Meet The Team
Ride Designs is the leader in the development and provision of unique and highly effective seating systems for wheelchair users representing a broad range of needs from simple to complex. Since 1998, Ride Designs’ success stems from the commitment to a core set of principles. Unlike any other wheelchair seating manufacturer, our products are developed, tested, provided and proven through our own Aspen Seating Clinic.
Ride Designs was founded by Joe Bieganek, Orthotist, and Tom Hetzel, Physical Therapist, ATP. They started by developing the Aspen Seating Clinic and worked with only the toughest of cases where all other interventions had failed. As the Aspen Seating Clinic grew so did the demand for their products and services outside the Denver, Colorado area.
Ride Designs was created to harness and patent the unique elements of the Aspen Clinic seating systems and expand access into the broader market. Ride seating systems are now recognized internationally for their ability to manage the broadest range of seating issues, from simple to complex. Our products, both custom and non-custom (or standard), have continued to improve and evolve and are now used by thousands of satisfied customers.
Dan Vyles
General Manager
Dan joined our customer care team in 2017 where his talent and compassion lead him to being promoted to the General Manager. He has ten years of experience in the hospitality and travel industries, where he held positions in the areas of customer service, account management, operations, program development, and support. Away from the office, Dan loves to spend time with his wife, Brittany, and three sons. Always working on improving something around the house, Dan also likes to spend time taking in a rugby match, at a Rockies home game, or making bad dad jokes.
Scott Olson
Sports/Seating Specialist & Paralympic Ski Coach
Scott Olson, otherwise known as “colorful shoe guy” around here, is a friendly addition to the sports fitting team in the Aspen Clinic. Scott brings years of experience in the adaptive sports industry, as he was a Paralympic ski coach for ski teams around the world. His mixture of seating and adaptive sports experience brings an entirely new level of excitement to our sports clinic.
Ryan Crosby, ATP, SMS
Ride Designs Sales Director
Ryan has been a member of the Aspen Seating and Ride Designs teams since 2014 and is a certified Assistive Technology Professional and Seating Mobility Specialist. Ryan has extensive hands-on experience with seating evaluations as well as previous experience in the areas of purchasing and custom seating production. When Ryan is not working you can find him enjoying the outdoors, spending time with his family, playing guitar, woodworking and cheering on the Denver Broncos football team.
TD Schenck, ATP, SMS
Field Sales Support Specialist
TD started his career in 1996 and has 28 years of pediatric seating and mobility experience in the Denver area. He has a heartfelt passion for seating – leading to functional outcomes, and in the advancement of technology. In his free time, you can find TD and his family out on the trails, either “jeeping”, hiking, or snowboarding.
Jeremy Hansen, ATP
Seating and Technology Specialist
Jeremy has worked in complex rehab technology since 2004. As a rehab technology specialist for more than 15 years, he has experience with all ages and every type of adaptive equipment user. RESNA-certified in 2007 as an ATP, Jeremy has a passion for providing clinical outcomes that improve wheelchair users independence, function, and quality of life. A Colorado native, Jeremy often spends his free time in the mountains snowboarding, snowshoeing, hiking or biking.
Shelly Young
Product Manager
Shelly joined Ride as product manager in 2016. She has more than two decades of experience in the complex rehab technology industry, most recently working with Numotion, resolving complex funding challenges and training colleagues. Shelly was born and raised in the Denver area. In her free time, she enjoys taking long walks, shopping, watching old, classic movies and spending time with her husband and their Bernese Mountain Dog, Rosie.
Daniella Giles, PT, DPT, ATP, SMS
Clinical Education Manager
Daniella joined the Ride team in 2011 and brings over 20 years’ experience in physical therapy and education. She has worked in various rehabilitation areas including acute rehabilitation, home health and skilled nursing. Daniella resides in Gig Harbor, Washington and enjoys spending time with her daughter.
Contact: Daniella@ridedesigns.com
Leah Cole, OTR, MOT, ATP, CEAC
Education Specialist
Leah has been demonstrating her expertise with Ride Designs since 2018. She has over 20 years’ experience in occupational therapy, seating/positioning, and education. Leah is a certified Assistive Technology Professional with extensive hands-on experience with evaluations and functional mobility. When Leah is not working you can find her enjoying the beauty of Colorado with her family and dogs.
Keith Rodgers, ATP, OTR
Product Education Specialist
Keith has been demonstrating his expertise for Aspen Seating and Ride Designs since 2002. Prior to joining the team Keith worked as a pediatric Occupational Therapist for 18 years becoming head of several pediatric occupational therapy departments. Keith began his career with Ride working in the Aspen Seating Clinic performing seating evaluations and fittings. Off the clock he enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters as well as running, hiking and reading.
Mandy Chadwick
Orthotist & Prosthetist
Mandy joined Aspen Seating in 2002 bringing with her over 25 years of experience in the prosthetic and wheelchair seating industries. Before joining Aspen Seating, Mandy served as Rehabilitation Division Manager at Otto Bock Australasia, working directly with clients and educating industry professionals throughout the Asia-Pacific region. In 2002, shortly after beginning to practice as a private wheelchair seating practitioner in Sydney, Australia, she immigrated to the U.S. with her family. Mandy keeps very active with her husband, two sons, her church, skiing, running, gardening and reading.
Joe Bieganek
Co-Founder, President & Orthotist
Joe has been designing, fitting and delivering wheelchair seating solutions for over 30 years. He is the pioneer and principal inventor of all the products offered by Ride Designs and Aspen Seating. Joe also leads the Aspen Seating sports program providing seating solutions for the physically active, including multi-medal-winning Paralympians. When Joe is not working you can find him on a golf course or enjoying the great outdoors.
