Meet the Team

Bill Lavinder, a leading business advisor in the hearing health care industry for over 22 years, founded ChampionOne in 2008 on a singular principle: Develop trusted, long-term relationships that empower clients to reach their goals by creating business strategies that improve profitability and ensure the highest levels of patient care. Since then, Bill has grown the company into a powerhouse that has helped hundreds of practices succeed in an ever-changing market. Bill holds master’s degrees from both Virginia Tech and Auburn University. Outside the office, he enjoys life in Peachtree City, Georgia, with his wife and son.

Dr. Weiner started Hearing Services of Tennessee in the early ’80s as a consulting audiology practice offering hearing care services in ENT offices. She had the opportunity to help many of pop, rock, jazz, and country music’s most famous artists with musician monitors and brought the world of sound back to the hearing-impaired. Dr. Weiner built her part-time practice into a multilocation business and now offers insight and consultative support to practice owners through her affiliation with ChampionOne Group as Vice President of Training and Development. Author of The Practice Kitchen: Clinical Audiology Practice Management, she provides guidance for strategic planning to ensure the long-term sustainability of practices through on-demand courses and live seminars.

Keith Lewis is a seasoned executive with a unique focus on patient, customer, and shareholder, delivering positive benefits to all. As a part-time consultant, Keith leverages over 43 years of marketing, sales, and general management know-how, with competencies in market assessments, commercializing new-to-market technologies, and mentoring young professionals. He’s also served in vice president roles, including marketing, commercial operations, strategic initiatives, and most recently sales planning and development with a focus on fast, information-based decision-making.

James Keller has over 35 years of experience providing financial, administrative, operational, and strategic leadership to global software, consulting, distribution, manufacturing, and public accounting firms, ranging from early-stage to established billion-dollar corporations. As executive VP and CFO, he plays a broad, organization-wide role providing leadership, support, and mentoring across teams to achieve growth and success.

Kari Londo has more than 15 years of experience in the hearing industry. She received her doctoral degree in audiology from Nova Southeastern University in Florida. Kari has a deep understanding of the hearing industry, having previously worked directly with patients in private practice and ENT, as an account manager for a hearing aid manufacturer, and now on the business side as a business consultant for hearing practices. She is passionate about improving the lives of individuals with hearing loss and helping hearing practices grow by helping more of these individuals. When she’s not working, Kari can be found playing volleyball, enjoying the outdoors and socializing with friends.

Dr. Ruatto received her Master of Arts degree in audiology from Michigan State University in 1996. In 2011 she received her Doctor of Audiology (Au.D.) degree from A.T. Still University in Arizona. Dr. Ruatto is certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, is a fellow of the American Academy of Audiology, and is licensed by the state of Michigan. She has also served as a board member of the Michigan Academy of Audiology. Dr. Ruatto’s expertise is in hearing aid fitting and aural rehabilitation. Dr. Ruatto has practiced audiology for a local ENT practice, has worked for a top hearing aid manufacturer, and managed 25 retail hearing aid centers in Michigan.

Leigh Smith is the owner of Florida Audiology Associates, a private clinic located in the greater Tampa area, as well as X Marks the Left, a practice consulting and marketing resources organization. She routinely works with manufacturers, audiology students, investment groups, and practice owners to further develop innovations in the hearing industry. Areas of interest include sales training, product development and innovation, leadership training, and systems operations as they relate to both audiology and other areas of senior health care.

Alison Kirshner is an experienced human resources professional with a background focused primarily on talent acquisition and management consulting. Her primary responsibilities have included partnering with executives and business owners to provide critical leadership, accelerate growth, revitalize substandard operations, and deliver strong financial results; recruiting, hiring, and training over 1,000 employees; and building strategic relationships. With 18 years in the industry, Alison remains a highly respected and sought-after HR and management consultant. Additionally, she is a published editor of an audiology textbook, The Practice Kitchen. Alison earned her master’s in business administration (MBA) from the University of Memphis and her bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee, and she studied in Paris at La Sorbonne. During her time off, she enjoys playing with her adorable boxer dogs, traveling with her husband, and completing extremely difficult puzzles. She has also recently embarked on a new artistic journey working with resin, and she is a Jeopardy fanatic who never misses a show.

Eric has over 35 years’ experience advising and counseling Small Medium Enterprises (SMEs). He was partner in a national accounting firm before forming his own accounting, tax, and advisory firm in 2004. Eric has had the privilege of advising audiological practices and audiological consulting firms on business matters including but not limited to mergers and acquisitions, resource allocation, income tax, and compensation planning. He has lectured at the International Foundation of Employee Benefits on the subject of index investing for pension plans holding hundreds of millions in assets, and he is a published author in leading tax journals. Eric has represented numerous SMEs before the Internal Revenue Service and the United States Department of Labor. He has served as an expert witness in the areas of finance, taxation, and asset valuations. As an MBA professor, Eric has taught students accounting principles and income tax strategies, in addition to training and mentoring dozens of undergraduate and graduate students.