Dispenser of the Year Award

Each year, the Texas Hearing Aid Association honors one of its members with the coveted THAA Dispenser of the Year Award. The award is given to the licensed hearing aid specialist who practices the highest standard of ethics when serving the hearing impaired of Texas.

Nominations for the 2026 THAA Dispenser of the Year are now open HERE through April 30th, 2026. 

Dispenser of the Year Nomination Process

Each year, the Texas Hearing Aid Association honors one of its members with the coveted THAA Dispenser of the Year Award. The award is given to the licensed hearing aid specialist who practices the highest standard of ethics when serving the hearing impaired of Texas.

Qualifications

  1. Minimum of 5 years dispensing in Texas as a fully licensed dispenser.

  2. Must be a member of THAA.

  3. Has never received a disciplinary action from a state licensing agency.

  4. Has performed at least one of the following volunteer services or achieved one of the following professional accreditations:

    1. Served the hearing impaired in some volunteer capacity—locally, nationally, or internationally.

    2. Served on the THAA Board of Directors or an association ad hoc committee.

    3. Served or currently serves on the TDLR Advisory Board or the former DSHS Licensing Committee.

    4. Serves or has served as a TDLR Proctor/Rater for the state licensing exam.

    5. Maintains National Board Certification (BC-HIS) or ACA.

    Nominations or self-nominations for Dispenser of the Year are now open HERE through April 30th, 2026. 

2025 Dispenser of the Year

Karlene Toohey, Owner, Brown Hearing Centers

This year’s recipient didn’t just choose hearing care as a career—she was born into it. As a little girl, she waited in the car while her father made house calls. By high school and college, she was already helping in the family office. Eventually, she became the office manager, bookkeeper, and, in 1983, earned her hearing instrument specialist license. That was over 42 years ago.
What started with just two locations—Orange and Beaumont—has grown under her leadership into 13 full-time offices and over 200 satellite locations across Texas and Louisiana. But what makes this story so powerful isn’t just the business growth—it’s the fact that she managed this expansion while raising six boys, homeschooling, managing rental property, and somehow keeping it all together.
This award recognizes a person who has built a career on trust, compassion, and integrity. Whether she’s mentoring new dispensers, guiding her team through continuing education, or providing life-changing care to a patient—her commitment has always been rooted in genuine service.

She’s built a legacy not only through her work, but through her family—three of her six sons now work in the business, carrying on this third-generation family tradition. And after nearly five decades of marriage to her high school sweetheart, she’s still going strong—whether she’s in the office, on a cruise, or learning to play pickleball. This award is also a tribute to the legacy of her parents, the founders of their business, and the countless patients and employees who’ve been part of the journey.

THAA thanks Karlene for her dedication and service to the hearing community in Texas!

Past Dispenser of the Year Award Recipients 

  • Saleem Assaf

  • Chris Bisel

  • Lance Brooks

  • Steve Carpenter

  • Chris Czop

  • Ron Ensweiler

  • Larry Farris

  • Ken Haesly

  • Gary Haun

  • Carla Hoffman

  • Paul Jay

  • Barry Kienholz

  • Rep. Tracy King

  • Denise Kopecki

  • Curtis Martin 

  • William McCrae

  • Ben Norris

  • Dusty Potter

  • Jesse Rangel

  • Amy Trost

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