Rick Ravel, fellow Rotarian, frequent visitor to NxNE Rotary Club, and CEO of Karavel Shoes, shared a short history of his company, founded by his Father and a partner in 1937 on Congress Avenue, next to the Paramount Theater. In the beginning, the store offered only shoes for children, and, in response to a request by the medical community, specialty footwear to fulfill physicians’ prescriptions. In time the business expanded to Burnet Rd. and provided specialty footwear also for men and women. Rick, a Certified Pedorthist, defined pedorthics as making custom footware and inserts to treat a vast array of foot problems. He likens his profession to that of a pharmacist; he must meet educational requirements and then be certified and licensed. He then is able to fill physicians’ prescriptions from his own stock. Studies reveal that 80% to 90% of the American population suffer from foot problems and that a large percentage of the teens and younger experience ankle injuries. The common foot problems treated are flat feet, plantar fasciitis, high foot arch, pronation, supination, diabetes, arthritis, and edema. Rick described the variety of methods of assessing foot problems and the development of more effective technology. Karavel now is using an advanced scanner that one stands on to show the distributionof weight, both where pressure is normal and where it is dysfunctional. Rick reports that 98% of all problems referred to them by physicians can be treated with over-the-counter inserts, of which Karavel carries several dozen varieties. This presentation was quite well received and appreciated and will sure stimulate further conversations!