Meet our Practitioners

At JP&O Lab our practitioners are certified by the American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics, and Pedorthics, the capstone national certifying and accrediting body for the orthotic and prosthetic professions. We’re dedicated to the success of our patients at JP&O. It is our mission to “maintain a viable and respected clinical practice, while providing the most appropriate Orthotic and Prosthetic services in order to bring our patients to their maximum level of physical function." We are entering our 20th year of service to patients in North Central and Northeast Arkansas and Southern Missouri. Here is a brief introduction of who will be taking care of you at JP&O Labs:

Rob A. Yates, CPO

Rob took the reins of our family-owned business from company founder David A Yates, in August of 2007. Rob currently serves as the President and CEO of JP&O Labs.

Rob received his bachelor’s degree from Lyon College and was awarded certificates in orthotics and prosthetics from Northwestern University in Chicago. Rob has been in the field for over 10 years and has been providing clinical services since 2003. He holds credentials as a provider of Otto Bock’s C-Leg & Compact, Otto Bock’s Harmony System, and Otto Bock’s Myoelectric (Myobock) system including the Dynamic Arm. Rob is also certified to provide the Walk-Aide System as well as the Bioness L300 Foot Drop System.

Rob provides clinical services in our Jonesboro Arkansas facility as well as our Mountain Home and Harrison Facilities. Rob regularly sees patients in our Batesville Facility and holds clinic in Newport Arkansas. Rob’s specialties include Vacuum Assisted Prosthetic Socket Systems and upper limb prosthetic systems including myoelectric / external power and body powered systems. Rob has delivered several lectures and made many presentations to a variety of different venues including Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy groups, Family Practice Physician Groups, & Orthopedic Physician Groups.

Rob most enjoys the “tears of joy that roll down the first steps an amputee takes after losing a limb, or looking in the mirror and seeing an arm or hand where there wasn’t one before being fit with a prosthesis.”

Les Merrick, CPO, FAAOP

As our senior practitioner, Les brings over 20 years of experience in the field of Orthotics & Prosthetics. Les is a graduate of Arkansas Tech University and holds Certificates in Orthotics and Prosthetics from Shelby State Community College in Memphis. He is an ABC Certified Prosthetist Orthotist (CPO). He was awarded the highest achievement in continuing education by being named a Fellow in the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (FAAOP). A seasoned clinician in all of JP&O’s services his preferred clinical specialty lies in above the knee prosthetics. He holds credentials as a provider of Otto Bock’s C-Leg & Compact, Motion Control & Filauer’s Utah Arm System, Ossur’s Rheo Knee System, as well as a credential in MAS Socket design technologies.

Les serves patients out of our Jonesboro Arkansas facility and holds clinic in Forrest City / Helena / Wynne on a regular basis. He also makes clinical rounds to our Mountain Home facility. As our Residency Director, he heads our NCOPE Accredited Residency Program for new graduates with certificates in prosthetics & orthotics. He regularly delivers lectures to students in the Physical Therapy and Physical Therapy Assistant programs at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

He recently had this to say about delivering patient care: “I gain great satisfaction by helping people gain their independence through prosthetic intervention. Each patient is unique and has unique challenges and needs. My goal is to provide the most appropriate prosthetic care to each individual.”

Thomas A. Chivers, CPO, FAAOP

Tom is one of our senior practitioners here at JP&O Labs. He brings over 20 years of experience in providing prosthetics and orthotics. Tom received an Associate’s Degree in Applied Sciences at Volunteer State College. He received certificates in both prosthetics and orthotics from Shelby State in Memphis. He is an American Board Certified Prosthetist & Orthotist, a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists and a Licensed Orthotist in the state of Arkansas.

Tom’s main specialties lie in upper and lower extremity prosthetics. He is certified to provide a wide variety of clinical services including Otto Bock’s C-Leg, Upper Limb Myobock Systems, and Otto Bock’s Harmony Vacuum System. Tom also brings a wealth of experience in providing Pediatric Orthotics.

Tom primarily sees patients in our Jonesboro facility and also sees patients at clinic in Kennett / Hayti, Missouri. He has delivered a wide variety of lectures and presentations across Arkansas and Tennessee. He’s presented to several physician groups and is a regular presenter to students in the Physical Therapy program at Arkansas State University. Tom also served as an expert panelist at Vanderbilt University on Prosthetic Rehabilitation for several different professional disciplines. Tom’s greatest joy comes when he is able to see patients reach their full potential through the delivery of our services.

Bradley Q. Intres, CPO

Brad is a native of Jonesboro and received a bachelor’s degree from Arkansas State University in Professional Studies in Biology. He received advanced certificates in orthotics and prosthetics from Northwestern University in Chicago. Brad came to work for JP&O Labs in 1997 as a technician. After developing his skills as an orthotic technician Brad began providing patient care in 2000. Brad is an American Board Certified Prosthetist, Orthotist, and Pedorthist.

