Special Tree Appoints Joseph J. Richert II as New Chief Executive Officer

Richert Brings Entrepreneurial Spirit, Leadership as Organization Pivots in Response to Recent Funding Changes

Special Tree Rehabilitation System, ranked among the nation’s top neurorehabilitation providers, has announced Joseph J. Richert II has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer of the organization. Richert, who most recently served as Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, succeeds his father Joseph C. Richert, who took the helm of the family-owned business in 1986.

“Joe absolutely possesses the skills to steer the organization through this challenging time for our industry,” shares Joseph C. Richert, who moves into the role of Chairman.

Richert brings an entrepreneurial spirit and a wealth of leadership experience to the CEO role. Most recently he has overseen a number of expanding family enterprises, and as COO helped to foster the strong culture, values, and business practices that have made Special Tree an industry leader in neurorehabilitation. He spearheaded the development of a predictive analytics and data warehousing tool that’s helping Special Tree to deliver better patient outcomes, critical as he steers the organization through the changing funding landscape following the changes in Michigan’s Auto No Fault system, previously a key funder.

After graduating from Wayne State University with a BA in Speech Communications, Joseph J. Richert went on to earn an MA in Education and Human Development from The George Washington University as well as a PhD in Organizational Psychology with the International University for Graduate Studies.

Already he has begun to implement changes to enhance clinical programs and patient care and helped lead the organization to a new accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) which makes Special Tree a Comprehensive Integrated Inpatient Rehabilitation Program (CIIPR), the only organization of its kind worldwide to achieve CARF-accreditation for both brain injury and spinal cord injury specialty for adults in a skilled nursing facility.