In brief: Accendra Health CEO, Reliable Medical buy, SpinLife franchise
By HME News Staff
Updated 8:41 AM CDT, Fri September 18, 2026
RICHMOND, Va. – Accendra Health has named Kenneth Gardner-Smith as its next president and CEO, succeeding Edward Pesicka, who announced his plans to retire in August.
Gardner-Smith, who has served on the company’s board of directors since March 2022, is expected to assume the role early in the fourth quarter of 2026. He currently serves as CEO of Veritas Veterinary Partners, a national specialty and emergency veterinary platform, where he spearheaded a strategy reset and executive rebuild that delivered double-digit average quarterly revenue growth and significant margin expansion since 2024.
“We are thrilled to welcome Kenny as Accendra Health’s next president and CEO,” said Mark Beck, chair of Accendra Health's board of directors. “Kenny brings more than 15 years of operating leadership in reimbursement-driven health care and deep knowledge of our strategy and operations, making him the board’s unanimous choice to lead Accendra Health. I look forward to partnering closely with him and the leadership team to build on the steps the company has taken in the past year and deliver on the significant opportunities ahead.”
Gardner-Smith has been part of the board’s long-term executive succession planning for several years, having been identified as a potential successor soon after joining the board. Accendra Health says he was selected following a comprehensive search process that considered both internal and external candidates.
Prior to Veritas Veterinary Partners, Gardner-Smith served in a variety of operating roles over 13 years at DaVita, managing $1.5 billion in operations and supporting teams across more than 3,000 facilities in 13 countries.
“I’m proud to lead Accendra Health as we enter this next chapter,” Gardner-Smith said. “Having served on the board since 2022, I’ve had a front-row seat to Accendra Health’s transformation into a pure-play home-based care company. My priority now is to build on our progress and invest in the business to drive long-term growth and stability, all while keeping patients, providers, and partners at the center of everything we do. I’m confident we have the right strategy to get there, and I'm looking forward to building on Ed's legacy alongside the team.”
Pesicka will remain in his role of president and CEO until Gardner-Smith assumes the role, at which point he will also retire from the board. He will continue to serve as an advisor to Gardner-Smith and the leadership team to ensure a smooth transition.
Reliable Medical buys Freedom in Mobility
CEO says Freedom’s ‘Mobility Made Simple’ philosophy is a natural extension
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Reliable Medical has acquired Huntsville, Ala.-based complex rehab technology (CRT) provider Freedom in Mobility, deepening its coverage across Alabama and Tennessee.
Charles Sargeant, CEO of Reliable Medical, says Freedom in Mobility’s “Mobility Made Simple” philosophy is a natural extension of Reliable Medical’ s patient-first approach.
“(Teresa Glass Owens, president,) and Forrest have built an exceptional CRT provider with the clinical expertise and community relationships that define the best in our industry,” he said.
Reliable Medical is a portfolio company of Southlake, Texas-based private equity firm Gauge Capital.
Owens says joining Reliable Medical gives Freedom in Mobility the scale and resources to expand its mission across the region, while staying true to the personalized care its patients expect.
“We started Freedom in Mobility to make the complex rehab technology process simpler and more accessible for the patients we serve,” she said.
David Friedman, partner at Gauge Capital, says the deal furthers the firm’s strategy of building a leading CRT and HME platform.
“We look forward to supporting Teresa, Forrest and the broader team as part of Reliable’ s next growth phase,” he said.
- Related: Reliable Medical’s partnership with Seven Hills Capital helped transform the company into a “super regional,” expanding its reach from a single state to 15 states between 2018 and 2025. Now, with a new investment from Gauge Capital, CEO Charles Sargeant says the company is setting its sights even higher.
SpinLife creates hubs with new nat’l franchise program
COLUMBUS, Ohio – SpinLife, a direct-to-consumer retailer of durable medical equipment (DME) specializing in mobility and home accessibility products, has launched a national franchise program.
As demand for mobility and aging-in-place solutions continues to grow, SpinLife believes locally owned businesses supported by a national platform are uniquely positioned to help customers maintain independence while creating attractive opportunities for entrepreneurs.
"Our franchise program is about building a true omni-channel experience that puts the customer at the center," says Amber Dube, senior vice president and general manager of SpinLife. "We're creating local hubs that connect seamlessly with our catalog, phone and online channels so customers can engage with SpinLife however and wherever it works best for them. At the same time, franchise owners gain the advantage of a nationally recognized brand, established customer acquisition channels, centralized marketing support and proven operational expertise, allowing them to focus on serving customers and growing their business."
For more than 25 years, SpinLife has served customers through its catalog, dedicated phone product experts, e-commerce platform and growing network of physical retail locations. The company says the new franchise program expands this proven model, giving customers greater access to expert guidance and personalized support in their communities.
SpinLife says the franchise program offers two clear pathways for growth: development of new territories and conversion of existing independent stores. Both options, the company says, allow operators to leverage its established brand strength, product expertise, operational support, purchasing power and digital marketing.
"SpinLife's franchise launch is a natural extension of our mission to maximize independence and quality of life for people with mobility challenges," says Mike Swinford, CEO of Numotion, SpinLife's parent company. "By bringing SpinLife's trusted products and expertise into more communities across the country, we can support more individuals and families while creating meaningful opportunities for entrepreneurs who share our commitment to making a difference."
