Montgomery Raised Level of Athletic Training Profession
Over the span of four decades of his regulatory career and volunteer service, Dave Montgomery’s leadership was instrumental in creating the high-level certification process that exists today for the athletic training profession. Montgomery was a longtime advocate who had a positive impact. His work helped to bring initial formal recognition of athletic training as a profession in Nebraska, as well as making great strides for Athletic Trainers (ATs) nationwide.
To honor Montgomery, who passed away in July 2020, the BOC renamed its Public Advocacy Award to the Dave Montgomery Advocacy Award. This award recognizes individuals, groups or organizations who demonstrate leadership in protecting athletic training consumers. Recipients are leaders in the conception, construction and/or modification of Athletic Trainer regulation that protects the public and athletic training consumers.
In addition, Montgomery was recently presented with the BOC Dan Libera Service Award in recognition of Libera who was an instrumental leader in creating the high-level certification process that exists today for the athletic training profession.
“As the public member of our board Dave’s personality and intellect always received the immediate attention of everyone in the room as soon as he began to speak; as a friend he was a fascinating and inspiring person to us all. Dave’s presence inside and outside of the board room will be missed by all of us who were fortunate enough to have known him, there was no greater friend to our profession,” said Patrick Sexton, EdD, ATC, BOC board president.
Montgomery retired from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services. During a 39-year career, he specialized in the regulation of health professionals and the organization and re-engineering of regulatory systems. His primary service was as executive director for the Nebraska State Board of Health and as director of Nebraska’s Sunrise Program, through which the athletic training profession secured licensure in Nebraska. His tenure also included three years of service as the administrator for the occupational therapy and physical therapy boards. He was co-leader of the project that oversaw the re-writing and codification of the Nebraska Uniform Credentialing Act in 2008 and the multitude of regulations developed from it.
Following retirement, Montgomery remained active as a consultant working with professional organizations and regulatory boards focused on governance, leadership training and strategic planning.
As a former national president of the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation (CLEAR), Montgomery was instrumental in developing CLEAR’s Executive Leadership Program for Regulators and was a facilitator for this successful program through 2014. He served as a member of CLEAR’s Board of Directors for 12 years, including serving as its international president from 1995-1996.
Montgomery made demonstrable and long-standing contributions to the BOC and the athletic training profession. With delivery of a presentation at the 2005 BOC Regulatory Conference, his impact began. His service as a member of the BOC Standards Committee from 2006-2009, as co-chair of the Regulatory Conference Advisory Panel from 2009-2017, and as a public director on the board for three years, clearly demonstrates a servant’s heart and a passion for regulation, credentialing and public protection. Outside of the BOC, he served the athletic training profession in strategic planning leadership and facilitating legislative activities for the Nebraska State Athletic Trainers’ Association.
“Dave was tireless in his pursuit of constantly raising the level of this profession,” said Anne Minton, CEO of the BOC. “The contributions he made over many years have changed lives.”