Company: LimBionics of Durham, Durham NC, USA
Company Description:Brittany Stresing CPO, is one the youngest, female business owners in the area and one of the few females in her profession period. She makes Limbs for people in need of lower and upper extremities. She has cutting edge technology and provides top service. Brittany is the current winner of the Health care Heroes award. and currently featured in Durham Magazine Women of Achievements issue!
Nomination Category:Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category:Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Consumer Services –10 or Less Employees

Nomination Title: Brittany Stresing, Prosthetist and Orthotist and President

Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated entrepreneur since the beginning of July last year (up to 525 words):

Brittany is 28 years old and started LimBionics of Durham at the age of 26. She is a Certified Orthotist and Prosthetist (she is a medical professional who evaluates, designs, fabricates and fits orthoses which are braces for body parts and prosthetic limbs) and recently became a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists which is the highest recognition in the profession. She has a passion for helping people which comes from her being a patient herself. Brittany goes above and beyond for patients to make sure they have the best outcomes and care. She treats each patient as an individual and learns their individual needs to make the best prosthesis or orthosis for their life. No two people are the same and she makes sure each person is treated with dignity, respect and individual care. Brittany recently was featured in Durham magazine of one of the women of achievement for 2015 and she also won the Triangle Business Journals Healthcare Hero Rising Star of 2015 award. She has helped numerous patients that were either unable to get care elsewhere or other prosthetists found their cases too challenging to take on.

Brittany has also been active volunteering by being the Prosthetist for the Valor games Southeast for wounded veterans, she is a committee member for the Girls Inspired Girls Empowered organization to help inspire women with disabilities and empowered them to achieve their dreams. She volunteers with numerous adaptive sports programs as well. For the past 2 years (and she was just re-elected for another 2 years) Brittany has been the secretary of the NC state trade association (NCOPTA) for orthotists and prosthetists which helps advocate for patients and our profession on political changes, proposed bills, and healthcare changes. She was also elected the President-elect for the NC state chapter of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists which makes her the first female to hold this position.

Her business is flourishing due to her passion, reputation, genuine interest in patient outcomes, and interest in providing the best options to patients. Her business has already surpassed last years income in the first 6 months so we are already on track to over double our income from 2014. This shows how great her patient care is since she currently sees every patient herself.

Provide a brief biography of the nominated entrepreneur (up to 125 words):

As a teenager Brittany learned that she has scoliosis, spina bifida occulta, and one leg longer than the other. She had to have numerous treatments including bracing/ shoe lifts and surgeries to shorten her leg. This led her to her profession and is why she is so passionate and understanding. She attended University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and did her residency at UNC hospitals, then managed a practice, and then at the age of 26 started LimBionics of Durham. She has recently won numerous awards for her patient care and became a Fellow which is the highest recognition in the profession. She has done an incredible amount in 28 years! She constantly strives to keep learning and improving to better her patients care.