2025 Industry Roundtable

Susan Scollie
PhD

Dr. Scollie is a Professor in the School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, and the Director of the National Centre for Audiology at Western University, in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Dr. Scollie’s research focuses on development of fitting and verification algorithms and procedures for high technology hearing aids, evaluation of outcomes, and knowledge translation of evidence to clinical practice, hearing aid prescription, and early hearing detection and intervention.

Brian Taylor
AuD

Brian Taylor is a Doctor of Audiology and Senior Director of Audiology for Signia. He is also the editor of Audiology Practices, a quarterly journal of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology, editor-at-large for Hearing Health and Technology Matters and adjunct instructor at the University of Wisconsin. Dr. Taylor has authored several peer reviewed articles and textbooks and is a highly sought out lecturer. Brian has nearly 30 years of experience as both a clinician, business manager and university instructor.

Dave Fabry
PhD

Dave Fabry is Chief Hearing Health Officer at Starkey, where he has worked since 2009.  He has also held several other industry positions, as well as academic positions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, and the University of Miami Medical Center.  He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Auditory Society and is a Past President and Board Member for the American Academy of Audiology.  He is a licensed Audiologist in Minnesota, Florida and Rwanda.

Jessica Dancis
MA

Jessica Dancis is a Senior Marketing Manager at Sonova. She manages the Sennheiser Hearing portfolio, an innovative line up of early entry devices. Jessica is an experienced clinical audiologist. She has more than 17 years of experience in various roles at Sonova, including her previous role as National Key Account Manager. Jessica is passionate about audiology and a fervent proponent of HCPs. She enjoys making a difference in the life of people by giving them access to technology that allows them to hear the world.  

Jessica Lovell
VP, BA

Jessica Lovell, VP, Client Marketing for Synchrony Health and Wellness and Audiology lead. She leads marketing relationships with clients, partners, and associations to develop and implement marketing and communication strategies that align with patient, provider, business, and financial goals. Jessica has 15+ years of marketing experience at companies such as Synchrony, Citibank, and The PGA TOUR. Jessica obtained her BA in Marketing from Auburn University while lettering on Auburn’s golf team.

John Pumford
AuD

John Pumford, Au.D. is the Director of Audiology, Education and Clinical Research at Audioscan. With over 27 years of experience in the field, Dr. Pumford has served in senior roles in audiology, clinical research, and management for several leading hearing aid companies. He has also held clinical audiology positions in hospital and private practice settings and research audiology positions at the National Centre for Audiology in Canada, where he contributed to advancements in the DSL fitting formula. Dr. Pumford has presented widely internationally on hearing aid technology and verification procedures and has authored numerous articles, peer-reviewed papers, and book chapters on these topics.

Laurel Christensen
PhD

Dr. Christensen leads Global Audiology for GN Hearing, which is part of the Research and Development department based in Ballerup, Denmark.   Global Audiology is responsible for all GN Hearing’s corporate audiology activities related to new product development and launch including clinical trials, regulatory activities, audiology support to product marketing, and training and education to subsidiaries world-wide.  She has presented well over 250 talks around the world mainly on hearing aid signal processing and has many publications including book chapters on hearing aid technology.  In 2012, Dr. Christensen received the Leader of the Year award from GN Hearing for her outstanding contributions to the company and in 2015, she received the Distinguished Alumna Award from the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences at Indiana University where she received both her M.S. and Ph.D. 

Steve DeMari
MS

Steve earned his MS in Audiology from Syracuse University and has been an Audiologist for over 35 years and has served in a variety of leadership roles. Most recently, he was Vice President of Sales and Account Management and Director of Audiology for United Healthcare Hearing. Previously, he was Director of Government Services and Business Development for Phonak, Starkey, and Sivantos as well as clinical audiologist and manager for a wide demographic of medical and private practice clinics in Los Angeles and Chicago.

Steve was instrumental in launching the state’s first Universal Newborn Hearing Screening Program in Illinois.  Steve is a member of the American Academy of Audiology, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, IHS and Illinois Academy of Audiology. He stays highly involved in the industry through continuing education seminars, conferences and social networks and professional blogs.