The Management Team

keithclose.jpg (29324 bytes)

Keith F. Markusic - Chairman & Founder
Keith Markusic has invested more than 20 years in the health care profession. He started his medical career as an emergency room orderly at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio, and subsequently joined Karl Storz Endoscopy-America, a medical and surgical supplies company in Los Angeles, California,as a sales representative.

After his stint on the West Coast, Keith returned to northeast Ohio and worked at Columbiana Community Hospital as an orderly in the emergency room and on the medical-surgical floor. He eventually put his diverse experience to work at St. Elizabeth Hospital in a number of different areas [trauma team, pediatric emergency, express team] before accepting a career opportunity at Robinson Memorial Hospital in Ravenna, Ohio. Keith was named Director of Medical & Surgical Nursing and was responsible for administering a $6+ million budget. He supervised the activities of more than 300 employees in various Hospital units including oncology, orthopedics, medical and surgical procedures, new program management and procurement.

This "hands-on" executive has personally experienced drop foot as a result of a life-threatening automobile accident and has worn a variety of ankle/foot appliances since 1978. He is now living testimony to the advantages of the Easy Gait™ Brace. Keith earned his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Youngstown State University and several nursing certificates after completing courses at Robinson Memorial and St. Elizabeth's. As a result of his accident, Keith opted to pursue a career in the ministry and serves as an Associate Pastor at Trinity Fellowship Church in Youngstown.

 

Terry Thompson - Inventor
Terry Thompson in the late 1990's was responsible for designing a unique walking assistance now called the Easy Gait™ Brace. The device is regarded by physicians and therapists who deal with the lower extremities as one of the most significant improvements in foot orthotics in the last 25 years.

This Orthopedic Technician and professional shoe fitter has been a certified pedorthist for 14 years. He started his State licensed pedorthic facility -- Cobbler's Corner — some 30 years ago in Columbiana, Ohio, and is known for his creativity in solving foot and lower limb problems especially with diabetics.

It took Terry three years to perfect and patent the Easy Gait™ Brace before transferring ownership to his customer, Reverend Markusic, and local Youngstown businessman, Dean G. Pulakos. He is currently a stockholder and the main supplier of Easy Gait™ AFO's for WALK RIGHT, INC., the parent company that markets this remarkable invention to patients with drop foot.

Meanwhile, Cobbler's Corner has grown into a full service store with over 4,000 pairs of shoes, boots and sneakers in stock. Familiar brand names include Worx and Red Wing shoes and boots; Brooks and New Balance athletic shoes; Drew, P.W. Minor and Kumfs comfort shoes.

Terry is not content to sit on his laurels and still works diligently to improve and refine his brainchild. He just redesigned the heel adapter on the Easy Gait™ Brace that adds flexibility of movement enabling the user to pivot and run with minimal effort. He also experimented with additional straps to give greater support to the ankle and created a more fashionable support piece with clear acrylic instead of black composite material

 

If you or someone you know with drop foot needs a comfortable, easy to use, externally attached ankle-foot orthosis, click here to receive an Information Kit by mail or call (800) 467-3151.