Profiles in Leadership

Alan Balavender, PT, MS

President

Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Centers

After earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physical Therapy (PT) from Quinnipiac University, Alan launched his PT career in outpatient orthopedics. He oversaw a multispecialty facility that provided a range of PT services. He accepted a clinical position with Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Centers (PTSMC) of Waterbury. In 2000, he purchased the practice, which he has since expanded to over 30 locations throughout Connecticut. Alan then created PTSMC’s unique partner model to support clinic ownership by physical therapists while limiting the risk associated with having a successful business in the extremely competitive healthcare environment. Alan is devoted to private practice, with a vision to foster a company focused on improving the quality of people’s lives by providing unmatched experiences, clinical excellence, and lifelong relationships.

Margot Machol Bisnow spent 20 years in government, including as an FTC Commissioner and staff director of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers. For the last 10 years, she has spoken to parent groups about raising creative, confident, resilient children who achieve their dreams. She served as an Advisor to EQ Generation, an after-school program in New York City that gives children the skills to succeed; on the Advisory Board of the MUSE School in Malibu, that prepares young people to live consciously through passion-based learning; and on the Board of Spark the Journey in Washington DC, that mentors low-income high school students to achieve college and career success. Her new book is Raising an Entrepreneur: How to Help Your Children Achieve Their Dreams – 99 Stories from Families Who Did. Learn more at raisinganentrepreneur.com.

Dennis Stevens is a visionary leader and seasoned consultant with over three decades of experience at the intersection of technology innovation and organizational leadership. Beginning his career in the United States Marine Corps, Dennis honed an appreciation for what can be accomplished with well-formed teams, clarity of purpose, and effective leadership. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to found multiple companies, including Responsive Software Solutions, Synaptus, and Knowledge in Process, where he integrated software solutions with business strategies and spearheaded significant business transformation initiatives.    
In 2011, Dennis co-founded LeadingAgile, where he solidified his reputation for innovative problem-solving and scalable business solutions. He led over 150 transformations, demonstrating his ability to drive sustainable and meaningful organizational changes. His pioneering work in Agile transformations and AI integration has positioned him as a thought leader in creating resilient and adaptable organizations.  
 
Dennis' latest venture, OrgWright, founded in 2024, focuses on guiding organizations through the rapidly evolving digital landscape. OrgWright's mission is to build leadership teams that craft dynamic organizations, enhancing adaptability and strategic execution. Dennis has identified four key conditions vital for fostering a culture of adaptability: Informed Awareness, Coherence, Purposeful Direction, and Strategic Empowerment. These principles, grounded in his extensive experience and management literature, ensure that organizations not only adapt to changes but lead in innovation and strategic execution.  
 
Dennis is a sought-after speaker and thought leader, known for his insights on overcoming common pitfalls in organizational transformation, the importance of executive buy-in, and the future of work in the age of AI. His approach moves beyond isolated team successes, addressing the critical need for executive leadership to foster environments where true scalability and adaptability can thrive.  

Dr. Roy Rivera, Jr., is the founder and CEO of Elation Physical Therapy, an international best-selling author,

and a respected advocate for inclusive healthcare. His book, Shantay You Stay: A Healthcare Provider’s

Guide to LGBTQ+ Inclusive Practices, provides critical insights for practitioners, further establishing him

as a leader in LGBTQ+ patient care.

A native of the Texas Rio Grande Valley, Dr. Rivera began his academic journey at Southwestern

University in Georgetown before moving to Houston in 2003 to complete a Master’s in Physical Therapy

at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He subsequently earned two doctorates—a

Doctor of Physical Therapy from Rocky Mountain University in Utah and a PhD in Health Studies from

Texas Woman’s University in Denton—solidifying his expertise in healthcare.

In 2014, after working for approximately 10 years in the Memorial Hermann Health Care System, Dr.

Rivera founded Elation Physical Therapy, a Certified Minority and LGBT Business Enterprise® with three

locations across Greater Houston, providing compassionate and affirming care. Known for pioneering the

ELATION protocol, a specialized post-operative care program for gender-affirming surgeries, Dr. Rivera

has positioned Elation Physical Therapy as a leader in LGBTQ+ healthcare.

Dr. Rivera’s outstanding contributions to healthcare and his commitment to inclusivity have earned him

and the practice numerous prestigious awards:

• 2024 American Physical Therapy Association Private Practice Section’s Community Impact

Award

• 2024 U.S. Department of Commerce’s Minority Business Development Agency’s Minority Health

Products and Service Firm of The Year Award

• 2024 Small Business Administration Houston District Small Businessperson of the Year

• 2022 U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Dream Big LGBTQ+-Owned Business Achievement Award

• 2022 Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce’s LGBTBE® Certified Business of the Year

Award

• Houston Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 (2020), Top 10 Largest Houston-area LGBTQ+-Owned

Businesses (2018-2023)

Dr. Rivera is also deeply engaged in community service. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for

the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, where he supports initiatives to foster growth and

inclusion for LGBTQ+ businesses. He has a longstanding commitment to LGBTQ+ youth advocacy and

serves on the Board of Directors as the Treasurer at Out for Education (OFE), one of the nation’s most

successful LGBTQ+ scholarship foundations.

Dr. Rivera’s dedication to healthcare innovation, community involvement, and advocacy continues to

shape the future of inclusive, affirming physical therapy and rehabilitative care.

Tony Martignetti is a trusted advisor, leadership coach & facilitator, best-selling author, podcast host, and speaker. He brings together over 25 years of business and leadership experience and extreme curiosity to elevate leaders and equip them with the tools to navigate through change and unlock their true potential. He has been recognized by Thinkers360 as one of the Top 10 Leadership Coaches and by LeadersHum as one of the Biggest Voices in Leadership in 2023. 

