sunrise Medical’s CEO, Tom returned to the rehab technology side of the business leading to a promotion to Vice President in 2001 where his scope widened to include global oversight of seating product lines. Tom championed acquisitions that helped establish Sunrise Medical as a leader in the custom seating market.In addition to his professional dedication to the industry, Tom has presented on wheeled mobility, seating and wound care at many domestic and international education venues. He served on the initial Board of Directors for National Registry for Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers (NRRTS) and was a regional director until 1995. Tom has led teams to gain coding for emerging technologies from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and represented Sunrise Medical on ISO and ANSI/RESNA standards development workgroups. He also coached wheelchair basketball for 12 years.