Rehab Medical taps Jason Foggiano as COO
INDIANAPOLIS – Rehab Medical has appointed Jason Foggiano, who has 25 years of operational and leadership experience, as COO. His appointment follows a planned transition from Jarrad Rankin, former vice president of operations and the company’s first assistive technology professional (ATP). "I am excited to be a part of a growing organization that is so passionate about the mission of improving lives, from the top to the bottom," said Foggiano. "Being able to bring my experience to help the organization scale and be prepared for the next phase of growth from an operational excellence and leadership development perspective really fuels me." Foggiano will take a phased approach to leading the company’s operational structure. Initially, he will lead the customer service and business support teams, allowing him to evaluate operational challenges, identify bottlenecks and better understand how they impact the organization. Insurance, revenue cycle and field operations will then transition under his leadership, enabling him to build scalable operating models, align cross-functional teams and strengthen organizational culture and capabilities. Prior to Rehab Medical, Foggiano was COO for American Specialty Health, where he implemented large-scale performance strategies and operational improvements that helped grow the company’s revenue from $300 million to $850 million.
Dexcom promotes Sylvain to COO-CFO
SAN DIEGO – Dexcom has promoted Jereme Sylvain to COO, in addition to his duties as CFO. In this expanded role, he will assume oversight of Dexcom’s global operations and quality teams, driving greater alignment, speed and accountability across the company as it executes on its vision for growth and commitment to operational excellence. “Jereme is an exceptional leader and a valued strategic partner across Dexcom,” said Jake Leach, president and CEO. “His deep understanding of our business, operational discipline and customer focus make him the right leader for this expanded role. I am confident that Jereme will help us scale more effectively as we advance our goal to empower millions more people to take control of health.” Sylvain joined Dexcom in 2018 and has served as executive vice president and CFO since 2021. Throughout his tenure, the company says he has built a strong finance leadership team and guided its journey of growth and margin expansion. The company says he has also demonstrated the ability to align and execute cross-functionally, bringing the combination of strategic judgment, operational discipline, and commitment to customers that are key for Dexcom’s next phase of growth and scale.
Ottobock is Official Adaptive Mobility Partner of Atlanta Falcons
AUSTIN, Texas – Ottobock and the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons have announced a multi-year partnership naming Ottobock as the team’s first-ever Official Adaptive Mobility Partner. The partnership is built around hands-on programming for Atlanta’s adaptive community, beginning with the inaugural Adaptive Sports Day on Sept. 19 at Meadowcreek Mustangs Stadium in Norcross, Ga. "Movement and sport are fundamental human rights," said Lucas Crisanti, MS, CPO, prosthetic clinical specialist and global running clinic coach at Ottobock, and head coach of Adaptive Sports Day. "Prosthetic users deserve the opportunity to participate, pursue their goals, and experience the physical, mental, and social benefits that sport provides. This event gives us the opportunity to work directly alongside Atlanta's adaptive community, providing running prosthesis fittings, coaching, and training while demonstrating how access to the right technology, support, and community can help make movement and sport accessible to all." In addition, one amputee and a guest will travel to Madrid for the once-in-a-lifetime experience of representing Ottobock at the Falcons game against the Cincinnati Bengals. This individual will serve as a host documenting their journey and bringing the Ottobock adaptive community along via their social media channels.
Frost & Sullivan recognizes SleepRes Kricket PAP for innovation
SAN ANTONIO – Frost & Sullivan has announced that SleepRes has been recognized with the 2026 North America New Product Innovation Recognition for positive airway pressure devices for its achievements in product innovation, clinical differentiation and patient-centric therapy design. Frost & Sullivan says it evaluates companies through a rigorous benchmarking process across two core dimensions: strategy effectiveness and strategy execution. "The Kricket PAP device supports KPAP, traditional CPAP, and APAP modes within a single platform,” said Utkarsha Soundankar, industry analyst, Frost & Sullivan. “This multi-mode architecture enables seamless clinician adoption without forcing protocol changes and aligns with existing reimbursement and prescribing frameworks.” Each year, Frost & Sullivan says it presents the New Product Innovation Recognition to a company that demonstrates outstanding development and implementation, resulting in measurable improvements in market impact, product differentiation and competitive positioning.
AAHomecare fills out board of directors
WASHINGTON – AAHomecare’s board of directors has approved Josh Marx, CEO of Medical Service Company and past board chairman and president, as treasurer. "Having Josh Marx serve as treasurer keeps an eye on the association's fiscal viability for the extended future," said Tom Ryan, CEO and president of AAHomecare. "Josh most recently served as chairman of the board and has a keen understanding of our current challenges and opportunities. He brings a great deal of knowledge and a realistic view of discretionary spending to support advocacy initiatives." The board has also filled three at-large vacancies: Rob Minicucci Jr., director of business development for Health System Services; Rob Schlissberg, president of Cardinal Health at Home Solutions; and Mike Vetrano, senior vice president of Apria, an Accendra Health brand. Earlier this year, the board approved Ryan Bullock, chief strategy officer at Aeroflow Health, as chair.
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