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 2027 THAA Dispenser of the Year are now open HERE through April 30th, 2027.

2026 Dispenser of the Year

Bryan Golden, BC-HIS, Quality Hearing Center

This year’s recipient has spent more than five decades in hearing healthcare. After high school, Bryan enrolled at what would become the University of Texas at Arlington and worked alongside his older brother building fences, earning what he jokingly calls his first PhD: Post Hole Digging. As the Vietnam War escalated, he joined the United States Marine Corps, completed boot camp at Parris Island, South Carolina, and proudly served his country.

In 1975, a conversation with a neighbor changed the course of his career. He was introduced to Dick and Tom Durbin, who were looking for someone to join the hearing healthcare profession, and he quickly found his calling. After learning from some of the best in the industry, he purchased part of the Durbin Beltone practice in 1979 and built a career centered on helping people reconnect with their families, friends and communities.

Bryan earned board certification in 1981 and became deeply involved in organized hearing healthcare. He served on the Texas Hearing Aid Association Board of Directors, as President of the American Conference of Audioprosthology, and as President of the Dallas Hearing Aid Association. Throughout his career, he has been a passionate advocate for education, professionalism and advancing standards of care for hearing healthcare providers across Texas and beyond.

Over the years, he has fit hearing aids for thousands of patients. But what makes his career remarkable isn’t who he served, it’s how he served: with patience, compassion and trust. When asked how long he has been doing this, Bryan says he doesn’t remember, because he hasn’t received the diploma for his second PhD yet. That one has been earned through decades of service to patients and colleagues.

THAA thanks Bryan for his dedication and service to the hearing community in Texas!

Dispenser of the Year Nomination Process

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, 2027. 

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

  • Curtis Martin

  • William McCrae

  • Ben Norris

  • Dusty Potter

  • Jesse Rangel

  • Karlene Toohey

  • Amy Trost

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