VETTEK FOUNDATION
TRANSFORMING CHALLENGES INTO TRIUMPHS
Meet The Team
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors consists of experienced professionals who provide strategic guidance and oversight. Their expertise ensures alignment with our goals and fosters accountability, helping us navigate challenges and seize opportunities for success.
Industry Experts
Leaders providing guidance on evolving technologies and applications.
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James T. Haas
Certified Orthotist, Director of Operations, Orthotics & Prosthetics Labs
With over four decades of experience in the field of orthotics and prosthetics, Jim is a seasoned expert who began his career in 1981 as a prosthetic technician at Shriners Hospital, where he honed his skills in fabricating artificial limbs and braces. A trailblazer in the industry, he became the first person in Massachusetts to achieve Registered Technician (RTP) status with the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics.
In 1990, Jim's innovative approach to prosthetics garnered attention when his technique for fabricating a myoelectric prosthesis with a flexible surlyn socket was published in the Journal for Prosthetics and Orthotics. His expertise continued to grow, and in 1991, he became a certified orthotist, joining Orthotics & Prosthetics Labs.
In 2008, Jim took the helm of Orthotics & Prosthetics Labs when he purchased the company. Under his leadership, the business expanded from one office in Springfield, Massachusetts, to three locations throughout the state. In March 2023, Orthotics & Prosthetics Labs was acquired by the international prosthetics company EQWAL, where Jim now serves as the Director of Operations, overseeing operations and ensuring the continued success of the company.
Taylor Maruya
CPT, US Army
Taylor was born in Los Angeles, California and is currently serving in the U.S. Army as a Company Commander for the Soldier Recovery Brigade - National Capital Region (SRB-NCR), located at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD.
Taylor graduated from the United States Military Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and commissioned as a Field Artillery Officer. He served 3 years at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (WA) as an Operations Officer and Company Fire Support Officer. His military achievements include graduating from the U.S Army Ranger School. At West Point, he played for the DI Men’s Ice Hockey Team.
In his current role with the SRB-NCR, Taylor is responsible for the overall welfare of over 80 Wounded, Ill, and Injured Soldiers. These Soldiers, also known as Soldiers in Recovery, receive medical treatment at Walter Reed and prepare to transition either back to the Army or to the civilian sector. He supervises a 50-person team that strives to ensure that Soldiers in Recovery are receiving the appropriate administrative, medical, career, and mental health resources.
Taylor currently resides in Bethesda, MD with his wife, Alana.