Brad is certified to provide Otto Bock Healthcare’s C-Leg & Compact Microprocessor controlled Knees as well as Ossur’s Rheo Knee System. He has extensive training in providing Upper Limb Myoelectric Systems including Myobock Systems and is certified to fit Otto Bock’s Dynamic Arm. Brad is also certified to provide the Bioness L300 Foot Drop System. He regularly delivers lectures and presentations to students at Arkansas State University’s Physical Therapy Program.

Brad provides patient care in our Jonesboro location and does clinical rounds in our Mountain Home and Harrison Arkansas locations. Brad’s satellite clinics include Blytheville and Pocahontas / Hardy / Highland. Brad most enjoys patient interaction and achieving goals with all of his patients.

Cyle Gates, CPO, LPO

Cyle is our lead practitioner serving our Mountain Home and Harrison Arkansas locations. His first exposure to our field was in 1999 when his grandmother was in need of prosthetic care. He began his career in Orthotics and Prosthetics as a technician and eventually went on to pursue a formal education in Prosthetics and Orthotics.

Cyle is a 2006 graduate of the University of Texas Southwestern Health Sciences School in Dallas Texas where he received a Bachelor of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics. Cyle is highly skilled in both prosthetics and orthotics but places special emphasis in his prosthetic care. He brings a fresh outlook to JP&O as one of the newest members of our clinical team. Cyle worked in Prosthetics and Orthotics in Central Arkansas before coming to JP&O in late 2008. He has presented to several physical therapy groups throughout Central and North Arkansas. Cyle is certified to provide the Walk Aide System and the Horton Stance Control knee system.

Cyle most enjoys “being able to help people and make a difference in the lives of my patients. I also enjoy learning about each individual and providing the best care possible while being able to treat everyone like family.”

J. Ladon Jones, LO, ROA, PTA, CFm

Ladon came on staff at JP&O Labs in 1999 and began seeing patients. Ladon holds a variety of credentials. She received an associate degree in 1998 from Arkansas State University as a physical therapy assistant and is currently licensed as a PTA. She is an Arkansas Licensed Orthotist and a Registered Orthotic Assistant. Ladon holds an active license as a Physical Therapy Assistant and is a Certified Fitter of Mastectomy. Ladon is licensed to fit custom and off the shelf orthoses. She is certified to provide the Walk-Aide System, the Bioness L300 Foot Drop System, SWASH Systems, and has extensive training and experience with Cascade DAFO custom orthoses.

Ladon is one of our leading clinicians in providing pediatric orthotic intervention. She works very closely with physical & occupational therapists, family physicians, and parents of children that need our services. Ladon has delivered a series of lectures and presentations to area high schools and junior high schools. She has also made presentations to students at Arkansas State University and has provided in-services for physicians and therapists. She primarily provides patient care out of our Jonesboro Location. She also provides patient care through our clinic in Kennett & Hayti, Missouri. Ladon also provides direct patient care throughout the area with physical and occupational therapists in specialty clinics and treatment facilities that specialize in pediatric care. These clinics are located throughout Northeast Arkansas and Southeast Missouri.

Ladon recently had this to say about providing patient care: “I consider my job a blessing. It is wonderful to be able to work with great people to help our patients be able to improve their quality of life.”

Matthew William Krumbach, CPed, LO

Matthew is one of our lead pedorthists here at JP&O Labs. Matthew has been in the field for over 25 years as both a technician and as a practitioner. He began his career as a Technician and has grown his skill set to become an American Board Certified Pedorthist and a Licensed Orthotist. He received a Certificate in Pedorthics from Northwestern University in Chicago in 1994.

His experience as a technician and as a practitioner provides him with a solid skill set to provide top quality patient care. He specializes in the design, fabrication, and fitting of footwear and related devices as a Pedorthist. He provides a wide range of foot services including shoes & inserts, shoe modifications, thermoplastic orthotics and a host of other services.

Matthew enjoys successfully improving the daily life of our patients who are struggling with physical challenges within his scope of practice. He sees patients in both our Jonesboro and Batesville, Arkansas offices.

P. Royce Simpson, LO, ROA

Royce has over 20 years of experience in providing patient care in orthotics. He was trained as an orthotist in the United States Air Force and came to work at JP&O Labs over 10 years ago. He received an Associate’s degree from Arkansas State University and is a Licensed Orthotist and a Registered Orthotic Assistant.

Royce is certified to provide the Walk-Aide System, the BIoness L300 Foot Drop System, and is certified by Cascade DAFO to provide their custom orthoses.

He primarily sees patients in our Jonesboro facility. He also sees patients in clinic at the Federal Prison in Forrest City as well as the Arkansas Children’s Outreach Clinic. He spent time providing clinical rounds in Memphis as well. Royce’s main interests lie in Sports Bracing and Foot Care, especially those struggling with diabetes who require Diabetic Services. Royce is in a unique position as an orthotist in working with patients suffering from diabetes because he suffers from the disease himself. Royce enjoys helping patients achieve function that they once thought had been lost.