Before becoming the founder and Chief Inspiration Officer of Inspired Purpose Partners, Tony was a finance and strategy executive with experience working with some of the world's leading life sciences companies. Along his journey, he also managed small businesses and ran a financial consulting company.

Tony hosts The Virtual Campfire podcast and is the author of "Climbing the Right Mountain: Navigating the Journey to An Inspired Life" and the co-author of "Secrets of Next-Level Entrepreneurs." He has been featured in many publications, including Fast Company, Forbes, Life Science Leader, and CEO Today.

Dr. Rebekah Griffith, The ED DPT, specializes in care in the Emergency Department. Dr. Griffith believes physical therapist practice in the Emergency Department is a critical way to move upstream in healthcare that supports patients during their most critical moments. She is the author of Top of Scope: The Emergency Department Physical Therapist Handbook. She is a board certified neurologic clinical specialist and a fellow in training at Regis University. She serves her profession as the incoming APTA Colorado President but her real life's work is raising her 3 spectacular children.

Leland McCluskey MD, FAAOS (Lee)

Lee McCluskey is an Orthopaedic Surgeon in Columbus, GA where he practices at the St Francis Orthopaedic Institute.  He is a Clinical Professor of Surgery at Mercer University.  Lee went to Vanderbilt University, Medical College of Georgia and Tulane University for Orthopaedic Surgery Residency.  After completing an Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgery Fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Lee returned home to practice over 30 years in his hometown.  

Lee has served for the past twenty years in many developing countries educating and working with Samaritans Purse and Steps2Walk.  He is currently the Board Chair for Steps2Walk and is on the Board of Councilors for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.  He has served as President of the Georgia Orthopaedic Society.

Lee is married to Suzanne McCluskey and has four adult sons.

’m Dom. I’m a wilderness guide, and the creator of VIVIFY.

I’m on a mission to foster regenerative leadership, blending personal vitality and ecological harmony. I strive to empower individuals to live and lead in ways that enhance their own aliveness and presence and create a deep and lasting relationship with the more-than-human world.

​I’ve had a foot in two worlds for a decade - I’ve led wilderness immersions in remote locations including Patagonia and Alaska, and and I’ve held leadership roles at climate-tech companies, serving as Chief of Staff at Terramera and Head of Product at Solara Energy. In a past life, I was also Captain of the Stanford University Golf Team.

My work is inspired by the Animas Valley Institute, where I trained in the Yearlong Soulcraft Immersion with Bill Plotkin. I’ve also completed coach training with the Conscious Leadership Group.

I live for movement in the mountains - I’ve skied on the tallest peaks of the lower 48, completed a solo traverse of the Southern Sierra High Route, and ridden dogsleds across the Boundary Waters.

Scott Mautz is CEO/Founder of Profound Performance™, a keynote, workshop, and training company that helps business leaders become even better, more inspired versions of themselves. He’s a former senior executive of Procter & Gamble, where he successfully ran several of the company’s largest multi-billion-dollar businesses. He’s an award-winning, bestselling author, popular course instructor on LinkedIn Learning, and faculty at Indiana University’s School of Business for Executive Education. His latest book is The Mentally Strong Leader: Build the Habits to Productively Regulate Your Emotions, Thoughts, and Behaviors. 

Scott is a speaker and trainer commonly described as “riveting” (despite his daughter’s utter disbelief of that description). His one-of-a-kind blend of business experience, research, storytelling, tools, sprinkles of humor, and hi-octane delivery opens hearts & minds.

He applies his thunderous passion to help others become mentally stronger and achieve more (even in the face of challenges) - at work and in life. He prides himself on his “No-Diva” policy (being easy to work with), on coming across as authentic and as down-to-earth as he really is, and on being the absolute highest-value podcast guest he can be. 

He wants to understand your brand too, so he can help reinforce it as a guest on your show. Invite Scott on for an interesting conversation that will intrigue your listeners, not the canned spewing of book selling points.

Mike uses the platforms of business coaching and leadership training to fulfill his passion: helping others maximize their own personal and professional value.   

As a member of the 8150 Advisors team, Mike collaborates with private practice owners through strategic growth, creating next level leaders, operational efficiency, and team engagement. Several practices have doubled in practice value as result of their collaboration.  Prior to joining the 8150 team, Mike helped Rock Valley Physical Therapy grow from 26 to 52 locations as their first VP of Growth & Development. New patient volumes increased 210% during his six-year tenure where he was responsible for de novo and mature clinic growth. While serving as Director of Operations for Proaxis Therapy, he was an integral leader in developing physician relations, operational excellence, and a five-star patient experience. 

Dedicated to life-long learning, Mike earned a BS from Mount Union College, an MDiv with Leadership Specialization from Indiana Wesleyan University, and a DPT from the Duke University School of Medicine. Mike is a Certified Coach and DISC Personality Assessment Trainer through the Maxwell Leadership Team. Mike began his career at the Ohio State University Sports Medicine Center where his experiences included consulting with the US Army Special Forces, treating a Masters champion and several NFL draft picks. He has served APTA and PPS as a Federal Affairs Liaison, APTA Delegate, PPS Impact Editorial Board Member, and PPS Annual Conference presenter. 

In addition to his business ventures, Mike serves part-time as the Partner Relations Manager for Zoe Empowers.  Zoe is an empowerment-based program in India and nine African countries which transforms youth-led households to self-sufficiency in just three years.  He has led several trips to Rwanda, Kenya, and Malawi to allow US partners to see the program’s impact.  Mike lives in Iowa and enjoys time with his wife Kim (also a PT!), their four boys, and two dogs.