Wooster, Ohio (November 14, 2024) – PRC-Saltillo announces the retirement of CEO Dave Hershberger after 40+ years of distinguished service and leadership in the field of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC). The organization’s Board of Directors selected Sarah Wilds as his replacement. Currently serving as COO, Wilds will assume the role of CEO on January 1, 2025. Hershberger will support the transition process through March 31, 2025 and will join the Board of Directors as Chairman of the Board.
“On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to express our excitement on a successful succession planning process,” commented retiring Chairman of the Board Steve Matthew. “We are thrilled that Dave will assume the position of the Chairman of the Board and Sarah will become CEO. Dave was the right leader for the right time, and he will extend his leadership to the role of Chairman to the great benefit of the organization. As Sarah takes the mantle of leadership, we look forward to supporting her in the role of CEO. Sarah is eminently qualified to lead the company and deliver on its mission to bring a voice to those without.”
Hershberger began his career at PRC-Saltillo, then Prentke Romich Company (PRC), as a high school student. While going to college in the evening to earn a B.S. in Electrical Engineering at the University of Akron, he served various roles in manufacturing, service, product development, and research. He formed Saltillo Corporation in 1996 to expand AAC solutions for individuals with language and cognitive deficits. Saltillo was acquired by PRC in 2007. Hershberger was appointed CEO of the employee-owned company in 2017 and led the merger into one company with multiple product lines in 2019. Under Hershberger’s leadership, PRC-Saltillo has become the leading provider of voices to individuals throughout the world.
“I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been part of PRC-Saltillo over the past forty some years,” commented Hershberger. “Experiencing the impact that advancements in technology, clinical practice, and vocabulary systems have had on the lives of the individuals we serve has been quite remarkable. I have the greatest confidence in Sarah’s ability to lead the company through its next chapter.”
Wilds will become the fourth CEO in PRC-Saltillo’s nearly 60-year history, as well as the first speech-language pathologist to hold the position. In her role as COO, held since 2022, she has focused on the coordination of product development, engineering, operations, marketing, and consulting/support services at a national and global level.
Wilds was introduced to the Prentke Romich Company (now PRC-Saltillo) as a Communication Sciences and Disorders student at the College of Wooster. An internship with the company in 1995 resulted in the completion of her Independent Study thesis examining the speed, quantity and quality of communication by individuals with disabilities using AAC to communicate. Prior to officially joining the company in 2005, she worked in clinical speech-language pathology with AAC communicators in New Zealand, Washington D.C., and Illinois. With over 20 years at PRC-Saltillo, Wilds has served as a regional AAC consultant, marketing team member, and, after 2017, held leadership roles including Business Manager for Saltillo and VP of Product and Service Development.
Wilds holds a B.S. in Communication Sciences and Disorders from the College of Wooster, an M.S. in Speech-Language Pathology from Purdue University, and an MBA from Eastern Illinois University. Her business insight and background in clinical practice provide her with a unique perspective on customer needs and enable her to offer strategic direction to advance the organization. As she continues the dedicated leadership of outgoing CEO Dave Hershberger, Wilds is committed to the mission of empowering individuals worldwide to find their voice through AAC.
“I am honored to lead PRC-Saltillo, a company that I truly love,” commented Wilds. "My experience with dedicated AAC communicators and their teams, with passionate employees across the company, and with trusted industry partners makes me confident that the “next generation of AAC” will be rooted in both rapid technological transformation and a deep commitment to individualized communication. I am grateful to have learned from, and worked directly with, past CEOs Barry Romich, Dave Moffat, and Dave Hershberger, and am looking forward to carrying on PRC-Saltillo’s legacy of innovation grounded in tradition.”
ABOUT PRC-SALTILLO: Founded in 1966, PRC-Saltillo is a pioneer and global leader in providing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology to children and adults with complex communication disorders. Believing everyone deserves a voice, PRC-Saltillo offers a full range of speech-generating devices, industry-favorite AAC apps, and research-based vocabulary systems. Customized AAC solutions are paired with unmatched clinical support and training to unlock the potential for meaningful communication regardless of disability, literacy level, or motor skills. PRC-Saltillo is a 100% employee-owned company and headquartered in Wooster, Ohio with subsidiaries in the UK, Australia, and Germany. Learn more at prc-saltillo.com.
MEDIA CONTACT
Deb Gress, Marketing Manager
800.262.1984, ext. 4147