Joseph W. Jessen, RPA

Joe is our facility's lead prosthetic technician and has over 10 years of experience in the field. Joe understands the unique set of challenges that amputees face. He has been an amputee since 1979. Joe wears the Harmony Vacuum System. He is a Registered Prosthetic Assistant and has been trained by Otto Bock Healthcare on technical work on a variety of different prosthetic systems including below the knee (B/K) and above the knee (A/K) prosthetic fabrication and finishing. His trainings also include the Harmony Vacuum System course. Joe is a technician in our lab in Jonesboro and provides technical and fabrication support for all of our outlying facilities and satellite clinics.

Joe has delivered a variety of different lectures and presentations. His experience as an amputee coupled with his vast experience as a prosthetic technician at JP&O Labs brings a very different perspective to our outreach to the educational programs at Arkansas State University and the University of Tennessee. He is a regular presenter to Nursing students and Physical Therapy Students each year. Joe most enjoys seeing how we improve the quality of a person’s life and their ability to be mobile by the services that we provide.

Hailey Jones, MS, ATC/L, CPed

Hailey is a recent addition to our staff at JP&O Labs. She began her work here in the Summer of 2008. Hailey brings a unique perspective to the field of Orthotics and Prosthetics. Her recent background and formal education are in the field of Athletic Training. She brings over 6 years of experience in the field of Athletic Training at both the collegiate and high school level and she is currently licensed as an Athletic Trainer in the State of Arkansas.  Hailey received a BS in Athletic Training from Arkansas State University and received a Master’s of Science in Kinesiology from the University of North Texas.

Hailey is a certified Pedorthist and works primarily out of our newest facility in Batesville, Arkansas. She enjoys interacting with patients and helping return to their active lifestyle with little or no pain.

Velma L. Pieri, CfM

Velma has over 20 years of experience as a mastectomy fitter and working with Breast Cancer Survivors. She was born and raised in Jonesboro and is our lead Mastectomy and Compression Garment fitter in Jonesboro. Velma holds credentials as a Certified Mastectomy Fitter and a Certified Fitter for Vascular Garments. She holds several training certificates awarded from a variety of different certifying bodies including the American Board for Certification (ABC). She has delivered numerous presentations and lectures at Arkansas State University and to breast cancer support groups such as “Look Good Feel Better.” She is a regular at the Women’s Health Fair in Paragould year after year.

Velma understands firsthand what our patients are going through as she is a breast cancer survivor. She recently had this to say about providing patient care: “I get fulfillment in providing patient services and seeing the look on the faces of breast cancer survivors when they are fit with mastectomy products and feel good about the fit. The look of sincere appreciation on their faces brings me joy in my career here at JP&O and is my favorite part of providing patient services.”

Teresa D. Harris, CFOM

Teresa brings over 15 years of experience in Orthotics to JP&O Labs. She was a Licensed Orthotic Assistant for The LaNair Company of Houston Texas for many years and came to work for JP&O Labs in early 2007. Since joining the JP&O team she has developed a soft skill set in Mastectomy Prosthetics in addition to orthotic fittings. Teresa is our lead Mastectomy fitter in our North Central Arkansas division. She attended a TIAT fitters course of Orthotics and Mastectomy and is a Certified Orthotic and Mastectomy Fitter (CFOM).

She regularly delivers presentations for breast cancer survivors of Mountain Home. She provides patient care for those women who have had breast surgery and hopes to help women feel “whole” again. She provides patient care in both our Mountain Home and Harrison facilities.

Teresa recently had this to say about providing patient care: “Working with breast cancer survivors is very special. It is wonderful to be able to give something back to our patients in so many different ways. I am truly blessed to be at JP&O Labs and have the opportunity to have such a rewarding job and work with such a great group of people here in North Central Arkansas.”

Theresa Muse, CFm

Theresa has over 25 years of experience in providing top quality patient care as a Mastectomy Fitter. She received a Bachelor of Science from Arkansas State University and is an American Board Certified Fitter of Mastectomy products. She also provides compression therapy garments to patients who are suffering from a wide variety of pathologies including Edema, Spider Veins, and Varicose Veins. In addition to ABC Certification, she is credentialed by several leading mastectomy & compression garment manufacturers such as Jobst, Amoena, and Camp.

Theresa provides patient care out of our Jonesboro location. She really enjoys making others happy and comfortable with themselves as they move on with their lives as breast cancer survivors.

Kim DeVore, Board Eligible Pedorthist, Mastectomy & Orthotic Fitter

Kim joins our staff with over 3 years of experience in the Durable Medical Equipment field and extensive experience as a Mastectomy Fitter. She worked for three years in Harrison at Choice Medical and brings a wealth of experience with Community Service and Outreach. She is a volunteer firefighter and first responder as well as a Certified Training Officer for the Fire Academy and is the Constable for the town of Zinc, Arkansas.

Kim is a Board Eligible Pedorthist and has been through various compression and mastectomy fitter courses and is a Certified Jobst Fitter. She sees patients in our Harrison, Arkansas facility as a full time fitter and office manager. Kim recently had this to say about patient care: “I enjoy the smile on a patient’s face when he or she is fit with the correct prosthesis or orthosis.”