The Winter meeting for The Georgia Society of Hearing Professionals will be held January 30-31, 2026. The location will be the Macon Marriott Conference Center in Macon Georgia. Room rates are $139.00. Call 1-800-228-9290 to make your reservation or use this link to secure your room. Be sure to mention the Georgia Society of Hearing Professionals when you call. The cutoff for reserved rooms is December 24,2025. Don’t miss out on this great rate.
We will start the weekend off with our very successful Vice President Roundtable discussion hosted by Sandi Darby Bowling. This meeting gets you 2 hours of credit. Please follow this link to register for that portion of the event. It is limited to about 30 folks so email Sandi early.
Saturday will start with breakfast followed by 7 hours of exciting presentations.
Our first Presenter is Tom Tedeschi.
Dr. Tedeschi is the Chief Audiology Officer for Amplifon Americas. Primary responsibilities center around Governmental Affairs and Regulatory activities. He holds a doctorate in Neuroscience and Audiology. Dr. Tedeschi has worked in several sectors throughout his 48-year career: hospital-based, private practice, teaching, and industry-related positions. He has co-authored Ethics in Audiology in two books and recently co-authored a chapter on Practice Management. He has written numerous professional articles and given over 400 professional presentations nationally and internationally. Dr. Tedeschi has served on various committees for the American Academy of Audiology. A member of the Academy of Doctors of Audiology and recipient of the President’s Award. He is also the Hearing Industries Association’s Regulatory and Technical Committee secretary. He is a past president of the Ohio Academy of Audiology and a recipient of the Distinguished Fellow in Policy and Strategy from the National Academy of Practice. Dr. Tedeschi is currently the Chair Elect for the Audiology Academy within the National Academies of Practice.
His first presentation is Principled Voices: Where Advocacy and Ethics Intersect
- 1. Identify ethical principles that guide patient-centered advocacy. Participants will recognize how values such as honesty, respect, and informed consent shape ethical interactions among patients, caregivers, and colleagues.
- 2. Analyze real-world dilemmas where ethics and advocacy intersect in hearing aid practice. Learners will evaluate scenarios involving recommendations, accessibility, and patient autonomy to understand how ethical decision-making impacts clinical outcomes and trust.
- 3. Apply principled advocacy strategies to enhance professional integrity and patient care. Attendees will develop actionable approaches to advocating within their scope, whether navigating insurance, supporting underserved populations, or educating patients, while upholding ethical standards.
- This class earns you 2 hours of credit in Patient Management.
- After a short break, we will have Pete Palmisano present to us.
Pete Palmisano serves as the Director of Franchise Administration for Miracle-Ear, where he oversees franchise agreements and ensures compliance with franchise standards. A key part of his role involves supporting franchisees with their accounting and financial reporting standards.
With more than 40 years of experience in small business management and franchise support, Pete has held leadership roles across real estate, new store development, training, small business accounting, and operations. He is also a former small business owner, a former buyer for a major department store chain, and an active volunteer with the Small Business Administration’s SCORE program, where he mentors entrepreneurs and small business owners.
His first presentation will be:
Practical Applications and Embedding Ethics in Your Small Business” (Ethics)
3 Learning Outcomes:
1. Ethics show up in daily business choices. Participants will recognize how ethical decision-making influences everyday operations—from advertising and pricing to staff conduct and client communication.
2. Transparency about fees and products builds strong client loyalty. Learners will understand how open, honest communication about pricing, service limitations, and product details strengthens trust and encourages long-term client relationships.
3. A clear refund and privacy policy supports Georgia’s Fair Business Practices Act. Attendees will learn how developing or refining refund and privacy policies promotes fairness, accountability, and compliance with Georgia’s Fair Business Practices Act.
“The Foundation of Ethical Accounting for Small Business Owners” (Ethics)
3 Learning Outcomes
1. Ethical accounting means being transparent and truthful about your financial activities. Participants will understand how accurate bookkeeping and honest reporting support informed decision-making, strengthen credibility, and demonstrate accountability to clients, vendors, and regulators.
2. In hearing care, accurate billing, documentation, and pricing build client confidence. Learners will see how ethical financial practices reduce disputes, enhance client trust, and uphold the reputation of the hearing care profession.
3. Ethical accounting isn't just about compliance-it's about trust and professionalism. Attendees will recognize the broader value of ethical accounting as a cornerstone of professional integrity.
This class earns you 2 hours of credit in Ethics.
After this class, we will have lunch provided and an update by Cheryl Ward on the International Hearing Society. This will earn you 1 hour of credit.
Following lunch we will have our business meeting. After a short break Dr Tedeschi will present again.
Bridging the Gap: Advanced Medical Management of Hearing Loss for Hearing Aid Professionals. (Medical)
1. Differentiate complex auditory pathologies and their implications for amplification. Participants will deepen their understanding of medical conditions and assess how these diagnoses influence hearing aid selection, fitting strategies, and counseling.
2. Interpret hearing tests to inform ethical referral decisions. Learners will analyze test results and case history and identify when medical intervention is indicated, ensuring timely and appropriate referrals that align with professional scope and patient safety.
3. Integrate collaborative care models to optimize patient outcomes. Attendees will explore strategies for effective communication with audiologists, ENTs, and primary care providers, enhance continuity of care, and reinforce the hearing aid specialist's role as a trusted member of the hearing healthcare team.
This class earn you another 2 hours of credit in Medical.
The whole weekend gives you the opportunity to earn 9 hours of credits.
If you have any questions call Jeff Fargason at 404-299-1141.
Georgia Society of Hearing Professionals
Macon Marriott Conference Center
240 Coliseum Drive
Macon, GA 31217
478-621-5300
7:00 – 9:00PM VP Roundtable Discussion
(see flyer for registration)
7:00 - 8:00 Board Meeting
8:00 - 8:30 Breakfast
8:30 – 10:30 Thomas Tedeschi Principled Voices: Where Advocacy and Ethics Intersect Patient Management 2.0
10:30 –10:45 Break
10:45 – 11:45 Pete Palmisano Practical Application and Embedding Ethics in Your Small Business
Ethics 1.0
11:45 – 12:45 Pete Palmisano The Foundation of Ethical Accounting for Small Business Owners Ethics 1.0
12:45 – 1:30 Lunch
1:30 – 2:30 Cheryl Ward I.H.S. Update 1.0
2:30 – 3:15 Business Meeting
3:15 – 3:30 Break
3:30 - 5:30 Thomas Tedeschi Bridging the Gap: Advanced Medical Management of Hearing Loss for Hearing Professionals Medical 2.0
